GIRLS

Hawkeye Ten Conference 

Shenandoah – 54 vs Clarinda – 46

Non-Conference

ACGC – 51 vs AHSTW – 19

Riverside – 59 vs Stanton – 50

Tri-Center – 51 vs Paton-Churdan – 25 

St. Albert – 67 vs Underwood – 54

Bedford – 43 vs Southwest Valley – 40 

Wayne – 62 vs Seymour – 26 

Ar-We-Va – 38 vs Storm Lake St. Mary’s – 22 

Heartland Christian – 46 vs Parkview Christian – 29 

BOYS

Hawkeye Ten Conference 

Clarinda – 61 vs Shenandoah – 44 

Non-Conference

ACGC – 82 vs AHSTW – 48 

Kuemper Catholic – 76 vs Van Meter – 61

Underwood – 52 vs St. Albert – 50 

Red Oak – 51 vs West Central Valley – 38

Bedford – 52 vs Southwest Valley – 40

Murray – 54 vs Essex – 36

Wayne – 51 vs Seymour – 49 

Parkview Christian – 84 vs Heartland Christian – 51

The ACGC Chargers basketball team found themselves in a physical matchup Monday night, but came away with a big 82-48 victory over the AHSTW Vikings. Out of the gate the Chargers went up tempo focusing on driving into the paint and embracing any contact on the way. The lightning fast pace helped put ACGC up 5-0 early. Luke Sternberg did rally his team cutting his way inside and making multiple jumpers to end the run, but it would not be enough as Payton Policky ignited a Chargers offense that led 20-11 by the end of the first. Going into the second, ACGC continually applied pressure while switching into zone defenses to confuse AHSTW and that created a 39-26 Chargers lead at halftime.

Going into the third quarter the Vikings lost all steam and consistently turned the ball over. Jathan South also helped the Chargers set the tone in the third quarter making four baskets alone. When the third quarter ended, ACGC was up 53-34. In the fourth quarter not much changed for both squads besides the offensive output from Mason Wahl. Wahl score 8 points in the last frame. In the end, AHSTW did not have enough double digit scoring to overcome ACGC. The win keeps the Chargers undefeated on the season with a record of 4-0.

ACGC was led in scoring by Jathan South with 25 points and Noah Kading with 16. AHSTW top scorers were Luke Sternberg with 16 and Camden Soukup scoring 12.

When looking back at Monday’s win, Chargers head coach Lance Kading credited his stifling defense limiting the Vikings offense to only 22 second half points.

Part of that tenacious defense was the effort’s of Policky. Coach Kading acknowledged the difference his tough mindset made on both sides of the score and scoring 15 points on his own.

The Chargers next game will be at home on Friday against a familiar rival in Panorama.

AHSTW stays winless on the year at 0-3 with their loss.

The Iowa State women play fourth ranked UConn Tuesday night in the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase. The Cyclones are 9-3 and dropped out of the AP Poll after last week’s loss at Iowa. UConn is 9-1 and suffered its first loss of the season last week to Notre Dame.

That’s ISU coach Bill Fennelly who says UConn coach Geno Auriema (R-E-em-uh) reached out in the off-season about the Cyclones taking part in the event.

The Cyclones have already played second ranked South Carolina and sophomore forward Addy Brown feels that was good preparation for this game.

That will be the second half of the doubleheader. In the opener fifth ranked LSU will play Seton Hall.

The Drake women raced out to a 40-14 lead at halftime and crushed South Carolina Upstate 84-34 today in the Knapp Center. The game was played in front of a large number of elementary school kids. The Bulldogs were 14 of 38 from three point range and coach Allison Pohlman says the Bulldogs need more quality shots from behind the arc.

Pohlman believes the perimeter shooting will improve.

The Bulldogs improve to 5-5.

Northern Iowa football coach Todd Stepsis announced a 10-member coaching staff that includes three members of former Panther coach Mark Farley’s staff and seven who coached for Stepsis at Drake.

Stepsis says the new coaching staff will fan out across the state of Iowa beginning Tuesday to visit high schools in hopes of rebuilding in-state recruiting.

Stepsis says the goal is to visit every high school in the state of Iowa this week.

DES MOINES, IOWA – As the excited shrieks from thousands of youngsters resonated through the Knapp Center, the Drake women’s basketball team kept them entertained with a decisive victory. Eight players scored between seven and 11 points and Drake won for the third straight time, beating USC Upstate 84-34 on Monday in the annual Character Counts! Day game, which drew students from 47 schools around the state.

