Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says practice, not pixie dust is the only hope to fix the Hawkeyes’ woeful offense. In a 3-3 start, the Hawkeyes have scored a total of seven touchdowns as the prepare to visit second ranked Ohio State. By contrast, the Buckeyes scored seven touchdowns in their last game. A blowout victory over Michigan State.

There is a lot to fix. The Hawkeyes rank at or near the bottom nationally in virtually every offensive category.

Ferentz is sticking with senior Spencer Petras, even though he is the lowest rated quarterback in the country.

Iowa is already a four touchdown underdog and if the offense can’t stay on the field and generate points it could get ugly.

Ferentz says the Buckeyes are always loaded with talent but they are at an even high level this year.

Northern Iowa center Austin Phyfe has not been cleared to play in the upcoming basketball season. Hampered by long term Covid last season, the sixth year senior is being treated for blood clots that required surgery in the off-season.

Phyfe is still holding out hope he could still play this season.

Phyfe says if can’t play this season he is thankful for a career that saw him earn first team All Missouri Valley Conference honors as a sophomore.

Class 1A Quarterfinals

Region 1

Woodbine @ Gehlen Catholic
River Valley @ Remsen St. Mary’s
Westwood @ Stanton
St. Albert @ Riverside

Region 2

Ankeny Christian @ Audubon
Tri-Center @ CAM
Fremont-Mills @ Sidney
Griswold @ East Mills

Region 3

St. Edmond @ Newell-Fonda
George-Little Rock @ Bishop Garrigan
North Iowa @ AGWSR
West Bend-Mallard @ Glidden-Ralston

Region 4

Collins-Maxwell @ North Tama
HLV @ Waterloo Christian
Murray @ Southeast Warren
Diagonal @ Earlham

Class 2A Quarterfinals

Region 3

AHSTW @ Missouri Valley
Mount Ayr @ Southwest Valley
Underwood @ Kuemper Catholic
ACGC @ Treynor

Region 4

Woodward-Granger @ Dike-New Hartford
South Hamilton @ Manson-NW Webster
I-35 @ South Hardin
West Central Valley @ Grand View Christian

Class 3A Semifinals

Region 2

Cherokee @ Unity Christian
OABCIG @ Nevada

Region 3

Atlantic @ Des Moines Christian- ON KJAN
Clarinda @ Van Meter

The Iowa Association of Track Coaches has released their weekly cross country rankings ahead of state qualifying meets this week. Here is a look at the area ranked teams.

Class 3A Girls

6. Glenwood
7. Harlan
9. Atlantic

Class 3A Boys

4. Glenwood
11. Lewis Central

Class 2A Girls

16. Clarinda

Class 2A Boys

19. Clarinda

Class 1A Girls

1 Logan-Magnolia
2. Earlham
10. ACGC
17. IKM-Manning
19. Martensdale-St. Marys

Class 1A Boys

1 ACGC
3. Woodbine
4. St. Albert
9. IKM-Manning
14. Riverside

Full rankings HERE

University of Iowa president Barbara Wilson says further expansion of the Big Ten Conference is not imminent. USC AND UCLA announced this summer they were leaving the Pac 12 to join the Big Ten.

The Los Angeles schools begin competing in the Big Ten in the fall of 2024.

Wilson made her comments on the Iowa PBS program “Iowa Press”

The UNI football team needs a strong finish to bolster its playoff hopes. The Panthers are 3-4 and three of their four remaining opponents are or have been nationally ranked. It begins this week at home against Missouri State.

That’s Panther coach Mark Farley. Missouri State has lost four straight games but Farley says that is a function of who the Bears have played.

Farley says the Bears are much better than their record.

Farley says Missouri State quarterback Jason Shelley has the ability to throw and run.

In four years with Darian DeVries as coach, Drake basketball has averaged more than 23 wins, claimed a share of a Missouri Valley regular season title and registered its first NCAA Tournament victory in a half century. There have also been two second place finishes and DeVries says an experienced Drake team feels there is unfinished business.

The Bulldogs have five players returning with starting experience and the bulk of its scoring returning from last year’s team that finished 25-11. In each of the last two seasons the Bulldogs have suffered crucial injuries down the stretch to key players.

With four players returning who averaged 10 or more points last season the Bulldogs are considered by many to be the Valley preseason favorite.

DeVries says from a style standpoint the Bulldogs will be similar but should be better offensively.

The Bulldogs open at home on November ninth against IUPUI.

The losses from last year were significant but the expectations remain the same for UNI basketball. Leading scorer AJ Green is in the pro ranks and second leading scorer Noah Carter transferred to Missouri. They were key parts of last year’s team that won the Missouri Valley regular season crown.

That’s UNI coach Ben Jacobson, who says expectations are nothing new for the Panthers. UNI has been in the NCAA Tournament four times since 2009 an won two of the last three Valley regular season titles.

Jacobson says the past success of the program has made UNI an attractive place to play.

UNI may regain the services of senior center Austin Phyfe later in the season. Hampered by long-term Covid last year, Phyfe is being treated for blood clots that developed in the offseason. He has not been cleared to play.

CLASS 4A

Region 1

Sergeant Bluff-Luton @ Glenwood
LeMars @ Bishop Heelan

Region 2

Creston @ Winterset
Denison-Schleswig @ Boone

Region 3

Storm Lake @ Carroll
Spencer @ Humboldt

CLASS 5A

Region 1

Des Moines East @ Des Moines Lincoln

Region 2

CB Thomas Jefferson @ Sioux City West

The Atlantic Trojans picked up a 3-1 win over the Shenandoah Fillies in a Class 3A Region 3 first round game on Monday night. The Trojans had a pretty solid night outside of a disjointed second set. The final set scores were 25-23, 23-25, 25-10, and 25-19. Atlantic head coach Michelle Blake was proud of the effort.

After 7 service errors in the second set Coach Blake said they talked about just moving on and forgetting about the start and moving forward. The Trojans successfully refocused by ripping off a 7-point run after giving up the first point of the third.

Atlantic improves to 18-19 on the season and advances to the regional semifinals. The Trojans will play at Class 3A #1 Des Moines Chrstian. Coach Blake said it will be a fun challenge.

Shenandoah ends their season at 17-14. We’ll have coverage of Atlantic at Des Moines Christian on Wednesday. Pre-match coverage will start around 6:50 p.m.