Class 2A second ranked West Marshall would reach the quarterfinals and coach Ken Winkler would reach a milestone with a victory over North Polk. Winkler would become only the eighth coach to reach the 300 mark. Winkler says it’s something that’s okay, but not why he coaches. He says it could mean he’s getting old and has been around longer than anyone else.
Winkler is in his 44th year of coaching and has been at West Marshall since 1984. He says year in and year out they haven’t had division one players, but have hard-nosed players that show up and like to play. Winkler says that’s been the standard of the school throughout the years.
West Marshall will take on district rival North Polk this evening and will be looking for another big game out of running back Dalton Ferch, who rushed for 443 yards in a first round victory over Bondurant-Farrar. He did it in three quarters and one carry in the 4th quarter, which Winkler says makes the accomplishment even more phenomenal.
It’s a battle of quarterbacks Monday night as fourth-ranked Mediapolis (10-0) welcomes in Wilton (8-2) for the second round of the Class 2A football playoffs. The Bulldogs are led by Jesse Ertz, who’s racked up more than 2,800 yards of total offense and 35 touchdowns this season.
As for Wilton, Dylan Stepleton is their offensive leader with more than 2,100 yards and 37 scores. Mediapolis coach Brian Borrison, says the top key is to keep him in the pocket and not let him scramble and make plays. He says the defense has to read its keys and then deliver a blow when they get there.
Stepleton says his team will have to play much better than they did in their playoff opener and play all four quarters without any letdowns.
The winner will move on to face either West Liberty or top-ranked Iowa City Regina.
By Michael Cation, KBUR, Burlington and Elwin Huffman, KOEL, Oelwein