Here are recaps of last night’s high school football action across the KCII listening area.
Highland Starts 2015 With Win
The Highland Huskies football team opened the 2015 campaign with a win on their home turf over Danville, stopping the Bears 18-10. The win gave the Huskies some revenge for last season, when it was Danville who came out on top 21-7. Nick Sandburg and Bryce West lead the charge for the Huskies, Highland’s two running backs combined for 293 yards on 39 carries and all three touchdowns in the win. Sandburg led the way with 149 yards on 21 carries and two scores while West ended the game with 144 yards on 18 totes, an eight yards per carry clip, and a 15 yard touchdown run. Jake Wood was three of nine through the air for 43 yards and two interceptions. With the win Highland is now 1-0 on the season as they prepare to host Iowa Valley next week.
Columbus Edges WACO in Week 1 Shootout
A week one shootout took place on the gridiron between two KCII area football teams Friday in Wayland. The WACO Warriors hosted the Columbus Wildcats to kick off the 2015 high school football season. WACO jumped out to an early two touchdown lead, but Columbus battled back for a 43-38 victory.
The game was highlighted by both team’s running back performance. Columbus senior Mauricio Ramieriz amassed 238 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns. WACO senior Bryce Achen earned 193 yards and five touchdowns in the setback.
The win propels Columbus to 1-0 as they travel to New London next Friday. WACO drops to 0-1 and will travel to B.G.M.
Lions Roar Against North Mahaska
Last year the Lone Tree Lion football team opened the season with a trip to North Mahaska. After scoring the first 35, the Lions held off a late charge for the 35-19 win. Friday night when those same schools squared off again, Lone Tree didn’t leave the door open for North Mahaska, they slammed it on the Warhawks in a 30-0 shut out win. The Lions used the big play to their advantage on Friday in the rout, especially through the air. Lone Tree quarterback Trey Pierson only attempted five passes on the evening, completing two of them but they were both big gainers, totaling 97 yards, the most impressive a 69 yard strike to senior receiver Caleb Christian for a touchdown. On the ground they rolled up 145 yards as a team, with senior Jared Hudson leading the charge finishing with 75 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns, the longest a 25 yard thing of beauty. The Lions now find themselves at 1-0 on the season with a date at Belle Plaine next Friday.
Bears Hand Sigourney-Keota Their First Loss of the Year
In the area’s alphabet soup bowl Friday night, BGM beat S-K by a 20-6 final count. A season ago the Savage Cobras doubled up the Bears in a 28-14 effort. The Bears asserted themselves on the ground rushing for a combined 276 yards in the game. Colton Massengale did the heavy lifting for BGM, averaging five yards per carry with 29 total rushes for 148 yards and a score. Dalton Jack added seven carries, 61 yards and a touchdown in the BGM effort. On the offensive side of the ball for SK, turnovers plagued the Savage Cobras, BGM picked off three passes in the contest. With the loss Sigourney-Keota is now 0-1 on the season, they will travel to Pekin for their annual rivalry matchup with the Panthers next week. Pekin was a 36-22 winner last night over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.