Iowa high school football 2025: Gazette-area Week 6 games to watch

The following are area football capsules for Week 6 of the Iowa high school football season:

Waverly-Shell Rock at Cedar Rapids Xavier

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

Records and rankings: WSR is 2-3 overall, 1-0 Class 4A District 2; No. 1 Xavier is 5-0, 1-0.

Overview: Both teams were victorious in their district openers. Xavier handled Cedar Rapids Washington, 42-15, while WSR rallied with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to edge Mason City, 31-28. That ended a three-game losing streak for the Go-Hawks. WSR has some solid special-teams guys in Brady Bodensteiner (two kickoff-return touchdowns) and Gavin Bockholt (46-yard field goal). Still, Xavier is the superior team with playmakers like QB Cash Parks, RB Carter Hoffmann and WR Ryan Kelly.

West Des Moines Dowling at Cedar Rapids Kennedy

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

Records and rankings: Class 5A No. 3 Dowling is 4-1; Kennedy is 3-2.

Overview: Gavin Grant (three interceptions) and the Kennedy defense will have their eyes peeled on Dowling’s prolific passing game. QB Joey Nahas ranks third in 5A in passing yards (1,129), with Jeffrey Roberts (496) and Sam Drexler (495) among the top five in receiving yards. Kennedy has an efficient QB in William Woodring (73.1% completion rate, 10 TDs, 3 INT). Kennedy has won two straight games, but this is by far the most challenging opponent on the Cougars’ schedule.

Iowa City Regina at Sigourney-Keota

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

Records and rankings: No. 3 Regina is 5-0 overall, 2-0 Class 1A District 6; Sigourney-Keota is 2-3, 2-0.

Overview: These proud programs collide for the first time in eight years, and without a doubt, this will be Regina’s stiffest test of the district season. The Regals outscored their first two district foes by a 115-12 margin. Kyle Tracy has passed for 12 touchdowns, four to Tate Wallace. Sigourney-Keota followed an 0-3 start with a pair of emphatic wins, drubbing Eddyville EBF and Louisa-Muscatine by a combined 110-0. The Savage Cobras already have more than 1,000 ground yards, led by 542 (and six touchdowns) from Ike Molyneux.

Davenport Central at Iowa City Liberty

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

Records and rankings: Central is 1-4; Class 5A No. 6 Liberty is 4-1.

Overview: Liberty is facing Central for the first time, and the Lightning are heavily favored in this one. The Bolts bounced back from a Week 4 loss at Johnston, rallying past Iowa City West last week, 44-31. Liberty QB Reece Rettig is the 5A leader in offensive yards, with 1,380. He has rushed for nine touchdowns and run for eight. Landon Bell spends much of his time in opposing backfields; he is among the state leaders in tackles for loss, with 10.5.

Dubuque Hempstead at Cedar Rapids Prairie

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

Records and rankings: Hempstead is 1-4; Prairie is 3-2.

Overview: Prairie bounced back from a two-game skid by handling Cedar Rapids Jefferson last week, 49-21, and with challenges coming up with top-10 foes Cedar Falls and Iowa City West, this is a must-get in terms of postseason hopes. Dawson Kahl (546 rushing yards) leads the Prairie ground attack, and Cael Kongshaug has passed for 942 yards. David Fason is the 5A leader in tackles for loss, with 16. Hempstead is allowing 45.2 points per game, most in 5A.

Muscatine at Iowa City West

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

Records and rankings: Muscatine is 0-5; Class 5A No. 8 West is 4-1.

Overview: West has surpassed the 30-point mark in all five games (including a 44-31 loss to Iowa City Liberty last week), and the Trojans figure to remain very potent Friday against a Muscatine outfit that is yielding 42.4 points per contest. Junior QB Reece Wheeler is among the 5A top five in several categories; he has passed for 1,099 yards and 10 touchdowns, with Ethan Headings well ahead of the 5A pack in receiving yards (746, on 27 catches, for eight touchdowns).

Edgewood-Colesburg at Easton Valley

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 5-0 overall, 3-0 8-Player District 4. Ed-Co is ranked No. 6; Easton Valley is No. 7.

