Eastern Iowa high school football playoff capsules, Round 1

Capsules on Gazette area first-round football playoff games (all kickoffs, 7 p.m.):

CLASS 4A

Cedar Rapids Washington (5-4) at No. 1 Iowa City West (9-0)

Playoffs history — Washington is making its 25th appearance, its fifth in a row. The Warriors were 4A runners-up in 2003. Last year's 4A runner-up, West is in the field for the 16th time, including seven straight. The Trojans were 4A champions in 1995, 1998 and 1999.

Overview — Washington's head-scratching regular season ended with a 38-35 loss to Waterloo West in a game in which the Warriors led by 15 points midway through the fourth quarter. The Warriors are capable of rising up and competing with most anybody, but West isn't merely anybody and will be a huge challenge. Trojans QB Evan Flitz (2,157 passing yards, 24 TDs, 3 INTs) is among the best in 4A and spearheads an offense that averages 44.4 points per game.

No. 7 Cedar Rapids Prairie (8-1) vs. No. 6 Cedar Falls (8-1)

(At Wartburg College, Waverly)

Playoffs history — It's playoffs trip No. 20 for Prairie, and the Hawks are in the field for the sixth year in a row. They were 3A champions in 1981. Cedar Falls is back after having a 12-year postseason streak snapped last year. The Tigers are 28-time qualifiers, including a 4A championship in 1986.

Overview — Prairie claimed a win-and-get-in Week 9 showdown against Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 32-19, and gets a break by playing at a neutral site because a USA Wrestling event inhabits the UNI-Dome this weekend. Keegan Simmons is second in 4A in rushing yards (1,691), averages nearly 8 yards per carry and has reached the end zone 24 times. It will be difficult to discover paydirt against a Cedar Falls defense that allows 8.6 points per contest.

CLASS 3A

Oskaloosa (6-3) at No. 1 Cedar Rapids Xavier (9-0)

Playoffs history — Oskaloosa has qualified for the 16th time, the second year in a row. It was 3A champion in 1996. Xavier extended its playoff run to 12 straight years and has made the playoffs 14 times. The Saints were 4A champions in 2006, runners-up in 2012 and 2013.

Overview — Xavier just completed its third consecutive unbeaten regular season, and turns its focus to a deep postseason run. The Saints were semifinalists last year. Xavier won its last two games by a combined 100-7 and boasts a two-way gem in quarterback Quinn Schulte, who has passed for 916 yards with a 12-to-1 TD-to-INT count, has added 506 rushing yards and 11 TDs and is fourth on the team in tackles (25, with three interceptions). Osky has a dual-threat QB as well in Seth Howard, who pilots an offense that averages 39.6 points per game.

Washington (8-1) at Davenport Assumption (7-2)

Playoffs history — Washington is making its 14th appearance, its sixth in the last seven years. The Demons were 3A runners-up in 2013. Assumption has qualified for the 29th time, its 11th in a row.

Overview — A district runner-up, Assumption earned the eighth first-round home-field advantage because it was technically a co-champion (the Knights were 6-1 but lost the head-to-head with West Delaware in District 4). Washington owns the top-scoring offense in 3A, averaging 46.7 points per game, a rate that rises to 62.5 in the last four contests. The Demons average 9.0 yards per play. Assumption running backs Ryan Wohlers and Jayce Levy have combined for 1,764 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns.

• Complete Iowa high school football playoff pairings

Decorah (7-2) at No. 3 Solon (9-0)

Playoffs history — Two extremely rich traditions here. Decorah is in the field for the 24th time and has five 3A championships (1974, 1987-89, 2012). Solon extended its postseason run to 13 straight years and has 28 appearances all told. The Spartans also have five titles — 1988, 2007-09 in 2A, 2010 in 3A.

Overview — Nobody plays defense better that Solon. From the very first play of the season (an interception for touchdown vs. Mount Vernon), the Spartans have tormented enemy offenses all year, allowing 2.3 points per game. They compiled six shutouts and won all of their games by 19 points or more. Sophomore Cam Miller has developed into a steady quarterback, throwing 21 touchdowns against just four INTs. Decorah earned one of the two 3A wild cards and will be a difficult out. Jake Muhlbauer has rushed for 14 touchdowns.

No. 8 Waverly-Shell Rock (8-1) at West Delaware (7-2)

Playoffs history — Tons of tradition here, too. Waverly-Shell Rock is making its 22nd appearance, its eighth in a row. The Go-Hawks captured 3A titles in 1990 and 1992. West Delaware counters with a current 10-year postseason streak and 23 playoff trips highlighted by a 3A crown in 1991.

