Iowa high school football 2024: Gazette-area Week 5 games to watch

The following are area football capsules for Week 5 of the Iowa high school football season:

Iowa City High at Cedar Rapids Kennedy

When and where: 7 p.m. Thursday, at Kingston Stadium

Records and rankings: City High is 2-2; Kennedy is 1-3.

Overview: Both teams are coming off rivalry wins (City edged Iowa City West 40-39; Kennedy topped Cedar Rapids Washington 28-14), and this can be classified as a critical coinflip battle between teams trying to make a charge for the postseason. Quality quarterbacks lead both squads — Bobby Bacon for the Little Hawks, Vinny Gianforte for the Cougars — so expect plenty of aerial fireworks. Bacon’s 892 passing yards rank fifth in Class 5A. Kennedy will try to exploit a City defense that allows 38 points per game. The Cougars succeeded in that plot last year, winning 61-34.

Cedar Rapids Washington at Cedar Rapids Jefferson

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Kingston Stadium

Records and rankings: Washington is 1-3; Jefferson is 4-0.

Overview: For the second consecutive season, Jefferson is 4-0. Washington snapped the J-Hawks’ win streak last year, 21-13, which turned out to be the Warriors’ lone victory. It also sent Jefferson on a five-game losing spiral. If the J-Hawks can record just their second win over Washington since 2001, they will clinch their first winning season since going 8-3 in 2015. Jefferson has playmakers, yes, but the biggest reason for its fast start is a defense that allows a 5A-best 8.8 points per game. Anthony Snodey III has recorded 3.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss. Washington’s Wyatt Young creates even more backfield mayhem, leading 5A with nine sacks.

Cedar Falls at Linn-Mar

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Linn-Mar Stadium

Records and rankings: Class 5A No. 10 Cedar Falls is 2-2; Linn-Mar is 3-1.

Overview: Who can leave behind the sting of a close loss to a top-10 opponent last week? Linn-Mar led now-No. 3 Bettendorf at halftime on the road before falling, 27-24; Cedar Falls rallied with two touchdowns in the final two minutes to tie Iowa City Liberty, then the Lightning won it 49-42 with 20 seconds left. Two of the top running backs in Eastern Iowa will be on display: Cedar Falls’ Davarrion Clark is third among 5A rushers with 698 yards (with 12 touchdowns); Linn-Mar’s Dylan Muszynski is fifth with 655 yards (and 10 TDs).

Cedar Rapids Prairie at Iowa City Liberty

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at North Liberty

Records and rankings: Prairie is 2-2; Class 5A No. 8 Liberty is 3-1.

Overview: Liberty’s explosive offense lived up to its billing last Friday; the Lightning racked up 28 first downs and 568 yards (296 rushing, 272 passing) and didn’t punt once in a thrilling 49-42 win over Cedar Falls. The Bolts’ 45.5 points per game ranks second in 5A behind Ottumwa. QB Reece Rettig has passed for 950 yards (second in 5A) and is one of three Liberty guys with 200-plus rushing yards. When the book is closed on the 2024 season, Prairie will have played one of the toughest schedules in 5A. David Fason is tied for the 5A lead in receiving touchdowns, with five.

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Clinton at Cedar Rapids Xavier

When and where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Saints Field

Records and rankings: Clinton is 1-3 overall, 0-0 Class 4A District 3; No. 10 Xavier is 2-2, 0-0.

Overview: This should be a good time for Xavier to “get well” after dropping back-to-back games by a total of six points, especially with a trip to No. 8 North Scott coming up next week. All of the Saints’ first four games have been decided by seven points or less. This one shouldn’t be. Clinton’s last two games were losses to Dubuque Wahlert and Central DeWitt by verdicts of 57-0 and 56-14. Xavier junior Ryan Kelly has blossomed into a star receiver; he is the 4A leader in receptions (27) and ranks second in receiving yards (383).

Iowa City West at Ankeny

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Ankeny

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

Overview: Like its compatriots from Iowa City Liberty and Iowa City High, West scores a ton (43.5 points per game, fourth best in 5A) and gives up quite a bit (36.0 points per game, seventh most). That tendency was on display last week in a 40-39 loss to City High, in which the Trojans surrendered a late touchdown and two-point conversion. Jack Wallace is the 5A leader in passing yards (1,015), and targets Julian Manson and Mason Woods both have five TD catches. Ankeny has faced the toughest schedule in the state, and its lone win came against then-No. 1 West Des Moines Dowling in Week 3.

