Iowa high school football 2023 playoffs: Gazette-area quarterfinal games to watch

The following are area capsules for the Iowa high school football state quarterfinals:

Cedar Rapids Xavier at North Polk (Class 4A)

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 8-2. Xavier is ranked No. 2 in 4A; North Polk is No. 4.

Overview: The defending state champion Saints won a 17-10 thriller over Indianola to reach their 13th state quarterfinal. North Polk topped Ballard, 17-14. Quarterback Ronan Thomas has obviously been Xavier’s leader for the last two seasons, and it was evident in his two late touchdowns against Indianola. He has more than 1,500 yards and 23 total TDs. Xavier has received a boost from the quick-footed and hard-running Noah Schimberg (111 carries for 864 yards and 11 TDs). Since he has been the featured back in Week 5, he has six straight 100-yard rushing games, including 126 against the Indians. The Saints have also won six straight games. Isaac Zoske and B.J. Tate provide a strong 1-2 punch for North Polk. Zoske has passed for 1,282 yards and 15 TDs. Tate has rushed for 1,052 yards and 11 scores. The Comets defense has 73 tackles for loss and 25 turnovers, allowing just 12 points per game.

Iowa City Regina at MFL MarMac (Class 1A)

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 9-1. Regina is ranked No. 5 in 1A; MFL MarMac is No. 4.

Overview: Regina advanced with its second win over Wilton, winning 33-18 last week. MFL MarMac avenged last year’s state quarterfinal loss to West Branch with a 21-0 second-round win. The Bulldogs are making their sixth straight playoff appearance and fifth straight. They have reached the quarterfinals for the fifth consecutive season but haven’t reached the UNI-Dome. MFL MarMac is third in 1A, allowing just eight points per game. The Bulldogs have 21 sacks, 87 tackles for loss and have forced 19 turnovers, including four interceptions from Brandon Christofferson. Tristen Koehn has 21.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. The Bulldogs rush attack could help the defense by controlling the ball. Quinn McGeough (774 yards and seven TDs) and Wyatt Powell (709 and nine) lead the way. Regina’s defense only gives up 13.8 points but scores 41.9 a game. The Regals’ 28.1-point winning margin is third in 1A. Regina’s Gentry Dumont and Jackson Naeve have formed one of the top passing combos. Dumont ranks second in 1A with 2,228 passing yards and is tied for second with 25 passing scores. Naeve is also second with 837 receiving yards and has 11 TDs. Regina is making its 20th postseason appearance, winning its eighth title in 2020. MFL MarMac won their only postseason meeting, 21-7 in the 2021 second round.

Mount Vernon at Williamsburg (Class 3A)

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 9-1. Mount Vernon is ranked No. 4 in 3A; Williamsburg is No. 3.

Overview: The Gazette area’s marquee quarterfinal matchup. Mount Vernon was the 3A state runner-up, while Williamsburg reached the 2A final last season. They have split the last six meetings. Williamsburg won the most recent in 2017, but Mount Vernon has won three of the last four. Both fell to Solon this season. They have star players and rank 1-2 in 3A in touchdowns and points per game (Mount Vernon 60/42.3, Williamsburg 58/40.5). Joey Rhomberg, who missed the 2022 final to injury, has been one of the best passers the last couple seasons. He has passed for 2,035 yards and 20 TDs, hitting eight receivers for scores. Evan Brase has been the top target, hauling in 51 catches for 925 yards and 10 TDs. Williamsburg counters with Iowa recruit Derek Weisskopf, who has done a lot of everything for the Raiders offense and defense. He has modest receiving numbers because of filling in at QB for an injured Kellen Cockrell, who has 1,179 yards and 23 TDs. Williamsburg’s Rayce Heitman, Braylon Wetjen and Clayten Steckly have combined for 1,285 receiving yards and 26 TDs. Both defenses rank among the best in 3A. Mount Vernon leads 3A with 58 sacks, 20.5 ahead of No. 2 Williamsburg. They are tied for third with 14 interceptions. Mount Vernon leads the class, allowing just 9.7 points a game. The Raiders are third at 12.4.

West Delaware at Solon (Class 3A)

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

Records and rankings: West Delaware is 7-3; 3A No. 2 Solon is 9-1.