Drake squared its record at 5-5 for the season after a 2-5 start despite an uneven day offensively. The Bulldogs compensated by throttling their opponent from the Big South Conference on the defensive end, holding the Spartans (2-10) to 20.4 percent shooting, coming up with 17 steals and forcing 27 turnovers in all. The Spartans’ 34 points were the fewest allowed by the Bulldogs since Iowa Wesleyan scored 25 during the 2017-18 season.

The steals were a season high, and the turnovers were the most by a Drake opponent this season. The shooting percentage was a season low for an opponent. Brooklin Dailey led the scoring with 11 points, which matched her career high. Ava Hawthorne added 10 points, while Katie Dinnebier, Anna Miller and Grace Knutson each scored nine. Freshman Maggie Taylor grabbed 11 rebounds to go with seven points, both career highs. Abbie Aalsma and Shannon Fornshell also scored seven points each.

Dinnebier moved from seventh to third on Drake’s season list for steals with three in the game’s first 6 minutes and finished with six to match her career best. She has 90 for the season, second behind Linda Sayavongchanh’s 105 in the 2003-04 season. Miller’s nine points lifted her into 30th place on Drake’s career scoring list with 1,216. She also grabbed eight rebounds and matched her season highs with four assists and two steals.

Drake finished with a 48-29 rebounding edge, the eighth time in 10 games the Bulldogs outrebounded their opponent, and had a 29-9 bulge in points off turnovers. During the middle two quarters, Drake held Upstate to five field goals and 11 points.

Drake will hit the road for its next two games, playing at St. Thomas on Dec. 29 and opening Missouri Valley Conference play at Evansville on Jan. 2. The Bulldogs’ next home game is Jan. 2 against UIC at 6 p.m.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball sophomore Audi Crooks has been named the Big 12 Player of the Week. It is the first weekly award for Crooks this season and her third league player of the week award of her career.

The 6-3 center averaged over 30 points in Iowa State’s two games this week. Crooks poured in 31 points at No. 21 Iowa on Wednesday night, shooting 14-of-22 from the field before following up with 30 points Sunday night against Eastern Illinois. It was the first time an Iowa State player has posted back-to-back 30-plus point games since Ashley Joens finished with 33 and 36 against Texas and UT Arlington, respectively, in March 2022.

The Algona, Iowa native leads Iowa State this season with 21.6 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game. In 45 career games, she has scored in double figures 44 consecutive times and totaled 894 points.

Iowa State will face off with No. 4 UConn on Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on FS1.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins was named a Third-Team All-American by The Associated Press on Monday morning.

Higgins, already a Second-Team All-American by The Athletic and an All-Big 12 selection, has hauled in 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games. Those totals all rank second on ISU’s single-season charts.

His 1,183 receiving yards are the fourth-most nationally this season.

The South Miami, Florida native has caught a touchdown pass in nine of 13 games and is averaging 6.7 receptions per game, a top-15 mark nationally. Higgins has five 100-yard receiving games this season.

He ranks second among all FBS receivers with a 90.2 offensive ranking on PFF, while his 90.5 receiving grade is also second nationally. Both are tops nationally among wide receivers with at least 100 receiving snaps.

No. 18 Iowa State is back in action against No. 15 Miami Dec. 28 at the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior linebacker Jay Higgins and junior running back Kaleb Johnson were recognized as AP All-Americans, the announcement was made on Monday by the Associated Press.

Higgins is a first team selection, while Johnson was a second team honoree. Iowa has had at least one AP first or second team All-American 11 straight seasons (2014-24). The AP is one of five outlets recognized by the NCAA to determine consensus All-Americans (Walter Camp, American Football Coaches Association, Sporting News, Football Writers Association of America).

Higgins is nearing consensus All-American status, having earned first-team All-America distinction by Walter Camp, AP and AFCA. Higgins (6-foot-2, 232 pounds) was also honored as the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten. He is the only player in the nation with 100+ tackles and four interceptions. His four picks are tied for the most amongst linebackers from a Power 4 conference. Higgins, who was a semifinalist for the Lombardi, Lott IMPACT and Butkus awards, has racked up 118 tackles — second most in the Big Ten, 13th-most nationally. The Indianapolis native has been a leader on an Iowa defense that is ninth nationally, allowing 17.1 points per game.