Overview — This figures to be one of the best, most evenly matched first-rounders in any class. West Delaware earned the District 4 title Friday when it whipped Maquoketa, and Davenport Assumption handled Marion. The Hawks are potent both by land (Caleb Kehrli has netted 971 yards and 15 TDs) and by air (Nick Casey is fourth in 3A with 1,639 passing yards). WSR's lone loss was a 20-14 setback to Cedar Rapids Xavier in Week 7. The Go-Hawks are in the top five in 3A in offense (37.7 points per game) and defense (9.3).

CLASS 2A

No. 9 Union Community (6-3) at No. 8 Aplington-Parkersburg (8-1)

Playoffs history — Last year's 2A runner-up, Union is on a 10-year playoff run and is making its 11th appearance overall. The Knights won the 3A title in 2011. A consistent winner, Aplington-Parkersburg is making its 22nd appearance highlighted by 1A titles in 1993 and 2001.

Overview — Union returns to the playoffs by the skin of its teeth. The Knights left Cascade after a 28-21 loss Friday thinking they were out, but earned the last wild card by the last tie-breaker — the alphabet, of all things. But Union is an extremely dangerous team capable of another deep run. The Knights have a good pass-catch combo in Troy Hanus and Koby Alpers. A-P counters with receiver Braden Good, who ranks third in 2A in receiving yards (742).

West Liberty (6-3) at No. 2 Cascade (9-0)

Playoffs history — West Liberty is making its ninth appearance, its first since 2013. Cascade has qualified for the 11th time, the eighth since 2008.

Overview — Cascade is the lone unbeaten in 2A, wrapping up a perfect regular season by scoring a late touchdown and edging Union Community, 28-21, last week. The Cougars are second in 2A in scoring defense at 9.8 points per game. Haris Hoffman leads the Cougars' attack with 1,486 passing yards, and Austin Lieurance needs 10 rushing yards to reach 1,000. Of all the area qualifiers, West Liberty broke the longest playoff drought. The Comets proved their worth against District 5 heavyweights, beating Williamsburg and taking Mount Vernon to the wire.

Watch Cascade's winning TD against Union

Centerville (6-3) at No. 3 Mount Vernon (8-1)

Playoffs history — Centerville is making its sixth appearance, its second in a row. This is Mount Vernon's 25th time in the playoffs, its fourth in succession. The Mustangs won 2A titles in 1974, 1993 and 1994 and are six-time runners-up, most recently in 2015.

Overview — Mount Vernon quarterback Drew Adams has become the state's all-time career leader for passing touchdowns (102) after throwing five in the Mustangs' win over Williamsburg, a victory that vaulted them to the district championship. Adams also ranks third in yardage and fifth in completions. He has passed for 1,807 yards and 27 touchdowns this season. Centerville has won five straight games after a 1-3 start, including an overtime win over Eddyville EBF last week.

Williamsburg (7-2) at No. 4 Prairie City-Monroe (8-1)

Playoffs history — Both teams have extended their postseason streaks to 10 straight years. Williamsburg is making its 18th appearance overall and was the 2A runner-up in 2002; it's the 15th trip for PCM.

Overview — Williamsburg was 6-0 and ranked No. 1 three weeks ago, but dropped two of its last three games and qualified as a wild card. Gage Hazen-Fabor ranks second among all rushers in the traditional 11-player game — and leads Class 2A — with 1,850 yards. The junior averages 9.9 yards per carry and has reached the end zone 20 times. PCM opened the season with a loss to Pella Christian, then responded with eight straight wins, averaging 51.1 points in district play. Reed Worth has passed for 22 touchdowns.

No. 5 Waukon (8-1) at Clear Lake (7-2)

Playoffs history — Waukon is in the field for the sixth time, all since 2003. The Indians reached the 2A title game in 2013. Clear Lake had an 18-year playoff streak snapped last year, but returns this fall. The Lions are making their 22nd trip and claimed the 3A title in 2000.

Overview — Waukon brings the most explosive attack in 2A into the postseason; the Indians average a 2A-best 47.4 points per game and have gone over the half-century mark in each of their last five games. Mitchell Snitker rushed for 1,288 yards and 15 touchdowns in the regular season, and Abe Schwartz passed for 1,782 yards and 20 TDs. Clear Lake had a six-game win streak snapped last week, 14-7, by New Hampton. The Lions are a pass-oriented squad led by QB Jaylen DeVries and receivers Zach Lester and Drew Enke.

