LAST YEAR — Controversy swirled over several calls and ball placements, and in the end it was host Van Meter who escaped with a 34-33 win that the W-G players who played in that game are unlikely to have forgotten. The Bulldogs passed for 110 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 125 more and two scores, with the Hawks throwing for 91 yards and running for 296 yards, with all but 11 W-G yards accounted for by since-graduated seniors.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS — Van Meter’s read-option offense has generated 1,206 passing yards and 19 TDs and 1,425 rushing yards and 20 TDs, numbers that are more than twice the total offense produced by W-G.
The teams have played four common foes. Van Meter’s only loss came in a 50-35 setback at Madrid, with the Bulldogs have beaten I-35, 42-20, host Panorama, 28-14, and Southwest Valley, 61-0.
Quarterback Ben Trent has thrown for 1,151 yards and 17 TDs. He is 60-of-96 in the air and has been intercepted four times.
Jake Koch (19-318, 6 TDs) is his preferred target, although Grant Gordon (9-197, 4 TDs), Alec Potthoff (10-192, 3 TDs) and Anthony Lowman (8-188, 1 TD) have all proven deadly.
Carson Rhodes has scored nine TDs on the ground while gaining 649 yards on 117 rushes, with Trent carrying 89 times for 460 yards and eight TDs. Tyler Gratias (34-123, 1 TD) and Koch (9-105) have also played key roles.
The defense has shut out Earlham, Ogden, Des Moines Christian and SW Valley and has yielded just 34 points in the past six weeks. The team has eight fumble recoveries, with six different players accounting for eight total interceptions. One interception and one punt have been returned for touchdowns.
Isaac Benton’s 44.5 tackles leads the way, with Brady O’Brien adding 38.5 stops and Zach Forret 31 denials.
ABOUT THE HAWKS — W-G has won three consecutive games, including a 20-13 overtime non-district win at South Hamilton and a 22-20 win at Central Decatur last Friday, both contests in which the Hawks had to rally late to salvage victory.
Brendan Bird has hit on 26-of-60 passes for 321 yards. He has been intercepted twice and has twice hit Johnnie Morgan (8-134) for scores. Race Brant (10-120) and Logan Canova (5-45) have been the other main targets.
The ground game has improved as the year has progressed, with junior tailback Tanner Vermaas having 805 yards on 194 rushes while fullback Josh Saak has added 97yards on 25 carries. Vermaas had visited the end zone eight times and Saak twice while Brant has added 110 yards on 31 carries.
The defense has two interceptions but continues to lead Class 1A with 16 fumble recoveries, one of which has been returned for a score.
Austin Scharlau (44), Vermaas (37.5), Morgan (35.5) and Saak (35) are the lead tacklers.
Probable Starters
WOODWARD-GRANGER Offense VAN METER Defense
No. Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. No. Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
58 LT Drew Jacobson 11 6-2 230 58 DE Dylan Boles 11 6-3 235
62 LG James Barger 12 6-0 210 38 DT Joey Staley 11 6-0 200
74 C Josh Groves 12 5-10 245 23 DT Austin Cox 12 5-10 160
52 RG Hunter Vermaas 12 5-10 220 45 DE Connor Guess 10 5-11 220
71 RT Brody Easter 10 6-2 225 12 LB Zach Forret 12 6-2 185
33 TE Logan Canova 10 6-2 222 53 LB Isaac Benton 12 5-10 200
14 QB Brendan Bird 10 6-0 195 25 LB Brady O’Brien 11 5-8 165
27 FB Josh Saak 10 5-9 160 14 LB Drew Gordon 11 5-9 170
28 TB Tanner Vermaas 11 5-10 188 24 DB Jake Koch 12 5-10 145
20 SB Race Brant 12 5-8 168 5 DB Ben Trent 12 5-10 160
13 SE Johnnie Morgan 12 6-0 165 22 DB Alec Potthoff 12 6-2 170
WOODWARD-GRANGER Defense VAN METER Offense
No. Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. No. Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
33 DE Logan Canova 10 6-2 222 59 LT Paul Logue 12 6-0 215
58 DT Drew Jacobson 11 6-2 230 58 LG Dylan Boles 11 6-3 235
52 DT Hunter Vermaas 12 5-10 220 56 C Ryan Carlson 11 5-9 220
61 DE Joe Sturgeon 10 6-0 225 63 RG Derek Golwitzer 10 5-10 185
55 LB Nick Musich 12 5-10 170 53 RT Isaac Benton 12 5-10 200
27 LB Josh Saak 10 5-9 160 5 QB Ben Trent 12 5-10 160
28 LB Tanner Vermaas 11 5-10 188 7 TB Carson Rhodes 10 5-11 165
24 LB Austin Scharlau 10 5-9 155 28 WR Grant Gordon 12 5-10 175
13 FS Johnnie Morgan 12 6-0 165 22 WR Alec Potthoff 12 6-2 170
20 CB Race Brant 12 5-8 168 8 WR Carter Coppinger 11 6-1 180
12 CB John Stucker n/a n/a n/a 24 WR Jake Koch 12 5-10 145
DISTRICT 8
| District | Overall | Point Diff Avg |
|||||
| Win | Loss | Tie | Win | Loss | Tie | ||
| Van Meter | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 13.00 |
| Panorama | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7.80 |
| Interstate-35 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Woodward-Granger | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | -1.00 |
| Central Decatur | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | -2.40 |
| Des Moines Christian | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | -5.75 |
| Southwest Valley | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | -13.00 |
Friday’s Games
Van Meter at Woodward-Granger
Central Decatur at Clarke (ND)
Des Moines Christian at Southwest Valley
Interstate-35 at Panorama
