by Ryan Stonebraker

        LIBERTY CENTER - The Montezuma Braves' week two match-up with Southeast Warren turned into a shootout as the game came down to the team with the football last. Unfortunately for Braves fans, it was SE Warren who had the ball last.  The Warhawks came back from down eight points in the fourth quarter to beat Montezuma 50-44. The loss drops the Braves record to 1-1 while SE Warren won their season opener.
       SE Warren scored as time ran out in the game as quarterback Cam Seuferer crossed the goal line from two yards out for the winning score.  Seuferer had three touchdown passes and two rushing scores in the game.
      “Our defense broke down on some assignments and that was trouble for us.  We contained their run game well. We didn’t adjust to their RPO plays against us and we needed to adjust to that better,” said Montezuma coach Jon Beck.
      Beck said the the Warhawks are a good football team and though this loss stings, the closeness and toughness of the game was needed for his team.
       “This will be a good week down the road.  These are the games that we need in the non-district.  It will prepare us for district play.  They are very physical and we want to play that way too,” he said.             
        SE Warren scored the first points of the game with 8:22 left in the first quarter.  A 6-yard touchdown pass from Cam Seuferer to Jamison Ewing was followed by a successful 2-point conversion run to make the score 8-0. On the ensuing drive, the Braves drove into the red zone only to see the Warhawks intercept Brady Boulton at the goal line. The Braves would force a Warhawk punt to avoid trouble.  The Braves got into Warhawk territory, but couldn’t convert on a key fourth and short, turning the football over to SE Warren late in the first quarter.
       Early in the second quarter, the Braves held the Warhawks out of the end zone after they had penetrated the red zone taking over the football on downs. The Braves would then put together a 75-yard drive ending in a 6-yard Brett Plants touchdown run to cut the SE Warren lead to 8-6.  The Warhawks answered the Braves score with one of their own.  Marching down the field, SE Warren would extend their lead to 16-6 after a Terry Fisher 4-yard run and Cam Seuferer conversion run.  Montezuma would answer right back, getting closer on a Broox Stockman 1-yard touchdown run.  A Brady Boulton conversion run did no good but the Braves trailed only 16-12.  That would be the score at the halftime break.
      On their first drive of the second half, Montezuma took their first lead of the game.  A score to take the lead came in the form of a Lars Taylor 7-yard pass from Brady Boulton to set the score at 18-16 Montezuma.  A Brady Boulton conversion run is no good.
       SE Warren would re-take the lead on their next drive on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Seuferer.  The two-point try was no good, but SE Warren led 22-18. Montezuma again marched down the field and answered the Warhawk's score with one of their own.  The Braves got a big play from Boulton who connected on a 33-yard scoring pass to David Rose to give the Braves a 24-22 lead.
       The Warhawks took a lead of 28-24 on a Trey Fisher 3-yard run, followed by the Braves taking the lead, 30-28 on a Brett Plants scoring run, his second of the game. Right before the quarter ended, SE Warren would take the lead one final time in the quarter.  A 51-yard big play pass from Seuferer to Jamison Ewing set the score at 36-30 after three quarters.
      Montezuma tied the game early in the fourth quarter on a Broox Stockman 2-yard run at 36.  Later the Braves took a 44-36 lead after a Boulton 8-yard run and two-point conversion pass from Boulton to Rose.
      SE Warren tied the game on a 27-yard pass from Seuferer to Brogan Ewing and a Seuferer conversion run to knot the score at 44.  The back-and-forth of the second half ended when SE Warren came up with a big defensive stop of the Braves forcing them to punt late in the game.  The Warhawks would march down the field getting a first and goal at the seven-yard line with 14 seconds left in the game.  The Warhawks would score the winning points with no time left in the game on a 2-yard run by Seuferer.
      The Braves had nearly 400 yards of total offense with 395 yards with 125 passing and 270 rushing yards.
    Brady Boulton passed for 125 yards on 13-of-24 attempts with two touchdowns and one interception.  Boulton rushed for 77 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown.  Brett Plants led Brave rushers with 143 yards on 24 carries and a pair of touchdowns. Broox Stockman rushed for 50 yards on 14 carries with a pair of touchdown runs.  Carter Michalek was the top Montezuma receiver with seven receptions for 44 yards.  David Rose and Lars Taylor each caught a touchdown pass.
     Defensively, Montezuma was led in tackling by Luke Erselius with eight and Broox Stockman with six.  David Rose and Stockman each had interceptions in the game.
     SE Warren quarterback Cam Seuferer passed for 311 yards on 26-of-35 completions with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Seuferer also rushed for 15 yards and two touchdowns. Trey Fisher led SE Warren in rushing with 90 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns. The Warhawks had 311 passing and 122 rushing yards.  The War Hawks had two players with over 100 yards receiving. Brogan Ewing led with 12 receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown while Jamison Ewing had seven catches for 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  Defensively, SE Warren was led by Jamison Ewing with 13.5 tackles, Seuferer with 12 tackles, and Fisher with 11.5 tackles.
       The Braves will return home Friday to play Moravia in the first of back-to-back weeks with home games.  The Mohawks come into the game 0-2 after losing 54-21 in week zero to Boyer Valley and last week, 58-0 to 2023 8-man state runner-up Bedford.
      Moravia has used two quarterbacks this season, a sophomore and a freshman.  Sophomore Kale Moore has the best stats with 51 passing yards on 11-for-24 attempts. He has not thrown a touchdown pass but has three interceptions.  Moravia’s top rusher is sophomore Blake Ewing who has 123 yards on 34 carries and three touchdowns.  Senior Jesse Myhr is next with 81 yards on 24 carries.  Junior Declan DeJong is Moravia’s top receiver with six catches for 45 yards.  Defensively, Moravia’s top tackler is DeJong with eight and senior Isaac Messsamaker with seven.
       “Moravia is a dive and speed option running team. They look to be physical on the line and we will have to accept that challenge,” said Beck.

