Class A — Saint Ansgar Saints vs. MMCRU Royals

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A little indoor football to have on your Thursday afternoon. As we are on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa inside the UNI-Dome home of the Panthers. And now welcome to our new home here in Iowa PBS. I'm Paul Yeager glad to have you here as we welcome you into the Iowa High School Athletic Association's football championships. We are bringing you seven classes of exciting high school football over two days for free across Iowa and worldwide. Online. There are multiple ways to watch the broadcast here on iowapbs.org. One you can stream online at our YouTube channel or at iowapbs.org, as well as I. And don't forget, there's always the PBS app. We have that Eight-Player championship. I'm telling you what, it's going to be extremely hard to top Garrigan, erasing a 22 point deficit to win. But now we are just minutes away from class A as MMCRU will take on Saint Ansgar. Let's see how the two teams made it to the finals on this Thursday afternoon. We'll start with Wapsie Valley and Saint Ansgar. There's the Warriors from close by. Early on it's Caleb Hogan. He finds Caden, Dana seven. Nothing. Warriors at that point. Then it's special teams. How many times is it going to be about special teams here? It's Connor Mullenbach. He is going to go 83 yards down that sideline. That is his second kickoff return for touchdown of the season. He lays it out and makes it close. Now here's Porter seesaw. He lets fly a 90 yard touchdown bomb to Corbin Michels. That's his seventh touchdown of the season Ryan Corbin run 18 seven Saints at that point seesaw in and out. Touchdown calls his own number. Scores a nine yard touchdown, 31 seven Saint Ansgar over the Warriors. Then it's West Sioux and MMCRU. That's Marcus Meriden Cleghorn. Remsen Union. There is a jersey for Nash Coopman who's fighting cancer. But early on it was a lot of fight for the Royals Eli Harpenau Michael Schmillen 47 yard score seven nothing. And again Harpenau to Schmillen. Let me just cut to the chase. It's going to be a lot of Harpenau on Schmillen in this game. There's another one, so there were touchdowns of 4760 and then a 40 yard score, nine of 17 passing for two, 1228. Nothing MMCRU is how the Royals make it into their first title in search of their first title, the Ann Saint Ansgar Saints are coming on to the field now. I'm telling you what, I'm talking fast because we're just moments away. We're going to be back in just a moment. Shawn Kenney Jeremiah Longnecker will have the game call when we come back. It's state championship football here on Iowa PBS.

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It is a long, challenging path to the UNI-Dome no matter where you come from. In the great state of Iowa today, dreams become a reality as we welcome you to Cedar Falls. It's the class A state championship. Two unbeatens, two heavyweights. Number one versus number two. It's MMCRU and Saint Ansgar and a pleasant. Good afternoon. Welcome to state championship Football on PBS, Shawn Kenney alongside Jeremiah Longnecker. So great to have you with us, coach. You look at this matchup contrasting styles, but the results are always the same. They win.

They sure do. And Saint Ansgar they're going to play an old fashioned smash mouth football against you. MMCRU they want to spread it around. They're going to throw it around a little bit. MMCRU also has the number one defense. Saint Ansgar the number one offense.

There is plenty of star power to go around on both sides of the field. We take a look at some of the explosive players today. Korben Michels he is one of the most dynamic running backs in all of the state. No matter what class and responsible for slowing him down will be John Schmillen, who leads this team in tackles.

Yeah, I'm not sure that Michaels is better offensively than he is defensively. He is just going to hit you wherever he is. He's a dynamo.

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Down Glassmaker Brayden Miller children.

Two teams who want to play their style of football. And you feel there are a couple of keys each way.

Yeah. You know, MMCRU they have such a balanced attack and Saint Ansgar has to limit the big plays that got the Royals to this point in the season. And then Mmcru wants to turn you over. They forced 43 turnovers on the season and Saint Ansgar just can't afford to give them a ball and give them a short field for the Royals. They love to throw it around, but they need to get some work done on the ground as well.

Dry conditions, no wind.

Kyle Oswald on the sideline for MMCRU young coach looking forward to the opportunity to try to win the state title for the Royals. On the other side, Drew Clevenger is 26 year. The veteran coach, a perennial power up there in Mitchell County, Iowa, right along the Iowa, Minnesota border.

You have two teams that everybody expected to be here at this point. They're here. We are headed for a terrific showdown between these two squads.

The Royals won the toss. They elected to defer. So we will see the Saint Ansgar offense. Big crowd on hand. Seven classes in the state of Iowa. We saw a thriller earlier in Eight-Player football. What will Class A bring as we welcome you to the dome in state championship football? Short kick picked up by one of the up backs. And the ball is loose. It's still rolling and MMCRU comes away with the turnover.

Well, just like that. Shawn one of our keys for Saint Ansgar. Don't turn it over. They get turned over and this MMCRU defense slashed special teams. They're going to hit you in the mouth.

Luke Kintigh knocked it free. And the royal fans something to celebrate early. Just seven seconds in.

One. First and ten.

Let's see. Kintigh put a helmet on the ball. Literally. To force that turnover.

So Eli Harpenau leads the MMCRU offense out of the pistol. He's going to come out throwing a lot of space. Given it's Gage Johnson with the catch and Johnson takes it close to the 18 yard line, very close to a first down.

You're going to see a lot of that. MMCRU is going to spread it out throughout this game. That's the way they prefer it. You're going to see shotgun all the time.

Take a look at the starters Harpenau the quarterback. They have very good receivers on the edge. Brayson Mulder has been the main weapon in the backfield and then a number of multiple year starters on the offensive line, but they have had to move some players around, shuffle because they're without the All-State tackle Lucas Peterson for this postseason. Second down and short, they will stretch. It. Left side and getting cut down shy of the sticks. Good play there. By Derrick Hemann, who broke through setting up a third and short.

Yeah. Mulder with very little room to run and we'll see that pistol formation pretty regularly at MMCRU. They love to run it from that.

Well, we get an early test A-gap football here. We'll see if they go inside. Third down and a yard Harpenau is going to throw. It has time over the middle. Ball deflected and it falls incomplete. That was Joe Clevenger who got a hand on it.

Yeah. Michael Schmillen one of the heroes in the semifinals was running a post route. He was looking Harpenau was looking for him the entire way. Kind of stared down Schmillen the entire way. Pass. Knocked away.

The Clevenger brothers, wreaked havoc last week in the semifinals. As you talked about Michaels. As good as they come on the defensive side, Mullenbach is a ball hawk in the secondary. Fourth down and a yard, and they will throw it looking near side. Lot of cushion given and a first down as they throw it to Kamden Bork. Boy coach. They really fell off on fourth and short.

They did. You know everybody's expecting another run play and especially with John Schmillen in the backfield he's kind of their hammer back there. And Bork a seldom used receiver, comes up with a big reception.

So they have come out throwing Harpenau, who leads the state with 28 touchdown passes this year. Clearly Kyle Oswald complete trust running this offense. They pitch it right side Mulder trying to slither through a little hole. But he was upended by Clevenger again.

And this is a front for front seven for Saint Ansgar. That is so stiff in watching film to prepare for this game, the first thing that I said with that front four fires off, if you're going to get the run game going, you're going to have to control those front. Those guys on the front for Saint Ansgar.

Aiden Bissen, one of the tackles that you were talking about, this is a guy that seems like he gets double teamed every play. Big number 70. Second down and nine. They move the pocket now on the inside. Slant ball deflected off the deflection. It's caught for the touchdown. What a grab by.

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It was Schmillen again.

Michael Schmillen reels it in. What concentration.

It sure was. This time they go to the same route but they roll away from it. Schmillen runs that post in the backside and pretty good coverage there. As you can see. Schmillen, as you mentioned with outstanding concentration even through contact. And he hauls it in again.

Schmillen has been a touchdown machine this year for MMCRU. His 25th catch. 15 of those catches resulting in six points. And the Royals take advantage of the early turnover and use the short field Johnson for the point after it is good. A little more than three minutes in, MMCRU fires the opening shot.

Well, the game has gone to script for MMCRU so far. They forced the turnover in special teams. They use the passing game to work the ball down and they get a touchdown to Schmillen. So that's exactly the way the Royals wanted this game to start. For Saint Ansgar. They got a they got to put the first three minutes away and and restart themselves.

Year for team for Kyle Oswald along the sideline. He talked about the merger between these communities. When you look at Marcus Meriden Cleghorn and then Remsen Union coming in, Remsen Union have won some titles. In fact, their coach now part of the staff at MMCRU.

You know, and once they did merge, they fall. They fell on some hard times. Shawn they won four games in six years. They had for four years where they didn't win a game. And so they've rebuilt this program post merger into what it is today. So they've got to be awfully proud of what they've done.

So for the second straight week, Saint Ansgar falls behind in the first quarter. Last week, Wapsie Valley marched it down the field, grabbed an early seven nothing lead. Then the Saints ripped off 31 straight. That's a live ball picked up by Connor Mullenbach and Mullenbach and all sorts of trouble. He is wiped out shy of the 20 as he takes it up to the 16 yard line. They are flying to the football Aiden Miller the first one down there.

It's hard to get used to the bounces on the turf. It's something you can't prepare for at home. And of course we see it all the time. Shawn you did games last week? I've been in here a thousand times and that ball has a mind of its own on this dome turf.

Porter Schwiesow is the young sophomore quarterback. Michael Zade Mullenbach, along with the fullback Clevenger make this offense go on the ground offensive line that has four two year starters. The only first year is at center, and we will get our first look at Korben Michels.

Shawn you had a chance to watch Michael's play. I'm not sure there's anybody more enjoyable in the state to watch than this five foot four package of power and speed.

This is the defense that's going to be responsible for trying to slow him down. And you have to play assignment football because you have the breakaway speed with Michaels. The power of Clevenger, they're able to establish the inside and Porter Schwiesow showed us last week he can throw the football as well. Ball loose. But they're going to say he was down. It popped out of the pile. Joe Clevenger putting the ball on the turf. But ruling on the field as he was down, bringing up the third down.

Clevenger 851 yards. Coming into this game, he carries a lot from that fullback spot, as you would think, in a wishbone style of offense. That is one of the preferred sets for the Saints.

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Third and five. They will run the option. The pitch behind it's loose and the Royals have their second takeaway.

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Picked up by Mulder.

Shawn. This is what they do. They turn the other team over. It's their 18th fumble recovery on the year to go along with 27 interceptions far and away number one in class A in turning the other team over. Now they've done it twice in the early going.

Yeah, just incredible numbers from this defense. The turnover circuit worked hard and heavy for MMCRU throughout the course of the summer and through the season. And for the second time, they have it deep in Saint Ansgar territory. They forced the pitch and a good open field tackle is made by Michaels. One tailback bringing down another.

And I was trying to think of comparisons for Michaels. Iowa fans, of course, Bob Sanders. Sam Mills was five six for the Saints. You know, he's a linebacker. He played inside. However, his kid is everywhere. And you talk about the open field tackle. He's going to make plays. And if Saint Ansgar is going to have a good day, Michaels is going to be in the middle of it.

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Kamden Bork the receiver to the right. They put Johnson as the slot, Mulder the receiver at the bottom of the screen on second down. Empty set taking off is Harpenau up the middle and he is met a Saints trying to rip and pry at the football as the junior quarterback takes it to the ten, bringing up yet another third down.

