Iowa high school football playoffs 2024: Round of 16 games to watch

The following are Gazette-area Iowa high school football playoff capsules for the Round of 16.

Waukee at Iowa City Liberty (Class 5A)

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

Records and rankings: Waukee is 6-3; No. 5 Liberty is 8-1.

Overview: This is the first meeting between the two teams. Liberty makes its third playoff appearance after qualifying in 2019 and 2022, and its first in 5A. The Lightning are the top seed after finishing the regular season atop the RPI standings. A win would tie a school record in season victories. Lightning Quarterback Reece Rettig ranks third in 5A in passing yards (2,177), passing touchdowns (27) and total TDs (31). Dallas Miller has 52 catches for 772 yards and seven TDs and Sutton Koller adds 28 catches for 762 yards and 10 TDs. Waukee averages 411 offensive yards per game. The Warriors are led by Beckett Bakker, who has passed for 1,582 yards and 19 TDs. Grant Gammell has rushed for 930 yards and 16 TDs on 123 carries for Waukee, making its 17 th playoff appearance.

Iowa City High at Ankeny Centennial (Class 5A)

When and where: 5:30 p.m. Friday, at Ankeny

Records and rankings: No. 9 City High is 6-3; No. 2 Centennial is 7-2.

Overview: This is the first meeting between the two programs and the opener of a doubleheader at Ankeny City Stadium. The Little Hawks are making their fourth straight playoff appearance and 31st overall. City High was propelled into the postseason with a dominant 42-23 win over then-No. 2 Bettendorf. Quarterback Bobby Bacon has set the school record for career passing yards and has thrown for 1,850 yards and 16 TDs this season. Tight end Parker Sutherland has been a tough matchup for foes, catching 29 passes for 410 yards and six scores. Sophomore Dawson Kahl has rushed for 838 yards and 16 TDs with most coming in the last five games. Centennial is powered by running back Braeden Jackson, the son of former NFL and Coe running back Fred Jackson. He has rushed for 1,100 yards and 18 TDs, averaging 8.2 yards per carry. The Jaguars are making their 12th straight playoff appearance.

Linn-Mar at Ankeny (Class 5A)

When and where: At Ankeny Friday, immediately after the City High/Centennial game

Records and rankings: No. 9 Linn-Mar is 7-2; No. 8 Ankeny is 5-4.

Overview: The Lions have posted a strong season under interim co-head coaches Ben Martens and Chad Tompkins, who were named to the post in June. Linn-Mar has won seven games for the second time in four seasons, reaching the playoffs for the 23rd time and fourth in a row. Ankeny has won four of its last five games. Both defenses rank among the 5A leaders in points allowed. The Lions give up 16.2 per game, while the Hawks allow 18.7. Linn-Mar averages 35 points per game. Senior running back Dylan Muszynski has amassed almost 1,700 offensive yards with 23 TDs, including 1,422 yards and 22 scores rushing. Austin Waller has added 1,102 passing yards and seven scores for Linn-Mar. Luke Anderson has passed for 1,494 and eight TDs and Daniel Lamie has rushed for 868 yards and seven TDs for the Hawks.

Iowa City West at Bettendorf (Class 5A)

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

Records and rankings: West is 5-4; No. 6 Bettendorf is 8-1.

Overview: The Trojans are making their first postseason appearance since 2020. They posted a three-game win streak to solidify their playoff spot, including a 49-35 win over then-No. 4 Pleasant Valley in Week 8. Quarterback Jack Wallace, the program’s career passing leader, has thrown for 2,447 yards and 29 TDs this season. Wallace also has 320 yards and eight TDs on the ground. He leads 5A in passing and total TDs and passing yards. Bettendorf surrenders 19.8 points per game but has 10 interceptions. Dual-threat QB Jackson Laver powers the Bulldogs with 1,275 passing yards and 267 yards on the ground with 16 total scores. Jacob Whipple (119-701 yards, 11 TDs) and Will Taylor (98-551, nine TDs) lead the Bettendorf rush attack. Bettendorf owns a 10-2 record in the series since 2011.