       Harry Smith, retired CBS and NBC television journalist, will be the headline speaker at the 2024 All-Iowa Writers’ Conference on Saturday, Sept. 21 in Montezuma.
       The conference, which is in its 12th year, is hosted by J.O. and Debbie Parker with Our Front Porch Books. The event will be held at Community Hope Church, 501 N. Front St., Montezuma. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and pre-registration is encouraged. The all-day conference includes lunch from Pagliai’s of Grinnell and is $40 in advance or $50 at the door. 
       And for the first time, attendees have the option of pre-registering for a half-day session. Space is limited and you must pre-register by September 19. The price is $25 to attend either the morning or afternoon session. This price does not include lunch.
      Smith, who is teaching a course this fall on curiosity at his alma mater, Central College, will present on his journalism career and writing. Also leading presentations will be author, playwright and national commentator, Zachary Michael Jack; Leigh Michaels, award-winning author of more than 100 books; Misty Urban, editor and author; Jackie Haley, national recognized speaker and entrepreneur and comic book writer and artist, Phil Hester.
    Attendees can pre-register by downloading a form at www.ourfrontporchbooks.com. If you have any questions or would like a pre-registration form emailed to you, please contact Debbie at [email protected]or call J.O. at  641-990-8026.

        Members of the Bear Creek Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited committee are shown with the Tindle family of Montezuma at the chapter’s annual banquet held in Malcom on Saturday, Aug. 24. Each year at the annual banquet, the chapter holds a special auction for a family in need. This year it was Peyton Tindle, a junior at Montezuma High School, who just learned this month that his Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is in remission after four rounds (given in eight doses) of chemotherapy. Pictured are, from left: Debbie Parker, aunt; Abree Kemerling, friend; Jeff, Dad; Sawyer, brother; Peyton; Megan, Mom; and committee members, Josh Gregson, Jason Meyer, Drew Buckley, Eric Hodina, Chad Sutfin and Jose Fragoso. Peyton’s brother, Gavin, was unable to attend the banquet.

