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Algona moves into quarters

ALGONA — The Algona football team came to life here in the second half, earning a 35-14 victory over Central Lyon/George-Little Rock in the Class 2A playoffs.

The Bulldogs (10-0 overall) advance to meet Greene back here next Friday for a spot in the state semifinals. The Rams (9-1) downed Des Moines Christian last night, 35-21.

Both Wyatt Wegener and Garrett Schmidt scored two touchdowns each, as Algona scored 21 consecutive points in the second half after playing the Lions to a 14-14 draw at the half.

Wegener had the first touchdown, finding the end zone from nine yards out. Central Lyon/G-LR responded immediately with a 65-yard run by Kole Telford. Schmidt made it 14-7 Algona with a six-yard TD plunge.

The senior all-stater finished with 135 yards on 17 carries, with Schmidt adding 98 yards on 12 attempts.

In the final minute before the break, the Lions answered back, tying it at 14-14 as Colby Postma tossed a touchdown. Telford ran for 156 yards and Postma threw for 62 with 23 more on the ground.

That’s when the Bulldogs took command in their first home playoff game since 2003.

Tyler Manske broke free on a 46-yard run, Schmidt took advantage of a mistake by the Central Lyon/G-LR special teams to score from three yards out and Wegener found the end zone on a 12-yard run with just under three minutes to go.

Manske added 79 yards rushing as Algona finished with 326 yards on the ground as a team.

The final scoring drive started thanks to a Gavin Meints sack on a fourth-down attempt by the Lions. Wegener also had an interception.

Algona, making its eighth appearance in the playoffs and second straight, advanced to the quarterfinals last year before falling to Waukon.

The Bulldogs have scored over 34 points in all 10 games this year, winning eight times by at least 20 points. They are now 6-0 this season at home and on an 11-game win streak here dating back to 2017.

Algona finished the year ranked third in the RPI, while Greene County was eighth. The Rams, who won their first playoff game as a consolidated school were a district runner-up to OABCIG.

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