WOODWARD, IOWA — The task before the Woodard-Granger football team in the Class 1A playoffs could hardly be more a challenge.
First up is a Friday trip to Van Meter (9-0), as much a perennial power as any in 1A. The Bulldogs won the state title in 2017, lost in the semifinals in 2018, and has finished as runner-up each of the last two seasons.
A victory would set up a rematch with the winner of the AC/GC (8-1) at South Central Calhoun (8-1) battle. Both defeated the Hawks in Woodward, with AC/GC a 62-6 winner and SCC a 41-7 victor.
But that, the coaches will tell their teams, “is why we play the game.”
W-G has a strong senior core that is unlikely to be intimidated and will no doubt be hungry to make their mark in school history. And these Hawks know how to fight to the end, winning their Homecoming game with a touchdown on the last offensive snap of the contest while claiming a 7-0 playoff win with a TD with only 76 seconds remaining.
Quarterback Carter Moran is 103-199-7 passing for 1,415 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has added 311 rushing yards and nine TDs on 80 carries.
Brody Nardini leads the W-G receivers in total catches (39) for 541 yards and three TDs while Dane Polich (34 receptions) has the team honors in yards (588) and scores (8). Dustin Harney has 94 yards and two TDs on 10 snags, with Don David catching eight balls for 95 yards.
Harney paces the ground attack with 784 yards and seven TDs on 151 carries, with Dylan McCaulley rushing 37 times for 209 yards and one score.
The defense is led by 63 tackles from Harney, 47-1/2 from Dylan Rodgers and 39 from Alex Evans. Polich has made 34-1/2 stops, Oliver Potter 32-1/2 and McCaulley 30. The Hawks have fallen on 11 opposition fumbles and have intercepted 11 passes, returning one for a touchdown.
W-G averages 24.7 points per game and is allowing 20 points per outing, while Van Meter yields just 3.8 ppg while scoring 50.4 ppg.
Jack Pettitt leads 1A in quarterback rating at 157.4. He is 55-of-80 for 844 yards and 15 TDs while tossing one interception. Pettitt has 10 rushing TDs on 68 carries for 648 yards, a clip of 9.5 yards per rush, third-best in 1A.
Dalton Van Pelt leads the ground assault with 1,190 yards and 20 TDs on 159 carries and has caught seven passes for 123 yards and two TDs.
Chris Schreck (14-238, 3 TDs), Ganon Archer (13-188, 4 TDs) and Caden Peterson (5-100, 4 TDs) lead the receiving corps.
Sophomore kicker Katie Lindsay has also made a name for herself. The Bulldog soccer standout has connected on 57-of-60 point-after kicks (95 percent) second most in Iowa.
All Round of 16, and quarterfinal, playoff games will begin at 7 p.m.