Yeah, excellent coverage on the outside for Saint Ansgar. Really nowhere to go for Harpenau. It's not really known for running the football, but he's capable and he will. He does bring some speed to the table.

Harpenau a two year starter orchestrating this offense for Kyle Oswald. They failed on third down on the opening drive, only to see them convert on fourth down. A little bit tougher here. Third down and we'll call it eight on the far hash. Again the slant. This one on the button Johnson makes the catch and heavy traffic but shy of the first down. And a decision here for Kyle Oswald. They have a a pretty good kicker in Gage Johnson.

They do. They haven't kicked many field goals, but he has 51 of 57 on the season and Pat's. So you know he has accuracy from this range.

Johnson two of five this year. He's connected from 37. But Oswald says no we want to throw that haymaker early and we want six. Big moment early in this first quarter.

Time MMCRU their first time out of the half.

Stay connected with Iowa PBS sports, no matter where you're watching from. You can join the conversation. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and X and use hashtag Iowa PBS. Sports to enjoy the championships with our other fans. Well, a wild start. You never know what to expect. You know, two dominant teams and Saint Ansgar you can count on one hand the number of turnovers they've had this year two possessions, two turnovers. Setting up Oswald Royals in great shape. Fourth down. What do you like here?

Yeah they've shown that they want to throw the football now. It's now it's a matter of do you take away Schmillen. If you're the Saints. He has been the go to guy for Harpenau. They have a lot of successful route combinations, but they they certainly certainly love to throw to the middle of the field as they've shown repeatedly over the last few games.

They have changed their mind following the time-out, and now they will send out Johnson for a little more than a chip shot of a field goal. 22 yards for Johnson, who's two of five this year.

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Now a flag comes out.

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Ball delay of game offense. Five-Yard penalty still fourth down. Boy, is a coach.

You don't sleep much at night following a delay of game after a time-out.

Especially when it's yours. Yes, right.

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Yes. Yeah. You certainly take that. And there's coach not particularly happy. I think he maybe thought the clock started running a little bit early.

So it becomes a little bit more difficult for the senior Johnson. Now from 27 yards to make this a two possession game. Snap down kick on the way. And Gage Johnson says hey no problem. And MMCRU ten straight to begin this one.

Interestingly, Shawn a lot of the games that you do, kickers love a little extra distance, right? That's right. In high school football, particularly at the lower levels, kicking games aren't as advanced. Five more yards can mean a little bit of a tragic situation. But Johnson, able to knock it through.

Let's see if Saint Ansgar can get some traction. A couple of turnovers that started on the opening kick. The ball bolted away, jarred free MMCRU turns that into points and then the offense. Uncharacteristic mistake Mulder the recovery that sets up the 27 yard field goal for Johnson and MMCRU feeling good right now. Up ten.

You know it's easy to have nerves in Saint Ansgar was in the semis last year. They keep on advancing one game each year, but neither team has finals experience. So to appear in this situation under the same lights. But they seem to be a little brighter when you're playing in the finals. There's some nerves that you have to calm, and it's much easier when you're on the the right end of a couple turnovers.

Drew Clevenger, the head coach, talked about the experience last year, the loss to tri center. He said, well, first off, that's a really good Trojan team from Neola. But that was not the same team that we watched every Friday night through the course of the season. Let's see if they can get a little positive cooking here and they're unable to do it. Shotts again, nowhere close to the 20 as they were covering the play downfield and Saint Ansgar deep in their own end. Send out the offense for their second possession.

Yeah, the positive play that Saint Ansgar was looking for hasn't happened yet and they really need something to happen on this possession again to calm the nerves, to get some rhythm going offensively.

Michels Clevenger and Schwiesow each with a carry. Still looking for their first first down and twisting his way for two hard fought yards. Goes Michels.

Yeah, one of the things we talked about for MMCRU was in the key that they had to control the line of scrimmage, because Saint Ansgar is certainly capable of doing that on both sides of the football. And in the early going, it seems as though that D line is holding up.

Brayden Dunn the big senior, the six footer, 250 pounder, very versatile athlete, state qualifier in track and field. They pull a lineman and that opens up a quick hitting trap as Michaels torpedoes up ahead to the 24.

Yeah, that tailback trap is such a difficult play. You expect it out of Clevenger. He runs a lot of those, but when you run the tailback with a lead through it, you bring that extra guy. It's difficult to to see coming. Nice job of the Royals to keeping it to a minimal gain.

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Third down, full house, backfield behind Schwiesow. He will hand it off. Second and third effort, keeping the legs churning and a much needed first down. Something positive to put the brick on. If you're Saint Ansgar, Michaels moves the sticks.

Without a doubt, and to keep the defense off the field. And I know there are a lot of the same guys, but it feels different when you're on defense versus when you're on offense for certain. So just to have a little breathing room to know that, and it gives you a chance to to give the ball to Michaels another time because he can take it the distance. Any play.

First down, they bring a blitz up the middle. And that was Mulder. He timed it perfectly. Mullenbach dropped in the backfield a TfL for the senior.

Yeah, a great play. And you mentioned the timing. We both love Mullenbach. We talked about him off field. He's the guy that does everything for this Saint Ansgar team, not the play he was looking for on first down.

Seven total plays netting a positive six yards. That has been it. Kyle Oswald has watched his defense this year pitch a number of shutouts. That is how good they are cutting through just the on the right tackle up to the 35. Setting up a third down.

Now there's Michaels again and he's so difficult to spot defensively because he is five foot four. And again you can take a look. One of the things that coaches love about short tailbacks is you can't identify where they are in the hole. And then when they burst through like Michaels does, you give him a chance.

Will this be the down that Schwiesow throws his first pass of the game? The young sophomore into the state championship, Mullenbach Michaels behind him? This will be Michaels lassoed in the backfield and he is shy. Again, the pursuit defense from MMCRU.

Just a terrific play. Once again on the part of MMCRU. And that was Kaden Steffen who made the tackle. Looks like they will punt it away. Shawn I saw a couple players leave. Didn't know if they were going to a different formation.

A lot of experience on this defense for the Royals Mullenbach on the punt two return men. This is Gage Johnson from his own 30 Johnson up ahead, 35 bounces off the pile and will return it to the 37.

Both of these teams with outstanding return games. If I'm a coach kicking off or punting to either one, you have to cross your fingers and hope it doesn't get returned. Both of them had returns for touchdowns through the year.

34 yard punt, so Jeremiah now if you're Saint Ansgar in this defense, you play a little bit of normal football. Their backs are on their own goal line.

Yeah, absolutely. And you want that three and out just to to get your selves acclimated to this game. This is Saint Ansgar defense that is not used to giving up points. And you can feel like you're you're being abused a little bit.

Mulder looking for a cutback lane. And there was nothing to be found. Joe Clevenger key position player on this defense. Really on both sides of the football. He's one of the edge rushers and then the fullback as we talked about.

Yeah, he's second in the state in tackles. He came in with 90 of them. We saw him tip a pass earlier on. And this is a kid that's everywhere. Coach's kid no surprise that he's such an integral part of this team.

Younger brother Matt had a good game in the semifinals as well. The Clevenger family represented with Saint Ansgar. Second down and ten. Look at the time the throw Harpenau says I'll take off and run and he has a little bit of space past the 40. Good downfield block I believe that was Mulder who just ran over one of the defenders and Harpenau poise under a little bit of duress, beating you with his feet.

Shawn, you're exactly right. You watch Mulder turn from receiver into a blocker. What a great job he does downfield. Not many teams in this state actually record their pancakes. MMCRU does. They led the field by a long ways. You can add another one to it.

As two former linemen, we love putting those stickers on our smaller receiver friends or tailback friends, in this case with Mulder deep drop, deep throw, wide open. Schmillen makes the catch all the way to the 25 yard line, 27 yards.

Again, the Royals attack the inner third of the field, which a lot of teams avoid. There's a lot of trouble in there, but you see this MMCRU offense. Their deep game run between the hashes on a regular basis.

Harpenau five of six. He has come out cooking in this first quarter 60 yards. They're closing in on the red zone again. This is Schmillen over the right side has a block. Has the corner inside the ten pushed out of bounds at the nine. It will be first and goal 15 yards as they run it to John.

Schmillen carries were evenly distributed for this royal team. John Schmillen had 80 of them on the year. His average per carry was nice. It was five and a half. But he brings the power presence to that backfield and he brings some speed. He scored seven times this year just to keep that balance for the royal offense.

First quarter winding down ten. Second differential. Play clock to game clock. First down and goal. Harpenau will hand it off. Second straight carry for Schmillen and he is upended. Terrific open field tackle made by Seth Shotts. And that will take us to the end of the first quarter. Two unbeatens. The top two teams in class A, and it's been MC. Are Michael Schmillen the juggling catch Harpenau on the Royals up ten.

Paul Yeager here on a short break to speak with Jim Pledge. He's president and CEO of Bank Iowa in West Des Moines. So Jim, tell me why Iowa Baker supports Iowa PBS as well as boys athletics here in the state of Iowa?

Yes, Paul. The student Athlete Achievement Awards are significant to Iowa student athletes in their communities because they not only recognize athletic excellence, but also academic achievement, leadership, and character. Through the program's 30 year history, the IBA has awarded more than $360,000 in scholarships to student athletes in football, basketball, and wrestling. These scholarships are a win for all of us because after graduation, we hope these students will work right here in Iowa.

And that support of those scholarships is incredible, right?

It is indeed so much like the IBA supports the Iowa banks. We are committed to supporting students by investing in their education and financial future, which helps to build stronger communities. It reflects our commitment to community growth and long term success across the state.

All right Jim, thank you. So Association.

Championships, the Iowa Bankers Association honors.

Student athletes who excel on the field in the classroom and in their communities with a student achievement award that's worth $1,000. As a college scholarship. The 2025 winner of the class A scholarship is Joe Clevenger from Saint Ansgar High School. Luke Bork from Saint Ansgar State Bank in Saint Ansgar is here for the banking community to show support for Joe. Congratulations, Joe, and thank you to Luke and the Iowa Bankers Association for providing this award.

Welcome back inside the UNI-Dome. As we get ready to move into the second quarter alongside Jeremiah, Longnecker Shawn Kenney, our fantastic Iowa Public television crew, and the Royals right now behind a couple of first quarter turnovers from Saint Ansgar a ten nothing lead, and they are knocking on the doorstep to begin the second period.

They are. I think the Saints have to feel a little fortunate that they're only down the ten. They were able to, you know, stand stiff. The second time they turned it over. But they have to get a stop here. And whether that's a turnover on downs or force another field goal attempt, this just isn't the team you want to be down 17 points to.

A tough hill to climb against. This experienced defense. Good balance through the first quarter for the boys in blue and black from MMCRU Harpenau five of 660 yards through the air, they've been able to get Schmillen free on the last couple of runs. Setting up this scoring opportunity. Mulder has been quiet. Harpenau the most effective rusher with his scrambling on his two tries.

I think the play calling has been exceptional for MMCRU so far.

