4 Downs: Compare your answers to Iowa high school football questions to the Gazette staff

The Gazette’s Iowa high school football staff poses and answers questions about the current season. See how much Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Nathan Ford can gain in 4 Downs:

1st & 10: What Week 7 matchups are you looking forward to the most?

Jeff Linder: Solon-Williamsburg has been of everybody’s calendar, I think, since practice started in August. Maquoketa Valley-North Linn will be a defensive war in which I think the first team to double-digits wins. Iowa City Regina-Dyersville Beckman has emerged as a potential must-see.

Jeff Johnson: Not a bad week for games around here. In no particular order, Williamsburg-Solon, North Linn-Maquoketa Valley, West Delaware-Dubuque Wahlert. That’s just off the top of my head.

K.J. Pilcher: This week has some sneaky good matchups. Solon’s loss to Benton Community took some of the luster off the Spartans’ (5-1) trip to Williamsburg (5-1), but it still is one of the most notable games. Any questions remaining about Iowa City Liberty (5-1) will be answered with a decent Ankeny team (3-2). Maquoketa Valley (5-1) and North Linn (6-0) is a defensive battle royale. The team with the last player standing might be declared winner of this slobber knocker between the top two teams in points allowed in Class A. Also, keep an eye on North Polk (6-0) and Indianola (4-2). It’s a top-10 matchup and one may play Eastern teams in the postseason.

Nathan Ford: West Delaware is flying under the radar and I’m excited to see how it does against a 6-0 Dubuque Wahlert team that just picked up a good win over Independence. Ankeny has been inconsistent and Iowa City Liberty seems to have a lot of potential so that’s an intriguing East-Central game in 5A. Statewide, Bondurant-Farrar has faced a gauntlet of a schedule so the 1-5 record is a bit misleading going into what could be a competitive game against unbeaten Gilbert.

2nd & Long: Which is more impressive: Maquoketa Valley allowing 1.7 points per game or Williamsburg scoring 50.7 points per game?

Jeff Linder: They’re both impressive in their own way. I guess it depends on what style you like. Personally, I’m a lover of defense, so Maquoketa Valley’s five consecutive shutouts has a place in my heart. Williamsburg, though … the Raiders still have weapons galore.

Jeff Johnson: How about both! Actually, giving up under two points per game in this day and age is very, VERY impressive.

K.J. Pilcher: Both are exceptional performances sustained through six weeks. I’m going to go with Williamsburg. The Raiders’ opponents have a slightly better overall record (11-25 to 8-28). Also, Williamsburg scored 74 points, splitting consecutive games with 4A teams Cedar Rapids Xavier and Clear Creek Amana. The Raiders also hung 55 points against a traditionally strong program in West Branch. Williamsburg’s offense has 2,564 offensive yards (427.3 yards per game). Both will get tested this week. Williamsburg faces a feisty Solon defense that ranks fourth in 3A in average points allowed (9.5 ppg). Maquoketa Valley heads to unbeaten North Linn.

Nathan Ford: I’ll say Maquoketa Valley’s 1.7 points allowed. So many fluky things can lead to points in a football game, and of course when the game is out of hand the second-half score isn’t always a reflection of either team’s strength. Five straight shutouts is kind of wild.

3rd & Short: What team has made the biggest recovery after a season-opening loss or slow start through opening weeks?

Jeff Linder: The next two weeks are key, but I think in the end, we’ll find that West Delaware will have made a high-quality bounce back after an 0-2 start.

Jeff Johnson: Back to West Delaware, though it’s not too surprising considering its first games were against very good Class 4A teams (WD is 3A). Sigourney-Keota lost its first game, 54-14, to a really good Monroe PCM team but has reeled off five wins since that game.

K.J. Pilcher: The easy answer is Iowa City High. The Little Hawks lost to Illinois power Joliet Catholic and Iowa City Liberty. City High has won four straight games and is poised for five in a row. Don’t forget Sigourney-Keota, which got shellacked by 2A No. 2 PCM in the opener and has outscored the last five opponents by 130 points to improve to 5-1.

Nathan Ford: Mid-Prairie is back in my 2A top 10 at No. 9 this week after its third straight win, 24-8 over Mediapolis. Its losses were to three ranked 1A teams (Wilton, Iowa City Regina, Sigourney-Keota) and the Golden Hawks led two of those games going into the fourth and were within three points in the other. I know that’s playing a class down but the gap is minimal, other than maybe the top three 2A teams.

4th & Goal: If you were an Activities Director, what would add to enhance the festive atmosphere of football games?

Jeff Linder: From a guy that has no musical skill whatsoever, I appreciate a good marching/pep band. For the most part, though, external bells and whistles are a mere distraction. The game is the thing.

Jeff Johnson: Fireworks ALWAYS work. Doesn’t matter what sport or when.

K.J. Pilcher: I have seen school staff shoot T-shirt cannons into the crowd at Kingston Stadium. I have seen military cannons fired after touchdowns. Special entrances with flags, inflated structures and, of course band performances. I know there are a healthy set of Youth Nights, Senior Nights and Military Appreciation Nights. I would like to see junior varsity and freshman/sophomore games permanently move to another night. Create 60 minutes of tailgating. Create some games and activities for the student body to participate in until 15 minutes before kick. It will be a great way to socialize and get excited for the game. The players feed off the electricity and it adds to the atmosphere during the game.

Nathan Ford: Get the kids involved. Read this Minnesota Star Tribune story about an Elk River (Minn.) student who is in charge of gameday operations at his high school. Not every school has someone that talented and passionate around but I bet there are ideas to be unearthed.