By J.O. Parker
 
        The Bear Creek Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited is a lot more than a deer conservation organization. They are a group of men and women who support their communities.
And that was evident at the chapter’s annual meeting on Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Malcom American Legion Hall.
       Each year the chapter holds a special auction raising funds for an area family in need and this year it was for Peyton Tindle, 16, of Montezuma.
       Peyton, son of Jeff and Megan Tindle, was diagnosed this spring with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Stage 2.
     “Peyton started his treatments on May 1, and promptly had a severe reaction to the first medicine they gave him,” said his dad, Jeff. “After that, each treatment had challenges that Peyton persevered through.”
   Peyton just completed his fourth and final round of chemotherapy (eight treatments in total) on Wednesday, Aug. 7. On Aug. 23, Peyton found out the treatments had been successful and that he is in remission.
      Eric Hodina, president of the local chapter of Whitetails Unlimited, said the chapter has done a benefit for a family in need (typically due to medical reasons) within Poweshiek County, this being the 17th year.
     “Now after 17 years on the committee and three years into being president of the chapter, I want to be sure we continue this tradition for as long as the chapter exists,” noted Hodina. “With everything that is going on in this world, I want to be sure that we set as an example as Americans, as Iowans and members of the small-town community’s we live in that we have each other’s backs when it comes right down to it.”
      Hodina said when someone in these small towns (in Poweshiek County) is affected by something, it doesn't just affect that family, it affects the community. 
      Peyton’s cancer journey began innocent enough. In late March, he noticed his lymph nodes on the left side of his neck were larger than normal.
       “We assumed he had a cold or virus,” said Jeff. “After a few days, with no symptoms of sickness, the lymph nodes were still swollen and we decided to take him to the doctor.”
        Peyton’s doctor did a blood test and treated him with antibiotics followed by a re-check.
     "Five days later, the antibiotics had made no improvement in his condition,” Jeff said of his son. “The doctor told us he should have a CT scan - “just in case.” A few hours later, the doctor received the results. She immediately referred us to an oncology doctor at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines.”
        Over the next few days, Peyton underwent many tests to rule out any cause other than cancer.
“They all came back negative,” noted his mom, Megan. “Next, they did a biopsy of his lymph node. It was positive for cancer.”
        Installation of a port was the next step. Apparently, standard procedure is to place the port on the right-hand side. Peyton’s favorite sport is trap shooting with Montezuma Scholastic Shooting Sports. He is a right-handed shooter. But with persistent advocating from Peyton, his parents and the oncology doctor, he managed to get his port installed on the left side so he could continue to shoot.
        After his first PET scan, doctors suspected Peyton also had cancer in his bone marrow.
        “However, another biopsy proved that not to be the case,” said Jeff.
         Doctors and his family and friends were amazed how Peyton persevered through it all.  
        “During his treatments, he continued to shoot, including state trap,” said his dad. “He showed livestock at the Poweshiek County Fair and attended FFA practice with his Ag Communications Team, which will be competing at the National FFA Competition in Indianapolis in October.”
       Peyton’s parents said that the past several months have been challenging, but both are so thankful for the support of family, friends and the community.
       “It has been truly amazing and makes you appreciate where you live,” said Jeff.
       “And the community will always come together to support and help when and where it’s possible,” noted Hodina.
         Peyton is a junior at Montezuma High School this fall.

        Montezuma's Brett Plants gains extra yards in a first half play at Victor. Plant finished the game with 8 carries and 47 yards. Montezuma won the game, 64-0 to open the 2024 season.

