For the 2026 season, the Madrid football team finished with a 9-1 record, posted an undefeated regular season and captured the Class A District 6 championship with a perfect 6-0 district mark.
The Tigers advanced to the state playoffs before seeing their season come to an end in the second round against Maquoketa Valley, a team that has continued its postseason run and will compete in the Class A state semifinals Thursday morning, November 12 against Woodbury Central.
Offensively, the Tigers rushed for 2,615 yards and 35 touchdowns, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
Senior Will Atkinson led the ground game with 1,105 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, while junior Jevyn Severson added 504 yards and 13 scores.
Sophomore Kole Deppe contributed 324 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and senior quarterback Chase Perkins added 321 yards and four scores on the ground.
Through the air, Madrid threw for 387 yards and five touchdowns.
Perkins completed 15 of 30 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns.
Deppe added 95 passing yards and a touchdown, while Severson and Emerson Bridgewater each threw for a score.
The receiving corps was led by junior Max Fowler, who hauled in seven catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns.
Bridgewater added seven receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown.
The Tigers’ defense finished with 350 total tackles, 38 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and 10 interceptions.
Severson recorded 32.5 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, and an interception.
Fowler finished with 35 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and two interceptions.
Senior Quinton Moore added 36 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and a sack, while Atkinson contributed 30.5 tackles and two sacks.
For the secondary, Deppe led the team with three interceptions, while Fowler and Logan Bogardus each recorded two picks.
Mason Morman returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown.
Special teams also provided a boost throughout the year.
Severson averaged nearly 40 yards per punt, while Kolbie Owens connected on the team’s lone field goal, a 25-yarder.
Bogardus totaled 286 combined yards on kick and punt returns.
While the season ended one step short of the state quarterfinals, Madrid’s accomplishments were substantial.
The Tigers dominated district play, went unbeaten through the regular season, earned a playoff victory, and continued to be one of the top Class A teams in Iowa.
With several key underclassmen, returning next season, Madrid appears well-positioned to remain a contender in the years ahead.
Jill Lutz reporting
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