Location: Dike-New Hartford

Date: September 6, 2024

Time: 7:30pm CDT

Game Notes

DIKE-NEW HARTFORD is going to be a very hungry team. Having drawn first blood against the defending 1A state champs (Grundy Center) in week one - yet losing 21-7 - leaves a bad taste in their mouth. So long as Don Betts is the head coach of the Wolverines, you can bet they will be a very tough out…and at home…a place West Branch has never played. QB Colin Meester leads a very senior-laden lineup. Last week, he threw for 124 yards and found WR Devon Lotts on a 40-yard flag route on their first drive of the season. Meester attempted 18 passes, which is well above his previous game by game average. The “Wolverine Way” is to wear you down and pounce. Noah Borcherding will be the main ball carrier. He was just shy of 1000 a season ago (991). 

WEST BRANCH ran into a team that played like lightning in a bottle. The defending 3A state champion Raiders of Williamsburg came at the Bears from every angle. When you lose 55-10, it is tough to find bright spots. However, the determined rushing of junior RB Cooper Gates (12 carries, 83 yards) was definitely that. QB Brennen Dale also provided a spark with 30 yards rushing and 99 yards through the air. The Bears will need to play assignment football - sticking with their keys and being physical - to gain an edge on a team like Dike-New Hartford. The WB frontline will be the biggest key to success. 

FINDING NEVERLAND in 2014 and 2023, The Wolverines traveled to the Little Rose Bowl. The two teams also played in the postseason of 2010 - inside the friendly, temperature-controlled atmosphere of the UNI-Dome. West Branch has never been to Dike-New Hartford HS for a football game. 

KEEP AN EYE ON #31 Jack Severson. He's a dirty work guy. He makes a lot of plays that may not show up on a stat sheet – except on defense…where he can lay the wood to a would be ball carrier. 

AN AGE OLD ADAGE says that teams will make the most improvement from week 1 to week 2. In 2023, The Bears lost to Williamsburg 42-14 in the opening week. Week Two? A 9-7 loss at the hands of the Wolverines. Improvements were definitely made and seen. 

Go Bears!

Team Records & Rankings

Dike-New Hartford is 0-1 this season and is ranked #5 in the state. West Branch is 0-1 and is not ranked.

Last Meeting

In 2023, West Branch lost to Dike-New Hartford 9-7 at the Little Rose Bowl. View more from that game.

Media & Broadcast Coverage

The BearCast will be streaming the game live. Listen live on the BearCast. The stream goes live 15-20 minutes before kickoff. Learn more about the BearCast.

The West Branch Times and Cedar Rapids Gazette (stringer) will be in attendance.