Overview: The Hawks are coming off an upset of No. 6 Davenport Assumption, 58-45, and are looking for their first state semifinal berth since 2015. Brett Yonkovic powered West Delaware against the Knights, rushing for five TDs and passing for two more. He finished with 490 yards, giving him 2,641 from scrimmage this year. The Spartans defense is a different beast, holding teams to just 11 points per game, which is second lowest in 3A. Solon has won three straight against the Hawks, including a 24-point win in the first round last season and a four-point victory in the 2021 quarterfinals. The Spartans have outscored their last three foes, 144-13, topping Fort Madison, 50-7, in the second round. Solon is one of the hottest teams in all classes with nine straight victories. Sophomore Conlan Poynton has rushed for 861 yards and 11 TDs. Tyler Bell has passed for 924 yards and 11 TDs. Brett White is a pillar in the defense, leading Solon with 87.5 tackles, 55 solo and 20.5 tackles for loss. Ben Kampman has a team-high 6.5 sacks and is second with 11.5 tackles for loss.

North Scott at Western Dubuque (Class 4A)

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

Records and rankings: 3A No. 5 North Scott is 8-2; Western Dubuque is 9-1.

Overview: A rematch from Week 4. The Bobcats, who beat Newton 41-2 in the first round, won the regular-season matchup, 31-24, behind a mammoth game from running back Grant Glausser, who rushed for 389 yards and four TDs. Glausser has run roughshod over most defenses this season, leading the state with 2,203 rushing yards and has a 4A-best 27 rushing scores. Tanner Anderson stepped under center this season and has 1,319 passing yards and 17 TDs, including 582 yards and seven TDs to Brock Carpenter. North Scott is led by quarterback Kyler Gerardy, who has returned from injury. He only had 120 yards passing and 68 rushing against the Bobcats. He has 2,079 passing and rushing yards with 26 TDs, including 211 and three in a 35-7 win over Decorah to advance. Western Dubuque is looking for its sixth semifinal appearance and owns a 2-1 advantage over the Lancers in the playoffs.

Monticello at Mediapolis (Class 2A)

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

Records and rankings: 2A No. 4 Monticello is 9-1; Mediapolis is 8-2.

Overview: Preston Ries is the dynamic do-it-all quarterback. The Iowa recruit led Monticello to its first quarterfinal appearance since 1977 with a 45-0 win over Jesup last week. Ries also set the state’s career record for yards from scrimmage with 12,052 total. He has 3,533 yards this season, including 1,998 passing, with 49 TDs rushing and passing this season. Ries accounted for 296 yards and five TDs against Jesup. Ries also leads the Panthers with 81 tackles, 56 solo and 24.5 tackles for loss on a defense that has three shutouts this season. Mediapolis beat Camanche, 27-0, last week. The Bulldogs are powered by a rush attack that has 2,475 yards. Jackson Hutcheson leads Mediapolis with 1,096 yards and 21 TDs.

East Buchanan at Saint Ansgar (Class A)

Site and time: 7 p.m. Friday, at Saint Ansgar

Records and rankings: East Buchanan is 8-2; Class A No. 1 Saint Ansgar is 10-0.

Overview: Prepare for a ground-and-pound, punishing game between two run-heavy offenses. The Buccaneers and Saints have combined for 5,414 yards on 770 rushes. Compare that to their 1,142 yards on 128 passes. East Buchanan handled No. 5 Lisbon, 38-7, last week. Saint Ansgar dropped Lake Mills, 33-0, to reach the quarters for the 10th time and is looking for its first semifinal appearance since 2020. The teams faced off in the 2017 first round that was won, 33-17, by the Saints. Tanner Thurn is East Buchanan’s all-time leading rusher and has 1,294 yards with 22 TDs this season. Hunter Bowers adds 875 yards and 13 on the ground. Saint Ansgar has 2,636 rushing yards (263.6 per game) and spreads yardage around with five at 237 yards or more. Connor King leads with 655 yards and 11 scores, while Christian Michels has 539 yards and seven TDs. Regan Witt and Tyson Kline have eight and seven rushing TDs, respectively for the Saints. The Buccaneers are vying for their four semifinal berth and second in three seasons.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com