Woodbine, Iowa – In a town where the high school gym doubles as a community gathering place, the Woodbine Tigers football team kicked off the state playoffs on Wednesday with a clear goal: finish the season with an 8‑man state championship. After an unbeaten 10‑0 regular season, the Tigers are back in the UNI‑Dome, a venue that has hosted Iowa’s championship games since 1998, ready to prove that last year’s near‑miss was just a stepping stone.
Community send‑off fuels a finish‑first mindset
Tuesday’s send‑off was a true hometown celebration. The school band played, neighbors clapped, and high‑fives echoed through the gym. Coach Dustin Crook reminded his players that the mantra for the season is simple – “finish.” He explained, “We came up basically a play short last year. This year we want to finish in everything we do – practices, preparations, and on the field.”
Senior leaders step up
Quarterback Cal Pryor, a senior who has thrown for 2,335 yards, 36 touchdowns and only five interceptions, said the team’s focus on finishing each play is what sets them apart. “All year it’s been finish. We gotta finish every rep, every play, every quarter, every drive,” Pryor said. Senior wide receiver Landon Blum added, “It’d be awesome for Woodbine to put us on the map with a state championship – it would mean everything.”
Blum’s 1,144 receiving yards on 61 catches and 16 touchdowns have placed him among Iowa’s top 10 high‑school players in the 2027 senior class, according to the Des Moines Register. On defense, senior lineman Lucas Olson recorded 8.5 sacks, while junior Jacob Cogdill added 7.0 sacks, showing that the Tigers are balanced on both sides of the ball.
Veteran’s reminder of sacrifice
During the gym ceremony, a veteran speaker reminded the young athletes of the broader perspective that underpins their freedoms. “The freedoms we enjoy today were defended on battlefields around the world by courageous Americans willing to sacrifice everything,” the speaker said. The Tigers responded with gratitude, noting how that legacy of sacrifice inspires them to give their all on each snap.
Looking ahead to the dome
Playing in the UNI‑Dome is a privilege for a small town like Woodbine, and the players are eager to make the most of it. Pryor summed up the sentiment: “It’s awesome, it’s so fun. We’ve been working so hard to get back there all year, just get to the dome, and now that we’re here we’re focusing on finishing it all.” The team’s resolve is evident in their preparation and the community’s unwavering support.
What’s at stake
Last season, the Tigers fell short of the state championship by a single play, a disappointment that has driven the current squad to adopt a finish‑first philosophy. Coach Crook believes that learning from those key moments will pay off this year. “There are different situations in key moments that you build as players and coaches and learn from last year,” he said.
With the playoffs underway, the Tigers hope to turn their perfect regular‑season record into a championship banner, honoring both the town’s football tradition and the sacrifices of those who defended the nation’s freedoms.
Original reporting: KMTV 3 News Now (Scripps) – local — read the source article.
