Iowa high school football: Gazette-area Week 2 games to watch

A dozen of the top Metro/Iowa City and area Iowa high school football games for Week 2:

Linn-Mar at Iowa City Liberty

Time and place: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at North Liberty

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-0. Linn-Mar is ranked No. 9 in Class 5A; Liberty is No. 8 in 4A.

Overview: This contest suddenly becomes, arguably, the most attractive matchup in the area after Liberty pulled a Kinnick Stadium shocker last week against Iowa City High. Junior QB Graham Beckman threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns, and the Lightning answered every challenge the Little Hawks mustered. Linn-Mar took care of business on opening night with a 41-0 blanking of Muscatine. The Lions scored three second-quarter touchdowns to pull away. Keaton Roskop caught three passes — all for touchdowns — totaling 116 yards.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy at Bettendorf

Time and place: 7 p.m. Friday, at Bettendorf

Records and rankings: Class 5A No. 7 Kennedy is 1-0; Bettendorf is 0-1.

Overview: The Cougars started this season in virtually identical fashion as last year, with a close win over Iowa City West. In a game in which the yardage was virtually even (305-302, West), the Cougars won with special teams. Donovan Slick-Driscoll returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, and Dylan Augustine was 4-for-4 in PAT attempts. Bettendorf is coming off a 27-14 loss to No. 4 Urbandale. The Bulldogs managed just 141 yards of total offense and turned the ball over three times.

West Delaware at Cedar Rapids Xavier

Time and place: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Saints Field

Records and rankings: West Delaware is 0-1; Class 4A No. 4 Xavier is 1-0.

Overview: Xavier took care of business on the road in its opener, spotting Western Dubuque the first touchdown and taking over thereafter in a 31-14 triumph. Junior quarterback Ronan Thomas passed for three touchdowns, two to Aidan McDermott. West Delaware was on the other end of a 31-14 verdict, falling to Dubuque Wahlert in somewhat of a surprise. The Hawks found success on the ground, rushing for 194 yards (130 by Will Ward), but were undone by four interceptions.

Cedar Rapids Washington at Marion

Time and place: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Thomas Park Field

Records and rankings: Class 4A No. 9 Washington is 1-0; Marion is 0-1.

Overview: A victory would send Washington to 2-0 for the third consecutive season, and the Warriors are expected to achieve it. They jumped to a 35-0 halftime lead last week over Cedar Rapids Jefferson, and coasted home, 47-6. Washington intercepted three passes, one for a 38-yard touchdown by Chase Mahoney. Watts McBride carried the ball 10 times for 120 yards and two scores. Marion was held to 195 yards of total offense in a 26-0 loss at Clear Creek Amana. Washington earned a 26-9 victory last year.

Dubuque Senior at Cedar Rapids Prairie

Time and place: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at John Wall Field

Records and rankings: Senior is 1-0; Prairie is 0-1.

Overview: Prairie was able to move the ball fairly effective in its opener at No. 3 Pleasant Valley, amassing 311 yards of total offense. But the Hawks reached the end zone just once, in the fourth quarter of a 37-6 loss. They’ll try to rebound against a Senior club that was impressive in a 42-13 intracity romp over Dubuque Hempstead. The Rams put on a punishing display on the ground, rushing for 299 yards (8.1 per carry), including 102 yards by Ty Schaber.

Iowa City High at Cedar Rapids Jefferson

Time and place: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Kingston Stadium

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-1.

Overview: This wasn’t the start that City High expected. Playing on a big stage, in front of 10,000 at Kinnick Stadium, the Little Hawks were outplayed by Iowa City Liberty, 36-19, and tumbled out of the 5A rankings as a result. City succeeded in moving the ball, particularly through the air. Drew Larson completed 21 of 26 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns. Ben Kueter opened his senior campaign with 12 tackles. Jefferson managed just 18 yards of total offense in a 47-6 loss to Cedar Rapids Washington.

West Liberty at Iowa City Regina

Time and place: 7 p.m. Friday, at Regina

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-1.

Overview: Both teams are seeking massive improvements after getting manhandled last week by very good teams. Regina’s defense was competitive against Williamsburg for the most part, but the Regals managed only 19 yards of total offense (minus-35 on the ground) in a 31-0 loss. Ronan Poynton collected 13 tackles. West Liberty fell to Solon, 42-0.

Muscatine at Iowa City West

Time and place: 7 p.m. Friday, at Iowa City West

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-1.

Overview: West is favored to square its record behind a passing combo that might develop into one of the state’s best. Sophomore Jack Wallace threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-19 loss to Cedar Rapids Kennedy last week. Christian Janis scored all three receiving TDs, catching six balls for 170 yards. The duo could feast on a Muscatine defense that allowed 287 air yards against Linn-Mar. The Muskies own a run-heavy attack that threw the ball only once last week in a 41-0 Week 1 loss.

Williamsburg at Van Meter

Time and place: 7 p.m. Friday, at Van Meter

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-0. Williamsburg is ranked No. 3 in Class 2A; Van Meter is No. 4 in 1A.

Overview: Williamsburg will take aim at Van Meter’s 60-game regular-season winning streak; the Bulldogs’ last regular-season setback was Aug. 28, 2015, against Madrid. Van Meter is the defending 1A state champion and topped neighborhood rival Earlham, 35-6, last week thanks to a pair of rushing touchdowns by Ben Gordon. Williamsburg was lights-out defensively in a 31-0 rout of Iowa City Regina last week, yielding just 19 yards of total offense, including minus-35 on the ground. Owen Douglas counted 3.5 tackles for loss, and Gavin Doehrmann collected two sacks.

Mount Vernon at Solon

Time and place: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Solon

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-0. Solon is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A.

Overview: Solon will try to make it 20 straight wins against its Highway 1 rival; last year’s encounter — a 41-27 Spartans win — was one of the more competitive games in recent years. Both teams were dominant in Week 1: Solon dropped West Liberty, 42-0, behind the stellar two-way performance by Brett White (114 rushing yards and a touchdown, plus 6.5 tackles and an interception). Mount Vernon handled Anamosa, 28-0, as Henry Ryan ran 22 times for 183 yards and three touchdowns. The Mustangs held Anamosa to 17 yards rushing.

Center Point-Urbana at Benton Community

Time and place: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Van Horne

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-0.

Overview: After vanquishing Vinton-Shellsburg last week, 34-7, CPU tries to complete a Benton County sweep. The Stormin’ Pointers erased an early 7-0 deficit with a 27-point second quarter. Junior quarterback Jarret Koppedryer passed for 226 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for two more scores, and CPU held the Vikings to 33 yards rushing. Benton also had a big second quarter, scoring three touchdowns to break open a 35-0 road win over Grinnell. Carson Bruns rushed 24 times for 170 yards and four TDs.

Clear Creek Amana at Independence

Time and place: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Independence

Records and rankings: CCA (1-0) is ranked No. 10 in Class 4A; Indee (1-1) is No. 10 in 3A.

Overview: It’s just one week, but if that week is any indicator, Clear Creek Amana has a much improved defense. After allowing nearly 27 points per game in 2021, the Clippers opened with a shutout of Marion in Week 1 behind Brock Sherman’s 10 tackles. Jackson Schmidt was efficient at QB, completing 7 of 8 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. Independence bounced back from a Week Zero loss to Davenport Assumption, whipping Maquoketa, 44-9. The Mustangs compiled 463 yards, 330 on the ground.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com