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Player of the Game: Andy Henson

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Hoover Uncommon Play: Cash Woody

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Coach Pedersen

Photos from the West Branch Times.

<h3>Team</h3>Offense: 12 points, 128 total yards (24 passing, 104 rushing), 3 turnovers Defense: 6 points allowed, 99 yards allowed, 3 sacks, 3 forced turnovers, 1 TD<h3>Offense</h3>Carver Boelk: 3/6, 24 yards passing Andy Henson: 23 carries for 108 yards, 1 TD Wyatt Fiderlein: 5 carries for 13 yards Kinnick Boelk: 1 reception, 14 yards Peyton Miller: 1 reception, 10 yards<h3>Defense</h3>Cash Woody: 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 1 TD Drake Berry: 1 sack, 4 tackles Andy Henson: 3.5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack Cole Bailey: 4.5 tackles, 1 TFL Logan Wright: 1 sack

The Bears opened their 2021 season with the tall task of taking on the Class A #7 and 2020 quarterfinalist Lisbon Lions and it was a battle. Despite both teams dealing with the extreme heat and having the first-game jitters, the Bears and Lions put up strong defensive efforts in a game that was decided on execution in key moments and turnovers.West Branch just had that edge in both categories and were able to outlast the Lions by a final score of 12-6.

Player of the Game: Logan Wright

Coach Pedersen Postgame

Provided by the <a href="https://westbranchtimes.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">West Branch Times</a>.

<h3>Team</h3>Offense: 6 points scored, 89 total yards (21 rush, 68 pass) Defense: 17 points allowed, 244 total yards allow (109 rush, 135 pass), 1 INT<h3>Offense</h3>Carver Boelk: 6/17 and 68 yards passing; 1 TD rushing Andy Henson: 13 attempts and 28 yards rushing Wyatt Fiderlein: 1 reception and 29 yards receiving Holden Arnaman: 2 receptions and 20 yards receiving<h3>Defense</h3>Cole Bailey: 10 tackles, 2 sacks Logan Wright: 2.5 tackles, 1 sack Brady Hunger: 5.5 tackles Peyton Miller: 1 INT, 2 tackles Wyatt Fiderlein: 4.5 tackles<h3>Special Teams</h3>Wyatt Fiderlein: 0/1 PAT

For the first time in 372 days the West Branch Bears played a regular season game at their home field, the Little Rose Bowl. And it was against powerhouse Class 1A opponent, the Waterloo Columbus Catholic Sailors.The Bears came into the game at 1-0 after defeating Class A #4 Lisbon in week 1, while the Sailors, ranked #3 at the time, were coming off an opening-week loss and looking to right their ship.A chilly and wet evening in West Branch yielded a defensive battle that ended with the Sailors ahead and the scoreboard and both teams entering week 3 at 1-1.

Player of the Game: Peyton Miller

Presented by <a href="https://hooverpresidentialfoundation.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the Hoover Foundation</a>.

Uncommon Play: Wyatt Fiderlein

Photos via the <a href="https://westbranchtimes.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">West Branch Times</a>.

<h3>Team</h3>Offense: 52 points scored, 340 total yards (93 passing, 247 rushing) Defense: 0 points and 79 yards allowed, 1 sack<h3>Offense</h3>Carver Boelk: 4/6, 93 yards, 2 TD Andy Henson: 18 carries, 206 yards, 2 TD Peyton Miller: 3 receptions for 77 yards and 2 TD; 1 carry for 5 yards and 1 TD Wyatt Fiderlein: 3 caries, 17 yards, 1 TD Carver Boelk: 3 carries, 22 yards<h3>Defense</h3>Andy Henson: 6 tackles, 2 TFL Jaxson Kaalberg: 6 tackles Holden Arnaman: 1 tackle, 1 INT Cale Seydel: 3 tackles Wyatt Fiderlein: 2.5 tackles, 1 sack Cash Woody: 3 tackles, 1 forced fumble<h3>Special Teams</h3>Wyatt Fiderlein: 7/7 PAT, 1/1 FG (34)

For the second straight year the West Branch Bears made the trek up to beautiful Delhi to take on the Maquoketa Valley Wildcats. Both teams entered the game a 1-1 on the young season, looking to get some momentum heading into District play the following week.The Bears specifically were looking to find a rhythm on offense to pair with their outstanding defense. Find a rhythm they did, putting up 45 points on offense to go along with 7 points on special teams. The Bears had everything clicking on their way to a 52-0 shutout of the Wildcats.

Player of the Game: Cole Bailey

Hoover Uncommon Play: Carver Boelk

<h3>Team</h3>Offense: 42 points, 263 yards (51 passing, 212 rushing), 12 first downs Defense: 6 points allowed, 56 yards allowed (36 passing, 20 rushing), 3 first downs allowed<h3>Passing</h3>Carver Boelk: 1/1, 22 yards Connor Rios: 1/2, 29 yards<h3>Rushing</h3>Andy Henson: 100 yards on 7 attempts, 4 TDs Carver Boelk: 50 yards on 2 attempts, 1 TD Jarret Ellyson: 20 yards on 8 attempts Peyton Miller: 19 yards on 2 attempts<h3>Receiving</h3>Trenton Schutte: 1 reception, 29 yards Peyton Miller: 1 reception, 22 yards<h3>Defense</h3>Evan Striegel: 1.5 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD Cole Bailey: 2.5 tackles, 1.5 TFL Andy Henson: 2.5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack Trenton Schutte: 3 tackles, 0.5 TFL Brady Hunger: 3 tackles, 0.5 TFL Max Lodge: 1.5 tackles, 1 sack Drake Berry: 1.5 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 sack Jaxon Kaalberg: 2.5 tackles, 1 TFL<h3>Special Teams</h3>Wyatt Fiderlein: 7/7 PATs

The Bears opened the all-important district portion of their schedule Friday night at the Little Rose Bowl against Class 1A D5 foe, Louisa-Muscatine. Coming into the game, the Bears were sitting at 2-1 looking to start district play off on the right foot. The Falcons, however, came in at 0-3 simply looking for their first win of the season.Prior to the game we honored our Veterans with an incredible pregame slate of festivities including a field lined with American flags, four skydivers dropping onto the field from high above, and much more. A huge thank you to Dave McIlrath for making tonight possible.After the starters put up 37 points in the first quarter, the Bears' Varsity backups and Fresh/Soph squad got plenty of playing time during the rest of the game. 51-6 was your final score. Check out highlights, the full game, photos, stats, and more from the game.

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Uncommon Play: Kinnick Boelk

Photos provided by the West Branch Times.

Mediapolis, Iowa played host to an important Class 1A District 5 matchup between the home Bulldogs and the visiting West Branch Bears Friday night. The Bears came into the game at 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the District. Mediapolis also came in at 3-1 overall but 0-1 in the District and needed a win to keep pace.In a playoff rematch from the 2020 season, the game saw several lead changes, many tense moments, and a thrilling ending that allowed the Bears to escape with a 24-21 victory.Check out video highlights, photos, and more from the game below.