Class 1A Championship: Dike-New Hartford vs. Grundy Center

Grundy Center has been setting a blistering pace over the last three years, going on a dynastic run atop the podium of Class 1A, and despite taking on a tough foe in Dike-New Hartford this week, the Wolverines were no match for the mighty Spartans as they won the state championship for a third straight year with a 28-7 victory. The Spartans sprinted out to a 14-0 lead, and would ultimately hold on top throughout the entirety of the matchup. The Spartans would control much of the game on the ground, rushing for 183 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. The defense stood out the most, limiting one of the top rushing offenses in Class 1A to just 64 yards of rushing offense as they struggled to find a rhythm all game. With the win, Grundy Center also extends their win streak to a staggering 39 straight victories as they have truly solidified themselves as a powerhouse for high school football teams in Iowa.   Here are 7 players from the game that stood out in the biggest stage of the season!    [player_tooltip player_id='1614184' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'] has done a spectacular job this season in taking the reins of the starting QB job for Grundy Center and keeping this team atop the class. Jirovsky succeeded predominantly on the ground in the matchup, as he finished 8 of 14 passing for 92 yards, while adding 19 carries for 121 yards and 3 touchdowns. Jirovsky also added an interception in the first quarter that led to a touchdown. Jirovsky went off in the game, relying on steady balance, strength, and acceleration in getting around defenders and finding the open lanes on the ground to consistently churn out strong runs, while also making smart reads to progress the ball down the field through the air. Jirovsky will certainly earn a spot as one of the top QBs in Iowa heading into the Class of 2026 when the rankings get updated this offseason.     Ryder Slifer seems as an undersized athlete playing at DE and OT, but Slifer has played extremely well as one of the more underrated contributors for the Spartans' stout defense. Slifer stood out in a big way against the Wolverines, recording 4 tackles, 3 TFLs, and a sack in the win. Slifer used his lean and lengthy frame to his advantage, as blockers had a difficult time gaining leverage as Slifer got the first punch, gaining leverage against his blockers most of the game. As a result, the Wolverines weren't able to succeed with their dominant outside-run scheme through the Spartans' defense. Slifer recorded an impressive 13 TFLs and 6.5 sacks last season, and he should return in his senior season as one of the most valuable contributors to the stingy defense to stick around and lead the unit in 2025.     The Wolverines saw a lot more action over the air on Saturday as their run game wasn't able to find a rhythm. Senior Devon Lotts proved to be the most effective in creating chunk plays in the passing game, as he caught 6 passes for 107 yards, while also adding 3.5 tackles on defense. Lotts was incorporated in a variety of different route combinations over the course of the night, but his sharp footwork and great hands made him the most trusted target in the passing game. Lotts finished the season as the Wolverines' leader in receptions (35) and receiving yards (458) as he proved to be a solid two-way player for the team.     The trenches proved tough for the Wolverines to battle through the Spartans' for yardage on the ground, but standout [player_tooltip player_id='252335' first='Ryker' last='Thoren'] seemed to close out any other holes that were created by the line. Thoren would finish the game with 8.5 tackles (5 solo) and 2 TFLs in the win. Thoren attacks the backfield with speed and precision, timing his attacks perfectly, and he proved that he didn't take any push back from the ball-carriers, shutting down the play where the hit occurs. Thoren was the face of the Spartans' defense for much of the season, and his excellence in leading such a potent unit should translate into the next level.     Brody Zinkula contributed as a perfect companion in the run-game for [player_tooltip player_id='1614184' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'] as they racked up big numbers on Saturday through the Wolverines' defense. Zinkula finished the night with 61 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown, along with 3 catches for 15 yards. Zinkula played a straight-forward game of attacking the line downhill and progressing the ball with short-yardage gains. Zinkula helped the Spartans maintain a steady grip on ball-possession during the game, wearing down the defense before breaking through on a 20 yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter to put the game away. Zinkula scored 13 touchdowns on the ground as a senior as he proved to be a productive supportive piece to a great offense this season.     Noah Borcherding wasn't able to find any holes in the run-game as the Spartans' plugged up nearly everything that the Wolverines tried. Borcherding would finish the game with just 35 yards on 12 carries, though he provided the Wolverines with their lone score of the game. Borcherding also had 2 catches for 30 yards, 5.5 tackles on defense, and added 3 returns for 52 yards. While Borcherding couldn't really make his mark on the ground, he did play a vital role contributing in other factors for the Wolverines on Saturday, showcasing his athleticism and multi-purpose potential. It's a disappointing ending to a senior campaign for one of the best RBs in all of Iowa this season, but Borcherding has been so effective this season that he should be fielding some late offers from searching teams that will look to add a speedy RB to contribute to the offense.     As effective as the run game was for the Spartans on Saturday, Tyson Bennett did a solid job manning the middle and giving his all to counter the run. Bennett finished the game with 4.5 tackles, 1 TFL, and recording the team's only sack of the night. Bennett did a good job when it came to reading the option plays and finding the lanes to attack based on the blocking schemes, and despite being smaller for a Middle Linebacker, Bennett was effective with his tackling. Bennett has been an underrated asset in the middle of the Wolverines' defense this season, though his athleticism and size may suit him for a different position if he plays in the next level.

Grundy Center has been setting a blistering pace over the last three years, going on a dynastic run atop the podium of Class 1A, and despite taking on a tough foe in Dike-New Hartford this week, the Wolverines were no match for the mighty Spartans as they won the state championship for a third straight year with a 28-7 victory. The Spartans sprinted out to a 14-0 lead, and would ultimately hold on top throughout the entirety of the matchup. The Spartans would control much of the game on the ground, rushing for 183 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. The defense stood out the most, limiting one of the top rushing offenses in Class 1A to just 64 yards of rushing offense as they struggled to find a rhythm all game. With the win, Grundy Center also extends their win streak to a staggering 39 straight victories as they have truly solidified themselves as a powerhouse for high school football teams in Iowa.