Standout Performers from 2A, 1A, A, 8-Players Semifinals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The four smallest classes in the state provided excitement and created lifetime memories this week at the UNI-Dome. Those performances set up what should be very entertaining championship games. The semifinals provided us with a lot of super individual performances and plenty more really good ones. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a group of young men who realized their dreams on the big stage: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS 2A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='573617' first='Reece' last='Vander Zee'], '24, QB/DB, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Iowa Hawkeye receiver commitment has done it all during his prep career. He added to his legacy helping keep alive the Lions' repeat hopes in their 28-14 victory against Spirit Lake in the semifinals. He rushed 26 times for 170 yards and three touchdowns, completed nine of 12 passes for 84 yards, intercepted a pass, forced a fumble and broke up two passes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320866' first='Ben' last='Gordon'], '24, RB/S, Van Meter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gordon shined last season during Van Meter's championship run in Class 1A. He looked comfortable in the spotlight again during a 35-21 win against Monticello in this week's 2A semifinals. He carried the ball 33 times for 208 yards and four touchdowns. He added a 33-yard reception. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320758' first='Graham' last='Eben'], CL/G-LR; [player_tooltip player_id='1280523' first='Jack' last='Krull'], CL/G-LR; [player_tooltip player_id='320863' first='Teddy' last='Sieck'], VM; Andon Watson, VM; Sam Henrickson, SL; [player_tooltip player_id='1286501' first='Dylan' last='Stecker'], SL; [player_tooltip player_id='156453' first='Preston' last='Ries'], Monticello; [player_tooltip player_id='922642' first='Peyton' last='Schilling'], Monticello.       </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS 1A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320787' first='Colin' last='Gordon'], '24, QB/DB, Grundy Center</strong>  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gordon proved to be tough to contain during a 42-7 victory against Waterloo Columbus in the semifinals. The senior completed 17 of 20 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns, adding 71 yards and two scores on the ground. He intercepted a pass on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quinn McGeough, '25, RB/S, MFL-MarMac</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McGeough contributed in a big way during his team's 41-28 semifinal triumph against Underwood. The junior carried the ball 26 times for 139 yards and five touchdowns. He chipped in with two tackles on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention: </strong>Brody Zinkula, GC; [player_tooltip player_id='320785' first='Tate' last='Jirovsky'], GC; [player_tooltip player_id='156457' first='Carver' last='Blietz-Bentien'], MFL; Bryce Radloff, MFL; Drew Schultz, WC; [player_tooltip player_id='156618' first='Mason' last='Knipp'], WC; Mason Boothby, Underwood; [player_tooltip player_id='1221934' first='Garrett' last='Luett'], Underwood.    </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248046' first='Drew' last='Kluender'], '24, QB/DB, Woodbury Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talented Wildcat senior impacted his squad's 28-20 semifinal victory against East Buchanan on both sides of the ball. Kluender completed 10 of 15 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. He picked up 51 yards and two more scores on the ground. He registered 3.0 tackles and a pass breakup on defense and averaged 39.5 yards on a pair of punts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kale Zuehl, '24, RB/LB, West Hancock  </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles' super senior rushed 23 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns during a 39-14 win over Madrid in the semifinals. He added a couple of tackles in a balanced effort on both sides of the ball for West Hancock. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention: </strong>Eric McGill, WC; Colby Gilbert, WC; Kellen Smith, WH; Mitchell Smith, WH; [player_tooltip player_id='248020' first='Tanner' last='Thurn'], EB; [player_tooltip player_id='156581' first='Hunter' last='Bowers'], EB; [player_tooltip player_id='1359880' first='Preston' last='Wicker'], Madrid; Terrin Lawrenson, Madrid.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8-PLAYER</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caden Roethler, '24, RB/LB, Bishop Garrigan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roethler authored one of the week's best overall performances during a 34-20 semifinal victory against top-seeded Winfield-Mount Union. The senior carried the ball 32 times for 181 yards and four touchdowns. He led the Golden Bears with 6.5 tackles (1.5 TFL) and also contributed a sack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1352475' first='Garrison' last='Motsinger'], '25, RB/S, Bedford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs put a lot of the load on Motsinger's shoulders during a 31-30 triumph against Gladbrook-Reinbeck in the semifinals. The talented junior toted the ball 26 times for 134 yards. He contributed on defense as well with 3.0 tackles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention: </strong>Sam Plathe, BG; Brody Ludwig, BG; Conner Nally, Bedford; Izaak Dukes, Bedford; [player_tooltip player_id='156461' first='Cam' last='Buffington'], WMU; Cole Milks, WMU; [player_tooltip player_id='252223' first='Drew' last='Eilers'], GR; [player_tooltip player_id='156459' first='Isaac' last='Clark'], GR.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->