Area football capsules: Week 8

A dozen key area football matchups for Week 8:

IOWA CITY HIGH at LINN-MAR

Time and site: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Linn-Mar Stadium

Records and rankings: Class 4A fifth-ranked City High is 6-1 overall, 4-1 MVC Mississippi Division; No. 3 Linn-Mar is 7-0, 5-0.

Notable: The Mississippi Division title is at stake. Linn-Mar already has clinched a share of the crown, and can win it outright with a victory Friday. The Lions warmed up for this showdown by bashing Cedar Rapids Washington, 56-7, last week. City High defeated Linn-Mar twice last season in a pair of high-scoring, entertaining affairs. City's Ronald Thompson is the state's leading rusher in 4A (and third in all classes) with 1,496 yards. Linn-Mar's Mark Atwater has rushed for 462 yards and passed for 1,268; his 1,730 total yards is fourth most in 4A.

CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON at IOWA CITY WEST

Time and site: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Trojan Field

Records and rankings: Washington is 4-3; Class 4A ninth-ranked West is 6-1.

Notable: It's a cross-divisional game before West's winner-take-all MVC Valley Division battle next week against Cedar Falls. West had an extra day to prepare after holding off Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 35-28, last Thursday. Washington is licking its wounds after absorbing a 56-7 loss to Linn-Mar. On the other hand, the Warriors have proven they can rise up; they did it two weeks ago by upsetting Iowa City High. West is explosive offensively, averaging more than 44 points per game. Charles Rogers has rushed for 569 yards and passed for 1,162. Washington's Flynn Heald ranks second in 4A in receptions (49) and receiving yards (761).

MARION at UNION

Time and site: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at La Porte City

Records and rankings: Marion is 4-3 overall, 2-3 Class 3A District 5; Union is 5-2, 3-2.

Notable: Marion's playoff stock has fallen drastically in the last two weeks, and Union can deliver the death blow to the Indians' hopes. Wes Burnside rushed for 211 yards and three touchdowns as the Knights pulled away to beat Western Dubuque 42-17 last week, and Union might be getting healthy in time to make a late-season charge. Last year, Burnside carried 58 times for 315 yards in a 41-35 win. Marion's Jake McDonald needs six tackles to reach 300 for his career. He had 19 tackles last week, 104 this season.

LOUISA-MUSCATINE at IOWA CITY REGINA

Time and site: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Regina

TV: KCRG Channel 9.2

Records and rankings: Louisa-Muscatine is 3-4 overall, 3-2 Class 2A District 5; Class 2A top-rated Regina is 7-0, 5-0.

Notable: Regina's win streak stands at 21 games, and none of the Regals' games this season have been close. Regina has shut out four opponents this season, and the Regals lead 2A in scoring defense at 4.3 points per game. Jacob Vollstedt has rushed for 744 yards. Andy Sierra has rushed for 897 yards and 11 touchdowns for Louisa-Muscatine.

CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY at WATERLOO WEST

Time and site: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Waterloo

Records and rankings: Kennedy is 3-4 overall, 2-2 MVC Mississippi Division; West is 0-7, 0-4.

Notable: A winning regular season is still very much in play for Kennedy, which is a heavy favorite to win Friday. The Cougars nearly pulled off an upset last week, falling to Iowa City West, 35-28. Alex Hillyer and Trevor Heitland have been Kennedy's offensive leaders. West has been competitive once this season, an overtime loss to Dubuque Senior.

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER at CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON

Time and site: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Kingston Stadium

Records and rankings: Xavier is 4-3 overall, 3-2 MVC Valley Division; Jefferson is 0-7, 0-4.

Notable: Xavier righted its ship somewhat last week, defeating Waterloo East 19-13 to break a three-game losing streak. Carter Valentine needs 68 yards to reach the 1,000-yard rushing plateau. Jefferson has dropped 20 consecutive games. Alex Baxter has rushed for 240 yards and passed for 366.

DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD at CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE

Time and site: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at John Wall Field

Records and rankings: Hempstead is 2-5 overall, 0-4 MVC Valley Division; Prairie is 1-6, 1-4.

Notable: Prairie picked up the first win of the Mike Morrissey era last week, defeating Cedar Rapids Jefferson 29-17. Quarterback Jace Hanna suffered a mild concussion and is doubtful, but the Hawks might get Demetrius Harper back from a collarbone injury. Hempstead has won two straight games and has legitimate playoff hopes.

WESTERN DUBUQUE at MAQUOKETA

Time and site: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Maquoketa

Records and rankings: Western Dubuque is 5-2 overall, 4-1 Class 3A District 5; eighth-rated Maquoketa is 6-1, 5-0.

Notable: Here's your 3A-4 championship game. The Cardinals are champions if they protect their home field and win their seventh straight game (they lost to West Delaware in Week 1). Nobody has been closer than 20 points of them since. Chase Coakley has completed 64 percent of his passes (for 849 yards) and has rushed for 521. Western Dubuque stumbled 42-17 to Union last week, but still can win the district if it runs the table. Logan Pitz has 23 catches for 482 yards.

WAVERLY-SHELL ROCK at DECORAH

Time and site: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Decorah

Records and rankings: Tenth-rated WSR is 6-1 overall, 4-1 Class 3A District 4; Decorah is 5-2, 4-1.

Notable: Most likely, the winner of this game will be the second-place finisher in 3A-4. Both teams have been defeated by front-runner West Delaware. So in essence, these teams are playing for a home game in the first week of the playoffs. Decorah's Josey Jewell has rushed for 544 yards, and also leads the Vikings in tackles (with 54); Jake Englin has rushed for 584 yards for the Go-Hawks.

WASHINGTON (Iowa) at SOLON

Time and site: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Solon

Records and rankings: Washington is 4-3 overall, 3-2 Class 3A District 6; No. 6 Solon is 6-1, 5-0.

Notable: Regardless of what happens this week, the Spartans will play for the district title next week at Grinnell (6-1, 5-0). Solon has won 34 straight district games in a streak that dates back to 2006. J.J. Hanus has rushed for 529 yards and passed for 493. Washington has won three straight games, but probably needs at least a split of its final two to reach the playoffs. Jake Redlinger has rushed for 638 yards and passed for 801.

TURKEY VALLEY at WAPSIE VALLEY

Time and site: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Fairbank

Records and rankings: Turkey Valley is 5-2 overall, 4-1 Class 1A District 5; eighth-rated Wapsie Valley is 7-0, 5-0.

Notable: Both of these teams have nailed down playoff berths. Now, it's all about positioning. Wapsie Valley is one game clear of the Trojans, as well as Bellevue and Starmont. Wapsie is rated second in 1A scoring defense, surrendering 7 points per game. Brian Gaul has rushed for 703 yards while Adam Bachman has collected 87 tackles. Turkey Valley's Jordan Mitchell has rushed for 700 yards.

PEKIN at ALBURNETT

Time and site: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Alburnett

Records and rankings: Pekin is 4-3 overall, 4-1 Class 1A District 6; ninth-ranked Alburnett is 7-0, 5-0.

Notable: Two seasons after floundering through an 0-9 season, Alburnett is a win away from capturing a district championship. The Pirates have racked up 40-plus points in all of their district games. Mitchell Harger is the state's leading rusher (all classes) with 1,726 yards. He is averaging 13.3 yards per carry and has scored 26 touchdowns. Pekin has won three straight games, including a 47-6 rout of North Cedar last week. Quentin Garrels has rushed for 921 yards and 13 TDs.