Class 2A — Van Meter Bulldogs vs. Kuemper Catholic Knights

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I like to have the when.

The sun rises on the final day of the Iowa High school football season, the UNI-Dome and Cedar Falls is setting for the 2025 Iowa High School Football championships. Van Meter peaking at the right time. Winners of seven straight ready to take on number one top ranked Carroll Kuemper and a pleasant good morning Shawn Kenney alongside former Iowa Hawkeye NFL veteran Pat Angerer. So great to have you with us, Pat. You look at the road to success for all of these teams. They take different paths. They play with different styles. These two teams contrasting styles on how they find victory.

Yeah, you got a Kuemper Catholic team that's very explosive, has a lot of athletes on offense, skill positions, and then you've got a Van Meter team that wants to grind it out. They want to be physical.

What I love about both these teams, they both play good defense and I love good defense. Sean.

You do love good defense. And we'll see plenty of it over the next couple of hours. In fact, all day, the first of three state championship games here inside the UNI-Dome, when you take a look at the offense and the starters today for Kuemper Catholic, we talked about contrasting styles. This is a Kuemper team that will throw the football all over the field. Brock Badding one of the top quarterbacks in the state. He has plenty of weapons. Three receivers that he goes to, two of them over 50 catches on the year. It's an experienced offensive line that gives him protection and they can run the football with Jaren Hoffman. Defensively, it's a little bit of a different strategy when you have an offense that puts up so more points, so they believe in the disruption and creating turnovers. They have forced 30 turnovers this year. The secondary is full of ball. Hawks players that are anxious to make plays. Braxton Vonnahme one of their top players along with Dylan Schon on the other side. For Van Meter, they want to come right at you. The Bulldogs play power football and this is a team that was sitting outside of even the playoffs not that long ago, but boy, they got hot at the right time. It's a proud program and Henry Lounsbury carries this team. They feed off the energy of him. The senior quarterback Christian Williams, one of the younger tailbacks in the state competition. Only a sophomore, he is coming off a 1000 yard season. They want to play downhill football defensively and they have two outstanding linebackers that will come downhill in a hurry. Tate Doggett playing really still with an injury that he sustained back in week three. Broke his wrist. Here he is back into the postseason.

So.

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Welcome back to the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. It's championship Friday. We've done this four times. We've got three more to go here on Friday morning here on Iowa PBS. Hello everybody. I'm Paul Yeager from above the field here at the UNI-Dome for the Iowa High School Athletic Association's football championships yesterday. Those four games were an Eight-Player class A overtime in one A, and then the Four-a under the lights. It's all free across Iowa and worldwide. Online. We are just minutes away from our first three championship games today. Class three A and five A at 7:00 tonight. First up it's Carroll Kuemper Knight as they take on Van Meter in the class two, a title game. Let's see how these teams made it to the last day. It's Osage Quinn Street. He finds Griffin. Hop in that two a semifinal. Green Devils up six. Nothing. Then it's Christian Williams into the end zone. The 1000 yard rusher on the season gets two more on that carry seven six. Then it's Williams again. 14 six. Van Meter Wilton and Kuemper Catholic eastern Iowa western Iowa in that one. That's Brooke Brock Badding finds Brayden Brayton Alford for a nine yard score. Then it's Hayden Hill from 12 yards out. Then check out this screen Badding to Vonnahme. 55 yards later and it's a score for the Knights. Then it's Badding again, this time to Griffin Glynn off the fingertips into the end zone. Kuemper advances 4921 into the title game here on Friday morning. The way we'll finish 2025. And just like most athletic events, we start with one thing and that is our national anthem. We're going to learn a little bit about our singer and then have the anthem and then oh, by the way, some football.

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You have to wise and Avi Bluth remove your hats and drink your attention towards the flag in the south end of the UNI-Dome as we honor America with the playing of our national anthem. Peyton Ricks is a senior at Rockford. Growing up in the Rockford Marble Rock School District, she's enjoyed singing and even to this day considers it one of her passions. She plans to attend Niacc to be a part of the music program and major in business administration. Here is Peyton Ricks with the singing of our national anthem.

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The White.

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By the.

Dawn's early light. What so proud we hail at the twilight's. Let me. Who broad stripes and bright stars through the bad old.

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O'er the rest. As we are worth. So can leave. Sing. And the rest is great.

Glade.

The bombs bursting.

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In. Gave proof.

Through the night. That our flag was still there O say, does that star spangled they.

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Wave. For the land.

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Of the free.

And the heart of the brave.

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Let's hear it for which.

Great job. There as. That's it. You know who the teams are? They've run out. There's Carroll Kuemper, you've seen Van Meter come out, which means it is time for championship football. The Bulldogs, the Knights next on Iowa PBS.

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Funding provided by.

Banking and Iowa goes beyond transactions. Banks work to help people in small businesses succeed, and Iowa banks are committed to building confident banking relationships. Iowa banks your partner through it all.

And by Fareway Meat and Grocery for more than 80 years, Fareway has been proud to be an active part of the communities we serve. Learn more at Fareway. Com.

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The sun rises on the final day of the Iowa high school football season. The UNI-Dome and Cedar Falls, the setting for the 2025 Iowa High school football championships. Van Meter peaking at the right time. Winners of seven straight. Ready to take on number one unbeaten Kuemper Catholic of Carroll. And a pleasant. Good morning Shawn Kenney alongside former Iowa Hawkeye NFL veteran Pat Angerer. So great to have you with us, Pat. The road to success for all of these teams is different. Even the playing style and what these two teams contrasting ways of finding victories.

You got a Kuemper Catholic team that's very explosive. They like to score with the ball in the air. They've got a ton of talent on offense, a ton of talent and skill positions. They've got a Van Meter program that's absolutely amazing. They're always in the finals. They're always doing really well. They like to grind it out, muddy it up, control the clock, control field position. We'll have most about both these teams. Schon they play good defense.

Yeah, they certainly do. And we will key in on that throughout the next couple of hours. What style is going to win out today as we take a look at the Kuemper starters. And this is a pass happy team. And they have one of the top quarterbacks not just in Two-a but across all of Iowa's classes in Brock Badding. He has thrown for close to 3000 yards this year. A couple of his receivers with over 50 catches and Brayton Alford and also Griffin Glynn. It's an offensive line that gives him time to throw the football and they can run it with junior tailback Jaron Hoffman. Defensively, when you have this high octane offense, it is a little bit of a different approach. They rely on the turnover and nobody's been better than the Knights this year. They have created 30 turnovers. It's a secondary full of playmakers, 23 interceptions. When you look at the back end of this defense, tremendous talent for Kuemper Catholic. It's old school football with Van Meter and they put a lot of their offense on the shoulders of Henry.

Asked in two runs right away. It is three.

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Keys of the game right now for Van Meter. Shorten the game with long physical drives. Keep the offense on the sideline. Wear them down. Pressure the QB and protect the middle field. Get to Brock Badding early. Now keys for Kuemper Knight. Turn into a track meet. Use the amazing weapons Van Meter make Van Meter one dimensional quick screen.

They get it to Griffin Glynn and he takes it all the way to midfield. 21 yards to Glenn, the junior and again they soften it up a couple of runs up the middle. Then they have the speed on the edge.

And that's what they do best. Just short quick easy passes and then watch him hit with a long bomb here to try to take a shot. Love their athleticism. Love their yards after catch too.

This is a team that has put up nearly 5000 yards of total offense this year. First down Badding is going to throw has a clean pocket crossing pattern. Caught up ahead to the 42 tackle by Adam Boeck.

That's the one thing that they're probably going to do a lot of is a lot of underneath crossers. Assuming that Van Meter is going to play man coverage, so do that underneath crossers. Get get get them confused in coverage.

No surprise. Good balance on this opening drive for head coach Ryan Steinkamp and Kuemper Knight. A couple of rushes for Hoffman. Badding has completed both of his passes and they are on the march. Early morning, as we kick off the weekend from Cedar Falls, second down Badding floats now lobs and this one is intercepted. Picked off by Van Meter Christian Williams the sophomore and a rare mistake for the senior quarterback.

Yeah he was rolling to the right and tried to throw back. That's usually tough when you try to throw backside Christian Williams. Their leading rusher leading tackler. What a stud out there. Having a heads up play and knowing where he's going. Great job reading the eyes by the defense. It was a good job flushing him out of the pocket and Christian Williams being right there to make the interception.

Second interception this year for Williams and now Van Meter in this offense. Williams the starting tailback, a 1000 yard rusher. Head coach Eric Trudo told us they are going to have to create turnovers to have a chance, and they dial up the game's first takeaway as Henry Lounsbury running over the right side. He is Van Meter do it all quarterback. Just a hard nosed competitor.

And that's one of the things that they're going to need to lean on right now is Lounsbury legs. Kuemper had a little bit of trouble. Not a lot, but a little bit of trouble in the semis with a running quarterback.

Lounsbury a dual threat quarterback, exceptional soccer player as well.

Hey, soccer's a real sport. I'm a soccer stud. Don't tell anybody. All right?

You're a striker.

Oh, yeah, I got tired, so I had to play striker.

Second down in motion. This is Blevins. And they're going to go that direction. They swing it out top Watson makes one defender miss and he takes it on to the Kuemper side to the 47 Van Meter with their first first down.

That's a great job. Just a quick easy throw. Getting confidence in the quarterback was a good block by the receivers. Allowed him to get upfield and make it a play.

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This is a program that at one point was outside of the playoff talk. They were sitting with two losses midway through the year, but they never panicked. They continued to ride out a couple of injuries. They moved some parts and pieces around strategically, offensively and defensively. And here they are in the state championship.

It just shows the type of kids they have. They've got gritty, tough kids that aren't going to give up and continue to fight, and they do such a good job with this program and the culture that they create, and they bring the right kids in there.

Second down, quarterback keeper bouncing it wide to the 40. Up ahead to the 3511 yards for Lounsbury. And Xavier Van Meter. You could not have scripted a better start right now.

100%. You needed to get a turnover right off the bat. And you know Lounsbury is going to be huge with those legs. The guy can do it all. I'm sure he's heard a lot about how great the other quarterback is, and I'm sure he wants to prove himself tonight. And he's doing a really good job so far.

Lounsbury has a future in college football. It's still undecided, and his position that he will play still undecided. He's thinking as a kicker or punter he has a tremendous leg, but he runs this offense as he hands it off on the jet sweep. This is Watson and he goes down. Just lost his footing as he got ready to make a cut.

Yeah, sometimes that turf can get a little slippery. You're telling me I fell down a lot? I think I made a living falling down on the turf, but it was a great job by the receivers of Van Meter. Blocking on the outside. They do such a good job of that. They're tough and they're physical.

I recall a different version. I think you made a living making other guys fall down on the turf.

Well, if they fell down on top of me, it still counted as a tackle.

Second down and eight. Two receivers left receiver comes split near side. They will hand the ball off. Gaping hole. Initially for Christian Williams as he cuts his way to the 28.

That was a great job by the left guard in the center you got Austin Croat Noah Jones really good job up front opening that hole for the running back. It's a big third down here. This would be really huge for the Van Meter offense.

Kuemper Knight defense looking for a stop. Third down and four high snap goes over the head. Still bouncing and forced to eat. A huge loss. Back to the 41 yard line. No choice there for Lounsbury. Jack Badding made sure he stayed down.

Yeah, it was tough just to just a high snap, but he did a good job of he did a good job of getting on the ground, getting the ball live to fight another day. And obviously they'll they'll try to pin him back here on this punt.

Gifford awaiting the punt. Talked about Lounsbury one of the top punters kickers in Class 2A. He will try to pin Kuemper Catholic deep end Overing kick bounces inside the five and Van Meter save it. They did not. It crossed the plane for the touchback on a 40 yards, a net of just 20 and Lounsbury very close.

Yeah, really great effort. You know what I what I think is really special about about Van Meter is that their quarterbacks, their punter, that's that's a dangerous thing to have from a defensive perspective because you can run any play in your punt formation.

We've seen them do that a couple of times. As we watched the film and Eric Trudo always has been a creative coach throughout his time 21st year on the sideline for Van Meter, the Simpson College graduate, 192 career wins, second offensive series for Kuemper. Let's see how Badding bounces back. They will hand it off and this time Van Meter had the the hole completely plugged up.

What a job by Cody Deemer running down the line of scrimmage making a play. What a lot of people don't know. He's a freshman. Big number 90 is a freshman. He's got two pick sixes this year.

Not too often you see it. A body like that as a freshman slide into the starting role of a perennial power like Van Meter just speaks volumes of the type of athlete he is.

100%.

Second down and ten twin set each side for Badding straight drop pressure comes little jump pass. That was a lateral pass. And again we see the turf monster come up. That's twice now in this first quarter Hoffman slips and Kuemper working behind the sticks.

