The ACGC Chargers were unable to get past the quarterfinal as they fell 24-14 to the West Sioux Falcons on Friday night. Although the Chargers had an electric start with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Joe Crawford, they couldn’t find that explosiveness on offense. The Charger offense had to earn every yard, and in the process made a few mistakes that stunted their rhythm. The defense played well and kept them in the game, but the Falcons made the big plays at the big moments. Unfortunately for ACGC, the lack of sustained offense proved to be the difference as they failed to reach the semis for the fourth time in the last five years.

The Chargers could not have dreamed of a better start to the game. On the opening kickoff, the Falcons made the mistake of kicking the ball to Crawford. Fielding it at the two yard line, Crawford started up the middle of the field and eventually found open grass down the sideline to give ACGC an early touchdown lead. However, it didn’t take West Sioux long to find a response. The Falcons drove the field efficiently on the back of running back Braylon Lopez. However, it was the pass game that would register the first score for West Sioux. From 20 yards out, Blake Wiggins dumped it off to Gavin Gerritson, who found the end zone. Despite giving up the touchdown, the Chargers blocked the extra point to keep a lead intact.

Back with the ball, the Chargers struggled to move the ball, as they did at times throughout the night. They also struggled with procedural penalties, particularly false starts that stunted some of their momentum. ACGC’s second drive stalled out, and they were forced to punt, opening the door for the Falcons to take the lead. Despite having one of the best passing offenses in Class-A, West Sioux leaned on Lopez and the run for most of the night. They featured him again on the second drive as he scored from seven yards out to give the Falcons their first lead of the night. However, this time, the Chargers had a response. Going on a long, extended drive capped off by 7-yard touchdown run from Crawford to retake the lead. The drives before the half could’ve been big for both teams but neither of them capitalized on the opportunity as the score remained 14-13 ACGC into the half.

West Sioux’s opening drive set the tone for the second half. Again, relying on Lopez, they moved down the field. However, once in goal-to-go, the Chargers made a stand. Keeping the offense on the field, West Sioux tried to throw the ball to the flat, but it fell incomplete.  However, the Chargers took a critical penalty and were called for roughing the passer, giving the Falcons new life. It didn’t take long for them to take advantage as Lopez scored from three yards out. It was the only touchdown scored in the second half. In a bit of trickery, Garritson threw to the goal line and completed a pass to convert the two-point conversion.

The ACGC offense struggled to consistently move the ball the rest of the way. Although they did pick up three or four yards a play, eventually the drives stalled out. They fought hard the entire game, but West Sioux stayed true to their assignments. ACGC’s defense kept them in the game, keeping the Falcons off the board. However late in the game, Lopez popped off a massive run that all but sealed the deal. Although the Chargers made another stand and forced a field goal, it left little time for the Chargers to work with. Although they moved downfield, time ran out in the game and the season. Head coach Cody Matthewson credited West Sioux’s discipline, but ultimately felt like they left some things on the table.

It is a tough loss to swallow for the Chargers. However, Matthewson appreciated all the work his team and especially his senior class had poured into the program.

Iowa hosts sixth ranked Oregon in a key Big Ten clash on Saturday. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says to have any chance the Hawkeyes must limit mistakes.

Ferentz says there is little margin for error against teams like Oregon.

Ferentz feels the Hawkeyes have made a lot of progress as they begin the stretch run.

Iowa State takes a four game losing streak on the road to TCU. After being hurt by the quarterback run last week in a loss to Arizona State the Cyclones must contain a high octane Horned Frog passing attack led by quarterback Josh Hoover.

That’s Cyclone coach Matt Campbell who talks about Hoover’s strengths as a quarterback.

Campbell says TCU likes to spread the field to run the ball.

