Articles Tagged: West Branch High School

Van Meter beat West Branch 48-17 in a Class 1A Iowa high school state football semifinal game.

West Branch’s football team won its first 11 games this season, qualifying for the Class 1A state playoff semifinals despite having their head coach Butch Pedersen be mostly away from the team down the stretch while undergoing treatment for cancer. The Bears dropped a 48-17 decision Friday morning to top-ranked Van Meter.

The Iowa high school football state semifinals continue Friday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls with games in Class 1A and Class 5A. Follow our live blog for updates throughout the day.

Junior quarterback Tye Hughes decided to leave Iowa City Liberty and transfer to West Branch this season. He has helped the Bears to an 11-0 record and a spot in the Class 1A state playoff semifinals.

The Prep Football Huddle podcast kicks off state semifinal week with a preview of this week’s Iowa high school state football semifinals.

Gazette area unbeatens Cedar Rapids Xavier, West Branch, Williamsburg and Mount Vernon look to make Dome statements in the Iowa high school state football semifinals this week.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association has released pairings for state football playoff semifinal games, which will be conducted this week at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

West Branch’s football team scored 14 points in a span of just under three minutes in the fourth quarter to rally past MFL MarMac, 27-24, in a Class 1A state playoff football quarterfinal, thrilling ailing Bears head coach Butch Pedersen

Photos from West Branch vs. MFL MarMac in the quarterfinals of the Iowa high school football playoffs.

Capsules for 10 Gazette area Iowa high school state football quarterfinal games.

Who got a promising draw? Who got the “Group of Death”? We break down the Iowa high school football playoffs Round of 16 pairings on this week’s Prep Football Huddle podcast.

Butch Pedersen has led his West Branch football team to a 9-0 record and Class 1A’s playoff Round of 16. Lance Pedersen has led Mount Vernon to a 9-0 record and Class 3A’s playoff Round of 16. It’s the first time father and son finished the regular season unbeaten in their established head coaching careers. But the unprecedented success has come as Butch battles cancer.

The Gazette’s Iowa high school football staff poses and answers questions about the playoffs: Surprise team to reach the UNI-Dome? Will anyone run the table?

Class 1A and 2A teams are two matches away from state. Here are Monday’s five best area regional semifinals.

The Gazette Iowa high school sports staff answers questions about the first round of the playoffs for small schools, the RPI, Coach of the Year candidates and cool lids.