The Iowa High School Athletic Association released what teams are in the High School Playoffs late Friday night. Area automatic bids went to BHRV, Sioux Center, West Lyon, Western, West Sioux, Westwood Sloan, Remsen St. Mary’s and Newell-Fonda. Pairings for the playoffs were released in the 2:00 O’clock hour early Saturday morning.

Sheldon was eliminated from the playoffs after Williamsburg fell to Mount Vernon and took the first Wild Card spot with a margin of 9. Union, La Porte City took the 2nd Wild Card spot with a margin of 8, the same as Sheldon, but through the tie breaker of reverse alphabet starting at the letter “D”, Union claimed the final spot. It was the fifth and final tie breaker in the system.

For a complete list of qualifiers, CLICK HERE

Class 2A:
DC: BHRV and DU: Sioux Center

Kuemper Catholic, Carroll at Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley at Rock Valley
Sioux Center at South Central Calhoun

Class 2A Bracket

Class 1A:
DC: West Lyon and DU:Western Christian

IKM-Manning at West Lyon
Western Christian at AHSTW Avoca

Class 1A Bracket

Class A:
DC: West Sioux, DU: Westwood and WC: Gehlen

Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids at West Sioux
Westwood, Sloan at Council Bluffs St. Albert
LeMars Gehlen at Southwest Valley

Class A Brackets

8-man:
DC: Remsen St. Mary’s and DU: Newell-Fonda

Boyer Valley, Dunlap at Remsen St. Mary’s
Newell-Fonda at Audubon

8-Player Brackets

Class 3A:
DC: Sergeant Bluff-Luton and DU: Heelan

Glenwood at Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Heelan at Harlan

Class 3A Brackets

The Dordt College football team was on the short end of a 24-17 decision to Concordia on Saturday, October 21 in Sioux Center, Iowa.

The Bulldogs played keep away from the Defenders in the second half and chiseled the clock down with a punishing running game and just enough passes to keep the Dordt defense off balance.

Dordt opened the scoring with a Brock Lamle keeper from six yards out to cap a five play, 67 yard drive with 10:50 left in the first quarter. The point after was no good and Dordt led 6-0.

The Bulldogs eventually answered with a touchdown pass from Riley Wiltfong to Jared Garcia with 4:33 left in the first quarter, capping a 14 play, 56 yard drive and the point after put the Bulldogs up 7-6 and they never trailed again.

A 43 yard field goal extended the lead to 10-6 and Dordt answered with a 28 yard field goal by Jeff Paepke with 9:28 left in the first half.

Dordt missed on two other first half chances to get points on the board but didn’t capitalize on an extended drive that ended with a blocked field goal and the Defenders had a short field after a turnover that resulted in a missed field goal.

The second half was a battle with Concordia scoring a touchdown on their first drive of the half, a nine play, 53 yard drive to go up 17-9. Dordt answered with a 15 play, 75 yard drive that culminated with Brock Lamle’s 16 yard completion to Levi Jungling for a 17-17 tie after a two-point conversion from Lamle to Corey Patulea.

Concordia took a 24-17 lead on the next drive that took over six minutes off the clock and spanned the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth.

Dordt’s next two possessions resulted in three plays and a punt and Concordia ran the final 7:01 of the game off the clock with a punishing 14 play drive that ended with the end of the game at the Dordt 17.

Dordt is 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the GPAC.

Concordia is 4-3 overall and 3-2 in league play.

Dordt will travel to Orange City on Saturday to face Northwestern in a 1:00 kickoff on October 28.

Rock Valley, Iowa — The #4 Nighthawks defeated district foe Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 41-13 at Nick Hulst Field in Rock Valley Friday night.

The Nighthawks were the first on the board. With 5:41 left in the 1st quarter, JT Van’t Hul crossed the goal line from 1 yard out to make 7-0 BHRV. The Nighthawks then added another 3 scores in the 2nd quarter, two scores coming off of Lion turnovers. Billy Rankin intercepted a tipped ball, and on the ensuing drive, Rankin punched it in from 3 yards out. Elliott Van Kekerix was able to get into position to pick off another Lucas Nagel pass, and a few plays later, Rankin found the endzone again, this time from 12 yards out. Just before the half, JT Van’t Hul was able to get his 2nd rushing touchdown of the night from 7 yards out. Heading into the half it was 28-0 Nighthawks.

