Location: Little Rose Bowl

Date: October 13, 2023

Time: 7:00pm CDT

Game Notes

DURANT was always going to be a team trying to find its identity without Nolan DeLong. Any team would be in the same boat. You don't rush for 6,000+ yards and find an immediate replacement after graduation. While the wins have not come, the gains have. Isaac Nielsen has gotten valuable reps at quarterback, regardless of the scenario. Tate McKinley has ran the ball admirably and hard when called upon (111 carries for just shy of 600 yards). You know the Wildcats will always have tough, small town kids on the front line. It is what keeps them near the verge of victory each week, no matter what the scoreboard says. There is nothing Durant would love more than to spoil the fun of Senior Night in West Branch. Not just for that specific reason, but to get in the win column for the first time in 2023. Don't be surprised if this is a game that keeps the issue of winning in doubt for a long period of time.

WEST BRANCH is coming off a heartbreaking, last minute loss at the hands of Wilton. The sign of a good team is that it can erase the pain and get up off the mat. Prepare for battle. Pounce on the next opponent. You can bet that the Bears will be doing everything it can to do just that. Home-field playoff game or games depend on it. The 12 seniors will not allow the team to just falter. They want to win their last regular season game at the Little Rose Bowl. They also want to give the underclassmen an example of battling through adversity of loss on the scoreboard, and injuries. You can bet Logan Wright, Reese Trepanier, Max Lodge, Trenton Schutte, and Cale Seydel will be the captains that lead the ship to shore safely. 

WHAT'S AT STAKE: Playoffs? Yes, we can talk Playoffs. The Bears are qualified by way of having won three or more district games. The question now is: which seed will they be coming Friday at midnight?

• #1 seed: West Branch wins by 17+ points and Regina defeats Wilton by exactly 4 points
• #2 seed: Regina wins by more than 4 points and West Branch wins by 17+ points, or Wilton defeats Regina
• #3 seed: West Branch wins by 17+ points and Regina defeats Wilton by 1-3 points

No matter what, West Branch will be in the postseason. Hoping for the best - a home game in the postseason. To do that, the Bears will need to be a #1 or #2 seed at the end of the night. Buckle up. It's gonna be a fun ride!

GO BEARS!

Team Records & Rankings

Durant is 0-7 on the season and is unranked. West Branch is 4-3 and is ranked #9 by the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Last Meeting

In 2022, the Bears defeated the Wildcats 49-13 in Durant. View more from that game.

Media & Broadcast Coverage

The BearCast will be on the play-by-play call. If you cannot make it to the game, you can watch or listen live.

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.