Johnson has been named second-team All-America by the AP and AFCA, while he was a first-team choice by Walter Camp. Johnson was also voted Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten and finalist for the Doak Walker Award. He posted school single-season records in points (138), total touchdowns (23) and rushing scores (21). Johnson (6-foot, 225 pounds) rushed for 1,537 yards in 12 games, sixth-most in the country and third-most in program history. The native of Hamilton, Ohio, scored at least one touchdown in all 12 regular season games — the longest stretch in school history. Johnson had seven games in 2024 with two or more rushing touchdowns, believed to be the most in a single season in program history. He declared for the NFL Draft earlier this month.

The 2024 Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) All-America teams will be announced on Tuesday and conclude with Sporting News on Wednesday.

The Hawkeyes will play No. 19 Missouri on Dec. 30, 2024, in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl in Nashville. The game will start at 1:30 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on ESPN.

2024 IOWA POSTSEASON ALL-AMERICA NATIONAL HONORS
JAY HIGGINS: Walter Camp, AFCA, AP, CBS, The Athletic (first team)
KALEB JOHNSON: Walter Camp (first team); AFCA, AP, CBS, The Athletic (second team), Pro Football Focus
LUKE ELKIN: AFCA (first team)

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior RB Kaleb Johnson and senior LB Jay Higgins were named Roy J. Carver Most Valuable Players as the Iowa football program announced its 2024 team awards Sunday.

Higgins has been recognized as an American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Walter Camp first-team All-American, Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten. Higgins, who was a semifinalist for three national awards (Lombardi, Butkus, Lott IMPACT), is the only player in the nation with 100+ tackles and four interceptions. His four picks are tied for the 0most amongst linebackers from a Power 4 conference. Higgins has been a tackling machine for Iowa’s defense, racking up 118 tackles — second most in the Big Ten, 13th-most nationally. The Indianapolis native has been a leader on an Iowa defense that is ninth nationally, allowing 17.1 points per game.

Johnson, who was previously honored as an AFCA and Walter Camp All-American, Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten and a Doak Walker Award finalist, had a historic year. He posted school single-season records in points (138), total touchdowns (23) and rushing scores (21). Johnson rushed for 1,537 yards in 12 games in 2024, sixth-most in the country and third-most in program history. The native of Hamilton, Ohio, scored at least one touchdown in all 12 regular season games — the longest stretch in school history. He had seven games in 2024 with two or more rushing touchdowns, believed to be the most in a single season in program history.

Five permenent team captains were named, including senior TE Luke Lachey and senior C Logan Jones on offense, Higgins and senior FS Quinn Schulte on defense, and senior LS Luke Elkin on special teams. Jones was also recognized with the Iron Hawk Award.

Lachey has played in 11 games in 2024, leading Iowa’s tight ends and ranking second overall, with 27 receptions and 227 receiving yards. Lachey was a team captain in all 12 regular-season games in 2024 and is a two-time honorable mention Big Ten honoree.

Jones, who started all 12 games, was a first-team all-conference selection last week. The native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, anchored the Hawkeye offensive line, that allowed just 15 sacks and helped Iowa rush for 2,599 yards, the most since 2002.

Schulte ranks third on the team with 57 tackles as Iowa’s free safety. He also has three interceptions and three pass break-ups. Schulte was a team captain in all 12 regular season games in 2024 and is a two-time honorable mention all-conference honoree. Schulte has made 39 consecutive starts (fifth-longest nationally among DBs).

Elkin, who has been Iowa’s long snapper the past four seasons, was previously honored as a 2024 first-team AFCA All-American and second-team All-Big Ten selection. He snapped for Dakin and Stevens, as well as Tory Taylor, the Ray Guy Award recipient and consensus All-American in 2023.

The Hayden Fry “Extra Heartbeat” Award was shared by Iowa’s five starting offensive linemen: Jones, senior tackle Mason Richman, junior tackle Gennings Dunker, junior guard Beau Stephens and senior guard Connor Colby on offense, Higgins, senior LB Nick Jackson, senior DE Deontae Craig, senior DE Ethan Hurkett and senior DT Yahya Black on defense, and Elkin and LB Kyler Fisher on special teams. The Hayden Fry Award is presented to team members who show exemplary leadership and dedication throughout the year as well as the offseason.

The Hawkeye offensive line was a Joe Moore Award semifinalist, which recognizes the top offensive line in the country. Jones and Colby earned first-team all-conference recognition, Dunker was honored on the second team, while Richman and Stephens both were honorable mention All-Big Ten.

