Location: Wapello

Date: October 9, 2015

Time: 7:00pm CDT

Game Notes

One of the two teams on the field Friday night will be looking for not only a signature victory but also a season-saving victory, That would be the Wapello Indians. If this is reading like it did the last 2 weeks, it should...because it is exactly what I said about the Bears' Week 5 and 6 opponents.

Wapello finished its out of district slate 2-1, but life in Class 1A District 5 has not been easy on the Indians. QB Logan Belzer is heavily involved in the offense, completing 71 of 140 pass attempts (23.3 attempts per game) for just shy of 1,000 yards on the season. They may rely on him heavily as Wapello is without its leading rusher Adrian Lanz. He is also the teams leading defensive stopper. Rogan Pforts and Tariq Green will carry the rush game in his absence and will be key targets when Belzer is looking for a safety blanket to throw to. Logan Mears will also see more than his fair share of targets.

West Branch's offense and special teams showed out again in week 6. Luke Lenoch finished with 168 yards rushing and 4TD. The junior is just 52 yards shy of breaking the 1,000 yard barrier for the 2nd consecutive year. Freshman Derrick Sparks made his presence known on special teams right away with a tackle that forced a fumble on the opening kickoff. The Bears recovered with 20 yards to the endzone and scored :28 into the game. Sparks also blocked a punt on Durant's first series, and recovered it at the 20 of Durant...again. QB Cooper Koenig connected with junior TE/WR Cooper Kabela in the second half for a 92 yard TD. Kabela grabbed the pass 16 yards from scrimmage and scampered away from the defense the rest of the way. That is the longest pass completion in school history.

West Branch has clinched the school's 24th playoff appearance. With wins in 2 of the final 3 games, it would also clinch at least one home playoff game. With a clean sweep, the Bears would clinch a district title AND home field advantage in the first two rounds of postseason (should they get that far).

Team Records & Rankings

West Branch (6-0, 3-0 in Class 1A District 5) is ranked #3 by the CR Gazette/KGYM-KCRG and #2 by the Des Moines Register. Wapello (2-4, 0-3 in Class 1A District 5) is unranked.

Last Meeting

In 2014, the Bears defeated the Indians 42-0 at Little Rose Bowl. View more from that game.

Media & Broadcast Coverage

The BearCast will be on the play-by-play call. If you cannot be at the game, let us bring the game to you on your computer or smartphone. Head to the BearCast page here on the website, or, on iOS and Android devices, download the Mixlr app and search for "West Branch Football."

Tune in to the BearCast at 6:30 for the pregame where Steven Grace, Mike Quinlan, and Jerry Fleagle will be calling the game live, offering in-game analysis and halftime/postgame interviews.

For print media, the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the West Branch Times, YourPrepSports.com, and WestBranch.Football will be at the the game.