Iowa high school football 2023: Gazette-area round of 16 playoff games to watch

The following are area football capsules for the Round of 16 of the Iowa high school football playoffs:

Indianola at Cedar Rapids Xavier

Site and time: 7 p.m. Friday, at Saints Field

Records and rankings: No. 7 Indianola is 6-3; Class 4A No. 2 Xavier is 7-2.

Overview: The Saints are the defending 4A state champion and have played in the last two state finals. They are making their 20th playoff appearance, owning a 12-5 all-time record in the round of 16. This is a rematch of last year’s state quarterfinal that Xavier won, 23-6, at home. Indianola has shut out its last two opponents, while posting 80 points. Jake Pontier leads Indianola with 1,013 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Andrew DeWall adds eight rushing TDs and seven passing. Xavier is more balanced. Ronan Thomas has 1,296 yards passing with 11 TDs to one interception. Noah Schimberg has emerged as a leading rusher, amassing 738 yards with 11 TDs and averaging 8.2 yards per carry. Coleton Beasler-Weber has 938 yards and seven TDs from scrimmage for the Saints, who have won five straight games.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy at Cedar Falls

Site and time: 7 p.m. Friday, at UNI-Dome

Records and rankings: Both teams are 6-3. Kennedy is ranked No. 8 in 5A; Cedar Falls are No. 9.

Overview: The Cougars are making their 23 playoff appearance and third in a row. Kennedy and Cedar Falls are playing each other for the second time in three weeks. The Tigers won the previous meeting, 17-14, forcing five turnovers and getting 143 rushing yards from Drake Gelhaus. Tate Hermansen completed just two passes for Cedar Falls but both went for touchdowns. Kennedy’s Vincenzo Gianforte has passed for 2,197 yards and 24 TDs, connecting with Cyrus Courtney for 978 yards and 11 TDs on 61 catches. Trevor Scott and Jacob Doyle has been a good 1-2 rush attack, combining for 1,345 yards and 13 scores on the ground.

Iowa City High at Bettendorf

Site and time: 7 p.m. Friday, at Bettendorf

Records and rankings: City High is 6-3; 5A No. 10 Bettendorf is 7-2.

Overview: A rematch of the regular-season finale. The Little Hawks travel to Bettendorf for the second straight week, beating the Bulldogs, 42-21, last week. City High is making its 30th playoff appearance and attempting to reach the UNI-Dome for the second time in three seasons. The Little Hawks have won four straight games. Quarterback Bobby Bacon and running back Miles Parlet complement each other well. Bacon has passed for 1,887 yards and 16 TDs. Parlet has rushed for 1,309 yards and 13 scores. Bettendorf has a three-prong rush attack that has produced more than 1,900 yards, including 498 from Jacob Whipple, Gavin Barta 495 and Charlie Zimmerman 459.

Cedar Rapids Prairie at Waukee

Site and time: 7 p.m. Friday, at Waukee

Records and rankings: Prairie is 5-4; 5A No. 5 Waukee is 7-2.

Overview: The Hawks qualified under first-year head coach Kyle Knock. Prairie reached the postseason for the 12th straight season and 26th time overall. Waukee has won the last three meetings, dating back to 2018. Waukee scores 31.9 points and allows just 11.6 per game. Beckett Bakker has passed for 1,228 yards and 13 TDs, adding 477 yards and four TDs on the ground. Orson Harrop has 13 of the Warriors 61 tackles for loss. Prairie is without starting quarterback Will Phillips again. Junior Wyatt Eash has stepped in to throw 230 yards and a TD. Waukee will try to shut down the Hawks rush attack, featuring Casey Kelley for 1,225 yards on 179 carries and 13 TDs. Kelley also has 202 receiving yards and a score.

Linn-Mar at Southeast Polk

Site and time: 7 p.m. Friday, at Pleasant Hill

Records and rankings: Linn-Mar is 4-5; 5A No. 1 Southeast Polk is 9-0.

Overview: Linn-Mar slid into the No. 16 spot in the playoffs and the reward is playing at the top-ranked Rams, who average 40.4 points and win by a margin of 23.8 points per game. Linn-Mar is making its 22nd playoff appearance. The Lions are looking for their first postseason win since 2014. Linn-Mar owns an edge with 1,880 rushing yards. Tyree Alons leads the Lions with 644 rushing yards with Dylan Muszynski is right behind at 611. Muszynski has seven TDs, while Alons has four. Linn-Mar will need a strong defensive performance and to add to its 18 forced turnovers. Connor Moberly has passed for 1,848 yards and 19 TDs for Southeast Polk. His top target is Sam Zelenovich (48-676 and six TDs). C.J. Phillip leads the Rams in rushing with 810 yards and 12 TDs. Southeast Polk is the two-time defending 5A state champion and was runner-up in 2020.

Independence at Mount Vernon

Site and time: 7 p.m. Friday, at Mount Vernon

Records and rankings: Independence is 7-2; 3A No. 4 Mount Vernon is 8-1.

Overview: This marks the first playoff matchup between the two programs. Mount Vernon was the 3A state runner-up last season. Mount Vernon ranks second with 53 total TDs, 1,931 passing yards and 4,435 all-purpose yards. Not to be overshadowed by the offense powered by quarterback Joey Rhomberg, the defense leads 3A with six TDs and 55 sacks with three of 3A’s top-four sack artists — Ethan Wood 10.5, Miles Francois 9.5 and Tyler Williams 8.5. Rhomberg has passed for 1,820 passing yards, while Independence quarterback E.J. Miller has 20 TD passes. Independence’s Brady Kurt is second in 3A with 825 yards. Mount Vernon answers with receiver Evan Brase, who has 821. Independence’s defense is led by linebacker Tate Wood. He leads 3A with 121 total tackles, which is 25.5 more than the next defender in the class.

