Iowa high school football playoffs: 10 area quarterfinal games to watch

Capsules for 10 Gazette area Iowa high school state football quarterfinal games.

Indianola at Cedar Rapids Xavier (4A)

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

Records and rankings: No. 8 Indianola is 7-3; third-ranked Xavier is 10-0.

Overview: This is the first meeting between the two football programs. Indianola advanced with a 35-13 win over No. 6 Bondurant-Farrar, avenging a loss from the regular season. The Saints maintained their defensive dominance, beating Cedar Rapids Washington, 44-7. Xavier hasn’t allowed more than seven points in a game since the season opener. The Saints give up just 4.4 points per game. They have forced 15 turnovers, including two interceptions apiece from Aidan McDermott and Jevin Rexroth. Michael Cunningham leads the Xavier backfield with 1,160 yards and 19 touchdowns. Ronan Thomas has passed for 1,143 yards and 17 scores in his first year as a starter. Indianola’s pass attack has produced a lot of yards. QB Bennett Brueck has thrown for 2,262 yards and 23 TDs, including 1,124 and 15 to Drew Kingery.

Carlisle at Iowa City Liberty (4A)

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

Records and rankings: Carlisle is ranked fourth. Liberty is ranked fifth. Both teams are 9-1.

Overview: Iowa City Liberty will look to chase the school’s first volleyball state title with the football program’s first semifinal appearance and trip to the UNI-Dome. Liberty toppled Webster City, 24-14, to advance. The Lightning offense is charged by quarterback Graham Beckman, who leads Class 4A with 2,312 passing yards and 29 TDs. He had 185 yards and two TDs in the quarterfinal. Beckman spreads the ball around to receivers. Four have at least 27 receptions and 376 yards. Garrett Gregoire leads way with 699 yards and eight TDs on 36 catches. Both teams are similar, scoring more than 37 points per game and allowing about 15 per contest. Carlisle dropped Newton 48-28 in the quarterfinals. The Wildcats have a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Jes Krcil (164-1,210 and 17 TDs) and Jack Laughlin (120-1,054 and 18).

Cedar Rapids Prairie at Southeast Polk (5A)

Time and place: 7 p.m. Friday, at Pleasant Hill

Records and rankings: Prairie is 6-3; fourth-ranked Southeast Polk is 9-1.

Overview: The Hawks have another shot to avenge a regular-season loss. They were dominant last week, handling Linn-Mar, 50-28, thanks to 455 rushing yards. Makelle Taylor set a school record with 335 rushing yards against the Lions, giving him 1,396 and 14 TDs this season. Prairie QB Will Phillips made his first start last week, throwing for 186 yards and four TDs. Southeast Polk won the Week 7 matchup, 41-0. The Rams’ Connor Moberly passed for 141 yards and two scores, while Harrison Gibson rushed for 146 and two more. Southeast Polk’s defense tallied 12 tackles for loss and five turnovers. Moberly has thrown for 1,495 yards and 11 TDs, including 458 and four TDs to Carson Robbins.

Solon at Mount Vernon (3A)

Time and place: 7 p.m. Friday, at Mount Vernon

Records and rankings: Fifth-ranked Solon is 8-2; No. 2 Mount Vernon is 10-0.

Overview: The biggest rematch in the quarterfinals. Mount Vernon snapped a 19-game losing streak to its nearby rival in the regular season. The loss was the first of consecutive setbacks for the Spartans, who have responded with seven straight victories, including a 42-18 win over No. 9 West Delaware last week. Spartans QB Blake Timmons is a dual-threat, passing for 905 yards and seven TDs and rushing for 740 and 15. Brett White gives Solon a good 1-2 punch, rushing for 850 yards and 15 scores. White leads Solon with 69.5 tackles (39 solo). The Mustangs pass attack has put up gaudy numbers, leading 3A with 2,289 yards. QB Joey Rhomberg has thrown for a 3A-best 2,218 yards and has 24 TDs. Rhomberg passed for 209 and a TD in the first meeting. Brady Erickson had 126 yards on 11 catches in Week 2 and has 459 yards and seven TDs total. Evan Brase leads Mount Vernon with 589 yards on 41 catches with six TDs.

MFL MarMac at West Branch (1A)

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

Records and rankings: No. 8 MFL MarMac is 9-1; No. 3 West Branch is 10-0.

Overview: MFL MarMac is making its fourth state quarterfinal appearance and still is in search of its first state semifinal. The Bulldogs have won nine straight and are unbeaten against Class 1A competition, topping No. 10 Dike-New Hartford, 28-6, last round. MFL MarMac scores at a 38-point clip, while allowing 8.9 per game. The Bulldogs have rushed for more than 2,700 yards, including 1,036 from Wyatt Powell and 784 from Carver Blietz-Bentien. They have combined for 22 of the Bulldogs’ 40 rushing TDs. West Branch has a potent offense, averaging 47 points per contest. Quarterback Tye Hughes and running back Andy Henson are a dangerous combo. Hughes has passed for 1,303 yards and 12 TDs, while Henson has rushed for 1,354 yards and a whopping 29 TDs. Hensen went for 131 yards and two scores in a 27-14 win over Waterloo Columbus last week. The Bears, looking for their first semifinal trip since 2011, have a defense that gives up eight points a game.

