Location: Durant High School
Date: October 01, 2022
Time: 12:00 am
Radio/TV
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 Mike Quinlan and Jarod Tylee 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.
Social Media
If you cannot be at the game or choose not to listen via the web and want up-to-date game action and statistics, follow the Bears on Twitter at @WBBearsFootball or like/follow the West Branch Football page on Facebook for updates. Also be sure you're subscribed to our YouTube channel to watch highlights and a full-game replay as soon as they're available.
Rankings
Durant is 5-0 on the season and is ranked #7 in the state. West Branch is 5-0 and is ranked #3.
Last Meeting
In 2021, the Bears defeated the Wildcats 28-14 at Little Rose Bowl. View more from that game.
Game Notes
DURANT is turning back the clock; it's a football town, again. For the first time in many years, Durant is top 5 ranked 5-0 squad. When you possess one of the state's premier running backs (Nolan DeLong), it's not too far-fetched. The senior ball carrier has amassed a Class 1A leading 1,429 rushing yards (131 carries) and 17 rushing TD. His rushing yardage total is second in the entire state, and the TD total leads all of 11-man football. DeLong is worth the price of admission. Durant's offense is no secret: they are going to run the football (185 of 209 total plays have been on the ground - or 88.5 percent). Garrett Hollenback and Caden Meyer are also big keys to the Wildcat success. Hunter Bacom will muck up the path for would be ball carriers as well.
WEST BRANCH is coming off a dominating defensive performance…and got a bit of experience with top-tier running backs when it faced Anthony Isley (the 2nd leading rusher in Class 1A). Additionally, the Bear offense continued to find a multi-faceted groove. Andy Henson racked up 4 TD and 163 yards on the ground. QB Tye Hughes had one of his better games with 144 passing yards and 90 rushing yards. But, the Bear defense was really the story. Allowing just 74 yards to the Bulldogs; 80 of which came on the final drive of the game. Defensive linemen Logan Wright and Aiden Dingbaum were integral parts of the performance……if the Bears experience a same level of success in Week 6, you can bet those two will be involved.
KEEP AN EYE ON: #10 in black, blue, and gold. I am quite certain he will be holding the football for the Wildcats.
QUOTABLE: “I have been coaching a while, and this may be the best Durant team I've ever seen. We really have our work cut out for us. We need the Bear faithful to travel and cheer us on.” – Head Coach Butch Pedersen
WRITER'S NOTES: In the weekly game preview, I stated that the 2022 Bears' defense was just “1 point or 2 points ahead” of the points allowed record for a season. Actually, it's behind the 1966 team that gave up an astonishingly low total of 36 total points in an 8-0 season (just 4.5 per game). The 2022 team has allowed 46 points or 9.2 ppg. That's a wonderfully low total….Additionally, Luke Lenoch holds the career record with 87 rushing TD….Adam Donohoe 66.9 percent completion rate for a season (2008)….Jordan Thompson scored 33 rushing TD during the 2008 season - a record that has held for 14 years.
Go Bears!