Location: Little Rose Bowl

Date: September 29, 2023

Time: 7:00pm CDT

Game Notes

REGINA CATHOLIC is back on the brink of greatness, and it is no secret which direction they will travel to get there: by air. QB Gentry Dumont leads all of Class 1A in passing yards (1261) and passing touchdowns (15). He averages 252 yards and 3 passing touchdowns…per game. That's an impressive stat line. Obviously, he needs a go-to receiver - and he has one in Jackson Naeve. The senior standout also leads Class 1A in receiving yards (528) and receiving touchdowns (8). He also has four rushing touchdowns. WR Ty Joss has grabbed 5 TD receptions of his own. Regina's defense is also up to the task, offering just 11 ppg (which is 7th best of the 48 Class 1A schools). Ian Udell, Drew Streb, and Leren Fernandez are bell cows on that side of the ball. Sophomore DB Andrew Greve has collected 3 interceptions on the back side. Be prepared for fireworks from the Eastsiders.

WEST BRANCH has really strung together a few good performances since its last loss in week 2. QB Brennen Dale has settled in as the signal caller, and the offense has found trust in that. The Bears are going to come at you with physicality. They are not a flashy outfit, they just work hard to ‘out fundamental’ their opponents. RB trio Auron Marsh, Zach Capper, and Cooper Gates compliment each other. Defensively, West Branch is coming off one of its best performances. After allowing nearly 150 yards of offense to Beckman Catholic in the first half, the Bears locked them down to just two yards in the final 24 minutes..LB Shae Farmer is one of the leaders of that unit. Along with fellow seniors Reese Trepanier and Trenton Schutte (among others), the LB play has been spirited this season for West Branch…Eight different Bears have collected a turnover. Let's hope they can control the air traffic. 

KEEP AN EYE ON: Naeve. He runs good routes. He is special athlete.

WHAT'S AT STAKE: The winner will retain hope in the Class 1A District title hunt. The loser will be on the outside looking in, hoping for help. 

COMING HOME: It's homecoming week in West Branch. The dance on Saturday night is always more enjoyable after a Friday night victory.

Team Records & Rankings

Regina Catholic is 5-0 on the season and is ranked #3 in the state. West Branch is 3-2 and is not ranked.

Last Meeting

In 2022, the Bears defeated the Regals 23-0 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, it can be streamed live on the West Branch Football YouTube channel. Learn more

Tune in to the BearCast at 6:40 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.