Iowa high school football roundup: Week 1 scores, stats and more

Gazette area scores, stats and more from Week 1 of the Iowa high school football season.

Iowa City Liberty 36, 5A No. 6 Iowa City High 19

In many respects, Iowa City Liberty seemed like the afterthought in this Clash at Kinnick game.

Iowa City High was the bigger school, coming off a renaissance season that saw it unexpectedly advance to the Class 5A playoff semifinals. It was a program with a lot of momentum, one ranked sixth in the preseason.

City High was the school that seemed to be the one to make this event, and it was an event, happen.

Yet it was Liberty that was the better football team, and not by just a little bit, in an eyebrow-raising 36-19 win before an estimated 10,000 fans Friday night at Kinnick Stadium. What a performance.

Liberty blew out to an immediate lead and put things to bed with a superior second-half performance. The Lightning will be ranked in Class 4A next week, you can bet on that.

Liberty stopped City High on the initial second-half possession, then went on the mother of all drives to extend a three-point halftime lead to 29-19. The Lightning went 92 yards on 19 plays, taking 7:16 off the clock by dinking and diming the football down field.

Quarterback Graham Beckman, who played a great game with 282 yards rushing and passing and three combined touchdowns, connected with tight end Christian Barney for a 4-yard TD on a second-and-goal play.

There was no dinking and diming from Liberty on its next possession. After recovering a City High fumble at its own 48, Beckman threw a perfect deep ball to Dallas Miller for 49 yards to the City High 3.

On third-and-goal, Beckman faked a handoff up the middle and connected with a wide-open Ethan Neels for the 1-yard score and a 36-19 lead. Game, set, match at that point.

The Lightning had a delay of game penalty before their first play of the season, a bad omen, but then went 86 yards on 10 plays to score. That score came when Beckman hit Garrett Gregoire with a 40-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline.

Down 9-0, City High struck like, well, lightning, on the first play of its third possession. Quarterback Drew Larson dropped a perfect dime to Akili Mattox down the right side, hitting the receiver in stride over top of the defense for an 80-yard touchdown.

Wyatt Williams fielded the ensuing kickoff for Liberty at his own 8, found a crease up the middle, cut down the right sideline, got a couple of big blocks and housed it 92 yards for a Lightning touchdown and a 16-6 lead.

After “offsetting” fumbles, Liberty got a big 36-yard run off a deft cutback from Trey Gregoire, with an additional taunting penalty on City High giving the Lightning first-and-goal just inside the 10. Beckman’s run up the middle on the next play resulted in a touchdown and a 23-6 lead.

Back came City High in immediate fashion. Larson threw another perfect deep ball down the sideline, this one to Ronnie Major, who ran a fly out of the backfield, an 81-yard TD bringing the Little Hawks within 23-13.

City High put together a Larson-centric march just before halftime. He threw and rushed for all 80 yards, including a 7-yard scoring scramble that made it a 23-19 game at the break, after a bad snap foiled the extra-point attempt.

» Read more from The Gazette’s Jeff Johnson

2A No. 3 Williamsburg 31, 3A No. 6 Iowa City Regina 0

The Williamsburg defense is more than fast.

It’s nasty.

The Class 2A third-ranked Raiders held 1A No. 6 Iowa City Regina to 19 yards of total offense, completely erasing the Regals’ ground attack in a 31-0 non-district football whipping Friday night at Bob Murphy Stadium.

“Everyone stuck together and played their hearts out,” said junior Derek Weisskopf, a University of Iowa recruit who picked off two passes. “Our defensive line played a heck of a game. They had tons of tackles for loss and sacks.”

The final damage on the ground: Regina ran the ball 22 times for minus-45 yards. Yes, that includes a negative-32 on a high punt snap, but still ...

Nasty.

» Read more from The Gazette’s Jeff Linder

Alburnett 16, A No. 4 North Linn 13

Excuses? Alburnett had plenty of them to use in Friday night's season opener against No. 4 North Linn.

In the first half, the Pirates had a 25-yard scoring pass wiped away by an offensive pass interference call. Then in the final three minutes of the game, North Linn took the lead on a 29-yard pass from Tate Haugenbury to Cael Bridgewater.

