A long postseason road trip awaits the No. 5 WACO Warrior football team tonight when they travel to Martensdale-St. Mary’s for a second round eight-player bout. 

The Warriors sit at a perfect 9-0 and they were able to escape Edgewood-Colesburg 39-36 last week after a 28-yard field goal by Simeon Reichenbach in the waning moments. WACO averages 41 points a night and gives up 15 with an opportunistic defense that has forced 29 takeaways. Mason Miller is second in the state with seven interceptions. The offense wants to run the rock with Reichenbach dishing out most of the punishment with 1,143 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on the season. 

The Blue Devils are 7-2, but finished undefeated in district eight. They showed off their prowess offensively last week by outlasting BGM 74-52 in the first round. They are anchored on both sides of the line by center and defensive tackle Joel Kisling. The 6’3’’ 350 pound monster is someone that Warrior Head Coach Chad Edeker has his eye on. “Our nose tackle position has been dominant this year with Jon Rice and Tim Willits overpowering smaller and less experience centers. This will be by far their biggest challenge. The center for Martensdale-St. Mary’s is a big man that moves well. He does a great job of latching on and driving people away. Tim and Jon will have to really work in there to get off their blocks and make plays.” William Amfahr has completed 53% of his passes for 894 yards and 13 touchdowns while Kade Mullins is the featured back with 631 rushing tallies and 12 scores. 

The round of 16 matchup begins at 7 p.m. tonight at Blue Devil Stadium in Martensdale. Can’t make the haul? Listen live on FM 106.1 KCII starting at 6:30 p.m. Our coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. with the KCII Football Friday Preview Show to analyze all of the playoff games in Southeast Iowa.

Photo Courtesy of WACO Social Media