(Hawarden) Two storied Iowa high school football programs meet in a Class A quarterfinal Friday night when the 9-1 St. Albert Falcons travel to take on the undefeated 10-0 West Sioux Falcons.
Both schools bring impressive football traditions into the matchup. West Sioux has made nine playoff appearances since the Iowa high school playoff system began in 1972, including back-to-back state championships in 2017 and 2018. St. Albert has won five Iowa state football championships, with titles coming in 1991, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2009.
West Sioux advanced to the quarterfinals with a 38-0 shutout of Logan-Magnolia, then beat West Monona 42-18 last week. St. Albert opened the postseason with a 35-9 win over Gehlen Catholic before surviving a hard-fought 19-16 slugfest against Riverside.
Two areas stand out heading into Friday night’s matchup: West Sioux’s defensive dominance and its explosive offense.
The West Sioux defense has recorded five shutouts this season, including four consecutive regular-season shutouts. The Falcons are averaging 49 points per game while allowing just six points per contest.
Offensively, West Sioux features a balanced attack led by quarterback Liam Sheehan and running back Braylon Lopez. Sheehan is completing 64 percent of his passes for 1,825 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Lopez has been a major part of the Falcons’ offensive success, averaging 11.1 yards per carry while rushing for 1,703 yards. He is a state qualifier in the 100-meter dash and a three-sport athlete competing in football, wrestling and track. Last season, Lopez turned in a career-high performance with 324 rushing yards against IKM-Manning.
St. Albert also brings plenty of offensive firepower into the quarterfinal. The Falcons have accumulated 2,203 passing yards and 1,408 rushing yards this season while averaging 31 points per game. Defensively, they are allowing an average of 16 points per contest.
Quarterback Bryce Nelson leads the passing attack, completing 63 percent of his passes for 2,031 yards and 23 touchdowns. Freshman running back Wade Beck leads the team on the ground with 995 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry.
Turnovers could also play a significant role in deciding the outcome. St. Albert has intercepted 14 passes and recovered seven fumbles this season. West Sioux has been equally opportunistic, recording 16 interceptions and recovering seven fumbles.
With two championship programs, explosive offenses and defenses capable of creating turnovers, Friday night’s Class A quarterfinal matchup features plenty of ingredients for an entertaining contest. One team will move on, while the other will see its season come to an end.