Jackson amassed 83 tackles to rank second on the team and 11th in the Big Ten. He also accumulated five tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks, five hurries, returned an interception 28 yards and tied for first on the team with seven pass break-ups. Craig, Hurkett and Black each started all 12 games on the defensive line in 2024. Craig has 38 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and one sack, had six hurries and one pass break-up. Hurkett leads all defensive linemen, and ranks fourth on the team, with 55 tackles. He leads the team with 11.5 tackles for loss, including 6.5 sacks, while also forcing three fumbles and registering two hurries. Black has registered 31 tackles, including five for loss and one sack, recorded Iowa’s only blocked kick of the season (field goal versus Washington), and two hurries and two pass break-ups. Fisher has 25 tackles (16 solo, nine assists), including two tackles for a loss of six yards, one forced fumble, and one pass break-up.

The Brett Greenwood Award was shared by Elkin, senior FB Hayden Large, RS Kaden Wetjen, and junior WR Max White. Established in 2011, the Greenwood Award goes to former walk-ons who embodies the values and behaviors of former Hawkeye walk-on Brett Greenwood. These student-athletes have made a significant contribution to the team through persistence, determination, commitment, preparation and action.

White and Large played in 12 and 11 games, respectively, in 2024. Wetjen, who is the 2024 Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year, a first-team All-Big Ten selection and finalist for the Jet Award, leads the nation with 888 combined kick return yards (next most is 674 yards). He is second in the FBS in punt return yards (312) and sixth in kickoff return yards (576). The native of Williamsburg, Iowa, native had an 85-yard punt return for a score against Northwestern, the seventh-longest in school history.

Lachey received the Forest Evashevski Academic Achievement Award. Lachey, who was a 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy nominee, graduated last May with a degree in enterprise leadership and a 3.74 grade point average. He is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, three-time recipient of the Presidential Committee on Academic Medallion, three-time Dean’s List and named to the President’s List once.

The Reggie Roby Special Teams Award was shared by junior PK Drew Stevens (specialist) and Wetjen (overall). Stevens, a two-time all-league honoree, connected on 19-of-22 field goals as in 2024. He tied the school-record with five made field goals in Iowa’s win at Maryland and converting two field goals, including a 53-yard game winner as time expired, in the regular season finale versus Nebraska. Stevens has made a school-record eight field goals of 50 yards or more in his career, while his 1.58 field goals made per game in 2024 rank second best in the Big Ten and 15th nationally.

Eight Hawkeyes earned the Next Man In Award: junior QB Brendan Sullivan, senior OT Nick DeJong, senior OG Tyler Elsbury, junior TE Johnny Pascuzzi and sophomore RB Kamari Moulton on offense; DB TJ Hall on defense; and WR Alex Eichmann, DB Jaylen Watson and LB Landyn Van Kekerix on special teams.

Sullivan has played in nine games, including two starts. He has completed 24-of-35 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns, and 35 rushes for 144 yards and four touchdowns in 2024. When he is under center, Iowa is 16-of-16 in red zone scoring opportunities (14 touchdowns, two field goals). DeJong and Elsbury both played in 12 games, including two starts, in 2024. Hall played in 11 games, including six starts, amassing 17 tackles, two pass break-ups and intercepting one pass. Moulton saw action in 11 games, rushing 70 times for 377 yards and two scores, including a crucial 68-yard touchdown run at Maryland. Pascuzzi, Eichmann, Watson and Van Kekerix all saw meaningful minutes in 2024.

Coaches Appreciation Award recipients were sophomore TE Zach Ortwerth, sophomore WR Jarriett Buie and OL Kade Pieper on offense; Schulte, Fisher, senior DB Sebastian Castro and junior DT Jeremiah Pittman on defense; White, junior LB Jaxon Rexroth, sophomore LB Jayden Montgomery, junior LB Jaden Harrell, freshman punter Rhys Dakin and senior punter Ty Nissen on special teams.

Ortwerth has 10 catches for 133 yards, Buie has six receptions for 64 yards, while Pieper has seen action in 10 games. Castro’s 56 tackles were fourth most on the team. A two-time all-conference honoree, Castro also had an interception, three tackles for loss, forced two fumbles, one pass break-up and a hurry. Pittman, Rexroth, Montgomery, Harrell and Nissen all saw significant minutes in 2024. Dakin is averaging 44.2 yards on 60 punts, which ranks fifth in the Big Ten and 25th nationally. Thirty-one of his punts have been fair caught, 27 have been downed inside the 20 and 16 have traveled 50+ yards. Only five of his punts have been touchbacks.

