Playoff football: 4 area teams remain

Six area teams entered the high school football playoffs on Friday night when the Round of 32 kicked off in Classes 8-Player, A, 1A and 2A. When it was all said and done, four of them advanced to play in next week’s Round of 16.

The area slate saw a few blowouts victories, one thriller, and a results games that spelled the end of the season.

Mid-Prairie 7, Northeast 6

Braden Hartley’s 8-yard touchdown run with just 4 minutes and 50 seconds left in the game gave the Golden Hawks their only score of the contest, and it was the only one they would need.

Mid-Prairie was frustrated for over three-and-a-half quarters, seeing red zone trip after red zone trip come away empty. A fake punt early in the fourth had Northeast in position to put the nail in the coffin, but the Golden Hawks got the ball back and scored the game-winner.

Cain Brown’s extra point gave Mid-Prairie the lead for good, and the Golden Hawks were the only area team to win on the road this weekend.

Hartley ran for 163 yards and a touchdown in the win. Collin Miller rushed for 80 and passed for 47.

Hartley also led the defense with 5.5 tackles. Cobi Hershberger finished with five.

Mid-Prairie will play at No. 2 Williamsburg next weekend in the Class 2A Round of 16.

No. 2 WACO 57, Martensdale-St. Mary’s 14

The Warriors made quick work of their first opponent in the Class 8-Player opening round. WACO led 35-6 after one quarter, 50-6 at halftime and 57-7 after three.

The WACO defense was astounding in the win, picking off M-SM quarterbackCooper Oberbroeckling five times. Mason Mille rhad two of those. Simeon Reichenbach, Louden Huisenga and Clayton Miller each had one.

Reichenbach only needed 10 carries to rush the ball for 90 yards and three touchdowns. Isaac Oswald ran for 75 yards and two scores, and also threw for two touchdowns, one to Reichenbach and one to Ty Egli.

Mason Miller led the receiving corps with two catches for 60 yards. Huisenga found the end zone once on the ground.

WACO gets Central City at home next week in the Round of 16.

Sigourney-Keota 31, Sumner-Fredericksburg 0

The Cobras took a while to get going offensively, holding just a 10-0 lead at the half, but they exploded in the third and never faltered on defense in a dominant win.

Cole Clarahan continued to rack up yards on the ground, running for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Isaac Bruns went for 51 yards and a score, and Sawyer Stout ran for 44 yards, and passed for 150 yards and one score.

Aidan Anderson had a big day in the receiving game. He caught two passes for 111 yards. Cole Cindred had the team’s lone touchdown reception.

The Cobra defense picked off Cougar quarterbacks three times, as Kindred, Clarahan and Jake Moore all had one interception. Carter McCoid recovered one fumble.

It’s a Southeast Iowa clash on Friday night as Sigourney-Keota will welcome in Mediapolis in a Class 1A Round of 16 matchup.

Columbus 62, Maquoketa Valley 14

It was all Columbus in the Wildcats’ Class A playoff opener. Columbus led 28-14 at halftime and then outscored the Wildcats 34-0 in the second half

Kaden Amigon ran for 246 yards and four touchdowns. Triston Miller went for 95 yards and one touchdown. Riley Kaalberg ran for 93 and a score. Trenton Hoback went for 70 and a score, and Jeff Hoback and Cole Storm scored rushing touchdowns as well, giving the Wildcats nine on the day.

Trenton Hoback led the Columbus defense with 9.5 tackles. Jeff Hoback picked off one pass.

Columbus has a big challenge next weekend as they hit the road to play at No. 2 Grundy Center.

No. 6 Gladbrook-Reinbeck 46, New London 14

Despite an 8-6 lead after one quarter, it just wasn’t meant to be for New London in a playoff defeat at Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

The Tigers ran for nearly 300 yards in the loss. Blaise Porter rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown. Boden Pickle scampered for 102 yards, and Dom Lopez went for 41. Reean Seberg found the end zone once.

The Tiger defense was led by Porter, who finished the day with 10 tackles. Pickle had 9.5 tackles, and Trent Wilkerson recovered one fumble.

No. 3 Don Bosco 48, Winfield-Mount Union 18

The Wolves were in it at halftime, as Don Bosco’s lead was just 27-18, but WMU couldn’t score in the second half and Don Bosco did enough to run away with the win.

Cam Buffington still did damage, rushing for 205 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. He also led the defense with 9.5 tackles.

Jake Edwards stepped into the quarterback position for Cole Milks and threw for 143 yards, 55 of which went to Abram Edwards.