4 Downs: Gazette staff ponders burning queries about Iowa high school football

The Gazette’s Iowa sports staff and contributors ponder high school football questions. Compare your answers with ours from Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Scott Unash in 4 Downs:

1ST & 10: What are the most notable regular-season finales for small-school programs this week?

Jeff Linder: North Linn at Wapsie Valley, of course. Both are unbeaten, and both are in the Class A top 10. First team to 14 wins? West Branch at Bellevue is a biggie in 1A, with the Bears hoping to get a share of a district title. Will have an eye on Vinton-Shellsburg at Denver, with the Vikings chasing their first playoff berth since 2009.

Jeff Johnson: Begins with North Linn at Wapsie Valley in Class A. Both are unbeaten. North Linn is ranked sixth, Wapsie Valley seventh. The District 4 championship is on the line. Also got my eye on Centerville and PCM in 2A, Okoboji and Carroll Kuemper in 2A, West Branch-Bellevue in 2A and Oakland Riverside-ACGC in A.

K.J. Pilcher: Two in the area stand out above the rest. Class A No. 6 North Linn travels to No. 7 Wapsie Valley with the District 4 title on the line. Both teams are 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the district. Wapsie Valley has a long tradition and experienced more of these moments. Will that make a difference? North Linn hasn’t had as many opportunities but the Lynx knocked off Maquoketa Valley when it was No. 1. North Linn is third in Class A, allowing just 6.9 points per game. Wapsie Valley’s 42.4 points per game ranks sixth. The team winning that battle wins the game. Bellevue and West Branch face off for a district title in 2A District 5. Also, Springville (4-4, 3-2 8P D4) plays at Central City (0-5, 1-6). The Orioles started 0-4 and have won four straight. If Springville wins and Elkader Central (4-3, 3-2) loses to No. 6 Edgewood-Colesburg (7-0, 5-0), the Orioles will earn an automatic playoff berth, which would be a tremendous turnaround this season.

Scott Unash: The marquee regular-season finale is, by far, the matchup in Class A District 4 between North Linn and Wapsie Valley. Both teams are in the postseason, but the winner not only gets the district crown but at least two home games in the playoffs, while the losing team will be forced to the road earlier. Bellevue taking on West Branch is another biggie as far as a district championship and home field is concerned. Around the State, two big games stand out, Carroll Kuemper vs Okoboji and Monroe PCM vs Centerville.

2ND & LONG: The old adage states, “Defense wins championships.” Which program has a defense capable of carrying a team to the finals?

Jeff Linder: The most likely area finalist is Cedar Rapids Xavier, and the Saints allow 14.6 points per game, so those two items create a decent answer. Solon and West Delaware both are quite stingy, and both are undefeated in 3A.

Jeff Johnson: Best defense I’ve seen in person is Clear Lake’s. Lions have 11 guys who can fly to the football. Given up just five touchdowns in seven games this season.

K.J. Pilcher: Death, taxes and Xavier’s defense (when injuries haven’t been an issue). The Saints have a potent offense so that makes the defense that gives up 14.6 points per game seem even better. There are two 3A teams whose success will depend on defense. Solon and West Delaware have ascended the rankings. Both have drastically different offenses but have stingy defenses. The Spartans allow 10.6 points and the Hawks give up 11 a game. Deep runs will be because of their defenses.

Scott Unash: Defense does win Championships! And there are some great ones in the area. I think the Xavier Saints may lead the way. It is the typical ball-hawking unit for defensive coordinator Jim O’Connell and is a young group with many underclassmen leading the way. North Linn also has a terrific defense, which is giving up just over five points a game, plus they have scored five defensive touchdowns this season. The Lynx are also deep and big on the front line.

3RD & SHORT: What Gazette-area head coach do you think could be a college head coach?

Jeff Linder: Good question. Scott Chandler, I think could make the transition well. Kyle Knock would be a possibility. Both played at a high level and have succeeded in getting their head-coaching chops at successful programs.

Jeff Johnson: Wow, that’s an almost impossible question. I don’t know, maybe Scott Chandler at Iowa City Liberty because he played for a long time in the NFL.

K.J. Pilcher: We’ve seen Hall of Famer Curt Ritchie make the jump to the NCAA Division III level. Coaches can make the jump. Looking at the current list of area coaches, Scott Chandler at Liberty and Iowa City West’s Garrett Hartwig would be my first candidates. Mount Vernon’s Brad Meester is one of many area guys that have experience as college and professional players. Williamsburg’s Austin Blythe could follow in Ritchie’s footsteps. Former coaching mates Kyle Knock (Prairie) and Brian White (Cedar Rapids Kennedy) could be capable. If Iowa City Regina’s Ed Hinkel ever wanted to venture into that realm, he has the knowledge and innovation to do well.

Scott Unash: Two names jump to mind when thinking who could make the jump to become a college coach, Scott Chandler at Liberty and Brad Meester of Mont Vernon. They both have the experience of playing college football, as well as in the NFL, and know the rigors of the game at that level. They are accustomed to that environment and would, in my mind, be able to get the job done on Saturdays.

4TH & GOAL: Submitted by @jholst08 on x.com: Do you think C.R. Jefferson and C.R. Washington will ever combine?

Jeff Linder: I could see Cedar Rapids becoming a two-high school town, but I don’t think it would be as simple as a Jeff-Wash combo. I think they would redraw the lines to make two similar schools in terms of enrollment size and socioeconomics.

Jeff Johnson: Yes. Yes, I do. In my opinion, we could also see a combined Davenport public school program some day and perhaps Des Moines.

K.J. Pilcher: As a former Washington player, I hope that never happens. I respect both but never want to see them together. With the announcement of Waterloo United, it wouldn’t surprise me. The CRCSD appears to be in an era of change. Maybe that will be something that is introduced during this time.

Scott Unash: I do believe we will have combined metropolitan teams in the near future. We already have one right now in Des Moines with Roosevelt and Hoover playing together. It is also coming in 2028 with the newly announced Waterloo United bringing together East and West to one school and one program. Personally, I would like to see Jefferson and Washington stay separate with their long and storied traditions in football. But they need some help from the IHSAA to do that. If classifications get shuffled down the road to help the competitive balance, I think we continue to see separate squads. If everything stays the status quo, the greater the chance that a merger could happen here in town.