Area football preview: Timberwolves and Falcons collide in colossal battle

COUNCIL BLUFFS — A nearly two-hour drive and about a day separates Southwest Valley’s football team from a date with destiny.

The Timberwolves have done things the right way in turning the program around in two short years, and coach Anthony Donahoo knows just how long Friday’s game could go in establishing the Timberwolves as a power.

Both Class A top-ranked St. Albert and ninth-ranked Southwest Valley enter week seven undefeated.

The Falcons defeated the Timberwolves 33-0 in Corning a year ago, and both teams have certainly gotten better.

St. Albert comes in averaging 51.8 points per game, and Southwest Valley is putting up 35.3.

With rain prospectively in the forecast, the points aren’t likely to come as quickly.

Southwest Valley coach Anthony Donahoo comes in obviously anxious as Corning, Villisca and the surrounding community enters this game riding high right into the territory of a state power, but the Timberwolves had every intention of treating this week like any other week.

When asked the key to success for this Friday’s game?

“Playing loose,” Donahoo said. “Last year we went in tight knowing the playoffs were on the board.”

“It’s just another game. It is 6-0 6-0, and it is exciting for us, but we’ve got to make sure to prepare the same way,” Donahoo noted.

Southwest Valley turned the ball over just once in last year’s loss and did post 229 yards of offense, but could not break through for the big play that it has become accustomed to making this season.

Chance Cobb leads Southwest Valley’s multi-headed monster of an offense into battle, looking to make a dent against a seemingly impenetrable Falcons defense.

“Basically having four running backs that can run the ball makes it really nice,” Donahoo said. “We know (this) week we’ll need to be really balanced.”

Cobb, Aaron Armstrong and Aiden Gaule each enter the game with more than 400 yards of offense and the team will benefit from Jace Petersen getting back to the backfield for some touches.

Cobb’s top two receiving targets, Addison Bull and Grant Maurer, will have to be primed with hot hands in the Falcon secondary.

The senior quarterback owns a 7-1 touchdown to interception ratio with 572 yards through the air.

St. Albert Kyle Barnes has had oodles of production, throwing 14 touchdown passes and has not had a pass intercepted. He has 861 yards through the air and 312 with his legs, and is averaging 11.2 yards per carry.

Luke Waters leads St. Albert on the ground with 412 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns as six Falcons have at least 100 yards rushing. Receiving targets Tyler Balaha and Blake Rallis have hauled in a combined 31 passes for 659 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Turnovers could end up being the difference in Friday’s game. While St. Albert holds opposing offenses to 3.3 points per game, the Falcons have only created eight turnovers.

Southwest Valley’s defense has 16 takeaways, eight fumbles and eight via interceptions.

Both Maurer and Bull have recorded three interceptions apiece, and the Timberwolves defense has scored four times this season.

While no team necessarily wants to be playing in close games constantly, St. Albert has yet to have a tough contest this season. Southwest Valley has felt the urgency of needing to make plays to pull out a win in defeating Mount Ayr week two.

The upperclassmen of Southwest Valley will likely be hoping that the adversity they’ve faced, two years removed from consecutive one-win seasons, benefits them Friday night.

Bedford at East Union

AFTON — It’s make or break time for the East Union Eagles.

The Eagles (3-3, 1-2) will have to show they have something to fight for at home Friday, as they attempt to hand visiting Bedford (4-2, 2-1) its second loss of the season.

East Union has lost three consecutive games and have not been as competitive as desired in consecutive losses to Lenox and Stanton.

“We have to go out there and play our best game yet,” EU co-coach James Hardy said.

“We know what they do, we know who plays where, we know what they’re capable of,” Hardy said.

He included tackling, knowledge of down and distance and limiting big plays as keys.

The East Union defense will have to limit Bulldog quarterback Cooper Nally (832 passing yards), as well as a stable of six rushers who have at least 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Kolton Johnson (16 receptions for 290 yards and three touchdowns receiving) will have to be kept in check.

Keeping control of the ball will be crucial for EU as well, as Bedford has forced 21 turnovers.

The Eagles look to stay in playoff contention with a win.

Lamoni at Murray

MURRAY — The Murray Mustangs finally saw numbers match up with the feeling that they were improving.

Murray (0-7, 0-4) boasted 105 yards passing by Reece Held, who was all over the place with three touchdown passes, 36 rushing yards, a defensive interception and a team-high six tackles in last week’s 74-20 loss to Bedford (4-2, 3-0).

It was the first time the Mustangs had scored more than eight points in a game this season.

Now, they turn their sights toward a senior night game (for lone senior Kris Davis), in which the Lemoni Demons (3-2, 1-2) come to town, fresh off a 36-30 win over Wayne.

Demons quarterback Bryce Allie had a productive night in the Wayne win, passing for 165 yards, and now has 440 yards through the air and four passing touchdowns to go with four rushing scores.

Murray will seek to stop backa Riley Schwab, Luke Jones and Patrick Savage, who each has more than 200 yards rushing.

In order to keep up with the Demons, who enter averaging 38 points per game, the Mustangs will have to find success offensively once again.

This time around, they’re finally likely to have the confidence to do so.

Stanton at Lenox

By CARTER ECKL CNA staff reporter ceckl@crestonnews.com

The Lenox Tigers (3-3, 2-1) have outscored their last two opponents by a total score of 94-6, but Stanton (6-1, 4-0), their district opponent this week is averaging over 52 points per game so far this season.

When it comes to stopping the Vikings explosive offense, head coach Matt Malausky wasn’t sure if stopping or containing them was the right outlook.

“I don’t know if it is so much stopping or containing them as it is keeping them on the right side of the end zone,” said Malausky.

Lenox had a bye week to prepare, which Malausky said was crucial in preparation for this game.

“It was great. We got to get healthy and it allowed for us to have some fun in practice,” said Malausky.

Malausky is looking for the Tigers to continue to establish offensive rhythm.

The two squads share a few mutual opponents as they both sport wins over East Union and Murray. On the flip side, Lenox has lost to Wayne and Fremont-Mills, both teams that the Vikings toppled.

Both teams most recent matchup just so happens to be East Union. The Tigers knocked off the 8-player District 6 foe 34-6 while Stanton’s offense put up another impressive outing, winning 56-30.

Drake Johnson, Keygan Day and the Bulldogs’ other athletes demonstrated the danger they present each week.

When asked if he thought the game might turn into an offensive shootout, Malausky thought the weather may dampen each team’s firepower.

“I don’t know if I’d expect it, but with the 90 percent chance of rain Friday I’m not really sure what we will get,” said Malausky.

The Tigers got a little practice in the rain Tuesday during some unexpected rainfall. Ultimately, Malausky doesn’t want any storms to stop play.

“We’re just hoping there aren’t any big storms that could break up any momentum,” Malausky said.