Location: West Branch

Date: August 30, 2024

Time: 7:30pm CDT

Game Notes

WILLIAMSBURG is coming off a dream season… as championship season. Eighteen Seniors have moved on from the program, including: Elite 1st Team All-State LB/S Derek Weisskopf; 1179 yard, 23 TD passer Kellen Cockrell; and four of the five starting offensive linemen. However, they return do everything player Rayce Heitman. The 2025 senior amassed 14 touchdowns on offense, but it was on defense and special teams that he really made his presence felt. Heitman led or tied for the team lead in the following categories: interceptions, fumble recoveries, punt return yards, kick return yards, tackles, and tackles for loss. The all-around stalwart has garnered a few D1 offers, and will likely gain more. Leading rusher Nile Sinn (957 yards) also returns. You can bet that Coach Curt Ritchie and staff will find pieces to fill in the chess board, and have the Raiders pushing for another checkmate by November.

WEST BRANCH is in a similar boat as its opponent. The Bears graduated three members of its offensive line unit who, combined, totaled nine years of experience: Logan Wright, Reese Trepanier, and Max Lodge. All of these lads started and played a majority of the snaps for the 2021-23 seasons. We all know that is where a team's bread is buttered. The cupboard isn't bare, folks. Returning to anchor the line is Junior Mike Montgomery (in his third year as a starter), Cole Crosthwaite, and part-time starter Tate Frantz. Also returning is all-district signal caller in Junior Brennen Dale. His leadership and confidence played pivotal roles in the mid-season turnaround for West Branch. The Bears are going to be very underclass dominant on the field. Upwards of 15 starting positions will be filled by kids who will return in 2025.

WELCOME TO EASTERN IOWA FOOTBALL Coach John Nestor. He will be the Bears first head coach not named Butch Pedersen since the early Ronald Reagan presidency (1983). Nestor comes to West Branch after a stint as Defensive Backs coach for Illinois high school powerhouse program Mt. Carmel in Chicagoland.

KEEP AN EYE ON Heitman. It won't be hard to find him. He wears jersey #0 and will be everywhere on the field.

FAMILY MATTERS For West Branch, Conner Capper. For WIlliamsburg, Heitman. They are first cousins once-removed (Rayce's mother is first cousins with Connor's father. She is a Capper).

QUOTABLE “We will play hard. We will play fast. We will be in as good of shape as any team we play. I have confidence in these kids.” - Head Coach John Nestor

Go Bears!

Team Records & Rankings

This is the first game for both Williamsburg and West Branch. Williamsburg is ranked #1 in Class 3A by the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Last Meeting

Media & Broadcast Coverage

The BearCast will be streaming the game live. Watch live on the West Branch Football YouTube channel. You can listen to the game via our Mixlr channel. The stream goes live 15 minutes before kickoff. Learn more about the BearCast.

Your Prep Sports, West Branch Times, and the Cedar Rapids Gazette will cover the game for print media.