Recap, Reaction: West Lyon Advances to Championship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/photo-gallery-west-lyon-south-hardin/">Photo Gallery: West Lyon-South Hardin</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/tt7SqTSD2rs","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/tt7SqTSD2rs </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/SF8-1A-WL-SH-11.14.25.pdf">BOX SCORE</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - </strong>West Lyon hadn't faced much resistance on its way to Friday's Class 1A state semifinal here at the UNI-Dome. South Hardin provided it. The Wildcats pushed through it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Lyon overcame a slow start in notching a 21-7 victory. It clinched a spot in next week's title contest against Regina. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We get the opportunity to play for a state championship against a really good Regina team," long-time Wildcat coach Jay Rozeboom said. "We're happy to have the opportunity, but we know we have our work cut out for us." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If it's a close game, West Lyon now knows it can conquer adversity as it did on Friday. Trailing 7-0 midway through the second quarter, the Wildcats found their footing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Everybody was into it. We just started picking each other up," quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='2050083' first='Easton' last='DeJong'] said. "We knew that we could answer, so we just had to stay with each other." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1221929' first='Evan' last='Hildring'] got West Lyon on the board with a 62-yard touchdown sprint. He added a one-yard score late in the second quarter to give the Wildcats a 14-7 advantage heading into the locker room. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Our O-Line got probably eight yards of push," Hildring said of his 62-yarder. "All I had to do was outrun the defense there, so nothing really special." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hildring finished with 174 yards and the two scores on 18 carries. DeJong threw a touchdown and gained 44 yards rushing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defending 1A champ West Lyon cruised into The Dome with a 24-game winning streak and having reached the state semifinals for the third time this decade. South Hardin, whose only other setback this season is against three-time defending champion Grundy Center, was making its first-ever trip to the Final Four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It wasn't the ending they wanted, but the Tigers created a legacy and set the bar for future teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"It means a lot," quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1844227' first='Peyton' last='Welch'] said. "First time going to The Dome in school history is just an honor." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Welch threw for 155 yards and ran for 72 more. [player_tooltip player_id='1844219' first='Casey' last='Williamson'] caught nine balls for 79 yards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/FzgSn6G076E","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/FzgSn6G076E </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->