The Columbus Wildcats will start the high school football playoffs tonight by traveling to Maquoketa Valley for first-round action in Class A. Despite an overtime loss last week to Danville, Columbus has a 4-4 record and is in the postseason for a third straight year after previously not having any winning seasons in the 21st century.

Senior running back Riley Kaalberg has been an instrumental piece of that turnaround and has led the way for the Wildcat offense this season with 1,405 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns.

Junior Tyson Kaalberg is averaging over 12-and-a-half yards per play when he touches the ball and has scored four TDs each as a runner and a receiver. Sophomore Lamar Ceant is also becoming a big-play threat with a pair of recent rushing scores and return touchdowns on both interceptions and kickoffs.

The defense has been led by playmakers like Ceant and junior Kason Dopler, who have three picks each, as well as veterans like junior Drew Totemeier, who leads the team with 43.5 total tackles, and senior Markell Zapiensz, who has rolled up 11 tackles for loss.

Columbus is going up against a team in Maquoketa Valley that is ranked seventh in Class A and has a 7-1 record. Sophomore Rogan Heidt is their top offensive threat with nearly 1,300 yards and 19 TDs on the ground, while senior Nathan Beitz has been game-wrecker on defense with 22 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

Maquoketa won this Battle of the Wildcats last season in the playoffs 57-21, but Columbus got the victory in the postseason two years ago 62-14. Kickoff of this season’s Class A playoff battle is set for 7 o’clock this evening from Delhi.