Iowa high school football 2025: Gazette-area Round of 16 playoff games to watch

Ten capsules and the remaining schedule for Gazette-area games for the Round of 16 of the Iowa HIgh School Athletic Association football postseason.

Waukee at Iowa City Liberty

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

Records and rankings: Waukee is 4-5; Class 5A No. 3 Liberty is 8-1.

Overview: This marks a rematch of last year’s round of 16 game that the Lightning won 31-14. The game is highlighted by two quality quarterbacks. Liberty is led by Reece Rettig, who has 2,487 total offensive yards and 28 touchdowns (ranks second in 5A) including 1,766 and 16 passing. Waukee, which knocked off previously No. 1 Waukee Northwest, counters with Beckett Bakker, who has 1,322 yards and nine TDs passing with 652 yards and seven TDs rushing. Pryor Reiners has become Rettig’s top target with 422 yards and four scores on 35 catches.

Cedar Rapids Prairie at West Des Moines Valley

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

Records and rankings: 5A No. 9 Prairie is 6-3; 5A No. 6 Valley is 7-2.

Overview: The Hawks and Tigers play for the first time in the Bound era, dating back to 2008. The Hawks closed the season strong with wins over Iowa City West and Dubuque Senior. Prairie’s David Fason has been a difference maker. He leads 5A with 31 tackles for loss and ranks third with 10 sacks. The University of Iowa signee has added seven TDs and 10 pancake blocks on offense. Drew Bennis provides a big-play threat ranking among 5A leaders, averaging 19.2 yards per reception for the Hawks, while QB Cael Kongshaug has passed for 1,656 yards and 12 TDs, four to Bennis. Valley outscores foes by an average of 21.3 points per game. Drake DeGroote has passed for 1,468 yards and 18 TDs, connecting with Jayden McGregory 35 times for 552 yards and 10 scores.

Iowa City West at Cedar Falls

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Cedar Falls

Records and rankings: Both teams are 7-2. West is No. 10; Cedar Falls is No. 8 in 5A.

Overview: This could be the marquee 5A matchup this round. These teams have not faced each other since 2017. West swept Cedar Falls that season, including a 27-9 state quarterfinal win. The key matchup will be West’s offense against Cedar Falls’ defense. Reece Wheeler has passed for 1,850 yards and 21 TDs for the Trojans. Teammate Ethan Headings surpassed 1,000 receiving yards (1,062) and leads 5A with 13 touchdown catches. Campbell Janis highlights the West run game with 1,128 yards and 12 TDs, giving West a balanced attack. Cedar Falls’ defense has forced 13 turnovers and 17 sacks and 61 tackles for loss. The Tigers rank sixth in 5A, allowing 14.3 points per game.

Waverly-Shell Rock at Cedar Rapids Xavier

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

Records and rankings: Waverly-Shell Rock is 4-5; 4A No. 1 Xavier is 9-0.

Overview: The Go-Hawks return to Xavier, which dominated in a 42-21 home win Oct. 3. The Saints Cash Parks passed for 190 yards and three TDs, while Carter Hoffmann added 96 yards and two scores rushing. Xavier’s defense held the Go-Hawks to just 58 rushing yards. Parks and Hoffmann power the Saints offense. Parks leads 4A with 29 total TDs and is second with 21 passing. He sits fifth in passing yardage at 1,523. Parks has teamed with Ryan Kelly for 33 receptions, 605 yards and eight TDs. Hoffmann has rushed for 846 yards and 13 TDs. Mekyver Hagarty has rushed for 739 yards and nine scores for the Go-Hawks. Xavier leads the series, 8-0, since 2014.

Cascade at Iowa City Regina

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

Records and rankings: Cascade is 7-2; 1A No. 3 Regina is 9-0.

Overview: This game features two of the top quarterbacks in 1A. Cascade’s Mich Hoffman and Regina’s Kyle Tracy are among the 1A passing leaders. Hoffmann is first in total touchdowns (34), passing TDs (33) and passing yards (2,323). Tracy is second in passing TDs (24), third in overall scores (30) and eighth in pass yards with 1,544. Hoffman is supported by running back Jackson Green, who has 1,041 offensive yards and 12 TDs. Brody Otting (46 catches, 761 yards, 18 TDs) and Eli Fritz (61 catches, 702 yards and 4 TDs) give Hoffman quality targets. Otting leads 1A in TD receptions. Tracy has also rushed for 230 yards and six scores. Regina has NCAA Division I talent, including running back Savion Miller and tight end/linebacker Tate Wallace. Miller has rushed for 601 yards and 13 TDs. Miller also has seven TD catches. Wallace has 386 receiving yards and five TDs on 28 catches. Cascade will have to account for Wallace, defensively, too. He has 33 tackles and leads the Regals with 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Decorah at Western Dubuque

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 7-2. Western Dubuque is No. 8 in 4A.

