In 2026, the Boone football team finished with a 3-6 overall record and a 1-4 mark in Class 4A District 6 play.
All three of Boone’s victories came in tightly contested games.
The Toreadors opened the season with a 14-7 road victory over Greene County on August 28 in Jefferson before earning a 13-12 home win over Perry on September 4.
Boone’s district victory came on October 9 when it defeated Thomas Jefferson, 14-7, in Council Bluffs.
Quarterbacks gain experience
Boone’s passing game was led by sophomore Abel Tungesvik and senior Ashten Petersen.
Tungesvik completed 47 of 96 passes for 337 yards and one touchdown, while Petersen completed 38 of 72 throws for 188 yards and another touchdown.
As a team, the Toreadors completed 85 of 171 passes for 525 yards and two touchdowns.
Sophomore receiver Ryder Hilsabeck caught 37 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown, accounting for nearly half of the team’s receptions.
Senior Patrick Houser added 13 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown, while junior Braxton Gifford contributed 16 receptions for 98 yards.
McIntyre leads ground attack
Senior Maddox McIntyre rushed for a team-high 389 yards and four touchdowns on 122 carries.
His 61-yard touchdown run was the longest offensive play of the season.
Tungesvik added two rushing touchdowns, while Petersen contributed 117 rushing yards.
Boone finished the year with 540 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns as a team.
Defense provides foundation
For the defense, junior RJ Lennon led the team with 62.5 total tackles, including 40 solo stops and 6.5 tackles for loss.
Junior Trent Eckard was close behind with 53.5 tackles and a team-best 9.5 tackles for loss.
Junior George Grote added 40 tackles, while Hilsabeck and Gifford each recorded 28.5 tackles.
Senior Anthony Heenan added 28 tackles and forced two fumbles.
Boone recorded 430.5 total tackles, 36.5 tackles for loss and six sacks during the season.
Senior Jonathan Van Roekel led the pass rush with two sacks, while Petersen added three sacks from his defensive position.
The secondary also produced big plays.
Gifford led the team with four interceptions, while Hilsabeck collected three and returned them for 38 yards.
Boone finished with nine interceptions as a defense.
Special teams contributions
Senior kicker Noel Malin converted his field-goal attempt, going 1-for-1 with a long of 25 yards.
He also connected on five extra points and recorded four touchbacks on kickoffs.
Punter Petersen averaged 35.2 yards per punt on 43 punts with a season-long boot of 53 yards.
McIntyre also gave Boone a spark in the return game, averaging 20.3 yards on nine kickoff returns.
Looking ahead
The Toreadors gained valuable experience from several younger contributors.
Hilsabeck, Tungesvik, Gifford, Grote, Lennon, Eckard will return next year with varsity experience.
The senior class, led by McIntyre, Petersen, Houser, Malin, Van Roekel, Heenan and others, provided leadership and helped the program earn three victories.
Jill Lutz reporting
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