The first trip to the state football playoffs since 2012 wasn’t on the table, and by halftime neither was a season-ending victory. The Marshalltown High School football team had to play for pride, and the Bobcats did exactly that. West Des Moines Valley rested its starters in the second ...

GLADBROOK — Austin Vaverka will find a way to beat opposing defenses. When it wasn’t coming as easy in the run game on Friday against Montezuma, the Gladbrook-Reinbeck senior got into open spaces as a receiver. He was a key part of an aerial assault by the Rebels resulting in a 64-18 romp ...

GRUNDY CENTER — On to the next challenge. Grundy Center football carries a 21-game winning streak into Friday’s Class 1A postseason opener at home against Cascade. Kickoff at Spartan Stadium is 7 p.m. The top-ranked Spartans (8-0) outscored their opposition by an average of 25 points ...

STATE CENTER — The West Marshall football team limped into the Class 2A state playoffs with a 14-6 loss to Union Community on Friday night. The Trojans (2-6) still claimed third place in District 6 and earned a postseason berth as the third seed out of the district, ahead of Union ...

DES MOINES — Tate Riang was right on time with the performance of his career. Marshalltown’s senior tailback totaled 308 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns to help the Bobcat football team defeat Des Moines Lincoln 27-14 on Friday night at Mediacom Stadium. Marshalltown (2-6) ...

GARWIN — Gladbrook-Reinbeck football didn’t take long to get back on its feet. After a loss at home to Clarksville that decided the 8 Player District 4 title, the Rebels bounced back with a 62-16 win in the regular season finale at GMG. The Rebels finished 7-1 overall, 5-1 in district ...