(Corning, IA) — Two 1-0 teams will face off in their Class A, District 7 opener as AC/GC visits Southwest Valley.
The Chargers are coming off a dominating 40-0 win over rival Panorama. Senior Back Joe Crawford had 10 carries for 153 yards and 2 TD including a 74 yarder. Senior Angel Martinez added 9 carries for 62 yards and a TD at the fullback spot. Senior Brexton Schneider added 6 carries for 55 yards. Senior Tommy Skram started his first game at quarterback and did not throw a pass all game long, ran for 48 yards and a TD and Head Coach Cody Matthewson says he managed the offense well
Defensively, Senior Xander Harwood led the team in tackles with 7; Junior Ryder Cline had 5 tackles and 2 QB sacks; Sophomore Kinnick Froehlich returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown. Panorama did have 81 yards passing but only 24 yards rushing and Matthewson says most of the Panthers yardage came late when the game was decided
On special teams, AC/GC got a school record 43 yard field from Oliver Wetzel — Matthewson says its only the third field goal in AC/GC history and he can remember the other two. Charlie Crawford hit one in 2020 against Pleasantville in the first round of the playoffs and in 2022, Brock Littler hit a game winning field goal to beat Interstate 35 that Matthewson says barely got off the ground. Matthewson says having a strong kicker will give the Chargers a leg up on the competition
In terms of Southwest Valley, the Timberwolves are expecting to play without QB Wyatt Mendenhall but Matthewson says you still have to prepare for their offense which Matthewson doesn’t expect will change much no matter who is the QB
Without Mendenhall, Southwest Valley still beat Red Oak 14-3. Head Coach Keegan Longabaugh turned to Sophomore Wyatt Shires but he sprained an ankle against the Tigers so it was Junior Walker Bissell who took the snaps. Longabaugh says that Mendenhall got hurt in the scrimmage two weeks ago and hopes he can return next week. Shires is not expected to play this week either so Longabuagh says its next man in and the next man is Bissell
While quarterbacks were dropping like flies, the defense stepped up for Southwest Valley and only allowed a field to Red Oak in the 2nd quarter.
Gavin Wetzel had 8.5 tackles, Evan Fast had 5 tackles and a fumble recovery, the Timberwolves had 8 tackles for a loss including 2.5 from Ethan Johnston and 2 from Casey Jones.
This week the defense will have to be on top of their game against the triple option running attack of AC/GC and Longabaugh says the team is fighting from other injuries besides just at quarterback so everybody will be tested
Complete Interview with AC/GC Head Coach Cody Matthewson
Complete Interview with Southwest Valley Head Coach Keegan Longabaugh
