Long touchdown ruined the West Central Valley Wildcats homecoming celebration last Friday in Stuart. The Mount Ayr Raiders football team scored on touchdown runs of 35, 64, and 73 yards last week on their way to a 54-29 victory over the Wildcats. West Central Valley’s rush defense has allowed six touchdowns measuring over 35 yards in length this fall, including a 99-yard touchdown run to Earlham’s Caleb Swalla in a 25-22 loss to the Cardinals in week two. The Raccoon Valley Radio Network had Wildcat head football coach Eric Addy on Monday’s Wahl McAtee Tire and Service Center Guthrie County PM Sports Page. He said the run defense will need to improve if they have a chance to stay with Van Meter tonight. “(It’s) executing our techniques, fitting up our gaps, firing off the ball and hitting somebody in the mouth,” Addy said, “Van Meter hangs their hat is running the (foot)ball and throwing it when they have to. ”

The defending champion Bulldogs lead Class 1A District 8 with 1,666 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. Van Meter has three athletes who’ve scored rushing touchdowns of 49 yards or longer including Ian Abrahamson (56), Anthony Potthoff (49), and Hunter Coyle (89). The Bulldogs dismantled the AC/GC Chargers 63-6 last Friday in Guthrie Center. Van Meter makes their second straight Friday trip to Guthrie County as they visit the West Central Valley Wildcats tonight. The varsity game kicks off at 7 p.m. in Stuart.