FIRST-EVER: Tri-Center Wins Class A Football Championship over West Hancock, 14-10

TC Coach Ryan Schroder
(11-21-24)

TC's Zach Nelson & AJ Harder (11-21-24)

TC's Carter Kunze
(11-21-24)

FIRST-EVER: Tri-Center Wins Class A Football Championship over West Hancock, 14-10 –

(11-21-24) – Mission complete! The Trojans have conquered the Dome!

Carter Kunze had 230 total yards of offense, scored both touchdowns, and led the defense with 7 and a half tackles, including 3 and a half for a loss, in Tri-Center’s 14 to 10 win over the defending champs to win their first-ever football state championship.

For Trojans Coach Ryan Schroder, this has been a special group of players to have under his staff’s tutelage.

“It's been a blessing, you know, it's been. I don't want to say it's been easy, but it's been one heck of a ride. You know, for these guys to just show up week in and week out and that's what they do. They show up week in and week out and you know. Our goal is to get better every time we step onto the football field and I feel like we've done.”

It was another fast start for the Tri-Center as they scored on the opening drive of the game, a 9-play, 80 yard march that ended in a 38-yd pass from AJ Harder to Kunze for the early lead.

As a senior, this was a special moment for Kunze.

“(This) Means everything. These guys mean so much to me and you know, it hasn't really set in yet, but I'm sure it will. It just means everything and, just, these guys mean so much to me.”

Both defenses held through much of the first half, until a broken play allowed West Hancock to get a long score. Gustavo Gomez would bust through the line and take it 49 yds to pay dirt to tie the game. A flag on the play that would have negated the score was picked up.

It didn’t deter the Trojans as they would respond with a 12-play, 73-yd drive that took nearly 4 minutes off the clock and ended in a 4-yd TD run for Kunze to give Tri-Center the lead just before halftime.

The Trojans had the ball for over 14 minutes in the 1st half and won the time of possession battle, 27:34 to 20:26. Schroder says it wasn’t necessarily his intention to have his offense put together such long drives.

“I can't say honestly that that was the plan. You know, my hats off to West Hancock. They did a good job on our passing game. Everything wasn't there like it's been all season, so my hats off to those guys. They were ready for us.

“Sustaining those drives, putting them together, just chipping away, which is not normally something we do. You know, we're a big play offense and have been all season. So to win this to win this one and a dog fight, it makes it that much more special.”

West Hancock got the ball to start the 2nd half and marched right down the field to the Tri-Center 2-yd line. That’s when the defense took over as Kunze and Cael Witt helped make 3 consecutive plays for losses and hold the Eagles to a 25-yd FG by Zach Beukema.

The Trojans would only allow West Hancock three more possessions the entire game; a fumble recovery on the Tri-Center 46 that went 3-and-out, a drive that started at their own 2 following goal-line stand ending in a punt, and their final drive of the game when Eagles QB Zephyr Jamtgaard was hit by Trojans lineman Athan Chessmore as the ball was thrown on 4 and 15 to seal the game.

With the devastation from the April tornado that Minden suffered, bringing home a state championship was a gift for Schroder and his squad to give to the community.

“To give them something to be proud of, that was such a big part of our season. We dealt with some adversity with the tornado and the and the loss that we had. I had players on this squad that lost their homes, you know. So for them to dig in and and just get right back to work, I really can't put words into that. I'm just so happy that we were able to do it for the community, because the way they've had our back through this whole football season, it's greatly appreciated.”

“It’s so big,” said Harder, who threw for 204 yds and TD in the contest. “They've gone through enough, we just had to pay it back. I'm just happy we won that game. The community deserves it so much. I'm just so proud of our guys and everybody that was there to support us.

Zach Nelson had a game-high 7 catches for 78 yds. He talked with KNOD Sports about how he’s been able to make plays on both sides of the ball this season.

“I think it's just the where the coach just put me. On offense, we got plays design for me and Witt and then on defense (Defensive Coordinator Matt) Hoch puts me in the secondary or even coming downhill to try to stop make a fumble and that's just where the coaches are putting me.”

Harder liked having Nelson as a go-to receiver in this contest.

“He just makes my life so much easier. Like with Zach, I can just throw wherever and he'll catch it. He's unbelievable receiver. He makes great catches. I’m just so glad to have him.”

Obtaining the first state football championship in school history has been Schoder’s dream.

“I've wanted this so long. As a lifelong Tri center guy, I just wanted it so bad for so many people and to say we got it done. My heart is full.”

West Hancock was led by Brady Bixel who had 100 yards rushing. Gomes ran for 87 yards and a TD while also leading the team with 8 tackles in the Eagles only loss of the season.

Tri-Center finishes their championship season 11-1.

View past scores by visiting the Iowa High School Athletic Association's website, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union website,
or Iowa Quik Stats