West Branch at MFL MarMac

Site and time: 7 p.m. Friday, at Monona

Records and rankings: 1A No. 9 West Branch is 6-3; No. 4 MFL MarMac is 8-1.

Overview: The Bears and Bulldogs meet for the second straight postseason. West Branch topped MFL MarMac, 27-24, in last year’s quarterfinal. MFL MarMac has outscored opponents by an average of 26 points per game, scoring at a 34.9 clip. The Bears average 25.8 points, allowing 15 a game. The Bulldogs prefer the ground-and-pound approach, rushing the ball 78.2 percent of the time for 2,255 yards. Four Bulldogs have surpassed 360 rush yards, including leader Quinn McGeough (698) and Wyatt Powell (656). They have combined for 15 rushing TDs. Powell also has two receiving TDs. Carver Blietz-Bentien has passed for 10 TDs, rushed for eight and ranks among defensive leaders in tackles (61) and tackles for loss (10). West Branch is making its 30th playoff appearance. Brennen Dale leads the way with 889 passing yards and 269 rushing with 18 total TDs.

Wilton at Iowa City Regina

Site and time: 7 p.m. Friday, at Regina

Records and rankings: 1A No. 8 Wilton is 8-1; No. 5 Regina is 8-1.

Overview: The Regals whipped Wilton, 35-0, in Week 8 to force a three-way tie and win the district title. Regina has produced a potent offense, amassing 3,280 offensive yards and averaging 42.9 points per game (second in 1A). Quarterback Gentry Dumont and Jackson Naeve team up for one of the top passing combos. Dumont has 1,999 passing yards and 24 TDs. Naeve has 809 receiving yards and 11 TDs on 33 catches. Regina wide out Ty Joss adds 446 yards and eight scores. Wilton is powered by quarterback Drew Keith (1,007 yards, and 12 TDs passing; 674 yards and four TDs rushing) and running back Owen Hassell (953 rushing yards, 18 TDs). Regina’s defense held the Beavers to just 114 offensive yards in the first meeting.

East Buchanan at Lisbon

Site and time: 7 p.m. Friday, at Lisbon

Records and rankings: Class A East Buchanan is 7-2; No. 5 Lisbon is 9-0.

Overview: The Buccaneers and Lions are playing in the postseason for the fourth time — all since 2016 — and the third straight year. East Buchanan has won the last two postseason meetings, including a 44-14 first-round win last season. The Buccaneers’ run-oriented attack is highlighted by Tanner Thurn and Hunter Bowers. Thurn has rushed for 1,068 yards and 20 TDs, while Bowers has gone for 731 yards and 11 scores. Thurn has one of the team’s three TD receptions. Lisbon quarterback Dakota Clark has shouldered the recent load, accounting for both TDs (one rushing, one passing) against North Linn last week. He has 1,343 yards and 25 TDs passing and rushing combined. Lisbon’s defense has forced a whopping 33 turnovers with 19 fumble recoveries. Tiernan Boots has three interceptions and two fumble recoveries for the Lions.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck at Central City

Site and time: 7 p.m. Friday, at Central City

Records and rankings: Both teams are 8-1. Gladbrook-Reinbeck is ranked No. 7 in 8-Player; Central City is No. 6.

Overview: The programs are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Central City is making its second straight playoff appearance, third since 2018 and fourth overall. The Rebels are making their 17th appearance and have made four finals appearances with titles in 2015 and 2016. The Wildcats advanced with a strong second half against Lansing Kee for a 52-28 win last week. They have won eight in a row, falling to top-ranked Winfield-Mount Union in the season opener. Aiden and Matthew Klostermann have combined for 1,448 yards and 24 TDs rushing and 377 yards and six scores receiving. Injury may impact that duo. More could fall on the shoulders of quarterback Jayden Hanson, who has more than 1,100 total passing and rushing yards. Mekhi Benton is a force on the Wildcats’ defense, tallying 12 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. Isaac Clark powers Gladbrook-Reinbeck. He has passed for 1,361 yards and 24 TDs, adding 464 yards and 14 TDs on the ground. This is the first meeting between the two 8-Player programs.

Other Gazette area games

• Newton (6-3) at 4A No. 1 Western Dubuque (8-1)

• Decorah (6-3) at 4A No. 5 North Scott (7-2)

• Fort Madison (6-3) at 3A No. 2 Solon (8-1)

• 3A No. 6 Davenport Assumption (7-2) at West Delaware (6-3)

• Humboldt (5-4) at 3A No. 3 Williamsburg (8-1)

• Union Community (3-6) at 2A No. 2 Van Meter (9-0)

• Mid-Prairie (5-4) at 2A No. 8 PCM (7-2)

• Jesup (6-3) vs. 2A No. 4 Monticello (8-1)

• 1A No. 7 Dike-New Hartford (6-3) at No. 6 Sigourney-Keota (8-1)

• Class A No. 3 West Hancock (8-1) at No. 9 Starmont (8-1)

• Maquoketa Valley (7-2) at Class A No. 8 Wapsie Valley (8-1)

• Iowa Valley (7-2) at 8-P No. 5 Clarksville (10-0)

Recommended Reading

Iowa high school football playoffs: Here are the Round of 16 pairings