Iowa high school football 2024: Gazette-area Week 3 games to watch

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

Davenport West at Cedar Rapids Washington

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-2.

Overview: Washington’s first order of business is to shore up a defense that is allowing 44.5 points per game (32nd of 36 5A teams) and 274.5 rushing yards per contest. The Warriors should be competitive in this one; West is scoring only 14 points per game. Jordan Tate has rushed for 191 yards in the first two games for the Falcons. Washington has moved the ball reasonably well behind junior quarterback Grady McGuire (216 passing yards, 165 rushing yards, six total TDs).

Cedar Rapids Xavier at Western Dubuque

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

Records and rankings: Class 4A fifth-ranked Xavier is 2-0; No. 10 Western Dubuque is 1-1.

Overview: Just when you think Xavier might be going through a reload, the Saints make you look foolish. They beat a quality Waverly-Shell Rock team in their opener, then followed that with a 29-27 victory at defending 3A state champion Williamsburg. Sophomore quarterback Cash Parks threw for 339 yards and three touchdowns last week. Another sophomore, Beau Morio, led the team in tackles with eight. This is Game 3 of a four-week gauntlet for the Saints; Western Dubuque is looking to bounce back after a 28-16 loss to Dubuque Wahlert, and the Bobcats are working through a difficult early schedule, as well.

Iowa City Liberty at Pleasant Valley

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

Records and rankings: Class 5A ninth-ranked Liberty is 2-0; Pleasant Valley is 1-1.

Overview: Say hello to the Liberty Lightning, city champions. The Bolts have assembled a wrecking-crew offense that leads 5A in scoring (52.5 points per game) and has racked up 518 yards per contest. Making it more impressive is the balance — junior QB Reece Rettig has passed for 442 yards, six touchdowns and no INTs, and Owen Drapeaux (266 yards, four TDs) headlines a rushing attack that has ground out 272 yards per game. With wins over Iowa City West and City High in the rearview mirror, the Lightning face their toughest test yet against a PV outfit that took Bettendorf to overtime and outplayed Cedar Rapids Kennedy in the second half of a 35-20 win.

Mediapolis at Iowa City Regina

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

Records and rankings: Mediapolis is 1-1; Class 1A seventh-ranked Regina is 2-0.

Overview: If Regina can get through this week (and probably should), the Regals will be heavily favored to get to 6-0 heading into a challenging final stretch against Dyersville Beckman and Wilton. Regina has displayed a balanced attack through two weeks, netting 209 rushing yards and 163 through the air per game. Two of the key playmakers are sophomores — Savion Miller has rushed for 202 yards; Tate Wallace has nine receptions for 164 yards. Mediapolis is coming off a 23-7 loss to Sigourney-Keota.

Linn-Mar at Cedar Rapids Kennedy

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

Records and rankings: Class 5A eighth-ranked Linn-Mar is 2-0; Kennedy is 0-2.

Overview: We’ve seen this scenario before. Linn-Mar came into this game at 2-0 last year while Kennedy was 0-2. The Cougars won 34-0 to trigger a 6-1 run while the Lions lost five of their last seven. The difference this year is that — knock on wood — Linn-Mar is much healthier. Dylan Muszynski has rushed for 263 yards (6.4 per carry) and seven touchdowns, and Lions receivers have averaged 19.3 yards per catch. Kennedy dropped a 35-20 decision to Pleasant Valley last week, giving up the final 21 points of the game. Kennedy QB Vinny Gianforte has completed 72 percent of his passes for 398 yards, but just one touchdown against three interceptions. Linn-Mar’s last win over Kennedy came in 2014.

Southeast Polk at Cedar Rapids Prairie

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-1. Southeast Polk is ranked No. 5 in Class 5A.

Overview: Prairie is coming off a 41-21 breeze against Dubuque Senior, which probably is the only game on the Hawks’ schedule that you can classify as easy. Eight of Prairie’s nine opponents sit in the top 19 of the current BC Moore 5A power rankings. Southeast Polk has won three straight 5A championships and has split close games with Central Iowa powers West Des Moines Valley and Ankeny. SEP receiver Sam Zelenovich already has 20 receptions for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Prairie counters with junior David Fason (13 receptions, 157 yards, four TDs).

Cedar Rapids Jefferson at Des Moines North

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Mediacom Stadium, Des Moines

Records and rankings: Jefferson is 2-0; North is 0-2.

Overview: The J-Hawks make the trip to the sharp new stadium near Drake University, and are heavily favored to make it to 3-0. Jefferson came on late and pulled away from Marshalltown last week, 28-7, and has outscored its first two opponents 61-21. North has suffered a pair of close losses against Waterloo East and Des Moines East by a total of 11 points. Gabe Gunn has rushed for 154 yards (5.7 per carry) for the Polar Bears.

Iowa City West at Muscatine

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-1.

Overview: Through two games, it has become clear that West’s offense is miles ahead of its defense. The Trojans are scoring at a 39.5-point clip (sixth-best in 5A) and allowing 42 points per game (sixth-worst). Fourth-year quarterback Jack Wallace is completing 70 percent of his passes for 560 yards. Julian Manson has 14 receptions for 231 yards and four scores. Muscatine rebounded with a Week 2 win over Davenport Central, 21-19. Seth Reiland has rushed for 260 yards (7.4 per carry).

Marion at Center Point-Urbana

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-2.

Overview: It didn’t result in victory, but Center Point-Urbana made strides from opening week to last Friday. CPU hung with Anamosa throughout in a 33-30 defeat, getting an efficient 7-of-8, 152-yard performance from quarterback Brennen Merkle, including three balls to Carter Andrews for 110 yards and a touchdown. Marion still is looking to gain some offensive footing, scoring just 16 points in the first two weeks. Kaleb Diers has passed for 271 yards and rushed for 113.

Ames at Iowa City High

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-2.

Overview: Despite two straight lopsided losses, City High is favored to capture the Little Cy-Hawk game for the fifth consecutive year. City QB Bobby Bacon has thrown for 410 yards, completing 70 percent of his passes. Four different receivers have between six and eight receptions. That aerial attack should feast Friday against a defense that ranks last in 5A at 57.0 points per game allowed. On the other hand, City has surrendered 49.5 points per game (second from the bottom in 5A).

Mount Vernon at Benton Community

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Van Horne

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

Overview: These have been two of the most dominant teams in 3A, to date. Mount Vernon has drummed its first two opponents by the count of 87-12, Benton by the tune of 89-13. Mount Vernon junior quarterback Kellen Haverback has been a more-than-adequate successor to Joey Rhomberg, passing for 409 yards in the first two weeks. Benton is more ground-oriented; the Bobcats have rushed for an average of 310 yards per game. Three guys are over 150 rushing yards, led by Brenden Heying (243), and the Bobcats are averaging 9.7 yards per carry.

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North Linn at Starmont

When and where: 7 p.m., at Arlington

Records and rankings: Both teams are 2-0 overall, 0-0 Class A District 4. Starmont is ranked No. 6.

Overview: North Linn has won nine straight in this series, including five consecutive shutouts. That includes a 27-0 verdict last year that turned out to be Starmont’s lone regular-season blemish on the way to a district title. Points will be a premium; North Linn has allowed 12 in two games, Starmont 20. The Stars have a workhorse in the backfield in Tyler Vaske, who has rushed for 329 yards and five touchdowns. He will face a Lynx defense that has forced eight turnovers, including two interceptions from Cole Griffith. Drew Ries and Will Sommerfelt have combined for 331 rushing yards.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com