Tonight's key area football games

Here is a look at the area's top football games tonight.C.R. KENNEDY at C.R. WASHINGTON

• Time & place: 7:15 p.m., at Kingston Stadium (Washington is the home team, and its fans will sit on the west side).
• Radio: KGYM-AM (1600)
• Records: Both teams are 2-2
• Notable: Before last year's playoff expansion, this would be a game for postseason survival. Washington racked up 495 yards of total offense last week, but couldn't hold a 14-point halftime lead and succumbed to Linn-Mar, 41-38. Kennedy begins life without RB Royce Bell, who tore his ACL and meniscus last week.

• Time & place: 7:15 p.m., at Memorial Stadium
• Records: Linn-Mar is 4-0; East is 1-3
• Notable: After winning three of its first four games by a total of 14 points, No. 5 Linn-Mar is a heavy favorite tonight. Linn-Mar's Jer Garman is second in the state in all classes with 750 rushing yards.

• Time & place: 7:15 p.m., at Trojan Field
• Radio: KXIC-AM (800)
• Records: Prairie is 3-1; West is 1-3
• Notable: Prairie's schedule turns vicious next week, so the Hawks could use a win tonight to solidify a substate berth. Adam Nelson has rushed for 387 yards. West has become an effective running team, with Jamal Thompson (407 yards) and Charles Rogers (366) leading the way.

• Time & place: 7:15 p.m., at Saints Field
• Records: Both teams are 2-2
• Notable: Xavier owned the second half in a 43-19 win over Cedar Rapids Kennedy last week, and the Saints appear poised to make a surge as the season reaches its midpoint. West QB Conner McClain has passed for 488 yards and rushed for 326.

• Time & place: 7:15 p.m., at Dalzell Field
• Records: Both teams are 0-4
• Notable: Jefferson has been outscored, 136-31, in its four games, but has shown marked improvement the last two weeks against Cedar Falls and Prairie.

• Time & place: 7:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon
• Records: Marion is 4-0 overall, 2-0 3A-4; Mount Vernon is 0-4, 0-2
• Notable: Mount Vernon's suffocating early schedule continues - the Mustangs' first five opponents have a combined record of 19-1. Marion has climbed to No. 6 in the AP 3A poll. Logan Pickering has 353 rushing yards and 244 receiving yards for a total of 13 touchdowns.

• Time & place: 7:30 p.m., at Sumner
• Records: North Fayette is 4-0 overall, 2-0 2A-4; S-F is 3-1, 1-1
• Notable: Sumner-Fredericksburg's 27-14 loss to Cascade last week took a little luster off this game, but it's still a pivotal contest in 2A-4. North Fayette's offense has clicked like clockwork, averaging 49.8 points and 479 yards.

• Time & place: 7:30 p.m., at Wilton
• Records: Regina is 4-0 overall 2-0 2A-5; Wilton is 2-2, 1-1
• Notable: Regina's offense sputtered at times in last week's win against North Cedar, but the Regals' defense has been a constant all season - they've allowed 16 points in four games.

• Time & place: 7:30 p.m., at Guttenberg
• Records: Both teams are 3-1 overall, 2-0 1A-4
• Notable: The winner assumes sole possession of first place in the district.

• Time & place: 7 p.m., at Belle Plaine
• Records: West Branch is 4-0 overall, 2-0 1A-5; Belle Plaine is 3-1, 1-1
• Notable: It's a typically excellent season at West Branch, ranked No. 4 in 1A. Cole Kelly is fourth in the state (all classes) in rushing at 731 yards. The Plainsmen will have the strength of their schedule behind them after tonight - they've already faced the other district co-leader (Pekin).