Iowa high school football 2025: Gazette-area Week 8 games to watch

The following are area football capsules for Week 8 of the Iowa high school football season:

Decorah at Cedar Rapids Xavier

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

Records and rankings: No. 9 Decorah is 6-1 overall, 3-0 Class 4A District 2; No. 1 Xavier is 7-0, 3-0.

Overview: A victory means a district championship for Xavier, who — at No. 1 in the 4A RPI derby — is a virtual lock for the playoffs. The Saints have been humming offensively all season, but even more so in the past five weeks, in which they have scored 42 points or more each time out. Cash Parks is the 4A leader in passing touchdowns (19), and Ryan Kelly is tied for fourth in TD receptions (eight). Decorah can score, too; the Vikings are averaging 41 points per game behind a balanced attack. Seven of Noah Milburn’s 18 receptions have gone for touchdowns.

Iowa City West at Cedar Rapids Prairie

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

Records and rankings: Class 5A No. 7 West is 6-1; Prairie is 5-2.

Overview: West takes its big-play, high-scoring attack on the road against a team that loves to provide pressure. Prairie has a 5A-high 20 quarterback sacks, including eight from David Fason. West leads 5A in scoring at 46.0 points per game, and a big reason is a passing game that averages 21.2 yards per completion. Ethan Headings has 33 catches for 934 yards and a 5A-best 11 touchdowns. West is ninth, Prairie 13th in 5A RPI, and the Hawks have won four straight in the series, including a 28-21 victory last year.

Cedar Falls at Linn-Mar

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Linn-Mar Stadium

Records and rankings: Class 5A No. 5 Cedar Falls is 6-1; Linn-Mar is 3-4.

Overview: Linn-Mar has followed an 0-4 start with three consecutive victories, including a surprising 29-0 rout of Pleasant Valley in Week 6. The Lions are back in the playoff discussion at No. 21 in the 5A RPI, but must win out against Cedar Falls and Iowa City West (both 6-1) to have a chance. The Lions have developed a steady running game led by Hud Turner (578 yards, 4 TDs). Cedar Falls has won six in a row after a season-opening, one-point loss to Iowa City Liberty. Josh Grete is tied for the 5A lead in interceptions, with four.

Iowa City High at Iowa City Liberty

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

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

Overview: Liberty has won five in a row in this series, and is heavily favored to keep that streak going. The Bolts have scored 38 points or more in each of the last three games against the Little Hawks, and are explosive once again behind quarterback Reece Rettig, who has accumulated 1,920 total yards (1,282 passing, 638 rushing) and 22 touchdowns. City earned its first win of the season last week, 59-14 over Des Moines East. Sophomore QB Chris Kabaiza completed 29 of 33 passes for 323 yards and five TDs.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy at Bettendorf

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 3-4.

Overview: There’s no guarantee that the winner will make the playoffs, but it’s inevitable that the loser will not. Kennedy is 22nd in the 5A RPI, and Bettendorf is 24th. The victor remains alive in the postseason hunt, but must stack a Week 9 to have a chance. The Cougars are in this predicament because of a 28-21 loss last week to Waterloo West. Bettendorf’s Hayden Morrison is fifth in 5A in receiving yards (691), on 49 receptions, six for touchdowns.

Louisa-Muscatine at Iowa City Regina

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

Records and rankings: Louisa-Muscatine is 0-7 overall, 0-4 Class 1A District 6; Regina is 7-0, 4-0.

Overview: Regina will put a final stamp on a dominant district run Friday. The Regals outscored their first four district foes by a combined margin of 195-27, and this figures to be more of the same. Louisa-Muscatine has lost 42 consecutive games in a streak that dates to 2020. Regina QB Kyle Tracy ranks second in 1A in touchdown passes, with 19 (six to Savion Miller).

North Linn at Wapsie Valley

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 7-0 overall, 5-0 Class A District 4. North Linn is ranked No. 6; Wapsie Valley is No. 7.

Overview: The outcome will determine the district champion, and North Linn’s dynamite defense (only 6.9 points per game allowed this season) gets its biggest challenge of the season. Wapsie Valley scores at a 42.4-point clip behind the running of Hunter Curley (1,423 yards, 10.0 per carry, 22 touchdowns). North Linn has scored five defensive touchdowns, including a pair of interceptions-for-TDs by Braden Wheatley. Lynx QB Will Sommerfelt has rushed for 12 touchdowns, with nine more passing.

