Football capsules: The championship games

Capsules for the high school football championship games at the UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls:

CLASS 4A: No. 1 CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON (13-0) vs. No. 3 WEST DES MOINES DOWLING (12-1)

* Time and TV: 7:06 p.m. Friday, KCRG 9.2

* Overview: Washington has made it to the championship game for the second time; the Warriors were denied by West Des Moines Valley in 2003. The Warriors faced their first deficit of the season in the semifinals, falling behind Bettendorf 10-0 before rallying for a 28-17 victory. Juniors Tavian Patrick and Johnny Dobbs have rushed for nearly 2,000 yards between them. Reid Snitker has passed for 14 TDs and has big-play receivers in Isaiah Nimmers and Landen Akers. University of Iowa recruit Ryan Boyle engineers the Maroons, who beat Cedar Rapids Xavier for the title last year. Dowling has won nine straight games since a 24-21 loss to Valley. Boyle has passed for 1,866 yards with 17 TDs to his credit compared to just one interception, and has rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and 16 TDs. Receivers Eric Fardal and Charlie Schulte have nearly identical numbers, both with more than 40 catches and 16.7 yards per reception.

CLASS 3A: No. 1 PELLA (13-0) vs. No. 2 SIOUX CITY HEELAN (12-1)

* Time and TV: 7:06 p.m. Thursday, KCRG 9.2

* Overview: Defending-champion Heelan is in the finals for the sixth time in the past eight seasons, but faces a Pella squad that has blistered pretty much everything in its path. The Dutch lead Class 3A in both scoring offense (44.7 points per game) and scoring defense (6.8). The Dutch further proved themselves with a 27-0 triumph over Cedar Rapids Xavier in the semifinals. Quarterback Noah Clayberg has rushed for 1,483 yards and passed for 1,166, accouting for 32 offensive touchdowns. Nathan Henry (867 yards, 19 TDs) and Quinton Murphy (829 and 15) futher bolster the Dutch backfield. Heelan's loss came in Week 1, to Sioux City East. Nick McCann engineers the offense; he has passed for 2,363 yards and 27 touchdowns, with four different receivers with more than 30 catches. Tony Tobin has rushed for 1,487 yards and 25 TDs.

CLASS 2A: No. 5 NORTH FAYETTE VALLEY (12-1) vs. No. 8 SIOUX CENTER (12-1)

* Time and TV: 2:06 p.m. Friday, KCRG 9.2

* Overview: North Fayette Valley makes its second straight playoff appearance as a merged program; the TigerHawks reached the 2A semifinals last year before moving up a class. NFV averages 40.2 points per game behind the running of Josh Mackey (1,529 yards, 29 touchdowns) and Derrick Kuehner (1,265 yards, 16 TDs). The TigerHawks have won 10 straight games since a Week 3 loss at Center Point-Urbana. The run includes two tight wins over New Hampton - 15-13 in overtime in Week 9, 26-24 in the quarterfinals. Sioux Center has won seven in a row since a 20-14 loss to Spirit Lake. The Warriors avenged that loss, 14-0, in the quarterfinals. Graham Zomermaand and Christian Rozeboom have rushed for 1,227 and 895 yards, respectively, combining for 21 touchdowns.

CLASS 1A: No. 1 IOWA CITY REGINA (12-1) vs. No. 7 WEST LYON (12-1)

* Time and TV: 11:06 a.m. Friday, KCRG 9.2

* Overview: Regina is favored to make history with a fifth consecutive state title. The Regals reigned in 2A in 2010 and 2011, and in 1A in 2012 and 2013, and have won 68 of 69 games during the current run of glory. West Lyon is going after a repeat itself; the Wildcats captured the Class A title last year before moving up a class. University of Iowa recruit Drew Cook leads the Regals; he has passed for 2,329 yards and 30 touchdowns (against two interceptions) and rushed for 16 TDs. Jake Brinkman has rushed for 1,155 yards and 13 scores. Both teams lost their opener (Class 3A Solon edged Regina in overtime; 2A Central Lyon-GLR handled West Lyon) and have answered with 12 straight wins. The Wildcats average about only five passes a game. Vaughn Moser leads the ground attack with 1,834 yards and 20 touchdowns. Chase Grotewold and Dylan Huyser have scored 11 TDs apiece on the ground.

CLASS A: No. 2 LOGAN-MAGNOLIA (13-0) vs. No. 4 GLADBROOK-REINBECK (12-1)

* Time and TV: 1:36 p.m. Thursday, KCRG 9.2

* Overview: At first glance, this looks like a dead-even game, but Gladbrook-Reinbeck enters with a big disadvantage - quarterback Cam Kickbush suffered a broken collarbone in the Rebels' semifinal win over Denver. Both teams have dominated all year; Logan-Magnola has outscored its opponents by an average score of 44-9, Gladbrook-Reinbeck by 42-11. The Rebels' lone loss came to Class 2A Union in the opener. With Kickbush out, G-R will further rely on running back Eric Stoakes (2,296 yards, 34 touchdowns). Logan-Magnolia counters with a running game fueled by Brady Charbonneau (1,367 yards, 17 touchdowns) and Riley Wohlers (976 yards, 18 TDs). Lo-Ma won a Class A state title in 1990, one year after placing second in 1A. G-R was the 2004 1A runner-up.

8-PLAYER: No. 3 FREMONT-MILLS (13-0) vs. NEWELL-FONDA (10-3)

* Time and TV: 10:06 a.m. Thursday, KCRG 9.2

* Overview: After starting the season 0-3, Newell-Fonda has won 10 consecutive games, including nail-biting wins over Coon Rapids-Bayard (13-7) and defending-champion Don Bosco (37-36) in the second and third round. The Mustangs handled HLV, 40-18, in the semifinals. Fremont-Mills, on the other hand, hasn't been nicked all season, though it did need a semifinal rally to get past Marcus MMC, 30-27. Fremont-Mills was the 2011 champion and is led by Spencer Phillips (1,288 rushing yards, 27 rushing TDs) and QB Jason Rusten (1,077 passing yards with 20 touchdowns). Other than QB Brady Dicks (1,666 passing yards, 28 TDs), much of the Newell-Fonda roster consists of underclassmen. Cole Wise and Dicks have combined for nearly 2,000 rushing yards and 30 TDs on the ground.