Second down and goal. They will play fake it bootleg right? Harpenau is going to try to sprint to the pylon, goes airborne. Touchdown Harpenau across.

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Kyle Oswald is keeping the Saints on their heels. In most cases. You're expecting that give they run the boot off of this Harpenau showing off his running ability. Nice cutback. Avoids the contact with Michael's and a big play here early in the second quarter for the Royals.

Six plays 63 yards a little more than two minutes off the game clock. And it's Eli Harpenau. 10th rushing touchdown of the season. The point after is good.

For.

You go back through the years for Kyle Oswald and the Royals program. They have had some good quarterback play especially recently. You go back Jonah Peterson nearly threw for 2000 yards in 2023. He graduates. So who do they slip in? Eli Harpenau. Who took them deep last year and has continued to build off that. And really a dual threat quarterback. He gets a lot of praise for his arm and rightfully so. But he can beat you with his feet.

And he's so smart, you get a chance to see. He doesn't force a lot in maybe one early on, but we can we can attribute that to nerves. But if it's something that's not there, he's going to tuck it and go. We've seen him do that very effectively. Of course. On the touchdown as well.

Coach is just rave about his work ethic, his dedication to the craft, and he took over the quarterback duties last year and really proved that he could play at this level. Not to the coaches. They knew it, but they felt he proved it to himself that he was ready to fill the big shoes left behind by Jonah Peterson.

Yeah, I think the kid could play at any level. You know, we we watch a lot of high school football and the kind of skills that he brings, his accuracy, his foot speed, decision making. I don't care what class you're playing at. Those are things that travel.

Short. Kick up ahead. Michael straight up the middle. Watch out. You're not going to catch this guy. See you later. Oh, what an answer. By Saint Ansgar.

Shotts.

Hey, if you don't want to kick it deep, do those guys just kick it to the second level where our most dangerous player happens to be residing? Michaels was gone in a heartbeat.

78 yards for Michaels. And boy, oh, boy, did the Saints ever need that. We started the show. One of the top playmakers in all of the football that we're going to watch later today into tonight. All day tomorrow is wearing number two in white.

He certainly is. I just enjoyed watching him do his thing on both sides of the football. Whatever it is, it's a thousand miles an hour. He's a teammate that you want on your sideline. Shawn you mentioned this earlier in the broadcast. Saint Ansgar fell behind last week. It was a kick return for a touchdown that got them back into that game versus what does it do it again for them in this finals?

Yeah. Connor Mullenbach took the opening kick in the second half and took it to the house, which really woke up Saint Ansgar. And now it's his partner in crime in the backfield. Korben Michels getting the job done. Well you have to give it to the student athletes. We saw an eight player football here. We are just barely digging our heels in in the second quarter. These kids have showed up and they are putting on a show.

You know who else has showed up? This the towns.

Yes.

And it's one of the most enjoyable things about covering class A one, a two, a heck eight man as well as the towns really show up for their kids.

This is Gage Johnson Johnson on the return takes it out to the 35 yard line, where he is brought down by Jaeger Trytten.

You've mentioned this a couple of times. Excellent open field tackle and both teams have done a good job of tackling so far, and that was a particularly good one because if it's by Trytten, there's a little room on the outside.

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Talk about the communities and you see the fans who have made the journey to Cedar Falls, no matter where you are in the state of Iowa, you go through the two a days and the summer drills when it's 100 plus degrees outside with humidity that only Iowa can provide, and you have a date circled. And it's today it all comes to fruition for the opportunity to play in this spectacle. First down Harpenau nowhere to go and he just takes it right up the middle. Makes the most of nothing up to the 41.

Again, the decision making. He's not going to force something. He's got plenty of time and credit that royal offense. They've been terrific so far up front. Plenty of time to throw that internal clock is going and Harpenau head. He realizes there's nothing there. Take off. Get your five. Get your six.

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Four man front. The option for Harpenau and he will keep it. And he will pick up the first down as he high steps toward the Saint Ansgar sideline, steps out of bounds at the 50. That's a gain of nine.

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Well, that's that lead option or the speed option as some teams love to call it. Regardless if you don't force the quarterback to give up the football, his job is to keep it. That's exactly what Harpenau does. Big gain for the first down. Excellent blocking again on the outside by the receiving corps of the Royals. That was Barinsky who allowed him to get an extra 4 or 5 yards.

Something that they put a lot of pride in. The physicality with the receivers. And we've seen that on a couple of occasions today.

, and Michael's on the play cutting Mulder down for a yard or maybe two. Those short games have been few and far between for the Saints defense so far.

Brayson Mulder the multiple sport athlete, is dinged up for a good chunk of this year. Missed some time with a hamstring issue and they really missed him and he was forced to the sideline. They had other players step up, but he is a weapon. They try to set up the screen. This throw was low. They tried to pop Johnson free, but a laser beam and a low throw from Harpenau.

Yeah, something for the Saints allowed them to smell that out early. Johnson might have been fortunate to not catch that. There was a lot of traffic in white. There was going to be a minimal gain at best for MMCRU on that play.

Third down the line to get is the 40. Aiden Bissen Derek Hemann. Some of the interior defenders Chase Haugen. Can they come up with a stop? Third down and nine. Empty set. They rush for putting air on to a double team and it's intercepted. Oh, not the throw that Harpenau was looking to uncork into double coverage and an easy interception for Trey Johanns.

Yeah, he leads the team in interceptions. He's fifth in the state coming in. That's his sixth of the year. Just a sophomore is Trey. He makes the first big defensive play. Nice job of going up to high point. It didn't necessarily need to. But you can tell how well these teams are coached in the fundamentals.

17th interception this year. Now it is Korben Michels into the second wave. A flag comes in. Looks like maybe a hand got up around the face mask of Michaels. And this will tack on some more yards.

Yeah, it could be the five-yard variety. It might be the 15 yard variety. Given the fact it's the far sideline and we both saw it. I'll take a guess that it's 15. We'll see.

Personal foul face mask defense number 1015 yard penalty from the end of the run. Results in a first down.

Andy Hofer, one of our elite officials today again, once you get to state, we saw it last week in the semis and now into the finals. It is a seven person officiating crew.

As Barinsky who got up around the head, cost his team 15 yards.

First down and they will hand the ball off. Fullback gets the touch and Joe Clevenger.

Clevenger going to pound you. You know the boxing analogy. You get those body blows and that's Clevenger. And he is a physical presence inside Clevenger a big boy. 632 11. That's what you're looking for in a fullback and a linebacker.

Zade Schell the receiver to the left. They have a couple of tight ends and a quick hitter over the right side. And Michaels is starting to ignite his engine a little bit. The kick return as woke him up. It's woken his sideline up and a first down run for the senior back.

That kick return did it and you could just feel the energy change. The momentum shift and Saint Ansgar has an extra hop in his step now. The pace from huddle to to the line of scrimmage has quickened a little bit. All those things you feel when a team feels good about itself.

Eight carries, 48 yards for Michaels, sidesteps one defender. The lateral quickness. He is the entire package. He has the breakaway speed. He was the opening leg of the sprint medley track team, and he has the lateral movement to go with the vision.

Yeah, he certainly is. And then if you get in his way, he's going to run through you and he might run over you. If you're not prepared. So you better be on your toes, not your heels. I mean, we talk about this kid a lot, but Shawn, we watched him on film and live. He is everything that we have talked about.

On second down, this play is blown dead before it could get started.

And what we're going to see from too long is we've seen Clevenger and we've seen Michaels, but we haven't seen much of Mullenbach, so we're going to see him with a big carry here sooner than later, because he's dangerous out of that backfield. Also.

False start offense. Number 26 five-yard penalty replay second down.

Yeah that's a good point. Jeremiah Mullenbach only one touch so far in this first half. Still no passing attempts yet as well. And they do like to get Mullenbach. involved in the.

Passing game.

And we saw not known as a thrower. He's an excellent ball handler in this offense. But he's the second rated passer in all of Class 1A. So he's very capable.

When he throws it. Usually it's an explosive play. Not a lot of completions, but the yards per catch huge. He'll try to add to it here. Mullenbach unable to make the highlight reel catch, went up and just could not bring it in. With the one hand.

He's one of their big play guys and you wouldn't call this a big play offense the way it's designed. Oh what an effort. And in traffic show some guts to go up there between two guys in the middle of the field and spread out an arm.

Is this four down territory? Do you have two plays to get the necessary yards?

Well, I think we'll know on the first. On the third down call. Very possibly if they get to the 35. Yes.

Michaels behind a block and we will find out with Drew Clevenger setting up a manageable third down.

So you asked the question, and now they're in the most difficult situation. You're not inside the 35 you have. You have fourth and eight. Do you want to turn it over to this powerful offense outside their 35? And I think we just got our answer.

[APPLAUSE]

Time-out going to be taken by Saint Ansgar.

Time-out. Saint Ansgar their first.

Now they've swung the momentum Shawn. And I think a punt keeps it on their side. You know if they were to go for it on fourth down and not get it, you could definitely swing back the other way. They've gotten themselves back in this game at 17 seven. They have to feel decent about that. I like the call to punt it away.

Play the field position game, and that's what they're going to try to do here with their punter and Penn MMCRU Youde. Hey, don't miss a minute of today's championship action. You can catch the live stream on YouTube and also Iowa pbs.org. All seven championships. We're really just starting the fun over the next couple of days. Eight-Player state Championship in class A, we still have one day to get to, and then later tonight under the lights at the UNI-Dome it will be for another chapter between Pella and Xavier.

We've got a couple of classics yet to be played today. Give me a lot of fun. If you're sitting at home on your couch, just stay there, right?

Grab some popcorn, grab your favorite snacks.

And your friendly voice in your ears. Shawn Kenney is going to be with you all along the way. Many of us just get to do one game. Shawn gets to do six.

Fourth down and now they're going to back up. Looked like they were going to go for it, but they do. The pooch kick. It's actually caught midair by Schmillen. Not sure that panned out the way Saint Ansgar was hoping.

Yeah he didn't get enough of it. You know, he's hoping for that thing to pin him down inside the 15, possibly the ten. And and just kicked it too lightly. Right. As simple as that.

So the only gain ten yards on the little pooch. Quick kick. And the offense with two time-outs a little more than seven minutes to work in this first half. Very experienced team 21 seniors for head coach Kyle Oswald this year. Coming off a class A district one title.

[APPLAUSE]

Five receivers, they go empty on first down. Harpenau coming near side, making the catch, turning upfield. Brayson Mulder saw his jersey being stretched Matt Clevenger hanging on for dear life. It's a pickup of 12.

Yeah, it's nice to have your tailback who leads you in carries and yards, being able to split out as a wide receiver and use him in that capacity as well. It limits changes on the field. And the other thing that it does, and it's a little less of a beast at this level, is it doesn't give away the sets that you're wanting to use when you can keep the same personnel out there.

Harpenau six of nine in this first half for 75 yards. He's thrown for a touchdown. He's rushed for another. Looked like he wanted to go deep. Nothing there. And he is sacked on the play. Hale Dieterich held on and got enough of the ankle to bring down the elusive Harpenau.

So Saint Ansgar trying to find its way defensively. They get the interceptions by Johanns and now they get a sack. And again they got to be feeling more comfortable after the early onslaught because of the turnovers.