That's a great job. By Andrew Boeck staying in coverage, keeping his eyes on his coverage and coming downfield and making that tackle. Otherwise it could have been tough. Sometimes that ball sneaks out there. Defense is usually in trouble.

Kuemper has been an exceptional third down team all year. Line to get is the 30 yard line delayed linebacker blitz with Williams lofting downfield. Receiver can't locate it. He was streaking down the seam, but Easton Gifford never saw the football as Badding showcased his arm strength.

Yeah, he can throw the ball. You know, I think what really rushed him a little bit was we had the Van Meter had a blitz going. It looked like he had him wide open down the middle field. I just don't think I don't think he could see it in the ceiling unfortunately. Or the glare off my bald head that comes into effect sometimes up here in the booth.

That was Christian Williams who came on the linebacker blitz, who got to Badding just in the nick of time to throw off his timing with the home run hitter. Easton Gifford. So fourth down, Badding still in the shotgun. And we have a delay of game as the play clock expired.

12 five yard penalty. Fourth down.

So this is a situation as you watch Kuemper throughout the year. They will keep bailing out there in the shotgun just like you were talking about with Lounsbury. Just to give the the defense another extra pill to to think about.

Yeah that little quick punt it makes it tough on. Do you send a guy back or do you not. Right.

Line drive. Kick this one handled by Van Meter. And getting to the outside is Blevins good. Return Blevins still on his feet, 24 yards on the return and the Bulldogs terrific starting position.

That was a great job by Blevins setting it up the middle of the field and then getting to the outside. You know, it's tough on those short kicks because he catches it. And there's probably maybe 15 or 20 yards before the the defender. So he's able to get upfield and get outside very quickly.

Second offensive series for Eric Trudo and Van Meter. Joel Schultes and the defensive line for Kuemper. Ready to go to work. First down and ten. Williams the back. They move the pocket. Lounsbury tucked it in pretty quickly. He was determined he was going to take off on that. Really never gave any of his receivers time to get open.

That was a great job by that Kuemper defense, not allowing him to get upfield and and making that just a short little gain. Good job by that.

D-end Maguire Hoyt the five seven, 165 pound senior who has really stepped up. Kuemper took a knee injury earlier this year when Chase cook tore his ACL back in the second game of the year, and it was Maguire Hoyt who saw his reps dramatically increase and he has responded. Played really good football. Second down and nine and Williams is tackled right as he was given the football. Jack Badding blowing up that party.

That was a huge play by Jack Badding timed out the blitz perfectly, was able to knife through there and get him for a loss. Reads it really well. Knifes through there, keeps his shoulders square and makes the open field tackle.

Badding has been one of the main disrupters, second on the team in sacks that time, a TfL and it's third down.

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They roll left with Lounsbury. He'll throw on the run near the sideline, but they're going to be short of the first down. It's caught diving catch right at the 20 and this will set up a fourth down for the Bulldogs.

That was a great job. By Lounsbury right handed quarterback sprinting out to his left, throwing the ball on the dime. Now I think they probably called a stick route. Tried to get to the sticks, but unfortunately he wasn't able to get there. But just a really good throwing catch. It was a good job by the Kuemper defense not getting beat deep and covering everybody downfield.

They are easily within the range of Lounsbury, but they are going to keep the offense out there. Eric Trudo says. Let's send an early statement. Heavy tight end package 13 personnel, quarterback power and Kuemper comes up with the stop Charles Mayhall drilling Lounsbury and a team known for their offense, relying on their defense in this first quarter.

100%. They controlled the line of scrimmage right there. Everybody shot gaps. It was a great job. By Charles Mayhall not missing that Lay-up really good shot by him. You see him using his hands, getting upfield, hitting him with his chest and 3 or 4 guys running the ball. Super impressive by that Kuemper defense. A lot of defense in this game. Both these teams we talk about offense.

They knew you were in the booth.

It.

You got to believe Eric Trudo is thinking I need touchdowns not field goals today. Over the course of this football game to beat Kuemper 100%.

You know they're going to get some shots and great play right there. By by Christian Williams. It seems like he just is all over the field. Whether it's on offense or defense. Super impressed by him.

Christian Williams on that tackle.

Second down and eight. Quick moving first quarter. Each team has had the ball twice. Third offensive series for Kuemper. They have punted and then picked off by Williams on the opening drive. Four man front for Van Meter. They run a stunt on second down and there was penetration right out of the Bay that time by Keaton Mennen, and he drove his offensive lineman 2 or 3 yards in the backfield.

You always want to teach these young de Lima to use your hands, use your hands and shed blockers. And he does a really good job right there. Use his hands and shed the blocker making a really good play.

Mennen him one of the players. There's a host of players for Van Meter that want to continue to play football once they graduate next spring. Still looking at his options. Third down and ten, they get rid of it quickly. Far side Vonnahme with his first touch, has some work to do and unable to get to the sticks. Lasso down at the 28 by Mennen once again.

And Mendez all over the field is a great job by Van Meter running the ball Vonnahme I didn't look like that was going to be much of a gain, and he almost got a first down there. Great effort by him. And this is where having that quick kick comes into handy. You don't know whether he's going to kick it or whether he's going. They're going to go for it on fourth down.

Yeah. Van Meter keeps the safety up. So there is nobody back. And this ball might roll all the way back to western Iowa. Hopping inside the 25. And Alford will try to give it a couple extra inches as he finally touches it. And it's a punt of 50 yards. And that is why head coach Ryan Steinkamp goes with this style of punt.

Yeah, 100%. And it's you know, if you bring the if you bring the safety back to return it, well then they're just probably going to run a play. I'm sure they've got checks to do that. And it's definitely a great thing that they have that opportunity to to have that in their offense.

Look at the early numbers in this football game. Four Van Meter Lounsbury has completed both of his passes for 16 yards, also leading the rushing attack. Four carries, 14 yards. Let's see if they try to get their 1000 yard rusher ignited on this drive. Christian Williams flanking Lounsbury to his left. He's a decoy. Lounsbury pressured hit as he throws and it's intercepted. Picked off by Alford. Each team with a takeaway and Kuemper will have it first down at the Van Meter 23.

Once again, Charles Mayhall getting pressure on the quarterback, forcing a bad throw and Kuemper making a play in these games. These these situations are so huge. And obviously you look at hey settle in for for punting on that fourth and two. Put them back in field goal in bad position. They're back on their own end and then you get an interception. Now you're in great position. Things really went Kemper's way on that one.

We started at the top of the show talking about this defense opportunistic. They play such excellent complementary football. They're 24th interception this year and that is tops in the state.

That's unbelievable.

For Alford. It's his sixth pick this year. First down from the 24. They bring those linebackers again and running by them. Jarin Hoffman snowed under at the 21.

Yeah just a good inside run. You know they're spreading them out to the outside and they're trying to run up to the inside. It was a good job. The linebackers coming in there making a play.

See if Kuemper wants to run another play. If they're going to let this clock wind down. Looks like they say let's switch ends. And it's a stalemate. After 12 minutes of football. First of three title games inside the UNI-Dome Class 2A top ranked Kuemper Catholic and Van Meter. Each team with a takeaway. Kuemper will have it deep in Van Meter territory. When we come back. Bulldogs and Knights on a Friday from Cedar Falls.

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Paul Yeager here on a short break to speak with Jim Pledge. He's president and CEO of Bank of Iowa and West Des Moines. So, Jim, tell me why Iowa Banker 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 and 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. All right. Let's get back to the game.

Every year at the Athletic Association championships, the Iowa Bankers Association honor student athletes who excel on the field and in the classroom. Also in the communities with a Student Athlete Achievement award and a $1,000 college scholarship. The 2025 winner for the Class 2A is Alex Nguyen from PCM High School in Monroe, presenting. The award is Karen Steenhoek from the vision Bank in Mitchellville. Congratulations, Alex, and thank you to Karen and the Iowa Bankers Association for supporting this award.

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Alongside Pat Angerer, Shawn Kenney, welcome you back to Cedar Falls, Ryan Steinkamp 2008 Kemper grad and his sixth season 42 and 19. He played football for Carroll. Kemper went on to play college football as a linebacker at Central College for Jeff McMartin, one of the active wins leader in Division three, the job he does each and every year down in Pella and Russell Steinkamp brought a lot of his same philosophies with him back home to Carroll.

And you can tell he played linebacker because he's super good looking and really smart, and he's doing a great job. So most middle I'm sure he played middle linebacker too. You know that's where they put the good looking smart guys.

Linebackers have the best beards don't they.

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Yeah yeah.

Second down as we begin quarter number two scoreless. Each team has coughed it up once. Brock Badding moving. The pocket. Pressure comes. He will throw a strike first down. That is a tough throw. And he put it right in the basket.

That's a really tough a tough catch. You know I almost thought that he was running a wheel. But he ended up just staying to the outside and had a lot of pressure on him to make that tough throw. And moving to his left. That shows a lot of arm strength by Brock.

Another youngster for Kemper and Ryan Lucas 34th catch this year for the six foot, 210 pound sophomore. Inside the red zone for the first time, Badding looks. He will loft it back of the end zone just beyond the outstretched arms he was looking for Glenn.

Yeah, almost like he was throwing up a jump ball there. Throwing up a jump ball there. But man, he got up really high. You want to talk about dunking the ball? I'm sure he doesn't have any problem doing that. But what maybe forced that high throw was the fact that Van Meter sent two guys and pressured him and forced him to throw it a little bit too high.

Yeah. You mentioned the ups for Griffin Glynn. He's an excellent high jumper and he nearly showcased that skill set on that last play. Second down and ten Badding flushed throws on the run nearside, but this one falls incomplete. Looking for Lucas again.

Yeah just an out route. Good job. By the Van Meter back end covering everybody up. Tate Doggett linebacker doing a really good job forcing him to the only way he could catch that ball is if he was out of bounds.

Well.

What do you like here, Pat? If you're Kemper.

If I'm Kemper, I'm sending pressure. Up. Make forcing that quick throw sending pressure. But obviously it's a little bit dangerous sending pressure here because they've got such a talented receiving corps.

A couple of receivers with over 50 catches this season. Another who has over 40 and then a fourth receiver, and Lucas, who has over 30. Pick your poison with all the weapons. They dump it underneath, making the catch at the ten, staying on his feet to the five. Touchdown Charles Mayhall 14 yards. Kemper on the board.

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Yeah, just rolling to his right. Great. Out. Route to Mayhall. Didn't look like he was possibly going to get the first down, but broke the tackle. Kept his feet moving. Good blocking downfield by the receivers. He gets to the end zone.

So we.

Talk about all the weapons you have Alford, you have Glynn. You have Vonnahme. You have Lucas and then you have Charles Mayhall with his third catch of the season, right?

Super impressive to have. And Mayhall, you know, had a force that interception earlier in the game.

Mayhall adds the point after he has been a busy kicker this year with all the points and touchdown passes that Brock Badding has thrown for Badding, his 37th touchdown toss, a five play, 24 yard drive, they take advantage of the interception Mayhall with a second touchdown catch of the season seven nothing.

Kemper and you're looking at here Xavier Van Meter you're looking at hey we need to put together a long drive. We need to do what we do best. We need to grind it out. You don't want this thing to start turning into a track meet. You want this to turn into a wrestling match.

The third quarter?

Yeah. You hit it on the button. When you look at number 15 there, Charles Mayhall pretty much responsible for that last touchdown. He set it up with the big hit that forced the interception. And then he takes care of business. Getting lost in the secondary scoring the touchdown. And then he even adds the point after for good measure. Drew Rhodes awaiting the kick from Mayhall seven. Nothing. Kemper. Top scoring offense in the state. Finding the end zone for the first time. Short kick from the ten. Past the 20 to the 26 yard line.

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Taking a venture with Iowa PBS on road trip. Iowa. Join host Brooke Kohlsdorf as we travel to states, highways and scenic byways exploring the history, culture and natural beauty along the way. Road trip Iowa Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., Saturdays at 9 a.m. on Iowa PBS or stream online anytime. Really important drive for Van Meter. Let's see if they can. I still think they need to get Christian Williams established in this offensive line, but he is having a tough go at it, especially when you have penetration like that. There was no chance that was Coppock who blew it up.

Just a great job knifing through there. Make. It look like he ended up getting blocked into it and it was a good job knifing through there, winning the battle against the center. Nothing was there. There was nothing that Christian Williams could have done on that play.

Fourth possession for Van Meter and they have netted only 24 yards. Some late switching up front receiver in motion. Lounsbury out to the flat. They go with Williams who makes the catch and he is tripped up. Good open field tackle by Theodore Perkins and story of this game so far has been the Kuemper defense, and they have been wreaking havoc. They are balanced and they can hit you in a number of different ways. Badding and company leading the charge.

