Roth Field in Wayland is the site for one of the biggest 8-man games in Iowa tonight when No. 15 WACO hosts No. 11 English Valleys in district play. The Warriors are a perfect 3-0 on the year after knocking off Twin Cedars, Springville and HLV by a combined 149-37 score to start the season. WACO is ranked No. 15 this week in the latest poll from the Iowa Associated Press. In their victory last week over HLV, the Warriors had 261 total yards of offense and forced six turnovers while opening up a 35-0 lead at half. Simeon Reichenbach had 17 carries for 75 yards and two touchdowns. On the year, the Warriors are led by Isaac Oswald through the air at 10 of 24 for 109 yards and a touchdown. His favorite target is Zach Smitz with three catches for 25 yards. Jonah Clark has a touchdown catch. On the ground it’s Reichenbach with 29 carries for 316 yards and seven touchdowns. Defensively, Drew Diers has 10 and a half tackles and an interception. Mason Miller has picked off two passes and Colton Leichty has three fumble recoveries.

English Valleys comes into the contest 2-0 on the year after victories over Midland 42-20 and Lone Tree 12-0. In their win over the Lions last week, Beau Flander accounted for both touchdowns, one on a 20-yard scoring run, the other a 52 yard punt return for touchdown. Flander ended with 24 carries for 139 yards and that score. Josh Osborn was one of eight for five yards and a pair of picks. Kaden Hall had 10 tackles for the EV defense, and the Bears forced four Lone Tree turnovers. This week, WACO head coach Chad Edeker talked about what he likes most about the way his team is playing right now, and what they are preparing for from English Valleys. “Our physicality and our swarming on defense reminds me of some of those teams from the late 2000s and 2010. We’re doing a good job of getting two or three guys to the ball on all plays. There is a desire to get to the ball. Our offensive and defensive lines have done a great job getting off the ball and resetting the line of scrimmage in our favor. Getting positive yards every play. Beau Flander has been with them for a long time. He was there when we played them last in 2019 and he is still there. He’s bigger and faster now, he’s the centerpiece in what they want to do. Their quarterback also runs the ball well and the Hall kid at tight end is a good player. As I watch the tape, I think they look very similar to us. Big back, physical up front, that’s what we do.”

WACO has won the last seven games in the series with the Bears including a 56-46 victory in 2019. Along with tonight’s game will be a game ball presentation and ceremony to honor local firefighters, first responders and police officers from the communities in the district at 6:45p.m. You can hear all of the action live tonight between the No. 15 Warriors and No. 11 Bears on AM 1380, FM 102.5 and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Washington HyVee Pregame Show at 6:30 and the Systems Unlimited kickoff at 7p.m. from Roth Field in Wayland.