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Cedar Rapids Xavier at Norwalk (Class 4A)

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

Records and rankings: Both are 6-3. Norwalk is ranked No. 8; Xavier is No. 9.

Overview: This marks the first meeting between the two programs. The Saints are making their 21st playoff appearance and 19th in a row. Xavier’s defense is tied for fifth in 4A, giving up 14.6 points per game. Linebacker Jack Stevenson paces Xavier with 54 tackles. QB Cash Parks leads the Saints offense. He has more than 1,000 offensive yards, despite missing multiple games to injury. Parks has passed for 847 yards and eight TDs, adding 151 yards and three scores on the ground. Carter Hoffmann has 1,055 rushing yards and 10 TDs. Xavier is looking for its fifth straight quarterfinal berth. Norwalk is one of the hottest teams, overcoming a slow start with five straight wins. The Warriors beat two-time defending state champion Council Bluffs Lewis Central, 21-7, in Week 8. James Hatlevig has passed for 1,423 yards and 16 TDs for the Warriors, who earned their 16th postseason berth.

Clear Creek Amana at Pella (Class 4A)

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

Records and rankings: CCA is 6-3; No. 5 Pella is 8-1.

Overview: The Clippers finished the regular season strong under first-year CCA head coach Lance Pedersen, earning a share of the 4A District 3 title. They have won four of their last five games, including a win over No. 10 Xavier. Pella is 2-0 all-time against CCA. Both teams have similar scoring production. CCA scores 29.1 points per game, while the Dutch put up 28.9 per game. Clippers junior Conlan Poynton is tied for the 4A lead with 28 total TDs. He has rushed for 16 scores and passed for 12 more. Owen Rosenberg leads CCA with 599 receiving yards and four TDs on 43 catches. Rosenberg also leads 4A with eight interceptions. Pella QB Colin Kerndt has 1,965 offensive yards and 25 TDs, including 1,373 and 13 passing. The Clippers are making their eighth playoff appearance. Pella has qualified for the 34th time.

Western Dubuque at North Scott (Class 4A)

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

Records and rankings: No. 9 Western Dubuque is 6-3; No. 7 North Scott is 7-2.

Overview: The series is tied, 6-6, since 2016. This is a rematch of a Week 4 game that the Bobcats won, 21-7, at North Scott. Drew Bergfeld rushed for 167 yards and a TD and the Bobcats defense held the Lancers to 239 yards in the first meeting. Western Dubuque’s Tanner Anderson has passed for 1,118 yards and 11 scores. Bergfeld leads Bobcats rushers with 888 yards and five scores. North Scott QB Chase Smith has 1,928 offensive yards and 26 TDs, including 1,655 and 23 passing. Both teams have been playoff mainstays. Western Dubuque is making its 18th playoff appearance, earning a runner-up finish last season, a title in 2019 and a finals berth in 2018. North Scott has qualified for the 21st time and won a state title in 2020.

Solon at Benton Community (Class 3A)

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Van Horne

Records and rankings: Both teams are 7-2. Solon is ranked No. 9; Benton is No. 5.

Overview: A rematch of a Week 6 game the Bobcats won, 21-20, at home. The Spartans return having won two straight after suffering consecutive losses to Benton and Williamsburg. Benton is coming off a 21-0 win over the defending state champion Raiders to claim the 3A District 5 crown. The Bobcats are big and physical on both sides of the ball, rushing for 2,056 yards. Dylan LeFebvere leads Benton with 813 yards and 18 TDs. Benton QB Carson Nolan has passed for 548 yards and rushed for 446 more. The Bobcats rank fifth in 3A, giving up 12.9 points per game. Solon is tied for sixth, allowing 13.8 a contest. Eddie Johnson powers the Solon offense, rushing for 1,086 yards and 16 TDs. He also has 221 receiving yards with two scores. Ty Bell has passed for 1,475 yards and 16 TDs. Benton is making its 13th playoff appearance. Solon has qualified for the 35th time and 20th in a row.

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Williamsburg at Independence (Class 3A)

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 7-2. Williamsburg is ranked No. 7; Independence is No. 8.