Yeah, he's done a really great job. They're just flying around playing. You know I think they've got explosive players obviously talk about offensively, but they've got some explosive players on defense. Those guys play both ways. They're good on offense. Good on defense. So props and much respect to both the teams. Both the defenses have been doing a really good job.

Van Meter looking to convert on third down for the first time. Zero for two today. Lounsbury swings it out trying to hit his receiver in stride, but there was Griffin Glynn and the Bulldogs will be forced to punt.

Yeah, Griffin Glynn Brayton Alford two really great reads on that play and and forced them to not get anything upfield.

Taylen Alford as they come after it and they get to the punter. But it was tipped. The ball was partially blocked. So you're allowed to have contact with the punter. Turns out to be a 37 yard punt, but Kuemper fortunate they got a piece of it with Taejen Speltz.

That was a great job by Lounsbury actually just getting the ball off even. And two keeping his knee off the ground as well. I thought that was going to be way worse, but he did a good job getting it off.

Coppock, I believe, was the one who got a hand on it. Partially blocked it.

It's an impressive rush by him. If you can, you can put pressure on the punter. That's that makes it a real dangerous game.

Brock Badding found his rhythm on the last offensive drive. Five of nine for 56 yards, and he will throw near side wide open. Boy, nobody close to Ryan Lucas. He is dragged down. Hand got up there from the defender. Adam Boeck got the hand underneath the pads. It'll be a first down and then some more additional yards tacked on.

Yeah it's unfortunate. You know he's just trying to make a tackle and sometimes you just grab you grab whatever you can to bring him down. And I don't think there was anything mean about it.

13 yards on the completion.

15 yards from the end of the run. Results. First down.

So 13 on the completion to Lucas and then the horse collar tackle will add an additional 15 yards and Kuemper Catholic just like that at the Van Meter 39.

[APPLAUSE]

What's interesting, Pat, when you look at Kuemper in the areas of the field, they are attacking, it's the wide side and the short throws right now.

They've got those those skill guys. They want to put their talent and their speed in with a lot of space.

They hand the ball off. Nice patient run by Hoffman waiting for a hole to open up. And it eventually did. Christian Williams coming in from his linebacker position bringing him down, but not before a good surge and Hoffman picks up five.

Yeah, talk about him attacking the field. And they go up and they attack the A gap. That's what's so impressive with this team. You talk about their pass game but they also can run with it really well as well too.

Hoffman spins every hour of the day. They tell me in the weight room he just loves pumping the iron.

You can tell he plays really hard.

Second down, back to back calls and he hit that hole with a purpose, plows his way up ahead to the 25 following the center Preston Vonnahme and a first down for Kuemper as they approach the red zone.

Yeah, it was just a great job being physical with that. That O-line, they're doing a really good job opening up holes and Jarin Hoffman he hits. It really hard.

Hoffman a comeback story. He was injured last year, so he missed all of wrestling and track season. Recovering from the injury. He plans on returning back to the mat well as soon as they're done this weekend. Wrestling season has already started, so he will stay busy. Here comes Van Meter and they timed it perfectly. That was Tate Doggett who shot the hole and he could not have timed it any better.

Tate Doggett that was so huge and it was so open to where you were kind of you were kind of worried that he was going to outrun it, but he did such a good job coming down, coming down the line of scrimmage, keeping his shoulders square, put his chest on him and making a tackle.

Eighth tackle for loss this year for Doggett. Keep in mind who missed some time this year with an injury? It's no coincidence once he came back, this team started winning football games 100%.

He had a huge game in the semifinals, got an interception there toward the end to give him that go ahead touchdown to kind of seal it.

Second down Badding hit throws and he has his man little hook pattern at the 21 Badding was feeling the heat. Good catch there by Glynn. Sets up a manageable third down.

That's a great job by the guys in the back end. Keeping the ball in front of you. I thought that ball was up in the air too much to where it was going to get going to get picked off. What this does, though, is this puts this puts Van Meter or this this puts Kuemper Catholic into more of a manageable third down here than they were into.

Kuemper. Right at 50% in this first half. Two of four on third downs. One thing Van Meter is doing is they're making him methodically work it down the field. As Van Meter uses a time-out.

Time-out Van Meter their first of the half.

[APPLAUSE]

For over 50 years, market to market has been the news and commodity market information source for anyone who lives and works in rural America. Join host Paul Yeager every Friday night at 8 p.m., Sundays at 12:30 p.m. for market to market. The Weekly Journal of Rural America or stream online anytime. Tell you what. Paul can do it all here. He is helping us out with the state football broadcast. We hear him throughout the course of the year. And other sports and Market to Market guy.

The man is a legend. He's got the face and the voice for it.

A Kemper offense, one of the top octane offenses in the state right now, 125 total yards. Van Meter taken away the explosive play and they have a plan. Keep everything in front. Hope to disrupt them on first and second down.

Yeah they've done a good job of that. You know unfortunately you know when they scored their touchdown it was just short field position. There was really not a lot that they could do. And they had them had them balled up on third down. They were just able to escape. But they've done a good job. They've both played really hard. Both the defenses have done tremendous with blitzes, have been timed up really well and they've played a really clean game. I thought both, I think both these teams have played a really clean game, which you can tell that they're well coached.

Eric Trudo has spent all 28 years of his educational career with Van Meter. He was an assistant to his predecessor, Rick Roberts, who he calls a dear friend. The longtime coach back in the day for Van Meter, hoping his defense can come up with a stop. Third down and seven. Badding will again hit the flats. That's the area that's open and a first down. It's Ryan Lucas. He has been the favorite target today. They continue to attack those same areas. The vulnerable spot of the Van Meter defense.

Yeah. The one thing you're playing you're playing man to man coverage. And if you want to confuse man to man coverage, you have crossers. So you line up in a bunch. The guys are on the same level. They're going to end up essentially blocking themselves. So it's almost a Pick route just based on formation.

Good collision there between the two tailbacks, Williams and Hoffman, as junior running back and now Kuemper for the first time will go a little bit of tempo. We haven't seen this and it's going to work. Jared Hoffman touchdown 67 yard drive. Hoffman finishes it off with his 22nd rushing touchdown this year.

That's a really impressive drive by Kuemper Catholic. You know a lot a lot of runs up the middle. And they hit it to the outside. They're keeping the Van Meter defense guessing. Super impressive by them. Just your inside run here. Simple A-gap power on power big on big. And Kuemper ended up winning that one.

Good kick out block by Ryan Lucas. Offensive line sealing it, opening up the hole. And it's a seven. Play, 67 yard drive two minutes 59 seconds off the game clock. Mayhall with the point after and Van Meter in some trouble. All of a sudden down 14. This isn't an offense built to come from behind from from large margins.

Yeah, you can tell Kuemper has gained a lot of confidence right now. And they've obviously they've got the momentum. So you're hoping to to do something here at least come out of this drive with points. You want to get something before half.

Stay connected with Iowa PBS sports, no matter where you're watching from. Join the conversation. Follow us on Facebook and X and use hashtag Iowa PBS sports to enjoy the championships with all the fans across the state.

[MUSIC]

Class 2A State Championship. The first of three games, a balanced attack Ryan Steinkamp dialed up 12 rushes, 12 passing attempts.

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They've scored on their last two possessions, and some of the flow that they had throughout the course of the year. An unblemished season. They have stayed perfect throughout the year and this was the season they were pointing to a couple of years ago. They knew they had the parts and the pieces to really make a deep run.

Yeah, and like coach said, all these coaches that we talked about, they said we've got very coachable kids that bought in and they're self motivated. And and coach talked about Kuemper being the same way. Very oh.

Two players colliding ball loose. It's picked up and making the most of it. Pretty good job here. By Blevins to get positive yards. He returns it to the 24. Check that. That's Drew Rhodes. Excuse me. He collided with Blevins and near disaster for Van Meter.

You know it's interesting sometimes when that happens, people collide or the ball gets dropped a little bit on a on a return. Everybody on the kickoff coverage team kind of eases up a little bit. And you kind of saw it there. We were able to at least gain something out of nothing and get to the 25.

What's the key here? I mean, you've been on sidelines where things aren't going your way. How do you regroup the troops and get them back focused?

Well, you keep playing. You got to keep playing. And you got to understand. Hey, we do our job, we'll be just fine.

Hole opens up and shooting through, and that's one way to get it done. Use direction and change of direction as a decoy there. And then you hit the quick hitter over the quarterback right side for close to a first down nine yards.

And that's what they do a really good job of with that motion and getting Lounsbury the ball. And you want to talk about this team overcoming adversity. They had two losses by week five. You know this team is now here in the state finals. So much respect to them. These kids know how to fight and they know how to keep moving.

Second down and short they will go right back with the keeper. This time he's tripped up by Lucas Diehl.

What a great play by Lucas Diehl, especially having a big boy at D tackle. Be able to make a play on the outside off tackle, chase down the quarterback. Super impressive.

Lucas Diehl is your type of guy? He set a USA weightlifting record earlier this year in the national championships. He earned the title at the U17 National Championships with a new American record in the clean and jerk at 372 pounds. He is a loaded Van Meter will move the pile quarterback, keeper and a first down for the Bulldogs up to the 37 yard line. That is their first third down conversion today.

It came a good, good time there. They're moving the ball here getting a first down that's huge for them. Should be huge confidence. And it's been on. It's been behind Lounsbury's legs. He's done a good job extending plays and getting the ball downfield.

They pitch it to Williams running to the boundary side runs into the back of one of his blockers and he makes the most of really minimal real estate up ahead to the 43.

Yeah, definitely want to get Williams going here more. Want to want to be in the positions too. We got to get ahead on first and second down so they can be in positions to to score. And what an awesome job by the Kuemper defense. Just running to the ball playing extremely hard, flying around keeping it in front of you. They are very vicious and violent. Super impressed by them.

Second down they sprint out. Watson Williams had to take a detour once given the football, and that was because Lucas Diehl again was into the backfield and a third down for Van Meter.

And Lucas Diehl in that front four. They are tremendous. Those guys are physical and tough and getting off blocks and penetrating extremely hard and super impressed with them. And linebackers are downhill.

The American record holder for U-17, 372 pounds and clean.

A back hurts just thinking.

About it. Oh it does. He's going to try to plug the hole here as Lounsbury looked like a read option RPO maybe as he kept his eyes downfield, he will run it up to the 45 and a decision for Eric Trudo. Do you roll the die and risk field position or do you rely on your defense to get a stop? And it looks like he is going to send out the punting unit?

Yeah, I think that's the smart play. You don't want to put them in good field position. You trust your defense here. So yeah live to fight another day here. You're going to have opportunities hopefully to get some points on the board.

[APPLAUSE]

Lounsbury and it's a fake. They snap it to the Upback and Kuemper was ready. They snapped it directly to Williams. Trudeau rolling the die with special teams trickery and Kuemper says no not on our watch.

Wow. Yeah. Trying to find ways to get Williams the ball. You know I get it. And trying to get him off to heal. It's it's tough to it's tough to defend. And it looked like there was a hole that opened up really well. And the Kuemper punt return team did a good job coming downhill and filling that hole and stopping them on fourth down.

Well, be ready now. Often times you will see after a quick change of possession, you take a shot downfield and you have the top quarterback in two way first down and ten change of possession at the 46. Nope. They're going to stay strict with this quick passing game. And it's working 39 yard line. It's a gain of seven to Vonnahme.

And Vietnam is just such a good athletic player I don't think he goes down without making 3 or 4 moves. It seems like. And he can gain 1 or 2 yards out of really nothing. And that was just a good route by him getting getting to the sticks, coming back, making a play and getting pretty close to the first down.

The Ben-Ami brothers, both Preston and Braxton, a familiar name for many, not just in western Iowa.

Yeah, we got a good, good Ben-Ami at Iowa. Good tight end player. Really impressed by watching him play.

Second down. Badding under duress and he is forced to throw it away. He was wrapped up by Steinfeldt and a really smart play. Steinfeldt had him looked like he might slam him, but he backed off at the last second.

Yeah, it was a good it's hard to back off. It's trust me, I've I've done some unfortunately illegal things back in the day. You know, when you can't lay off a quarterback, once you get your hands on him, it's hard to hard to let go. But it was a super impressive job by him not doing anything illegal.

You played in an era when they let you have some fun with quarterbacks.

Yeah, yeah, and it's funny because even the era before us, they would call the era we played soft. So it just continues. So true.

Third down and three as we approach two minutes to go in this first half. And we have a stoppage, I think there was some movement.

False start offense number one five-yard penalty still third down.

All for not quite getting set. The receiver for Kuemper. Penalty will push it back to the 45.

Yeah that's tough. You know they were in a pretty manageable third and short. Now they've kind of got a tough tough little distance to go through. It looks like it was a receiver that ended up jumping on that one.

