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WAPELLO, Iowa – Wapello’s football team stopped at a rest area last Friday during its trek to Marengo for a geography lesson.

With the possibility that they could face Clayton Ridge in the postseason, several of the players tried to locate Guttenberg on the map.

“It definitely took us a while, but we found it up there,” quarterback Taylor Jacobsmeier said.

Guttenberg, a town of approximately 2,000 people and located about 40 miles northwest of Dubuque and nearly 165 miles from Wapello, is where the Indians will travel for their first postseason game in eight years at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

To help ease the long trip, members of the community have paid for the team to take a charter bus.

“We’ve got to go up there and think of it as a job,” tailback Dylan Schrader said. “We’re taking a business trip up there. It’s a long ways, but we’ll be ready when we get up there.”

Clayton Ridge, ranked eighth in Class 1A, has won eight straight since dropping its season opener to Central (Elkader), 28-7. In fact, the Eagle defense hasn’t allowed a point since that game.

North Linn is the only team to score against Clayton Ridge since Aug. 28, and it came on a fumble return for a touchdown last week.

“They’re very physical, very aggressive and tackle extremely well,” Wapello coach Todd Parsons said. “They have some great athletes on that side of the ball.”

Clayton Ridge has four players with at least 10 tackles for loss, including senior linebacker Bronson Dullin and cornerback Logan Keehner – who also has six interceptions.

“They are good at stopping the run,” Jacobsmeier said.

Offensively, the Eagles rely on a physical offensive line and tailback Jordan Davis. The senior, who has registered a touchdown in eight straight games, has 1,251 yards and 18 touchdowns for the season. Quarterback Mitchell Glawe has thrown for just more than 500 yards.

“Our defense is going to have to play well,” Parsons said. “(Clayton Ridge’s) forte is running the ball and they do it well. We’re going to have to tackle well and eliminate big plays. When you look at the games we’ve lost this year, we’ve given up a lot of big plays.”

Parsons said Clayton Ridge has an overwhelming size advantage. Because of that, Wapello (6-3) will try and utilize its athleticism on the perimeter. Central Elkader had success throwing the ball against Clayton Ridge, completing 11 of 14 passes for 187 yards and four scores.

“All the tapes I’ve seen of them, nobody has thrown the ball a lot on them,” Jacobsmeier said. “I think we can take advantage of it.”

Regardless, Wapello – the fourth team out of Class 1A District 5 – is a considerable underdog to a district champion, which has outscored its last eight opponents 308-6.

“I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people now that we’ve got everyone healthy,” Jacobsmeier said. “We’ve got a big desire to keep this thing going because we want a rematch against some of the teams that beat us in the district.”

If Wapello should win, it would meet the winner of Belle Plaine and Starmont in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs Monday night. Belle Plaine beat Wapello earlier this month, 38-36.

“This is very special,” senior Brock Webb said. “Last year we didn’t even think about the postseason. This year, we’ve turned it around and worked a lot harder.”

Parsons just hopes his team puts its best foot forward Wednesday.

“It’s obviously a tall order for us, but we’re excited about the opportunity,” he said. “We’ve got a pretty good group of seniors that have been doing this for quite a while.

“They understand an opportunity like this doesn’t happen every year. I think they’re poised to give it their best shot and see what happens.”

Wapello (6-3, 4-3) at

Clayton Ridge (8-1, 7-0)

- What: Class 1A substate 

- When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

- Where: Guttenberg (Stephen D. Shannon Athletic Complex)

- Postseason history: Wapello is making its first trip since 2001 and third overall. In 1989, Wapello beat West Liberty 9-6 in the opening round before losing to Mount Vernon in the quarterfinals, 35-8. In 2001, the Indians lost to Pekin in the first round, 14-0. Clayton Ridge, meanwhile, is making its third appearance, but has never advanced past the opening round.

- Stat leaders: Wapello (Rushing – Dylan Schrader 159-1019, 5 TDs; Taylor Jacobsmeier 58-346, 10 TDs. Passing – Jacobsmeier 106-177-2, 1,534 yards, 19 TDs. Receiving – Jacob LaFayette 41-645, 5 TDs; Brock Webb 21-340, 5 TDs; Logan Lanz 16-161, 5 TDs. Defense – Lanz 65 tackles; LaFayette 58 tackles; Tyler Thye 57 tackles, Webb 57 tackles). Clayton Ridge (Rushing – Jordan Davis 193-1,251, 18 TDs; Logan Keehner 26-319, 2 TDs. Passing – Mitchell Glawe 37-61-2, 509 yards, 6 TDs. Receiving – Keehner 22-381, 6 TDs. Defense – Bronson Dullin 59 tackles, 13 TFL; Keehner 38 tackles, 6 interceptions; Antonio Armstrong 46 tackles, 13 TFL).

How they got here

Wapello (6-3, 4-3)

Aug. 28 – Louisa-Muscatine (W, 42-12)

Sept. 4 – at Columbus (W, 40-12)

Sept. 11 – at Van Buren (W, 47-8)

Sept. 18 – West Branch (L, 28-55)

Sept. 25 – at Pekin (W, 38-29)

Oct. 2 – Durant-Bennett (W, 20-14)

Oct. 9 – at Belle Plaine (L, 36-38)

Oct. 16 – Eddyville-Bl’burg (L, 14-28)

Oct. 23 – at Iowa Valley (W, 44-7)

Clayton Ridge (8-1, 7-0)

Aug. 28 – at Central Elkader (L, 7-28)

Sept. 4 – MFL MarMac (W, 27-0)

Sept. 11 – Edgewood-Cole. (W, 54-0)

Sept. 18 – at NE Goose Lake (W, 37-0)

Sept. 25 – at Starmont (W, 26-0)

Oct. 2 – Bellevue (W, 22-0)

Oct. 9 – at Maquoketa Valley (W, 47-0)

Oct. 16 – Alburnett (W, 67-0)

Oct. 23 – at North Linn (W, 28-6)