Overview: The state’s 8-Player game of the week is in Jackson County. It’s a series that Ed-Co has flipped in its favor the past two years, winning by continuous clock in 2023 and 2024. This one should be much closer. The Vikings are scoring at a 55-point clip while Easton Valley averages 59 points per game. The River Hawks possess an explosive aerial attack triggered by QB Keagan Lee (1,383 passing yards, 23 TDs) and Callan Messerich (11 receiving TDs). Ed-Co counters with Jax Steger (13 TDs passing, eight rushing).

Independence at West Delaware

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

Records and rankings: Independence is 4-1 overall, 0-1 Class 3A District 2; No. 6 West Delaware is 5-0, 1-0.

Overview: Last year, West Delaware missed the playoffs due to a series of close losses. This fall, the Hawks aren’t leaving much to chance. Only one of their first five games was close, and they passed that test against Dubuque Wahlert. Credit a rushing attack that has averaged 309 yards per game, with three backs at more than 300 yards thus far. Independence suffered its first loss (43-0 to Clear Lake) last week, but has a dangerous dual-threat QB in Christopher Meyer (1,509 total yards and 16 touchdowns). The Mustangs have won four of the last six in the series.

Bellevue at Alburnett

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

Records and rankings: Bellevue is 5-0 overall, 2-0 Class 2A District 5; No. 8 Alburnett is 4-1, 2-0.

Overview: Opportunistic Alburnett took advantage of four takeaways and edged West Branch last week, 20-17. As a reward, the Pirates have a chance Friday to wrap up a playoff berth in their 2A debut, and to put themselves firmly in charge of the district race. Laken Caves was used sparingly last week due to a minor ankle injury, but still had a long touchdown run and stands at 706 rushing yards this season. Bellevue averages 37.8 points per game behind a prolific passing attack engineered by QB Cal Bonifas (1,484 yards, 17 TD passes).

Dyersville Beckman at Cascade

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 4-1 overall, 2-0 Class 1A District 5. Beckman is ranked No. 9.

Overview: Call this a district-championship game, if you wish. Who’s to argue? Beckman won last year, 30-0, but four of the past nine games in the series have been decided by a single point. Cascade has won four straight games behind the pass-catch combo of Mick Hoffman (a 1A-best 18 touchdown passes, no interceptions) and Brody Otting (1A co-leader with eight TD receptions). Beckman has picked off nine enemy passes, including three by Carter White. The Blazers’ 8.8 points per game allowed is fourth-best in 1A.

Benton Community at Clear Lake

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

Records and rankings: Benton is 3-2 overall, 1-0 Class 3A District 2; No. 1 Clear Lake is 5-0, 1-0.

Overview: It’s possible that Benton could face five ranked teams this season, and this rates as the Bobcats’ most difficult challenge. Clear Lake has outscored its first five foes by a 203-28 margin, including a 43-0 road rout of then-No. 5 Independence last week. Jaxson McIntire has passed for 10 touchdowns and also is the Lions’ leading rusher. Benton has the potential to challenge the Lions. Carson Nolan completes 75 percent of his passes, and Brody Timmeman and Eli Patterson have combined for 61 receptions.

Nevada at Williamsburg

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

Records and rankings: No. 5 Nevada is 4-1 overall, 1-0 Class 3A District 5; Williamsburg is 2-3, 1-0.

Overview: Williamsburg pulled a minor upset last week, knocking off Des Moines Christian, 17-14. If the Raiders can crank up another surprise (and this time, they’re at home), they can put themselves in prime position to claim the district championship. Some familiar last names are driving the Raiders’ bus: Dylan Weisskopf leads the team in tackles (39.5), while Grady Wetjen has a couple of TD receptions. Four of Nevada’s five games have been decided by 14 points or less, including a 34-25 win over Winterset last week.

Other games involving Metro/Iowa City teams

* Cedar Rapids Washington (2-3 overall, 0-1 Class 4A District 2) at No. 9 Decorah (4-1, 1-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday

* Pleasant Valley (3-2) at Linn-Mar (1-4), 7 p.m. Friday

* Cedar Rapids Jefferson (1-4) at Dubuque Senior (3-2), 7:15 p.m. Friday

* Marion (1-4 overall, 0-1 Class 4A District 4) at Clear Creek Amana (2-3, 0-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday

* Class 5A No. 9 Southeast Polk (3-2) at Iowa City High (0-5), 7 p.m. Friday

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com