EAGLE GROVE, Ia. — The Eagle Grove Eagles football team returns to the field on Friday Night, as they host the Grundy Center Spartans in Class 1A, District 3 action for senior night at Gene Hinrichsen Field. The Eagles enter with a record of 4-3, while Grundy Center enters at 5-2 and ranked #10 in Class 1A. Friday’s meeting is the 2nd all-time meeting between the two programs, as Grundy Center won the 2025 meeting by a score of 49-0.
The Spartans are currently 5-2 with non-district wins over Columbus Catholic and Dike-New Hartford, with district wins over Garner-Hayfield-Ventura, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, South Hardin and Central Springs. Leading the Grundy Center offense is senior quarterback Ethan Meester, who’s thrown for 1,046 yards and 11 touchdowns, while rushing for another 255 yards and 3 scores. Meester’s favorite target in the passing game is junior receiver Lake Schrage, who’s caught 25 passes for 296 yards and 3 touchdowns, as fellow junior Carson Laube has 20 catches for 160 yards and 2 touchdowns. Meester also has an effective rushing attack behind him, led by junior Cooper Keller, who’s rushed for 559 yards and 6 touchdowns, as Hayden Geerdes has added 333 yards and 6 touchdowns. The Spartans do have a younger offensive line, but a unit still made up of upperclassmen, led by senior Kyle Seitz and junior Riggs Yoder.
On the defensive side, the Spartans linebacking core has been stout to start the year, as junior linebacker Cooper Keller leads Grundy Center with 51 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks and an interception, while Hayden Geerdes has 38.5 tackles, and 1.5 TFL. Riggs Yoder and Aiden Hook have added greater depth to the linebacking room as well. Senior Cash Combs leads the Spartans defensive line with 29.5 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries, as Kyle Seitz has 18.5 tackles. 3.5 TFL and 2 sacks, while Carter Ruth has 16 tackles and a TFL. The Spartans secondary has been limited big plays through the air, as Carson Laube leads the unit with 6 passes break up and 26.5 tackles, while Ethan Meester has added 17 tackles to the defensive backfield.
Eagle Grove enters off a 72-35 thrashing of Garner-Hayfield-Ventura to lock up their first playoff bid since 2022. The Eagles will look to pull a big upset of the Spartans before headed into the postseason, which would create a 3-way tie in the district behind CGD.
Kickoff is slated for 7 PM on Friday Night from Gene Hinrichsen Field.