Wildcats aim to knock off No. 2 Grundy Center

GRUNDY CENTER — It’s getting real for the Columbus football team. A squad that had not made a deep playoff run since the turn of the century is now two wins away from the UNI-Dome, and there’s a big step in the way of getting past this weekend.

Columbus hits the road in the Class A Round of 16 to take on second-ranked Grundy Center, which may be the Wildcats’ toughest opponent all season.

The Spartans sport a perfect 9-0 record, thanks in part to one of the best defenses in the state of Iowa. Grundy Center hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in a game all season, and in fact has allowed just 43 points all year long.

Columbus comes in at 8-1 after a dominant 62-14 first round win over Maquoketa Valley. The Wildcat offense has scored a mountain of points this season, hitting 49 or more points in seven of their nine games, and never putting up less than 30. As they say, something’s gotta give on Friday night.

Columbus has thrown the ball just 15 times all season, doing almost all of its damage on the ground, with the team combining for a ridiculous 3,739 yards and 61 touchdowns. Junior Kaden Amigon leads the way with 1,744 yards and 26 touchdowns, and Triston Miller has run for 885 yards and 13 scores.

Grundy Center chooses to air it out, as quarterback Colin Gordon has completed 90 passes for 1,439 yards and 16 touchdowns this year, while throwing just 16 interceptions. Wide receiver Tate Jirovsky leads the pass catchers with 437 yards, and has scored five times. He is one of three receivers over 300 yards on the season.

The Spartans’ run game is led by junior Justin Knack, who has scampered for 521 yards and 12 scores.

The winner of Friday night’s game will take on either No. 8 East Buchanan or No. 10 Alburnett for a chance to go to the state semifinals in Cedar Falls. Alburnett was Columbus’ only loss of the year, a 32-31 Pirate win in the final regular season game.