Location: Waterloo

Date: September 2, 2022

Time: 7:00pm CDT

Game Notes

COLUMBUS CATHOLIC enters week 2 hoping to find its identity. After beginning last week with a pick six, it couldn't maintain the offensive balance - as perennial power Dike-New Hartford scored 21 late points in a 42-14 victory. The Sailors have a lot of offensive firepower to replace due to graduation. However, signs of definite life are there. QB Carter Lockert amassed 152 total yards of offense. Last year's leading receiver, Caleb Holthaus, seems to be a guy Columbus wants toting the rock (13 touches). However, the meat market is stacked with beef. By that, I mean, the Sailors are big up front. OL/DL Mason Knipp (Jr, 6-3, 245) is in his third season as a varsity starter. Keep your eyes on him. He's tough to miss.

WEST BRANCH scored in pretty much every way possible in the opening week…in the first quarter. It began its season with a fumble recovery TD (Jaxson Kaalberg) on special teams, then a long TD pass (Tye Hughes to Carver Boelk), and a defensive fumble recovery for six by Kinnick Boelk. The new Bear signal caller (Hughes) was nearly perfect on the night, completing 12 of 14 passes for 190 yards and three scores, adding another on the ground. RB Andy Henson scored three times and gained 150 yards total. C. Boelk ended up with 96 receiving yards. Defensively, the Bears collected two fumble returns for touchdowns (Cale Seydel and K. Boelk). OLB Jack McCullough forced two fumbles and collected 4.5 TFL.

KEEP AN EYE ON - Holthaus and Knipp. When #4 (Holthaus) is on offense, he is a highlight waiting to happen. Big #65 (Knipp) is a headache waiting to happen for offensive lines trying to block him.

QUOTABLE - “We hope to improve this week. They (Columbus Catholic) will be very physical. I think it's going to be a great game.” - Bear RB Andy Henson

Team Records & Rankings

Columbus Catholic is 0-1 on the season and is unranked. West Branch is 1-0 and is ranked #5 in the DSM Register; #6 in the AP; #7 in the CR Gazette.

Last Meeting

In 2021, the Sailors defeated the Bears 17-6 at Little Rose Bowl. View more from that game.

Media & Broadcast Coverage

The BearCast will be on the play-by-play call. If you cannot be at the game, let us bring the game to you on your computer or smartphone. Head to the BearCast page here on the website, or, on iOS and Android devices, download the Mixlr app and search for "West Branch Football."

Tune in to the BearCast at 6:30 for the pregame where Mike Quinlan and Jarod Tylee will be calling the game live, offering in-game analysis and halftime/postgame interviews.

For print media, the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the West Branch Times, YourPrepSports.com, and WestBranch.Football will be at the the game.