Iowa high school football top stars, best performances from second week of playoffs

Here are some stars from the past week’s high school football games across Iowa.

If you know of a top performance we should include, please email nate@scorebooklive.com.

William Aitchison, Iowa City Regina Catholic 

The junior running back ran for 107 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries in the Regals’ 33-18 win over Wilton in the Class 1A playoffs. 

Brock Badding, Carroll Kuemper Catholic 

The sophomore led the Knights to a 43-8 Class 2A playoff win over Clarinda, passing for 185 yards and four touchdowns, including two TD strikes to DJ Vonnahme.

Bobby Bacon, Iowa City High

The junior had a big night in a 23-21 Class 5A playoff loss to Bettendorf. Bacon completed 27 of 39 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns.

Evan Brase, Mount Vernon

The senior hauled in eight catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns as the defending state runner-up rolled to a 50-6 Class 3A playoff victory over Independence.

Cam Buffington, Winfield-Mt. Union

The senior running back hit paydirt four times and racked up 150 yards rushing on just 15 carries as the Wolves rolled to a 34-6 playoff victory in 8-player action.

Jaxon Cherry, Webster City

The senior two-way star was all over the football field in the Lynx 27-7 victory over Nevada in the Class 3A playoffs. Cherry, who’s been offered to play at Marshall and is receiving interest from both Iowa and Iowa State, had 200 yards rushing with three TDs and had 11 tackles – one for loss.

Kamdyn Cross, Lewis Central

The senior ran for 193 yards and three touchdowns in the Titans’ 42-10 Class 4A playoff win over LeMars.

Aiden Flora, ADM (Adel)

Nobody’s had a better season than the Tigers’ senior, who rushed for 253 yards and four touchdowns as ADM rolled to a 42-0 win over Denison-Schleswig. Flora has 1770 yards and 25 TDs rushing and has completed 66 percent of his passes for 1019 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Brennan Hayes, Creston

The senior running back had another big night in the Panthers’ 35-27 triumph over Hawkeye 10 rival and state power Harlan. Hayes finished with 196 yards rushing and three touchdowns in the Class 3A playoff game.

Jordan Martin-England, Lenox

The junior RB ran for 166 yards and a TD as Lenox rolled to a 33-8 win over Audubon in an 8-player playoff game.

Garrison Motsinger, Bedford

The junior running back rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns in the Bulldogs 44-28 win over Exira-EHK in an 8-player playoff clash.

Grant Gammell, Waukee

The junior rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the Warriors’ 21-10 Class 5A playoff win over Prairie.

Drake Gelhaus, Cedar Falls

Gelhaus scored three touchdowns in the Tigers’ 30-26 win over Cedar Rapids Kennedy. His final TD came on a 70-yard catch on a screen pass.

Grant Glausser, Western Dubuque

The senior running back rambled for 297 yards and five touchdowns in the Bobcats’ 41-2 triumph over Newton. Glausser has now rushed for 2203 yards and 27 touchdowns this season.

Ben Gordon, Van Meter

The Bulldogs’ senior racked up 247 yards and five TDs rushing in a 56-0 Class 4A playoff win over Union Community in a Class 2A playoff game.

Cael Harms, Cedar Falls

Kickers typically don’t get a whole lot of love, but the sophomore connected on all three field goal attempts in the Tigers’ thrilling 30-26 comeback victory over Cedar Rapids Kennedy. He split the uprights with field goals of 32, 32 and 20 yards to help his team advance in the Class 5A playoffs.

Tate Hawf, West Lyon

The junior running back ran for 183 yards and three touchdowns as the Wildcats pulled out a 29-20 win over Western Christian.

Caden Henkes, Ankeny

The junior workhorse rushed for 195 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries to lead the Hawks to a 21-9 victory over Johnston in the Class 5A playoffs.

Jackson Hutcheson, Mediapolis

The senior ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 27-0 victory over Camanche.

Braeden Jackson, Ankeny Centennial

Jackson amassed 148 yards of total offense and scored three touchdowns as the Jaguars rolled to a 35-7 win over Waukee Northwest in Class 5A playoff action.

Drew Kluender, Woodbury Central

The senior QB passed for 273 yards and five touchdowns, including two to Eric McGill, who had six catches for 133 yards, in a wild 35-28 victory over MMCRU.

Brysen Kolar, OABCIG

The junior quarterback passed for 216 yards and two touchdowns and carried the football eight times for 121 yards and a TD in the Falcons’ 35-14 win over Treynor.

Jackson Lavar, Bettendorf

The junior had 12.5 tackles and an interception in the Bulldogs’ 32-21 Class 5A playoff win over Iowa City High.

Payton Longmeyer, Glenwood

The senior hauled in eight catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams’ 21-0 win over Norwalk in a Class 4A playoff tilt.

Landon Montag, West Bend-Mallard

The senior QB ran for 190 yards and three touchdowns in a heartbreaking 36-34 8-player playoff loss to CAM.

Maddox Nelson, Underwood

The senior ran for 254 yards and three touchdowns in the Eagles’ 42-0 win over AHSTW (Avoca) in a Class 1A playoff tilt.

Jonah Petersen, MMCRU

The senior QB passed for 211 yards and three touchdowns and nearly had a fourth in the back of the end zone that was ruled incomplete in a heartbreaking 35-28 Class A playoff loss to Woodbury Central.

Conlan Poynton, Solon

The sophomore running back ran for 154 yards and three touchdowns in the Spartans’ 50-7 triumph over Fort Madison in the Class 3A playoffs.

Preston Ries, Monticello

The Iowa recruit ran for 162 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 134 yards and two scores in Monticello’s 45-0 rout of Jesup.

Carson Robbins, Southeast Polk

The senior caught six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown in the Rams’ 49-9 Class 5A playoff victory over Linn-Mar.

Caden Roethler, Bishop Garrigan

The senior running back ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns in the Golden Bears’ scintillating 21-18 victory over Remsen St. Mary’s in an 8-player Catholic school battle.

Traeton Sauerbrel, Wapsie Valley

The senior running back ran for 226 yards and four touchdowns on only 14 carries in a 26-0 win over Maquoketa Valley in the Class A playoffs.

Kellen and Mitchell Smith, West Hancock

The Smith tandem accounted for all seven of the Eagles’ touchdowns in a 49-0 Class A playoff win over Starmont. Quarterback Mitchell Smith passed for 146 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 84 yards and a TD. Running back Kellen Smith rushed for 92 yards and a TD on just five carries and caught three passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

Chase Spieker, CAM

The junior dual threat QB passed for 238 yards and two touchdowns and ran 27 times for 105 yards and three TDs.

Tanner Thurn, East Buchanan

The senior rushed for 226 yards and hit paydirt twice in the Buccaneers’ 38-7 Class A playoff victory over Lisbon.

Reece Vander Zee, Central Lyon-George/Little Rock

The senior dual-threat QB ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns and completed all three of his pass attempts for 92 yards and a TD.

Jackson Wacha, Ballard

The junior had 13.5 tackles, including one for loss, in the Bombers’ 17-14 Class 4A playoff loss to North Polk.

Preston Wicker, Madrid

The junior running back rushed for 150 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers’ 42-0 win over Central Decatur in a Class A playoff game.

Brent Yonkovic, West Delaware

The junior quarterback passed for 199 yards and two touchdowns and ran 34 times for 288 yards and five touchdowns in the wild 58-48 West Delaware victory over Davenport Assumption Catholic.