There is a top five showdown in the Class A quarterfinals Friday night when top ranked AC/GC hosts number-five Tri-Center. AC/GC coach Cody Matthewson.

Matthewson says the keys will be protecting the ball on offense and limiting big plays.

Tri-Center coach Ryan Schroder says they need to find a way to slow down the AC/GC ground game.

After winning the school’s first ever playoff game two weeks ago Tri-Center bids for a first trip to the UNI-Dome.

The Iowa Hawkeyes take a 6-3 record on the road to UCLA Friday night. The Bruins are 3-5 against what Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says has been a difficult schedule.

UCLA is coming off back-to-back road wins at Rutgers and Nebraska.

It’s Iowa first trip to the Rose Bowl for a Big Ten game.

Ferentz says in his first season as head coach DeShaun Foster has UCLA on the right track.

Iowa defensive end Deonte Craig on playing in the Rose Bowl.

Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins on playing in the Rose Bowl.

Higgins says practice was condensed this week to get ready for a Friday game.

Iowa State sophomore linebacker Kooper Ebel (E-bull) says the 17th ranked Cyclones are not taking Kansas lightly as they get ready for Saturday’s game in Arrowhead Stadium. After starting the season nationally ranked the Jayhawks have struggled to a 2-6 record.

Ebel says practice this week has been spirited and all of their goals are still attainable.

Ebel is looking forward to playing in the home of the Kansas City Chiefs.

For the first time since 2021, the Audubon Wheelers Football Team is back in the quarterfinals.  The Wheelers are 10-0 after their second consecutive undefeated regular season and two convincing playoff wins. However, their quarterfinal opponent might be their toughest challenge yet. In a rematch of the 2022 first round, Audubon will face a fellow undefeated team in Remsen St. Mary’s. In a clash of two top teams with a trip to the UNI Dome on the line, the stakes are a little higher than last time. Head Coach Sean Birks says he and his team are excited to return to the quarterfinal.

After a convincing 38-7 win over East Mills, the Wheelers followed it up with an arguably more impressive 42-18 second-round win over Woodbine. The offense was hot right from the start, scoring on the first four drives. The ground game was effective, collecting 231 yards and three touchdowns, with quarterback Carson Wessel earning 145 of those yards. The defense was also lights out, as Aaron Olsen and the defense forced four interceptions, while the special teams unit forced two more. It was a game Audubon controlled for much of the contest. Birks credited his team’s start as a main factor in gaining control of the game.

Although happy with the performance against Woodbine, there is always room for improvement. Birks knows they will have to step things up against the Hawks.

Standing in the way of a trip to the UNI Dome is a Remsen St. Mary’s team that is accustomed to winning. Winning a championship just two seasons ago they are back and looking to once again reach the pinnacle of Iowa 8-man football. Their offense, led by Landon Waldschmitt, is a physical one that produces well over 40 points per game. Birks says that limiting their production and forcing them into uncomfortable down and distances will be key.

The Hawks also bring one of the better 8-man defenses to the table as well. Led by Braxton Kneip and his 54 tackles, they have allowed more than 12 points just once. The key to putting up points against this tough defense: eliminating negative plays

You can catch all the action on KJAN starting at 6 pm Thursday.

The Iowa Hawkeye women had six players in double figures in a 91-73 win over Northern Illinois as Jan Jensen earned a win in her debut as Hawkeye coach.

Jensen felt the Hawkeyes lacked consistency.

Lucy Olsen led the Hawkeyes with 19 points and added seven assists. The Hawkeyes return to action Sunday by playing Virginia Tech in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Riverside Bulldogs volleyball team had their state tournament run end on Wednesday night with a 3-0 defeat to the top seeded Ankeny Christian Eagles in the 1A State Semifinals. The Eagles won 25-12, 25-21, 25-18 to move on to the state championship on Thursday. The Bulldogs end their season with their best season in program history.

Ankeny Christian set the tone early in the opening set going on a rapid seven point run to start and closed out the first set with 5 straight points. The Bulldogs bounced back in the second set making it 14 all midway through, but fell short with a barrage of kills by Katie Quick and Carley Craighead. Riverside seemed poised in the third, tying it multiple times throughout the match and getting their first lead since 1-0 back in the second. That still wouldn’t be enough to stop the Eagles as they used a five point run to create a big enough gap and eventually grab the match.

Ankeny Christian was led by an impressive night from senior Katie Quick who finished with 13 kills, 25 assists, and 3 service aces. Katelyn Weathers had 13 digs and Macey Nehring had 8 kills for the Eagles. Ankeny Christian improved to 39-5 and will play again in the Championship at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Riverside was led by 7 kills and 4 digs by senior Sophia Taylor. Fellow senior Elly Henderson had 6 kills and 10 digs. Bentley Rone had 14 assists and Madison Kelley had 3 blocks. The Bulldogs end their impressive season with a record of 39-4.

