Football Capsule: Taking a Quick Look at West Branch
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
West Branch
Head coach: Matt Hughes (2nd season, 7-3)
Assistant coaches: Tyler Bailey; Jarod Tylee; Steven Grace; Kevin Braddock; Drew Finnegan; Ronnie Hughes; Bill Maxwell; Tye Hughes; Wyatt Fiderlein; Dan Zuniga; Drake Berry; Mike Johnston; Jacob Graves
Last season: 7-3 (Class 2A second round)
Returning starters: Keaton Gates, Sr., RB/OLB; Shay Kisinger, Sr., OL/DL
Other returning letterwinners: Seth Hosier, Sr., FB/LB; Connor Sexton, Sr., WR/DB; Garrett Tisinger, Jr., OL/DL; Arik Marsh, Jr., WR/DB; Motley Johnston, Soph., OL/LB
Newcomers to watch: Dillan Schenkel, Jr., QB/OLB; Sawyer Jefferies, Sr., RB/OLB; Jackson Ellyson, Jr., WR/DB; Brooks Seydel, Soph., WR/DB; Jonah Halter, Soph. OL/LB; Gabe Depoorter, Jr., RB/LB
Playoff history: 33 appearances (1988-1996, 1998, 2000, 2002-2005, 2008-2025). West Branch won Class 1A state titles in 1989, 1991 and 1992.
District: Class 2A, District 5 (Alburnett, Anamosa, Bellevue, Monticello, Tipton)
District favorite: Alburnett joined West Branch and Bellevue going 4-1 in District 5 play last season and enter this fall as the district favorite after finishing 8-3 and advancing to the 2A quarterfinals.
Circle the date: September 4 against Regina. West Branch hosts River Valley Conference rival Regina in its home opener at the Little Rose Bowl. After winning two in a row over Regina in 2022 and 2023 the Bears have lost back-to-back games in the series including a 28-16 loss at Regina last year.
Headliner: Senior Keaton Gates (6-0, 180) was a Class 2A second team all-state pick last season after rushing for 1,289 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Gates also played a key role on defense ranking fifth on the team with 39 tackles including three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Ready for a breakthrough: On a West Branch roster filled with underclassmen seeking to step forward keep a close watch on sophomore linebacker Motley Johnston. Named a captain as a sophomore, Johnston will be a cornerstone piece of the West Branch defense after making five tackles last season as a freshman and will also factor into the Bear offensive line.
Unsung hero: Lineman are by nature overlooked and senior two-way lineman Garrett Tisinger will do his best for that to not be the case this season. Tisinger showed flashes last season with two tackles for loss and two sacks among his 2.5 tackles a year ago and will be looked upon to build on that production as an upperclassman this fall.
Keep an eye on: The lone returning starter up front for the Bears senior Shay Kinsinger (6-0, 210) will be the unquestioned leader for the Bears on both lines. Last season Kinsinger had 14 tackles, with two tackles for loss half a sack while also starting on the offensive line. Look for a big season for Kinsinger on both sides of the football.
Remember the name: Another player expected to step into a larger role on both sides of the ball, watch for a productive senior season for fullback/linebacker Seth Hosier. A physical two-way player Hosier had four tackles and an interception last season and should watch his numbers skyrocket this fall.
Biggest strength: Continuity. After coaching changes prior to each of the past two seasons Matt Hughes and his staff return intact this season for year two in charge. That continuity should be key for a West Branch team that will see a number of underclassmen slid into major roles.
Biggest question: How quickly can the young inexperienced Bears get up to speed. As head coach Matt Hughes quickly pointed out the Bears are going to be young and inexperienced this season with just five seniors on the roster and two returning starters. However, Hughes is extremely high on the young talent in the program. West Branch faces several tough tests early with a road game at rival West Liberty in the opener and a visit from defending 1A champion Regina in week two. With four of its final six games against opponents that finished under .500 last season the back half of the schedule is manageable if the young Bears can mature quickly.
Quotable: “The kids are competing,” West Branch coach Matt Hughes said. “I can with confidence go in front of them and say there are no starters on our team. You have Shay (Kinsinger) and you have Keaton (Gates) that have proven they belong on the field but other than that there are a lot of opportunities up for grabs for kids.”
2026 Schedule
Date/Opponent/Record in 2025
August 28: at West Liberty (3-6)
September 4: Regina (12-1)
September 11: at Camanche (4-5)
September 18: at Monticello (0-8)
September 25: Alburnett (8-3)
October 2: Tipton (1-7)
October 9: at Anamosa (3-6)
October 16: Bellevue (7-2)
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