By: Matt Scher, [email protected]
Van Meter, IA – The Humboldt Wildcats came into the night ranked as the No. 6 team in 3A and delivered the performance of the season so far in high school football across Iowa with a 28-21 win over No. 1 (2A) Van Meter in a game that celebrated the Bulldogs homecoming festivities.
Humboldt’s win snapped a 26-game winning streak by the Van Meter Bulldogs, including the program’s first home loss since 2022.
Both teams were held scoreless in the first quarter with the Wildcats opening drive of 76 yards stalling on the five-yard line after a failed fourth down conversion. The Bulldogs would break the scoreless tie in the early stages of the second quarter as running back Garrett Cole found the end zone on an eight-yard touchdown run to give Van Meter the 7-0 lead.
The ensuing drive saw Humboldt drive down the field 80 yards and was capped off with an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Coen Matson to Chase Flaherty, tying the game at 7-7. The Bulldogs answered on an 80-yard drive of their own and took the lead with a 7-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Jay Haley to give Van Meter the 14-7 lead at the half.
The third quarter saw Van Meter turn the ball over on their opening possession on a fumble that did not result in points. The Bulldogs second offensive drive of the half resulted in a Jackson Flaherty interception. The Wildcats took advantage of the second turnover with a shorter field as Matson connected with Mason Van Pelt for a 37-yard touchdown pass halfway into the third quarter to tie the game at 14.
The Bulldogs inability to move the football forced them to punt with the Wildcats looking to take the lead for the first time in the game. The drive ended with running back Cash McIntire breaking free for a 54-yard rushing touchdown, the first rushing touchdown of his high school career, to give Humboldt the 21-14 lead.
Van Meter would be forced to punt once more to give Humboldt the ball up by a score. Matson would find junior Valley Davis, making his first start at receiver, for a 37-yard touchdown pass to give the Wildcats the 28-14 lead with 7:15 left in the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs would not go quietly as Van Meter would cut into the Humboldt lead with Haley connecting with Caleb Moore on a 30-yard touchdown pass with 3:54 left in the game. The score now at 28-21 with Humboldt in front. Van Meter’s defense would force a three-and-out of the Wildcats’ offense to give the Bulldogs the football back after the punt. Van Meter drove into Humboldt territory, but would turn the ball over once more as Keegan Groat intercepted a Haley pass intended for Caleb Moore with 1:48 to go in regulation.
Another three-and-out was forced by the Van Meter defense that left Humboldt set to punt with 0:11 seconds remaining in the game. Humboldt Cyler Cirks got the punt off and Caleb Moore would proceed to take the punt to the near sideline as the clock hit 0:00. The officials would convene to discuss whether any time remained and came to a consensus that Moore stepped out with one second remaining. Van Meter’s final play would take place at the Humboldt 45-yard line, with Haley hit as he threw a pass that fell incomplete, ending the game.
The win for Humboldt avenged a 52-14 loss from last year at Mason Maach Field in the first ever meeting between the two schools and handed Van Meter their first loss since 2022, snapping the Bulldogs 26-game winning streak.
Humboldt improved to 3-0 and will now host North Polk in their non-district play finale at Mason Maach Field on Friday, September 21 at 7:00 p.m.