It could be pass interference as the ball hasn’t reached Panther Aiden- Silvers yet. Photo by David Friesen.
Despite throwing four interceptions, Brock Hinderman, Iowa- Grant’s defense stifled Riverdale’s offense, while the Panthers rushed for nearly 200 yards and four touchdowns in a 43-7 victory. The win kept Iowa-Grant in the Six Rivers Conference race at 5-1 (6-2 overall). River Ridge and Potosi/Cassville are also 5-1 with one regular-season game remaining.
Hinderman still threw two touchdown passes and ran for another despite an off night for the senior quarterback. “He struggled with turnovers, but with a gunslinger who isn’t afraid to throw into tight windows or over the middle, you’re going to have a game or two each season when you think, ‘I can’t believe he threw it there.’ We trust what Brock sees, and I know he will bounce back,” Iowa-Grant Head Coach Hayden Link said after the game.
On the Panthers’ second possession, running back Cole Schauff opened the scoring with a 49-yard touchdown run, then added the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead. On Riverdale’s next possession, a bad backfield exchange caused a fumble that Colton Williams recovered. Two plays later, Hinderman connected with Ty Cutts for a 21-yard touchdown pass.
Riverdale’s next drive lost ground on three straight plays as the Panthers forced a punt. Grant Schauff then scored on a short run up the middle and caught Hinderman’s pass for the two-point conversion, extending the lead to 22-0.
Riverdale scored on the ensuing kickoff when Bevyn Dennis broke free for a touchdown return, cutting the lead to 22-7. The Panthers answered quickly. Hinderman found Landon Friesen on a rollout pass that moved Iowa-Grant deep into Riverdale territory, then lofted a touchdown pass to Owen Wyatt in the corner of the end zone. The extra point made it 29-7.
The Panthers took a 36-7 lead before halftime after the defense forced another three-and-out and Cole Schauff scored on the next drive. Early in the third quarter, Hinderman connected with Friesen, who fought for tough yards to move Iowa-Grant deep into Riverdale territory. Hinderman then ran for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 43-7 and starting a running clock as the Panthers closed out the decisive win.
“It was a nice effort and a nice job of not letting our guard down. Riverdale continues to be a rising team in the Six Rivers Conference, and we are not looking forward to the playoffs yet; rather we are doing a great job of staying grounded while remembering what we are out to accomplish,” said Link.
Link was especially proud of his team’s defensive effort only allowing the Chieftains 48 rushing yards and 54 yards through the air. “Defensively, Ty Cutts and Ethan “Big E” Mulderink handled everything Riverdale threw at them very well. Trapper Hoffman and Colton Williams are a tremendous cleanup crew and prevented a lot of the backside cutback runs that Riverdale has been so effective at this season. Couldn’t be happier with how our defense is playing right now.”
And he credits the defense preparedness with his coaching staff and defensive coordinator Tyler Kennicker. “I can’t sing enough praises for Coach Kennicker (our defensive coordinator) and all the rest of the guys on staff for the turnaround they have had on the defensive side of the ball. That is now three defensive shutouts (Boscobel, Riverdale, and Potosi) that he has called games for this season,” Link said. “He and I, for a long period during my first off-season in 2024, were the coaching staff. He has been my main lean-on from Day One of this program, helping me completely reset the culture here. Watching our defense in 2026 come from where it has been makes me so proud. He is a great coach, and it is showing up on the field at a tremendous time. Not only is he a great defensive mind, but he has also spearheaded the development of our QBs and contributed greatly to the program’s identity.”
Hinderman was 10 of 18 on the night for 140 yards and two touchdowns and four interceptions. He also rushed for 38 yards and a TD. Cole Schauff led the Panthers on the ground with 11 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Friesen caught four passes for 50 yards. Trapper Hoffman led Iowa- Grant with 6 tackles.
Iowa-Grant will play its regular season finale this Friday at Wauzeka-Steuben/Seneca and Link will not overlook this team. “We didn’t take Wauzeka/Steuben/Seneca seriously enough and they punished us, at home no less. Last year’s 40-20 loss was embarrassing because of how underprepared we were and taught me a lot as a head coach. We are taking them very seriously in 2026. We know we don’t really get a week off in the Six Rivers. We understand that records don’t matter, just what happens between the whistles and the yards markers. That coaching staff over there will always dig out wins.”
Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. at Seneca ..