Second penalty of the first half. For Ryan Steinkamp squad. Third down and eight. Van Meter needs a stop here. Badding looking deep, looking for Alford just beyond the streaking senior as he had a step on the defender. Badding frustrated he missed the opportunity and that's a huge stop for the Bulldog defense.

Yeah. Holden Buse they just ran a they ran a wheel route and it was a really good job by him staying with that, keeping your hands on him, making sure there was really nowhere for him to to catch the ball.

We say they have come up with a stop, but again with Badding he is going to read how Van Meter is going to play it this time. The Bulldogs have sent a return man back at the ten, so Badding looking over a ten man defense. In essence, right now. Fourth down and he will pooch kick it. But we have a whistle and a time-out taken by Kuemper.

Time out. Kuemper Catholic their first of the half.

Steenkamp wanted to take a look at it and he uses the time-out from artists and dreamers to everyday Iowans with inspiring stories. Explore what makes our state shine on Iowa life. Join host charity Neb Tuesdays at 630, Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on Iowa PBS or stream online anytime.

[MUSIC] [APPLAUSE]

Alongside Pat Angerer Shawn Kenney with you from the UNI-Dome entertaining first half. Badding with a touchdown pass. Hoffman has a touchdown run. Alford with an interception for Kuemper. This defense, working on the shutout, fourth down and eight. Van Meter trying to get the football back one more time before halftime.

Yeah, for sure. And it'll be interesting to see you know did they call the time-out. Are they going to do something a little tricky here. Did they see something on the on the defensive standpoint. Or are they just trying to give their guys a breather for a long defensive stand.

Van Meter is not going to change up their strategy. They still have a return man back. They think they're going to punt it. Steenkamp told us he has given Badding the freedom to make some reads on his own. And now Trudeau, uncomfortable he is going to use the Time-out chess match begins.

Just a little chess match. Absolutely. So yeah, it'll be interesting to see now. Now what? I would just going to regularly punt it and nothing too crazy here.

State football championships this week in Cedar Falls. But take a look at what's coming up. Only on Iowa PBS. Take a look at this schedule. It all starts with girls wrestling in early February. February 6th, and the boys state championship on the 21st. Always a spectacle in Des Moines. One of my favorite weeks of the year. Girls basketball. March 6th and seventh, and then the boys state basketball tournament a week later. In mid-March. All of the action, all available for you right here on Iowa PBS.

And that's so awesome. We talked about both of us growing up watching wrestling on PBS, and just how great it is to have it back. I wasn't a great wrestler. I think if you wanted to win, you would wrestle me. So you get a win on your record. But it's one of my favorite sports and I'm excited to be able to tune in a lot more this year.

Yeah, the history of the sport in this state, it goes back a long way in the history, coincides with the incredible coverage throughout the years from Iowa. PBS, Eric Trudo Ryan Steinkamp each utilizing a time-out. Van Meter has brought the safety up. So what does Kemper do? We'll punt it inside the ten, inside the five, and terrific job. They will knock it down at the four. That's how you do special teams. Vonnahme saved it. Griffin Glynn touched it inside the five.

What a great effort by Braxton Vonnahme just keeping making sure his body doesn't get into that end zone and kicking that ball back out. That is all grit and toughness. And that man is fast. For him to be able to get down there like that and make that play is, is very tremendous and impressive.

That is twice on these little I call them pooch punts with the quarterback in the shotgun. That's twice he has dictated field position and pinned Van Meter deep.

It's nice to be able to have that weapon, to be able to have a quarterback that can do that and that quick punt, that quick kick, it's it's a it's a danger. It's it's a good tool for them to have on their team.

First touching was at the four yard line. First down Van meter.

Well this changes things for Trudeau. An offense that has had a tough time stopping and slowing down the penetration from the front four. For Kemper, this is a dangerous, dangerous part of the field. In the closing minutes of a first half.

100% it is. You're probably going to just try to run it up the middle as fast as you can, and hopefully everything goes well.

They will hand the ball off and slithering over the right side. Not much daylight, but getting up near the ten. Pretty good push. Keep in mind Van Meter will get the football to start the second half.

Just a good simple off tackle run. Great push by the right side of the O-line. Super competitive and super tough line of scrimmage battle here. We're seeing by both these teams.

Kemper can get a stop here and force a third down. Don't be surprised to see them use a Time-out. Lounsbury will keep it. Won't have to worry about that. He's into the second wave. Lounsbury up to the 21 yard line, a gain of 12 brought down by Gifford.

Just a QB, power off tackle, QB power and a really good job by the pullers running through.

Lounsbury has been the most effective rusher. Dangerous throw the wide throw all the way across the field. One of the more difficult throws in a quarterback's arsenal.

That's a tough, dangerous throw, and Griffin Glynn made a really good read on that and almost picked it off. And if he would have picked that off, he would have had six.

Kemper has a couple of pick sixes this year from the secondary. They nearly had a third.

[APPLAUSE]

Second down from the 22 yard line. They go bunch formation to the right. Lounsbury over the weak side. Takes it to the 28. Good one on one tackle made by the Kemper defender and Jack Badding.

Yeah, another quarterback power right there. They they seem to be coming back to that play. We'll see what they're setting up off of that.

And now Kemper is going to use the Time-out.

Time out Kuemper Catholic their second of the half.

So they will have one remaining. And I brought it up on the couple of plays prior thinking that, okay, if we get Badding the football one more time, we have a good field goal kicker. Let's try to get a few more points. So they're thinking their defense can come up with a stop here.

Yeah, yeah I mean it's I love the aggressiveness I love the call. Hey it gives your kids confidence to like hey we're playing. We're going to get the ball back. We want to score for them to think that for the kids to think that is, is super impressive. It's good leadership by their coach.

Well.

Hopefully you took today off work because we have a great schedule coming up for you throughout the course of the day. And then we close it all out later tonight. Three more state champions to be crowned here inside the UNI-Dome. We'll be back at 1:00 today with Class 3A. And then we finish up tonight. Liberty and Dowling. Prime time football Friday night from the dome. Third down and four. Shotgun Williams to his left. It's a designed draw all the way. Lounsbury scooting outside and he will pick up the first down. Then he lost the football. It was punched from the backside. Mayhall Johnny on the spot after Perkins popped it out.

Man. And it was a great call by the Van Meter offense there. Everything seemed to be working out, but Kuemper Catholic runs the ball. They run the ball, they keep fighting. That was a really huge and a great decision by him putting that ball out and being there on the spot. And that's what happens when you run for the ball and you.

Compete.

Good things happen. Good job not giving up on the play by the Kuemper Catholic defense. Great punch out. Wow. Jack Badding wow.

So Badding able to punch it out. Perkins wrapped him up and then it was scooped up by Charles Mayhall. A trio of defenders and Kuemper Catholic now great shape. A time-out Badding to go to work. Van Meter brings both linebackers. Here they come and Badding forced to get rid of it, and he paid the price. If you're going to come, you want to make sure you knock him down. And that's what Tate Doggett did. You want him to feel that you're in his neighborhood?

Tate. Tate is a very, very violent football player. He plays extremely hard. He's made a lot of really good plays up the middle on the outside with his blitz.

Short passing game has been the route for Kuemper in this first half. Nine of 1697 yards for the state's top passer. Brock Badding. Two receivers left Vonnahme split at the bottom of the screen. Lucas goes in motion right to left. Badding wants that throwback. He's looking for. Vonnahme has a step and Battie missed him. Vonnahme was waving his arm. He knew he had the inside position and that is a throw. Brock Badding does not miss too often.

No, not at all. Just overthrew him just a little bit. It might have been. He had a little bit of pressure from from the back here. And yeah, they had him. It was a good it was a good win for the Van Meter defense because that was that was probably six.

And third down and ten for.

Kuemper trying to play complementary football. They converted the interception earlier in the seven points. Now following the defense's second takeaway can they do it again. Third down and ten. Badding is going to try it again. Deep downfield looking for Easton Gifford. And he fell down. And it's incomplete. Really good recovery by Van Meter. Drew Rhodes Holden Buse both out there slowing down the sophomore Gifford.

Looked like it was a little bit behind him. Tate jumps in there. Didn't know where the ball was. Yeah, a little short and good effort by all three of those guys out there. Trying to make a play.

How about the linebacker?

Doggett my man.

Little Tampa action there from the linebacker streaking downfield.

It's scary when you're down there and you're running up and you know that ball is going to probably the guy you're guarding. It's hard not to panic.

Fourth down and ten at the 36 Badding to go for it. Pressure up the middle third time. Is it the charm high pointing the ball incomplete. Glynn had it. It looked like initially, but it was broken up by Blevins and Watson and Van Meter. And this defense, despite giving up the football and giving Badding great starting position, comes up with a stop.

It's a great job. By Blevins. There high pointing it. It just basically turned into a jump ball there and good competition by both of them. That was a that was a very impressive battle right there between those two.

22 seconds. Van Meter with a time-out, Lounsbury their kicker his longest this year, 38 yards. Lounsbury boy, he took a big shot. Puts it up and there will be a flag. Man, did Lounsbury pay the price. He was decked, but to his credit, he hung in there and the interference call coming.

Yeah. Takes a shot right there.

15 yard penalty.

First down and then Dylan Schon. You know, it's hard. It's hard not to panic when you when the ball is going to the guy you got, he was in good coverage and he was reading his eyes and thought the ball was there a little bit sooner than it was.

Healy was the player that just absolutely destroyed Lounsbury the interference call on Dylan Schon officials will mark it off. Keep in mind the Bulldogs still with a time-out, so this will stop the clock. Obviously yardage being marked off and Van Meter will cross on to the Kuemper side at the 49. You would think that the line to get if you're Van Meter just to give Lounsbury a chance anywhere from the 25 to 30 yard line. He has a strong leg. Lounsbury on a play fake will loft it deep looking for Rhodes and it falls incomplete.

[APPLAUSE]

Five straight deep balls. We anticipate a sixth now and they're going to find out how far Lounsbury can throw the football here.

Yes, we are.

Pressure comes. Oh, they're going to dump it off underneath to Williams trying to get out of bounds clock running. And he will step out with a second to go. Williams pushed out at the 43. And now we will find out. The old Hail Mary play coming up. And Van Meter can steal one late in this first half.

Yeah. You know it's funny you know.

Time-out.

That screen. I did not think they were going to screen there and set him up in a pretty good position. Probably put him in a little bit, obviously a little bit better position than what they were in. It'll be interesting to see what they run here coming out.

It was a scoreless game after the first 12 minutes. Kuemper has scored 14 in the second quarter. Mayhall a 14 yard touchdown reception, Hoffman a seven yard touchdown run that has been the offense for Kuemper. They have forced a couple of turnovers in this first half. Van Meter fans making their way from Interstate 80 up north to Cedar Falls. Such a great high school tradition, success in all the sports throughout the years. And it's a school district that continues to get bigger and bigger.

Yeah, they've got a tremendous culture there. It's you know, they're always, always having success, always one of the top teams in the state in every sport. And I'm super impressed with them. And, you know, it's no surprise when you talk to their coach and you see just what a great leader he is.

Program back into the finals for the seventh time since 2017. That's how good they have been. All right. Final play of this first half. Barring a defensive penalty. Third down a second to go. Lounsbury pressure up the middle. And he never had time to uncork it. Kuemper Catholic made sure of that. It's their big guy. Lucas Diehl with the sack. His. 12th sack of the year, and he has been a disruptor today. Badding the touchdown pass to Mayhall. After a slow start for this offense, skipper found their groove 14 nothing at the intermission.

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Something I don't know.

For your half time entertainment. The Iowa high School Athletic Association and the Iowa Cheer Coaches Association are proud to present to you your 2025 Iowa Cheer Honor Squad. This unique group is composed of over 220 varsity, junior and senior cheerleaders from all across the state of Iowa who have come together over the course of two practices to learn this routine. They're excited to perform for you today. The Iowa Cheer Honor Squad is under the direction of Center Point Urbana head cheerleading coach and Iowa cheer Coaches Association board choreographed. A member, Michelle McCann. Today's routine was choreographed by Dan McCann and Emily McCollum. Powell of Eminem Elite Athletics. Please put your hands together and give a warm welcome to the 2025 Iowa Cheer Honor Squad.

The Film Lounge Mamadou Konipo. I'm. Should I take you? And she tells me, don't talk. To. Us Coach Trudo Sa'ar. Let's dance with me. I. Vonnahme. La la la la. Let little baby are you ready for the. What am I? Boston. Yeah. We're gonna run. Me? All the places are. You.

Know? No secret. Deep Boeck Iowa finest heart and soul. Strength in numbers. Hearts alive. Iowa spirit for the attack from small town. Life. Carry your dreams to greater heights. Watch Strangers now on TV. Turn all here to share a dream. Take up on your feet yet three feet high. Cheer on red, white, blue I will cheer, honor. Red, white, blue Iowa cheer. Honor. Red. White. Blue Iowa cheer. Honor. Yes, White. Blued.