Riverside senior Elly Henderson was proud of the way her team competed throughout the 2024 season and in the state tournament.

Henderson was also grateful to be a part of one of the best teams in Riverside volleyball history,

Bulldogs head coach Brooke Flathers was tearful when describing the joy and pride she had in her senior class.

Looking to next year’s group, Flathers has confidence in their ability and what they will bring to the program.

This was Riverside’s first year making it to the Class 1A state tournament semifinals.

UCLA bids for its first home victory on Friday night when the Bruins host Iowa. The Bruins are 3-5 overall after a win at Nebraska but are 0-3 in the Rose Bowl. UCLA coach DeShaun Foster.

It will match a UCLA defense that gives up just over 100 yards per game against Hawkeye running back Kaleb Johnson, who averages better than 142 yards per game.

Foster says the key against a good running back is swarming to the football.

After two straight wins the Iowa Hawkeyes get ready for Friday night’s game at Big Ten newcomer UCLA. Quarterback Brendan Sullivan has ignited lopsided wins over Northwestern and Wisconsin after a subpar effort in a loss at Michigan State.

That’s Hawkeye coach Kirk Ferentz. With Cade McNamara still sidelined Jackson Stratton will be the backup quarterback this week. The Colorado State transfer stepped into that role after Marco Lainez was injured in practice last week.

Stratton appeared in four games for Colorado State in 2022.

Iowa has not won a game in Pasadena since a victory over California in the 1959 Rose Bowl and none of the games since have even been close.

Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan says there are no excuses as the Hawkeyes get set to visit UCLA Friday night. The Hawkeyes are 6-3 and have a short week of preparation before heading to the west coast.

Sullivan is coming off his first start in a win over Wisconsin and says he is still looking to build chemistry with his receivers.

Sullivan says offensive coordinator Tim Lester has been focused on his foot work.

Iowa State receiver Jaylin Noel is confident the Cyclones will bounce back this weekend against Kansas. The 17th ranked Cyclones are 7-1 after a last second loss to Texas Tech.

Noel says the game against Texas Tech showed how important little things are in the outcome of games.

Kansas is 2-6 but Noel says the Jayhawk secondary will challenge the ISU receivers.

As a native of Kansas City Noel is excited with the opportunity to play in Arrowhead Stadium.

Cyclone running back Abu Sama says despite the loss all of their goals are still within reach.

1st Team

1             Ashlynn Hodges**            Shenandoah                       12           OH

2             Maddie Roenfeld**          Lewis Central                     12           MH

3             Brooke Larsen**               Lewis Central                     12           S/OH

4             Addison Wagoner             Clarinda                              11           OH

5             Jerzee Knight                     Clarinda                              12           OH/DS

6             Alli Koontz                          Glenwood                           12           S

7             Charley Hernandez           Glenwood                           12           OH

8             Brianna Wittrock              Kuemper Catholic             11           MH

9             Kaylie Simons                    Kuemper Catholic             11           Libero

10           Jocelyn O’Neal                  Red Oak                              11           OH

2nd Team   

1             Paytn Harter                      Atlantic                               12           MB

2             Dakota Wise                      Clarinda                              12           S

3             Jaycee Hanson                   Creston                               11           OH

4             Gaby Cardenas                  Denison Schleswig           12           OH

5             Ilsa Kemling                        Glenwood                           12           MH

6             Macy Mueller                    Harlan                                 12           S

7             Maddie Ausdemore         Lewis Central                     12           MH

8             Nicole Bond                       Red Oak                              12           L

9             Lynnae Greene                  Shenandoah                       12           OH

10           Ellie Monahan                   St. Albert                            12           OH

Honorable Mention  

1             Carsen Wellhausen          Clarinda                              11           MB

2             Kyia Clark                           Denison Schleswig           11           S

3             Kaylee Wray                      Glenwood                           11           OH

4             Rylie Kendall                      Glenwood                           11           L/DS

5             Aubrey Schweiso              Harlan                                 12           OH

6             Elsa Tiefenthaler               Kuemper Catholic             11           Setter/RH

7             Mariah Hueton                 Kuemper Catholic             9             OH

8             Jordan Matiyow                Lewis Central                     12           OH

9             Jacey Young                       Lewis Central                     9             L

10           Keely Jones                        Red Oak                              10           OH

11           Peyton Athen                    Shenandoah                       12           S

12           Grace Christensen            St. Albert                            11           L