Grand View football coach E.J. Peterson has been keeping an eye on the forecast. There is a chance of snow on Saturday when the top ranked and defending champion Vikings host Lindsey Wilson of Kentucky in the quarterfinal round of the NAIA playoffs. Heavy snow was not a problem last week as the Vikings crushed Saint Francis of Indiana 62-20 in their playoff opener.

The formula for Grand View in posting an 11-0 record has been run the ball and stop the run. The Vikings averaged 212 yards on the ground per game and give up only 80.

This will be the fifth playoff meeting between the two teams with Grand View winning three of the first four. The Blue Raiders are 10-1 and ranked seventh.

The Upper Iowa football team will close out a banner season on Saturday by playing Hillsdale College in the Albanese Candy Bowl in Hobart, Indiana. The Peacocks are 8-3, the most wins for the program since 1964, and narrowly missed a bid to the Division II national playoffs.

That’s Upper Iowa coach Jason Hoskins, who says he is thrilled with the chance to prepare for one more game.

Hoskins has turned a program around that finished 3-8 two years ago.

Hoskins says Hillsdale will provide a physical test for his team.

2025 ALL-BIG TEN (OFFENSE)

FIRST TEAM
OT Gennings Dunker (media)
C Logan Jones (coaches; media)
OG Beau Stephens (coaches)

SECOND TEAM
OG Beau Stephens (media)

THIRD TEAM
OT Gennings Dunker (coaches)
OT Trevor Lauck (coaches)
OG Kade Pieper (media)

HONORABLE MENTION
TE Hayden Large (coaches; media); WR Jacob Gill (media); OT Trevor Lauck (media); RB Kamari Moulton (coaches; media); OG Kade Pieper (coaches)

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
QB Mark Gronowski

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa sophomore Ryder Block has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week and redshirt Freshman Angelo Ferrari was named Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Thursday.

Block, a Waverly, Iowa, native earned the honor after defeating second-ranked Paniro Johnson, 2-1 in TB1. Block escaped in three seconds to secure the win.

Ferrari defeated No. 10 Issac Dean, 2-1. The Melissa, Texas, native improved to 6-0 on the season.

Block is the third different Hawkeye to earn Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honors this season and Ferrari is the first to earn a Freshman of the Week honor.

No. 4 Iowa returns to action on Dec. 12 in Hannibal, Missouri, against Chattanooga and Utah Valley in the Journeymen Wrestling “Uncivil War”.

Gavin McLaren

Gavin McLaren put pen to paper Wednesday on a commitment that has been in place for quite a while, as the senior signed with South Dakota State University to play Division I football. The Trojan standout finished second on the team in rushing for the third consecutive year, earning 550 yards in 2025. Over that time frame, he compiled 1,835 yards, 22 touchdowns, and was an All-State and All-District selection. McLaren is excited to realize a dream and credits his coaches for his success, not just in football but as an athlete.

SDSU is a top-tier FCS program and won back-to-back national championships in 2022 and 2023. However, beyond wanting to be part of a winning program, McLaren was also drawn to the close bond the program has.

When he arrives in Brookings this summer, McLaren will be one of a kind and will spend time working with the tight ends.

His parents were both extremely proud of what their son had accomplished.

As was his coach.

Although he is ready to get to work he knows that there will be some challenges.

Gavin will be studying exercise science when he enrolls

.

Brock Goodrich

Another Trojan standout, Goodrich signed his commitment to continue his career at Northwestern College. Goodrich saw time on both sides of the ball this season as a receiver and defensive end. On the offensive side of the ball, he compiled 374 yards on 18 receptions, averaging 20.77 yards per reception. Defensively, he saw the most time this year, compiling 29 tackles along with six sacks and eight tackles for loss. Goodrich is excited to get to work as a tight end.

Being involved over the summer inspired him to want to take the next step.

Both of his parents were also extremely proud and thankful that he will be close to home.

Goodrich also credited his success to the lessons he’s learned during his time at Atlantic.

He is also ready to take on the challenges that come with playing college football.

However, he is excited to get to football and be a part of the Northwestern college community.

Brock will be studying nursing and would like to get into anesthesiology.

Tenth ranked Iowa State set a school record for points in a 132-68 win over Alcorn State. Milan Momcilovic had 27 points, including eight-of-nine from three point range. ISU connected on a school record 22 three pointers on 30 attempts.

That’s Cyclone coach T.J. Otzelberger. Senior forward Joshua Jefferson finished with 24 points and 10 assists as the Cyclones improved to 8-0.

Momcilovic put in extra time in the off season on his perimeter shooting and is connecting on better than 50 percent from behind the arc this season.

Momcilovic feels like his entire game is making progress.

The UNI women raced out to a 21-7 lead at the end of one and opened Missouri Valley Conference play with a 68-54 win over Illinois State in the McLeod Center. The Panthers limited the Redbirds to under 34 percent shooting.

That’s UNI coach Tanya Warren. UNI is 3-4 overall and will visit Toledo on Saturday.

The Atlantic Wrestling team begins the 2025-2026 season Thursday with a home dual against Earlham. The Trojans return four of their six state qualifiers from a season ago including district champions Senior Donovan Hedrington and Junior Collin Harris. Hedrington says this team has specific goals in mind.

Fellow Senior D’artagnan Hansen says with it being his senior year there is a mixed emotions leading into the season.

Hansen believes there is more depth within the program this year compared to years in the past.

Senior Braxton Hass is cherishing every moment from his final season in a Trojan uniform and feels bittersweet about the last go around.

Hass says despite the two key wrestlers who left the program in the offseason, those spots are in good hands.

Atlantic begins their season on their home mats with a dual against Earlham followed by their first tournament of the season at Independence High School.