North Linn at West Hancock (A)

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

Records and rankings: No. 6 North Linn is 9-1; Top-ranked West Hancock is 10-0.

Overview: North Linn is making its third state quarterfinal appearance and is among the teams attempting to reach the UNI-Dome for the first time. The Lynx have already doubled the program’s playoff victory total, including a 28-14 win over Mason City Newman last week. Mason Bechen stepped in at quarterback and passed for 218 yards and two TDs last week. He hit Cael Bridgewater for 148 yards on six receptions. Bechen also rushed for 92 yards and a score. The Lynx defense has been stout, giving up just 6.4 points per game. West Hancock scores 42.8 per game. The Eagles survived a 16-9 victory over Wapsie Valley to advance. West Hancock has rushed for 3,194 yards, which is fourth in Class A. Kale Zuehl leads the Eagles with 1,039 yards and 12 TDs. Mitchell Smith has 849 yards and nine scores for West Hancock, the defending state champion and winner of two titles since 2019.

Independence at Humboldt (3A)

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

Records and rankings: Third-ranked Independence is 10-1; No. 6 Humboldt is 9-1.

Overview: The Mustangs are tied with Mount Vernon for the 3A lead in wins. Independence is making its seventh playoff appearance and sixth since 2014. Independence and Humboldt are meeting in the quarterfinals for the second straight season. The Wildcats won last year’s matchup, 42-21. Mustangs QB Mitchell Johnson is one of the top scorers in 3A with 29 total TDs, including 16 through the air. He had 191 total yards and three TDs in a 20-17 win over Benton Community last week. Johnson has amassed 2,246 offensive yards this season. Brady McDonald (40-374) and Brady Kurt (25-425) have been his top two targets. They will have to break through Humboldt’s solid defense that holds opponents to 5.8 points per game. The Wildcats have 68.5 tackles for loss and 23 sacks. They have forced 18 turnovers, including 14 interceptions. Trever Beach leads Humboldt with five picks.

Centerville at Williamsburg (2A)

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

Records and rankings: Centerville is 8-2; No. 2 Williamsburg is 10-0.

Overview: Williamsburg is trying to reach the semifinals for the third time in the last four seasons. The Raiders have been just short of flawless this season. They lead 2A with 52.1 points per game, holding opponents to 9.5. The Raiders downed Mid-Prairie, 63-7, last week and beat Centerville, 55-7, on Sept. 23. Carson Huedepohl has thrived in a move to quarterback, passing for 1,127 yards and 16 TDs with 485 and 12 TDs on the ground. Williamsburg’s defense has wreaked havoc on foes, forcing 33 turnovers and returning nine for TDs. Derek Wiesskopf has six interceptions, while Clayten Steckly has returned three for scores with three fumble recoveries. Centerville is led by Brody Tuttle, who has rushed for 1,321 yards and 19 TDs.

East Buchanan at Grundy Center (A)

Time and place: 7 p.m. Friday, at Grundy Center

Records and rankings: No. 8 East Buchanan is 9-1; No. 2 Grundy Center is 10-0.

Overview: The Buccaneers are trying to return to the UNI-Dome for the second straight season. A victory would clinch their first back-to-back semifinal appearances and fourth in school history. The Buccaneers are a run heavy team that opposes its will on foes, rushing for a Class A-best 4,193 yards, including 507 in a 57-21 win last week at No. 10 Alburnett. They are also tops in the class with 5,168 all-purpose yards. East Buchanan’s three-headed backfield monster consists of three 1,000-yard rushers. Tanner Thurn has rushed for 1,427 yards, while Ryland Cornell and Hunter Bowers have 1,253 and 1,073, respectively. Both teams lost to state champ West Hancock last year with the Spartans reaching the final. Grundy Center allows just five points per game, scoring at a 36.9 clip. QB Colin Gordon has passed for 1,609 yards and 17 TDs, completing 70.1 percent of his attempts for Grundy Center.

Sigourney-Keota at Van Meter (1A)

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

Records and rankings: Sigourney-Keota is 8-2; No. 1 Van Meter is 9-1.

Overview: The Cobras have extended their win streak to eight games, beating No. 9 Mediapolis, 20-14, to reach the quarterfinals. Sigourney-Keota has a chance to reach the semifinals for the second time in three seasons, advancing to the UNI-Dome in 2020. Senior Cole Clarahan has powered the Cobras, rushing for 1,139 yards and 21 of their 39 TDs on the ground. Clarahan and Jake Moore share the team lead in interceptions with three. Evan Vittetoe has a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss, including three sacks. Van Meter is tied for third in 1A with 66 touchdowns and fourth with 21 passing scores. Ben Gilliland has accounted for 28 TDs, including 19 through the air. Ben Gordon has 22 rushing TDs for Van Meter, which has won eight straight since having its 61-game regular-season win streak snapped by Williamsburg on Sept. 2.

⧉ Related article: Iowa high school football playoffs 2022: Here are the quarterfinal matchups

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com