Van Meter-West Sioux Class 1A Title Game Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Van Meter and West Sioux faced off Friday afternoon in the Class 1A State Championship Game at the UNI-Dome. Van Meter (12-1) came away with a 35-7 decision for its second title in a row and third overall. The Falcons finished the season at 11-2. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/IHSAA/status/1593769229202882561?s=20u0026t=SZ7S1b7FhPl0dX7OoMSVKw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/IHSAA/status/1593769229202882561?s=20&amp;t=SZ7S1b7FhPl0dX7OoMSVKw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='105166' first='Ben' last='Gilliland']</strong>, <strong>'23, QB/LB, Van Meter -</strong> The do-it-all Gilliland completed 7 of 12 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns. He added 62 yards and a score on the ground, and then a late-game interception for good measure. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320697' first='Carter' last='Durflinger'], '23, WR/LB, Van Mater - </strong>The senior topped off an excellent career with three catches for 46 yards and a touchdown of 18 yards. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320700' first='Aydn' last='Netten'], '23, WR/DB, Van Meter - </strong>Netten picked off a pass early in the third quarter and returned it 55 yards to the house. It increased the Bulldogs' lead to 21-0. Netten felt like one big play wasn't enough. He added a 61-yard scoring reception early in the fourth-quarter with his team leading 21-7. He finished with six tackles (4.0 solo, .5 for loss) and a pass breakup. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='246737' first='Carter' last='Bultman'], '23, RB/LB, West Sioux - </strong>Bultman runs like a bull with the ball in his hands - a skilled one. He tossed a touchdown pass, carried the ball 10 times for 45 tough yards, and caught five passes for 18 yards. That was a lot or work against Van Meter's stingy defense. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320862' first='John' last='Braun'], '24, WR/LB, Van Meter - </strong>Braun stepped in front of a West Sioux pass early in the fourth quarter. He looked it into his hands, tucked it away and raced 43 yards into the end zone. It increased his team's lead to 35-7. The junior chipped in with 4.5 tackles (1.5 for loss). </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Mason Coppock, '23, WR/LB, West Sioux - </strong>Coppock performed well on both sides of the ball on Friday. He caught five passes for 37 yards and a touchdown. He paced his squad with 6.0 tackles (3 solo). </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Avery Millikan, '23, WR/CB, West Sioux -</strong> Millikan did what he could against a tough group of Bulldog linebackers and secondary members. He caught five passes for 38 yards. He chipped in with a couple of tackles. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320698' first='Michael' last='Steinfeldt'], '23, OT/DE, Van Meter - </strong>A captain, Steinfeldt played well on both sides of the trenches. He and his offensive line mates helped the Bulldog offense produce 273 yards. The senior also assisted on three tackles for a defense that held the opponent to 85 yards on the ground. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320865' first='Porter' last='Doggett'], '24, WR/LB, Van Meter - </strong>Doggett led all players in this game with 9.5 tackles (7 solo, 1.5 for loss). It seemed like he was everywhere on the field. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/IHSAA/status/1593747428771074048?s=20u0026t=SZ7S1b7FhPl0dX7OoMSVKw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/IHSAA/status/1593747428771074048?s=20&amp;t=SZ7S1b7FhPl0dX7OoMSVKw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->