The Tri-Center Trojans Football Team will look to capture their first state championship on Thursday when they take on the West Hancock Eagles. Despite 12 previous playoff appearances, the Trojans had never made it to the UNI Dome and now have a chance to win it all. The Trojans might be one of the hottest teams in the state. They have not lost since dropping their opening game of the season to AHSTW. The offense has been firing on all cylinders, putting up 40 or more points each of the last five games, and the defense has not allowed more than 20 points since their week two win over Treynor. Playing in championship games is always a remarkable opportunity and Head Coach Ryan Schroder is excited for this moment.

To get to this point, the Trojans had to deal with noteworthy opponents, and last week was no different. Battling a Saint Ansgar team with tons of talent, the Trojans shined. Although their halftime lead was slim, AJ Harder shined in the opening two quarters, arguably playing his best game of the postseason. Then, in the second half, Cater Kunze joined the party to finish the game with 195 yards and four touchdowns in Tri-Center’s 42-14 win. Schroder admitted that his team was a little tight in the early going but was happy with how his team handled the pressure, saying their balance attack allows them to have multiple options.

Part of those multiple options are receivers Zach Nelson and Cael Witt. Both have over 60 receptions and over a thousand receiving yards. In their semi-final matchup, Nelson and Witt each had six receptions, while Witt had two touchdowns, including a 34-yard strike from Harder. You also can’t forget about Brant Freeberg, who has made himself a very reliable third option, leading the team in yards per reception. This allows Tri-Center’s playbook to be expansive and cover a variety of scenarios. Coach Schroder knows it’s a very useful advantage to have in his pocket.

Despite all the weapons at the skill positions, it might be the unsung heroes of the offensive and defensive line that play one of the biggest roles for the Trojans.  They arguably were the biggest difference against Saint Ansgar. Schroder knows that without them, the Trojans wouldn’t have come this far.

Tri-Center will have to get over a big hurdle if they are to take home the crown. The West Hancock Eagles are a perfect 12-0 and have looked sharp throughout the postseason. The Eagles also have an edge in experience as the UNI Dome has practically been a second home for West Hancock. The Eagles are making their fifth final appearance in the last seven seasons. However, beyond just making it to the big game, they know how to win it. Schroder understands that today will be a very tough challenge.

Regardless of the outcome of today’s game, it will be the last time either of these teams plays in their current forms. The message from Coach Schroder was simple.

You can catch all the action on KJAN with pregame coverage starting at noon.

Maya McDermott poured in 37 points and the UNI women outscored Iowa State 19-2 to close the third quarter and stunned the eighth ranked Cyclones 87-75 in the McLeod Center.

That’s UNI coach Tanya Warren. It was the Panther’s first game after senior standout Grace Boffeli was ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. It was the Panther’s first win over a top ten opponent.

McDermott made 14-of-21 shots from the field to finish with a career high and only had one turnover in 35 minutes of action.

McDermott says it was an emotional victory for the Panthers.

UNI was 12-of-25 from three point range but McDermott says defense was the key to the win.

The Cyclones shot 45 percent for the game but were just two-of-11 from three point range in the second half.

That’s ISU coach Bill Fennelly who says the closing moments of the third quarter turned the game around.

It is Iowa State’s first loss of the season and Fennelly says his team will need to bounce back with a good effort Sunday when they host Drake.

The Iowa Hawkeye women jumped out to an 18-4 lead at the end of one and beat Kansas 71-58 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. Hannah Stuelke had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Lucy Olsen had 16 points and coach Jan Jensen says defense was the difference.

Jensen was happy with the way her team had to grind out a win.

The Hawkeyes got 23 points off the bench and Olsen says several freshmen played key roles.

The Hawkeyes improve to 5-0.

Iowa center Logan Jones says there is no lack of motivation as the Hawkeyes get ready for Saturday’s game at Maryland. The Hawkeyes are 6-4 and have been off since a November eighth loss at UCLA.

Jones says the Hawks will be ready no matter who starts at quarterback. Brendan Sullivan is out with an injured ankle, Cade McNamara has been cleared and Jackson Stratton is also a possibility.

Running back Kaleb Johnson says the Hawkeyes are excited for the final two games of the regular season.

Johnson says if Jackson Stratton gets the start at quarterback he will be ready.

Tight end Luke Lachey says for the tight ends nothing changes depending upon who the quarterback is.

After missing a couple of games due to injury Lachey feels he is returning to game shape.

Maryland coach Mike Locksley wants to celebrate Senior Day with a win over Iowa. After a 3-1 start the Terrapins have dropped five of their last six heading into Saturday’s game against the Hawkeyes.

Locksley says Kirk Ferentz has built a winning program at Iowa with a consistent style of play.

Locksley says the key for the Terrapin defense will be slowing down Hawkeye running back Kaleb Johnson. The Hawkeyes are 4-0 in Big Ten play when Johnson goes over 100 yards of rushing.

