Location: Cascade

Date: September 20, 2024

Time: 7:00pm CDT

Game Notes

CASCADE is coming off an emotional high with a victory against rival, Monticello. The Cougars are a very dangerous team on offense. QB Mick Hoffman has compiled 570 yards of total offense through the first three weeks (465 passing, 105 rushing). He has completed 38 of 65 passing attempts; 12.2 yards per completion. Big play ability. Big play evidence. His main target for receptions is Nathan Schockemoehl (15 rec, 135 yards). The 6'3", 195 pound senior wideout was a 2023 first team all-district selection in 1A-5. Defensively, Schockemoehl is also a key cog in the armor, as he leads the team in tackles. Not to be outdone, WR/DB Brody Otting is packing the stat sheet as well. He AVERAGES nearly 29 yards per reception (8 receptions), and is second in tackles. He will be all over the field.

WEST BRANCH is coming off an emotional high - achieving its first victory of the season. What the Bears really collected was confidence. Heading into district play after a W is a big deal. Speaking of big deals, Senior QB Connor Rios stepped back into the starting role and did not disappoint. He amassed 306 yards of total offense…in one week (242 pass, 64 rush). Rios made decisive throws and was very fleet of foot. His backfield mate, RB Cooper Gates, put up a century plus 19 on the ground (on just 10 carries - 119). Combined, they scored (5) rushing touchdowns. All of the credit for those success stories go right up front. Mike Montgomery, Dylan Schiele, Tate Frantz, Sully Brooke, Finn McCullough, and Cole Crosthwaite all had a hand in protecting their QB and opening running lanes. Junior LB Lincoln Naber collected 2.5 sacks last week. The Bears collected 5 sacks last week - paced by Lincoln Naber with 2.5 - which are the first of the season, on both accounts. 

KEEP AN EYE ON Schockemoehl. He will stand out on both sides of the ball, and may also punt..and sell popcorn at halftime. #8 in the program.

IT STARTS WITH ONE Coach John Nestor collected his first victory as a varsity coach last week in West Branch. You cannot win more until you win the first one. Here's to hoping it's the start of something big in SW Cedar County.

QUOTABLE “We came together (last week). We feel very confident going forward. One week at a time.” – Senior Captain Connor Rios

THREE AND OUT 2024 will be the final season of (3) non-district games as a curtain raiser on the schedule. The IHSAA will move to just (2) out of district games as a precursor to league/district play in 2025.

Go Bears!

Team Records & Rankings

Cascade is 2-1 this season and West Branch is 1-2. Both teams are unranked in Class 1A.

Last Meeting

In 2023, West Branch defeated Cascade 38-0 in West Branch. View more from that game.

Media & Broadcast Coverage

The BearCast will be streaming the game live with audio only and you can listen to the game via our Mixlr channel. The stream goes live 15-20 minutes before kickoff. Learn more about the BearCast.

You can also watch the game live via Cascade's HUDL page.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette, the West Branch Times, and WestBranch.Football will cover the game.