Cascade at Iowa City Regina

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Regina

Records and rankings: Cascade is 2-2 overall, 0-1 Class 1A District 5; No. 6 Regina is 4-0, 1-0.

Overview: “Touchdown Tracy” has a nice little ring to it, yes? We’re referring to Regina quarterback Kyle Tracy, who is among the 1A leaders in passing touchdowns (fifth, with nine) and total TDs (tied for fourth, 13). The Regals have been potent offensively, scoring at a 37.5-point clip, which is fifth-best in 1A. This marks the beginning of a mini-gauntlet for Cascade, which faces back-to-back road trips to Regina and second-ranked Wilton. Cougars QB Mick Hoffman has accounted for 756 total yards and six touchdowns.

Waterloo East at Marion

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Wolves Stadium

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-3 overall, 0-0 Class 4A District 2.

Overview: Marion got into the win column last week, 26-11 over Maquoketa. The Wolves compiled 268 rushing yards, with Aden Nicholls and Creighton Wheeler both approaching the 100-yard mark. They have a good opportunity to open district play with a victory. East picked up its lone win over Des Moines North in Week 2, 19-12. The Trojans have managed just 159 yards of offense per game.

Grinnell at Solon

When and where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Solon

Records and rankings: Both teams are 4-0 overall, 0-0 Class 3A District 5. Solon is ranked No. 1; Grinnell is No. 7.

Overview: Solon was able to grind out a 7-6 win over archrival Mount Vernon last week, and defense will be the theme again Friday. Grinnell is the 3A leader in scoring defense at 3.5 points per game; the Spartans are second at 7.3 ppg allowed. Sophomore Maddox Kelley is Solon’s second-leading tackler (23.5), and also has three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Grinnell’s 31-0 win over previously unbeaten Washington (Iowa) marked the Tigers’ third shutout in four games.

Pekin at Lisbon

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Lisbon

Records and rankings: Both teams are 4-0 overall, 3-0 Class A District 5. Lisbon is ranked No. 5.

Overview: Pekin has been an absolute wrecking crew in the first four weeks, outscoring its overmatched opponents by a count of 232-10. The Panthers will get much, much more resistance from Lisbon. Speedster Tiernan Boots of Lisbon is the Class A rushing leader, with 822 yards (11.9 per carry) and has scored 13 touchdowns. Jacob Walerius is the Lions’ top defender, with 46.5 tackles. Pekin QB Will Adam has accounted for 16 touchdowns on 681 passing yards and 403 more on the ground.

Western Dubuque at Waverly-Shell Rock

When and where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Waverly

Records and rankings: No. 7 Western Dubuque is 3-1 overall, 0-0 Class 4A District 2; WSR is 2-2, 0-0.

Overview: Western Dubuque has put two major notches in its belt in the past two weeks, knocking off top-10 foes Cedar Rapids Xavier and North Scott in succession. The Bobcats came away from Eldridge last week with a 21-7 victory thanks to 167 rushing yards from sophomore Drew Bergfeld. If Western Dubuque can handle business with another road triumph, the Bobcats should sail into a Week 8 showdown at Decorah. WSR has won two straight games after an 0-2 start, knocking off 3A top-10 Clear Lake, 31-30, last week.

Montezuma at BGM

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Brooklyn

Records and rankings: Montezuma is 4-1 overall, 2-0 8-Player District 7; BGM is 2-2, 1-1.

Overview: It’s going to be one of those nights. Montezuma is third in the class in scoring offense at 65.8 points per game; BGM is seventh at 62.5 ppg. All eyes will be on the two explosive quarterbacks. BGM’s Beau Burns is the 8-Player leader in touchdowns, with 30 (16 passing, 14 rushing) and averages 406 yards of total offense per game. Montezuma counters with Brady Boulton (10 passing TDs, six rushing). The Braves have an advantage defensively, they allow a competitive 14.4 points per contest.

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Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com