Submitted photo: Newell-Fonda football team members are, front row (left to right): Braden Wells, Mason Dicks, Wyatt Kreft, Caden Meyer, Zach Mercer, and Ryan Greenfield. Second: Nathan Carreto, Kade Smith, Caden Vanden Bosch, Kaleb Kitt, Will Johnson, and Emma Ryherd. Third: Ava Rowlet, Trenton Struss, Ty Tauber, Pedro Patricio, Austin Harth, Eli Roberts, Trevor Johnson, and Kiana Brown. Back: Jayde Naughton, Jackyn Hogrefe, Max Carlson, Guyson Lyman, Preston Riley, Trevor Tauber, Jake Roberts, and Camden Nehring-Hedden.

CEDAR FALLS — The Newell-Fonda football team has proven themselves against some of the best in eight-player this season.

To reach the state finals for the first time since 2014, the Mustangs will need to do it once again.

Newell-Fonda (10-1 overall) faces Wayland-WACO (12-0) here Wednesday at 1 p.m. inside the UNI-Dome. The winner advances to meet either Remsen St. Mary’s (11-0) or Lenox (11-0), who square off in the other semi.

Under head coach Brian Wilken, the Mustangs have reached the state playoffs 15 times, including each season but one since 2010. They advanced to the final four in 2013, won it all a year later and were semifinalist in 2015.

Senior returning all-stater Mason Dicks is the catalyst on offense, racking up over 2,100 yards and 35 touchdowns. He is joined by classmate and dual-threat Ryan Greenfield, who has over 1,300 yards and 24 TDs.

Caden Meyer has six sacks and Braden Wells four for the Mustangs on defense, as they have forced 21 turnovers. Dicks has four interceptions and Greenfield has two with one returned for a score.

Greenfield and Will Johnson each have a punt return for a touchdown.

WACO is third in eight-player with 56 rushing touchdowns and lead the way with 24 interceptions. They are also fifth in overall offensive scores and have gone 22-1 over the past two seasons after winning just 21 combined games in the five years prior.

The Warriors are led by senior quarterback Isaac Oswald and running back Simeon Reichenbach. Oswald has 1,350 yards passing and 22 TDs with eight rushing scores, while Reichenbach has 1,451 yards on the ground and 30 touchdowns.

Oleh Shtefanchuk is the leading receiver with 392 yards and nine TDs, while five others have at least 108 yards receiving.

WACO has picked off 24 passes, returning three for scores. Mason Miller has nine interceptions and they have also recovered eight fumbles with 28 sacks and 84 tackles for loss.

The eight-player championship game is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 17 at 9:30 a.m. The semifinals will stream live on the Iowa High School Sports Network, with the finals streaming on IHSSN and airing on KDSM Fox-17.