Team Hustle Awards went to sophomore RB Jaziun Patterson, junior WR Jacob Gill and junior TE Addison Ostrenga on offense; junior DT Aaron Graves and junior DE Max Llewellyn on defense; redshirt freshman DB Zach Lutmer, sophomore DB John Nestor and junior LB Karson Sharar on special teams.

Gill leads the team in receiving with 32 catches for 382 yards and two touchdowns, Patterson has rushed 54 times for 235 yards and two touchdowns, while Ostrenga has 14 catches for 85 yards and a score. Graves had 32 tackles, including eight for loss and six sacks, forced three fumbles, and was credited with two pass break-ups and two hurries. Llewellyn has 20 tackles, including eight for loss and 5.5 sacks, three pass break-ups, seven pressures, recovered one fumble, and scored team’s first safety of the season. Lutmer, Nestor and Sharar all were key contributors on special teams.

Team Leader Awards were presented to freshman WR KJ Parker, freshman RB Brevin Doll and OL Bodey McCaslin on offense; freshman LB Derek Weisskopf, freshman DL Devan Kennedy, freshman LB Cam Buffington and senior DB Jamison Heinz; and Buffington, Doll and freshman LB Devan Van Ness on special teams.

Lachey, Stephens and junior WR Seth Anderson were presented the Comeback Player of the Year Award. All three offensive players returned to the lineup after suffering injuries and elevated their play. Anderson had 106 receiving yards on five catches (15.1 average) in seven games.

The Bump Elliott Appreciation Award was presented to Kevin and Rick Manary of Harry’s Trophies.

Brian Cassady and Chet Wieland shared the 2024 Distinguished Service Award. The duo coordinate sideline communications for the football program. Wieland is in his 14th season, while Cassady in completing his ninth year.

Iowa (8-4) will face No. 19 Missouri (9-3) in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 in Nashville (1:30 p.m. CT, ESPN). The Hawkeyes earned their 22nd bowl invite over the past 26 seasons under Moon Family Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz.

Forest Evashevski Academic Achievement: Luke Lachey

Iron Hawk Award: Logan Jones

Roy Carver Most Valuable Players: Kaleb Johnson, offense; Jay Higgins, defense

Permanent Team Captains: Luke Lachey, offense; Logan Jones, offense; Jay Higgins, defense; Quinn Schulte, defense; Luke Elkin, special teams

Hayden Fry Award: Mason Richman, offense; Beau Stephens, offense; Logan Jones, offense; Gennings Dunker, offense; Connor Colby, offense; Jay Higgins, defense; Nick Jackson, defense; Deontae Craig, defense; Ethan Hurkett, defense; Yayha Black, defense; Luke Elkin, special teams; Kyler Fisher, special teams

Reggie Roby Special Teams Award: Drew Stevens, specialist; Kaden Wetjen, overall

Team Leader Award: KJ Parker, offense; Brevin Doll, offense; Bodey McCaslin, offense; Derek Weisskopf, defense; Devan Kennedy, defense; Cam Buffington, defense; Jamison Heinz, defense; Devan Van Ness, special teams; Cam Buffington, special teams; Brevin Doll, special teams

Brett Greenwood Award: Hayden Large; Luke Elkin; Kaden Wetjen; Max White

Comeback Player of the Year: Luke Lachey; Beau Stephens; Seth Anderson

Coaches Appreciation Award: Zach Ortwerth, offense; Jarriett Buie, offense; Kade Pieper, offense; Sebastian Castro, defense; Quinn Schulte, defense; Kyler Fisher, defense; Jeremiah Pittman, defense; Jaxon Rexroth, special teams; Jayden Montgomery, special teams; Max White, special teams; Rhys Dakin, special teams; Ty Nissen, special teams; Jaden Harrell, special teams

Team Hustle Award: Jaziun Patterson, offense; Jacob Gill, offense; Addison Ostrenga, offense; Aaron Graves, defense; Max Llewellyn, defense; Zach Lutmer, special teams; John Nestor, special teams; Karson Sharar, special teams

Next Man In Award: Brendan Sullivan, offense; Nick DeJong, offense; Johnny Pascuzzi, offense; Tyler Elsbury, offense; Kamari Moulton, offense; TJ Hall, defense; Alex Eichmann, special teams; Jaylen Watson, special teams; Landyn Van Kekerix, special teams

Bump Elliott Award: Kevin and Rick Manary (Harry’s Trophies)

Distinguished Service Award: Brian Cassady and Chet Wieland