No. 3 West Branch hands Mediapolis its first football loss of the season

Matt Levins, The Hawk Eye
·3 min read

The Mediapolis High School football team couldn't have scripted a better start to Friday's Class 1A District 5 showdown with third-ranked West Branch.

Senior Anthony Isley returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs a quick 7-0 lead.

But it was all Bears from there as West Branch rolled to a 35-13 win at the Little Rose Bowl in West Branch.

It was a tough night for the Mediapolis offense, which was limited to just 19 passing yards.

Isley was limited to just 30 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown. Jackson Hutcheson picked up some of the slack, gaining 52 yards on just two carries. Quarterback Ben Egan completed 4-of-9 passes for just 19 yards.

Mediapolis (4-1) travels to play Wilton (3-2) at 7 p.m. Sept. 30.

New London’s Dom Lopez and Michael Raines (26) stop the run of WACO’s Simeon Reichenbach in their game at WACO.
New London’s Dom Lopez and Michael Raines (26) stop the run of WACO’s Simeon Reichenbach in their game at WACO.

NO. 4 WACO 43, NEW LONDON 14: The fourth-ranked Warriors raced to a 28-0 halftime on their way to a Class 8-Man District 6 win over the Tigers at Wayland.

Simeon Reichenbach rushed for 150 yards on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass and intercepted a pass. Isaac Oswald completed 5-of-15 passes for 47 yards. Louden Huisenga rushed for 46 yards on seven carries and scored two touchdowns. Reece Oswald caught three passes for 34 yards and a score.

New London quarterback Dom Lopez completed 5-of-17 passes for 45 yards, including a touchdown to Reean Seberg, but was intercepted four times. Blaise Porter rushed for 83 yards on 10 carries and Boden Pickle rushed for 59 yards and a score.

New London’s Boden Pickle is tripped up carrying the ball in the Tigers game with WACO at Wayland.
New London’s Boden Pickle is tripped up carrying the ball in the Tigers game with WACO at Wayland.

LISBON 46, WAPELLO 6: Cohen Kamaus passed for 197 yards and a score and rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns in the Lions' Class A District 5 home win over the Indians.

Casey Short completed 13-of-31 passed for 148 yards and one touchdown for Wapello Tyler Palmer hauled in three passes for 77 yards and a score, while Jake Gustison rushed for 42 yards on nine tries. The Indians were held to minus-9 rushing yards.

COLUMBUS 53, PEKIN 28: The Wildcats improved to 5-0 with a Class A District 5 rout of the Panthers at Packwood.

Columbus' Kaden Amigon rushed for 302 yards on 19 carries and scored six touchdowns. He also returned a fumble 81 yards for a score.

Triston Miller rushed for 105 yards on 10 carries and a score for the Wildcats.

Cam Buffington (33) breaks free of a tackle and goes on to score one of three touchdowns for the Wolves.
Cam Buffington (33) breaks free of a tackle and goes on to score one of three touchdowns for the Wolves.

WINFIELD-MOUNT UNION 54, LONE TREE 14: University of Iowa recruit Cam Buffington rushed for 163 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns in the Wolves' Homecoming win over the Lions at Winfield.

Abram Edwards rushed for 58 yards on 10 carries and scored two touchdowns and caught four passes for 65 yards. Eli Miller rushed for 25 yards on eight tries and a score. Cole Milks passed for 53 yards and rushed for 64 yards.

MID-PRAIRIE 55, CENTRAL LEE 0: Chase Johnson rushed for 26 yards and caught three passes for 26 yards in the Hawks' road loss to the Golden Hawks at Wellman.

Kayden Calfee completed 4-of-7 passes for 43 yards for the Hawks.

Hunter Gregory had 10 1/2 tackles, while Corbin Pohren had 10 tackles.

Matt Levins is a sports reporter for the USA Today Network in Burlington, Iowa, who has covered local sports for 32 years at The Hawk Eye. Reach him at mlevins@thehawkeye.com.

This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: West Branch overcomes touchdown on opening kickoff to down Mediapolis