VAN METER -- With 11:11 left in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s Class 1-A first-round playoff game, it appeared that the stars might be aligning just right for the AHSTW football team. Viking junior Gage Clay had just returned an interception 82 yards for the team’s second defensive touchdown and Kyle Branan’s extra point forced a 14-14 tie with fourth-ranked Van Meter. When Bulldog kicker Drew Gordon missed a 35-yard field goal wide lef

 BEDFORD -- Led by quarterback Connor Westergaard and a dominant effort defensively, Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton exacted a healthy dose of revenge in Friday’s opening round of the 8-Player football playoffs, winning 56-12 at Bedford. Westergaard played a role in all eight Spartan touchdowns on the night, scoring four rushing touchdowns, passing for three more and capping the night with a 15-yard fumble recovery return. According to KMA Sports, W

 COUNCIL BLUFFS -- For the first time in six years under head coach Angie Spangenberg, Harlan Community won’t be finishing the volleyball season at the state tournament. HCHS was swept in three sets by seventh-ranked Lewis Central Tuesday night, falling 21-25, 21-25, 15-25 in a Class 4-A regional semifinal that was somewhat emblematic of the team’s season as a whole. The Cyclones were more than competitive at times, but played too inconsistent

 REGIONAL -- AHSTW and Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton will open the high school football playoffs Friday night with first-round road games. The Vikings (8-1) will play a Class 1-A game at fourth-ranked Van Meter (9-0) while the Spartans (6-3) will travel to Bedford (8-1). Both games will start at 7 p.m. 

 FORT DODGE -- State meet veterans Greichaly Kaster of Harlan Community, Payton Sporrer (IKM-Manning) and Emily Copic (Exira-EHK) will return to Fort Dodge on Saturday to compete in the annual State Cross Country Championships at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course. All three area runners qualified for state individually last Thursday by placing in the top 15 of their respective state qualifying meets.

 LAKE CITY -- Eight valuable seniors played their final volleyball match for IKM-Manning Monday night as the Wolves were swept by South Central Calhoun, 15-25, 24-26, 21-25, in a Class 2-A regional quarterfinal. Following a sluggish start in set one, IKM-Manning had its share of good moments in the final two sets but never quite got on track against the 13th-ranked Titans, who beat the Wolves for the third time this season and avenged last yea

 AUDUBON -- A highly successful season for Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton volleyball came to a close Monday night when the Spartans lost at 9th-ranked Audubon in a Class 1-A regional quarterfinal, 12-25, 15-25, 11-25. The Wheelers finished with a 40-12 advantage in kills and also served 12 aces in the match, improving to 25-6 overall and setting up a regional semifinal vs.

    AMES -- Ermelin L. Fallgatter, 94, Ames, formerly of Harlan, died Wednesday, Nov.

    ELK HORN -- Jacquetta “Ruth” Jenkins, 76, Elk Horn, died November 2 at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn.    Services are pending at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.    Jenkins is survived by daughters Denise (Greg) Brown of Wichita, KS, Lisa Hansen of Audubon, and Linda Beckel of Council Bluffs; son William “Will” (Heidi) Jenkins Jr.