The Pirates didn't panic. Two plays after the Lynx took a 13-9 lead, Mason Neighbor connected with Grayson Carolan on a 75-yard touchdown pass with 2:02 remaining, giving Alburnett a 16-13 upset win at North Linn High School.

The hosts were a big favorite entering the contest, coming off a strong finish in 2021, They blanked Alburnett in last year's opener, but it was apparent early on that things would be different this time around.

“The way we practiced all summer long definitely helped us overcome the adversity tonight,” said Pirates Coach Rich Velasquez. “Our coaches had a great game plan and the kids executed.”

» Read more from Gazette correspondent Mike Condon

4A No. 9 Cedar Rapids Washington 47, Cedar Rapids Jefferson 6

Cedar Rapids Washington displayed a new look.

The Warriors emerged from the Kingston Stadium tunnel with shiny blue helmets, a change from their traditional red hats. With blue jerseys and white pants, the uniform was void of any red that is part of the school colors.

Consider it a symbol of a shift in the program.

“The last couple years we haven’t been as successful as we’d hoped,” Washington senior Watts McBride said. “It’s time for some change. We’re trying to switch some things up and bring new energy to our team. I think this is the start of it.”

The Warriors demonstrated their flare for fashion and football. McBride scored three touchdowns and Class 4A ninth-ranked Washington trounced crosstown rival Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 47-6, in the season opener for both teams Friday night.

» Read more from The Gazette’s K.J. Pilcher

Clear Creek Amana 26, Marion 0

Next man up? Try 14.

After graduating 14 seniors from last year’s roster, including their leading passer, three leading rushers and two top receivers, there were questions as to who would step up for the 2022 Clear Creek Amana Clippers.

Consider those questions answered.

“These kids have been waiting for this opportunity since last season finished,” second-year Clear Creek Amana Coach Matt Haddy said. “They knew there were going to be opportunities to step in. I couldn’t be prouder of the way they’ve built themselves both as football players, and even more so as leaders. It’s really fun to watch those guys step out and take the reigns.”

Clear Creek Amana (1-0) pitched a shutout, defeating Marion (0-1), 26-0, Friday at home.

» Read more from Gazette correspondent Ryan Pleggenkuhle

Mount Vernon 28, Anamosa 0

On a night marred by penalties and turnovers, physicality prevailed. The Mount Vernon front stymied Anamosa at every turn and gave the offense plenty of chances to put points on the board in a 28-0 shutout Friday night.

The Mustangs (1-0) racked up 67 yards of penalties on eight flags and turned it over four times. But a defense that allowed just 8 first-half yards kept the field short and the opportunities ample.

“I thought overall our defense was outstanding tonight,” Mount Vernon coach Lance Pedersen said. “We definitely won that phase of the game. Offensively we still have some things to work out.”

» Read more from Gazette correspondent Culley Kline

4A No. 5 Cedar Rapids Xavier 31, Western Dubuque 14

Western Dubuque landed the first punch.

And it was a good one.

But Cedar Rapids Xavier delivered a series of body blows that the Bobcats could not counter in a slugfest of Class 4A contenders in Friday’s season opener for both teams at Buchman Field.

The Saints scored 31 unanswered points and downed WD, 31-14.

WD’s first possession was a roller coaster of emotion wrapped into a nearly five-minute drive that ended with the Bobcats celebrating a 7-0 lead.

Xavier answered with a long drive powered by the legs of Michael Cunningham. Cunningham accounted for 56 of the Saints’ 78 yards on the drive, including the final 10 on a touchdown scamper that knotted the score 7-7 with just under one minute left in the first quarter.

Cunningham blasted through the Bobcat defense for what appeared to be a 52-yard TD that was called back by a penalty.

But Xavier went to the air three plays later to grab the lead. Ronan Thomas lofted a pass for Coleton Beasler-Weber, who got behind the Bobcats’ defense. Beasler-Weber sprinted for a 45-yard score and the Saints went on top 14-7 early in the second quarter.

Xavier padded its lead early in the third and it was all about field position.

The Saints pinned WD deep in the Bobcats’ end thanks to a 52-yard punt. WD’s drive went nowhere and a short punt gave the Saints excellent field position.

They wasted no time.

Aidan McDermott took a swing pass from Thomas and darted down the sideline for a touchdown and 21-7 Xavier lead at the 8:09 mark.

