Iowa high school football: Gazette-area Week 7 games to watch

Newly minted 5A co-No. 1 Cedar Rapids Kennedy plays a Thursday game at Davenport West

Oct. 7, 2021 10:30 am, Updated: Oct. 7, 2021 10:50 am

Cedar Rapids Kennedy players gather on the field before they warm up prior to their football game against Cedar Falls at Kingston Stadium last week. The Class 5A top-ranked Cougars are at Davenport West on Thursday. (Cliff Jette/Freelance for the Gazette)

A dozen of the top area high school football games for Week 7 (Oct. 7-8).

Cedar Rapids Kennedy at Davenport West

Time and place: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, at Davenport (Brady Street Stadium)

Records and rankings: Class 5A No. 1 Kennedy is 6-0; West is 1-5.

Overview: Kennedy earned co-ownership of the big-school No. 1 ranking (with Southeast Polk) after an impressive 42-14 win over Cedar Falls last week, in which the Cougars forced seven turnovers. Carson Blietz passed for 248 yards and four touchdown strikes, and has a 13-to-3 TD-to-INT rate this season. West has dropped five in a row since a season-opening win over Clinton, and Kennedy ought to take the drama out of this one early.

Bettendorf at Iowa City West

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 2-4.

Overview: This amounts to an elimination game in terms of the Class 5A playoffs. If the victor of this game can tack on two more wins to close the regular season, chances for a playoff berth at 5-4 would be high. West snapped a three-game losing streak last week with a 36-21 win over Davenport Central as Mason Applegate ran wild — 16 carries, 381 yards, four touchdowns. Bettendorf is coming off a tough 14-13 loss to Pleasant Valley.

Clear Creek Amana at Cedar Rapids Xavier

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 5-1 overall, 2-0 Class 4A District 4. CCA is ranked 10th; Xavier is No. 2.

Overview: The 4A-4 lead is on the line, and Xavier has the look of the favorite based on the first two weeks of district play. The Saints blanked Cedar Rapids Washington and Pella by verdicts of 31-0 and 28-3. Both teams have efficient passing games; Xavier’s Alex Neal has completed 67 percent of his passes for 816 yards (409 to Aidan McDermott), and CCA’s Ben Swails has 985 passing yards and 10 TDs. The Clippers have a flair for the dramatic, winning three times this season by a single point.

Iowa City High at Pleasant Valley

Time and place: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Pleasant Valley H.S.

Records and rankings: Class 5A No. 4 City High is 6-0; Pleasant Valley is 4-2.

Overview: Want dominance? Look no further. City High is tops in Class 5A in both scoring offense (45.2 points per game) and defense (4.8 ppg allowed). If the Little Hawks can get past this challenge, a 9-0 regular season becomes a likelihood, and along with it would come the potential for two playoff games at Bates Field. Darren Richardson has rushed for nine touchdowns, but the end zone will be hard to reach against a Pleasant Valley outfit that has held each of its last five opponents under 20 points.

Iowa City Liberty at Fort Madison

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

Records and rankings: Liberty is 1-5 overall, 1-1 Class 4A District 3; Fort Madison is 6-0, 2-0.

Overview: Liberty? Playoffs? Yeah, seriously, the Lightning still have a postseason berth in their grasp if they win out, and it’s not an impossibility. Yes, Fort Madison is unbeaten, but the Bloodhounds aren’t unbeatable; according to the BC Moore computer, they have played the weakest schedule in 4A. The Hounds do have a dangerous passing attack in QB Landes Williams (1,392 yards) and receivers Tate Johnson and Kane Williams. Liberty earned its first win last week, 56-0 over Mount Pleasant.

Newton at Cedar Rapids Washington

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

Records and rankings: Newton is 5-1 overall, 1-1 Class 4A District 4; Washington is 2-4, 0-2.

Overview: After three straight lopsided defeats, Washington was competitive last week before dropping a 20-19 decision to Clear Creek Amana. There is no low-hanging fruit in this district, and Newton provides another challenge. The Cardinals whipped Oskaloosa last week, 50-26, as QB Zayvier Arguello passed for 185 yards and ran for 152. Three different Warriors — Romen Young, Chase Mahoney and Watts McBride — are over 30 tackles this season.

Ottumwa at Linn-Mar

Time and place: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Linn-Mar Stadium

Records and rankings: Ottumwa is 1-5; Class 5A No. 9 Linn-Mar is 5-1.

Overview: Linn-Mar went toe to toe with Southeast Polk for a half last week, taking a 15-14 lead into the locker room before falling 38-15. The Lions figure to bounce back in a major way this week. Carter Henderson has rushed for 616 yards and nine touchdowns, and Cam Guenther is a playmaker on both sides, with 13 receptions for 306 yards and six interceptions. Ottumwa picked up its first win of the season last week, 54-6 over Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Southeast Polk at Cedar Rapids Prairie

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 5-1. Southeast Polk is ranked No. 1 in Class 5A; Prairie is No. 7.

Overview: Prairie is back at full strength, and that’s reflected in its recent offensive production. The Hawks whipped Bettendorf 54-20 in Week 4, then after a forfeit victory, drubbed Waterloo West by a 55-7 count last week behind Brandon Vlcko’s 185 passing yards and three touchdowns. Southeast Polk trailed Linn-Mar at halftime last week but won going away, 38-15. Jaxon Dailey has passed for 1,043 yards, 457 to Cole Filloon, who has scored eight touchdowns in his 23 receptions.

West Branch at Iowa City Regina

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

Records and rankings: West Branch is 5-1 overall, 3-0 Class 1A District 5; third-ranked Regina is 6-0, 3-0.

Overview: The 1A District 5 champion will be crowned in this battle of archrivals. Regina owns a 16-game winning streak, which includes last year’s run to a Class A state title. The Regals have only been on the field four times and have accepted two forfeits. The last three appearances have had similar outcomes: 34-6, 34-0, 35-7. West Branch is in the midst of a four-game winning streak. Junior Andy Henson has rushed for 840 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Davenport Assumption at Benton Community

Time and place: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Van Horne

Records and rankings: Ninth-ranked Assumption is 4-2 overall, 2-0 Class 3A District 4; Benton is 5-1, 2-0.

Overview: To the victor goes sole possession of the 3A District 4 lead. Benton doesn’t blow opponents out, but rather methodically finds ways to win. The Bobcats have won five in a row, including a 21-7 victory last week over Vinton-Shellsburg. Jacob Brecht ran for 129 yards and three scores. The preseason district favorite, Assumption rushed for 241 rushing yards and three TDs last week in a 24-12 win over Mount Vernon.

Fairfield at Solon

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

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

Overview: Judging solely by records, this looks like a premier matchup. But look more closely (specifically at strength of schedules), and Solon should be a heavy favorite in this one. The Spartans have won all six of their games by 14 points or more. QB Blake Timmons has accounted for 1,472 yards of total offense and 19 touchdowns. Fairfield’s five wins have come against teams that are a combined 4-26.

Montezuma at Baxter

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

Records and rankings: No. 2 Montezuma is 7-0 overall, 4-0 8-Player District 7; Baxter is 6-0, 4-0.

Overview: To the winner goes the district championship. Two of the highest flying 8-player offenses will be on display; Baxter ranks second in scoring at 64.7 points per game while Montezuma is fourth at 61.9. Reigning area player of the year Eddie Burgess has been on an offensive tear again this season for the Braves, accounting for more than 2,300 yards and 43 touchdowns. His QB counterpart, Baxter junior Cody Damman, has passed for 16 TDs and rushed for 12.