5 questions heading into prep football season

Prep football practice begins Monday for the vast majority of schools around the state. Practice time is limited to four hours a day, with no two-a-days allowed. There also is no contact allowed until Wednesday.

With the exception of a handful of Week Zero games, the season begins Thursday, August 27. Cedar Rapids Kennedy hosts Iowa City West that night at Kingston Stadium.

Here are five questions as we get ready for 'Friday Night Lights.'

1. Can Iowa City Regina keep the streak alive?

The Regals have won a state-record five consecutive state championships. The graduation hit is significant, including quarterback Drew Cook, now at the University of Iowa. The Regals do have leading tackler Justin Hunter back, as well as their top two receiving leaders from last season (Nathan Stenger, Nick Phillips). Think reload and not rebuild.

2. Can Cedar Rapids Washington return to the Class 4A state championship game?

The Warriors won their first 13 games last season, then ran smack dab into a West Des Moines Dowling juggernaut in the finals, losing, 49-14. Among the returning players are all-staters O'Rien Vance and Tavian Patrick. Isaiah Nimmers (a Division I college prospect) and Johnny Dobbs will be third-year starters. Wash's sophomore team was undefeated last season.

3. Can North Fayette Valley repeat as 2A champ?

NFV was upset by Center Point-Urbana in its district opener last season, then ran the table, including a 14-10 championship-game win over Sioux Center. Coach Bob Lape prefers a ground-dominated offensive attack. Top rushers Derrick Kuehner and Josh Mackey graduated, but the offensive line returnees including all-stater Ethan Lape and massive University of Iowa commit Juan Harris. Whoever runs the ball behind them ought to have success.

4. How does the new playoff format work?

Actually, that doesn't go into affect until next season. It's still the same playoff format this year, with the top four teams in each district in each class qualifying. The postseason begins Wednesday, October 28, with the next round Monday, November 2, the quarterfinals November 6, the semifinals November 12, 13 and 14 and the finals the 19th and 20th. Next season, the playoff field will be cut in half, with 16 teams per class making it instead of 32.

5. Who are the top returing players from the area?

Cedar Falls offensive lineman Spencer Williams has committed to Iowa. Cedar Rapids Kennedy tight end-linebacker Shaun Beyer just committed to four-time defending FCS national champion North Dakota State. In case you are wondering, the top returning rusher in the area is West Branch's Luke Lenoch (2,105 yards, 30 touchdowns), the top returning passer is Derek Ehrhardt of Elkader Central (1,732 yards and 29 TDs), the top returning receiver is North Cedar's Ian Malaby (101 catches, 22 TDs) and the top returning tackler is Derek Greiner of Williamsburg (128.5).