What to Expect, Players to Watch in 4A Semifinals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A new champion will be crowned in Class 4A this year. And only one of last season's semifinalists are back in the UNI-Dome this week to compete for it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Council Bluffs Lewis Central looks to take another step forward after losing to Cedar Rapids Xavier in the 2022 title game. The Titans are chasing the program's second championship in the last three seasons. They'll have their work cut out for them against strong competition from the other three competitors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a closer look at Thursday's semifinals in 4A; </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Polk (9-2) vs. Lewis Central (9-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Series History: </strong><a href="https://www.gobound.com/ia/ihsaa/football/2023-24/comps/h202311060158533979f3daedd8e1f4d">According to records on Bound</a>, this game will be the first meeting between the two schools separated by about 150 miles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Numbers: </strong>Lewis Central enters the semifinals averaging 36.6 points and allowing 18.2 per game. The Comets yield just 12.2 a contest whole scoring 30.4. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lewis Central Season: </strong>The Titans have won their last seven games after splitting their first four contests this season. They swept a pair of meetings with ADM, including a 32-21 victory in last week's quarterfinals. They also topped fellow playoffs teams Glenwood, Harlan and LeMars. Lewis Central lost to fellow 4A semifinalist, Bondurant-Farrar, and Creston, a 3A semifinalist. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Polk Season: </strong>The highlight for the Comets in '23 happened last week, when they eliminated defending state champion, Xavier, 17-14, in the quarterfinals. They topped Ballard by the exact same score in the opening round. North Polk has won five games in a row since losing to Ballard, 7-6. It also defeated playoff teams in Bondurant-Farrar, ADM and Indianola. Its other loss came against Webster City, 21-20. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>-Lewis Central:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1279100' first='Brady' last='Hetzel'], [player_tooltip player_id='1360057' first='Brody' last='Patlan'], [player_tooltip player_id='592378' first='Kamdyn' last='Cross'], [player_tooltip player_id='248038' first='Curtis' last='Witte']; [player_tooltip player_id='156631' first='Caleb' last='Moore'], Lual Maker,&nbsp;Owen Thomas,&nbsp;Nash Paulson, Bryce Juon, [player_tooltip player_id='1360092' first='Joseph' last='Monge'],&nbsp;Nathan Beyenhof,&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1360084' first='Gavin' last='Riemenschneider']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>-North Polk: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320817' first='Isaac' last='Zoske'],&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1361480' first='BJ' last='Tate'],&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='320815' first='Brock' last='Miller'],&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='320816' first='Kale' last='Yoakum'], [player_tooltip player_id='320821' first='Cohan' last='Torres'], [player_tooltip player_id='320829' first='Brayden' last='Foster'], [player_tooltip player_id='1361539' first='Jakob' last='Phillips'],&nbsp;Nathan Feldman, Carter Van Brocklin,&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='320828' first='Dyllon' last='Ireland']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overview: </strong>Lewis Central advanced to the postseason for a 12th season in a row. It's the Titans third consecutive trip to The Dome, the only occasions they've been in the semifinals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Comets soared into The Dome for the first time since falling to Iowa City Regina in the '10 Class 1A championship game. They reached the postseason for a second year in a row and for the 15th time overall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lewis Central has the experience advantage, which is important when we talk about the UNI-Dome's unique environment. If the Comets can block that out and settle in quick, it would help their chances of winning a great deal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bondurant-Farrar (9-2) vs. Western Dubuque (10-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Series History: </strong>Like the other semifinal, <a href="https://www.gobound.com/ia/ihsaa/football/2023-24/comps/h202311060158527799488c6a8db1f49">Bound shows</a> that this is the first meeting between the schools located almost 175 miles from each other. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Numbers: </strong>Western Dubuque is scoring 35.8 points per game and allowing 16.6. The Bluejays share similar statistics, yielding 16.6 a contest and scoring 37.2. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Western Dubuque Season:</strong> The Bobcats knocked off North Scott twice this season. The most recent victory came in last week's quarterfinals. They stopped Newton in the first round. Western Dubuque also beat a playoff team in Decorah. It's lone loss was a 22-20 setback at Xavier on Sept. 8. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bondurant-Farrar Season:</strong> The Bluejays advanced with a 31-21 triumph at Glenwood in the quarterfinals following a 23-6 win against Pella in the first round. They also bested Lewis Central and Newton, both postseason teams. B-F's losses came against Pella and North Polk. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>-Western Dubuque:</strong> Grant Glausser,&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='320880' first='Brock' last='Carpenter'],&nbsp;Colin McDermott, [player_tooltip player_id='1279823' first='Tanner' last='Anderson'], Derek Hoerner, Ryan Digmann, Hunter Quagliano. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>-Bondurant-Farrar: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156487' first='Titus' last='Cram'], [player_tooltip player_id='252225' first='Jordan' last='Rial'], [player_tooltip player_id='156631' first='Caleb' last='Moore'], Cole Miller, Jacob VanderLinden,  [player_tooltip player_id='247976' first='Dalton' last='House'], Batpiny Riak, [player_tooltip player_id='1406662' first='Parker' last='Ernst']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overview:</strong> Western Dubuque is chasing its first state title since '19 and its second overall ('01). It's the Bobcats ninth time in the playoffs since '11 and their 17th appearance overall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bondurant-Farrar is playing in the state semifinals for the first time in program history. The Bluejays are appearing the postseason for the 11th time ever, all of those berths coming since '08. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you look at the points averaged for and against, these teams are interestingly very similar. That portends this being a competitive affair. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cram and Glausser are two of the best running backs in this class, and each team would like to establish the ground game early. The defense that holds up well against the rush gives its squad a great chance to win this contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->