The Lions and the Nighthawks traded a pair of scores each in the 2nd half, and BHRV came away with the 41-13 victory.

The Nighthawks improve to 8-1 on the year, and 7-0 in the district. They will host Kuemper Catholic in Rock Valley next Friday.

Central Lyon/George-Little Rock ends their year at 3-6, 3-4 in the district.

Sheldon, Iowa — Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math — known by the acronym “STEM” — has been a hot topic in recent years. Twice each year, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has been partnering with area colleges to hold a “STEM Fest” for area youth. And it’s time for another one — at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon.

We talked to O’Brien County Extension County Youth Director Sarah Fiddelke about the upcoming event on November 4th, which she says is a little different this time.

She says online registration for the event, which is for fourth through eighth graders, begins on Sunday.

She says that while the focus will be on the science behind health and healthy living, registration is the same as in past years. Participants pick the color track that best matches the four presentations in which they want to participate.

In past years, STEM Fests have filled to capacity, so it might be a good idea to have your kids register as soon as they are able.

Orange City, Iowa — Arguably one of the most conservative communities in the state will be hosting its first-ever Pride Festival this weekend.

Organizer Michael Goll lives in Orange City, with his husband. Goll admits this event is shaking things up a bit but he says it’s important to build support within and around Orange City’s LGBTQ residents.

Orange City is the seat of staunchly conservative Sioux County and is home to Northwestern College, a Christian liberal arts school. Goll is a Northwestern graduate and says organizers decided to celebrate the community’s LGBTQ culture because, as Goll says, “Why not?”

Goll adds it’s vital to demonstrate that LGBTQ people in Orange City contribute to the community and are everyone’s neighbors. The event begins Friday and includes live music, storytelling and food. It goes through Sunday, when it will conclude with brunch and show tunes.

The Northwestern College men’s basketball team is the preseason favorite based on the GPAC Preseason Coaches’ poll released earlier today by the league office.

The Red Raiders earned seven of the 10 possible first place votes and totaled 78 points, five better than Dakota Wesleyan (73), who received two first place votes. Briar Cliff was picked third and earned the final first place vote, followed by Morningside and Midland.

Northwestern returns four starters and seven letterwinners from a 2017 team that finished second in the GPAC regular season with a 13-5 record and went on to win the conference postseason championship. They qualified for the NAIA D-II Championship, earning a win over Washington Adventist in the first round before losing to Indiana Wesleyan. Kris Korver returns for his 18th season as the Red Raiders head coach.

Northwestern will make its season debut on Friday, Nov. 3 at the University of Jamestown.

1. Northwestern            78 pts        7  1st place votes
2. Dakota Wesleyan     73 pts        2  1st place votes
3. Briar Cliff                   61 pts        1  1st place vote
4. Morningside              57 pts
5. Midland                     54 pts
6. Hastings                    38 pts
7. Dordt                         33 pts
8. Concordia                 28 pts
9. Doane                       18 pts
10.Mount Marty             9 pts

Dordt College continues the GPAC season with a home game against Concordia on Saturday, October 21 with a 1:00 kickoff.

The Concordia Bulldogs under coach Patrick Daberkow are 3-3 overall and 2-2 in league play.  The wins in GPAC play are over Doane (29-18) and Midland (44-14).  The losses in the conference are to Northwestern (35-21) and Hastings (38-18).

The Bulldogs have run for 181 yards and passed for 176 while allowing 146 and 216 respectively.  Concordia averages 25 points per game and allow an average of 23.  The Bulldogs have given away 12 turnovers and taken away 12.

Dordt is 4-2 this season and 2-2 in the GPAC with losses this year to Morningside (62-23) and Midland (33-28) in league play and a GPAC wins over Doane (21-16) and Hastings (30-23 2ot).

The Defenders average 35 points per game on offense and have allowed 23 points per game this season. The Defenders average 285 yards per game on the ground and the defense has allowed 205 yards rushing per contest. Dordt’s passing game is good for 201 yards per game and are allowing 216 yards per game in the air.  Dordt is 11-17 on its two-point conversion attempts this season.

Northwest Iowa — The final week of the regular season finds Sheldon at home against Cherokee with a shot at the playoffs but needing a win and some help. Sheldon posted a 34-6 win at Pocahontas last Friday to move to 6-2 on the year and 4-2 in the District. Cherokee fell 30-6  at Estherville Lincoln Central. The Braves are coming in at 1-7 on the year and 1-5 in the district.

