The Pedigree of a Family: 2014 Bear Football

By Jason Miller  |   November 10, 2014, 9:36 a.m.

To define the word "family" would take parents, siblings, and a few other variables.

Growing up, every kid has somebody or someone they remember. Some player they pretend to be and/or want to be like.

According to Merriam-Webster.com, the word "pedigree" is defined as -- the origin and history of something especially when it is good or impressive.

Coming off of a 6-4 season, the 2014 version of West Branch Football could aptly be described as having 'unfinished business.' In a year (2013) when very few sportswriters gave the Bears much of a chance to win many games, much less play in the postseason, Coach Pedersen and his squad - once again - proved the naysayers wrong. But when practice officially began for the 2014 team in August, you could tell there was a different tone ringing out.

Returning were 15 starters by position out of a possible 22. Including an all-district quarterback (Lucas Lamont), all 5 offensive linemen (Drew Finnegan, Ryan Grosvenor, Jack Miller, Matt McIlrath, and Jon St John), WR/DB Mason Hays, TE/OLB Nick Westcott, OLB Travis Wolf, DB Austin Black, RB/DB Luke Lenoch, and PK Devin Kindon. Add to that all-state linemen Jacob Giese, a transfer from nearby Wilton, and the team had all the makings of a success ON the field.

Having to replace Tyler Donovan, Michael Gould, Justin Roth, and Casey Pence, among others, would be a tall task. But that becomes the norm every year in southwest Cedar County: graduation breeds attrition breeds tradition.

The late August season opening game played at Lisbon for the second consecutive year - thank you, IHSAA - was a barometer that the Bears were ready to have be measured. This Is: Our House. Who's House: Our House. We Rule: Our House. It did not take long to see that this squad was on to something. 6 plays. 64 yards. 6 points. The only thing that seemed to stop the Bears early on was a 30 minute 'thunder delay'. The Lions never really seemed to wake up from the slumber. 42-0 was the final score. West Branch allowed just 123 yards of total offense to a high-powered Class A football team.

"That was a real nice opening win." said Coach Pedersen after the game. "We did a lot of things really well...but we aren't going to be satisfied. Let's keep working and continue to grow as a team next week."

Confidence boost? Yep.

Second verse same as the first. A whole lot slower (getting there), but a whole lot worse. 49 points. 114 yards allowed. 14 points in the first half. 28 points in the first 5 minutes 45 seconds of the second half. 3 points allowed on defense (controversial) all night. 1 and 0 par deux.

"At halftime, we told you we needed to limit our turnovers and penalties and we would do well." Pedersen said. "The number one thing I am proud of was how you guys (did that, and how you) played in the second half."

Throwback football appreciation night and purple jerseys to symbolize a Polar Bear respect factor in week 3. Throw(back) being the optimal term, as Lamont completed 10 of 14 passes for 191 yards and 3 TD in a 45-0 rout of West Burlington-Notre Dame at the historic Little Rose Bowl.

"You guys played a good football team." said the head coach following the game. "They have a potent offense and didn't do anything. This was a springboard for North Cedar. You guys can be a great football team..."

At halftime, 1940's WBHS Polar Bear star running back Jake Rummells was honored. During an interview with Mr. Rummells in front of the home stands, I asked him, "What was your fondest memory of playing football at West Branch?" His response was fitting. "It is a family. There isn't anything better." Thank you Papa Jake.

Week 4 and the Bears played at Oliphant Street North, aka Doug Jackson Field in Stanwood. It seems we play as many games at DJF as we do the LRB. The wind was blowing 20-25 mph all evening. In a district opening game pitting what would be the two best teams in the league, the North Cedar Knights struck first. But, as the Bears did on the first drive in the first 10 games they played, an offensive answer by West Branch was just around the corner. The Bears trailed for 3 minutes and 13 seconds before tying the game. It was the only time they trailed during the entire regular season. NC played a very tough offensive game, led by all state gunslinger Jayden Johnson and his sidekick Ian Malaby, but their defense was no match for Lenoch and his 325 yard single game rushing record.