5A: Waukee Northwest – 3 vs Ankeny Centennial – 0

4A: North Scott – 3 vs Sioux Center – 1

3A: Assumption – 3 vs Humboldt – 0

2A: Denver – 3 vs Hinton – 2

1A: St. Ansgar – 3 vs Janesville – 1

Audubon – 26 vs Iowa Valley – 19

Woodbine – 50 vs Fremont-Mills – 12

Gladbrook-Reinbeck – 54 vs Edgewood-Colesburg – 18

Bishop Garrigan – 51 vs Don Bosco – 21

For the third year in a row and fourth in the last five years, the ACGC Chargers will compete in a quarter final. This year, the Chargers will face the 9-1 West Sioux Falcons as they look to advance past the quarterfinal for the first time in school history. The Chargers are coming tow dominate defensive performances. In round one, the swept aside Logan-Magnolia 33-7 while round two saw them knock off a familiar foe in Mount Ayr 21-7. Head coach Cody Matthewson praised the effort of his team and likes where their game is at.

However, this Friday they will be looking to get over the proverbial hump. Last year they fell at this point to the eventual state champions in Tri-Center, while in 2023 the lost by a sing touchdown to Madrid. Matthewson believes his group is extremely motivated but also has the experience in these types of situations.

The staple of this ACGC team is the run game. Running the flexbone offense, the Charger have had near unparalleled success. This season the group has amassed 3,364 rushing yards which leads class A. They have two 1,000-yard rushers in Joe Crawford (1,180) and Brexton Schnieder (1,010), while also having 5 others with 100 or more yards on the season.  Their 50 rushing touchdowns rank second only behind St. Ansgar while their 54 total touchdowns ranks fourth. Matthewson says everything starts up front and gives a lot of credit to his offensive line.

Under center for the Chargers is senior Tommy Skram. Although different from quarterbacks in previous years, Matthewson said his ability to read and distribute has been a key to their success.

To get to the dome the Chargers will face a touch test in West Sioux. They bring a balanced offense to the table that currently tied for first in passing touchdowns, ranks fourth in passing yards. Although absent from the quarterfinals in the last two years, they mad the previous eight.  Matthewson knows that both teams will be highly motivated and expects the best out of the Falcons.

Discipline and execution are the words being thrown around as the biggest keys in this game.

You can catch all the action on KJAN with pregame coverage beginning at 6 pm with kickoff from Guthrie Center scheduled for 7 pm.

The 16th ranked Iowa State men improved to 2-0. Joshua Jefferson led six Cyclones in double figures with 20 points in a 102-62 win over Grambling. The Cyclones shot better than 54 percent for the game.

That’s coach T.J. Otzelberger. ISU won the battle on the glass 40-22 and had 15 offensive rebounds.

The UNI men hit 14 three pointers and rolled to an 86-57 win over Cal State Northridge in the McLeod Center. On defense, the Panthers limited the Matadors to just over 32 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers.

That’s UNI coach Ben Jacobson. The Panthers shot better than 50 percent for the game and had 24 assists.

Leon Bond led the Panthers with 23 points.

The Audubon Football team is moving on to the Eight-Man semifinals and clinches their first trip to the UNI-Dome in four seasons with a dramatic 26-19 victory at undefeated Iowa Valley Thursday night. Despite just six second half points, the Wheelers defense buckled down late in the fourth to prevent a Tiger comeback potentially forcing overtime. The fireworks began on the first snap of the ballgame when Junior Nolan Kriegel found his top receiver Layne Peska for a 65-yard touchdown pass to quickly put Iowa Valley ahead 6-0. The first possession of the game for the Wheelers was methodical with a holding call in the middle of the drive. Facing a fourth and 23 early, Sophomore Quarterback Aiden Kjergaard found a wide-open Austin Christinsen in the corner of the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown pass with the two-point try included. The game was 8-6 Wheelers six minutes in. After the score, Audubon’s defense settled in forcing a Tiger three and out. Kjergaard marched the Wheelers across midfield and ended the drive dashing a touchdown 30 yards out to put Audubon ahead 14-6.

In the second quarter, Iowa Valley drove down the field facing a fourth down and short inside the Audubon 15 and failed to convert. Just like Audubon has done all year, they have capitalized on big plays from the defense as Kjergaard goes the distance for his second rushing touchdown of the game from 60 yards out. With the score, Audubon took a 20-6 lead into the half. Audubon received the football to begin the second half and faced a third and long deep in their own territory. The Kjergaard to Christensen connection comes up clutch again as the sophomore quarterback finds a wide-open Christiansen for a 64-yard touchdown pass to put the Wheelers up 20.

