Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

CEDAR FALLS – When he came to City High last December Mitch Moore immediately began pushing the vision of City High winning state titles.

In just one season under Moore that vision has already began to come into focus.

City High went from winning two games for the fourth consecutive season in 2020 to a 10-2 record and state semifinal berth this fall in its first season under Moore.

The Little Hawks had their turnaround season end with a 33-7 loss to second-ranked Southeast Polk in the Class 5A semifinal on Friday but the vision Moore had been selling became much clearer to those at City High.

“This didn’t accelerate any expectations, my expectations were to get here from day one and they are going to continue and we are going to go back to work on Monday and this will be our expectation for next year to get back here and compete for state titles,” Moore said. “That will always be my expectations.”

In his first season Moore relied heavily on a strong senior class that included the likes of Gable Mitchell, John Klosterman, Ethan and Avery Goodrich, Carter Seaton, Aaron Stalkfleet, Ostyn Friday, Darren Richardson, Jamari Newson and a host of other key contributors.

Moore credits that group with breathing life into a program that had gone 8-25 the previous four seasons.

“The way that the seniors led and worked and sacrificed and believed in each other I didn’t know if that would maybe translate that fast as a new staff coming in in nine months,” Moore said. “The way those seniors bought in and led and provide this program and school with hope is pretty special.”

Those seniors left a mark on the City High program that years later could be looked back at as a turning point.

“I definitely think this was a restart to what our winning culture is,” Klosterman said. “We brought back the standard to this program.”
Even with its semifinal loss the 2021 season was still the best for City High in a decade.

The 10 wins for the Little Hawks were the most since City High went 13-1 and was 4A runner-up in 2010.

“It’s been unbelievable,” Mitchell said. “I’m so grateful for the coaching staff that we were given this year. It’s unbelievable the sacrifice they made to drive two plus hours every day starting in January to come work with us. We’ve won 10 games this year and we won that many in five years before.”

News and Notes

Richardson Reaches 1,000: With 44 rushing yards in the state semifinal City High senior tailback Darren Richardson cracked the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

Richardson finished the year with a career-high 1,012 yards and 16 touchdowns on 137 carries to become the first City High 1,000-yard rusher since Xavier Washpun in 2013.

1,000 yard club: Richardson became the sixth area running back to join the 1,000-yard club in 2021 in an impressive season for Your Prep Sports area running backs.

West Branch junior Andy Henson led six area 1,000-yard rushers with 1,320 yards on the ground.

Solon junior Sean Stahle (1,138 yards), West High senior Mason Applegate (1,099), Liberty High senior Darius Willis-Newell (1,064) and Regina junior Levi Daniel (1,033) all finished with more than 1,000 yards.

Title game rematch: With its win over City High last Friday Southeast Polk earned a state title game rematch with Ankeny after falling to the Hawks 42-14 in the 4A title game a year ago.

Ankeny won a regular season meeting between the two teams 21-7 back on September 17.

Southeast Polk is one of four teams that finished runner-up last season that has returned to the title game in 2021.

Grundy Center (A), Van Meter (1A), Harlan (3A) and Southeast Polk are all seeking to go from runner-up a year ago to state champions this week.

Undefeated Tracker: The final undefeated tracker of the season has six teams left without a loss.

Easton Valley (12-0) and CAM (12-0) meet in the 8-player title game on Thursday morning while unbeatens Harlan (12-0) and Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (12-0) will square off in the 3A title game on Friday.

Other remaining unbeaten teams playing for state titles are West Hancock (12-0) in Class A and Van Meter (12-0) in 1A.

Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week: City High sophomore quarterback Drew Larson completed 19-of-31 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown in a 33-7 loss to Southeast Polk.

Defensive Player of the Week: City High junior linebacker Ben Kueter capped an impressive breakthrough season with another strong outing in the Class 5A semifinals.

Kueter had a team-high seven tackles, including two for loss in a 33-7 loss to Southeast Polk.

Helmet Stickers

Offense: Solon senior Logan Sieverding had four receptions for 41 yards in a 42-0 loss to Boyden Hull/Rock Valley.

Offense: Solon junior quarterback Blake Timmons completed 10-of-22 passes for 111 yards in a 42-0 loss to Boyden Hull/Rock Valley.

Defense: City High senior linebacker John Klosterman had 4.5 tackles, 1.5 for loss and half a sack in a 33-7 loss to Southeast Polk.

Defense: Solon senior linebacker Jacob Timmons had 5.5 tackles and a sack in a 42-0 loss to Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley.

Defense: Solon senior linebacker Carson Miller had four tackles, recovered a fumble and broke up a pass in a 42-0 loss to Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley.

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