Class 1A Semifinal: Wilton vs. Grundy Center

As we prepare for state championship week for high school football in Iowa, we recap the semifinals round of the Class 1A playoffs with our first matchup between Wilton (10-1) and Grundy Center (11-0). Wilton came into the game flying high following a stunning upset over Regina Catholic, but they were ultimately no match for the #1 team in Class 1A. The Spartans took an early lead in the first quarter 7-0 before exploding in the second quarter to build a 28-7 deficit at halftime. The Spartans' offense worked efficiently, wearing down the Beavers' defense with an effective aerial attack, while limiting an offense that amassed over 4000 total yards of offense to just 203 total yards and being shutout entirely in the second half en route to a 42-7 blowout. Grundy Center has set the stage now to win their third consecutive state championship title as they extend their winning streak to an impressive 38 straight victories.   Here were 7 players that stood out from the overall game under intense pressure!    [player_tooltip player_id='1614184' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'] has had such a massive breakout season with Grundy Center this season, and he's continued his impressive run with a practically perfect performance against Wilton. Jirovsky finished 17 of 18 passing for 170 yards and 3 touchdowns while adding 12 carries for 49 yards. Jirovsky was in full control of the offense, showing excellence in his reads and hitting his short options consistently during the game while adding a few splash plays hitting on a couple targets down the field. Jirovsky also has been effective taking draw plays up the middle and churning for short gains. Jirovsky has now scored a combined 40 touchdowns this season, and he's certainly solidified his spot as the best QB in Class 1A right now.     [player_tooltip player_id='252315' first='Tiernan' last='Vokes'] once again dominated his role as an outside receiver who's size overpowers the CBs. Vokes finished as the leading target for the Spartans, recording 9 catches for 72 yards and a touchdown in the win. Vokes also added 5 tackles on defense. Vokes didn't have a lot of plays where he stretched the field vertically. His role was catching a lot of short routes and screens, and using his size and athleticism to power ahead to rack up yards after the catch. Vokes has now surpassed over 1000 total receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns across the season. Vokes should remain as the most effective target in the Spartans' passing game heading into the state title game.     The Spartans' secondary did a great job flustering Wilton's explosive passing game. Jacob Hoy played a big part in the secondary's dominance as they limited the Beavers to just 116 yards of passing, and Hoy put an exclamation point on the blowout when he recorded a 57 yard pick six in the 4th quarter to completely put the game out of reach. Hoy did a great job in shutting down the passing game by forcing short passes and providing sure tackling to limit yards after the catch. His pick came on a forced throw which Hoy snatched and sprinted down the sideline for a free score. Hoy now has 4 interceptions in his senior season as he looks to add another big play in the championship game.     [player_tooltip player_id='252335' first='Ryker' last='Thoren'] controlled the interior gaps in the run-defense for Grundy Center, limiting Wilton's prolific run-game to just 85 total rushing yards and 3.5 yards per carry. Thoren finished the game with a team-high 10.5 tackles (7 solo) and 1 TFL. Thoren is one of the most intelligent defensive players I've seen from Class 1A, reading play-designs well, and he did a great job once again this week attacking running lanes with great pursuit angles to limit the effectiveness of the run-game. Thoren has been the undisputed leader in the middle of the Spartans' defense, and his leadership will be vital in helped Grundy Center to a third straight state title.     Brody Zinkula has been effective in pounding the ball in the ground game this year for Grundy Center, but his performance against Wilton was a perfect showcase for his all-purpose potential. Zinkula finished with 12 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown, plus 4 catches for 47 yards and a receiving touchdown. Zinkula also added an 89 yard kick return touchdown at the end of the first half. All three touchdowns came in the first half and proved critical in establishing strong momentum for the Spartans in the game. Zinkula certainly boosted his stock with his standout performance against Wilton that flashed his athleticism and skillset as a dangerous weapon for the Spartans' offense.     Wilton struggled to generate any momentum on offense, though [player_tooltip player_id='1286459' first='Owen' last='Hassell'] proved to be one of the few bright spots of the unit during the game. Hassell finished with 73 rushing yards on 15 carries while adding 4 catches for 36 yards and a 21 yard touchdown reception with 18 seconds left in the first half which proved to be Wilton's only score of the game. Hassell has flashed all season as a dual-threat, proving to be a speedy runner that can bounce off defenders' hits, while also proving reliable catching both out of the backfield and lined up in the slot. Hassell finishes off a spectacular season campaign in which he ran for over 1200 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground, proving to be a great workhorse in the backfield.     Jordan Dusenberry has been a dynamic player for the Beavers, and despite the loss, he showed flashes on both offense and defense in the game. Dusenberry finished with a team high 45 yards on 4 catches. In the secondary, he led the team with 7.5 tackles (6 solo), and he also forced a fumble late in the third quarter, leading to a turnover that generated some brief momentum for the Beavers. Dusenberry showcased playmaking potential in the game, proving reliable as a pass-catcher with sharp route-running, while also proving to be a tough tackler and physical hitter on the defensive side. Dusenberry recorded a team-high 8 interceptions this season, standing out as a swiss-army knife for Wilton this year.

As we prepare for state championship week for high school football in Iowa, we recap the semifinals round of the Class 1A playoffs with our first matchup between Wilton (10-1) and Grundy Center (11-0). Wilton came into the game flying high following a stunning upset over Regina Catholic, but they were ultimately no match for the #1 team in Class 1A. The Spartans took an early lead in the first quarter 7-0 before exploding in the second quarter to build a 28-7 deficit at halftime. The Spartans' offense worked efficiently, wearing down the Beavers' defense with an effective aerial attack, while limiting an offense that amassed over 4000 total yards of offense to just 203 total yards and being shutout entirely in the second half en route to a 42-7 blowout. Grundy Center has set the stage now to win their third consecutive state championship title as they extend their winning streak to an impressive 38 straight victories.