You talk about Iowa toughness. That's Dieterich for Saint Ansgar on that last play he dislocated both of his knees. He's had surgeries on both knees. He wanted to be a part of this senior. Group Schmillen stood up in the backfield. Flags are thrown all over the place as Schmillen takes it back close to the original line of scrimmage, but it looked like we might have had multiple holds on that play.

Yeah, well, they got flags littering the field and this is going to be a decision for Saint Ansgar as far as what to do, because they really have put MMCRU in a hole as it is now. There was a another TfL. Do you take the penalty? I think not. Now you have a third and nearly 20 situations. So Drew Clevenger with a decision to make.

Holding defense number 23. That penalty is declined. Third down.

[APPLAUSE]

So we'll take the result.

Of the play on the offense. Number 23.

We'll give the referees a the right to be a little nervous too. Their voices aren't usually heard in front of this many people.

All these officials going through rigorous tests throughout the year. They are graded each game they work, the opportunity to officiate the postseason, third down and a mile. Some room over the middle, and it's caught. Bork with the catch. And they pick up the first down. They needed 16. They go for 17.

What a great job of a route combination to the three receiver side. They run off the inner two guys and then you can see Bork run that deep in route. You got to have a lot of time. Harpenau he's got it. And an excellent catch by Bork to give him a first down.

You see that arm release almost a three quarter type motion from Harpenau. Huge third down conversion for the Royals. And now they're in plus territory. And for the first time, some space opens up for Brayson Mulder had been tough going in between the tackles for Mulder up until that last carry, as he takes it for another MMCRU first down.

Yeah, five carries for zero yards up to that point. MMCRU primarily doing their damage through the air and Harpenau his legs.

Talked about the hamstring issue earlier this year for Mulder. He started as a running back all the way back in his freshman year. And Kyle Oswald said the only thing that has slowed him down has been injuries over the course of the past four years. Just a delight to coach Harpenau nothing open. He will try to run and he is picked up and driven down at the 36 yard line. Tackled by Clevenger.

And he was able to escape the potential sack with a slick little sidestep of Chase Haugen before Clevenger brings him down.

In a first half, which is seen a couple of explosive plays, some scores with short drives based off field position, this really is our first long drive. Sustained drive by either team. They stretch out the option ball on the turf. Mulder had trouble with it, but he gets back on top of it just in the nick of time. He had Chase Haugen bearing down on him.

Yeah, and really well done by Haugen of slow playing that and stretching that play to the sideline. That's exactly what you want to do. Haugen saw it coming his way. You can see him continue to work outside and of course Michael's going for the legs.

We saw them convert on third and 16. A few moments ago. Third and 15 here. Everybody on their feet in the UNI-Dome in motion is Schmillen straight drop all sorts of time. Comeback pattern is caught and this will be really close. Bork with the catch, he beat Mullenbach and as we look at the spot, it looks like it's going to be just short. Do they ever measure anymore?

That's an excellent question. I have seen one this weekend.

Just don't.

See it at any level.

I think the TV line is on the field. Spectators want the drama of the unfolding of the sticks.

Oh man. Bork has been huge today. This is this is not a kid who's been a big part of their offense. By and large. Three big catches.

Fourth down. They've been golden on fourth down and a flag is thrown. First down run. But let's see what the laundry is all about.

I think they're going to get Bork here. I could be wrong, but I think they're going to. What are they?

Holding offense number one, ten yards from the previous spot. Replay. Fourth down.

Is one, not four.

So wipe out the run for Harpenau. The penalty takes it back to the 37. And let's see if they keep the offense on the field. Now fourth and 11.

There aren't a lot. of teams that I've coached or watched where third and 11 seems attainable on a regular basis, but this is one of them.

Fourth down Harpenau over the middle tight window and it's broken up. Blanket coverage. It was Michaels who got his hand in there. The penalty hurts MMCRU and the Saints will get the football with two and a half to go in this first.

Half and just a spectacular play. Michaels had safety help over the top. It allowed him to undercut that route, but it still doesn't take away from the play that he makes and see Gage Johnson limping off the field for MMCRU. That's not a positive development. Oh.

That's a good throw.

To sure.

Is times the tip of the hat to the defender. This will be passing yards as they run the jet sweep, but it's almost like a shovel toss trying to get Michaels wide. John Schmillen who we highlighted at the top of the show, his shadow.

That's just such a difficult play because you don't know if that is going to be a fake on that jet, or in this case, the the jet toss, or if that's going to be quarterback bringing it back underneath. So excellent play by Schmillen of Ciphering that and figuring out the play.

We hit two minutes and counting. And what has been an entertaining first half double move. And it worked. Shotts is out there and he makes the over the shoulder catch all the way to the Royal 34.

Who did they fake the screen to their Shawn it's number two, so they use him not only in a capacity to have the ball, but. As a prop. Great play design, excellent throw.

28 yards for Seth Shotts, who was a big part of the state baseball championship this past summer for Saint Ansgar. And what were we saying? They don't throw it a lot, but when they do it, usually nets an explosive play. First down at the 35 Schwiesow trying to set up the middle screen Mullenbach with some work to do, spins out of trouble and will stop the clock as he gets out of bounds.

Yeah, escapes some trouble and smartly gets the clock to stop and time is becoming a factor for Saint Ansgar.

They have two time-outs remaining. So they fake a little bubble screen and go deep to Shotts. They work the middle of the field on a screen. And now on second down they will go back to their bread and butter, which is power football with Korben Michels, and he will move the chains. A first down.

Cam Drew Clevenger had his way. They'd never leave that wishbone. Now they'll run a little bit of the double wing offense as well, maybe the Army Navy style, but we haven't seen that today with the short motion. This is the preferred set.

First down and ten straight drop. They'll lob it looking for the tight end and it's broken up. Chase Haugen only has one catch this year. They tried to fool MMCRU, but Michael Schmillen up to the task.

Yeah. Schmillen all over that route from the get go.

Well, keep in mind they don't kick field goals this year for Saint Ansgar. So you're thinking it has to be a touchdown. They have struggled on some point afters. They have zero made field goals. So this is six or nothing.

Yeah they have the most two point conversions in the state.

A swinging out Michaels lost his footing, jumped on top of this for good measure. And they will use their second time out.

Schlenger all over that.

Time out of the half.

[APPLAUSE]

Was going to be a short gain. Even if he had kept his footing a couple of URLs right there. Number two gets attention wherever he goes. You're not going to get him out in space and and hide him, even though he's a diminutive five foot four. He's a giant presence in this offense.

If you're just joining us, it's been a wild first half. 42 seconds to go. Kyle Oswald and the Royals from MMCRU jumped out. They sprinted out to a 17 nothing lead. A couple of early turnovers that led to ten points for the Royals Saint Ansgar able to get on the board with a 78 yard kickoff return touchdown by Korben Michels Harpenau has thrown for a touchdown. He has rushed for another Johnson has connected on a 27 yard field goal. And that's where we stand right now.

Well, this is one of those times where you have to look for that play that you've designed for one of your playmakers. Now, if that's Michaels or whether that's Mullenbach, those are the most likely candidates.

They'll put Mullenbach in a bunch formation to the left. The tight end Haugen to the right. Schwiesow hit as he throws, looking for Mullenbach jump ball. And that is a situation where the offensive player became the defensive player. Wyatt all Nash had the best line of sight on that one.

Yeah. Alesch one of the leaders in interceptions in this state as well. He was all over that. And when you don't run a set very often, defenses are able to sit on plays that you've run from that set. And clearly the Royals had sniffed that out well ahead of time, knew what to expect.

[APPLAUSE]

Mullenbach and Johanns to the top. Haugen comes split near side fourth and 11 pass is caught and then jarred free. But they're going to say incomplete. It would have been short of the first down the yard to gain. And again we talked about it. They they had to script up plays to get six with a limited amount of time.

I think we see this again. This was a hook and ladder. You see Michaels coming out of the backfield a lot of times you'll run that stop route or that curl route, and then you bring that back out of the backfield. And and Michaels was in position for that potentially. I think it just got foiled.

Keep that in your back pocket as we go into the second half.

Good play by Gage Johnson to break that up. Nice to see Johnson back on the field after we saw him lip off a few minutes ago.

32 seconds, two time-outs. We'll see how wild they play it and I don't blame them. Let's get to a knee and head into the locker room and MMCRU a 17 seven advantage in this first half.

You know. And they've done it primarily through defense. This is Saint Ansgar team that averages ten yards a rush. So if you can hold them down and keep them in check offensively on the ground you've got a chance. And that's exactly what they've done so far.

Harpenau eight of 12 for 105 yards. Michaels leading Saint Ansgar 61 yards on the ground, plus the 78 yard kick return. Harpenau a couple of touchdowns. Two top ranked teams 17 seven Royals at the break.

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We had a doozy to start in Eight-Player. And this a game. It's a game that's for certain. MMCRU leads Saint Ansgar 17 seven here at halftime. And you know, there's been a lot of great players that have played on this field and other ones across the state of Iowa. And for those that are skilled enough to move up from playing high school football to college, and then maybe the NFL returning to coach on Friday nights, maybe even taking your team to the postseason is a full circle opportunity to impart wisdom on the gridiron. Next generation.

You're good at that.

Come on now. We gotta be focused. We gotta bring energy. Let's go.

Iowa City Liberty lightning head coach Scott Chandler earned a spot in Iowans hearts, playing tight end at nearby Kinnick Stadium following a nine year NFL career. Being around some of pro football's all time greats, he returned to the Hawkeye State as a high school coach.

Let's go. Scouts get lined up. Let's go, let's go, let's go. I love you know that. There's not a ton of people I haven't hit traffic in. You know, in a long time. Growing up in Dallas-Fort Worth traffic is a is a real thing. So I love the the laid back lifestyle here and and the people football gave me a lot. And so I was really just looking to, to be able to give back to our community. And the more I got involved, the more I wanted to get involved. Going to the.

Dome.

Now, in his second season at the helm and fifth here overall, Chandler has watched fan support ramp up steadily, leading to his first trip to the playoffs last year. But he says there's more work to do.

We can be the best football team, not just in the area, not just on the eastern side of the state, in the state, but we have to come every single day with that purpose.

We're confident we have the best coaching staff in the state. Chandler's knowledge about the game is just really helpful. I mean, we're confident in our play calls and I think being confident in your coaching allows you to just play the game the way you want it.

Playing at the highest level, you're able to react fast. Going back to high school from the NFL, the game is quite a bit slower. My reaction time and just seeing what's happening. I was a little ahead of the game. There.

Any sport your coach needs to earn the respect of the athletes. Coach Chandler has done an incredible job and does some pretty amazing things.

Good catch Jordan.

These kids aspire and they watch these professionals on TV and to know that their coach has been one of those right on that, that same same playing field as I'm sure for them, a huge draw.

Athletic director Brant Sands has witnessed strong team spirit since joining Liberty in 2024. The school itself opened in 2017, offering a ground floor legacy building opportunity. Chandler cites Hawkeye coach Kirk Ferentz, who recruited him as a life changer, but says his current success has prior roots.