Solon at Mount Pleasant

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

Records and rankings: No. 2 Solon is 7-0 overall, 3-0 Class 3A District 4; Mount Pleasant is 6-1, 3-0.

Overview: This has been a renaissance year for Mount Pleasant, which used to be a southeast Iowa power but had fallen on tough times recently. The Panthers were 1-26 from 2021 through 2023, but improved to 4-5 last season and are nearly a playoff lock this season. But they’ll be a significant underdog at home Friday against the mighty Spartans, who have blistered their first three district foes to the tune of 177-6. Eli Kampman has passed for 1,307 yards and 17 touchdowns, with three targets (Maddox Kelley, Kaden Hoeper, Cody Milliman) at more than 20 receptions.

West Branch at Bellevue

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

Records and rankings: West Branch is 5-2 overall, 3-1 Class 2A District 5; No. 8 Bellevue is 7-0, 4-0.

Overview: Despite the one district loss (20-17, to Alburnett three weeks ago), West Branch still is in line to win the district title if it can pick up a road win Friday. A victory would give the Bears the point-differential nod over both Bellevue and Alburnett in the event of a three-way tie, and they would have the head-to-head on the Comets if Alburnett falls at home to Anamosa. The Bears will need to contain the Comets’ aerial duo of Cal Bonifas (2,194 passing yards, 23 TDs) and Keenan Kilburg (74 receptions, 1,232 yards, 13 TDs).

West Delaware at Benton Community

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

Records and rankings: No. 4 West Delaware is 7-0 overall, 3-0 Class 3A District 2; Benton is 4-3, 2-1.

Overview: It is becoming more likely by the week that District 2 will snag four playoff berths. West Delaware has an opportunity to create a district-title game next week at No. 1 Clear Lake, but first things first. Benton can put itself in line for an automatic berth if it wins this one. The Bobcats outlasted Independence last week, 34-28 in overtime. West Delaware ranks No. 3 in 3A in both scoring offense (40.3 ppg) and scoring defense (11.0 ppg). The Hawks are averaging 299 rushing yards per game behind a balanced three-man attack (Jack Cantwell, Austin Schnieders and Macoy Roling).

Dubuque Wahlert at Mount Vernon

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Mount Vernon

Records and rankings: No. 6 Wahlert is 5-2 overall, 3-0 Class 3A District 3; No. 9 Mount Vernon is 5-2, 2-1.

Overview: Last week’s result — a 33-24 loss at Central DeWitt — puts some unexpected urgency into Mount Vernon’s last two weeks. The Mustangs close with the reigning state champion Golden Eagles and Davenport Assumption, and probably need at least one more win to make the 3A playoffs. Kellen Haverback ranks second in 3A in passing yards, with 1,703. He has thrown for 17 touchdowns and will take aim at a Wahlert defense that allows less that 13 points per game. The Golden Eagles have played five one-score games this season, winning three.

Elkader Central at Edgewood-Colesburg

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

Records and rankings: Central is 4-3 overall, 3-2 8-Player District 4; No. 6 Ed-Co is 7-0, 5-0.

Overview: Ed-Co looks to put the final thumbprints on a second consecutive undefeated regular season. The Vikings have won 18 straight regular-season games. Their closest encounter this season was a 17-point victory over Springville in Week 2. Sophomore QB Jax Steger is closing in on 2,000 offensive yards; he’s at 1,222 passing (with 21 touchdowns) and 752 rushing (10 more TDs). Carter Battin and Christopher Lange have four interceptions apiece, and both have returned one for a score. Central is trying to snap a three-game losing streak after starting 4-0.

Other games involving Metro/Iowa City teams

* Cedar Rapids Jefferson (1-6) at Dubuque Hempstead (1-6), 7 p.m. Friday

* Mason City (3-4 overall, 1-2 Class 4A District 2) at Cedar Rapids Washington (2-5, 0-3), 7 p.m. Friday

* Oskaloosa (0-7 overall, 0-3 Class 4A District 4) at Marion (1-6, 0-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com