You wanna be a big.

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Oh!

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Mountain. We can come. Nothing keeps us down, in my soul. Never count us out. We got one thing on our minds. Victory! Yeah, that's where we're headed. And we know how to get it. You and me. To. We can make it better. Got turn world until your dance for your time. And. To.

Dominate the crowd. Can't help but love us. Cause we do it so good.

Better than myself, you and me. Reid Steger Weber. Yeah, I'm feeling heat in December around me. We wish to be I don't really care about what they say. I'm gonna come back like a boomerang. Won't let the haters get their way I'm gonna come back.

We got that fire lit. Now you're about to see the best.

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Dance.

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You ever.

[APPLAUSE]

Well.

How about that.

New little.

Wrinkle to our coverage here as we show you what goes on at halftime. And it is halftime here of the Iowa High School Athletic Association football championships. And it's been a pretty good first half. 14. Nothing is your score. When we come back we will have a special conversation and show you how Kemper scored those 14 points. I'm going to give you a little clue. Defense. Back in a moment here on Iowa PBS.

Settled before Iowa was a state.

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Halftime here. Kuemper of Carroll leads Van Meter of the Western metro area 14. Nothing here at halftime. Van Meter fans enjoying it. Carroll Kuemper fans enjoying it. So as Tom Keating, executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association, so you can't pick a favorite child. But what is special about the football championships?

Well, you know, I think it's it's such a community experience that, you know, the crowds, the just the culture of it is really it brings a great deal of excitement here.

And it's historic to be inside this venue. The UNI-Dome is special. You see it on all the T-shirts. March to the dome. So it's a partnership here with Northern Iowa. Let's walk through that a.

Little bit. Oh, absolutely. And you know, we really appreciate the hospitality not only of the folks at uni but the Cedar Valley. You know, we've been here for 50 years. And over that time there's been over 700 games played, 70,000 athletes have come through here. And about 3 million fans over the course of those 50 years. So it's an exciting place to be. And it's you know, it's part of it's woven into the tradition of our of our football program.

I believe it was somewhere in the 84 to 85 range that these championships were last on public television. Here we are. We're back with you. New era for us, a new era for you. How's it going so far?

You know, I think it's going great. And we appreciate the partnership with you folks. And, you know, I want to give a shout out to Chris Cuellar, our communications director, and his assistant director, Colby Burt. They have done some serious heavy lifting here since we got our media rights back. And for them to be able to partner with Iowa PBS has been a blessing. And, you know, the the early returns are just terrific. So we're excited.

One thing is it can go worldwide. And last week with the semifinals, having them streamed this week, streaming wherever you can watch. What's it like to have maybe an old Xavier parent or family member reach out to you last night, or a Kemper person today who can watch this from somewhere else? How has that changed? How you think about what you put on the field here that can be seen around the world?

The thing I really like is that we can pull it all together now that that we have the media rights, that we can make the in-venue experience sync with the television and streaming experience. And we're very cognizant of that. We're learning a lot about it. And Chris and his staff have done a wonderful job with that.

All right. One last thing here about the kids. You know how it is on the field. It gets a little crazy. You might get tackled when you're trying to hand out a trophy or get run over while you're trying to grab an interview, but those kids want the hat. They want that experience. Does that ever get old for you?

Absolutely not. I mean, this is what we're built for, right? And what gives us great joy is to watch the joy in the faces of the kids who get a chance to compete at this level. And, you know, whether they win or lose. And I know the kids that don't win it are disappointed. But when they reflect on it, they'll understand just how special it was. But for us to watch them come out of that tunnel and come out of that garage and get so excited about being here. That's what really brings us the greatest joy.

It is joy. And it is tough to watch like you think at the end of that Regina game yesterday and you could just see the tears from some of those kids, that's that. You always have to tell them, enjoy the day, because someone does have to lose, but you got to play on that final day. That's that's kind of fun too, that you just it's hard to think about that in the moment.

A little bit. But it's, you know, I think it just shows you cared, right? I mean, if if you didn't disappoint you, then it really didn't mean anything. So as much as it hurts at the moment, they'll realize later on that it's still meant a lot.

Well, it's good to have you here. Thank you so much, Tom. Good to see you.

Thank you.

Pleasure to be here. Tom Keating, executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association. It's 14. Nothing here at the break. When we come back, we'll take a look at those first half highlights and get you ready for half. Number two from Cedar Falls in the UNI-Dome. This is Iowa PBS.

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Kemper leads Van Meter 14. Nothing. As you see. The boys in red on the far side. And right underneath that score. Buck Van Meter warming up here as we get ready for half number two. But first, let's tell you a little bit more. About half number one Paul Yeager here with you here at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Part of our coverage is we like to show you what happened. So let's show you what happened in the first half. And let me tell you, defense has been key in this contest early on, big hits by Kuemper. There is a huge one right off the bat. And then Christian Williams is wrapped up again.

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And then this pad and Schon called it perfectly. He was reaching for the extra and then the punch out right there. Now let's show you some of the offense.

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Brock Badding finds Charles Mayhall and then it's the run underneath to Jarin Hoffman. That was a quick tempo touchdown. And that's. Those are your two scores 14. Nothing with a lot of defense. Kuemper a little bit ahead there on that total offense. Time of possession pretty even. But Van Meter has been holding on the ball a little bit more there. Just trying to get some first downs. Pretty even there. But still a long way to go in this one. The passing yardage is kind of where that difference is in that contest here. So four down three to go here. Today we're in game one of three. When we come back we'll go up to the pride of Council Bluffs Saint Albert and Bettendorf. That is also known as Shawn Kenney in Pat Angerer. When we come back here at halftime.

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Halftime back with you from Cedar Falls inside the beautiful UNI-Dome Kuemper Catholic top ranked team in the state. Up 14. Nothing on Van Meter Shawn Kenney alongside former Iowa Hawkeye NFL veteran Pat Angerer Pat. We talked about the offense for Carroll Kuemper, the defense for Van Meter. Well, it's been the Kuemper defense that has certainly rose to the occasion in the first half. A couple of takeaways that led to seven Kuemper points.

Yeah, they've they've played really well. They've flown to the ball. They've played hard. They've been opportunistic and they made the plays when they needed to make them. And Van Meter defense has been doing a great job as well too. They're holding a high powered offense to only 14 points, so I'm really looking forward to see what happens. You know, in this second half.

You know, you look at the first half numbers and as you talked about Van Meter made sure that they were not going to get beat with the explosive play they made. Carroll Kuemper matriculate first down after first down. Badding nine of 19. In the first half. Van Meter to get the football first to start this third quarter and watch out a little bit of room down the sideline.

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Ball popped loose. It was stripped at the last second. Kuemper says they have it.

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No word yet. Now they say it. Kuemper football.

Oh my goodness. It was. It was just how Van Meter wanted to started with that initial return. Really great. Looked like it was going to go well. Then ball popped out at the end. It was a great effort by the kickoff coverage team, by Kuemper Catholic punching that ball out and unfortunate start for Van Meter and a great start for Kuemper Catholic in the second half.

You're right Pat. That is exactly what Trudeau and these Van Meter coaches wanted coming out of the break. Something to ignite their large fan base. And they had it a 44 yard return. But at the last second popped out of there. Second fumble recovery today by Kuemper. And now here goes Badding in the Knights. And he wanted to go deep. Nothing there. And he checks down and just throws it away. Nothing open again. They have done a really good job with the deep ball. This is a receiving corps that is as explosive as they get in any class here in Iowa, 100%.

It's like you're watching a bunch of forwards in basketball run down the field, and they can also move as well. They're fast and they're strong and they're tall and and they've done a good job not getting beat deep with anything crazy.

One thing Kuemper has been able to do is they are winning the field position battle. Third time they've started right around midfield on the Van Meter side. Quick little hitch pattern along the near sideline and making the catch is Braxton Vonnahme and this will be very close to a first down. And it will be indeed a first down. They take a second and third look over. They say move the chains.

Just a little RPO action and Vonnahme making a really good play upfield like he always does. He can make a lot of yards after catch.

10th completion today for Badding. First down from the 40 yard line. Quick throw. Van Meter continues to give a cushion. So Kuemper Catholic says we will inch our way downfield. Ben-Ami another grab and oftentimes I think coaches have a game plan and they they don't veer off it. They want to stick to it. But this is a situation where the Kuemper coaches are saying, we are going to take what you give us.

Yeah, I think you're exactly right. You're exactly right. You know, I think initially in the in the first half they took some shots downfield. Maybe got a little excessive there. But now they're spreading it out. Hey we're going to take what the defense gives us.

On the near hash first down. This time they swing it out to the right. And Griffin Glynn got a little too excited. He started to turn his neck up ahead to see what he can do with yards after catch. But did not bring it in. Ryan Steinkamp what a job he's done. The oh eight grab from Kuemper, sixth year on the sideline and spent a lot of time working his way up to this head coaching position. Middle school coach in 2013 was a varsity assistant for five years. His wife, a graduate of Kuemper Catholic. Both of their parents are from Carroll near side throw and Catch and Vonnahme and this Kuemper offense making it look easy right now.

Yeah, they've run that little fake play action, little RPO. They've actually run it four times every play three and one to Glenn. And hey they're going to take what the defense is going to give them. And defense maybe. So what's going to happen. Let's see if Van Meter steps up we go a little bit more man man. And they go a little bit more man to man. And then they take a shot downfield.

Blevins and Watson the two corners. They creep up a little bit on this third down and three, they will hand the ball off for the first time, popping through a hole to the ten stiff arms and pushed out of bounds. Jarin Hoffman and Kuemper will have it knocking on the doorstep. First and goal.

I love that call by Kuemper. Play action play action play action play action. Then run. Just really smart. Getting the defense on their toes.

Alford and Glynn. The two receivers twin set to the top. Ben-Ami comes split near side. They have an H-back in. That's Lucas. The tailback is Hoffman looking for his second touchdown driving, driving, trying to get aid from one of his teammates as Lucas tried to push him in, but Van Meter stiffens up at the one six yards for Hoffman. Now they go tempo. They went tempo twice. Maybe a push push here. Quarterback. You can't push the ball carrier, but they will surge ahead. He's in. Touchdown Badding the two times they went tempo have been inside the five. And it's worked both times.

That's a great point. You know there is a lot of confusion defensively when you get into that red zone. Getting to that goal line situation a lot of hard times, you know, trying to figure out where everybody's going. You got a new defensive formation you need to put in, and getting that up tempo really puts really puts a lot of strain on the defense.

The turnover really comes back to haunt Van Meter. And again, it's complimentary football. How do you take advantage whether it's the defense or the special teams creating the turnover. Can you turn it into points. And 14 of 21 for Kuemper coming from points after turnovers. And it all started on this return. Lexon Blevins did a great job. And then it was stripped at the last possible second. And then Badding took it from there using his tall basketball frame, six foot three incher. Who loves basketball? He's an all state hoops player and the coach has told us his first love is basketball. But when it's in football season, he is all in and he has been dynamite.

Yeah. You know when you when you've got your best athletes on the field and you've got your best athletes with with the ball in their hand, you're going to have a lot of success. I still think he should play football. I think football is way cooler than basketball. That's just me I beat. I take my I can beat my 7-year-old daughter in basketball or 8-year-old daughter basketball all day. So I think I'm a pretty good basketball player. But football is is superior.

I don't know, Pat. We caught you in a couple of zooms leaving a a little league basketball game and you kind of had the look back in the day when you were with Indianapolis Colts, when you were breathing fire, you were not happy leaving.

Nobody rebounds. Everybody just shoots threes. Nobody boxes out. It's just, oh, man. The only sport I pushed on my kids is wrestling. And they all play basketball.

It always works that way, doesn't it? On the return Blevins and he will cross the 20 and Kuemper is ready to greet him.

[APPLAUSE]

This is a Kuemper team that is tight knit. The community of Carroll is always produced wonderful athletes throughout the years over there in western Iowa, and Coach Ryan Steinkamp talked about the senior captains. The Kuemper volleyball team made it to state this year. They played deep into the tournament. So what the team did and this was a player led initiative, they said, can we practice at 6 a.m., even 530, I believe, he said. On a couple of mornings. So we can make the journey across Iowa to support our volleyball team.

Wow. And to have a coach that that allows them to do that. I tell you what, if I if I told my high school coach, hey, can we practice so I can go to volleyball? I don't think that would have gone over well back in the day. But props to them for having a great culture and having a good understanding and being able to just due to their leaders. And yeah, great job by by their coach for allowing them to do that.

