4 Downs: Gazette staff opine on Iowa high school football topics

The Gazette’s Iowa high school football and contributors provide answers to the high school football questions you need to know. See how much Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Scott Unash can gain in 4 Downs:

1ST & 10: Which team(s) are most likely to earn their first win in Week 3?

Jeff Linder: Western Dubuque isn’t your stereotypical winless team. The Bobcats are good, have just played a tough early schedule and have been competitive against Dubuque Wahlert and Cedar Rapids Xavier. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they knock off Waverly-Shell Rock this week. Other strong possibilities are North Fayette Valley (at Sumner-Fredericksburg), Central City (at GMG) and Lisbon (at Waterloo Columbus).

Jeff Johnson: I am going with either Tipton or Maquoketa. They are both 0-2 and play each other this week.

K.J. Pilcher: Western Dubuque has lost two games by a total of 12 points. The Bobcats are a good bet to top Waverly-Shell Rock. Washington (Iowa) is 0-2 but has played two ranked teams (Independence and Mid-Prairie). Burlington is 2-0 but maybe the Demons can conjure up a victory.

Scott Unash: I have two teams who could jump into the win column this Friday. The first is Western Dubuque, who may just be the best winless team in the State. It will not be easy at home against a good Waverly-Shell Rock team, but I believe the Bobcats get win No. 1 this week. Lisbon is my other choice to taste victory for the first time this season. The Lions host Waterloo Columbus on Friday night looking for their first ever win as a Class 1A program.

2ND & LONG: What were the biggest surprises from Week 2?

Jeff Linder: Paging North Linn. The Lynx’s 16-0 win at Maquoketa Valley was stunning, to say the least, especially considering they did it by accumulating only 90 yards of total offense. Before the season, I thought North Linn was a borderline playoff team. Now, it seems like so much more. South Winneshiek’s 18-14 loss to North Butler also caught me by surprise.

Jeff Johnson: Iowa City Liberty going to Southeast Polk and winning 38-20. Not so much the victory, but the Lightning led after three quarters, 38-0. Around the state, Carroll Kuemper’s 52-21 win over Algona was impressive. Going into the game, Kuemper was (and continues to be) our top-ranked team in Class 2A, Algona was No. 2 in 3A.

K.J. Pilcher: The obvious answer is North Linn, knocking off a short-handed No. 1 Maquoketa Valley. Still a laudable performance. One of the biggest eye-openers for me was Solon’s thumping of Williamsburg. The win was a shock but the margin of victory was unexpected. The Spartans tallied five touchdowns and 277 yards passing with a rush attack held in check. The Spartans made a statement.

Scott Unash: Two results jump out immediately. Iowa City Liberty going to Central Iowa and soundly beating four-time state champion Southeast Polk was an eye-opener. Not so much that the Bolts won the game, but by the margin. What does it mean? Keep reading for the answer to that question! The other surprise was North Linn's victory at Maquoketa Valley. The Lynx lost a great deal of talent from a year ago, but again we are reminded of what a terrific all-around athletic program North Linn has built. Yes, the Wildcats were without perhaps their best player, but posting a shutout like the Lynx did was ultra impressive.

3RD & SHORT: Pick a QB-WR combo to create a passing attack and why?

Jeff Linder: Based on last year, I would take Iowa City Liberty’s Reece Rettig and anybody. The WR part of that tandem is yet to be determined as Rettig’s new targets develop. Based on Bound, it’s hard right now to argue with Solon’s Eli Kampman (31-43-1, 549 yards, 8 TDs) and Kaden Hoeper (8 catches, 260 yards, 4 TDs).

Jeff Johnson: If we’re going straight off statistics, let’s go with quarterback Eli Kampman of Solon and his favorite targets Kaden Hoeper and Maddox Kelley. Kampman has eight touchdown throws in two games: four each to Hoeper and Kelley. Those are all top five in the state.

K.J. Pilcher: How many times have you seen a good QB-WR pair take over a game or drum up the big play when needed, whether it’s a late conversion or a long score. The area has a few of them. Liberty’s Reece Rettig can get the ball to just about anybody. Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Cash Parks has been money connecting with Ryan Kelly and Sam Leuck, completing almost 85 percent of his passes. Solon’s success has been aided by the air attack with Eli Kampman and Maddox Kelley (or Kaden Hoeper). The trio has combined for more than 400 yards and eight touchdowns in two games.

Scott Unash: Modern day football is built on the passing game. At one time, you wouldn't see 20 passes in a small-school matchup. Those days are over. We have some incredible quarterback-wide receiver combos in the area, but if I had to start with one it would be in Mount Vernon. Returning all-Stater, and Drake commit, Kellen Haverback has an incredible arm and great knowledge for the game at quarterback for the Mustangs. He also has two terrific receivers in Jase Jaspers and Michael Ryan. High honorable mention going out to Eli Kampman and Maddox Kelley at Solon and Cael Kongshaug, Tae Alexander and Drew Bennis at Prairie.

4TH & GOAL: Have Eastern Iowa programs gained any ground on Central Iowa in Class 5A?

Jeff Linder: Iowa City Liberty certainly has. The Lightning built a 38-0 (!) lead on four-time defending champion Southeast Polk – on the road – before coasting to a 38-20 win. The Bolts were 5A semifinalists last year. They are proving to be elite. Everybody else on this side of the state remains in prove-it-to-me mode.

Jeff Johnson: Impossible to tell this early. And I’m not sure you can say definitively until Eastern Iowa gets a 5A champion, let alone a team in the finals.

K.J. Pilcher: The simple answer is no. Eastern Iowa hasn’t even had a finalist since the addition of a fifth class. The largest class state final has been between two Central Iowa teams for six consecutive seasons. The last Eastern Iowa finalist in that class was Cedar Falls in 2018. Teams have had flashes. Iowa City West reached back-to-back finals in 2016 and 2017. Cedar Rapids Xavier, Cedar Rapids Washington and Cedar Rapids Kennedy reached finals and were turned away. Heck, the last Eastern Iowa champ in the biggest class was Iowa City High in 2009. Liberty has provided a beacon of hope, beating two CIML teams and having four-time champion Southeast Polk on the ropes. The Lightning beat the Rams soundly last week. Cedar Rapids Prairie shows some promise to be competitive this season. Until Eastern Iowa wins a title (or more), it’s not even comparable.

Scott Unash: The question of the last two decades that we visit every year in November after the latest all-CIML final in big school football. It has been a long time coming, and by no means are Eastern Iowa schools there yet, but I think there may be a small light at the end of the tunnel. Eastern Iowa big school coaches have been studying what the suburban Des Moines schools are doing to win and are trying to emulate their formula both on and off the field. Unfortunately, it's not a level playing field. Central Iowa suburban programs have more population and resources. It's going to take time, and our own resources to finally close in on the same level in 5A football. Eastern Iowa teams are playing with Central Iowa teams and beating them more and more in the regular season. But the process will not be completed until Eastern Iowa teams win in late November in the Dome once again.