Northwest Iowa — Iowa high school football playoffs open Friday night in all classes across the state. Our broadcast game comes your way from Hesla Field in Hull on KIWA FM 105.3. Boyden Hull Rock Valley opens the playoffs against South Central Calhoun.
The Nighthawks are 8-1 on the season coming off a 28-14 win over Central Lyon George Little Rock in a game that decided the 2A District 1 title. South Central Calhoun closed out a 7-2 season with a 49-6 win over East Sac County to finish second in District 2. As it turned out Kuemper Catholic would win the District 2 title with a 35-22 win over the Titans back in week 6 of the season. The Titans are on a 3 game winning streak while the Nighthawks dropped a 20-19 decision to Class 1A playoff qualifier West Lyon in week two and have not lost since. They are riding a 7 game winning streak.
Boyden Hull Rock Valley is led by a trio of seniors on offense. Quarterback Brett Moser has completed 109-of-178 passes for 1680 yards, 22 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions. He’s averaging 15.4 yards per completion. His leading receiver has been Shane Solberg with 33 catches for 695 yards and 12 touchdown. He’s averaging 21.1 yards per catch. The leading rusher has been Jacob Schafer with 93 carries for 733 yards and 9 touchdowns averaging 7.9 yards per carry.
The Titans counter with junior Hunter Muhlbaur who has passed for 1262 yards completing 61-of-120 attempts for 17 touchdowns against just 4 interceptions. His leading receiver has been senior Kody Case with 30 receptions for 686 yards and 11 touchdown averaging 22.9 yards per catch. Case is also the leading rusher for South Central Calhoun with 76 carries for 682 yards for another 10 touchdowns on the ground. He’s averaged 9 yards per carry on the season.
Defensively the Nighthawks have picked off 19 passes and have forced 13 fumbles. The Titans counter with 11 interceptions and 9 forced fumbles heading into the playoffs.
The Titans offense jumps out at Nighthawks Head Coach Cory Brandt.
Brandt feels the game will come down to which team is more fundamentally sound.
South Central Calhoun Head Coach Bryan Case summed up the Nighthawks this way.
Case feels ball control and time of possession will be the big key.
Jon and Justin have the call from Hesla Field in Hull on KIWA FM 105.3. Pregame begins with the Radio Iowa Scouting Report at 6:05 with the opening kick off at 7:00. We’ll stream from the website at www.kiwaradio.com.
The winner moves on to the quarterfinals next Friday night against the winner of Kuemper Catholic and Central Lyon George Little Rock. That first rounder is being played at Denison.
