(Radio Iowa) – With limited attendance in the UNI-Dome the state high school football championship games open Thursday morning in 8-player as second ranked Remsen St. Mary’s takes on number six Fremont-Mills. After contending with the passing attack of Montezuma in the semifinals the Remsen St. Mary’s defense will try to slow down the Fremont-Mills ground attack.

That’s Hawks coach Tim Osterman. Led by quarterback Blaine Harpenau, Remsen St. Mary’s offense rolled up 108 points in the semifinal round win.

The Hawks are in search of their first championship since 2004.

The Fremont-Mills offense is led by junior quarterback Jake Malcom and senior running back Seth Malcom, who is averaging more than eight and=a-half yards per carry.

That’s Fremont-Mills coach Jeremy Christiansen. The Knights will be in search of their first title since 2011 and Christiansen says their success will begin with defense.

Christiansen says they are thankful to have this opportunity during a pandemic.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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(By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer) – Iowa forward Luka Garza could have heard his name called in Wednesday night’s NBA draft. Instead, he opted for the uncertainty of playing a final college basketball season amid a pandemic.

FILE – In this March 3, 2020, file photo, Iowa center Luka Garza shoots a free throw during an NCAA college basketball game against Purdue in Iowa City, Iowa. Seniors Garza of Iowa and Baylor’s Jared Butler headline The Associated Press 2020-21 preseason All-America team, announced Wednesday, Nov. 11. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

Garza heads the list of notable seniors gearing up for the 2020-21 campaign. He was the Big Ten player of the year last season and finished runner-up to Dayton’s Obi Toppin in Associated Press player of the year voting. The 6-foot-11 forward averaged 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.

(By ERIC OLSON AP College Football Writer) – Iowa State’s Charlie Kolar, Chase Allen and Dylan Soehner entered the season as perhaps the most celebrated group of tight ends in the country, and they still are. Those three along with reserve Easton Dean have combined for 45 catches. Only Boston College’s tight ends, with 52, have more.

Iowa State tight end Chase Allen, left, celebrates his touchdown against Baylor with tight end Dylan Soehner during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 38-31. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)

Kolar is the 17th-ranked Cyclones’ second-leading receiver with 23 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Allen has 13 catches for 173 yards and two scores. Soehner is the highest-rated tight end in run blocking, according to Pro Football Focus. Coach Matt Campbell says each tight end is playing his best football this season.

Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard sent a letter to fans in regards to attendance for November Athletic events. Attendance is going to be limited to families and guests of student-athletes and staff for those events in Ames. Here is the letter from Pollard:

“After thorough discussion and consultation with university and community leaders, we have decided to limit attendance at Saturday’s football game against Kansas State to families and guests of student-athletes and staff. The marching band and spirit squad will also attend the game.

We have also decided to limit attendance at men’s and women’s basketball games through the end of November to families and guests of student-athletes and staff.

The safety of all individuals remains our priority and with increased COVID positivity and hospitalization rates throughout the state, we feel this is the appropriate action.

The fan base has been incredibly compliant with mitigation measures this fall, and there are no known cases of COVID resulting from fans attending our games. However, we feel it is in the best interest of our state, community and university, for the Iowa State Athletics Department to be a leader in limiting social gatherings during these times.

The ticket office will communicate the options for football ticket refunds after completion of the season. Fans with tickets to the men’s and/or women’s basketball games in November will receive refunds for those game tickets

We will continue to monitor COVID cases locally and adapt our plans for attendance at December athletics events in the next several weeks.

Thank you for your understanding.”

Officials with the IKM-Manning School District, Tuesday (Today) report “In accordance with Governor Reynold’s proclamation, all IKM-Manning Junior High sports activities have been suspended through December 10th.”

AMES, Iowa – Updated COVID-19 testing results by the Iowa State Athletics Department.