By Ryan Stonebraker

       VICTOR - The Montezuma Brave football team began their 2024 season last Friday at HLV with a short trip to Victor.  There, the Braves scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions and scored touchdowns on nine of their first ten possessions overall in the 64-0 drubbing of the Warriors. Montezuma led 50-0 at halftime as the mercy point running clock rule was used in the second half.  The Braves will be back in action Friday when they play at SE Warren.
       “It was a good win to start the season,” said Montezuma head coach John Beck.
      “I know the scoreboard won’t show it, but we started slow and had some first-game jitters.  I think once we settled in and got more comfortable we were able to establish the line of scrimmage,” said Beck.
       The Braves offense produced 471 yards of total offense in the game and averaged 9.4 yards per play for the game.  Junior quarterback Brady Boulton guided the offense.  Boulton made plays on the ground with 133 yards on six carries and three rushing scores. He also made plays in the air, completing 60 percent of his passes for 92 yards and a touchdown.  Broox Stockman added 73 yards on seven carries and a pair of rushing scores.  Brett Plants, Rett Pargeon, and Dane Strong also had rushing touchdowns in the game. Eight different players caught a pass in the football game with Kohen Holland catching the only touchdown pass.
        The Braves returned many from their offense last season that helped them average 49.7 points a game which was the eighth-highest total last season in 8-player football.  Brady Boulton was one of the most dynamic players last year in 8-man football as a sophomore quarterback in his first varsity season.  
       Boulton had 49 total touchdowns which was tied for fourth in the state in all classes. Also back are the three top Brave rushers from last year in Boulton (754 yards, 17 TD’s), Brett Plants (618 yards, 9 TD’s), and Broox Stockman (299 yards, 3 TD’s). Stockman and Plants are also the top receivers back after each had at least 14 receptions and 140 each.
        Last year Montezuma opened the 2023 season with a 64-6 win over the Warriors in a game that mirrored their week one win this year.  It was the second time in as many years that the Braves opened their season with a win.  The Braves lost 36-33 to Iowa Valley to start the 2022 season.
       Montezuma opened the scoring in the first quarter with 6:04 left in the quarter on a Brady Boulton 65-yard touchdown run.  Boulton found David Rose on a 2-point conversion pass to give Montezuma an 8-0 lead.  Later in the quarter, Boulton broke free for a 20-yard scoring run to set the score at 14-0 after another 2-point conversion pass was no good. The Braves would continue to hold their 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
       The Warriors had a 65-yard kick-off return for a touchdown after the second Montezuma touchdown by Cael Weisskopf was called back due to a penalty.  It would be their best scoring chance until the final quarter when they dropped a scoring pass at the goal line on a fourth-down conversion try.
      Montezuma scored on their first possession of the second quarter and third straight possession on a Boulton 5-yard run with less than two minutes gone in the quarter. That score gave Montezuma a 22-0 lead.  Later Boulton connected with Kohen Holland for a 23-yard touchdown pass to extend the Braves lead to 28-0.
Three touchdown runs in the final five minutes of the half were next for the Braves.  Broox Stockman scored from 9-yards out with 4:55 left before halftime, Brett Plants scored from 6-yards out with 3:13 left, and Stockman added a 25-yard scamper for his second scoring run, with 1:28 left before halftime.
        Nearly every three minutes of the second quarter, the Braves scored a touchdown while out-scoring HLV 36-0 in the quarter and taking a 50-0 halftime lead.
       The Braves scored a touchdown in each quarter of the second half on a Rett Pargeon rush in the third and a Dane Strong rush in the fourth quarter. The scores accounted for 14 more points to set the final at 64-0.
    Defensively, Montezuma shut down the Warriors with two sacks, eight tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. Luke Brenna and Lars Taylor each had fumble recoveries while David Rose and Luke Erselius each had an interception. Briar Simpson had a sack while Isaac Wedgewood and Braxton Plants were each credited with a half-sack. Simpson and Rett Pargeon led seven Braves who had a tackle for loss with two stops behind the line of scrimmage each. Broox Stockman led in tackles with 5.5 while Dane Strong, and Lars Taylor each had 4.5 tackles.
      Montezuma improved to 1-0 while HLV fell to 0-1.  The Warriors will travel to Belle Plaine on Friday.  The Plainsmen beat Clarksville 46-20 last week.  Belle Plaine has won two straight games over the Warriors including a 60-6 win last year in the first game between the two schools since the 2011 season.
      The Braves will face a SE Warren Warhawk team that did not play last week and will have their season and home opener this week.  The War Hawks were 4-5 last year and lost to Montezuma 47-28 in Montezuma.  The Braves have won three of the last four contests with the Warhawks. SE Warren returns their starting quarterback Jamison Ewing who passed for 539 yards and 8 TD’s on 54 completions and led SEW in rushing with 761 yards and 13 TD’s with a 6.7- yard average. Also back is their second-leading rusher in Trey Fisher who rushed for 626 yards and 9 TD’s with a 5.7- yard average.  Fisher, Brogan Ewing, and Robert Beardsley all return as the top SE Warren receivers as well.
      “They have been on our schedule in the time frame of us being in 8-man football,” said Beck. “They have some guys on the outside, they are not as big as they were last year upfront.  I look forward to this game.  I think that it will be won at the line of scrimmage.”
       The Braves will return home on Friday, Sept. 6 for their home opener against Moravia.