Second down and eight Van Meter down three scores early in this third quarter. Still plenty of time. Henry Lounsbury working the screen. And that throw sailed on him. Boy he put Watson in a vulnerable spot as he had to soar up quickly to try to it.

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Third downs have been trouble today. One of seven for Van Meter's. You take a look at the offensive starters in there. Wiebelhaus at left tackle. Croat at left guard. Jones the center. He's a two year starter. Keaton Mennen. He rotates with Luke Steinfeldt at right guard. And then the most experienced at right tackle.

[APPLAUSE]

Gabe Jones, the anchor and time-out taken by Van Meter.

Time-out.

Their first of the.

Half. A you Championships North conference is your best bet is to.

Go back through the years. Eric Trudo 21st season for Van meter. He took over for Rick Roberts. It's funny that those two individuals both very close dear friends and they had somewhat a similar trajectory in that Roberts was a football coach. Then he took over the ad duties and really got Van Meter rolling in all the sports. Eric Trudo football coach. And once Roberts retired, he stepped into the activities director role at Van Meter.

To be able to head coach and also be the athletic director. That has got to be a lot of work. That is takes a super impressive individual to be able to do that and handle both those jobs.

He had the ad hat on on our zoom call last week. He was trying to rearrange the boys basketball schedule because they haven't practiced. Third down Eric Trudo has done a terrific job program south of I-80. Double clutching now throwing near side, and a diving catch is made by Blevins. They're going to give him a really good spot at the 31. So it looks like about a half a yard away. And yeah, you got to go for it here. Down 21 inside ten minutes to go. Third quarter.

That was a good route by him getting open knowing where the sticks were I know he's a little bit short and it was a good job getting the ball out. He had a little bit of pressure Lounsbury had a little bit of pressure in his face. This is a huge fourth down right here for Van Meter.

Yeah, this is a must get. They have brought Tate Doggett as a lead blocker for Williams offset II. And they will hand it to Williams. Runs into the back of his own guy keeps the legs churning, protecting the football with both arms. That's a textbook run when you know you need a yard from the young sophomore.

That was such a great effort by Williams right there. He looked like he got hit initially and stood up at the line of scrimmage, kept those feet moving and kept grinding. Getting that first down. Super impressive. The fact that he's a sophomore. Watch on the film. I couldn't imagine him as I couldn't even tie my shoes as a sophomore. He's a sophomore and he's doing extremely well.

Quarterback keeper and he is driven down. Lucas Diehl this guy is special.

Lucas Diehl. What a stud. You know, they're trying to find a way to stop that quarterback run. I'll tell you what. Lucas Diehl is the man that stopping that run. He is so fast and physical and tough. It's it's fun watching him play. Great job using his hands, getting off the block a lot. A lot of linemen have a hard time using their hands. Not Jacob Diehl. He does a really great job.

We talked about him being the American record holder for what he can snap and clean. I got to believe he's going to get some looks to continue his career in this sport. Only a junior, he is a powerhouse inside for Kuemper.

To put him on the wrestling team. Hopefully he is. He would he would make for a good one.

Two way player. He is part of the offensive line, trains under the renowned strength coach Greg Kooistra at North Highland. He has some international trips in his near future, representing the United States of America and everybody back home in Carroll. Certainly proud of him. Van Meter first down throw and catch yards after catch. Up ahead to the 47. Good throw there by Lounsbury and a first down to drew. Rhodes.

That was a great job by drew Rhodes getting outside, then making a move upfield and breaking a tackle. That was a huge first down by Van Meter.

Lounsbury eight of 12 for 54 yards. He's hit four different receivers. First catch of the day for Rhodes and now Lounsbury keeps it himself to the 42 as he scrambles ahead for five.

That was a good job. Good quarterback draw call. Just needed one make one guy miss and Jack Badding did a really great job getting off a block and making a tackle there, stopping a big gain.

Henry Lounsbury his brother, his older brother went to Washington State. Originally he was committed to South Dakota State, but Coach Rogers made the move from the FCS program. The powerhouse that the Jackrabbits are. Each and every year, Rogers goes to the Pacific Northwest and Pullman to try to reignite Washington State. So Henry's brother followed Coach Rogers to Pullman and will now be a part of that program as they try to get back in their winning ways.

What an impressive job. By Lucas Diehl. Once again, just right up the middle. It's they're having a hard time getting up the middle there with Lucas Diehl standing there getting off blocks and just being extremely explosive and strong. Another huge third down here for Van Meter.

Third down and three. They'll get a couple of cracks at it to try to get the necessary yardage. It's a four man rush. Pressure comes down, goes Lounsbury sacked by Jack Badding.

[APPLAUSE]

Jack Badding has done has done pretty much everything here and that was just an inside rush move there. Faked the outside, went inside. Good use of his hands and make a great tackle. What an impressive, impressive play right there by Jack Badding right when the Kuemper defense needed it.

Badding is a perfect story for all coaches out there. Make sure everybody gets their reps when they're younger, because you never know when somebody is going to hit a growth spurt. And that's what Jack Badding did. He showed up this fall a completely new guy two years ago. He stood five feet, six inches tall, weighed 130 pounds. He hit a big time growth spurt and the coaches told us he showed up this fall and he just wanted to hit people. With this newfound size. And the coaches actually had to put a leash on him a little bit.

[LAUGHTER]

Yeah, it's a lot more fun hitting people when you're not 140 pounds, I can tell you that. And good for him. I'm sure it was a lot of work. He put in the weight room, a lot of nutrition stuff, and and he's out there and he's making his name heard. And I'm very impressed watching him play.

The kids watching this at home. If you're still on the smaller side, seventh, eighth grade, don't give up. Just keep putting in the time.

Yeah, I'm continuing to put on weight. I don't know what the deal is.

I don't know, you made it up the stairs pretty quickly like a receiver today to get to the press box.

I needed oxygen a little. Great run off tackle right there by Jarin Hoffman. They have really leaned on him and I think probably to just continue to keep that clock rolling. And Jarin Hoffman is a really good running back.

14 yards for Hoffman. Yeah, they can beat you so many different ways with this offense. Kuemper in control of this game. Crossing over halfway through this third quarter. They go back to Jarin Hoffman who has a hard fought yard or two. Mennen in on the stop.

That was a great job by the Van Meter D line and linebackers just stepping up, playing downhill, not allowing them to get that off tackle anymore.

Williams and Doggett, the two key players on the Van Meter defense. Their two linebackers. Second down and eight. They will hand it off. A flag is thrown.

[APPLAUSE]

Illegal formation.

Offense five in the backfield, five-yard penalty still second down.

Did not have the mandatory seven up at the line of scrimmage. A rare mistake. Only their fourth penalty today.

Yes, I've been really impressed about both these teams. Just the complete lack of penalties I guess. I'm used to coaching eighth graders where it's I mean, we we're penalizing them every single play, but these guys are very, very impressive. And once again, it goes back to their coaching. They are very well coached.

Offensive line that plays with a little attitude. They have a wrestler at right tackle and Reid Steger. Second down and 13. And now Van Meter jumped. So they will get the five yards right back.

I start talking about the lack of penalties and just like clockwork, it starts going. You know, as a defensive player, I always thought it was unfair that the offense knows when the ball is going to get snapped and I can't run forward or say, hike. I always just think it, you know, all these rules are based on the offense, right? Everybody's mean to the defenders.

And they won't even let you use disconcerting signals this year. You get tagged for that. The college level left side run by Jaren Hoffman as he takes it up to the 36.

And there's nothing like as a defender when you when you call that move call and it's on like a third and two or a fourth and short and and they fall start. That's just, that's the greatest thing ever. It's like Christmas because the offense cheats so much. So it's nice when you can you know, you can.

And you never rubbed it in to the offensive lineman.

Did you? Absolutely not. Why would I?

Third down for Kuemper. They're going to switch. They're going to go jumbo little unbalanced look as they swing Steger back over to the right side. Started as if he was going to go left. Now they go to the left side making the catch. Hoffman out of the backfield trying to turn on the Jets and get to the marker. And he is pushed out of bounds and it looks like he picks up the first down. They're going to mark it at the 40.

I like that call. Just a little swing pass I tell you what. What made that play right. There was a great block by number eight Ryan Lucas really good job putting his putting his body on a on a linebacker and allowing him not to make that tackle.

In no hurry. This is a excellent drive by Kuemper Catholic eating up the clock, picking up first downs, keeping Van Meter offense on the sideline already inside. Three minutes to go. Lucas the H back right. They hit him on a counter and that did not fool Van Meter. Tate Doggett was waiting.

Just a great read once again by Tate Doggett. He does a really good job coming downhill and he plays with his pads low and he's strong. And when he's when he hits you, he's very, very violent. Just everybody up front for reading that. That is a tricky play. There's a lot of pulling guys, a lot of moving parts here. That's a tricky play on a defense.

Look at that big club on his right hand. Doggett broke his wrist in week four against Clarinda. He casted it up. He was cleared right before the first round playoffs. So they have been bringing him on slowly and he just talks about the toughness he has and he wants to be with his buddies. And now the ball popped free and look who ended up on top of it. Mr. Doggett but are they going to say the ball carrier was down. And it looks like they will. And Van Meter can't believe it. Boy, they are upset along the Bulldogs sideline.

Man, that would have been a huge break for the Van Meter defense. Van Meter in general, they needed something like that to go their way.

Down by contact before the ball came.

Out. Third down.

That's a tough one. That's tough.

Again, no replay. Obviously in high school football, which makes it really tough for these officials. Up on the jumbotron.

Well, no matter what decision you make, half the crowd's going to be mad at you.

Third down, double move. Vonnahme incomplete now. Vonnahme begging for a flag. And there is one down. He was in a really good hand fight along the sideline. And if this is going the direction we think Van Meter is going to go nuts.

And I love the I love the call. After an emotional play. Right? Take a shot downfield.

Ten yard penalty results.

On first down.

Defensive holding. And it happened right out of the get go. Steenkamp in his offense. Another first down.

And this drive just it doesn't seem like they've really moved the ball very far. But this drive just continues to kill the clock. And this is just what Kuemper Catholic wants.

[APPLAUSE]

First down into plus territory near side throw. This has been their play Vonnahme with the catch. It's a short gain as Blevins was with him. Those two have been matched up all afternoon.

Vonnahme is about as shorthanded as any receiver I think I've seen in high school. He does not drop anything and he's fighting for every inch, every yard. He's fighting. Super impressed by him.

Five catches today for Vonnahme 45 yards. This is a drive that has eaten up more than four minutes off the game clock. We are counting down inside a minute. Quick, precise, short passing game today. They go right back to it. They swing it out opposite side. This is Glynn with the catch. Glynn takes it to the 40 on what I gotta believe will be the final play of this quarter. Now some pushing and shoving, these two teams getting a little testy late. Clock will continue to run down and maybe a good thing for cooler heads to prevail a little bit at the intermission.

Yeah, it's unfortunate. Obviously there's a lot of emotions going into this game. And you just, you know, you don't want anything to happen.

The third quarter.

[APPLAUSE]

Good job by the referee just stepping in. We've reached the end of the third quarter. Kuemper Catholic extending their lead. Looking to bring home a state title back to western Iowa. Diehl in this defense, they have set the tone putting up this offense in good spots all afternoon.

Such a meaningful part of Iowa PBS is is the coverage of unique Iowa events. And part of that is our high schools and our kids programs. Whether it's athletics or otherwise, the state fair coverage, that's such a part of the fabric of Iowa. And I think just the programing that covers things meaningful to our people in our state.

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Davenport coming to Iowa PBS December 2nd.

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Some.

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I want you, baby. Away.

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See you in my next life. See you in my next life. See ya. See you.

[MUSIC]

Yeah.

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. Fans having a good time on a Friday. No school today when your team is playing for a state championship. Everybody hopping on their respective caravans to make a trip. The coveted trip to Cedar Falls. When you go through the two days and the dog days of summer, the Iowa humidity and the high temperatures, all those kids. One goal in mind, and that's to represent your community in a spotlight like this 100%.

Couldn't have said it better myself, brother. I grew up as one of those kids wanting to do that.

Alongside Pat Angerer Shawn Kenney with you as we start this fourth quarter, third down and short for Badding in this offense, Hoffman with it and he is buried at the line of scrimmage. Doggett has really stepped up. He is playing with renewed fire in the second half.

He's tough and when they send those inside pressures with him and Williams and he does such a good job timing it up. Really great job there. Getting off a block, using his hands, putting his chest on him. I love how he tackles with his chest and brings him to the ground.

That is a Pat Angerer jersey right there. He's clubbed up. He's got blood on it. That is a football player.

You know what's funny is I played the state championship game my senior year with a club just like that. So I know what I know what he's meaning.

