Photo by David Borer: Jaxon Cherry runs the ball for Webster City against Humboldt on Friday night at Lynx Field.

WEBSTER CITY — Two long, sustained drives in the second half were the difference here Friday night as the Webster City football team officially punched a ticket to the postseason.

The Lynx knocked off long-time North Central Conference rival Humboldt to secure the district runner-up spot and automatic bid to the Class 3A playoffs in a 26-7 victory.

Leading 12-7 early in the third, Webster City (7-2 overall, 4-1 in the district) methodically drove 99 yards, ending with a short TD plunge by all-stater Jaxon Cherry. They followed that up with a 70-yard drive that ended with a 5-yard run to the end zone by Cherry with just over four minutes remaining in regulation.

Cherry had the first score for Webster City in the second quarter, with Keegan Hisler giving them the lead with a 1-yard TD run later in the period. The win was the first since 2020 for the Lynx over the Wildcats, who won 10-0 last year and 35-7 in 2021.

Webster City leads the series 10-4 over the last 14 meetings.

Humboldt (5-4, 3-2) jumped on the board first when Coen Matson took it in from six yards out just two minutes into the game.

Clear Lake (8-1, 4-1) claimed the district title with a win over Charles City, as the Lions won the regular season meeting with the Lynx, 10-2. Humboldt, Algona and Hampton-Dumont/CAL, along with Webster City and Clear Lake, all entered the week inside the Top-16 of the RPI, which determines the wild card qualifiers for the postseason.

Algona (6-3, 3-2) posted a 21-7 victory over Hampton-Dumont/CAL (5-4, 1-4) last night.

Playoff pairings for 3A will be released Saturday morning.