Iowa Valley makes playoffs

VICTOR — Iowa Valley will be one of the 32 teams in this year’s 8-man state football playoffs after clinching a third-place finish in their district last Friday night with a 54-6 win over HLV at Victor.

The Tigers’ domination of the Warriors gave them a final record of 3-2 in Class 8 District 6, good for third place behind champion Winfield-Mount Union and runner-up WACO.

The top three teams in each of the state’s 10 districts, plus two at large teams qualify for the playoffs.

Iowa Valley, 5-2 overall, owned HLV from start to finish, scoring all six times it had the ball in the first half while not allowing the Warriors a first down.

“A great team win,” said Iowa Valley Coach Casey Krull. “We had a lot of guys step up in big ways.”

On offense, it was Nolan Kriegel, Dawson Smith, Caleb Haack, Ian Smith and Owen Bral.

Freshman quarterback Kriegel hooked up with junior wide out Haack for a 25-yard touchdown pass to get things started.

Senior running back Dawson Smith followed with touchdown runs of five and 48 yards as the Tigers built a 24-0 first quarter lead.

Kriegel and junior Ian Smith added touchdown runs of 10 and 11 yards in the second quarter, and Kriegel found junior Owen Bral wide open over the middle for a 52-yard touchdown pass, extending Iowa Valley’s lead to 46-0 at halftime.

The defense held HLV to fewer than 30 yards of total offense in the first half — 91 total — constantly pressuring Warrior quarterbacks Bryer Jack and Max Henstorf.

Chance Hoyt finished with a team-high five tackles, including two solos, one sack and three tackles for losses.

“Our defensive line did a really good job, and our linebackers were able to run free and make a bunch of plays,” said Krull. “Taite, Colton and Garrett lived in their backfield all night.”

The Tigers tacked on a seventh touchdown in the third quarter on a 52-yard run by Kriegel, making it 54-0.

HLV would finally get on the board in the fourth period on a one-yard run by Henstorf.

Kriegel finished the game with 110 yards rushing and two touchdowns on nine carries, and 114 yards passing on 4-for-5 accuracy, also for two TDs.

“Our offensive line did a nice job opening holes in the run game and giving our QB time to throw the ball,” coach Krull said.

The Tigers close out the regular season at home this Friday in a non-district battle against Belle Plaine (3-3). Playoffs begin Oct. 20.

HLV (1-7, 1-3) plays its last game of the season Friday at Wayland against top 10-ranked WACO (6-1, 3-1).