In a game filled with about everything you could imagine from onside kicks, trick plays, to turnovers and more; the ACGC Football team was able to escape Riverside with a 50-42 win over the Bulldogs. The contest was filled with explosive plays, turnovers, and lots of touchdowns. However, in a game filled with points it was the ACGC defense that came through with the game on the line.

For a game that finished with a combined 92 points, the first quarter was more of what was expected of two run heavy offenses: a controlled run attack. Receiving the ball to start the game, ACGC came out in the wishbone and went on a long-sustained drive (which included two fourth down conversions) capped off by a 17-yard Michael Fuller touchdown run to open the scoring.  Riverside responded in much the same way with the exception of an explosive 59-yard touchdown run from star back Jaxon Gordon.

Both offenses seemed to stall late in the first quarter and early into the second. ACGC lost two fumbles, but Riverside was unable to capitalize on either of them as they were forced to punt both times. At 4:59 of the second quarter the Chargers got back on the board with a 3-yard touchdown run from Fuller. Then Chaos ensued.

In the next 3:35 there would be four touchdowns including a kickoff return, an onside kick recovery, and two lead changes. Set up by an explosive Gordon run, Landyn Schoenrock would start things off with a passing touchdown to Davis Bramman on a 5-yard slant to tie the game at fourteen. 48 seconds later ACGC would respond with their first big play. On 41-yard keeper, quarterback Jathan South retook the lead. On the ensuing kickoff Cole Jeppesen received, then reversed it to Gordon who ran 75-yards down the field for the score. Taking an advantage of some defensive miscommunication, the bulldogs went for two and were successful taking their first lead of the ball game.

Up 22-21 with three minutes left to go in the half, one would probably not suspect any trickery. Well one would be wrong as Riverside head coach Darrell Frain continued with the creativity. With 3:13 left to go in the half Riverside recovered an onside kick that would eventually lead to another Jeppesen touchdown run and a 29-21 lead that they would take into the half.

With the Bulldogs set to receive the second half kickoff, it was crucial that the Charger defense find a way to stop Gordon and the Riverside offense. However, ACGC responded with some trickery of their own. In what turned out to be completely unintentional, the Chargers recovered the opening kickoff. Fuller would cap off the ensuing drive with his third touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie the game.  The game continued to go back and forth with Gordon scoring his third touchdown of the game on a 36-yard run. This was quickly followed by South’s second touchdown to tie the game at 36.

Tied heading into the fourth quarter ACGC flipped the script. They held the Riverside offense and was able to take the lead for the first time since the second quarter. South would add his third touchdown run of the game, followed by Fuller’s fourth to give the Chargers a 50-36 lead. Needing a response with 5:54 remaining, Schoenrock and Jett Rose connected on a 59-yard catch and run to make it a one-score game. Adding to the drama, the PAT was blocked keeping the Riverside deficit at eight.

After recovering the ensuing onside kick, ACGC seemingly had the game in hand. Needing a pair of first downs to clinch the game; something they had done with ease for most game. However, it was Riverside’s defense that gave the Bulldogs a chance when they forced their third fumble of the game. In ACGC territory it felt like a game destined for overtime. Yet the Charger defense came through when it mattered most. On 4th-and-1 and Gordon taking the direct snap the ACGC defense were able to meet him at the line of scrimmage, turning the ball over on downs, and effectively ending the game.

Head coach Cody Matthewson credited his player’s next man up mentality along with some adjustments for being able to come through in a big moment.

Matthewson was very pleased with how South, Fuller, and the entire offense performed.

As with every good team, Matthewson knows that there are always improvements to be made week to week. Likely the most important: protecting the football.

With the Win, ACGC moves to 5-0 on the season and will visit 2-3 IKM-Manning next week.

The Atlantic Trojans were propelled by a host of big plays to a 56-21 Homecoming victory over Knoxville on Friday night. The Trojans move to 5-1 for the first time since the state championship season of 2002.

The Trojans jumped out to an early 14-0 lead behind a Tristan Hayes 34-yard pass to Xavier Darrow and a 37-yard run by Gavin McLaren. Knoxville got a score to make it 14-7 and it stayed that way until a wild final 4 minutes of the first half. Tyson O’Brien busted off an 84-yard touchdown run with 3:10 left in the half. Knoxville answered with a big return and then a 17-yard pass from Brenden Woolsey to JaShawn Conner. A couple of punts were traded and then with under 40 seconds left in the half Brock Goodrich raced down the field on a 58-yard counter to put Atlantic at the 9 yard line. A pass interference call at the goal line got the Trojans to the 4 and then as time expired in the half Gavin McLaren rolled in for a score, making it 28-14 at half.

Atlantic recovered a squib kick to start the second half and capitalized with a Ethan McNeal 13-yard score. Knoxville scored the next possession with a Woolsey to Koby Higginbotham 25-yard hookup, making it 35-21. On the 8th play of the next possession Gavin McLaren fought off multiple defenders for a 61-yard score. That put Atlantic in full control. Jarrett Hansen grabbed an interception on the next Knoxville possession and Brock Goodrich hit the toss counter again for another 61-yard score. Hayes hit McLaren from 33 yards out for the final score.

Atlantic will take their 5-1 mark on the road next week to face the Creston Panthers. We’ll have that game on KJAN and KJANTV.

