West Branch’s Luke Lenoch hopes prolific running back career continues for awhile

WEST BRANCH - He knew.

Butch Pedersen has coached a long time and won a ton of games in his career. The guy is as good as it gets in Iowa prep football.

You believe him when he said he knew all along that Luke Lenoch would be as good as he has turned out to be.

'In fifth and sixth grade, you could see he was special,” the West Branch Coach said. 'He had that dead-leg-and-pull-it thing when he ran. He'd stick that leg out there and then pull it away when someone would try to tackle him.”

Lenoch has been special. Statistically one of the best ever in Iowa.

He is ranked 16th in state history in career rushing yards, as he enters what could be his final high school game. West Branch and Clayton Ridge play Friday night, with the winner advancing to the Class 1A playoffs.

The loser is done.

'I guess I've been thinking about my freshman year to my senior year. Everybody always tells you how they think the time flies,” Lenoch said. 'You realize how that's true. It's pretty crazy.”

West Branch has had to lean on Lenoch even more this season. The Bears are missing five starters because of injury and are down to their third quarterback.

Cooper Kabela actually is WB's best wide receiver, but he's had to move behind center. Pedersen, who began at West Branch in 1983, said he can't remember ever having a season in which his team has been this racked by injuries.

'We were a young team to start,” Lenoch said. 'A lot of our young guys have gotten injured. At times, it was ‘Oh, man. What are we going to do if this guy gets hurt?'”

'It has kind of been like ‘OK, who will be with us today?'” Pedersen said. 'I couldn't be any happier for my kids and coaches with how everyone has responded to the adversity. To me, this is one of the greatest stories we've ever had.”

Lenoch is one of the greatest stories West Branch has had. He played some as a freshman but burst onto the scene as a sophomore, rushing for 2,105 yards and 30 touchdowns.

It was 1,829 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. He has upped that TD mark to 25 this season, on 1,501 yards.

'I think Luke is the epitome of what a West Branch football player is,” Pedersen said. 'He is a hard worker, he is team first, always listens, is coachable, a great leader, more by example. In today's society, it is absolutely refreshing to have a kid like him.”

As if on cue, Lenoch deflected credit for his success.

'We've had a lot of great players the last four years who have helped me,” he said. 'I have to give them the credit.”

Lenoch will play college football somewhere, though he said he isn't concentrating on that until West Branch's season is complete. The hope is that won't be for awhile.

Pedersen said someone will be getting a terrific player.

'He's a tough runner with bounce. He can slash, he has great vision,” Pedersen said. 'He is a complete back, the best back we've had.

'Somebody is going to get a gem. He'll go quickly, because I think he wants to get this settled, so he can enjoy the rest of his senior year.”

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com