​       Jack Brenner of Montezuma enjoys a sweet treat during a supper break while working with the harvesting crew, C & K Harvesting and Trucking company of Cuba, Kan. Brenner is driving a semitruck from the field to the farmer’s grain bins and local co-ops. He is part of a five-member crew along with harvesting company owners, Karly and Chris, and their son. They are harvesting in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Montana and North Dakota. The traveling crew harvests wheat, field peas, lentils, soybeans, canola, corn and milo. Submitted photo from Debbie Hersberger.

By J.O. Parker
 
       It’s long days filled with hard work, but for a young Montezuma man, traveling the central United States in a big rig with a wheat harvesting crew is an adventure of a lifetime.
       Jack Brenner, son of Tim Brenner and Debbie Hersberger, is spending his spring, summer and fall months working for C & K (Chris & Karly Cherney) Harvesting and Trucking company out of Cuba, Kan.
       Brenner and his crew recently wrapped up work in Montana and are currently harvesting wheat and other crops in North Dakota.
         The crew started cutting wheat on May 19 in Seymour, Texas. Seymour is about an hour east of Lubbock. The crew then moved through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and into Montana and North Dakota. 
        “We will do a fall harvest in Oklahoma and Kansas,” said Brenner in a recent telephone interview from the road.
         Brenner learned of the job opportunity on customharvesters.com.
        When asked what led him to join a harvesting crew, Brenner said he wanted to travel the central United States and see all the different ways of farming.
         “It’s different for each area,” he said.
        Brenner spends his days transporting wheat and other crops to farmer’s grain bins or to local co-ops. His work days average 14 – 15 hours and he travels between 200 and 300 miles each day in his semitruck.
         The crew harvests wheat, field peas, lentils, soybeans, canola, corn and milo.
         When asked, Brenner said days off are few and far between.
      “We don’t get many days off,” said Brenner. “When we do, we are usually fixing equipment or getting ready for the next job.”
       However, on occasion, especially for a birthday, the crew will enjoy an evening in a nearby town for drinks, food, dancing and singing.
      The harvesting crew has three John Deere combines on the road and a fourth combine when in Oklahoma. There’s also several semi trucks, tractors, grain carts and two campers that travel the harvest circuit. 
       “The boss and his wife and son stay in one camper and the crew of five hired hands stay in a second camper,” said Brenner.
         When asked about his meals, Brenner said one of the crew members likes to cook and will fix us a meal.
        “When we are in the fields, the bosses’ wife will fix meals for us,” said Brenner. “She can cook and makes a lot of homemade meals. It hits the spot every time.”
          Evening meals include such classics as chicken fried steak, spaghetti and lasagna.
          He usually packs a lunch in the camper each morning before heading out.
          “If I’m running through a town that has a fast food restaurant, I will stop and pick up something to eat,” he said of being on the road.
           Most farms the crew harvest are from 600 – 700 acre sections. All totaled, the crew will harvest 30,000 acres of wheat and other crops when they wrap up operations in mid-November.
           Karly Cherney, co-owner of C & K Harvesting and Trucking Company, said Jack has been a great asset to the crew.
           “We have had a busy harvest season and Jack has continued to show us a strong work ethic through it all,” said Karly. “He maintains a positive attitude, is reliable and completes tasks as requested.”
          “We think it’s an exciting experience for him and are glad he is able to do it,” said his dad, Tim. “We were able to visit him in Kansas and Montana for a couple days this summer.”
           When asked, Brenner said one thing he has enjoyed the most is meeting all the farmers and learning how they operate their farms.
            “I’ve had the opportunity to meet several guys on other crews and shoot the breeze,” he said.