Watch the game replay HERE.

Listen to Atlantic Head Coach Joe Brummer’s Postgame comments below:

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State, fresh off a Big 12 title and NCAA trophy finish, announced its 2024-25 wrestling schedule Wednesday, which includes home duals against Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Stanford and more.

“We’re really excited about how this season’s schedule came together,” head coach Kevin Dresser said. “I think we have some exciting and challenging matchups for our fans to come see in Hilton and our road schedule should prepare us nicely for March. This squad has the opportunity to build on last season and has the potential to do some special things. We’re excited to get rolling!”

There are 10 teams on Iowa State’s dual schedule that had a top-25 finish at the 2024 NCAA Championships, four of which placed inside the top 10.

Iowa State will open its season with back-to-back duals inside Hilton Coliseum against Stanford (Nov. 8) and Navy (Nov. 15). Five other dates round out the home schedule as ISU hosts the Cyclone Open (Jan. 19) and Oklahoma (Jan. 24), Oklahoma State (Jan. 26), Arizona State (Feb. 7) and Pittsburgh (Feb. 9).

The Cyclones hit the road this season for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series dual against Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 23 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Iowa State will look to defend its Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational team title at the 2024 rendition of the tournament Dec. 6-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. A week later, Dresser and the Cyclones will return to Humboldt, Iowa for a neutral site dual inside his high school gymnasium against North Dakota State (Dec. 15).

ISU will make its third consecutive appearance at the Collegiate Duals, which returns to Nashville, Tenn. again this season, on Dec. 21. Iowa State will wrestle three duals at the event against Lock Haven, North Carolina and Ohio State.

After a Big 12 dual at West Virginia (Jan. 8), the Cyclones will head farther east to Hampton, Virginia for the Virginia Duals on Jan. 11 where ISU will see Rider and Bucknell.

Following five consecutive home dates, Iowa State will close its regular season with three road duals – at South Dakota State (Feb. 14), Northern Iowa (Feb. 16) and Missouri (Feb. 22).

The 2025 Big 12 Championship (March 8-9) will be held at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla., while the NCAA Championships (March 20-22) will take place inside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa.

Television and streaming listings for all events will be communicated at a later date. To view the complete Cyclone wrestling schedule, click here.

Iowa State wrestling season tickets are still on sale and are available for purchase at cyclones.com/tickets.

WRESTLE-OFFS
Iowa State will hold two wrestle-off dates once again this season, both of which will be open to the public on the main floor of the Lied Rec Center. Preliminary matches through semifinals will be wrestled Sunday, Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. before the best 2-of-3 finals on Saturday, Oct. 19 at a time to be determined.

More wrestle-off information will be released at a later date.

MADISON, Wis. – The Iowa State men’s cross country team captured the runner-up finish at the Nuttycombe Invitational Friday afternoon. It is the best team finish by the Cyclones in Madison since they won the meet in 2021.

The Cyclones trailed only fellow Big 12 member and second-ranked BYU in the team race.

Robin Kwemoi Bera led the Cyclones with a fifth-place individual finish in 23:18.2 while Said Mechaal and Silas Winders were also top-25 finishers in the championship race. It was the first race of the season for all three Cyclones.

In the “B” race, Seth Clevenger led ISU with a seventh-place finish in 24:40.3 while Quinton Orr was 13th in 24:59.3.

Up Next
The Cyclones will take three weeks to prepare for Pre-Nationals, also held in Madison this season. The women’s “A” race will begin at 10 a.m. with the men’s “A” race to follow at 10:40 a.m.

Championship Individual Results
1. Parker Wolfe, North Carolina, 23:04.0; 5. Robin Kwemoi Bera, Iowa State, 23:18.2; 19. Said Mechaal, Iowa State, 23:53.5; 22. Silas Winders, Iowa State, 23:57.7; 29. Gable Sieperda, Iowa State, 23:59.7; 33. Devan Kipyego, Iowa State, 24:01.6; 44. Ryan Watts, Iowa State, 24:09.5; 52. Hanibal Haile, Iowa State, 24:13.6

Championship Team Results
1. No. 2 BYU, 44; 2. No. 5 Iowa State, 107; 3. No. 20 Wake Forest, 148; 4. No. 6 North Carolina, 194; 5. No. 27 Washington, 243; 6. No. 26 Michigan, 258; 7. No. 14 Eastern Kentucky, 260; 8. No. 21 Colorado, 270; 9. No. 18 Princeton, 271; 10. No. 17 Villanova, 309; 11. No. 15 Virginia, 313; 12. No. 19 Syracuse, 325; 13. Georgetown, 342; 14. No. 16 Portland, 349; 15. Florida State, 356; 16. No. 30 Air Force, 372; 17. Gonzaga, 389; 18. No. 25 Montana State, 397; 19. No. 29 Tulsa, 412; 20. No. 23 Iona, 419; 21. Furman, 455; 22. Illinois, 562; 23. Texas A&M, 616; 24. Providence, 654

“B” Race Individual Results
1. Berkley Nance, BYU, 24:21.4; 7. Seth Clevenger, Iowa State, 24:40.3; 13. Quinton Orr, Iowa State, 24:59.3; 21. Allen Bonnessen, Iowa State, 25:30.8; 28. Emanuel Galdino, Iowa State, 26:05.0