GARNER, Ia. — The Eagle Grove Eagles football team returns to the field on Friday Night, as they make the trip into Hancock County to take on the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Cardinals in Class 1A, District 3 action at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School. The Eagles entered with a record of 3-3, while the Cardinals enter at 0-6. Eagle Grove leads the all-time series 9-7, dating back to 1920, as the Eagles won the 2025 meeting by a score of 50-21.
GHV enters Friday still in search of win number one with losses to West Hancock, Osage, Aplington-Parkersburg, Grundy Center, South Hardin and Central Springs. The Cardinals offense is led by junior quarterback Preston Davison, who’s thrown for 436 yards, 5 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, while also rushing for a touchdown. Davison’s favorite targets has been sophomore Chance Derr and junior Demascus Ealey, who have each caught 7 balls, with Derr having 92 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Ealey has 7 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. The Cardinals have had more success running the ball, as senior Zane Black has 104 carries for 478 yards and 2 touchdowns, Brayden Lunning has 90 carries for 393 yards, while Zander Rosauer has 13 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Cardinals defensive backfield has seen a lot of the work in 2026, as safety Brayden Lunning has 37 tackles, 2.5 TFL and a sack, while fellow DB Ayden Ganseveld has 22 tackles and an interception. Demascus Ealey Jr. has also added 15.5 tackles. Sophomore Quinten Pergande leads the linebacking core with 24 tackles and 2.5 TFL, Zander Rosauer has 22.5 tackles and 2 TFL, while Zane Black has 20 tackles and 3.5 TFL. The Cardinals have a couple big pieces up front, as senior Kaden Kral has 22.5 tackles and a TFL, while Kaleb Stuart has 20 tackles and 1.5 TFL.
Eagle Grove will look to rally following a 40-6 loss to their rivals in Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, as a win for the Eagles clinches their first playoff berth since 2022 and guarantees a .500 or better regular season for the first time since 2017. The Eagles offense will look to get a chance to establish the run early on, while the Eagle Grove defense will be tested with a balanced GHV attack.
Kickoff is slated for 7 PM on Friday Night at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School.