Nov. 9-Nov. 15
Total Tests         Athletes             Staff      Total Positive    Athlete Pos.      Staff Pos.       %Pos.
561                      420                      141        3                           1                           2                             0.53

June 8-Nov. 15
Total Tests         Athletes             Staff      Total Positive    Athlete Pos.      Staff Pos.       %Pos.
9,155                   6,665                   2,495    77                        63                        14                             0.84

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa Athletics Department conducted 592 COVID-19 PCR tests for the week of Nov. 9-15, 2020. Fifteen positive tests and 577 negative tests have been received. As part of the return to campus protocol, testing began May 29, 2020, and includes student-athletes, coaches and staff. A total of 313 positive tests, 9,317 negative tests and one inconclusive test have been received.

The Big Ten Conference began daily rapid antigen surveillance testing on Sept. 30, 2020. Any positive tests identified through the surveillance testing process would be confirmed through a PCR test and reflected in the numbers listed above.

Following the positive test result, protocol established by UI Athletics and medical staff, including contact tracing procedures, is being followed to ensure the safety of all UI Athletics student-athletes and staff. This mandatory protocol also includes isolation for the individuals who test positive, and quarantine for those individuals who might have been exposed to someone with the virus.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa baseball program has signed eight players – all who hail from the Hawkeye State – who will join the program in the fall of 2021, it was announced Monday by head coach Rick Heller.

“We really like this class. It has a good mix of athletic position players who can hit and talented pitchers,” said Heller. “Most of these guys have been committed to our program for quite some time and they already feel like family. We are looking forward to their arrival and working with them next fall.

“(Associate head coach) Marty Sutherland did a fantastic job heading up our recruiting efforts.”

The class consists of Gehrig Christensen (C, Urbandale, Iowa), Weston Fulk (LHP, Ankeny, Iowa), Luke Llewellyn (RHP, Urbandale, Iowa), Sam Petersen (IF, Huxley, Iowa), Coy Sarsfield (OF, Marion, Iowa), Caden Stoffer (RHP, Fairfax, Iowa), Ben Wilmes (IF, Des Moines, Iowa) and Mitch Wood (IF, Ottumwa, Iowa).

The group features seven prep players and one junior college transfer and five positional players and three pitchers.  All seven prep players are nationally ranked by Perfect Game.

2020 Iowa Baseball Signees

Name                                    Pos.       Ht.    Wt.  B/T     Hometown/High School (Last School)
Gehrig Christensen                C           6-1    170   L/R     Urbandale, Iowa/Urbandale
Weston Fulk                          LHP        6-4    230   L/L      Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny
Luke Llewellyn                      RHP        6-4    230   R/R     Urbandale, Iowa/Urbandale (Kirkwood CC)
Sam Petersen                        IF            5-11 175   R/R     Huxley, Iowa/Ballard Community
Coy Sarsfield                         OF          5-8    175   R/R     Marion, Iowa/Linn Mar
Caden Stoffer                       RHP        6-4    175   R/R     Fairfax, Iowa/Cedar Rapids Prairie
Ben Wilmes                           IF            6-0    170   R/R     Des Moines, Iowa/Johnston
Mitch Wood                          IF            6-2    185   R/R     Ottumwa, Iowa/Ottumwa

Following the new guidelines set forth by Governor Reynolds on Monday night, the Iowa High School Athletic Association will make another adjustment to attendance at the State Football Finals this week. Here is the full statement put out by the IHSAA.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association’s football championship games currently set for Thursday and Friday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls fall under high school sporting event guidelines as issued by Governor Kim Reynolds in an updated proclamation on Monday evening.

The proclamation will limit attendance to the six championship games to two spectators per participating athlete. The IHSAA played last week’s 12 semifinal games with face covering requirements and spectator restrictions at the UNI-Dome due to the continued spread of COVID-19.

The IHSAA will work with partners at the University of Northern Iowa, Black Hawk County Public Health, the Department of Education, and Iowa state government officials to provide further information and compliance on the planned event. Updates and clarifications on championship game protocols as they become available.