Photo by Julie Vinsand, The Gowrie News: Senior Kelan Koval tries to break free for Manson Northwest Webster last week against Southeast Valley in Gowrie.

With a week under their belts, area football teams are now looking to ride the momentum or correct early mistakes.

Messengerland squads went a combined 9-7 in the first week of action. With only two area vs. area matchups, Week 2’s Messenger game of the week is West Bend-Mallard at Bishop Garrigan.

The defending eight-man champion Golden Bears (1-0) had 312 yards of total offense in their 48-22 victory over St. Edmond last Friday. The Wolverines (1-0), meanwhile, rushed for an impressive 534 yards in an 86-56 trouncing of Newell-Fonda (0-1).

The ultra-competitive Class 3A, District 2 saw all six teams go undefeated in Week 1, as the members their opponents by a combined point spread of 186-91.

Before league action begins, the three area schools — which were all ranked and made the playoff field in 2023 — once again step outside of the district.

Humboldt and Webster City host Ballard (0-1) and Spencer (0-1) respectively.

Algona (1-0), which pulled out a 42-40 victory over 2023 state semifinalist Spirit Lake, now travels to Forest City (0-1).

The only all-area contest will be Southeast Valley at Eagle Grove, as both are looking to bounce back. The Jaguars lost on a last second-touchdown against Manson Northwest Webster.

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows (1-0) travels to Hampton-Dumont/CAL (1-0). South Central Calhoun (1-0) opens district play against Southwest Valley (1-0).

West Bend-Mallard (1-0, 0-0) at Bishop Garrigan (1-0, 0-0)

This will be the fourth eight-player meeting between north-central Iowa area rivals. The Golden Bears won last year’s contest to even the recent series.

The defending state champions ran for 182 yards and threw for 130 last week in their opener. Quarterback Tate Foertsch was 8-for-14 with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Michael Joyce.

Ethan Marson ran for 69 yards and three touchdowns. Trayton Cink had 66 yards on the ground and two trips to the end zone.

Owen Murphy returned a punt 61 yards for a score.

The Wolverines had a sprint-fest with Newell-Fonda. West Bend-Mallard’s Austin Schmidt and Cole Fehr had monster games on the ground.

Fehr rushed for 279 yards and six touchdowns. Schmidt had 241 yards and three scores.

Fehr also returned a kickoff 78 yards to paydirt.

The WB-M defense struggled with the passing game, as Newell-Fonda’s Max Carlson threw for 418 yards and six scores.

Jacksyn Hogrefe caught 11 balls for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Trevor Tauber had two TDs.

Algona (1-0) at Forest City (0-1)

Future Iowa State quarterback Alex Manske had a monster game for the Bulldogs in their win over Spirit Lake.

Manske ran for 122 yards and four scores, while throwing for 167 more yards and another TD.

William Weichart ran for 155 yards and a touchdown. Tate Slagle had the receiving score.

Forest City fell to Clear Lake in its opener, 41-14. Quarterback Ty Dillavou had 165 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Spencer (0-1) at Webster City (1-0)

Webster City has dominated the last six matchups with Spencer. The Lynx have won four of the last five, including a 34-7 rout last season.

Webster City picked up an impressive 41-13 win over Fort Dodge last Friday, running for 331 yards. Webster City used four backs effectively.

Jaxon Griffith ran for 145 yards and one score, while Luke Estlund had 88 yards and three trips to the end zone. Jayden Weinzetl also hit paydirt.

Griffith returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown as well to open the third quarter, as Webster City tallied 28 unanswered points the rest of the way after being tied at halftime.

Spencer lost to Humboldt, 27-10. Cael Bruning was 10 of 20 for 145 yards passing.

Ballard (0-1) at Humboldt (1-0)

The Wildcats have won three straight in the series after ending a three-game losing streak against Ballard in 2021.

In their 27-10 win over Spencer last Friday, Coen Matson threw for 188 yards and converted a scoring play to Keegan Groat. Groat caught three balls for 115 yards, with a long of 75.

The Wildcats ran for 113 yards. Matson had a rushing touchdown, as did Trey Al-Hameed.

Chase Flaherty returned a kickoff for an 88-yard score.

The Bombers are coming off a 29-17 loss to Pella. Mason Gatchel was 11-for-24 passing for 146 yards. Tucker Vitzthum and Gatchel had rushing touchdowns.

Southwest Valley (1-0, 0-0) at South Central Calhoun (1-0, 0-0)

In the only matchup ever between the two schools, the Titans earned a 47-0 victory over the Timberwolves in 2023.

Last week, the Titans beat Pocahontas Area 35-12 with 417 yards of total offense.

Kaden Dorman ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns, while Andrew Anderson had 77 yards on seven totes and two trips to the end zone. Anderson also returned an interception for a score.

The Timberwolves shutout Red Oak, 13-0. Wyatt Mendenhall had 154 yards through the air. He connected with Gavin Wetzel for a touchdown.

Wetzel caught five balls for 93 yards. Mendenhall had 152 rushing yards for a score on 25 attempts.

Southeast Valley (0-1) at Eagle Grove (0-1)

Southeast Valley is coming off a heartbreaking 28-26 loss to Manson Northwest Webster.

After quarterback Logan Moline got hurt on the second to last play, Matt Condon came in for the final snap. The MNW senior connected with Coy Moline for a 27-yard walk-off touchdown.

Brady Hanson had 104 yards rushing and two TDs for the Jaguars. Cale Vansickle threw for 132 yards and a score to Logan Jaeschke.

The Eagles are coming off a 48-8 loss to Clarion-Goldfield/Dows.

The Jaguars have won two straight in the series and five of the last six.

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows (1-0) at Hampton-Dumont/CAL (1-0)

Hampton-Dumont/CAL defeated Eagle Grove last week, while the Cowboys blanked Iowa Falls-Alden, 13-0.

C-G-D ran for 383 yards, led by Selvin Gonzalez. The junior ran for 124 yards and two TDs.

Charlie Campbell had 90 yards and two touchdowns. Colin Sesker and JD Morrical also had trips to the end zone.

Sophomore JD Morrical threw a touchdown pass to Huxley Lingenfelter.

The Bulldogs ran for 260 yards, led by Colin Bird, who had 101 yards and a touchdown. Aaden Keehn had a rushing TD.

Other area games: Greene County (0-1) at Perry (1-0); Ogden (0-1) at Manson NW (1-0); Okoboji at (1-0) Pocahontas Area (0-1); East Sac County (0-1) at OABCIG (1-0); Estherville-LC (0-1) at Emmetsburg (1-0); North Union (0-1, 0-0) at Saint Ansgar (1-0, 0-0); West Harrison (0-1) at Newell-Fonda (0-1).