       Jack Brenner of Montezuma is spending his spring, summer and fall harvesting wheat and other crops with C & K Harvesting and Trucking company in Cuba, Kan. The crew started in Texas in mid-May and harvested in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Montana and now North Dakota. They will soon be returning to harvest in Oklahoma and Kansas this fall. Brenner, second from left, is shown with crew members, from left: Cade, owners Karly and Chris, Zach, Josh, Tripp and Hank the dog. Submitted photo by Debbie Hersberger.

​        Roger Iverson, the South Central District Director of the Association of Iowa Fairs enjoys driving his Oliver 1855 tractor with his grandson, Caleb Oliver, 13, in the Montezuma “Let Freedom Ring” Parade.

​By J.O. Parker
 
           Attending county fairs has taken on a new meaning for a rural Grinnell man.
           Roger Iverson serves as the South Central District Director of the Association of Iowa Fairs.
        His district is one of six across the state of Iowa and includes 16 county fairs. They are: Poweshiek, Jasper, Polk, Dallas, Southern Iowa Fair, Marion, Warren, Madison, Monroe, Lucas, Clarke, Union, Appanoose, Wayne, Decatur and Ringgold counties.
       As director, Iverson visits each fair in his district when they are in operation. He covers all 16 fairs in about a three week period.
       At each fair, Iverson talks with fair board members to get an update on all that is happening and any future plans for the fairgrounds. He also spends time talking with fair attendees.
       “Each fair is given money from the state for improvements,” said Iverson. “I go around and see what improvements the money was used for and what projects are planned.”
        He finds that all the fair boards and fair attendees have the same passion about their fair, calling them his fair friends or fair families.
      The 16 fairs in Iverson’s district take turns hosting the spring and fall district meetings with a meal. Iverson said two fair board members from his district are selected to represent the South Central District on the Iowa State Fair board.
          This is Iverson’s fourth year serving as district director.
       Prior to taking the district director position, Iverson served seven years on the Poweshiek County Fair board. He joined the fair board filling in one year for a member who stepped down and then went on to serve two more three-year terms.
      While serving in Poweshiek County, the former South Central District Director retired after 12 years, opening up the position. 
         “I had two state fair board members ask me to be a director,” Iverson said. “The rest of district voted to have me represent the South Central District.”
        Iverson is eligible to serve as a district director for up to 12 years and is up for re-election every two years.
         “It’s great to visit with fair board members and meet fair attendees,” Iverson said of his position. “Every fair is unique in their own way. I enjoy visiting all of them.”
          “I don’t have to go to those county fairs, I get the privilege to go to those county fairs,” he added.
         Iverson is married to Debbie and the couple live just outside of Grinnell. Iverson farms row crops, raises show pigs, drives his antique tractors in parades and enjoys spending time with his three daughters, their husbands and his five grandchildren.

        Retired television journalist Harry Smith will be headlining the the 2024 All-Iowa Writers' Conference on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Community Hope Church in Montezuma. Smith, a Central College alum, will present on his career and writing beginning at 9 a.m.
      Smith worked for NBC News, MSNBC, and CNBC as a senior correspondent. He hosted the CBS News morning programs, The Early Show and its predecessor, CBS This Morning, for 17 years. In July 2011, Smith left CBS News to become a correspondent for NBC News and the news magazine Rock Center with Brian Williams. He also served as an anchor for MSNBC, conducting daytime live coverage of breaking news and events since first appearing in November 2015.  Smith will be teaching a course this fall at Central College in Pella.
        Other speakers include: Phil Hester, a comic book artist and writer from North English; Lee Michaels, an author of over 80 Harlequin Romance novels as well as many other fiction and non-fiction books; Misty Urban, a contemporary and romance author; Jackie Haley, a nationally recognized award-winning author, speaker and entrepreneur; and one more yet to be named author.
     Visit www.ourfrontporchbooks.com for information on the conference and to download a registration form. Preregistration is $40 and it includes lunch.