"It was all about the offensive line." Lamont said following the game. "If they don't block, and Kindon doesn't get a great block, I do not get the yards. We are a team. This is a team record."

Final score: WB 42, NC 28. 1 and 0 in week 4. 1 and 0 in District 5. 1 and 0 each week.

"You guys played hard..that was a good football team." Pedersen lamented. "WE really need to concentrate this week and get better. We have to get better if we want to go anywhere in the playoffs."

Meanwhile, back at 'home' in West Branch, Homecoming Week arrived. (By the way, congrats to Travis Wolf on being named homecoming king. I'm sure it filled your dance card up for the week.) Bellevue entered week five as the 9th ranked team in Class 1A. The Comets were averaging 410 yards, 40+ points, and only giving up 6 points on defense....up to that point. A sluggish first half by the Bears, they clung to a 14-7 halftime lead. Enter the 3rd quarter movement. 24 second half points. Giving up just 220 yards to a very potent offense, 65 of those coming at the end of the game. 1 and 0 for the 5th time. 2 and 0 in the district. Driver's seat filled with red, black, and white jerseys.

"I really was happy with the defense and the way they (you guys) came back." Pedersen said following the victory. "And the offensive stuck to it, and stuck to it and did a great job controlling the football. You are in the driver's seat now. People have got to chase you down."

It's Showtime (Shawver), baby!

Week 6 and a trip to eastern Cedar County to play an old EIHC foe in Durant. The Bears got off to a great start...on offense...but allowed 13 Wildcat first half points and 180 yards. After the 1:00 mark of the second quarter, the West Branch defense allowed 0 points and 30 yards. 53 offensive points. 558 yards of total offense - second most in school history - and a 94 yard touchdown run by Lenoch (another school record). Lamont to Shawver for 155 yards total (tying Donovan's mark set in 2013 vs. Sigourney-Keota).

"We got off to a slow start." Pedersen pointed out. "You guys played a tremendous second half. We are starting to finish, and I really like that effort."

Playoffs 2014, here we come?

Wapello entered West Branch by bus. It's football team walked onto Oliphant Street Field needing to win to have any hope of playing beyond week 9. Well, the Bears needed a win to guarantee home field advantage for at least one game in the 2014 postseason. That October 10th morning, the Bears and the town of West Branch were featured in a 3 minute segment on The Weather Channel. Part of it's "Friday Night Lightning: 12 weeks. 12 towns" feature. A lineage of success was the focus. "West Branch Football is Pure Americana." KABOOM! 42-0 was the final score...psst, West Branch won. Holding an opponent scoreless for the third time in 2014. Pedersen was not completely satisfied after the game.

"We were not as sharp as we normally are. We need to be a lot better than that this final two weeks."

1, 2, 3 ... DOMINATE.

Ah, a family rival..well, not anymore. Great story lines for week 8 were not too difficult to find. Wilton is a team that was coached by former Bear all-state center Lance Pedersen, who is also the son of the Bears head coach. Wilton is a team that Giese played for his whole life before 2014. Um, well... 56 Bear points. Unanswered. 1 - West Branch held the Beavers to -16 total offensive yards. 2 - Wilton had -39 rushing yards for the game. 3 - The Jakes can run. Tubs. Schreiber. DOMINAT(ION)E. 8 wins. 0 losses. 2 consecutive shutouts. A district championship for the 17th time in 23 years (district football didn't begin in Iowa until 1992). A playoff berth for the 22nd time since 1989. A chance to finish undefeated in the regular season for the 12th time in school history. The undefeated was not defeated.

"You guys played extremely well, extremely hard, and you did everything that we wanted you to do." Pedersen said following the 56-0 district championship clinching win. "You should be very, very proud...but is that what we want? (no!!) We want next week. We want to finish this thing 9 and 0, and we want to do it how we have done it all year. Together. As a family."

