Iowa high school football 2025: Gazette-area Week 3 games to watch

The following are area football capsules for Week 3 of the Iowa high school football season:

Clinton at Cedar Rapids Washington

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-1.

Overview: For the third straight week, Washington is playing at Kingston. With Clinton this week and Grinnell on deck, the Warriors have a very realistic shot at 3-1 heading into district play. Both teams have been potent on the ground: Washington’s Grady McGuire has racked up 256 rushing yards (to go with 299 through the air), while Clinton’s Ethan Carpenter and Konnor Schroeder have combined for 324. The River Kings are coming off a 26-13 win over Davenport Central.

Clear Creek Amana at Cedar Rapids Xavier

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Saints Field

Records and rankings: Both teams are 2-0. Xavier is ranked No. 1 in Class 4A; CCA is No. 7.

Overview: Imagine the Saints have had this one marked since the schedule was released? Clear Creek Amana earned its first win against Xavier (in five tries), 28-24, last season. The Clippers have steamrolled a pair of Davenport public schools to the tune of 114-6, with two touchdowns coming on special teams and another off an interception. Xavier’s Cash Parks has opened the season in remarkably efficient fashion: 18 completions in 21 attempts (and five touchdowns), and the Saints have allowed 13 points in two games.

Alburnett at Iowa City Regina

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 2-0. Alburnett is ranked No. 7 in Class 2A; Regina is No. 3 in 1A.

Overview: Alburnett is new to the 2A scene, but the Pirates already have made an impression, and an entrance into the top 10. Laken Caves ran for 314 yards and five touchdowns in a thrilling 42-37 victory over Mid-Prairie last week, upping his season total to 405. Alburnett plays Regina for the first time since 2020, and the Regals are a handful once again behind the passing tandem of Kyle Tracy and Tate Wallace, plus RB Savion Miller (298 yards, four touchdowns).

Bettendorf at Cedar Rapids Prairie

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at John Wall Field

Records and rankings: Bettendorf is 1-1; 5A No. 6 Prairie is 2-0.

Overview: Bettendorf won a wild one in overtime, 48-47, last year, but Prairie appears the team most equipped for some offensive fireworks this time around. Junior QB Cael Kongshaug has passed for 405 yards, completing 79 percent of his passes. David Fason has spent the past two Fridays in opposing backfields; he has 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. Bettendorf is coming off a 21-7 win over Iowa City High. Hayden Morrison already has 13 receptions for 229 yards and three TDs for the Bulldogs.

Iowa City West at Pleasant Valley

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Bettendorf (Pleasant Valley H.S.)

Records and rankings: 5A No. 10 West is 2-0; Pleasant Valley is 1-1.

Overview: West has bashed its first two opponents by an aggregate of 86-7, and leads 5A in both scoring offense and scoring defense. The Trojans are potent both by land (Christian Janis has rushed for 228 yards) and by air (Ethan Headings is averaging 32.4 yards per catch, and half of his eight receptions have been for touchdowns). Pleasant Valley has played two close games, losing to Cedar Falls by a touchdown and beating archrival Bettendorf by the same margin.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson at Indianola

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

Records and rankings: Jefferson is 1-1; Indianola is 2-0.

Overview: Jefferson squared its record with a 42-21 victory at Muscatine last week, pulling steadily away after a scoreless first quarter. Now the J-Hawks are faced with the task of corralling Indianola’s Asher Brueck, who has passed for 384 yards and rushed for 151 in the first two weeks, accounting for six touchdowns. The Indians have two good wins over Norwalk and Carlisle, giving up just 17 points thus far. Jefferson’s L.J. Nyenow has caught seven passes for 99 yards.

Linn-Mar at Iowa City Liberty

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

Records and rankings: Linn-Mar is 0-2; 5A No. 2 Liberty is 2-0.

Overview: Liberty could be excused for a bit of a letdown this week. After all, the Lightning are coming off an extremely impressive performance, a 38-20 win over four-time defending state champion Southeast Polk, which was nowhere near as close as the final score. Reece Rettig remains one of the state’s most prolific passers, completing 46 of 60 for 427 yards and seven touchdowns. The Bolts will be heavy favorites over a Linn-Mar squad that is outputting just 180 yards and 5.0 points per game.

Davenport North at Marion

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-1.

Overview: Funny how an outlook can change in a week. After opening the season with a 35-0 loss at West Delaware, Marion got even by blanking Center Point-Urbana in the second half and rallying for a 21-12 win. Landon Tilkes ran for 128 yards on 16 carries. Now, a 3-1 pre-district mark is a possibility as tossups with North and Mason City loom. North is coming off a 51-6 loss to Clear Creek Amana, but the Wildcats are averaging about 300 yards per game. Neil Brown has passed for 241 yards, and has rushed for 142.

Waukee at Cedar Rapids Kennedy

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

Records and rankings: Waukee is 0-2; Kennedy is 1-1.

Overview: This is a pivotal swing game for both teams, and for Kennedy, it’s an opportunity to gain some momentum as the schedule softens in the midseason. The Cougars are coming off a 38-13 loss to Cedar Rapids Prairie, in which they netted just 170 yards. William Woodring has passed for five touchdowns in the first two weeks. With losses to Johnston and Ankeny, Waukee is the best 0-2 team in 5A. But the Warriors must improve an attack that has posted just 16 points thus far.

Decorah at Dubuque Wahlert

When and where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Dubuque (Loras College)

Records and rankings: Both teams are 2-0. Decorah is ranked No. 4 in Class 4A; Wahlert is No. 5 in 3A.

Overview: The reigning 3A state champion, Wahlert has stretched its win streak to 15 games, but the Golden Eagles face their toughest test to date. Decorah has blasted a pair of bordering-county rivals — Waukon and Crestwood — by a count of 91-22. Tanner Caddell has passed for 279 yards, and has six total touchdowns to his credit. Wahlert has allowed six points through two games, holding Anamosa to 123 yards in last week’s 41-0 victory. Brody Schumacher and Noah Krapfl have two interceptions apiece.

Mount Vernon at Solon

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 2-0. Mount Vernon is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A; Solon is No. 4.

Overview: Both teams have impressed thus far, and both possess a dynamite passing game. Solon’s Eli Kampman leads 3A in passing yards (549) and passing touchdowns (8), and two of his top targets — Kaden Hoeper and Maddox Kelley — have caught four touchdowns apiece. Mount Vernon counters with Kellen Haverback (469 passing yards, 5 TDs), with Jase Jaspers, Michael Ryan and Tommy Rhomberg combining for 17 receptions. Solon has won 21 of the last 23 in the series.

Iowa Valley at Montezuma

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

Records and rankings: 8-Player No. 4 Iowa Valley is 3-0; No. 7 Montezuma is 2-0.

Overview: Nolan Kriegel has truly been “Mr. Touchdown” for Iowa Valley. The junior has amassed 17 TDs (12 rushing, four passing and one receiving). The Tigers are scoring at a 56-point clip while allowing just 16.3 points per contest. Montezuma has established itself as the 8-Player District 7 favorite, thanks to a 63-20 triumph at Wayne last week. Brady Boulton triggers a balanced Braves’ attack that averages 191 yards per game rushing, 170 passing.

Other games involving Metro/Iowa City teams

* 5A No. 1 Waukee Northwest (2-0) at Iowa City High (0-2), 7 p.m. Friday

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com