I was really blessed to play for a high school coach who's legendary in the state of Texas. He was a really great example of how to be as a head coach in high school, somebody getting after you, it's because they care about you, okay.

Chandler's story has parallels. At another Iowa high school. That's nearby. The one steeped in tragedy.

I've had a lot of different coaches, and I feel like I've taken a little bit from each one of them. But it all comes down to back to Coach Thomas. I think it was just he has just such a way of teaching kids, and it was more than just the X's and O's, you know, it was more than football. It was just learning. You know, characteristics that you can apply in life.

Born and raised in Iowa, Brad Meester started a franchise record 209 games for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars at center and left guard. Drafted from the University of Northern Iowa, he played high school football for Aplington-parkersburg legendary coach Ed Thomas, who sent four separate players on a path to the NFL. Thomas was shot and killed by another former player in June of 2009.

This community is very resilient. He'll put the town back together. There's no question about that. And and I hope they put the school right back up here.

Thomas rallied downtrodden Parkersburg a year earlier after the town was decimated by an EF5 tornado. Meister says that resilience was echoed following Twenty-Twenty Derecho in Mount Vernon, where he spent seven years coaching offense and the last two as head man.

You can feel that here, too. It's such a tight knit community that when something happens, this whole group pulls together, this whole town pulls together. That's what's really awesome about this community, and that's what we love about it. Here.

Mount Vernon's activities director, Matt Tatti, champions. How well Meister and his assistants mesh with the school's tradition laden landscape.

Coach. Meister was a a great hire, right? He is a tremendous leader. He's been in the trenches when he's sat in my office. He said, I want to make a difference in kids lives. The way Coach Thomas and my coaches made a difference in my life. And these guys have just done a great job of just building and continuing to move it forward in a progressive manner as well. That honors the past, yet looks to the future.

[MUSIC]

That's why he's built such a great program here. And you know, we just want to be his guy and we trust him. And that's really important. If you're a player and you're playing for your coach, nice.

Let's have a great one tonight. Let's line it up.

Here we go. Go. Snakes on 3123.

Meister and Chandler are just two examples of several players who've returned to Iowa to share their love and knowledge of the game with the next generation. Following in their footsteps could be a proud moment, but both agree, laying foundations for fulfilling futures of any stripe would be their crowning achievement.

3123 vaults. That one.

Meister's Mustangs finished the regular season with a six and three record and cracked the postseason before falling to Clear Lake in the first round. Now, Chandler's lightning bolts, that's a different story. You can watch Iowa City Liberty take on Dowling Catholic tomorrow night in the Five-a final. We'll have that tomorrow, but we still have more to do today and still more to do at this halftime. Like, we're going to take a break now, but when we come back, we're going to show you how it got to be 17 seven MMCRU here in a moment on Iowa PBS.

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Time for a little break of ice cream. It's a treat. You can always get it. In fact, I think you still get the 50 cent piece when you go and pay with cash. You remember cash? That's what it is. We're on a pretty good first half. I see you two. And I hope you are watching us all around the world. And we want to let you know we are at the halftime of the class A championship game. Right now. It's 17 seven MMCRU. But let's tell you and show you how we got here to that score. It's pretty simple. It's called put the ball into the end zone. Eli Harpenau finds Michael Schmillen the very potent combo in the semis. It's seven. Nothing at that point. Great reception. And then Harpenau is going to do it with his legs and he's going to go up and over and into the end zone. 17 nothing at that point, but don't go anywhere. On the ensuing kickoff. It's taken by Michels Corbin Michels Corbin Michels. Look at him go. We showed you that in the pregame show how well he can run. He did it there again to make it 17 seven. And that is where we sit right now in that first half of the score yards. Total yards. More in favor of MMCRU. Time of possession still in favor of the Royals. But first downs not even close plays passing yards. We'll let the guys upstairs break it down a little bit deeper than that, but there's a look at some of your first half stats and tell you what this is pretty good for. Game two of our four coverage that we have here today. Garrigan's already your champ. They were down 22 Cam Saint Ansgar erase their deficit and win here in class A, but that's going to do it here for us here at halftime. We'll catch up again at the end of class A. We'll talk on the field with some champions there. But first let's go back upstairs. Shawn Kenney Jeremiah for their their second half call will be when we come back from our coverage. We'll take a break right now here. Halftime 17 seven from the UNI-Dome.

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Halftime. Here in the class A state championship and a good one, the two top ranked teams 17 seven. Our score the Royals out in front of Saint Ansgar here at the break. Shawn Kenney alongside Jeremiah Longnecker and coach. You look at this first half. The difference. Turnovers ten points off a couple of mistakes for the Saints and that's the difference right now on the scoreboard.

It really is. And I think the Saints did a good job of limiting the damage off their first two turnovers. You know, could have been a 14 zero game right off the bat.

Well, it all started on the very first play of the game and it was on the kickoff that allowed MMCRU to get on the board. Ball jarred free recovered by the Royals. That set them up in great position. They took advantage of it with a touchdown. And then the option play resulted in disaster. That led to a field goal for Gage Johnson Saint Ansgar gets their first takeaway on the interception. Other than that throw, it was a nearly perfect first half for Harpenau on the offense.

Yeah, it really was. And and I think if if the Saints are going to get back in this, they have to get some pressure on Harpenau. He has had his way back here. He's just camped out. You know they do have the one sack. It happened as a result of a scramble. They just haven't been able to put much pressure on him. And maybe Saint Ansgar is going to have to commit another guy or two to the line of scrimmage.

Harpenau eight of 12 in the first half for 105 yards. Saint Ansgar will get the football first. When we come back to the UNI-Dome second half action right around the corner.

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Being an Iowan.

And thinking about Iowa PBS, I think it really allows me to. understand more about my state and that our state is full of a rich culture, various types of landscapes, and a lot of types of events that are fun places to go, visit and experience. I would tell somebody considering becoming a member that it's worth it because Iowa PBS satisfies my curiosity about learning. It brings Iowa to the world as well.

Alongside Jeremiah Longnecker Shawn Kenney with you, our fantastic PBS crew from Cedar Falls. You know, there's been many a days when we have walked into this dome this time of the year in Iowa. We're plowing through inches of snow and all bundled up. It felt like a spring afternoon. Today.

It's golf weather. Absolutely wore a polo and a vest and was perfectly comfortable walking in here today.

Will the second half bring a historical moment for the consolidation of schools with MMCRU as one consolidated consolidated group? This is their first trip into the semifinals and into the finals. Remsen Union had success in the past at the dome, but never before with all of those communities coming together.

Another good return. Again, we talked about the return games for both of these teams. We've already seen Michael take it to the house for a touchdown, and now the Royals able to get it out with excellent starting field position at the 40.

All right, let's talk adjustments real quickly. You hinted at it a few moments ago. Pressure from Saint Ansgar.

Yeah absolutely. They have to do that if you're on the Royals offensive staff you just want to do things the same.

Quarterback, running back exchange Mulder did not get it cleanly and loss of two on the opening play. One thing that's interesting, as you watch them go shotgun, it's effective. It's fine. But the center snap really takes a while to reach the quarterback.

It does, and that's an integral piece of that, of that play. And you have to have somebody that's confident and quick. So if that if that isn't clicking or there's a little uncertainty, it certainly can mess up the timing of an offense like this.

Loss of two on first down, they will hand it off. Big block on the edge is Mulder cut inside it. That was the block delivered that freed him up for a couple.

And there's Clevenger again. And he has been all over the field for this Saints defense. And again no surprise, we fully anticipated that he was going to be an integral part of this effort to stop this Royals offense, which is potent.

Big play out of the locker room for both teams. Third down and nine Eli Harpenau, the junior quarterback sends three receivers left, two at the bottom. It's a four man rush ball tipped up high into the air and it's intercepted. The old tip drill picked off by Saint Ansgar Hale Dieterich.

The second big play that Dieterich has made. We saw him with the sack earlier. This time the ball was in the air. Shawn I wasn't exactly sure where it was. I saw it was tipped and go up, but my old eyes didn't allow me to see what the depth perception is to where that was.

Johnny on the spot for Dieterich coach has told us he and Beason, they don't have eye popping stats, but they are the heart and center of this defense. Second takeaway today for the Saints and now they will hand the ball off. This is Clevenger over the right side for a yard.

Minimal. There. But if I'm up in the box for the Saints Schwiesow is running free on that edge. After the give to Clevenger, don't be surprised if we see him. Hang on to it. After that fake to his big fullback.

You almost get the feeling this is a must get if you're Saint Angerer right out of the break, you get the turnover. Excellent field position. They bring an extra linebacker in Michaels to the second wave. Good call there. They brought the blitz to the left side of the offensive line. So where do they go? They pop it right.

Yeah. And Michaels has gained some footing. We saw him pile up some yards in that first half. Over 60. And if they can get him going and they can get eyes in the wrong places against this offense mentioned, Saint Ansgar leads the state in scoring. They've been held in check. But that could change in a hurry.

Both teams really struggling on third down. A combined two of 11, one of five for Saint Ansgar from the bone. Second back through this time they figure out their third down woes. Michaels a little pep in his step and a first down run.

He is such a dynamic playmaker for this Saints offense. He is their home run hitter, and every time he touches the football, you got to be happy. If you're a Royals fan that he doesn't take it all the way. So a 5 or 6 yard gain, even though it gains a first down, you're feeling it a little fortunate.

First down at the 27 yard line. They will go up the middle with it. Clevenger again, you go back to Corbin Michaels coming in eye numbers over 1600 rushing yards. And now coming off back to back 1000 yard seasons, he rushed for 1295 a year ago. And he has had some games where he simply takes over the win against North Linn. He rushed for five touchdowns, 180 yards, plus he had five catches for 46 yards. He is just one of those type of players.

Sean. He's only scored 13 touchdowns in the playoffs. Make 14 now.

Second down give and he pretzels his way up to the 20. Hit by Wyatt Alesch who's played a whale of a game from the back end.

He sure has. And they have done a terrific job of keeping this running game in check. Mentioned it just before the half. They averaged ten yards a carry under four today, and that's where they have to keep them. If they're going to hold on to this lead.

Four down territory inside the 20. Third down and two. Three back set. Michaels first down and then some, lowering the pads. You're never going to win the leverage battle when Corbin Michaels comes at you.

You are so correct. And that right side is starting to feel it and take over that offensive line on the right side. Halvorson and Vroom, they are really starting to open up some holes, and now you got to have your eyes on both Clevenger and Michaels. It's going to be a losing battle. Starting to see some hands on the hips on that front.

You mentioned the right side of the offensive line. There's a lot of experience and that's the side they go again with. Michaels. Braden Halvorson a three year starter. He got pulled up early in his sophomore season, and he kind of got thrown into the fire. They had a lot of injuries. They weren't sure if he was ready, but he was the next guy up and he benefited so much from that experience. And then you have Jaxson Vroom at right tackle, a two year starter.

They bring some size. The smallest guy up front is 221, so they can wear on you over the course of a game.

Second down, they will hand it off and MMCRU putting up a little bit of a fight here and this game has done a complete 180 when it comes to third down. We saw Saint Ansgar struggle in the first half. However, on their first touch in this third quarter, they've converted on third downs. Looking at another here.

