Location: Little Rose Bowl

Date: October 28, 2022

Time: 7:00pm CDT

Game Notes

COLUMBUS CATHOLIC is a team playing at a high level. Radio DJ's would say, “they're heading up the charts…with a bullet!” Since the week 2 loss to West Branch, the Sailors have gone 5-1. Led on offense by the arm of Carter Lockert (834 yards, 8 TD) and the fleet feet of trio Parker Kjeldsen (574 yards, 5 TD), Carson Hartz (556 yards, 8 TD) and Caleb Holthaus (556 yards, 6 TD) - CCHS has been rolling. You know what you're going to get from them, and it'll sound a great deal like the West Branch mantra: Smash Mouth Football. They are hard knocks and then some. Defensively, defensive tackle Mason Knipp (6'3, 245) leads all of Class 1A with 25.5 tackles for loss. That total is 5th in all classes. Needless to say: he's an absolute nightmare for offensive coordinators. The Sailors are going to want to keep this game in the Iowa Hawkeye range, aka under 35 total points combined. They've got the manpower to do it.

WEST BRANCH is a team that has been playing at the top of the charts…but has new songs it can sing, if you can believe it. Its average win margin has been 49-7. Since their Week 2 defeat of the Sailors, the Bear defense has given up just 4 touchdowns in seven games. Logan Wright, Aiden Dingbaum, Reese Trepanier, Andy Henson, Jackson Kaalberg, Quintyn Rocha, and Wyatt Fiderlein have really been mucking things up at the line of scrimmage. The football law firm of Boelk, Boelk, Seydel, and Arnaman have held up their end of the bargain when the ball has been thrown their way. On offense, it's been a heavy dose of Henson and throw in a dash of Hughes. To stop West Branch, you have to stop both. No team has solved that riddle yet. The Bears are hoping the same is true on Friday night.

KEEP AN EYE ON: I've said it before, I will say it again - #65 Mason Knipp is a problem. 

THAT'S THE RUB: ….ber match. These teams have faced off two times, with the road team winning each of the battles. Friday night will serve as the rubber match. The difference this time: tomorrow will only be promised (on the gridiron) for one of them.

QUOTABLE: “We know who they (Columbus Catholic) are. They come at you with a physical style that can wear you down. They're the most hard-nosed team we've faced this year. It's gonna be a smash mouth football game.” Head Coach Butch Pedersen

Go Bears!

Team Records & Rankings

Columbus Catholic is 6-3 on the season and is unranked. West Branch is 9-0 and is ranked #3.

Last Meeting

Earlier this season, the Bears defeated the Sailors 34-13 at Waterloo. 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 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.