After going 12-10 a season ago, the CAM Cougars Boys Basketball Team is looking to their upswing. the 2023-24 season was their second consecutive 12-win season. However, last season, the Cougars beat Glidden-Ralston in the first round of the playoffs. This year, the Cougars might have the tools to go further as they are returning a large part of their roster including their top two scorers. Head Coach Ian Hunt is extremely excited about the possibilities this new season provides.

Colin Bower led CAM last year, averaging a double-double with 13.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game while shooting over 44% from the floor. Chase Jahde wasn’t far behind, as he averaged 13.5 points per game and shot at a 37% clip last year. Both returners bring size and athleticism to the table, and Hunt says they are on track after the team’s first week.

In addition to Bower and Jahde, numerous Cougars have improved over the offseason and have the potential for a breakout season.

The Cougars finished fifth in the Rolling Valley Conference with an 8-8 record last season. In a conference of nine, this cracks into the top half of the conference. This year, hunt wants to see his team be in the thick of conference battles while seeing continual improvement throughout the season.

With the season fast approaching, Hunt and his team can’t wait to hit the floor in their season opener against Griswold.

The Cougars season opener against the Tigers Tips-off at 7:30 pm on Monday.

The Iowa Hawkeye men dialed up the defensive pressure and beat Rider 83-58. The Hawkeyes forced 20 turnovers in moving to 5-0.

That’s Iowa coach Fran McCaffery. Rider entered the game with a record of 3-1 but made only one of 16 from three point range.

Payton Sandfort scored 22 points and Owen Freeman added 19 as the Hawkeyes overcame a slow start offensively.

The Hawkeyes played without starting guard Josh Dix, who injured a wrist in last Friday’s game against Washington State.

The Northern Iowa men raced out to an 18-point halftime lead and beat Western Illinois 82-56 in Cedar Falls. Panther coach Ben Jacobson.

Jacobson says the Panthers turned it up defensively midway through the opening half.

Trey Campbell led the Panthers with 18 points and Tytan Anderson added 17 points as they improve to 3-2.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says Jackson Stratton could start Saturday’s game at quarterback at Maryland. The transfer from Colorado State entered the loss at UCLA after Brendan Sullivan left the game with an injured ankle. Cade McNamara was listed as the starter on Monday’s two-deep and has returned to practice but his availability is still uncertain.

Ferentz says the limited game experience Stratton got at UCLA was a plus. He completed three of six passes and led Iowa on a touchdown drive.

Sullivan started the last two games and Ferentz says he could be available for a bowl game.

Ferentz says a decision on the starting quarterback will be made on Friday. Ferentz has coached against several former Iowa coaches and players but this will be the first time he has gone up against a family member. Former Hawkeye offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz is an offensive assistant at Maryland.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior forward Payton Sandfort has been named to the 2024-25 Lute Olson National Player of the Year ‘Early Season’ Watch List, the announcement was made Tuesday by the College Insider, Inc. The award is presented annually to the top player in Division I college basketball.

Sandfort is one of eight Big Ten players on the list, along with Rutgers’ Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, Indiana’s Oumar Ballo, Michigan’s Vladislav Goldin, Washington’s Great Osobor, Purdue’s Braden Smith and Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton.

Early in the 2024-25 season, Sandfort has reached double figure in each of Iowa’s first four games. He flirted with triple-doubles in Hawkeye victories over East Texas A&M and Southern, and he is averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists, while shooting 42.3 percent from the field with 12 3-point field goals.

Sandfort has also been named to the John R. Wooden and Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Preseason Watch Lists.

As a junior, the 6-foot-8, 215 pound forward put up career-best numbers across the board, averaging 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists, while shooting 44.6 percent from the floor, 37.9 percent from distance and 91.1 percent from the free throw stripe.

Sandfort was one of the best shooters in the Big Ten, leading the league with 94 3-point field goals. He made two or more 3s in 27 games, three or more in 17 games and four or more 12 times. The 94 makes ranked in the top 40 nationally.

Sandfort, who became just the second Big Ten Player since 1992-92 to average 16+ points, 6+ rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 3-point field goals, made Iowa history during a Feb. 27 victory over Penn State. He recorded the first triple-double in program history, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and three blocks in the game.

The award is named in honor of Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson, who won 776 games in 34 seasons, 24 of which were spent at the University of Arizona and nine at Iowa. Olson is one of just 25 head coaches in NCAA history to win 700 or more games and he ranks ninth on the Division I career victories list.

In 2002, Olson was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He passed away on Aug. 27, 2020.

The recipient of the award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.

The 2025 award will be announced in San Antonio, Texas – the site of the men’s Division I Basketball Championship.

The Hawkeyes return to action tonight, hosting Rider at 7 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will be streamed live on B1G+.