Fourth down Doggett now with ten tackles today. Fourth and a yard. Two receivers, right to left. Van Meter stacks the line. They go wide with it. Vonnahme giving ground now. He pushes ahead. You don't want to run backwards there. He had the first down and he quickly realized it. And he slow to get up. Ben-Ami down on the turf.

I don't know. Yeah it was a.

Time-out on the field.

Ben-Ami does such a great job with yards after catch and it's unfortunate that he's a little bit banged up there. It was a really great effort by him getting up field and getting a first down.

Beatty making sure he is all right. Hopefully just the wind knocked out of him as we take another look at it. There was friendly fire there. Doggett took a shot from his own teammate.

Yeah, some of the worst hits you get in football are from your buddies. Yeah, it's. But hey, you know, when you play hard, when you got a group of guys that are playing hard, they're running the ball, stuff like that. It's going to happen.

The 46 yard line, first and ten I can't remember.

A six minute plus drive continues for Kuemper. Fresh set of downs. And there goes Jared Hoffman 11 plays coming up on the 12th play of this drive. This is how you win state championship situational football. And can you get those those short yards play physical football to bring home a title.

Absolutely. Right now they're controlling the clock. They're controlling the line of scrimmage. That was a really good job by left guard Connor Kanealy pulling up through the hole, creating a big gap for Jarin Hoffman to get that first down or get second. Short.

See this offensive line? The tackle number 71 Nash Leonard. He broke his foot in a scrimmage earlier this year, missed eight weeks. Guy who came back just in the nick of time Patrol and anchor. Now a strip ball loose. Van Meter has the turnover they so desperately need it. Doggett got a hand in there. He caused the fumble and a little bit of late life for the Bulldogs.

That was just the brake Van Meter needed. What a great you know, it was a great drive by Kuemper. They're doing everything right and then none other than our man Tate Doggett comes through there, makes a great hit, strips, hits that ball out of the ground. Their defense is flying to the ball. Not giving up. Picking it up. Now they've got a good opportunity to put some points on the board and change the trajectory of this game.

[APPLAUSE]

Van Meter fans realizing one last stand. More than ten minutes to go. Looking for that inside slant. But this has been the theme. The Kuemper pressure. They have lived in the backfield. Diehl another sack. His third sack of this game.

Is a great job by the DNS forcing the quarterback to to come up in the pocket, which allowed Jake Diehl to get off his block and make a tackle.

[APPLAUSE]

Second and 15 working behind the sticks, Lounsbury throws it and look at the pursuit. Three Knights just shadowing the receiver. First one in there was Alford.

Just great effort and perseverance by by that defense. These guys just fly around and run of the ball. It seems like everybody wants to get in on the tackle. When you've got a defense like that that's hungry and violent and wants to get on the play, it's hard to go up against.

Van Meter is converted on just two of ten on third downs. Kuemper looks like they want to drop eight into coverage and they do. They rush only three Lounsbury dialing up the long ball tipped away incomplete Griffin Glynn breaking it up. They were trying to hit Blevins.

That was a heck of a play by Griffin Glynn, forcing him to the sideline with his hand to make sure that he was in position to where if that ball was thrown, he would be the only one to catch it. Just people don't understand how hard it is to run full speed and then jump like I can't even jump right now an inch. And these kids are out here running full speed, jumping as high as they can in the air, making plays on the ball. Super impressive.

I still say with the rules of today's game, quarterback is the most difficult position in football.

100%. Absolutely. It's the put on an island out there and all the rules. Are, you know, there for the offense and for the receivers and to be a corner, you've got to be brave. You've got to have a short memory because there's going to be some some shots, shots your way. But you got to be tough.

You look back through the course of the season for Carroll Kuemper. They had back to back shutouts. Okoboji, Grandview, Christian. Beat Cherokee in the quarterfinals 4326 last week in the semis, a 4921 win over Wilton. Carroll Kuemper from the 41 yard line, and they will go right back to Williams, and he busts through a hole. Big hole opens up, taking it close to a first down. Jarin Hoffman. I love that you give it right back to the guy who coughed it up. Let him get a touch again and show that you have confidence in him like you have all year.

100%. And he didn't hit. He hit that hole. He wasn't scared at all. He was very confident. And I love how fast he hits the hole, how strong he runs. He is doing a really good job today. And you know, this is a team that you know, we're talking about how good they passed. Their running game has been tremendous.

Second down and two the ball near midfield. Back to him as he runs behind the center. Preston Vonnahme and a first down.

[APPLAUSE]

And.

I'd be surprised if Kuemper runs anything other than just what they're doing right now. Just continue to to knock out these three, 4 or 5 yard gains and force Van Meter to put put some guys in the box, then throw a pass on him.

Clock continuing to dwindle down as we approach 7.5 minutes to go in this fourth quarter. At time, Van Meter knows they can be a little bit more aggressive, able to gain pile the ball carrier Hoffman that was Adam Glade who we put at the start of the show as one of the keys. The smaller defensive end, who has had a big season, led the game against Osage with a couple of sacks.

Just love the physicalness of him. You know, playing D-tackle weighing, you know, Buck 75. You've got to be tough mentally. And not only is he tough mentally, he's quick and and he's fast and he's strong and just gives a ton of effort in every snap.

Nose guard all four years. And he wasn't always on the varsity roster. He had to continue to work. And again, when you're the smaller guy, it's all about leverage. And I thought, Eric Trudo just praised him and his work ethic. He said. He stuck it out. He waited for his opportunity, and one of those guys that you call a cornerstone of a program because you have multiple, multiple players that can fit that building throughout the years. That's how you win consistently. That's how you get to the UNI-Dome seven times into the finals in nine years.

100%. Those type of kids, they're culture builders and hopefully they continue to bring those kids in there like that.

Third down and ten from the 46. Badding watching the play clock. And they will call a time-out just as it got down to zero.

Time-out Kuemper Catholic.

Their first of the.

Half.

[MUSIC]

And 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 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 12 noon on Iowa PBS, or stream online anytime.

[MUSIC]

Day two of the 2025 Iowa High School State Football Championships alongside Pat Angerer Shawn Kenney. Our entire Iowa PBS crew with you and Pat. I'm just curious, you know, I was talking with Vince and Doug, our spotter and statistician up here, and Iowa football is is at a high level right now. When you look at what we saw yesterday, starting in Eight-Player, you know, we crowned four champions. And then we'll continue today. And then the highest class tonight, five A but it is high quality football. These coaches across the state are doing a really good job.

Yeah they're doing a tremendous job. And what I loved about it is that when we when we talked to the coaches, every single one of them, zero of them took credit. They talked about how great the kids are, how hard they work, how motivated they motivated they are. But these coaches are tremendous. They are building men and super lucky to have them in our state.

Third, down they go deep, Vonnahme goes up and it's broken up. Getting the hand in there in the nick of time was Drew Rhodes these corners, they have shut down the deep game all afternoon. Van Meter secondary.

That was a great play right there. By Drew Rhodes playing through the ball, playing through the pass, getting his hand up there, stripping it out. Vonnahme great effort as well too. I mean that was just a that was a 5050 ball right there. And it was good. Good competition by both those both those boys.

You might not notice it in the stats tomorrow or in the recaps that you read, but this part of the game right here that you're watching has been so key. Badding with this pooch punts Van Meter on the return. They will take it out to the 32 yard line. Diehl is even making tackles on special teams. The big guy, the first one downfield along with Ryan Lucas.

[APPLAUSE]

That was a great return by Blevins right there. I thought he was going to break it a little bit, sold it upfield, ended up bouncing it to the outside and super he I mean probably a net of net of maybe what, 13, 15 yards, something like that. Got it pretty close. Back to the line of scrimmage.

Quick reset for you as we hit the home stretch of this one. Kuemper Catholic nearly a 2 to 1 edge in total yards. 234 for the Knights, 114 only for Van Meter. Both defenses playing well. 14 zero advantage points after turnovers for Kuemper. Lounsbury with the throw and catch driven out of bounds is Andon Watson and wasn't late. There is a flag down.

[APPLAUSE]

Personal foul face mask defense 15 yards from the end of the run. Results a first down.

Well, it was in the late hit, but somebody got the hand up. So it's the same result.

Yeah I was thinking late hit as well too. Obviously can't see. Can't see much from up here. As far as that face mask goes. Good job. By the refs for catching it. Yep. Got him right before. Right before the cut. And you know he's he's getting blocked. He's trying to put anything out there see if he can grab something. Nothing facetious at all by that.

First down at midfield looking for the double move and they have a chance. Watson out there. Makes the catch and a little bit of life from Van Meter Badding touchdown. Don't go anywhere yet.

Yeah. Fake like you said. Double move. Looked like they were going to the flat. Ran that double move essentially a go route for Watson and a beautiful throw. Beautiful throw by my man right in his hands. Wow. Right in his hands. Great job getting behind the secondary. And that is just the spark that Van Meter needed. They've been looking for something like that.

50 yards on the pass. The point after is up and it is through. And stranger things have happened a little more than 5.5 minutes to go. Two plays, 69 yards. Really the first explosive play by either team this afternoon. And it goes to Van Meter with a championship culture. They are going to fight you every inch and every second. While there's time up on this clock, 100%.

These guys, you talk about their season two losses by week five, right? People were probably doubting them. They fought. They came together. This is a team that's not going to give up. This is a group of coaches that's not going to allow them to give up. These guys are going to battle and they're going to battle till the end.

For Watson, that's his fourth touchdown catch this year. The team's leading receiver coming into this game. Quick shifty type outside receiver who gets a lot of yards after the catch with his speed and Lounsbury threw a beauty. So now you have to anticipate the onside kick from a very talented kicker in Lounsbury. Eric Trudo hoping for a little late magic. He can finally smile after that last play. What we have seen has been the onside kick directly up the middle. Saw that on a few occasions yesterday. We'll see what direction they go. Kuemper has ten guys within 15 yards of the teed up football. Will he go right? Will he go left? Will he go up the middle? He chooses left. It's a bouncing ball. It's a foot race before it goes out of bounds. But we have a whistle and a flag. And I think one of the the gunners for Van Meter was a little bit too quick trying to get the head start.

Yeah, I think so too. That was actually a really good kick. That was a really good onside kick. I thought they were going.

To kicking team number 12.

Five yard.

Penalty rekick.

And maybe that little that little hitch that he did where he faked the right ended up left. Maybe that caused them to, you know, cause them to be offsides.

You see the assistant in front of Coach Steinkamp telling his players it has to go here. You saw him motioning. This is the line that you got to guard and protect. So they will push it back five yards to the 35 and see if Lounsbury goes with that same tactic.

Yeah.

And I always forget in high school that it's it's a redo. They call it on the spot. If it's a, if it's an offsides. Because obviously if you're if you're Kuemper hey we'll decline the penalty. We'll take the ball kicked out of bounds right there.

The meter does not hit what side. They're going to go with it. They have even numbers both to the right and left of Lounsbury. Here is the approach. He's going to go back to that left side. High bounce loose football and Van Meter got it picked up by the Bulldogs Adam Boeck. And here comes Van Meter right back at you.

That was such a great kick that couldn't have bounced more perfectly. And what a great job by everybody scrapping and crawling and running to that ball, trying to get it man. Adam Boeck what a job by him making that play and recovering. That's a hard kick to make right there. Going to the right kicking to your left.

You're taught you want the third bounce like it takes here. That's the one that's going to get the the altitude to it. Which gives you a chance. And now here comes Lounsbury design. Draw one, miss, a flag comes in near side as Lounsbury takes it up to the 41 yard line. But let's wait and see what the flag is.

[APPLAUSE]

Holding offense number 76 Ten-yard penalty still first.

Down and that hurts the momentum that they had going right there. Big big onside recovery. And then huge huge gain on that draw.

I love the play call there. I do too. Kemper is really going to bring it. Yeah. Run by it. They have it marked off the penalty yards yet Van Meter lined up ready to go. But they're going to have to mark off the penalty yards first.

[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE]

There we go.

You know sometimes these officials, they just want TV time. You know I've been around enough of them trying to take their time get on TV as much as they can. I will tell you, these guys have done a great job today.

They're like you. I'm glad Josh and Andrea shut you down. You wanted a ten minute on camera open, didn't you? Was that what you were pleading for today?

Got a chance.

Inside slant. They weren't on the same page. They had a double slant going that time. And Christian Williams the inside slot did not get his neck. Swiveled around in time.

[APPLAUSE]

Second down and 20. Following the penalty, three receivers right Watson their deep threat. He split to the top of the screen, looking to set it up that way and unable to make the juggling catch. Is Blevins got to catch the football first and then you worry about the rest later.

Yeah, you know, and that's a that's actually a really tough catch to make, especially as a, as a young high school kid. You kind of want to maybe if you can round that just a little bit more. You know, the hard part is think about that. That was a great first down play. Got moved back. Now we're sitting at you know, third and 20. And just what a difference a couple couple minutes make. Maybe even 30s makes on this drive.

