Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Two seasons ago Beau Cornwell got the chance to watch one of the best seasons ever by a West Branch quarterback.

Cornwell was a freshman in 2015 when Cooper Koenig set single season school records for completions and passing yards while leading the Bears to a 11-1 record and a spot in the 1A quarterfinals.

Everything Koenig did that season served as a lesson for Cornwell.

In his first full season leading the West Branch offense Cornwell has used those lessons to turn in his own record-breaking season.

“He used his athleticism to separate defenses and when he could throw he threw and when he could run he ran it,” Cornwell said. “I’m just trying to kind of do what he did but be the best version of myself that I can and do what I can do to get our team to win.”

Cornwell was scheduled to be the heir apparent to Koenig but was limited to one full game last season by a broken collar bone.

It wasn’t a lost season for Cornwell who spent time with then West Branch offensive coordinator Jarod Tylee watching tape of opposing defenses.

When John Hierseman took over as West Branch offensive coordinator Cornwell immediately began watching film with him.

“I watched a lot of film and tried to study defenses last year and when coach Hierseman became offensive coordinator we got together and went over a lot of stuff,” Cornwell said. “That really helped me out just him being there for me.”

This fall Cornwell has begun to rewrite the West Branch passing record book.

Cornwell broke the single season mark of completions set by Koenig last week in a win over North Cedar and on Friday set a new single season mark for passing yards in a 30-20 district title-clinching win over Tipton.

In eight games Cornwell has completed 139-of-219 passes for 1,803 yards and 20 touchdowns.

The 20 touchdown passes ties the school record set by Caleb Walters in 2005.  

“It means a lot but all the credit goes to my teammates,” Cornwell said. “The credit goes to all my guys for protecting me and catching all the passes and the coaching stuff for putting me in the right situations to make plays.”

Cornwell has also set a school record with seven made field goals.

The win on Friday locked up a home playoff game for West Branch which will attempt to complete its third unbeaten regular season in four years on Friday at Clayton Ridge (3-5).   

“We have to stay confident and believe in what we’ve been doing,” we can’t change ourselves we have to be true to ourselves and go into each game not overlooking anybody and still keeping that chip on our shoulders and give it all we have.”

Locked Up

There won’t be any playoff drama for area teams entering the final week of the regular season.

Regina, West High, Solon and West Branch all locked up district titles and home playoff games on Friday.

West High (8-0) secured the top spot in Class 4A, District 8 with a 42-7 win over Linn-Mar while Solon clinched the Class 3A, District 5 title with its win over West Burlington.

In Class 1A Regina (6-2) secured the District 4 title with a 47-21 win over Columbus while West Branch locked up the Class 1A, District 3 crown with a 30-20 home win over Tipton.

City High and Clear Creek Amana have been eliminated from playoff contention.

New Number One?

West High improved to 8-0 on Friday with its first consecutive win of 14 points or more.

Ankeny Centennial’s win over previously top-ranked West Des Moines Dowling makes the Trojans the lone unbeaten team in Class 4A and the likely new top-ranked team.

“We aren’t worried about that, we are trying to work on ourselves,” West High senior receiver Traevis Buchanan said. “We are getting ready for the playoffs and we are taking one step at a time and trying to get better.” 

Offensive Player of the Week

Evan Flitz has had a lot of strong performances over the past two seasons but the West High senior quarterback was at his best on Friday.

Flitz completed 18-of-20 passes for 233 yards and a school record-tying five touchdowns in a 42-7 win over Linn-Mar.

All but one completion and all five touchdowns came in the first half and Flitz added 80 yards rushing and a 55-yard touchdown run as West High improved to 8-0.  

Best of the Rest

<!–[if !supportLists]–>·         <!–[endif]–>Solon senior running back Kendrick Harris rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries in a 42-7 win over West Burlington.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>·         <!–[endif]–>Regina senior running back Isaac Vollstedt had 182 total yards (99 receiving, 83 rushing) and three touchdowns in a 47-21 win over Columbus.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>·         <!–[endif]–>Regina senior quarterback Michael Conlon passed for 232 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 49 yards in a win over Columbus.

Defensive Player of the Week

Solon has been special all season on the defensive side of the ball and that continued on Friday thanks largely to senior defensive end Spencer Wegmann.

Wegmann made a team-high seven tackles on Friday in a 42-7 win over West Burlington including four solo stops and four tackles for loss.

Wegmann had a pair of sacks on the season and now leads the Spartans with four sacks on the season.

Best of the Rest

<!–[if !supportLists]–>·         <!–[endif]–>Regina senior Joseph Hein had a team-high nine solo stops in a 47-21 win over Columbus.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>·         <!–[endif]–>West Branch senior linebacker Andrew Black led the Bears with 9.5 tackles including six solo stops in a 30-20 win over Tipton.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>·         <!–[endif]–>West High senior defensive end Dillon Shephard had two tackles including a sack in a 42-7 win over Linn-Mar.