Senior Night 2014. KABOOM .... again. 14 Bears played their final regular season home game at the Little Rose Bowl. A field of dreams, some fulfilled some unfulfilled. But, a field that CBSSports.com says is "one of 10 fields you need to see before you die." Mason Hays. Lucas Lamont. Sam Aspelmeier. Jacob Schreiber. Travis Wolf. Austin Black. Cole Lacina. Nick Westcott. Darryl Rice. Matt McIlrath. Jacob Giese. Jacob Gingerich. Jon St John. Jack Miller. Alburnett was the team on the schedule. The Pirates had already clinched a postseason berth as well. However, they just happened to be in the way of a 9 win, 0 loss regular season finish line. Lamont finished 9 of 9 for 190 yards passing. All of which came in the first half of the game. Another game, another Bear defense pitched shutout. 42-0 was the final.

Frenchy, Frenchy, Frenchy!

"You had, absolutely, and outstanding regular season. Give yourselves a hand." Pedersen directed. "To be a district champion is something they can never take away from you. You've worked hard since the beginning of August, and all of your goals for the regular season have been met. He continued. "Now we have even bigger goals in the playoffs. I couldn't be any prouder of a group of football players. We need to thank our cheerleaders. Our coaches. Our managers. And we even have a guy who came from overseas to watch us...Frenchy!"

Break 'em down, Frenchy. Pascal Magneron was a foreign exchange student at West Branch in 1983. Butch Pedersen began his first season as the Bears' head coach in 1983. Pascal didn't want to play football, but he wanted to be a part of the team. Coach Pedersen asked 'Frenchy' to be a manager.

"It is an experience I will never forget." Magneron said after watching his favorite American team win a game. "Coach Pedersen hasn't changed. These guys made me feel like I never left."

It was the first time since 1983 that Pascal had watched a WB game. He lived with the Tighe family. Bob and Bill Tighe were both all-conference and all-state performers for the Bears in the early and mid 1980's. The family and Magneron remain very close to this day. All the best, our friend Frenchy.

Sigourney-Keota and West Branch played in an instant classic double overtime game when the two teams met in 2013. The Bears won 47-46. 2014? Well, it was a bit different. Final score: West Branch 49, SK 22. Lenoch rushed for 303 yards and had yet another 94 yard touchdown scamper. He became the school's first running back in history to top the 300 yard mark twice. And, obviously, the first - and only - back to turn the trick two times in a season. The Bears' 546 total yards of offense ranks 5th in the school's long standing history of successful performances.

"Good win, fellas." Pedersen said following the game. "We need to clean a few things up before we play the next team. Every team you play from here on out is good, so you need to execute better on both sides of the ball to win."

Dike-New Hartford was next. The Bears scored on its opening offensive drive the first 10 games of the season. This game, however, was the 11th. A fumble at midfield, and four plays later the Wolverines led 6-0. West Branch just could not establish the run game the way it had all season. DNH was plugging the tackle gaps that the Bears had owned in its previous 10 games. After a touchdown run by Lenoch in the third quarter, the Bears cut the lead to 20-12. Unfortunately, they could not get any closer. Final score: DNH 35, WB 18.

So many goals were fulfilled. So many dreams were fulfilled. So many stones were turned. But, I am sure if you ask most of the 2014 Bears, there was unfinished business. 10 wins. 1 loss. Season over.

"This hurts. It hurts all of us." Pedersen said. "Give it a couple of days and you will look back and see the great memories you made this year. The most beautiful thing about this team was that it was a family. Nobody can ever take that away from you. It was a family effort, they (just) played better than you tonight. Sometimes in life that is going to happen."

Pedersen concluded: "I will never forget this football team. You really gutted it up, and played with a lot of heart and a lot of integrity. I appreciate all of the help we got from the people in the back. From the cheerleaders, to the strength coaches, to the managers...this isn't just our team, it's theirs. They hurt right now, too. I am very proud to say that I'm your coach."

The family has grown by the example of the 14 seniors and the play of the 2014 Bears. A team that had 0 off the field issues. A team that had 0 academic casualties. A team that will be remembered as more than 10 wins and a district champion. You will be remembered because you made your Bear ancestors proud. Before you came many names. Many of your relatives. Many of your friends. Many of...you. Pride. Success. Tradition. All traits of the West Branch community and football program. Welcome to Bear Football immortality. Your family is always going to be here for you.