Orab Coach Tyler Lloyd talks about the Braves talented young team.

Lloyd details what the Orabs need to do beginning with defense.

Cherokee Head Coach Travis Schipper is impressed with the growth of the Orabs.

Schipper feels mistake free football will be is the key for his team.

The Coach Kory Roos and LA continue season long coverage of the Orabs on KIWA AM 1550.

Fourth Ranked Boyden Hull Rock Valley has the District title and a playoff spot locked up but are looking for momentum going into the playoffs. The Nighthawks host Central Lyon George Little Rock in Rock Valley Friday night. The Nighthawks are 7-1 on the year and 6-0 in the district following a show down win at Sioux Center  last Friday. The Lions come in at 3-5 for the year and 3-3 in the district following a loss at MOC Floyd Valley.

Head Coach Corey Brandt feels the Nighthawks are going against a team that is playing it’s best football.

Brandt feels this weeks game is about execution.

Central Lyon George Little Rock Head Coach Curtis Eben feels the Nighthawks offense much like his own revolves around it’s quarterback…… JT Vant’Hul.

Eben feels the biggest key to the game will be turnovers.

Jon and Justin Hellinga continue to bring you season long coverage of the Nighthawks on KIWA FM 105.3. Pregame for both of our broadcast games begins with the Radio Iowa Scouting Report at 6:05 with kick off at 7:00. Following our game coverage listen in for scores and highlights from across the state with the Scoreboard show on KIWA FM 105.3. Both games will be streamed from the website as well at www.kiwaradio.com.

Northwest Iowa — The company that built the Dakota Access oil pipeline that runs diagonally across Iowa, from the northwest to the southeast, is making donations to emergency responders in Lyon, Sioux, and O’Brien counties. In fact, they’re making the donations in every county the pipeline crosses in Iowa and three other states.

Mike Futch, vice president of Energy Transfer Partners, explains the motive.

The pipeline crosses 18 counties in Iowa and also carves a path across Illinois and North and South Dakota. Futch says they want to be good corporate partners with every county the pipeline touches.

In Iowa, the total donation is $360,000 to units in 18 counties. The total donation in the four states adds up to one-million dollars as the pipeline covers 50 counties. Chuck Fry, vice president for liquid pipelines at Energy Transfer, says the pipeline passing through Iowa is now fully assembled and carrying petroleum.

The company is also giving the state of North Dakota 15-million dollars for protest-related expenses.

Rock Valley, Iowa — The Rock Valley Fire Department has had a busy couple of days with three fire calls in two days.

The biggest one was when 45 acres of corn stubble burned in a fire on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 near Rock Valley.

According to Rock Valley Fire Chief Brent Eshuis, about 1:35 p.m., the Rock Valley Fire Department was called to the report of a field fire at Dogwood Ave and 325th Street, three miles southwest of Rock Valley. The chief says the fire department saw the field on fire as they approached the scene.

He says it looked like they had picked the cornfield for ground ear corn, so there were lots of stalks. He says the farmer was in the middle of stalk chopping when the fire started.

Eshuis says no injuries were reported.

The fire department was assisted by the Hull Fire Department who brought a grass rig, the Sioux Center Fire Department, who brought a tanker and a grass rig, and the Hudson Fire Department, who also brought a tanker and a grass rig. Three farmers also used tractors and disks to fight the progress of the fire.

He says the cause of the fire appeared to be something hot on the stalk chopper or maybe a spark from hitting a rock. He says no equipment was burned in the fire, and that only corn stubble was damaged.

Eshuis says they used 4,000 gallons of water to fight the fire, and crews were on scene for an hour and a half.

He says the Rock Valley Fire Department responded to two calls on the previous day. The first one came in about 12:25 p.m. He says this was also a field fire, but it was much smaller. He says it was likely caused by hot exhaust. He says it was in corn stubble between two areas of standing corn, but due to calm winds, it didn’t spread. He says they were able to put it out using only 50 to 100 gallons of water.

The other fire call was a few minutes before 6 p.m. that day. The call was of a propane tank on fire at 1718 15th Street in Rock Valley. But Eshuis says when they got there they discovered that someone had started grill on a deck, and somehow grease was burning between the bottom of the grill and the grill’s propane tank. He says by the time they got there it was out and the grill had been moved away from the house and was disconnected from the propane tank.