Iowa high school football: Gazette-area Week 6 games to watch

A dozen of the top Metro/Iowa City and area Iowa high school football games for Week 6:

Cedar Rapids Kennedy at Cedar Falls

Time and place: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Cedar Falls (UNI-Dome)

Records and rankings: Class 5A fifth-ranked Kennedy is 5-0; Cedar Falls is 3-2.

Overview: Defense has driven Kennedy through a perfect first half of the season. The Cougars’ 6.2 points allowed per game is tops in Class 5A. Kennedy is both stingy and opportunistic defensively, collecting 16 takeaways in five weeks, including three apiece by Caden Senters and Tyler Bartels. On offense, Trevor Scott and Donovan Slick-Driscoll spearhead a healthy running game. Kennedy stands at No. 1 in the big-school RPI derby, but this might be the toughest game of the regular season. Tigers junior Drake Gelhaus has rushed for 553 yards and six touchdowns.

Southeast Polk at Linn-Mar

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

Records and rankings: Class 5A third-ranked Southeast Polk is 4-1; Linn-Mar is 3-2.

Overview: In a Week 3 overtime loss to Pleasant Valley, Linn-Mar proved that it can hang with the giants of the big-school class. The Lions will need another big effort Friday to compete with the defending state champion, led by University of Iowa recruit Kadyn Proctor. Linn-Mar owns a two-game winning streak (against Cedar Rapids Washington and Cedar Rapids Jefferson). Against the J-Hawks, the Lions got a defensive touchdown, one on a punt return and another on a kickoff return. Southeast Polk’s Harrison Gibson and Abu Sama have combined for more than 1,000 rushing yards.

Waverly-Shell Rock at Marion

Time and place: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Thomas Park Field

Records and rankings: Class 4A second-ranked WSR is 5-0 overall, 1-0 District 2; Marion is 2-3, 0-1.

Overview: Waverly-Shell Rock won each of its first five games by at least four touchdowns, allowing only 4.2 points per game (best in 4A). McCrae Hagarty is the 4A leader in fumble recoveries, with four. Offensively, Hagarty is a workhorse in the backfield, rushing for 599 yards and nine touchdowns. Marion had won two straight games before suffering a 42-7 loss at Western Dubuque last week. Alex Mota has three rushing touchdowns, two receiving TDs and 21 tackles.

Pella at Cedar Rapids Xavier

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

Records and rankings: Pella is 0-5 overall, 0-1 Class 4A District 4; third-ranked Xavier is 5-0, 1-0.

Overview: These old postseason rivals are at two opposite ends of the spectrum this season. While Pella, quite surprisingly, still is seeking its first win, Xavier has been a juggernaut on both sides of the ball. The Saints are scoring at a 34-point clip while allowing just 5.6 per game and have recorded consecutive shutouts against North Scott and Cedar Rapids Washington. Xavier’s first-string defense held Washington to below zero yards of total offense, and Michael Cunningham rushed for three touchdowns. Cunningham is averaging 8.3 yards per carry.

Waterloo West at Cedar Rapids Prairie

Time and place: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at John Wall Stadium

Records and rankings: West is 1-4; Class 5A seventh-ranked Prairie is 4-1.

Overview: Prairie is expected to sail to its fifth straight win this week before the schedule stiffens for the stretch run with tests against Southeast Polk, Iowa City West and Linn-Mar. The Hawks have an excellent backfield duo in Makelle Taylor (536 yards, five touchdowns) and Cal Sullivan (401 and three). Sullivan also completes 60 percent of his passes, and has accumulated 548 aerial yards with six TDs and just one interception. West has dropped four straight games after a season-opening win over Waterloo East and has been shut out three times.

Cedar Rapids Washington at Clear Creek Amana

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

Records and rankings: Class 4A 10th-ranked Washington is 2-3 overall, 0-1 District 3; CCA is 3-2, 1-0.

Overview: How will this Washington season be remembered? We’ll know in two weeks. The Warriors have dropped three in a row — two to 5A opponents, the other to Cedar Rapids Xavier. There’s still plenty to play for, but the next two games probably will determine the Warriors’ postseason fate. To end their slide, they’ll have to contain CCA quarterback Jackson Schmidt, who does more damage with his legs (523 rushing yards) than his arm. CCA has not won or lost more than one game in succession all season and is coming off a win over Oskaloosa.

