Matt Coss

Your Prep Sports

BETTENDORF – Campbell Janis saw the ball in the air and pounced.

“I saw an opportunity to get a win and I took it,” he said.

Clinging to a five-point advantage late in Friday night’s Class 5A opener and Bettendorf driving, Janis came up with his first interception of the season inside the Trojans’ 30-yard line to secure West High’s first playoff victory in four years, 21-16, at TouVelle Stadium.

“Fantastic,” Janis said. “I can’t describe this feeling. There is nothing like this.”

The 14th-seeded Trojans (6-4) extend their season for at least another week.

West High travels to defending state champion Southeast Polk, a 24-21 winner over Pleasant Valley, for a quarterfinal next Friday night.

This was emotional and exhilarating for a West High senior class which had missed out on the playoffs each of the past three seasons.

“To win in the playoffs, especially after what we’ve been through the last couple of years, it means everything,” quarterback Jack Wallace said. “I’m so happy I get to go to practice with these guys on Monday.”

West High’s defense has been maligned throughout the season.

It surrendered 56, 28, 20, 40 and 38 points, respectively, in the first five games of the year.

It rose to the occasion Friday.

Bettendorf (8-2) had the ball inside West High’s 40-yard line on three of its first four possessions.

It mustered only three points.

“We’ve been looking forward to redeeming ourselves defensively,” two-way starter Julian Manson said. “We had a tough time stopping the run at the beginning of the season

The Bulldogs ran for 178 yards, about 20 below their season average. And other than an 82-yard touchdown pass, Bettendorf collected only 62 yards through the air.

“That’s the best game our defense has played all year,” Wallace said.

After fighting field position for much of the opening quarter, West High’s offense capitalized in a big way.

Manson hauled in three touchdown passes from Wallace, including a 59-yarder on a flea flicker in the second quarter, to give the Trojans a 14-3 lead.

The 6-foot-3 and 215-pound Manson caught four passes for 104 yards.

“Our quarterback trusts me and all of our receivers so much,” Manson said. “Today, it was my time to step up and make plays.”

Manson did most of his damage after the catch with his power and athleticism.

“My mentality is, I can’t get tackled,” he said. “It was great to show off my athleticism and make plays.”

“Julian is big and he’s fast,” West High coach Garrett Hartwig said. “You don’t see athletes like that very often. When they get up to full speed, they’re as fast as anybody. That’s deceptive to people when they see him for the first time because he’s got a long stride.”

The third Manson touchdown reception, which went for 17 yards, gave West High a 21-9 lead midway through the third quarter.

“I say it every week, but I’m blessed with guys like Mason (Woods) and (Julian),” said Wallace, who completed 14 of 18 throws for 211 yards. “It is about getting my guys the ball in space and they do the rest.”

 

Bettendorf responded with the help of backup quarterback Jack Wessel.

In for an injured Jackson Laver, Wessel connected with Hayden Morrison for an 82-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to trim West High’s lead to 21-16.

The Bulldogs followed with a defensive answer.

Amari Washington, who came in with a team-high 15 tackles for loss, came up with a third-down sack of Wallace to force a West High punt.

Bettendorf took over at its own 32-yard line with 7:39 left and down five.

Between Wessel and Jacob Whipple, who rushed for a game-high 123 yards, Bettendorf moved inside the West High 30 with 3:20 remaining.

Then on third and 9 from the Trojan 26, Wessel was pressured by West High junior Elite Mbulekoya.

His throw was batted and picked off by Janis to essentially secure the game.

“Elite, he’s a great kid,” Hartwig said. “He’s been playing with a broken thumb throughout the year. He’s just relentless.”

West High’s defense had some redemption from its early-season woes.

“(Our defense) was kind of a punching bag for everybody at the beginning of the season,” Wallace said. “They’ve improved immensely every single day. They worked their (butt) off and it showed tonight.”

Running back Butali Butali picked up a first down and West High took three snaps in victory formation to finish it off.

The celebration ensued as West High is in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2020.

“It is a credit to these kids and their work ethic,” Hartwig said. “It is a matter of understanding the moment, not letting the moment be too big for them and doing their job. When that happens, good things will happen.”

It was the Trojans’ first win over the Bulldogs in seven years. They’ll look to be giant-killers again next week.

“We aren’t done,” Janis said. “We’re going for gold.”

                                    ICW                Bett

First downs                 17                    18

Rushes-yards              33-148             42-178

Comp-Att-Int              14-18-0           8-15-1

Passing yards              211                  144

Total yards                  359                  322

Punts-avg.                   3-42.3              3-37.3

Fumbles-lost               0-0                   1-1

Penalties-yards           1-10                 3-30

West High                  0  14  7  0  –  21

Bettendorf                 3   6   0  7  –  16

BET – FG Cam Scupham 45

ICW – Julian Manson 19 pass from Jack Wallace (Adam A Salem kick)

ICW – Manson 59 pass from Wallace (Salem kick)

BET – Jacob Whipple 1 run (run failed)

ICW – Manson 17 pass from Wallace (Salem kick)

BET – Hayden Morrison 82 pass from Jack Wessel (Scupham kick)

Individual statistics

RUSHING – West High: Butali Butali 15-76, Jack Wallace 10-56, Henry Elser 1-18, Mason Woods 1-8, Team 3-(-10). Bettendorf: Jacob Whipple 28-123, Jackson Laver 9-30, Jack Wessel 4-24, Hayden Morrison 1-1

PASSING – West High: Wallace 14-18-0 211 yards. Bettendorf: Wessel 1-3-1 82 yards; Laver 7-12-0 62

RECEIVING – West High: Julian Manson 4-104, Mason Woods 5-69, Ethan Headings 1-24, Elser 2-11, Chase Bopp 1-4, Butali 1-(-1). Bettendorf: Morrison 5-130, Cole Odefey 3-14.

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