Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

It’s playoff time.

The four smallest classes in Iowa will open postseason play on Friday with opening round games around the state in Class 2A, 1A, A and eight-player.

West Branch and Regina are both part of the 32-team playoff field in Class 1A.

Top-ranked West Branch (8-0) put the finishing touches on an unbeaten regular season with a 54-7 win at Wilton on Friday.

Regina improved to 5-3 with a 26-12 win at 1A qualifier Durant (5-3).

West Branch will host South Hardin (3-5) in a 1A opening-round matchup while Regina will travel to eighth-ranked Pella Christian (7-1).

“Our focus has been the last couple of weeks, ‘Do your job,’ and I thought we got better at that tonight,” Regina coach Jason Dumont said of Friday. “But for us to make a deep push in the playoffs, everybody has got to do their job every play, so we are going to continue to strive to do that.”

After the opening-round 1A playoff games teams the 16 remaining teams are put into four, four-team pods with the winner of each advancing the state semifinals at the UNI-Dome.

West Branch is seeking its first semifinal trip since 2011 while Regina is seeking to return to the semifinals after winning the Class A title in 2020.

News and Notes

Henson Hits 1,000: For the second consecutive season Andy Henson is a 1,000-yard rusher.

The West Branch senior cracked the 1,000-yard mark on Friday rushing for 146 yards on 17 carries in a 54-7 win at Wilton.

Henson became the first 1,000 rusher in the Your Prep Sports area this season and sits at 1,079 yards entering the postseason.

Henson has rushed for at least 100 yards in five consecutive games while pushing his career rushing total to 3,438.

Janis Shows off Skillset: Christian Janis has been among the best pass catchers in the state this fall with 31 receptions for 696 yards and 10 touchdowns.

On Friday against Cedar Rapids Prairie the West High senior receiver showed off another element of his wide skillset.

Janis tossed a 41-yard touchdown pass to Mason Woods to go with three receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown in a 49-28 loss to the Hawks.

On the season Janis has now thrown a touchdown pass, caught 10 touchdown passes and returned a punt and an interception for scores.

Nicols Rallies Lightning: Graham Beckman has been among the best quarterbacks in the state this season.

It turns out the Lightning have another junior quarterback capable of making plays.

Junior Cody Nichols replaced Beckman who left Friday’s game with an injury and led a late touchdown drive to help Liberty High rally for a 29-28 win at Burlington.

Nichols threw for 69 yards and tossed a 52-yard touchdown pass to Wyatt Williams in the final minute that pulled the Lightning to within 28-27.

Nichols added the go-ahead two-point conversion pass to Christian Barney to complete the comeback.

In the first extended action of his career Nichols also rushed for 80 yards on 10 carries.

Timmons’ Big Night: Blake Timmons had a senior night to remember on Friday in a 51-7 win over Grinnell.

The Solon senior quarterback/safety accounted for four touchdowns and added three interceptions as Solon stretched its winning streak to four.

Timmons completed 5-of-12 passes for 44 yards and a touchdown, rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries and had 2.5 tackles to go with his three interceptions.

City High Turns to Ground Game: City High got back on track following a week seven loss to top-ranked Pleasant Valley with a 55-6 road win at Davenport West.

The Little Hawks turned to the ground game to get things rolling.

City High got 109 rushing yards and three touchdowns from senior Ben Kueter and 156 yards and a touchdown from sophomore Dominic Salibi while rolling up a season-high 309 yards on the ground.

Holdon Clay added 25 yards and a touchdown for the Little Hawks.

Players of the week

Offensive Player of the Week: City High senior Ben Kueter racked up 167 yards of total offense and scored six touchdowns in a 55-6 win over Davenport West. Kueter rushed for 109 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries, caught three passes for 58 yards and two touchdowns and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the win.

Defensive Player of the Week: Solon senior safety Blake Timmons had 2.5 tackles and three interceptions in a 51-7 win over Grinnell.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Regina junior Jackson Naeve returned a kickoff 78 yards for a touchdown in a 26-12 win over Durant.

Helmet Stickers

Offense: West High sophomore Mason Woods had five receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a 49-28 loss to Cedar Rapids Prairie.

Offense: Liberty High senior Wyatt Williams had five receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns in a 29-28 win at Burlington.

Defense: West Branch senior defensive back Carver Boelk had four tackles and two interceptions to go with three receptions for 90 yards in a 54-7 win over Wilton.

Defense: Liberty High senior linebacker Christian Barney had 11.5 tackles including four solo stops and a tackle for loss in a 29-28 win at Burlington.

Special teams: City High senior Thomas Ksobiech connected on all seven PAT attempts in a road win over Davenport West.

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