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Iowa High School Football Playoffs: Saint Ansgar, MMCRU Advance

Top-seed Saint Ansgar handles Wapsie Valley, 31-7, MMCRU Ousts District Rival

Dana Becker

Saint Ansgar secured a spot in the Class A Iowa high school football finals.
Saint Ansgar secured a spot in the Class A Iowa high school football finals. / IHSAA

For 24 minutes, Wapsie Valley looked poised to pull the upset and knock top-ranked Saint Ansgar off in the Class A Iowa high school football playoffs on Thursday inside the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

But a pair of big plays turned all of that around, as the Saints advanced to the championship with a 31-7 victory.

Trailing 7-6 at the intermission, Connor Mullenbach returned the opening kickoff in the second half 83 yards for a touchdown, putting Saint Ansgar ahead, 12-7. Later in the third quarter, the Warriors had pinned the Saints down deep near their own end zone.

But instead of forcing a three-and-out and getting the ball back by flipping the field, it was a 90-yard pass-and-catch connection by Porter Schwiesow and star running back Korben Michels that resulted in a touchdown.

Leading 18-7 late in the third, Schwiesow broke free for a 30-yard run, adding another touchdown scamper in the fourth. The sophomore, who replaced standout Jayce Schwiesow at quarterback this year, finished 4-for-7 for 115 yards and two touchdowns, rushing for 41 yards and two more scores.

Michels, one of the top running backs in the state, had 74 yards on 14 carries and 95 yards receiving with two touchdowns on two receptions.

For Wapsie Valley, Hunter Curley finished with 81 yards rushing and Caleb Hogan had 96 yards passing, including an 8-yard touchdown to Cadyn Dana.

Saint Ansgar’s defense recorded two interceptions courtesy Jaeger Trytten and Joe Clevenber, as Chase Haugen had a sack. Clevenger led with 15 tackles and both Matt Clevenger and Seth Shotts each had nine stops. Michels also recovered a fumble.

Blake Heese had 10 tackles with a fumble recovery for the Wapsie Valley defense, as Luke Riordan recorded eight tackles.

The Saints previously won a state football title competing in 1A back in 2011. Wapsie Valley was in pursuit of the sixth state football championship for the program.

MMCRU Handles District Rival West Sioux, 28-0

In a meeting of district rivals, it was MMCRU scoring another victory over West Sioux, 28-0.

This one puts the Royals into the state championship game where they will meet Saint Ansgar next week inside the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Eli Harpenau found Michael Schmillen on three first half touchdown passes, giving MMCRU early command of the game. The first game with just over two minutes to go in the opening quarter on a 47-yard connection.

With 2:36 to play before the half, Harpeanu found Schmillen from 60 yards out, and the duo connected again from 40 yards out with 40 seconds to go before the break. Schmillen finished the first half with three catches for 147 yards and three touchdowns.

Harpeanu was 9 of 17 for 212 and four scores in the air for the game, adding 53 yards rushing. Brayson Mulder caught the other touchdown.

Blake Wiggins threw for 202 yards and ran for 42 to lead the Falcons, as former West Sioux star Hunter Dekkers watched on from the sidelines. Dekkers spent the summer in minicamp with the New Orleans Saints of the NFL.

Braylon Lopez caught seven passes for 88 yards and Gavin Gerritson had four for 82.

The MMCRU defense, which had allowed just four touchdowns all year by its starters, received interceptions from both Gage Johnson and Wyatt Alesch. Johnson tallied a team-high 11 tackles and Eli Schlenger had eight. Schmillen recorded three tackles for loss.

Gavin Gerritson had 14 tackles for West Sioux, as Eli Mora added 10 with two for loss.

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Dana Becker
DANA BECKER

Dana Becker has been a sports writer in Iowa since 2000, writing for The Fort Dodge Messenger, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others. Dana resides in northcentral Iowa and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in 2022 focused on the state of Iowa. Along with providing coverage of football and wrestling, Dana also spotlights cross country, swimming, basketball, track and field, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball and softball. He began writing for High School on SI in 2023.

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