Prep football playoffs: Area semifinal glances

A look at the state football semifinals for games involving area teams:

NORTH TAMA vs. WACO (Class A)

Time & place: 10:30 a.m. Friday, at UNI-Dome

Records: Both teams are 12-0.

Notable: When third-rated North Tama last stepped foot on the UNI-Dome turf last Friday, the Redhawks put forth an impressive performance in eliminating No. 2 Mason City Newman, 35-20. The Redhawks are known primarily for a defense that is allowing 6.4 points per game, but the offense has strode forward in the postseason, tallying 41, 34 and 35 points in the first three rounds. No. 4 WACO advanced with an easy 34-8 win over Lisbon, its second victory over the Lions this season, scoring three touchdowns in the second quarter. North Tama's Brandon Boerm has passed for 2,012 yards with TD-INT ratio of 25-to-5 and has rushed for 1,251 yards and 17 touchdowns.

IOWA CITY HIGH vs. BETTENDORF (Class 4A)

Time & place: 4:30 p.m. Friday, at UNI-Dome

Records: Both teams are 12-0.

Notable: Irresistable Force, say hello to Immovable Object. No. 2 City High takes its high-octane offense (and a 26-game win streak) to the Dome to face No. 4 Bettendorf's stingy defense. City High is scoring 40 points per game, and has posted 49, 43 and 49 in the first three rounds of the playoffs. The Little Hawks stung Cedar Falls early (two touchdowns in the first minutes) in a 49-28 quarterfinal win. Bettendorf has the top-rated scoring defense in Class 4A, allowing 4.5 points per game. The Bulldogs are aiming to beat their fourth straight MVC postseason foe. They blanked Waterloo East and Dubuque Hempstead in the first two rounds, then shut down Cedar Rapids Kennedy through much of a 14-7 quarterfinal triumph.

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

Time & place: 9:30 a.m. Saturday, at UNI-Dome

Records: West Branch is 11-0; DNH is 10-2.

Notable: The longer the game goes, the better No. 4 West Branch gets. The Bears trailed Wapsie Valley, 9-6, at halftime of their second-round game before pushing forward late to win 27-9. In the quarterfinals, they scored the final 37 points and eliminated a 12-3 halftime deficit to get past North Cedar, 37-12. The Bears rushed for 261 yards in the second half against a quality North Cedar defense. West Branch relies on depth in its running backs -- none with more than 650 yards, but five with 300 or more. Dike-New Hartford already has taken down two top-five teams: Aplington-Parkersburg in the second round, Woodward-Granger in the quarterfinals. Eric Joblinske has rushed for 1,868 yards and 20 touchdowns. 

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

Time & place: 10:30 a.m. Monday, at UNI-Dome

Records: Both teams are 12-0.

Notable: With no disrespect intended toward the west-side semifinalists, this might be termed as the unofficial 2A championship game. Regina is ranked No. 1; North Fayette is No. 2. Regina has been a wrecking crew all season long. No 2A teams have finished closer than 28 points of the Regals. The most recent victim was Sigourney-Keota; the Regals went on the road and dispatched the fourth-ranked team, 35-7, behind three first-half touchdowns. Jack Verducci completed 4 of 6 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns. North Fayette spotted Dyersville Beckman an early 8-0 lead, then scored the next 34 points and won, 34-21. The Hawks have reached the semifinals for the fourth time in six years.

WEST DELAWARE vs. SIOUX CITY HEELAN (Class 3A)

Time & place: 4:30 p.m. Monday, at UNI-Dome

Records: West Delaware is 10-2; Heelan is 11-1.

Notable: Both of these teams have earned seismic wins to advance to the final four in 3A. West Delaware knocked out No. 2 Clear Lake in the second round while No. 5 Heelan took down defending champion Harlan in the quarterfinals. West Delaware avenged a 31-7 Week 6 loss to Decorah in the quarters, drubbing the Vikings, 35-7. Brandon Domeyer rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Domeyer has rushed for 1,660 yards and 27 TDs this season. Many of Heelan's key cogs are juniors, including quarterback Paul Jacobson (2,019 yards, 22 TDs), running back Michael Malloy (1,399 yards, 26 TDs) and leading tackler Jeremy Nelson (156 tackles).

SOLON vs. PELLA (Class 3A)

Time & place: 7:30 p.m. Monday, at UNI-Dome

Records: Solon is 11-1; Pella is 12-0.

Notable: After three straight Class 2A state championships, the 3A finals are in sight for fourth-rated Solon. "All" the Spartans have to do is knock off the top-ranked team. Solon is getting more dominant as the season progresses. The Spartans allowed only five first downs and 169 yards in blanking No. 7 Williamsburg, 19-0, in the quarterfinals. J.J. Hanus passed for 141 yards and rushed for 81, and Marshall Koehn kicked two field goals. Pella downed Carlisle, 24-9, holding its opponent to single-digit scoring for the 11th straight game. Solon could get a big boost from its competition; the Spartans' schedule is rated the second strongest in 3A while Pella's slate is 53rd strongest.