Prep football capsules: Championship weekend

This weekend's high school football championships at the UNI-Dome:

ARMSTRONG-RINGSTED vs. LENOX (8-Man)

Day & time: Friday, 10:35 a.m.

Records: Both teams are 13-0.

Notable: It's a championship three-match between the state's premier eight-man teams. Lenox claimed a 34-32 decision in the 2008 final, then Armstrong-Ringsted won last year, 49-30. These teams are about as even as they can get; BC Moore's computer rankings have Lenox with a composite ranking of 110.82, A-R at 110.78. No. 1 Lenox has enjoyed the easier postseason, outscoring its first four opponents by 45 points per game. The No. 2 Mustangs, meanwhile, had to sweat out a 38-34 win over Graettinger-Terril in the quarterfinals and a 45-34 decision over Fremont-Mills in the semis. A-R quarterback Spencer Clauson has passed for 25 touchdowns and rushed for 20. Lenox's Austin Christensen has rushed for 1,507 yards and 33 TDs.

NORTH TAMA vs. MADRID (Class A)

Day & time: Friday, 2:05 p.m. 

Records: Both teams are 13-0.

Notable: The state's best offense in Class A (Madrid, 55.7 points per game) faces the best defense (North Tama, 5.9 ppg allowed). Both teams advanced a step further than last year, when both were defeated in close semifinal games. No. 3 North Tama avenged last year's semifinal loss to Mason City Newman, beating the Knights 35-20 in the quarterfinals before blanking WACO in the semis. No. 1 Madrid continues to score basically at will in its postseason charge, averaging 50.5 points in its four tournament games. The Tigers average 439 rushing yards per game; Timon Bell has rushed for 1,918 yards and 24 touchdowns while Jeremy Johnson has added 1,768 yards and 27 TDs. North Tama's Brendon Boerm has passed for 2,098 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushed for 1,451 yards and 19 TDs.

IOWA CITY HIGH vs. WEST DES MOINES DOWLING (Class 4A)

Day & time: Friday, 7:05 p.m.

Records: Both teams are 13-0.

Notable: This is the long-awaited matchup between the big-school teams regarded by most as the cream of the crop all year. Second-ranked City High wears the crown, and the Little Hawks have won 27 consecutive games. The Little hawks average 38.5 points per game behind an attack that includes Andrew McNulty (1,276 passing yards, 1,107 rushing yards and a combined 24 touchdowns) and Cedric Readus (818 yards, 10 TDs). Dowling was dominant during the regular season, but had to rally past West Des Moines Valley, 23-20, in overtime in the second round and outlasted Ankeny, 24-21, in the semifinals. Quarterback Connor Bravard has passed for 1,903 yards and rushed for 1,038 with a combined 37 touchdowns.

WEST LYON vs. DIKE-NEW HARTFORD (Class 1A)

Day & time: Saturday, 10:05 a.m.

Records: Both teams are 11-2.

Notable: You can't say either team has lucked their way into the final; they have combined to eliminate each of the top five teams. Eighth-ranked West Lyon knocked out No. 2 Emmetsburg in the quarterfinals, then dominated No. 1 Council Bluffs St. Albert, 35-7, in the semis. Dike-New Hartford, meanwhile, took down No. 3 Aplington-Parkersburg, No. 5 Woodward-Granger and No. 4 West Branch in the last three rounds. Four West Lyon backs have rushed for 500 yards or more, led by Cody Ahrendt (1,024 yards, 17 touchdowns). Eric Joblinske has rushed for 1,949 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Wolverines.

IOWA CITY REGINA vs. NORTH POLK (Class 2A)

Day & time: Saturday, 1:05 p.m.

Records: Regina is 13-0; North Polk is 10-3.

Notable: Top-ranked Regina has been a wrecking crew throughout the season, and the destruction has carried into the playoffs. The Regals have had the continuous clock going in their last 11 games, including a 35-7 win over No. 2 North Fayette in the semifinals. Regina possesses the best scoring offense (43.8 ppg) and the top scoring defense (4.1 ppg allowed) in Class 2A. Jack Verducci has passed for 1,556 yards and 21 touchdowns while Zach Pechous has scored a variety of ways -- five TD receptions, four punt returns, three kickoff returns and an interception. North Polk was 2-3 at midseason, but has mustered eight straight wins since, beating three ranked teams in the postseason. The Comets' latest victim was No. 7 Sheldon in the semifinals by a 42-0 count. Junior Noah Pickard has rushed for 1,570 yards and 17 touchdowns. 

SOLON vs. SIOUX CITY HEELAN (Class 3A)

Day & time: Saturday, 4:05 p.m.

Records: Both teams are 12-1.

Notable: The fourth-rated Spartans take aim at state history; no team has captured four straight championships. Solon is in its fifth consecutive final, its first as a 3A school after winning three straight 2A titles. The Spartans knocked off No. 1 Pella in convincing fashion in the semifinals, 26-14, and has won 11 straight games since falling in Week 2 to Iowa City Regina. Add in the previous 42-game win streak, and Solon has won 53 of its last 54. The Spartans won't wow you on paper -- their leading rusher (Travis Brimeyer) has 622 rushing yards, but three others have 500 or more. No. 5 Heelan dethroned 2009 champion Harlan, 28-21, in the quarterfinals, before outlasting West Delaware, 42-35, in the semis. Michael Malloy has rushed for 1,399 yards and 26 touchdowns while Paul Jacobson has passed for 2,019 yards and 22 TDs. Both are juniors. Heelan won the 3A title in 2008 behind Brandon Wegher.