High School Football: Dike-New Hartford takes advantage of A-P miscues, roll to win (2025)

DIKE – The margin for error was slim for Aplington-Parkersburg Friday when it traveled to face No. 5 Dike-New Hartford.

Errors killed the Falcons (2-5) early as the Wolverines (6-1) rolled to their sixth-straight victory with a 42-0 win to clinch at least a share of the Class 1A, District 3 title.

DNH can win it out-right next Friday at home against Denver.

Against A-P, DNH running back Noah Borcherding rushed eight times for 168 yards and four touchdowns, with the scores coming from 50, 32, 37 and 51 yards.

“Our kids really came out ready to play and that was a concern,” DNH head coach Don Betts said. “We had a big game last week against MFL and you worry about whether you will be mentally ready when you come out.

“But our kids had a good week of practice, came out ready to play and really got after them … didn’t take our foot off the pedal.”

Borcherding scored on a 50-yard run on DNH’s opening possession, and then the Falcons fumbled the kickoff, and the Wolverines recovered.

Two plays later Jack Severson scored on a 3-yard run. A-P then gave up a safety when, and then lost contain on DNH quarterback Colin Meester who scampered 45 yards for a score after the free kick.

Those series of errors by the Falcons gave the Wolverines a 23-0 advantage just 4 minutes and 31 seconds into the game.

“We said that from the word go that we are going to have to be error free and establish the line of scrimmage,” A-P head coach Aaron Thomas said. “It was anything that could go wrong did, and that is a credit to them and the team they are.

“When we play solid teams, we have to find a way to come out, compete and play. Obviously, it didn’t happen tonight against a really good team.”

Borcherding had 117 yards and three scores at halftime as it was 36-0 at the break, and then scored on a 51-yard run midway through the third quarter to cap off the scoring.

“We continue to get better every game,” Borcherding said. “We’re locking in for this next week … a district championship is very important to us.”

With a huge lead, the Wolverine defense did what they do best, shut down opposing offenses.

Since giving up 13 first-half points in a season opening loss to top-ranked Grundy Center, DNH has outscored its last six opponents in the first half, 170-0.

“Our defense means everything to us,” Borcherding said.

“These guys take a lot of pride in their defense,” Betts added. “They really do. They flow to the ball, get off blocks really well. They are always getting on me late in games when the younger kids go in because they want a shutout.

“Defense wins ball games for you, and you can go a long way with defense. These guys have really bought in that we can do a lot of good things if we play good defense.”

Meester passed for 50 yards and rushed for 77 more as the Wolverines finished unofficially with 311 yards rushing.

The Falcons got 60 yards on the ground from freshman Mason Pruisner.

Aplington-Parkersburg still has plenty to play for, including a playoff spot next Friday at home on Senior Night against Sumner-Fredericksburg (3-3).

The winner secures the three-seed for 1A-3.

“We have a big one coming up next week at home,” Thomas said. “It’s a chance to send our seniors out strong. We know us and Sumner-Fredericksburg will be playing for the No. 3 seed. There is a big difference between being a No. 3 and a No. 4.

“And for our seniors it’s trying to win our third in a row at home and have something to build off.”