Yeah. And it might be time for Saint Ansgar to to run some sort of counter action. They've been going to that that play side. You know it's been the second back three or the give to Clevenger and and downs. You get inside that ten yard line yards much more difficult to come by.

Third down and goal. That's a backwards pass. That's a live football. And Michaels gets back on it. Schmillen and Mulder all in the vicinity. Steffen was there as well. And a dangerous play for the Saints.

And really a devastating loss for Saint Ansgar because they don't have the ability to kick that field goal. So they have to go for it here. It's very difficult yards to come by in a team that's not doesn't have a prolific passing attack.

Interesting to see Michaels on the bench because they're going to try a field goal, which would be their first make of the year. Porter Schwiesow. And now we have movement before the kick. I think a royal was into the neutral zone.

Well.

Or was he enticed? We'll see.

Number. Encroachment defense number two. Five-Yard penalty still fourth down.

Well that works out well for the Saints. Schwiesow gets a practice run at the kick and now he gets an additional five yards tacked on.

And an enormous five yards to make this a one score game. As close as Saint Ansgar has been since the opening moments of the game.

They have not attempted a field goal all year. We from 25 yards and we have a one possession game.

It looked like he belonged at the next level on that kick, didn't he? Shawn.

Look pretty smooth. They take advantage of the Dieterich interception and the sophomore kicks it through from 25 yards. From artists and dreamers to everyday Iowans with inspiring stories. Explore what makes our state shine on Iowa life. Join host charity Nebbe Tuesdays at 630 and Sundays at 1030 in the morning on Iowa PBS or stream online anytime. Well, we're enjoying a good old fashioned Iowa life today inside the UNI-Dome a good one here. 1710 Schwiesow connects on the short field goal. The first made field goal this season for the Saints, and a one possession game.

Of course, you'd make your first field goal of the season in the state title, right? Just bury it like Schwiesow did. But you know, it's one of those things you expect from your quarterback as well. You know, here's hey, you're a gamer. Go do this. And it's put him in a great position. So obviously took us by surprise.

Short drive ten plays 30 yards. Keep in mind they took over at the 39 yard line. Big crippler on the drive was the backwards pass. They lost nine yards on third and short. They had it down at the four yard line. Looking at second and goal. Now an onside kick right up the middle. Ball rolling free and it traveled the necessary ten yards. And it looks like the Royals get on top of it. They do Steffen heads up play and rolling the die Clevenger trying to hit the on side.

I love the call Shawn now you're just trying to steal another possession from the game. Your defense has settled in a little bit and it tells them we trust you.

Second offensive series of this third quarter for Eli Harpenau. Mulder is the running back behind him. Schmillen the H-back left on first down. They will give it. Actually, it's Schmillen behind him. He gets the call, runs through arm tackles and Schmillen tough nose run. 11 yards and a first down for the five foot, ten inch senior Shawn.

I know you chose him primarily for his defensive abilities, but he's got some offensive punch as well. He just doesn't get the ball all that often because they spread the wealth on this royal offense.

Coaches compared him to a Cam type go back a few years. Mike Alstott for a younger audience, Google his name and watch some of his highlights.

He looked like it there.

He certainly did. Gets it right back and Schmillen over the right side. Seven more yards up to the 38.

Well, the running game is one of those things that you want to get going at some point in time. They didn't do a lot of it with much success in that first half, but they've shown the capability and a couple of big plays here when they needed it.

Schmillen was the player who stepped up this season, and the absence of Mulder when he was out with a hamstring. Second down at the 38, Harpenau is going to throw and he will lob it. Dangerous throw and it's an interception. Saint Ansgar with their third takeaway of the day back to back possessions, ending up in turnovers. Harpenau can't believe it.

I couldn't tell who it was. Oh there it is for Saint Ansgar coming up with the pick. Seth Shotts.

Third interception thrown by Harpenau and that throw simply sailed on. And now the Saints on first down. Watch out. There goes Michaels. He has the corner. One man to beat, chased down by Michael Schmillen. Not before he takes it to the 28.

Schmillen shows off his speed. Not many guys with the foot speed to stay with Michaels. He was able to do so, but not before a huge play.

34 yards for Corbin Michaels.

Credit the staff up at the box level of Saint Ansgar for seeing that that play was available to them. We noticed it in the last series. Those pitch alleys were there. The keeper for Schwiesow.

Hand off to Michaels. Boy, everything has been over the right side in this second half for Saint Angerer. They have not went left. It's been right, right, right behind Halvorson and Vroom.

And not a lot of secret there, is it? Brayden Dunn with the tackle, the interior, but those guys up front for MMCRU looking a little winded, get leaned on all game, get this attack that just pounds you. There's that set that I mentioned.

Two wing backs in and they will go up the middle with it. Joe Clevenger running behind his center. Hudson Ostrander Ostrander wearing number 60, in white. He is the only first year starter up front. Young man who had a knee injury late in his sophomore year. Really couldn't do much as far as building strength that offseason. Put on some muscle during his junior campaign and he has stepped in at center and has become a key player up front. The newbie on what is a very experienced offensive front wall. Third down, Michaels familiar recipe as he dives ahead, setting up a fourth down less than a yard. Michaels picks up five.

Shawn you mentioned the loss of Lucas Peterson for MMCRU and and it appears as though it impacted them up to this point. But this is where that depth and the trenches would pay a lot of dividends. And when you really miss the services of one of your best players.

He was having an all state type of year, tore his ACL and MCL, tore it up in the game against West Sioux, fourth down and a yard and movement Mullenbach a little antsy. Part of the trifecta of backs. And this will be five yards on the Saints.

The Royals hurt themselves with a couple of penalties in the first half. That's the first penalty that. has been really detrimental to a Saint Ansgar drive at the absolute wrong time.

Drew Clevenger, 1993 PCM grad. We have a few Monroe graduates at the state championships this weekend. Fourth down and six receiver, left and right straight drop Schwiesow ball tipped up at the last second. That was close. Alesch got a hand up in the nick of time.

Boy did he and Alesch one of those key defenders in that secondary, had Schwiesow just put a little bit more air under it. And you talk about throwing over a goalpost. That's one of the things I used to have my quarterbacks do is stand close to the goalpost, throw it over that crossbar to. And had he put some more height on that, he probably had six.

Turns out to be a huge stop for the Royals after two straight turnovers in this third quarter. Let's see if they can get back on track. Offensively. They start at the 24 yard line hesitating and working his way for two yards. Back to the ground with Mulder tripped up by Michaels.

The Saints defense. They were working against the short field in their first two possessions. Gave up those ten points. Since then, they've stiffened.

This has been a lightning quick third quarter already. Inside. A minute to go. Second down and eight. Harpenau trying to find the rhythm he had in the first half. Looks right now. Breaks that way along the near side, elevating is Bork and he toe drags, gets the feet inbounds. And that's good for a first down.

Falk had three catches in the first half. Now that's his fourth. And again making contributions or getting contributions from a player that you haven't. It's one of the keys to winning at this time of year.

12th first down today for the Royals. Just their third in this third quarter though 178 yards of total offense. First down they go. Traditional I and they go to Schmillen up ahead for three Hale Dieterich the stop.

John Schmillen the Ball Trytten.

And if MMCRU doesn't want to, they won't have to take another snap.

Well, it looks like they're just going to be content to run out the clock and take that seven point lead going into the fourth quarter. And you ask any coach, coach, you're going to go to the fourth quarter of a seven point lead. How do you feel about it? Okay, let's take it. We'll take our chances.

After coming up short in the semis last year, Saint Ansgar into the finals. Do they have a little magic in this fourth quarter? MMCRU looking for their first consolidated state title, a one possession game. As we head to the fourth from Cedar Falls.

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No one ever shakes.

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Noah. Never.

Three. Two turnovers.

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Local.

Regional and national artists take the stage to perform original sets and share their musical journeys on studio three. Live. Enjoy weekly performances Fridays at 8:30 p.m. online or as a podcast. So wonderful to have you with us! Jeremiah Longnecker Shawn Kenney. As we roll into the fourth quarter and a good one, the two top ranked teams, two perfect teams this year in a heavyweight fight right now and 12 minutes to decide this one all the way from the Iowa Minnesota border. Saint Ansgar fell behind 17. Nothing. They have scored ten straight, but it's MMCRU with the ball. Second down and seven as we start this fourth quarter from the 39 yard line. Big collision up the middle there and it will be third down and six. It looked like it was Haugen who he brought the lumber that time to. Mr. Mulder.

Yeah. You've mentioned his name quite often. He's having himself a championship caliber game, as have a lot of these guys. Defenses have really started to take hold in this game.

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Between the two. They only give up 12.8 points per game. So this has been a slugfest in that regard.

Kamden Bork has been the third down guy tonight for the Royals third down and short. And they're going to go his direction. He will make the catch up ahead into plus territory. These two have been on the same page really since the opening whistle.

Yeah. And they have and my apologies to Kamden and his family. Kamden had 31 catches on the season to this point, and that's his fifth. And so he has been terrific. And you're right, Harpenau is looking at Kamden to move the chains.

Four of his receptions have been on what we call money downs third or fourth down. And they move the sticks there first and ten. On to the Saint Ansgar side leading by seven. Harpenau looked left initially. Now he sprints toward the boundary side and Matt Clevenger, the sophomore, made sure that he v lined toward the white boundary.

Dieterich showed some speed to the edge there as well, didn't he? And helping to escort him to the sideline.

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Second down and six. Saint defense that has created three turnovers. All three interceptions.

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Mulder with the touch. Mulder with a first down and into the second wave. A burst of energy from Brayson Mulder Korben Michels lassos him down, but not before Mulder takes it to the 30 and he's slow to get up 16 yards.

And Mulder limping off, limping in the back of his hip. Might have taken a helmet. Something along those lines. He got up. Initially you mentioned the hamstring. We were hoping that that wasn't. It doesn't appear to be the case.

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Double digit tackles from Michaels today. First down and ten from the 31 yard line. This will be Schmillen who is taken down low. Michaels another stop. You know, it's interesting. This is the the time of the game where you lean on your offensive line. And we talked a lot about Saint Ansgar. You look at MMCRU up front, you have Max Schnepf who had to move from guard to left tackle following the injury to the All-stater Lucas Peterson Brayden Dunn at left guard, a two year starter, they bring up Benjamin Tentinger Brayan Hill at right guard. Actually, the neighbor to coach Oswald second down long throw across the way board makes one miss caught by Michaels as he's whipped out of bounds at. the 22 yard line, setting up third and short.

And that's going to be double digit tackles for Michaels. That's ten Clevenger leads the way with 11. These guys have just been terrific. But an excellent move to get a little space for himself and bring up the short third down.

Royals two of seven on third downs today.

Two.

From the pistol off the hard cadence. They go back to number four. And he has delivered time and time again.

He certainly has. When you have to have arm strength because the corner is just sitting on that route. But he does a nice job of delivering the ball to the outside hand. That's not a ball you can throw inside. You have to throw it outside. Let your receiver use his body to shield the defender. He does a good job of catching it with his hands, getting out of bounds for yet another first down.

Kamden Bork seven catches, 64 yards. Keep in mind he was the starting quarterback last year, got hurt and that's what opened up the door for Eli to take over the position.

