Iowa high school football: Gazette-area Week 2 games to watch

A dozen of the top area high school football games for Week 2 (Sept. 2-3):

Marion at Cedar Rapids Washington

Time and place: 7:15 p.m. Thursday, at Kingston Stadium

Records and rankings: Marion is 0-1; Class 4A third-ranked Washington is 1-0.

Overview: It’s the dawn of a new Metro rivalry, with both teams in the same class. Washington opened the season with a 79-0 rout of Cedar Rapids Jefferson, with seven different players scoring touchdowns (Brisahn Fields ran for four). Marion let a 15-point halftime lead get away in a 36-35 loss to Clear Creek Amana despite 474 yards of offense (273 by QB Alex Mota).

Bettendorf at Cedar Rapids Kennedy

Time and place: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Kingston Stadium

Records and rankings: Bettendorf is 0-1; Class 5A No. 7 Kennedy is 1-0.

Overview: Two key interceptions helped trigger Kennedy’s 27-20 win over Iowa City West last week. One, by Dominic Mann, was returned for a touchdown. The other, by Jeron Senters, sealed the triumph. Between those, Jazan Williams ran for 179 yards on 33 carrries. Bettendorf was unusually quiet in a 13-3 loss to Urbandale, managing just 44 yards of total offense.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson at Iowa City High

Time and place: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Bates Field

Records and rankings: Jefferson is 0-1; City High is 1-0.

Overview: City High kicked off the Mitch Moore era with a bang, hammering Iowa City Liberty, 41-0. The Little Hawks showed promise on both sides of the ball, with four backs rushing for 40-plus yards and Ben Kueter catching three passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Jefferson will try to rally the troops after a 79-0 loss to Cedar Rapids Washington.

Cedar Rapids Prairie at Dubuque Senior

Time and place: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Dubuque (Dalzell Field)

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-0. Prairie is ranked No. 4 in Class 5A.

Overview: Prairie proved to be a resilient bunch in a 27-21 win over Pleasant Valley last week. With multiple players out due to good-conduct issues, the remaining Hawks stepped up and beat a top-10 team. Makelle Taylor and Trey Peterson combined for 264 rushing yards, and the Hawks grabbed four turnovers. Senior blanked Dubuque Hempstead for the first three quarters of a 19-6 win.

Cedar Rapids Xavier at West Delaware

Time and place: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Manchester

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-0. Xavier is ranked No. 6 in Class 4A; West Delaware is No. 3 in 3A.

Overview: Xavier ruled the fourth quarter in a win over Western Dubuque last week, emerging from a 14-14 tie to prevail, 28-14. Michael Cunningham ran for 100 yards, and Aiden McDermott proved to be a big-play threat on the perimeter. West Delaware spotted Dubuque Wahlert the first touchdown, then rolled 41-7. Kyle Cole rushed for 209 yards and two touchdowns.

Iowa City Liberty at Linn-Mar

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

Records and rankings: Liberty is 0-1; Linn-Mar is 1-0.

Overview: Tim Lovell’s debut as Linn-Mar coach was an absolute success. The Lions outgained Muscatine 466-79, getting 284 rushing yards and five touchdowns from Carter Henderson and Ben Blackford in a 63-14 rout. Liberty will try to bounce back after a 41-0 loss to Iowa City High. The Lightning got down 35-0 at halftime and were outgained 354-185.

Iowa City Regina at West Liberty

Time and place: 7 p.m. Friday, at West Liberty

Records and rankings: Class 1A fourth-ranked Regina is 1-0; West Liberty is 0-1.

Overview: Regina got a late touchdown to beat Williamsburg 16-14 in Jason Dumont’s coaching debut. Levi Daniel spearheaded the Regals’ attack, rushing for 192 yards on 40 carries and scoring a touchdown. Aiden Udell collected 9.5 tackles and a sack. West Liberty opened with a 63-0 loss to Solon.

Iowa City West at Muscatine

Time and place: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Muscatine

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-1.

Overview: True, West gave up 27 points in a season-opening loss to Cedar Rapids Kennedy. But the Trojans were pretty good defensively, surrendering a very respectable 233 yards and only one big play. Boaz Abramoff and Ryne Vander Leest collected 8.5 tackles apiece. The Trojans are favored to rebound and even their record Friday; Muscatine opened with a 63-14 loss at Linn-Mar.

Independence at Clear Creek Amana

Time and place: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Tiffin

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-0. Independence is ranked No. 5 in Class 3A.

Overview: One won its season debut with dominance, one with drama. Marcus Beatty ran for 249 yards and four touchdowns in Independence’s 50-7 rout of Maquoketa. The Mustangs ran to a 29-0 halftime lead and enacted the continuous clock soon after. CCA made a winner of new coach Matt Haddy, 36-35 over Marion as a blocked punt set up the go-ahead score.

MFL MarMac at Clayton Ridge

Time and place: 7 p.m. Friday, at Guttenberg

Records and rankings:

Overview: MFL MarMac’s ground attack is off and running. The Bulldogs accumulated 405 rushing yards in a 42-14 Week 1 victory over New Hampton, with Cullen McShane netting 214 yards on 18 carries, with three touchdowns. Clayton Ridge won in a 58-8 romp against Postville, with the Eagles scoring three defensive touchdowns.

Mid-Prairie at Sigourney-Keota

Time and place: 7 p.m., at Sigourney

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-0. Sigourney-Keota is ranked No. 7 in Class 1A.

Overview: Mid-Prairie put its best foot forward in a 55-13 season-opening conquest of West Burlington-Notre Dame. Will Cavanagh completed 10 of 11 passes for 183 yards and three TDs. We’ll learn a lot about the Golden Hawks in the next two weeks (against S-K and Iowa City Regina). The Cobras had to come from behind to beat Durant 23-20 behind Cade Molyneux’s 187 rushing yards.

Solon at Mount Vernon

Time and place: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Mount Vernon (First Street Field)

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-0. Solon is ranked No. 6 in Class 3A; Mount Vernon is No. 9.

Overview: Solon is trying to extend its win streak in this rivalry to 19 games. The Spartans are coming off a 63-0 rout of West Liberty. Mount Vernon, meanwhile, handled Anamosa by a 47-18 verdict behind a 409-yard offensive output. Owen Brase ran for 113 yards and a pair of TDs. The Mustangs will have to match Solon’s physicality, which they failed to do in last year’s 42-14 Spartans win.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com