West Branch proves doubters wrong, returns to state semifinals

CEDAR FALLS - Don't worry if the West Branch football players' shoulder pads don't  fit tight.

The Bears have to make room for the chip on their shoulder. It has been there since they opened the season 1-2, causing many to doubt whether the program's stretch of deep postseason runs would continue.

West Branch rebounded with nine straight wins, advancing to the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 1A state semifinals for the fourth straight season. The Bears face No. 10 Saint Ansgar on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the UNI-Dome.

"This year is kind of a Cinderella football story because at the beginning of the year when we were 1-2 there were a lot of people who didn't really have faith in us," longtime West Branch Coach Butch Pedersen said. "We proved a lot of people wrong."

Now, the Bears (10-2) are one of only two 11-man teams to have reached the semifinals each of the last four years, joining Class A power Madrid, who has qualified each year since 2007. There are only two other programs who have managed to reach the semifinals in three of the last four years, placing West Branch in elite company the last few years.

The players who turned things around after Week 3 appreciate the accomplishment. They understand many teams don't earn this opportunity, which resulted by avenging its last loss by beating No. 7 Alburnett, 21-13, Monday.

"We're just blessed to be able to do that," said junior fullback Bo Bower, who leads the team with 493 receiving yards and has 1,127 total yards this season. "We were very determined and worked really hard. It's pretty cool."

A loss to open district play on the heels of a loss to Class A finalist Lisbon made it a distant goal. Pedersen said the coaches tried to adjust the mindset of the players, getting them more focused with some of the "most gruelling football practices he has conducted at West Branch. The team needed to shed a sense of entitlement.

Tradition played a role in rebounding from that setback to Alburnett.

"They don't want to be the team that lets all the other people that have played ahead of them down," Pedersen said. "That definitely played a factor." 

Bower remembered those practices. The coaches were more intense, increasing the amount of hitting and tackling drills. The Bears knew hard work was the key to returning to a high level, and watched it pay dividends.

"We got very, very good at the end of the season," Bower said. "It was an awesome turnaround."

Saint Ansgar has taken a similar road to the semifinals, winning nine straight and avenging its last loss. The Saints (10-2) upended No. 3 Aplington-Parkersburg, 27-21, Monday. The Saints boast a vaunted rush attack that ranks third in 1A with 4,841 yards. Tony Heimer, a 6-foot-2, 197-pound running back, leads Saint Ansgar with 1,616 yards.

Pedersen said the Saints own a 50 to 60 pound advantage per person on the line. it will be important to control the line of scrimmage.

"We're going to use our speed, quickness and technique," Pedersen said. "We're going to have to try some things that maybe they haven't seen as much this year to see if we can put a few wrinkles in their mind."

The Bears have a strong running game, behind Cade Jones, who ranks fifth in 1A with 1,740 yards and his 166 points, including 27 TDs, is good for fourth in 1A scoring. Quarterback Brandon Young has 655 rush yards with eight TDs and Bower has added 634 yards.

Young gives the Bears an advantage in the passing game. Young, a senior, has thrown for 859 yards and eight touchdowns. West Branch has never been a one-dimensional offense.

"It gives you more diversity," Pedersen said. "You can't really key on one person as much."

Pedersen said adversity shows character. No matter what happens Saturday, the Bears have revealed strong character to reach this point and demonstrating the consistency of the program. They will have to beat a favored team for the third straight time to reach the finals for the first time since winning consecutive titles in 1991 and 1992.

"To beat the No. 1 seeds the last two games in a row, with two upsets, certainly speaks well for the kids in the fact that they don't give up," Pedersen said. "(Saint Ansgar) is a great football team. We're  the underdog and we kind of play better in that role anyway."