Sports

In a clash of unbeatens Friday night at Van Meter, Humboldt held on for a 28-21 victory over the Bulldogs, ending their win streak at 26 games.

Coen Matson passed 8 yards to Chase Flaherty for Humboldt’s first score in the second quarter. Matson passed 37yards to Mason Van Pelt in yhe 3rd quarter. Cash McIntire ran 54 yards for a score. Matson passed to Valley Davis in the 4th quarter.

Humboldt returns home on Sept. 20 to host North Polk. The Wildcats begin Class 3A District 2 play at Hampton on Sept. 27.

See full story in the Humboldt Independent. Subscribe today for print/digital access by selecting the link on this page to get started.

The Humboldt girls cross country team won the team championship at the Estherville Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Brynn Malo was second, Aubry Fisher fourth and Bella Metli eighth to lead the Wildcats. Henry Kramer was eighth to lead the boys to fifth place.

Humboldt runs at Emmetsburg on Sept. 16.

See full story in the Humboldt Independent. Subscribe today for print and digital access by selecting the link on this page to get started.

Coen Matson and Keegan Groat teamed up for three touchdown passes to lead the Humboldt High football team to a 21-18 victory over the Ballard Huxley Bombers on Friday night, Sept. 6 on Mason Maach Field in Humboldt.

The non-conference victory improved Humboldt to 2-0 on the season. They return to action at Class 2A power Van Meter on Sept. 13.

Matson passed 75-yards to Groat at 5:51 in the first quarter and later hit Groat on a 35-yard scoring pass late in the first half. Ballard scored just before halftime on a field goal by Sam Hoffman.

Matson teamed up with Groat for a 73-yard scoring pass early in the fourth quarter.

The Bombers scored on an 85-yard kickoff return by Tucker Vitzthum at 10:54 in the fourth quarter. Ballard quarterback Mason Gatchel scored on a seven-yard run with 4:03 left in the game.

Humboldt’s varsity volleyball team improved to 3-0 in North Central Conference play by sweeping the Algona Bulldogs in three sets on Sept. 12. in the Algona gym. Humboldt won by scores of 27-25, 25-17 and 25-14. The Wildcats improved to 7-4 overall on the season.

Humboldt traveled to Hampton-Dumont-CAL on Sept. 10 at Hampton and won in four sets by scores of 12-25, 25-13, 25-17 and 25-13.

Humboldt opened North Central Conference play at home on Sept. 5 by sweeping the Clear Lake Lions. Humboldt won by scores of 25-18, 25-9 and 25-21.

The Wildcats improved to 5-4 by beating Bondurant-Farrar, 3-1 on Monday, Sept. 9, at Bondurant. HHS lost 25-20 in the first set but rebounded to win by scores of 25-17, 25-23 and 25-19.

Humboldt hosts Fort Dodge on Sept. 17 and Iowa Falls-Alden on Sept. 19.

See full story in the Humboldt Independent. Subscribe today for print and digital access by selecting the link on this page to get started.

Brynn Malo ran fifth overall in 21:14.70 to lead the Humboldt girls cross country team at the Webster City Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Macey Rodgers was 26th in 23:51 and Bella Metli 28th in 23:58 for the Wildcats, who were fourth among six teams in the large school class, won by Ballard.

Henry Kramer was 20th in 18:51 to pace the Wildcat boys. Jaden Himrod was 45th in 21:18 and Carson Chambers 46th in 21:38. Humboldt was eighth in the large school field.

Next action is Sept. 10 at Estherville. See full story in the Humboldt Independent. Subscribe today for print and digital access by selecting the link on this page to get started.

For the second straight season the Humboldt High football team opened their season with an impressive victory over the Spencer Tigers in non-district action, scoring twice in the fourth quarter for a 27-10 Wildcat victory over the Tigers on Dale Norton Field in Spencer.

Keegan Groat and quarterback Coen Matson teamed up on a 65-yard touchdown pass play to put Humboldt on the board in the first quarter. After Spencer took a 7-6 lead on the next series, the Wildcats' Chase Flaherty returned the Tiger kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. Karson Rubel's point-after gave Humboldt a 13-7 lead.

Spencer cut the Humboldt lead to 13-10 at halftime on a 31-yard field goal by Brady Vreeman.

After a scoreless third quarter, Humboldt scored on a seven-yard run by Matson and Trey Al-Hameed added a one-yard run for a score with 4:41 to play giving the Wildcats a 17-point lead.

The Humboldt volleyball team went 3-1 on the day to finish second in their own tournament last Saturday, Aug. 31. The Wildcats defeated South Central Calhoun (21-18, 23-21), Fort Dodge (21-13, 21-15), South Hardin (22-20, 21-18 and lost to Carroll Kuemper (21-15, 21-19). Kuemper was 4-0 and first on the day. South Hardin was 2-2 while SCC went 1-3. Fort Dodge finished 0-4.

Humboldt is now 3-4 overall on the young season.

Wildcat volleyball team goes 0-3 at SEP
The Humboldt volleyball team opened their season Thursday night, Aug. 29, in a non-conference triangular at Southeast Polk and went 0-3 on the night.

Humboldt lost to Norwalk (25-23, 18-25, 9-15) lost to Indianola (19-25, 17-25) and fell to Southeast Polk (25-21, 23-25, 8-15).

Humboldt begins conference play at home on Thursday, Sept. 5, against Clear Lake.

In 2023, Humboldt head football coach Derrick Elman and his veteran staff found a way to overcome a 2-2 start with one of the toughest schedules in the state and earn a spot in the Class 3A state playoffs competing in one of the toughest districts in the state.

The Wildcats went 3-2 in district play and ended up 5-5 overall, bowing in the first round of the playoffs to eventual state champion Williamsburg.

The schedule and Class 3A District 2 look just as formidable, but Humboldt, thanks to the return of 21 letterwinners, will factor into how the race will end up in late October.

A trio of letter winners are back to lead the Humboldt High boys' cross country team this fall. Humboldt is lead by second-year head coach Spencer Ross.

“I feel much better than I did a year ago having that first year under my belt. I’m excited to get going here in year two,” Ross said.

“It does make it a lot easier that I have had a lot of these kids in the classroom going back several years. We have a good core of our girls, whether it’s been track or basketball, they’re a good group to have on our squad. I’m getting to know the guys’ side a little bit better as I keep tabs on them during the year,” Ross said.

Humboldt’s boys placed fifth last year in the NCC with 125 points. Clear Lake (34) won the title with Algona (53), Fort Dodge St. Edmond (67) and Webster City (111) following.

Humboldt head cross country coach Spencer Ross enjoyed his first year leading the program last year. With a total of five letterwinners back for the girls' team, he’s excited about starting year two.

“Year one went awesome. I loved the experience. I did a lot of reflecting in the off-season. What went well and what do I want to change. For the most part, we are keeping things similar in year two,” Ross said. “If anything, putting a focus or emphasis on a few different areas.”

“I feel much better than I did a year ago having that first year under my belt. I’m excited to get going here in year two,” Ross said.

“It does make it a lot easier that I have had a lot of these kids in the classroom going back several years. We have a good core of our girls, whether it’s been track or basketball, they’re a good group to have on our squad. I’m getting to know the guys’ side a little bit better as I keep tabs on them during the year,” Ross said.