CLASS 1A

South Winneshiek (6-3) at No. 3 Iowa City Regina (7-2)

Playoffs history — South Winn has qualified for the 11th time, the seventh year in a row. The Warriors were 1A runners-up in 2009. Regina has been among the state's best programs since 2004. The Regals are making their 14th straight trip, their 15th overall, and have captured seven titles (2005 and 2012-15 in 1A, 2010-11 in 2A). They were 1A runners-up last year and boast a 46-7 postseason record.

Overview — After stumbling out of the gate against 3A foes Cedar Rapids Xavier and Solon, Regina has been the Regina of old. The Regals battered their seven district opponents by a count of 337-102 and take a full head of steam into the postseason. Michael Conlon has passed for 1,380 yards, with Jacob Phillips and Patrick Clark the top targets. South Winneshiek has pulled a similar turnaround, winning six in a row after an 0-3 start. The Warriors have allowed just 18 points during their win streak with three straight shutouts. Rodney Schwartzhoff has rushed for 1,278 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Sigourney-Keota (5-4) at No. 4 Pella Christian (9-0)

Playoffs history — Sigourney-Keota is making its 21st appearance, its fourth in a row. The Cobras won 2A titles in 1995, 2001 and 2005. Pella Christian is now a 10-time qualifier, all in succession.

Overview — The Cobras earned a wild-card slot and face a big road challenge immediately. Sigourney-Keota does have an excellent backfield tandem in junior Carson Crawford and senior Luke Greiner, who have combined for 2,992 yards and 38 touchdowns (Crawford leads 1A with 1,838 yards). They'll try to make a dent in a PC defense that allows 12.9 points per game. The Eagles lead 1A in scoring at 46.2 points per game, and haven't been seriously threatened since a Week 1 win over Prairie City-Monroe.

Pleasantville (7-2) at No. 5 West Branch (9-0)

Playoffs history — Pleasantville has qualified for the 20th time, the fourth in a row. West Branch is in the field for the 25th time, the 10th in a row. The Bears were 1A champions in 1989, 1991 and 1992.

Overview — West Branch is one of four 1A teams to get through the regular season unbeaten, but the Bears did have close shaves against district foes Bellevue (45-41) and Durant (24-23). Junior Beau Cornwell is second in 1A in passing yards with 1,970 yards; he has completed 65 percent of his throws with 20 touchdowns. Ben Thompson (39 catches, 658 yards, 11 TDs) and Jacob Graves (38 for 512, 4 TDs) are an exceptional receiving tandem. Pleasantville started 6-0, then lost back-to-back games to Pella Christian and Woodward-Granger. Hunter Tyree has rushed for 1,235 yards and 14 TDs.

CLASS A

No. 10 East Buchanan (8-1) at No. 7 Saint Ansgar (9-0)

Playoffs history — Both teams are making their 18th appearance. East Buchanan has qualified three straight years while Saint Ansgar is on a 12-year run that includes a 1A title in 2011.

Overview — If this is a close game, it will be familiar territory for the Buccaneers, who went 3-1 in games decided by a touchdown or less (they split overtime outcomes, beating Edgewood-Colesburg and falling to Wapsie Valley). The Bucs allowed less than 9 points per game, and DBs Spencer Cook and Jake Ohl intercepted six and five passes, respectively. Saint Ansgar is averaging 40.3 points and scored 82 last week against Rockford. Dayton Smith leads a productive Saint Ansgar ground attack with 1,245 yards and 19 TDs.

8-PLAYER

Janesville (6-3) at Midland (7-2)

Playoffs history — Janesville has qualified for the 10th time, all since 2006. Midland was a semifinalist last year and is a seven-time qualifier.

Overview — Midland captured the District 4 title emphatically last week, routing Lone Tree, 52-20. Austin Smith is the leading scorer in the state, tallying 280 points on 39 rushing touchdowns, five receiving touchdowns and eight two-point conversions. He also leads the state in rushing with 2,270 yards (11.4 per carry). Janesville lost two of its last three regular-season games, including a 42-27 defeat against Turkey Valley last week.

Lone Tree (8-2) at HLV (8-2)

Playoffs history — Lone Tree is making its 12th appearance solo, plus two more combined with Highland. The Lions were Class A champions in 1982. HLV is in the field for the 16th time, its sixth in a row.

Overview — This is a rematch of a game played way back on Sept. 1, won by Lone Tree, 39-24. That dropped HLV to 1-2, and the Warriors haven't lost since, scoring 60.4 points per game in a 7-0 district stroll. The Warriors don't have a 1,000-yard rusher, but Chase Sternhagen, Brandon Schafbuch and Dean Shaull have combined for 48 TDs on the ground. Lone Tree's Bryce Houser has 1,293 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns to his credit, while QB Harmon Miller has passed for 15 touchdowns against 2 interceptions.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com