Every week's a showdown in 1A District 5

Let the shakedown begin.Five football teams from Class 1A District 5 emerged from the non-district slate without a nick. Now the games really matter."I think this will be one of the toughest districts, top to bottom, in 1A football," said Starmont Coach Matt Lee, whose team hosts No. 8 Clayton Ridge at 7:30 Friday night. "It's going to be a dogfight, from this week through the last week. If you're not ready to play, you're going to be in trouble."Clayton Ridge is 3-0 while Starmont, Maquoketa Valley, Turkey Valley and Wapsie Valley are 2-0.This year's redistricting made this league a hotbed. Clayton Ridge and Turkey Valley were 1A district champions in 2009; Wapsie Valley moved up a class after capturing a Class A district title."There isn't going to be a week off," said Clayton Ridge Coach Chad Harbaugh. "There are going to be good teams up and down the line."If you get caught looking ahead, you're going to put yourself in a bad spot. You can get humbled really fast."The theme of the district is basic, meat-and-potatoes football.Clayton Ridge has racked up 436 yards per game, most of it on the ground. Starmont had three 100-yard rushers last week.There won't be many surprises at Arlington."We played them twice last year, and we went to the same camp this summer," Harbaugh said. "I think we know what each other are going to do."Elsewhere in the district Friday, Turkey Valley hosts Northeast (1-1), Wapsie Valley entertains Bellevue (0-2) and Maquoketa Valley travels to North Linn (0-2).

Knights find a foeWhen Van Buren dropped its varsity football program, it left North Cedar with a hole in its schedule.The hole has been filled.North Cedar will face Lester Prairie-Holy Trinity (Minn.) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wartburg College in Waverly."As soon as Van Buren dropped its team, our principal (Dain Jeppson) started contacting the Illinois and Minnesota state associations," said Knights Coach Clay Harrold. "He got us connected to play a school that's about our size. This is a great opportunity to play in an awesome facility."North Cedar (2-0) has shut out its first two opponents."Our defense has been outstanding," Harrold said. "And our offense is starting to come together."Lester Prairie-Holy Trinity is 1-0.

Targeting CarrIt's little surprise where Cedar Rapids Kennedy's focal point lies when the Cougars (0-2) face 4A No. 10 Cedar Rapids Washington (2-0) at Kingston Stadium on Friday.A photo of Alex Carr, between two Kennedy logos and on a bull's eye, has made it into the world of cyberspace and Facebook.Carr has rushed for 408 yards and seven touchdowns in the first two games.