McDermott got his second TD of the night a few plays later, hauling in a 33-yard pass from Thomas.

— Steve Ortman, Dubuqe Telegraph-Herald

3A No. 6 Independence 44, Maquoketa 9

Mitchell Johnson passed for 130 yards and Trey Weber rushed for 162 as the Mustangs rolled on the road.

Johnson completed 11 of 16 passes for 130 yards and four touchdowns, two to Brady McDonald, who caught seven passes for 59 yards.

Keelan Hoover scored two TDs — an 81-yard rush and a 43-yard pass from Johnson.

— Matt Shannon

1A No. 8 West Branch 61, Lisbon 20

The Bears scored in all three facets (offense, defense, and special teams), all in the first quarter, en route to a season-opening win at home.

West Branch quarterback Tye Hughes was 12 of 14 for 190 yards passing and three touchdowns. Andy Henson added 150 total yards and three scores, two rushing.

The Lions scored on two long pass plays. Luke Czarnecki and Baylor Speidel both had touchdown receptions.

Lisbon will go on the road next week to face North Cedar; West Branch travels to Waterloo Columbus

— Jason Miller

Linn-Mar 41, Muscatine 0

The Lions started slow, but struck quickly.

Linn-Mar scored three touchdowns before the halftime whistle and rode a 22-0 advantage at the break to a lopsided win at Muscatine High School.

Keaton Roskop caught three touchdown passes for the Lions. Abe Behning connected with the tight end on two of those.

Benning completed 8 of 17 passes for 254 yards.

— Ryan Timmerman, Muscatine Journal

5A No. 4 Pleasant Valley 37, 5A No. 9 Cedar Rapids Prairie 6

Caden McDermott connected for two long touchdown passes to Coy Kipper as the Spartans opened the season with a rout.

“It makes us 20 times better when we can pass,” Kipper said. “We’re downhill and want to run through you, but if teams are stopping that, we can pass.”

PV’s defense held Prairie to 50 rushing yards on 33 attempts.

2A No. 9 North Fayette Valley 35, South Winneshiek 6

Kaleb White rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns as the TigerHawks opened with a win at home.

NFV had 416 total yards of offense, 328 on the ground.

Aiden Burrow added 86 rushing yards and a TD and Bryce Elsbernd had three catches for 87 yards and a score.

Keagan Streeter scored the Warriors’ only TD on a 10-yard pass from Brady Ohrt.

— Darin Svenson

Cascade 21, 2A No. 6 Monticello 13

The Cougars’ three touchdowns within a 7:05 span in the second quarter proved to be the difference.

A tipped pass was intercepted and returned 45 yards for a score by Will Hosch. Jack Menster followed with touchdown runs of 68 and 39 yards as the Cougars took a 21-7 halftime lead, then held off a late Panther rally.

Menster finished with 159 yards on 15 carries.

Quarterback Preston Ries passed for 180 yards and rushed for two touchdowns for the Panthers. Tate Petersen had nine receptions for 124 yards.

— Pete Temple

Dubuque Wahlert 31, 3A No. 8 West Delaware 14

Ryan Brosius scored two touchdowns, one on a 56-yard punt return, as the Golden Eagles rolled in Manchester.

West Delaware actually outgained Wahlert, 287-216, but only managed a pair of Will Ward TDs, on runs of 8 and 9 yards. Ward finished with 130 yards on 23 rushes.

Kenny Petraitis and Seamus Crahan also scored for Wahlert.

— Bill Logan

Crestwood 26, Decorah 14

Cadets QB Cole Butikofer score all four his team’s touchdowns in a win at Decorah.

Butikofer’s first score came on Crestwood’s first possession, a 2-yard run. He scored again in the second quarter on a 1-yard run.

The Vikings scored on a 69-yard run by quarterback Brady Stille, but Butikofer scored again with 16.1 seconds left in the first half on a 2-yard run to make the score 20-7 at halftime.

Stille hit Caiden Quandahl on a 9-yard pass to close the gap in the third quarter to 20-14, but on the next series Butikofer scored one last time on a 5-yard run.

— Randy Iverson

Scoreboard

» How the ranked teams fared in Week 1

» Bound statewide scorelist