GRUNDY CENTER — The top-ranked Grundy Center football team scored a season-high in Friday’s 50-14 win over Cascade in the opening round of the Class 1A state playoffs.

Senior quarterback Colin Gordon threw for 255 yards and four touchdowns, connecting five times with Tate Jirovsky for 101 yards and two TDs. Tiernan Vokes and Tanner Laube also had touchdown catches for the Spartans (9-0).

Brody Zinkula rushed 12 times for 80 yards and a touchdown, and Justin Knaack added a 1-yard TD plunge in the wire-to-wire win.

Ryker Thoren returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown to highlight the Spartan defense. Vokes led with 6.5 tackles, while Zinkula and Trent Cakerice had six stops apiece.

Grundy Center will host Pella Christian (7-2) this Friday night at Spartan Stadium.

New Hampton eliminates West Marshall football

NEW HAMPTON — New Hampton jumped out to a 35-0 halftime lead and held off West Marshall for a 41-21 victory in Friday’s opening round of the Class 2A state football playoffs.

West Marshall (2-7) surrendered 329 rushing yards to the host Chickasaws (4-5), who scored all but one of their touchdowns on the ground. Braden McShane carried the ball 31 times for 223 yards and four touchdowns to lead New Hampton, and Ethan Swehla added a TD run.

Adam Evert took a punt back 73 yards for the Chickasaws’ other score.

West Marshall was led by junior running back Ben Gonzalez, who ran 16 times for 97 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Carson Davis was 7-for-15 passing for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Jace Eich had four receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown, and Preston Reese’s only catch went for an 8-yard score.

Caden Pfantz led the Trojan defense with 11 tackles and Dillon McMorran added 10.5 stops. Josh Pinnick had 4.5 tackles and recovered a fumble.

New Hampton will travel to face fourth-ranked Spirit Lake (8-1) in the next round.