4 Downs: Gazette staff offers the answers to Iowa high school football queries

The Gazette’s Iowa high school football and contributors expound on the intricacies of high school football. See how much Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Scott Unash ground they cover in 4 Downs:

1ST & 10: If you had a fantasy football team of Gazette-area football players, who would be your No. 1 draft pick?

Jeff Linder: Nolan Kriegel of Iowa Valley would be the pick if we included 8-Player candidates. If not, I’ll take Reece Rettig of Iowa City Liberty for his many touchdown passes and yards (and few interceptions).

Jeff Johnson: I’m old school. Give me a massive guy up front who can block. So, I’m going with Iowa City West offensive lineman Colin Whitters. He’s headed to the University of Iowa, he’s massive and physical. And he’s a nice kid.

K.J. Pilcher: This is always a fun question until someone actually creates a high school fantasy league. Then, it gets weird. Sorry, I’m excluding 8-Player performers. Anyway, if you want consistent numbers Liberty’s Reece Rettig is the guy. He can distribute the wall well and is simply a playmakers. If you want the possibility of gaudy numbers each week, go with BGM’s Beau Burns. A sleeper is Independence’s Christopher Meyer. He has 16 total touchdowns, including 10 rushing. Meyer has amassed 1,477 offensive yards, passing for 843, through the first four games.

Scott Unash: If we are talking about all classes, you couldn't go wrong with either Nolan Kriegel of Iowa Valley or Beau Burns of BGM. They are dudes. Doesn't matter how many are on the field, if you score more than 20 times in four weeks you are getting it done. For strictly 11-Player, I think I start with Eli Kampman at Solon. Dual-threat quarterback with 13 scores in four weeks. My 1A pick would be Cash Parks, the quarterback at Cedar Rapids Xavier.

2ND & LONG: Eleven Gazette-area teams are unbeaten. Which area teams are the most and least likely to be perfect through Week 5?

Jeff Linder: Seven of the 11 unbeatens, I think you can classify as Week 5 locks. Cedar Rapids Xavier, Solon, West Delaware, Iowa City Regina, Union Community, Iowa Valley and Edgewood-Colesburg … bet on the majority of those to get the continuous clock ticking. North Linn, probably, is safe. Keep a close eye on Iowa City West (at home against Iowa City Liberty) and Elkader Central (at home against Springville). Independence is the one that you have to consider an underdog, at home against 3A No. 1 Clear Lake.

Jeff Johnson: Most likely to stay unbeaten? I’m going with Edgewood-Colesburg, which plays 1-3 Central City at home. Least likely to remain undefeated? I guess you’d have to say either Iowa City West or Independence. West plays at Iowa City Liberty in a battle of top-10 teams in Class 5A. Indee hosts Class 3A No. 1 Clear Lake. In saying that, though, both West and Indee can win, without question.

K.J. Pilcher: Obviously, the toughest ask faces Independence. The Mustangs host No. 1 Clear Lake in a big Independence offense (43.5 points per game) vs. the Lions defense (7 points allowed per game). Iowa City West gets Liberty, which is coming off a loss so that will be a challenge. Solon has been rolling and gaining momentum with quality wins over Benton Community, Mount Vernon and Williamsburg in consecutive weeks. Spartans should move to 5-0 against Fairfield (1-3).

Scott Unash: The greatest bets to remain unbeaten after the midpoint of the season this Friday night would be Solon, West Delaware, Union, Iowa Valley and Ed-Co. Good odds for Xavier, Iowa City Regina and North Linn. Toughest games for Iowa City West, Independence and certainly Central Elkader, which has to play a very dangerous Springville team.

3RD & SHORT: Submitted by @EpEugene on X.com: Has district play ruined conference rivalries?

Jeff Linder: Of course it has. However, it was a necessary move to help with scheduling purposes. Pre-district football, many teams, especially on the far east and west sides of the state, couldn’t fill a nine-game schedule. I’m OK with it, other than the fact that I bet nobody can name what district their team is in and can’t identify their district “rivals” without peeking at Bound. Now, if we go to district basketball (or other sports), I might throw a minor tantrum.

Jeff Johnson: I don’t think so. Schools can still schedule their biggest rivals who might be in another class or district in non-district play.

K.J. Pilcher: I’m torn on this subject. I miss conference play. The Mississippi Valley Conference was so fun each week. I also like what district play has created with regular-season games between Eastern Iowa and Central Iowa teams or fun pairings like Ames and Iowa City High playing on the eve of the CyHawk Series game. Yes and no about the ongoing rivalries, ask the Cedar Rapids Washington and Iowa City West players who won intracity rivalry games in Week 1. They were pumped. BUT look at Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s schedule is void of Washington, Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Xavier. That doesn’t seem right.

Scott Unash: I will not say straight out that district football has ruined conference rivalries, but it certainly has taken the shine off of those games. In the district football era, most of the highly contested and rivalry games are early in the year. The second half of the season, and namely district play, is when you see the vast majority of blowouts. And not only one-sided affairs, but against teams from, at times, over 100 miles away. I think it has also affected conference play in other sports as well. I would love to see conference football come back, but no one has put together a fair and equitable system to determine playoff teams. Until that happens, district football is the best system we have.

4TH & GOAL: If the four of us were on a coaching staff, what would each of our responsibilities be?

Jeff Linder: Since K.J. played through high school, I am turning the head-coaching reins to him. J.J. and Unash can do Rock-Paper-Scissors to hash out the offensive and defensive coordinator positions. I am best served (and so is the staff) by staying out of the way.

Jeff Johnson: Pilcher would do most of the heavy lifting because he’s the only one of us who played football. Unash would be offensive coordinator. Linder would be in charge of analytics. I’d make sure everyone remained hydrated (i.e., waterboy).

K.J. Pilcher: Let’s get this straight. I led the 1992 Washington team in “look-out” blocks and missed assignments. I’d be best served in a position like family-friend Brad Stovie with Xavier. I’m the “Get Back” sideline coach and referee liaison during timeouts. Linder’s organization makes him a great equipment manager/logistics coordinator. I’ve heard Unash describe offensive plays in detail, so let him use his creative juices on that side of the ball. Jeff Johnson will have to take the defense and special teams.

Scott Unash: Let's hope it never comes to this, and some poor coach has to hire us four football brainiacs! K.J. is the easiest to assign, he has got to be a defensive line coach. He was a wrestler, so he knows and can teach all of those fun things that happen in the trenches. Lindy is very organized and detail oriented, so I'm thinking Scouting and Quality Control Coach. JJ, back in the day, was a terrific left-footed kicker and punter. He knows how to put that funky backwards spin on that stuff, so make him a special teams coach. As for yours truly, give me the wide receivers. Not only did I play that position way, way back in the day, but I've watched enough football that I have learned all the tricks of the trade that I can teach all those things that would draw pass interference penalties.