(Underwood) Two fantastic Class 1A football teams will meat up Friday night with a trip to the dome on the line. #6th rated Underwood pays #2 Van Meter a visit.
Underwood coach Nate Mechaelsen comments on Van Meter. “Absolutely one of our biggest tests. Everything impresses me about Van Meter. They don’t have any weaknesses in terms of players. Everybody can play. They are very well coached, they are very well prepared. They are overall a very complete football team.”
The Eagles are trying to end the Bulldogs streak of five consecutive years in the dome. “Winning that many football games for that long certainly can’t hurt in terms of what they’ve built as a culture and being used to winning.” He adds once the kickoff comes, “I think all that is thrown out the window, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to have been involved in that many big games over the years.”
Outside of #1 rated OABGIC, Underwood is giving up just 5.8 points per game this year with three shutouts. “The defense has played really, really well for the entirety of the year.” Mechaelsen, “We’ve really done what we’ve set out to almost every week. We’ve stopped the run really well all year which is our focus in every game. That’s allowed us to be at the top end of interceptions in Class 1A.”
On offense they average 43.5 points per game. Alex Ravlin has thrown for 1,720 yards. Brayden Wollan is his top target with 36 catches for 728 yards while Blake Hall has caught 33 passes and Quinn Kuck 27.
Underwood trounced a ranked Mount Ayr squad 42-17 in the last round. They ran for 180 yards and threw for 252. They also held the Raiders to just 93 yards rushing.
Underwood is 9-1 with their only loss against Class 2A defending champ OABCIG. Van Meter is 9-0 and has won every game by at least 17 points. The Bulldogs have pitched four shutouts.