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First down they stretch it, hitting the hole hard, plowing his way inside the 15. Good to see Mulder back in there after he saw him leave the lineup. Briefly.

And you mentioned it. That is the stretch play. We don't see that a lot from MMCRU, but they've done it and effectively on this drive.

This is such a painstaking drive. If you're Saint Ansgar because you're just watching precious time wean off the clock, as we approach nine minutes to go in this one, the state title traditional I and they pop it to Schmillen, the fullback who moves the pile. He was following his junior right guard Brayan Hill. We talked about the neighbor to coach Oswald, and Oswald told us he did not think he was going to go out for football, but he made the decision to go out. He listened to his neighbor and here he is in a state final.

Might have been a couple of conversations in the yard right? Yeah.

You're out mowing and you see the head coach pop out and there it is. There's no hiding.

Yeah.

Makes it pretty tough.

Good for that young man. 12. Play, 64 yard drive over 4.5 minutes. Bootleg left. Harpenau has run for one already, but he goes into a slide and it will be first and goal. Great play call.

He had Eli Schlenger wide open in the end zone, but Harpenau made the smart play there. He decided I have the first down. I'm not going to put up. I'm not going to put the ball in the air. And he slides down and now all of a sudden, first and goal at the six. Harpenau now 40 yards on the ground, he's been effective. Doesn't seem like a lot. But when he's run it's been on big downs for big yardage.

ISO run. It's Mulder behind the Schmillen block. Touchdown MMCRU.

Shawn you mentioned the offensive line and credit them for this drive. They just got behind the big shoulder pads of all these guys up front.

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And one of the great things about calling football games or watching football games in the year 2025, everybody recognizes the contributions of those no name guys up front. How you just can't get it done without them.

A statement drive late. Mulder plunges into the end zone from six yards out. Now you see the line and the formation trick play here they have just the center and a blocker for Harpenau one receiver on that side and the two point conversion fails. Well, wait a second. A late flag a really late flag coming in as Wyatt Alesch was jockeying for position.

They're going to call it maybe. Well, Clevenger is convinced that it's going against MMCRU as they leave the field.

I wonder if they had enough guys on the line of scrimmage with the formation.

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And a man down field offense. That penalty is declined.

So the two point conversion fails and a 23 to 10 lead. But an impressive drive where they go 14 plays 76 yards. But maybe most importantly 5.5 minutes off the game clock.

And certainly was. And now it takes this Saint Ansgar offense out of what it likes to do potentially. Now, if they can get a couple of big plays early in the drive. But this is a clock chewing offense. Saint Ansgar is they want to they want to do exactly what the Saints offense just did. If they have to get back in shotgun and throw it all over the place, that's not a comfortable scenario for them.

This becomes a little bit of a chess match. Now. Drew Clevenger where do you put number two on this kick? They will be moving him. They'll try to sneak him up. He has a 78 yard kick return for a score in this game. Equally dangerous as Connor Mullenbach those two standing about ten yards apart inside their 20. Right now there is Corbin Michels. The game within the game with eight minutes to play.

Michaels double digit tackles, 130 yards on the ground. It's that time of the broadcast where you say, regardless, he has put it all out there.

Short kick. This is Mullenbach at the 30 and Mullenbach takes it up to the 39 yard line. Such a rich tradition in football and really all the sports for Saint Ansgar. And they have made even a bigger commitment to the community as they have began the works. A brand new 8500 square foot strength and conditioning facility that will be open in February of 26. This is something that Drew Clevenger has always wanted. At 6 a.m. every day they'll have just loads of kids, boys and girls, over 100 kids. They just ran out of space. That's how committed they are. Confusion in the backfield. Trouble for Michaels swallowed up at the 42.

Clearly not the way you want to start this drive, but a lot of penetration from that front from that Royals front seven, you can see that Mulder is right there. And a big play as he sees that gap slices through it for a big TfL.

, Clevenger and Schwiesow colliding, which threw off the timing and Kyle Oswald defense knew what to do with it.

Now Royals defense number two in tackles for loss this year in this class.

They roll it right. Schwiesow intercepted. Picked off by Gage Johnson.

Johnson a.

Flag down. We'll see if this was post possession on the return.

I didn't see Shawn.

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I didn't see flags prior to the pass. Leads me to believe that it is post possession.

After the interception and during the return, we have illegal personal foul, illegal blindside block number 23. It will be 15 yards from the spot of the foul. It'll be first down.

MMCRU a point of emphasis. This past offseason. Taking this part of the sport. The physical sport out of the equation.

It doesn't make punt returns as fun to watch. That's for certain. But it does take safety into account. A watch for decades. Watch guys get just completely blasted by those blindside blocks. It's a good development in the game for certain.

We talked about the defense and the opportunistic defense. They have been all season 27. Yes, count them up 27 interceptions coming into this title game and Gage Johnson has been one of the main culprits. His Pick now gives this offense time to work this clock up by 13.

And this is Schnepf, Dunn, Tentinger, Hill and Hill time we talked about him last drive. This is when offensive linemen love football. Everybody in the place knows what's going to materialize and it's going to be behind them. And they're going to try to move guys and run the football and run this clock down. They love this time of the game.

Hand the ball off. Schmillen tripped up. That was Trytten who got a fingertip on a shoestring. Schmillen falling forward to the 45.

You know, you really have to credit Kyle Oswald in the distribution of the football. All of these guys are playing both ways, but there are a number of guys who have touched the football for them offensively, and, you know, as fresh as Schmillen can be right now, he is with with minimal carries at this point. Now you got to, you know, get a fresh horse in the stable as they say.

They hand it off. Mulder gets away from Michaels trying to dance his way to the sideline, but Trey Johanns with containment, pushes him out of bounds. Kyle Oswald coming into the season, he he has a quote that he has posted all throughout the locker room. It has been a consistent message throughout the entire season, and that is for such a time as this. And it was posed to this team to not sit back to accept the challenge. Don't let someone else take your opportunity by being lethargic, sitting back, waiting.

And it is. It's so true. It's like, don't wait for somebody else. You do it yourself and some coaches are really good at delivering that message. Clearly, he's one of them.

Alicia's punt goes out of bounds. See where they're going to mark it. They're going to say it went out at the 34 yard line for 50 years, market to market has been the news in commodity market information source for anyone who lives and works in rural America. Join our very own host, Paul Yeager, every Friday night at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 1230 for Market to market. The Weekly Journal of Rural America, or stream online anytime. Paul does a tremendous job on that show, along with all of his work and his hours of preparation. Get him ready for these next couple of days.

His halftime feature was fantastic on Scott Chandler and Brad Meester, NFL guys going to be high school coaches.

All right now or never. Saint Ansgar goes deep one on one battle. Mullenbach high points it a foot race for Mullenbach to the ten five touchdown. Oh my.

Zachary century last night.

A beautifully thrown football by Schwiesow high into the outside, let your big wide receiver go up and get it. That's exactly what he does. Then shows off the speed. What a beautiful throw.

He has been so quiet today, but when his team needed him bang 66 yards.

Max Neeley.

Point after on the way, it is up and it is good. Oh, I love this game. I love this state. I love these communities.

Shawn. We knew those kicking games were going to become an integral part in this fourth quarter. And now all of a sudden, just six points and a Pat separate those two teams. Or should I say a missed two point conversion? Yeah, sometimes you'd love to have those decisions back. I wonder if that's lurking in the back of the mind of Kyle Oswald at this moment.

Porter Schwiesow hooking up with senior Connor Mullenbach and a Saints crowd. That was pretty nervous. A few moments ago. All of a sudden they're excited and rightfully so.

And good for Porter. His worst throw of the game is followed by his best throw of the game, good point. And and it's always nice to go back to the sideline. It's tough to go back to the sideline after throwing interceptions. I did it a lot. I have a lot of experience with that. Of course, it was a long time ago, but, well, you feel a lot better after that touchdown pass.

We saw them try an onside kick earlier. You see the nine bodies up near the kicking tee for MMCRU doubt you'll see it and we won't. It's a deep kick. Schmillen will corral from his 13 Schmillen angles up past the 30 to the 34 yard line, and five minutes to settle this one. Each team, with their full allotment of time-outs.

Well, it's that time, isn't it? Who's going to get done in the trenches and who who wins? Is it the front seven of Saint Ansgar, or is it that offensive line plus of MMCRU? It's come down to that moment in the game, and this is why everybody is involved with this phenomenal sport.

They start at the 34 yard line. It is a designed draw. Harpenau looking for an edge block from Bork. Never really panned out. Trytten fighting through the block, shredding him aside, making the stop.

Yeah, and really good job of containing the play and forcing Harpenau back inside so the pursuit could get there and keep him to a short game.

Keep in mind Harpenau at halftime today was eight of 12 for 105 yards, four of six in the second half. Passing game has been tough to come by. He's been picked off twice as well in this second half. Good adjustments by Saint Ansgar second down. Harpenau looking right, throws low and incomplete.

[APPLAUSE]

I read a prediction in the Des Moines Register. They go predict all the games and they were talking about these two teams and how it's much easier to run the football at this point in time than it is to throw it. And it's even heightened more in the final six minutes of a game.

Deafening in the UNI-Dome.

[APPLAUSE]

Third down Harpenau looking back foot into traffic. And it's caught somehow into a pile, making the catch is Mulder a Houdini.

It's the number one rule of quarterbacking that was just defied by Harpenau. You never throw late across the middle, he throws up a prayer and it's answered. What a grab by Mulder. Even better on replay.

You could have made a case for four different players coming up with that football. Two in white, two in black.

Play of the game made by Mulder to this point.

21 yards and they will go to Mulder and Saint Ansgar crunching it hard with Korben Michels and Joe Clevenger.

Saint Ansgar had taken some chances in coverage on that last play as well. They were manned up on the two receiver side and they had undercut routes, which is really a tough thing to do at this point. Boy, they come out of the wrong end of that play.

When do you start thinking time-outs? If you're the Saints.

I would strongly consider one. If they get a a minimal gain here.

Second down Schmillen Matt in the backfield.

And they do.

And here comes the first of three time-outs.

You know, rather than waiting. This allows them to continue to run their offense if they let it run down inside of two minutes. It's not the same offense. They want to run. So I love the time-out here.

Busy time of the year, especially as we flip the calendar to 2026. Take a look at the wrestling girls wrestling coming up in February. Then it's more boys wrestling with the state championships, and then we move into the state titles on the hardwood. But boys and girls basketball in March, fun time of the year.

Shawn you cover wrestling at the international level? I cover it at the high school level. If you've never watched girls wrestling, you are missing out on a fast paced, exciting sport.

It's amazing they.

Score. They score, and it is nonstop action and they are such an shape I love. I did a wrestling meet on Tuesday night. I looked forward to it. It was everything as advertised, so check it out if you haven't had the opportunity.

One of the fastest growing sports, not just here in Iowa across the country, when you look at girls wrestling, big moments here now. Three minutes, two seconds to go. Fourth quarter, third down and eight. Michael Schmillen the receiver to the right. They bunch formation at the bottom. Throw into the zone and it's caught threading the needle. What a throw by Harpenau. That might be his best throw of the day. He stepped up and in a tight window delivered a strike.

