DFJ photo by David Borer: Keegan Hisler breaks free on a Webster City run last week against Humboldt.

WEBSTER CITY — The 16-team Class 3A state playoff bracket is shaping up to be a real fight to the end starting this week.

For the Webster City football squad, that is how their entire season has played out.

The Lynx (7-2 overall) open play versus Nevada (7-2) here Friday night at 7 p.m.

Since back-to-back losses in late September to West Delaware and Clear Lake, Webster City has rolled to four consecutive wins, with nobody keeping it closer than 19 points.

Last Friday, the Lynx clinched the runner-up spot in a district that qualified four teams for the 3A field. They bested North Central Conference rival Humboldt, 26-7, as Jaxon Cherry rushed 31 times for 234 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Webster City used a pair of lengthy, time-consuming drives to both wear the Wildcats down and to shorten the game.

On the season, Cherry — who became the program’s career rushing leader in 2023 — has 1,499 yards and 21 touchdowns. Keegan Hisler, also a senior, has 620 yards and six scores, with junior Cael Nixon adding 588 and seven.

As a team, the Lynx have rushed for 2,954 yards and 35 touchdowns, averaging 6.6 yards per carry.

This is the fourth consecutive playoff appearance for WCHS under Bob Howard and the 14th trip in the last 17 years. They have won 30 of 40 games since the start of the 2020 season and have nine straight winning campaigns.

Nevada started the year 3-0 before a three-point loss to Hampton-Dumont/CAL, which Webster City topped, 35-6. The only other defeat came to unbeaten Creston in district play, as they also downed Harlan, 39-20.

Cason Stevenson is the focal point on offense with 1,454 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns. Connor King has completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,466 yards and 20 TDs, throwing just six interceptions.

Kyle Kingsbury has 35 receptions for 707 with 11 scores and Jacob Khounsourath has 27 catches for 611 and eight.

Nevada has gone 24-7 over the past three years and has five consecutive winning seasons.

The winner between Webster City and Nevada will face either Harlan (6-3) or Creston (9-0) for a spot in the 3A semis.