Iowa City West at Davenport Central

Time and place: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Davenport (Brady Street Stadium)

Records and rankings: West is 3-2; Central is 1-4.

Overview: The way the 5A RPI standings are taking shape, there probably is room for only one more loss for West to make the playoffs. The Trojans have a very good opportunity for a big rebound after suffering a surprisingly lopsided 49-0 loss to Iowa City High last week. The Trojans were never in it, trailing 35-0 at half and getting outgained by a 476-117 margin. West will try to unleash its air attack: QB Jack Wallace has thrown for 878 yards and 10 touchdowns, including seven TDs to Christian Janis.

Iowa City Liberty at Mount Pleasant

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

Records and rankings: Class 4A seventh-ranked Liberty is 4-1 overall, 1-0 District 3; Mount Pleasant is 0-5, 0-1.

Overview: Liberty assumed the role of district front-runner after rallying past North Scott, 20-16, last week. The Lightning scored all of their points in the final 18 minutes, overcoming a 16-6 fourth-quarter deficit. You can find quarterback Graham Beckman near the top of the 4A leaderboard in most passing categories, including yards (1,174, second), touchdowns (12, tied for third) and QB rating (137.3, fifth). Garrett Gregoire has 19 receptions for 412 yards and five touchdowns. The Bolts should feast on a Mount Pleasant defense that allows 43 points per game.

Davenport North at Iowa City High

Time and place: 7:30 p.m., at Bates Field

Records and rankings: North is 0-5; Class 5A 10th-ranked City High is 3-2.

Overview: City High hasn’t had a game go down to the wire, and it’s unlikely that the Little Hawks will be challenged this week. City’s remaining biggie on the schedule is next week at home against Pleasant Valley. Everything clicked for the Little Hawks last week in a 49-0 rout of Iowa City West. Drew Larson has pushed his season passing total to 1,161 (third most in 5A) and 11 touchdowns. Four receivers have double-digit receptions, led by 17 from Akili Mattox (for 382 yards and four TDs).

West Branch at Durant

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 5-0 overall, 2-0 Class 1A District 5. West Branch is ranked No. 3; Durant is No. 7.

Overview: To the victor goes sole possession of the district lead, and West Branch will try to solve the puzzle that is Nolan DeLong, who leads the state (all classes) in rushing, with 1,429 yards (on 131 carries, with 17 touchdowns). The Bears bring onto the stage a defense that allows 9.2 points per game, led by Andy Henson’s 26 tackles. Henson has accumulated 15 rushing TDs of his own, netting 568 yards, to lead an attack that produces a 1A-best 55.0 points per game.

Mount Vernon at Davenport Assumption

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

Records and rankings: Class 3A fourth-ranked Mount Vernon is 5-0 overall, 1-0 District 4; Assumption is 2-3, 1-0.

Overview: Mount Vernon has enjoyed a memorable front end to its season. A win over Solon (ending a 19-game losing streak to the Spartans) has been the highlight, but four one-sided wins have been impressive, as well. That includes a 47-0 romp over Benton Community last week in which Joey Rhomberg passed for 329 yards and four touchdowns. Rhomberg leads 3A with 1,086 passing yards. This is just another in a series of toughies for Assumption; the Knights’ first six opponents are a combined 23-8. They snapped a three-game losing streak last week, 31-10 over DeWitt Central.

Williamsburg at Mid-Prairie

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

Records and rankings: Class 2A second-ranked Williamsburg is 5-0 overall, 2-0 District 2; Mid-Prairie is 4-1, 2-0.

Overview: As expected, Williamsburg’s non-district gauntlet has been followed by a series of district mismatches. This figures to be, by far, the Raiders’ toughest test before the postseason. Junior (and Iowa recruit) Derek Weisskopf has accumulated six of the Raiders’ 17 takeaways — five interceptions and a fumble recovery. Like the Raiders, Mid-Prairie has stormed through its first two district games (to the tune of 107-0). Braden Hartley has rushed for 765 yards and 10 touchdowns to lead the Golden Hawks’ attack.

Other Metro/Iowa City games

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com