Iowa Valley wouldn’t go away lightly though as they began to chip into the Audubon lead. Later in the third, it was only a matter of time until the state’s touchdown leader in Nolan Kriegel found the end zone from 20 yards out to make it a 26-12 lead. Audubon’s offense became stagnant as the game progressed into the later stages causing the Tigers and their fans to grasp momentum. Kriegel puts his team within one score late in the third after a 34-yard touchdown run. 

In the fourth, the defenses shined brightest as both teams stopped each other twice. Iowa Valley had the football with just over two minutes left and had a chance to tie the game or even win it. Despite a fourth and one conversion it wasn’t enough as time expired on a Peska run from the Wildcat. Audubon had hung on to win 26-19.

Head Coach Sean Birks believes this is an achievement not just for the 2025 team but the entire Audubon program as a whole.

After the first play touchdown from Iowa Valley, there was no panic.

Birks gave major credit to the defensive effort.

The coaching staff had full trust in their team to pull through down the stretch.

Audubon will play their semifinal matchup from the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on Wednesday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa wrestling team shut out Bellarmine, 40-0, in its home and season opener Thursday night on Mediacom Mat at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The Hawkeyes had 31 takedowns to Bellarmine’s one. Iowa tallied five bonus-point wins, including closing out the dual with four matches ending early as they outscored the Knights in total match points, 120-27.

“When there was a lot of hustle, a lot of points were scored,” said head coach Tom Brands. “That’s a good thing. We need to hustle more. Those points aren’t going to fall down for you, you have to go put them down.”

With the dual starting at 197, No. 17 Massoma Endene made his Division I and Hawkeye debut with a 3-0 decision over Andrew Liber.

No. 5 Ben Kueter picked up his first ranked win of the year at heavyweight, defeating No. 28 Daulton Mayer, 8-2, before No. 10 Dean Peterson won a decision, 5-1, over Damion Ryan in his first match at Carver.

At 133, No. 2 Drake Ayala gave Iowa its first bonus points of the day with a 19-4 technical fall over Trayce Eckman, needing only 4:23 to get the win. No. 10 Nasir Bailey sent the Hawkeyes to the break with a 7-1 decision over AJ Rallo at 141.

Kael Voinovich made his Carver debut and earned a decision over Zac Cowen at 149.
At 157, No. 11 Jordan Williams wasted no time getting the crowd on its feet with a pin over Jeb Prechtel in 1:44 in his Iowa debut.

“It felt good,” Williams said. “I am grateful and happy to step on the mat every time I can, no matter if it’s at a small school or big school, it’s the same energy… I feel like I am confident in every position.

“I watch everyone I am going to wrestle and when I felt the position it was like go. I felt like I was stronger and knew the position better.”

No. 2 Michael Caliendo, No. 2 Patrick Kennedy and No. 3 Angelo Ferrari closed out the dual with three straight technical falls at 165, 174 and 184.

#3 Iowa 40, Bellarmine 0
197 – #17 Massoma Endene (I) dec. Andrew Liber (B), 3-0
285 – #5 Ben Kueter (I) dec. #28 Daulton Mayer (B), 8-2
125 – #10 Dean Peterson (I) dec. Damion Ryan (B), 5-1
133 – #2 Drake Ayala (I) tech. fall Trayce Eckman (B), 19-4
141 – #10 Nasir Bailey (I) dec. AJ Rallo (B), 7-1
149 – Kael Voinovich (I) dec. Zac Cowen (B), 7-3
157 – #11 Jordan Williams (I) pinned Jeb Prechtel (B), 1:44
165 – #2 Michael Caliendo (I) tech. fall Noah Hall (B), 22-6
174 – #2 Patrick Kennedy (I) tech. fall Grant O’Dell (B), 19-4
184 – #3 Angelo Ferrari (I) tech. fall Gavin Ricketts (B), 21-5
*Iowa was deducted a team point after the 157-pound bout.

Attendance: 10,971
Officials: Jaime George, Clark Conover