Eight-Player Semifinals: Key Players To Watch For

The semifinals begin this Wednesday live from the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls with two eight-player battles. In the opener, Wayland-WACO takes on Newell-Fonda, while the late-afternoon features Remsen St. Mary's and Lenox.   Over the past two months, these four teams have done everything in their power to reach this point. They each feature high-octane offenses and shutdown defenses.   We should be in for quite the afternoon of football. Here are some of the key players to watch for in the two games:   Wayland-WACO vs. Newell-Fonda   Mason Dicks - Newell-Fonda   The last time Newell-Fonda claimed the state championship, Brady Dicks was leading the way for the Mustangs. This time, it is his brother, Mason Dicks. An incredible dual-threat athlete, Mason Dicks has accounted for 35 touchdowns and over 2,100 yards from scrimmage.   He has completed 95 of 136 for 1,477 yards and 21 scores, adding 797 and 14 more with his legs. Dicks is also a key part of a defensive unit that has really been strong in the postseason, recording 30.5 tackles with four interceptions.   Ryan Greenfield - Newell-Fonda   The running mate to Mason Dicks is Ryan Greenfield, as his senior classmate does it all on offense. Greenfield is second on the team behind only Dicks with 631 yards rushing, averaging over five per carry with 15 touchdowns. Where he really stands out, though, is as a receiver, catching 49 passes for 748 yards and nine scores.   Greenfield's ability to be a dual-threat makes this Newell-Fonda offense go.   Isaac Oswald - Wayland-WACO   You cannot be a threat in the eight-player world without a superstar at quarterback. The person handles the ball so much, they have to be capable of doing it all. For Wayland-WACO, that is senior Isaac Oswald. Oswald has thrown for 1,350 yards and 22 touchdowns, adding another eight rushing scores. He has been effective in the air, throwing just five interceptions among his 153 attempts.   Simeon Reicherbach - Wayland-WACO   What an incredible senior season it has been for Wayland-WACO standout Simeon Reicherbach. Coming into the state semifinals, Reicherbach has racked up 1,451 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns, averaging an eye-popping 9.6 yards per rush. Much like his counterpart, Ryan Greenfield, Reicherbach is a threat out of the backfield, catching 17 passes for 293 yards and five more scores.   He is also a force on defense with nine tackles for loss, 43.5 stops, four forced turnovers and a defensive touchdown, along with handling return duties on special teams.   Remsen St. Mary's vs. Lenox   [player_tooltip player_id='1358165' first='Gabe' last='Funk'] - Lenox   The best way for unbeaten Lenox to upset top-ranked Remsen St. Mary's would be to keep the ball away from the offense. And to do that, Lenox has the kind of players needed. They have rushed for almost 3,000 yards and 61 touchdowns, with sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1358165' first='Gabe' last='Funk'] at the controls of it all.   Funk is third on the team with 563 yards rushing and seven scores, while also completing 40 of 69 passes for 669 yards and 14 TDs. His backfield mates are leading rusher [player_tooltip player_id='152752' first='Isaac' last='Grundman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='320550' first='Keigan' last='Kitzman'].   [player_tooltip player_id='1358158' first='Jordan' last='Martin-England'] - Lenox   Another part of the 10th-grade class for Lenox is defensive superstar [player_tooltip player_id='1358158' first='Jordan' last='Martin-England']. On the year, Martin-England has caused issues for the opposition by recording six sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. For Lenox to keep Remsen St. Mary's out of the end zone, they'll need Martin-England to be at his finest.   Cael Ortmann - Remsen St. Mary's   If you haven't had the chance to see Remsen St. Mary's live or on stream, make sure you do because Cael Ormann is worth it. Ortmann is the most accurate quarterback in the state, completing 83 of 100 at 83 percent with just two interceptions on those attempts. He has thrown for 1,526 yards and 29 touchdowns, adding another 770 yards and 16 scores on the ground.   Ortmann has the size, arm strength and ability to scan the field at a high level. He is a future college baseball player and could easily be a future college football player if he decided on that path.   [player_tooltip player_id='152618' first='Jaxon' last='Bunkers'] - Remsen St. Mary's   Teams have that sparkplug or kid that really does it all. For Remsen St. Mary's, that is [player_tooltip player_id='152618' first='Jaxon' last='Bunkers']. The senior has forced seven turnovers on defense, scoring four touchdowns. That right there alone is an incredible piece of his resume to go along with 49 tackles including five for loss and two sacks.   On offense, Bunkers has another nine touchdowns, including six in the air with 16 receptions for 261 yards. He is averaging 16 yards per catch and seven per rush. Remsen St. Mary's does an incredible job of finding way to get Bunkers the ball and allow him to create.

The semifinals begin this Wednesday live from the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls with two eight-player battles. In the opener, Wayland-WACO takes on Newell-Fonda, while the late-afternoon features Remsen St. Mary's and Lenox.