Week 7 Rewind: West Branch Defense Shines in Shutout of Regina
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
The West Branch offense had set a single-game school scoring record, put up at least 34 points in every game and was averaging 54 points per game entering Friday’s matchup with long-time rival Regina.
In the biggest game of the season to date it was the Bear defense that stole the show.
Class 1A top-ranked West Branch (7-0) held Regina to 32 rushing yards and 108 total yards in a 23-0 shutout that snapped a losing skid to the Regals that dated back to 2005.
The win also clinched the District 5 title for West Branch which closes the regular season on Friday at Wilton (4-3).
“We just did our basic defense, and we worked all together,” West Branch junior defensive lineman Logan Wright said. “Everybody ran to the ball, and we made tackles. That just set the tone for the entire game. They couldn’t go anywhere.”
West Branch has been stout defensively all season holding opponents to 8.4 points and 140 total yards per game.
The Bears are holding opponents to under 3.5 yards per play this season and have allowed more than 4.5 yards per offensive snap just once in seven games.
West Branch isn’t just keeping teams out of the end zone on defense they are putting points on the board themselves.
In seven games the West Branch defense has scored as many touchdowns (seven) as they have allowed this season.
The Bears didn’t score a defensive touchdown on Friday against Regina but Jack McCullough blocked a punt that led to a safety as West Branch posted its third shutout in the last five games.
“There was a punt before where I saw that I could kind of go in if I wanted to,” McCullough said. “So I just thought, ‘I’m going in; I’m going in; I’m going in.’ And sure enough I went in and blocked it. I had a clear lane all the way to the punter.”
News and Notes
Solon Revs up Run Game: During its four-game winning streak Solon has got its running game rolling.
After averaging 174 rushing yards per game during a 1-2 start to the season the Spartans are running for 265 yards per game during its current four-game winning streak.
The Spartans had a pair of 100-yard rushers while rolling up a season-high 314 yards and six touchdowns on the ground in a 45-25 win over Fairfield on Friday.
Brett White rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns and senior quarterback Blake Timmons added 118 yards and three touchdowns as the Spartans averaged 7.7 yards per carry on Friday.
The 314 rushing yards were the most for Solon since it ran for 335 in a win at Grinnell last season and the six rushing touchdowns matched the most since Solon had six in a win at Union in 2020.
Tran Steps Up: With starting quarterback Drew Larson sidelined with an injury City High got an impressive effort from junior Quinton Tran in a loss to top-ranked Pleasant Valley on Friday.
Tran, who passed for 925 yards and 10 touchdowns while splitting time with Larson last season, completed 24-of-37 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns against Pleasant Valley on Friday.
Tran also rushed for 21 yards and threw touchdown passes of 42 yards to Akili Mattox and 12 yards to Carsen Newton.
Liberty High Spreads the Wealth: Graham Beckman has been the catalyst for a Liberty High offense that is averaging better than 40 points per game.
What Beckman has done best this season is spread the ball around.
That continued on Friday as Beckman threw touchdown passes to four different receivers in a 49-0 win over Fort Madison.
Garrett Gregoire, Trey Gregoire, Sutton Koller and Wyatt Williams all caught touchdown passes on Friday.
On the season five different Liberty High players have at least 13 receptions and all have at least 168 yards and a touchdown.
Eight different players have caught a touchdown pass for Liberty High this season and three other players including Beckman have rushed for a touchdown.
District Races/RPI Update: In the most recent release of the RPI standings released on Monday several area teams are on the playoff bubble.
City High (4-3) is No. 16 and West High (4-3) is No. 20 in the Class 5A RPI ratings while Clear Creek Amana (3-4) is No. 19 in Class 4A.
Liberty High (6-1) is fourth in Class 4A and Solon (5-2) is ninth in Class 3A.
Both Liberty High and Solon are 3-0 in district play and can clinch playoff spots with district titles.
West Branch (7-0) has clinched the Class 1A, District 5 title and Regina (4-3) has secured a top-four district finish and playoff berth.
Players of the week
Offensive Player of the Week: Liberty High junior quarterback Graham Beckman completed 9-of-16 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for a touchdown in a 49-0 win over Fort Madison.
Defensive Player of the Week: Liberty High senior linebacker Christian Barney made 4.5 tackles including two tackles for loss and returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown in a 49-0 shutout of Fort Madison.
Special Teams Player of the Week: West Branch senior Jack McCullough blocked a punt for a safety in a 23-0 win over Regina.
Helmet Stickers
Offense: City High senior receiver Akili Mattox caught seven passes for 133 yards and a touchdown in a 51-21 loss to Pleasant Valley.
Offense: Liberty High senior tailback Trey Gregoire rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown and caught a 20-yard touchdown pass in a win over Fort Madison.
Defense: Liberty High junior defensive lineman Dantrell Skinner have five tackles including a tackle for loss as Liberty High shutout Fort Madison.
Defense: West Branch junior defensive lineman Logan Wright had four tackles including two for loss in a shutout of Regina.
Special teams: Solon junior Grant Knipper had another perfect place kicking game going 6-of-6 on PAT attempts and hitting a 28-yard field goal in a 45-25 win over Fairfield.
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