Overview: The defending state champion Raiders are making their 25 th playoff appearance and 17th straight. Williamsburg leads the series, 2-0, winning 24-0 in 2007 and 47-0 in 2006. The game promises a high-scoring affair. The Raiders lead 3A with 43.9 points per game and the Mustangs are sixth at 35.6. Williamsburg’s Grant Hocker has had a breakout season, passing for 2,206 yards and 37 TDs, hitting playmaker Rayce Heitman 58 times for 1,015 yards and 20 scores. Hocker and Heitman lead 3A in those categories. Heitman also leads the Raiders with 69 tackles. Independence counters with E.J. Miller, who has thrown for 1,907 yards and 20 TDs. Miller has rushed for 432 yards and six TDs. Brady Kurt has 1,012 yards and 10 TDs on 73 catches. Tate Woods is second in 3A with 96 tackles. Christopher Meyer is tied for the 3A lead with five interceptions.

Carroll at Mount Vernon (Class 3A)

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Mount Vernon

Records and rankings: Carroll is 6-3; No. 4 Mount Vernon is 8-1.

Overview: The Mustangs are making their 28th playoff appearance and third straight, reaching the 2022 finals. Mount Vernon has won five straight games under first-year head coach Brad Meester. The Mustangs’ lone blemish is a 7-6 loss to Solon, nearly completing a two-point conversion for a possible win and perfect regular season. Mount Vernon leads the class with a 32.4-point differential, scoring 41.4 and allowing just nine points per game. Kellen Haverback has passed for 1,647 yards and 20 TDs, connecting with Jase Jaspers 48 times for 750 yards and eight TDs. Haverback has rushed for seven TDs and Jaspers has added 223 yards and a score rushing. Mount Vernon’s defense has harassed opposing QBs, racking up 52 sacks. Kael Riniker has 13 to lead 3A. Teammates Nova Lane (7.5), Ethan Wood (7) and Caysen Curran (6) rank second, fourth and fifth, respectively, in 3A. Taidyn Peterson has rushed for 1,263 yards and 14 TDs for Carroll, which averages 30.9 points a contest.

Iowa City Regina at Woodward-Granger (Class 1A)

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 8-1. Regina is ranked No. 8.

Overview: The Regals are making their sixth straight playoff appearance and 21st overall. Regina opened the postseason with a 32-21 at Pleasantville under first-year head coach Dustin Elsbury. Regina first-year starting QB Kyle Tracy ranks 11th in 1A with 1,479 yards and eighth with 16 touchdown passes. Tracy has also rushed for 622 and seven TDs. Savion Miller is the top Regal rusher with 790 yards on 131 carries. Tate Wallace is Tracy’s top target, hauling in 40 catches for 590 yards and six TDs. The Hawks defense allows 14.8 points per game, tallying 12 turnovers, 71.5 tackles for loss and 20 sacks. Talan Fuson is a dual threat and powers a Woodward-Granger offense that averages more than 39 points per game. He has passed for 1,639 yards and 22 TDs, adding 859 yards and 13 scores on the ground.

Bellevue at Lisbon (Class A)

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

Records and rankings: Bellevue is 7-2; No. 4 Lisbon is 9-0.

Overview: This marks the 22nd playoff appearance for the Lions and fifth straight. Lisbon has dominated opponents all season, outscoring foes by an average of 40.8 points. Defense has been key, allowing a mere 3.8 points per game and recording 15 scoreless quarters in the last four games. The Lions have forced 26 total turnovers, returning six for TDs. Senior Jacob Walerius paces Lisbon with 74.5 tackles, including 49 solo. Gage Holub has 12 tackles for loss, one more than Walerius. Dakota Clark and Tiernan Boots provide a 1-2 punch. Boots has rushed for 1,462 yards and 25 TDs. Clark has 1,443 offensive yards and 23 TDs. Bellevue’s Cal Bonifas has passed for 1,654 yards and 16 TDs, while teammate Jaden Baskin rushed for 907 yards and 18 TDs.

Other games involving area teams

Here are the statewide Round of 16 matchups and brackets.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com