Four Downs: Week 6 Iowa high school football questions

The Gazette's Jeff Linder, K.J. Pilcher and Jeff Johnson tackle Week 6 prep football questions.

1st and 10

Q: Which teams will earn automatic playoff berths in the tough Class A District 4?

JL: Wapsie Valley and East Buchanan are the front-runners, unless Lisbon or Alburnett can pull an upset or two. Lisbon gets a chance this week at Wapsie Valley, and Alburnett still gets a shot at East Buchanan and Lisbon.

2nd and Long

Q: With four of the six top-ranked teams being parochial schools, is it time for a multiplier?

KJP: This can of worms will undoubtedly be opened during the playoffs. We have to rehash it every year. My answer is no. At least not a parochial vs. public multiplier. Maybe one based on socioeconomic levels of schools, moving teams up that have lower levels of free and reduced lunch. A multiplier would have to be applied to all sports, making it more complicated. I don't think it's the answer.

3rd and Short 

Q: What team has rebounded best from early season struggles?

JJ: Going with three here in Iowa City Regina, Union Community and Mount Vernon. Union was blasted by Marion in its season opener, 47-22, but has responded with four lopsided victories. Regina was outscored, 56-6, by two outstanding Class 3A teams in Cedar Rapids Xavier and Solon but has done what it always does when it is playing teams in its classification … win. Mount Vernon was shutout by Solon in Week 1, 19-0, but has put up 204 points in its ensuing four games.

More: Regina rebounds to dominate district

4th and Goal

Q: What rule change would you like to see in prep football?

JL: I would change the overtime format to mimic the one used presently in college football. Give each team a possession at the 25-yard line instead of the 10.

KJP: I hate the current penalty for kicking it out of bounds. Make the penalty more stiff to the offender. Moving a team back to rekick or starting the offense at the 35, move the kicking team back five yards with each infraction and add 10 yards to the end of the return. The 35 isn't that much of a benefit at this level.

JJ: I really don't like the automatic offside call. If you are lined up in the neutral zone or jump slightly into it, why not be allowed to get back before the snap? Colleges and pros do it correctly, high school does not when it comes to this.