Overview: The Bobcats have been one of the hottest teams in the area. They have won seven straight wins, including a 35-17 victory at Decorah on Sept. 19. Drew Bergfeld rushed for 142 yards and a score, while Brett Harris passed for 175 yards with TDs to four receivers in that game. Harris has surpassed 1,000 offensive yards, passing for 928 and rushing for 219. Bergfeld has 1,172 rushing yards and 16 scores. Western Dubuque has won three of the last four against Decorah, but the Vikings won, 10-7, in 2024. Tanner Caddell has passed for 1,045 yards and 17 touchdowns for Decorah. Trevor Kuennen is the Vikings leading rushing and tackler with 737 yards on the ground and 46.5 tackles.

Benton Community at Solon

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

Records and rankings: Benton is 5-4; 3A No. 2 Solon is 9-0.

Overview: Solon won at Benton, 28-21, in Week 4. The Spartans forced five turnovers, including three interceptions. Solon received two rushing TDs from Maddox Kelley, a rushing TD from QB Eli Kampman and three field goals from Ryan Locke. Kampman has passed for 1,742 yards and 24 TDs, hitting Kelley 35 times for 480 yards and 11 scores. Kelley and Kampman have combined for 613 yards and 16 TDs on the ground. Kaden Hoeper has 549 yards and eight TDs on 31 receptions for Solon. Carson Nolan paces the Bobcats offense. The dual-threat QB has passed for 1,459 yards and rushed for 1,005 more. He has 26 total TDs. Brody Timmerman has 512 yards on 58 catches, while Grant Volesky has 84.5 tackles, 60 solo, 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks for Benton. Solon and Benton split last season with the Spartans winning 34-27 in a first-round playoff game.

Waukon at Alburnett

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Jim Carver Field at Martin Sports Complex

Records and rankings: Waukon is 8-3; 2A No. 8 Alburnett is 7-2.

Overview: Both teams enter on three-game win streaks. The Indians knocked off Bellevue, 34-13, last week. The Pirates outlasted Crestwood, 13-6, in a defensive battle. Alburnett’s Laken Caves rushed for 133 yards and two TDs, adding 56 yards receiving. Caves also intercepted two passes, returning to defensive duty. Caves leads 2A in rushing yards (1,507) and all-purpose yards (2,345). Waukon’s Vaughn Stegen has 1,025 yards and 13 TDs passing, while Owen Grimstad has 404 yards and six TDs on 23 receptions. Grimstad also has 295 yards and 10 scores rushing. Waukon is seventh in 2A, scoring 34.1 points per game.

Mount Vernon at Clear Lake

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Clear Lake

Records and rankings: 3A No. 9 Mount Vernon 6-3; 3A No. 1 Clear Lake is 9-0.

Overview: An interesting matchup between preseason No. 1 Mustangs and the current top-ranked Lions. Mount Vernon rebounded from a couple losses with a 42-6 thumping of Davenport Assumption to secure a playoff spot. The Lions have dominated opponents all season, allowing a 2A-best 3.9 points per game. Clear Lake has outscored foes by an average of 38.9 points. Mount Vernon QB Kellen Haverback has produced an all-state caliber season. He is second in 2A with 2,298 passing yards, tied for third with 30 total touchdowns and fourth with 23 passing TDs. He will face a Clear Lake defense that has forced 18 turnovers, including 10 interceptions. Clear Lake’s Jaxson McIntire has passed for 1,408 yards and 16 TDs, while teammate Kolby Hodnefield has 818 offensive yards and nine TDs.

North Linn at Pekin

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

Records and rankings: Class A No. 10 North Linn is 8-1; Class A No. 7 Pekin is 9-0.

Overview: The Lynx are looking to earn their fourth state quarterfinal appearance and first since 2022. Will Sommerfelt leads the North Linn offense, passing for 763 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushing for 852 and 14. Sommerfelt also leads the Lynx in kick returns and is tied with Braden Wheatley with three interceptions on defense. Pekin running back Nolan Glick highlights the offense, amassing 1,509 yards with 1,368 yards and 19 TDs on the ground. Henry Adam leads Pekin with 468 yards receiving and 49.5 tackles.

Other Area Games

Independence (6-3) at Winterset (6-3)

Mount Pleasant (7-2) at West Delaware (8-1)

Wilton (7-2) at West Branch (7-2)

Mediapolis (5-4) at Mid-Prairie (8-1)

Sigourney-Keota (5-4) at Dyersville Beckman (8-1)

Maquoketa Valley (7-2) at Wapsie Valley (9-0)

BGM (7-2) at Lynnville-Sully (8-1)

Turkey Valley (6-3) at Edgewood-Colesburg (9-0)

Montezuma (7-2) at Audubon (9-0)

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com