Eric Trudo doesn't need to pick up all 20 yards here. You can script up a couple of plays to try to get the necessary yards. Here comes this crowd inside the UNI-Dome three man rush. They lob it downfield, looking for Rhodes and it's intercepted. Carroll Kuemper responds with the secondary. Second pick of the day. Theodore Perkins the junior corner.

Theodore Perkins I think he ran that route for Van Meter. Just read it. Read it the whole way. Played over the top. Made a good catch. Went for the ball. That's heartbreaking for Van Meter. Great play for Kuemper. But hey, five minutes left. Anything can happen.

Back to back weeks that Perkins has come away with a Pick. Paul Yeager had a pretty good view of it.

The replay.

Showed effort, but what was the huge thing was the crowd behind me. They were starting to say, we're all right, we're all right. And then all of a sudden they erupted on that int.

Perkins comes up a defensive secondary. Now with 25 interceptions this year.

That's insane. That is absolutely insane. And a lot of it's probably the fact that they get up by so much that they they're having to force the other team to throw the ball. So they know exactly kind of what they're in. But to have that many interceptions in that little of games is absolutely phenomenal. I can't do the math. I'm trying to figure out how many that is a game with two, 2 or 3, something like that. Phenomenal job by their secondary.

Kuemper goes back into clock management now. Well maybe not. Badding is going to throw the football. He is rolling rolling, rolling. And he decides to take off and high steps it out of bounds up to the 26 yard line. You go back to the Kuemper defense. Last year they lost two starters in the linebacking corps that they had to replace. And it just took time for Coach Steinkamp to figure out the right formula. He was moving different players around in the secondary. They were rotating bodies up front. We talked about the injuries they had to deal with early in the year, but he has this team playing at a high level. When the stakes are the highest.

He really does and they're extremely fun to watch. They are a talented football team. They're also well coached, coached football team.

Third down and eight on the run, making the catch first down yardage up to the 39. It's Brayton Alford Alford coming in one of the top receivers in the state. He's had a quiet afternoon, but he makes a big catch late. More time off the clock as we approach. Four minutes to go.

You know outside receiver runs that go route. He's running that like 510 yard and out which ends up essentially becoming a pick route really if you look at it that way and allows him to get wide open, Badding makes a good throw and he makes a great catch.

Look at Badding and it's a family legacy. His older brother, Parker, was a good athlete. He had a sister who was a state long jumper. Another sister played volleyball, a cousin that was part of a 2013 state championship team, and hitting the hole with authority. Jarin Hoffman goes over the 100 yard mark today. Against Kuemper, feeling pretty good now. Van Meter with a couple of time-outs. 3.5 minutes to go. Hoffman 26 carries for 103.

Wow. He's been he's been extremely impressive and especially doing a great job defensively as well to you know, one of the guys I want to talk about Tate Doggett Van Meter defense 16 tackles right now 16.

Yeah, he has been all over. This will be the 61st play today for Kuemper. And look at Hoffman go Carroll Kuemper a foot race. Doggett catches him at the two. The effort of Tate Doggett. Hoffman explodes for 52 yards.

I thought no way anybody was going to catch Hoffman there. And Tate Doggett just came out of nowhere. Great effort, great effort by both of those guys. Great hole up the middle for Hoffman Tate Doggett running his heart out gets him with the club.

The broken wrist. You see him swing that I mean you.

Just it doesn't feel good, I.

Tell you. No, it does not. He's feeling it. The heart of a competitor right there. Number 31. College coaches take notice of him. First down and goal. They snap it. It's a quick speed option and Hoffman into the end zone for the touchdown. And Kuemper Catholic in a position. Now Western Iowa get ready.

Yeah. Hit him up the middle. Hit him up the middle then get to the outside. Get your speed on the edge. They did a good job getting the edge on the Van Meter defense. There.

You knew there was going to be a run by Van Meter and Kuemper able to weather the storm.

Yes. Yeah. You knew? Yeah. Van Meter did a did a great job. They were getting the getting the momentum and you thought things were going to go a little bit differently. And then got back in the sticks. Had to had to get rid of the ball. And Kuemper had a great drive there. Tremendous job. Used their athletes, used all their talent and their fans are loving it.

[APPLAUSE]

Yeah just quick little option was a good job getting the ball out of his hands and get to the outside.

Six plays, 76 yards. Hoffman has his second touchdown run today and Carroll Kuemper inching closer to a second state title in more than a decade since they hoisted the trophy. But they are very close to getting it done now.

They've definitely earned it. This was this was a fight. They're playing a Van Meter team right here that showed up ready to fight and scrap and Kuemper has earned everything they've got done a good job turning the ball over. Good job on the ground. Good job getting the ball out. This has been a scrappy game 28 to 7. Yes. But I'll tell you what. It was close. It was a dogfight. There were times when Van Meter was was sneaking back in there and Kuemper didn't let him.

Right in front of the pylon, going to give it a crack from his own two yard line. And good pursuit by Carroll Kuemper on the return.

[APPLAUSE]

Blevins the return man. Coppock with the special teams tackle and a flag down.

Personal foul face mask kicking team number 1015 yards from the end of the run. First down.

Eric Trudo originally from Ogden, he played for a legendary coach in central Iowa, Larry Tryon, for so many years for the Ogden Bulldogs and Trudeau married Coach Ryan's youngest daughter, so football in that family, they talk football, especially next week over Thanksgiving. Where families feast around the televisions and turkey mashed potatoes. Give me three orders of those, please, and life is good. First down Van Meter. Oh, nearly intercepted. Jumping the lane. Just a fraction late. That was almost a pick six for Mayhall. Let's go back to the special teams play and the hand getting up. Yep.

Pass.

They call that incomplete. That looked like a really good catch right there by Watson. Fortunately. Looks like he wasn't able to hang on to it.

Second down and ten from the 37 Lounsbury running for his life. And he is sacked. Jack Badding one more time.

It was a good job by the secondary, obviously covering everybody up and Jack Badding knowing obviously they're in a third. They're they're in a passing down and stay to the outside, use his hands. Just ran ran Lounsbury down making a sack.

Fourth sack of the day for Kuemper. Three of those sacks coming from Diehl. And now Badding gets into the act. This is a team that led to a and sacks all year. They lob it out Williams with the catch past the 40 hops. Skips over one of his blockers and curling along the far sideline, tight roping all the way to midfield. Nice play there by Christian Williams.

I love the screen call there. I think that is a genius call. Everybody's thinking long bomb. Everybody's. Everybody's got pass rushing and get that screen through. Get the ball out quick and got the first down.

Van Meter in the final. Seventh time since 2017 they were looking for their fifth state title today. Four time state champ Big collision Lounsbury popped by Hoyt. They had the run. They had three straight titles and 2122. And then they won the state title in 23. And we talked about the growth of the Van Meter School district. The first two titles were in one A and 21 and 22, and then they bumped up to two. They had no trouble winning the title in 2023. Second down, out to the flat they go. And the pass is caught getting out of bounds, stopping the clock Brayden Fennessey his first catch of the day. The inside slot that they asked to do a lot in this offense.

Yeah, a little out route. They did a great job getting him open and a good job by him knowing to get out of bounds, get the clock stopped. Obviously you'd like a little bit more there.

Lounsbury 12 of 22 for 128 yards. He will swing it out. Good catch by Williams open field tackle made as we cross inside a minute. Griffin Glynn the stop.

That was a great open field tackle by Griffin Glynn. Williams is a tough, shifty running back and Griffin Glynn did a really great job staying in front of him, putting his body on him, bringing him to the ground.

A lot of different story lines in this football game, but it's been Kuemper Knight ability to stop Van Meter on third down, ball tipped up into the air, nearly intercepted, and they're going to do it again. Three of 15 for Van Meter on third downs today.

And that was Jack Badding right there. Huge pass rush. Smoke the quarterback right there. Almost got an interception. Lounsbury has been extremely tough all game. He has been tremendous with his arm with his legs. He's done a really great job fighting for this Van Meter team and keeping him in this ball game.

They are partying along the Kuemper Catholic sideline right now. A Kuemper defense that allowed only 188 yards of total offense, a secondary that picked off two passes, an opportunistic defense with a couple of fumble recoveries, and then the pressure from this defensive line, the victory formation down to a knee Brock Badding Kuemper Catholic of Carroll. Congratulations, state title number two in the program's history. They take down the perennial power Van Meter the final few moments off the clock, and it is official your 2025 Two-a state champion, the Knights of Kuemper Catholic.

[APPLAUSE]

A team that had the target on their back, really? From the opening week, everybody across the state talked about Carroll Kuemper and the returning firepower, especially at the skill positions. Yet each week they took care of business. Now here they are. State champions.

100%. And they did it. And they they did it to perfection. They didn't get beat. They had they had the bull's eye on them and they stayed together and they stayed tough. And it shows that they had great senior leadership and a great culture created by Coach Steinkamp.

They already have the state championship at manufactured, and they are ready to party. Kuemper Catholic they blended it well today. Badding one of the top passers in the state. He got them on the board early with the touchdown throw to Mayhall and then the first of two touchdown runs from Jared Hoffman Badding with the quarterback keeper as they went up tempo. And then this was the nail in the Kauffman Hoffman from four yards out. Kuemper Catholic 28 to 7 as they celebrate with the students who have made the trip from western Iowa.

You know, Van Meter has got they've got nothing to hang their hat on. They they played really hard. Tremendous game, tremendous fight by them. They didn't give up. And Kuemper Catholic just from start to finish. Just battled, did a tremendous job, made plays that needed to make them forced turnovers, ran to the ball. Just super impressive watching them play today.

[APPLAUSE]

Just a few moments. They will have the official trophy presentation. You see the two trophies making their way on to the field, the runner up and the state champ. Be able to play on the final calendar day of the high school football season. Always the goal. Let's listen in the trophy presentation, starting with the runner up, Van Meter Bulldogs.

On great seasons, the IHSAA trophies and Awards program is possible because of title sponsor of the Iowa Farm Bureau. Presenting today's runner up in championship trophies and awards are members of the IHSAA staff and Board of Control. Your state runner up finishes the 2025 season with a record of ten and three. In 24 playoff appearances. Let's congratulate the student athletes, coaches and supporters of Van Meter.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE]

And it's been 12 years since that last championship. Your Class 2A state champion for 2025 with a record of 13 and oh. in 22. playoff appearances for. Knights from Kuemper.

Catholic.

[APPLAUSE]

Alvin Stredic Kaine and the Knights.

We'll be checking in with Paul Yeager very shortly as he is going to talk to our star player of the game, and we're going to swing it down to him. Looks like he has the head coach right now.

I do, I do. Coach, congratulations. This is a team. This is an emotional moment. Walk me through what's going through your head right now.

Oh I'm just so proud of these kids. You know, we talked about winning every down, every quarter. And it was cliche, but these kids bought in, and they. And they believe. And they had mindset that mentality. And I'm just so proud of them. So proud I can't miss this picture though.

Hey they are going to hold the picture for us as well. You are going to be in it. They won't take it without you. You are an alum of this place. Put that into perspective for me.

Yeah, I mean, I love Kuemper, I love that love the community. We have great fans out here. Like I'm so proud of our guys. I think give a shout out to all, all all our coaches, all the players. It's something special.

And I want you to talk about Lucas right now. We're going to talk to Lucas. But tell me what his game meant.

Oh, he's a dog in there. You know, he single handedly that D-line. You know, I don't think get too creative when he's out there manhandling it too. So he made he made us coaches look pretty good out there several times.

Congratulations, coach Lucas, I got to read your stat line. 11 tackles, five solo, three tackle for loss. What does that mean?

Shows all the work I've done this year and all the years before.

You are strong, no doubt about it. What did you do to dominate inside tonight?

Use my strength mostly. Listen, coaches use technique. Read my keys. All the stuff they taught us.

You have a lot of great skill players, a lot of guys that get a lot of the headlines. But what was it about the line play that was so important in this championship?

Mostly our union, whatever you want to call it, like we're really close together. We're all in the same grade except for our left tackle. So we played with each other like our entire lives.

Go get in that picture. Enjoy it. Lucas. Thank you very much. Congratulations there. Let's go back upstairs.

Thank you very much, Paul. You know, we bring Pat Angerer up into the broadcast booth and wouldn't you know it, one of the big uglies up front ends up our star of the game, and he deserved it. Lucas Diehl two way starter, offensive line, defensive line. What a performance.

Yeah. He dominated. It was super impressive watching him from start to finish.

28 to 7. Kuemper Catholic your two way state champions don't go anywhere. Coming up, it's the three a title Nevada and Bishop Heelan. As coverage continues from Cedar Falls right here on Iowa PBS.

[MUSIC]

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