Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

West Branch

Head coach: Butch Pedersen (37th season, 305-76)

Assistant coaches: John Hierseman, Tyler Bailey, Kevin Crosswaite, Kevin Braddock, Jason Pedersen

Last season: 9-2 (Class 1A quarterfinals)

Returning starters: Trey Eagle, Sr., WR/CB; Tanner Lukavsky, Sr., RB/LB; Dakota Kaalberg, Sr., CB/WR; Cameron Howsare, Sr., G/LB; Jack Robertson, Sr., WR/CB; Wyatt Goodale, Sr., WR/S; Dalyn Pedersen, Sr., DE/G; Jeff Bowie, Jr., T/DE; Brad Hunger, Sr., OT/LB

Other returning letterwinners: Matt Paulsen, Sr., C/DE; Morgan Hartz, Jr., FB/N; Gavin Hierseman, Jr., QB; Dylan Butler, Jr., OG/DT; John Yates, Sr., RB/CB; Davin Camacho, Sr., LB; Nathan Swisher-Hintz, Sr., WR; Matt Rummelhart, Sr., OT/DT;  Kristian Nalan, Sr., TE

Newcomers to watch: Trey Schutte, Jr., OT/DT; Dylan Butler, Jr., OT/DT; Drake Berry, Soph., OT/DT; Dom Culver, Jr., RB/CB; Matt Westcott, Jr., OT/DT; Kelby Burger, Jr., QB/DE

Playoff history: 26 appearances (1988-1996, 1998, 2000, 2002-2005, 2008-2018). West Branch won Class 1A state titles in 1989, 1991 and 1992.

District: Class 1A, District 4

District favorites: West Branch is a heavy favorite to win the District 4 crown after finishing behind Bellevue for the top spot last season.

Circle the date: September 27 vs. Bellevue. West Branch gets a chance to avenge its only regular season loss of the season a year ago when the Comets visit the Little Rose Bowl in the district opener.

Headliner: Senior Tanner Lukavsky returns as one of the top running backs in Class 1A after averaging 10.2 yards per carry while rushing for 1,309 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Lukavsky also caught 27 passes for 358 yards and three touchdowns.

Unsung hero: Senior receiver Trey Eagle could be in for a big year as the Bears’ top pass catcher after making 28 receptions for 487 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns last season.

Keep an eye on: Junior defensive end Jeff Bowie saw his recruiting explode during the offseason picking up scholarship offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska and Virginia Tech among others. Bowie made 31.5 tackles including 11.5 for loss and seven sacs last season.

Biggest question: What does the offense look like without Beau Cornwell? Cornwell rewrote the passing record book at West Branch over the past two seasons, throwing for 2,152 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. Junior Gavin Hierseman takes the reins of the offense this season and has impressed coaches and teammates during the preseason. West Branch brings back enough weapons around Hierseman to help the first-year starter work into the position.

Quotable: “I think we always try to have our staple be defense but sometimes the best defense is a good offense,” Pedersen said. “We try to be great at both but we take a lot of pride in our defense.”

2019 Schedule

Aug. 30: @West Liberty

Sept. 6: Wapello

Sept. 13: @Williamsburg

Sept. 20: @Tipton

Sept. 27: Bellevue*

Oct. 4: @North Cedar*

Oct. 11: Northeast*

Oct. 18: @Cascade*

Oct. 25: Dyersville Beckman*

*-District Game

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