You are so correct. He knew where he was going. They occupied the corner with that short route. They cleared out the side and what a beautiful throw and into three defenders as well.

14 yards back to back. Third down Backbreakers for Saint Ansgar.

That is showing a lot of confidence in your signal caller.

They will go back to the ground and force the Saints to try to stop the clock. First. They're going to have to try to stop Brayson Mulder willing his way, keeping the legs churning to the 18.

But looked like he was going to be a 3 or 4 yard gain. Turned into a big eight yard gain. And now that puts Saint Ansgar Drew Clevenger in a real bind. And when to call that next time-out? Second and short isn't when you want to use it. MMCRU will milk the clock. We'll see. Harpenau look up at the play clock which is staring him in the face.

They will use all of the play clock. Take the snap with three on the play clock and falling ahead for first down yardage. It is Mulder who might have had the play of this game on third and long. His catch earlier on this drive to keep the football away from Saint Ansgar.

You are so correct. You know that the prayer was answered. If you're a royal and it's the worst possible outcome if you're a saint.

Saint Angerer with two time-outs trailing by six Eli Harpenau stepping up and his team needed him to Schmillen for a couple. And let's see if the Saints use a time-out. They will. Stop the clock with a minute 15 to.

Play. Their second time-out of the half.

Saint Ansgar has just climbed the ladder to get here. They were a playoff qualifier. Then they got beat out in the quarters and last year in the semis. And now they've tasted the finals and they are so close. And it's going to take some pretty good things to happen at this point in time. I wouldn't call it a miracle with a minute and 15, but there's going to have some things have to go their way if they're going to to reach the pinnacle. And you just feel for a team that has worked so hard and and had so much progress.

Taking adventure with Iowa PBS on road trip Iowa join host Brooke Kohlsdorf as we travel the state's highways and scenic byways exploring the history, culture and natural beauty along the way. Road trip Iowa Wednesdays at 630, Saturdays at 9 a.m. on Iowa PBS or stream online anytime. Aiden Bissen Derek Hemann. This defense, hoping for a turnover. They can only stop the clock one more time. Second down and nine. Mulder through a crevice and the exclamation point from the senior Brayson Mulder.

Touchdown.

Only fitting. He finishes the job.

It certainly is. And he was such a key factor on this. And we've watched him get loose a couple of times. No surprise they go off the left side. We'd watch Saint Ansgar use the right side of their offensive line. MMCRU was leaning on that left side of the offensive line heavily over the last couple of drives.

[APPLAUSE]

MMCRU up 12 and Johnson will extend it to 13. Saint Ansgar had him in a couple of third and longs, but they could not get the stop. It all started with the catch by Mulder and then the senior, who missed four games this year with a bad hammy. He's fully healthy for the stretch run and maybe a historical moment for Eli Harpenau. And this royal community.

Yeah, it's it's that time when you don't want to celebrate. But as a coach, when you when you can feel it, you're just bursting at the seams for Saint Ansgar it's begun to sink in. They have they have to have a big play. If I were the Royals, I'd seriously consider kicking this ball out of bounds. They have not held Saint Ansgar down in field position. They've already given up a kick return for a touchdown. They've started outside their 35 anyway. Why not just kick this thing out of bounds and start from there?

Do not even play with fire. 14 years on the sideline for Kyle Oswald. He says he has really backed off.

MMCRU.

He's really backed off this year. They're going to use a time-out. That's his assistant coaches handle a lot of the load and that is complete trust. Stay in the know with Iowa Press. Join Kay Henderson and guests for in-depth conversations on the issues shaping Iowa. Tune in Friday nights at 730 and Sundays at noon on Iowa PBS or stream online anytime. And that's not easy to do, coach, when you're a head coach and you delegate, but that is a sign of complete trust in the assistance that you have brought in.

And it's much easier as you've gotten older. You know, he's been at the helm for a while now, and you you recognize when you're that young go getter, you want to do everything yourself. But as the as time goes on, you recognize that I can't, you know, and and I've got to bring in good assistants and I have to let them do their thing. And every successful coach at high school, college level, they are like that. They may have one part that they are very passionate about, and they'll do a lot of instruction on, but by and large, they let their guys do their thing. So kudos to him.

Let's see how they handle this kick. And they are going to go short. And they're going to go near side. Good execution. Keeping the ball away from the duo of Mullenbach and Michels. And with a minute eight one time-out down two scores. Now an uphill climb for sophomore quarterback Porter Schwiesow.

Senior.

Well, this is where you look for the big play. We saw them hit it not too long ago to Mullenbach and they need another one of those and an onside.

Johanns and Michael's left two receivers right. They keep a back end for protection. They throw short little hitch pattern is caught by Mullenbach, tackled immediately by Alesch can make a case for him being one of the defensive MVP's today. He's been all over.

He certainly has. I'm surprised the Royals safeties aren't playing a little bit deeper.

Second down, they're looking for Mullenbach and he can't make the one handed grab. So close.

I thought he hauled it in for a moment. Boy, you had him mid on it. Pulled it in. Just wasn't able to keep it on his shoulder. Heck of a throw by Schwiesow.

Third down and five.

Well they got their isolation that they wanted there. And that's a great matchup with whoever you're going against. Is Mullenbach now the safeties backed off a little bit.

Third down pressure comes. They will throw into a crowd incomplete. They had three defenders with their radar locked on number two Korben Michels.

Yeah and that's tough. Michels receptions by and large come out of the backfield on swing. Passes on in fan patterns. They don't run him down the field against bodies very often.

One final opportunity for Saint Ansgar. And it comes down to this. They're going to pull off a miracle in the closing 40s. They need a first down and they won't get it. And let the party begin for MMCRU the incompletion, the Royals have taken care of business. In all of these communities consolidated their first trip to the state tournament.

And this is particularly special for the coaching staff of MMCRU Kyle Oswald in particular the head man. Not only does he get a win a title, but he gets to share it with his ten year old son for the last time that his son was in the dome was for the eight man title game, and his son, who has type one diabetes, spent some time in Children's Hospital in Omaha earlier this year. He's the water boy and this means an awful lot. His birthday was November 9th, so a birthday present for his son.

A late birthday gift. And we were talking about the trust with the diagnosis. His son was forced to go away for the diagnosis. So he talking. He Kyle the head coach was away from the team for an entire week.

It's so difficult to do. I knew is as a position or a coordinator, I had to leave a couple of times and how much that bothered me. Now, when you're preparing a team with the aspirations of an MMCRU have to leave your team. Of course you do it for your family, but you're in the back of your brain. You're thinking about football still, of course.

And this truly is an entire community celebration. You look at some of the coaches on the staff. Collin Youde, he was the head coach at Remsen Union during their Eight-Player days before they merged in with M.m.c.

Well, that tells you something about him, doesn't it? It really does. Able to take a back seat and to fill that role after being a head coach, takes a special person to be able to do that.

Gage Johnson tears of joy Saint Ansgar cannot stop the clock. Victory for Mason Harpenau will go down to a knee, and the final few moments of this one Kyle Oswald made it crystal clear to us last week. He says we have never won a state championship. I push back a little and said, you won two titles. 2012, 2015, he says. That wasn't us. That wasn't MMCRU. We are MMCRU and for the first time they have won a state title.

[APPLAUSE]

It's not as.

[APPLAUSE]

if Kyle Oswald has had all a bed of roses along the way. He was the head coach in the leanest of times in this football program. So you feel so good for a guy like that who brings his program out of the ashes and back to the pinnacle of high school football in the state title.

30 to 17, your final score in this one. The Royals never trailed. They jumped out 17. Nothing following the early turnovers by Saint Ansgar, the Saints came storming back in the second half, their defense creating turnovers. A long touchdown pass to Mullenbach. They had it down to a one possession game, but a couple of third down daggers in particular. The catch by Brayson Mulder, which sends MMCRU running into the end zone and running home with a state title.

Big players make big plays at big times. Right? And Mulder did. It helped propel his team to a title. He had a big day on the defensive side as well, with eight tackles and a few tackles for loss, but he was not alone. This is a full team effort on the part of the Royals. This was an outstanding collection of players and they are coached beautifully. We talked about their play selection early in the game. I think just they they all deserve a lot of credit and a great team won today. See the motions. of Kyle Mulder as well.

And congratulate these teams on their great season. The IHSAA Trophies and Awards program is possible because of the support of title sponsor, the Iowa Farm Bureau. Presenting today, runner up trophies are members of the Ihsaa Staff and Board of Control. Your state runner up finishes the 2025 season with a record of 12 and one through 25 playoff appearances. Please help us congratulate the student athletes, coaches and supporters from Saint Ansgar. And your class A state champion for the first time in school history, a championship in high school football. Winning record of 13 and oh third all time playoff appearance.

[APPLAUSE]

They get the championship. Congratulations, MMCRU you.

[APPLAUSE]

MMCRU presented the state championship trophy, a senior heavy team, 21 seniors in all and program that had back to back seven and three years. After going through as Jeremiah alluded to, some really tough times. This is a program that won only five times from 2018 through 2022. But times have changed and now they are state champs as we swing it down to Paul Yeager.

Hey, we got to get Brayson Mulder in front of his team. Hey, walk me through this championship. What's this feel like to host that trophy?

It's great. I mean, no better feeling. We knew this was going to be a tough game, but we worked hard for this and we came out ready. They hit us, we hit them, and we just hit harder. So we came out on top. It was a great game. Credit to them and credit to our team.

Tell me about these guys behind you and why they are giving you the business.

Right now. Behind me are my best friends. This senior class, 21 of us. I mean, we were ready for this moment since we started playing football. And these guys, we love each other. I mean, we just we just love it. And we did it in the end.

Awesome job offensively and defensively. Which one means more to you.

Today?

Defense. We knew they were a great offensive team. Great running back great running team. And we were trying to hold them and then execute on offense after that. And we did our job.

Congratulations. Great job.

Thank you coach.

We had a moment right before. He's going to address his team right here. Kyle Kyle Oswald here. Let's listen.

Yeah.

[APPLAUSE]

Hey right before the end of the game, you stepped away from the team just for a moment to collect yourself. What were you thinking? I'm thinking.

I wouldn't be in this position if I didn't have a great Lord and Savior that allowed it to happen. I've got great kids. I've got great, great coaches, and I've got a great God that allowed this to happen. That's it.

What's so special about these guys?

They play for each other. They didn't quit. There was a chance there where they could have got down and they put it on their backs. As a team, we didn't have to address one guy. We let led on all of them. They won MMCRU one. It's an amazing feeling. Thank you. Coach.

You go from a few wins to all the wins in one season. What does that mean?

It means that they trusted the process. They ended up getting the work done and they get enjoy it. Now they don't have to listen to me tell them we still got to get back to work. They can enjoy it. Finally.

Enjoy. Coach.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

That's coach Oswald. Let's go upstairs and finish this one off for us guys. Big happy times down here.

Yeah, certainly. So thank you very much Paul. And congratulations. Both of these teams. They both entered the dome unbeaten. But the state championship in 2025 goes to MMCRU. Congratulations to Kyle Oswald Jeremiah Longnecker. This is Shawn Kenney saying so long for now from Cedar Falls.

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