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Prep football: Quarterfinal playoff primer

Nov. 5, 2015 4:27 am
Capsules for Friday's area quarterfinal football playoff games:
CLASS 4A: No. 4 CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON (10-1) vs. No. 3 CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY (11-0)
When and where: 7 p.m., at Kingston Stadium
Overview: The Cougars have continued their dream season, looking for their first semifinal appearance since 1993. The Warriors are attempting to return to the UNI-Dome after a runner-up finish last year, while avenging a 28-24 loss to Kennedy in Week 2. Kennedy has strolled to wins, outscoring Clinton and North Scott by a combined 108-7. Washington outlasted Cedar Falls, 28-21, and pulled away late for a 42-21 win over Cedar Rapids Jefferson. Kennedy's Tyler Dralle is second in the state with 315 carries, tallying 1,834 yards with 22 touchdowns. The Cougars ground game leads 4A with more than 3,300 yards. The Warriors held him to just 67 in the previous meeting. The Cougars Shaun Beyer, who is starting to receive FBS scholarship offers, had 74 yards against Washington and remains a top weapon with 1,188 yards, including 670 receiving. Washington is fourth in 4A with 426 points. Tavian Patrick and Johnny Dobbs have 84 points apiece. Patrick leads the Warriors with 1,191 total yards, including 1,073 rushing. Isaiah Nimmers, also a Division-I recruit, has 780 receiving yards on 39 catches and 12 TDs. Taylor passed for 142, including 118 to Jones, in the last game against Bettendorf.
CLASS 4A: IOWA CITY HIGH (8-3) at No. 2 BETTENDORF (11-0)
When and where: 7 p.m., at Bettendorf
Overview: Iowa City High has produced a great turnaround season, reaching the quarterfinals after a 2-7 campaign least season. The Little Hawks advanced with a 13-7 win over district champion Pleasant Valley, setting up the rematch. The Bulldogs won the Week 2 contest, 44-7. City High sophomore Jared Taylor threw for 167 yards, giving him 1,925 this season, which ranks seventh in 4A. Jason Jones, who is fourth in 4A, has been his top target, racking up 1,100 yards on 61 catches and 10 TDs. Jones and Taylor ran for scores against Pleasant Valley. In the first meeting, Owen Ridenour rushed for 91 yards and two TDs and Dax Emerson added 83 and a TD, as the Bulldogs gained 263 yards on the ground. Bettendorf is sixth in 4A with 2,313 rushing yards and 1,834 through the air, including 1,526 from Ridenour. Bettendorf has won two of the last three postseason meetings between the two, but City High won the most recent in the 2010 semifinals.
CLASS 3A: DECORAH (6-5) at No. 2 WEST DELAWARE (11-0)
When and where: 7 p.m., at Manchester
Overview: The Cinderella slipper has fit the Vikings this postseason as they look to avenge another loss in the postseason. Decorah has earned its way into the quarterfinals, knocking off fifth-ranked Independence, 14-0, in the first round before dropping No. 2 Cedar Rapids Xavier, 30-21. Garrett Wise has rushed for 205 yards and has a 36-yard TD reception and a 39-yard TD pass in the postseason. Zach Lea added a team-high 116 yards on the ground, including a 51-yard TD, against Xavier. Wise has 922 yards to lead Decorah rushers. District champion West Delaware handled Decorah, 48-21, in the regular season finale. The Hawks' all-time leading rusher, Coy Roussell, rumbled for 197 yards against the Vikings and has 2,190 with 26 TDs this year. Max Ridenour has been impressive, moving back to QB, with 1,841 yards and 22 scores. Sam Maloney and Owen Ward have been his top targets, catching 32 passes apiece. Maloney has 956 yards with 14 TDs. Ward has 451 and four. West Delaware is making its second straight trip to the quarterfinals, dropping Solon 37-14 in the last round. These two teams have faced off five times in the postseason. Decorah owns a 3-2 edge, but the teams have split four quarterfinal contests. The Vikings won the last playoff matchup, 24-14, in the 2011 quarterfinals.
CLASS 2A: No. 7 MOUNT VERNON (9-2) at No. 4 ANAMOSA (11-0)
When and where: 7 p.m., at Anamosa
Overview: The Mustangs and Blue Raiders will battle for the second time this season. Anamosa survived a shootout in week 7, winning 45-42. The Blue Raiders reached the playoffs for the fourth time in school history. They are looking for their first trip to the semifinals after notching their first ever playoff win this season. Kolin Schulte leads the Anamosa offense, rushing for 899 yards and 21 TDs and passing for 773 and 11. Trevor Wehling leads the Blue Raiders with 1,099 rushing yards, including 374 yards and four scores against the Mustangs earlier this year. Mount Vernon is trying for its 12th semifinal berth and first since 2003. The Mustangs have topped 40 points in their last three games, including a 41-28 win over No. 8 Central Lee, where Jack Cochrane scored five straight TDs in a 156-yard effort. Cochrane leads Mount Vernon with 885 rushing yards and 18 TDs. Drew Adams threw for 314, giving him 2,506 this year for the Mustangs.
CLASS 2A: No. 3 SOUTH TAMA (11-0) at No. 1 ALBIA (11-0)
When and where: 7 p.m., at Albia
Overview: The clash of an unstoppable force and an immovable object. South Tama's stingy defense has produced eight shutouts this seasons, holding opponents to 27 points total this season. The Trojans outscored their playoff opponents by a combined 79-0. Albia has scored 555 points, including 64 rushing TDs. Albia beat Mid-Prairie, 42-0, in the second round and has shut out both postseason foes. South Tama has 16 interceptions, including six from Cody Kellogg and four from Bailey Chyma. Hard-running Jerry Lowe leads the Trojans' offense with 1,541 yards and 25 touchdowns. Clayton Rosenberger leads South Tama with 794 passing yards. Albia's Carter Isley has rushed for 1,847 yards and 33 scores. Bret Freshwater has added 550 yards and eight TDs on the ground, while Blake Bayer has almost 1,000 yards of total offense with 10 rushing TDs for Albia.
CLASS 2A: No. 5 WAUKON (10-1) at No. 6 NORTH FAYETTE VALLEY (9-2)
When and where: 7 p.m., at West Union
Overview: The defending state champion TigerHawks handed the Indians their only loss with a 48-8 win in Week 5. North Fayette Valley has won five straight games, including a 52-28 second-round win over Hampton-Dumont. The Tigerhawks are powered by a potent rushing attack again, accumulating 3,827 yards on the ground. Dillon Baumler leads the way with 1,039 yards and 16 touchdowns. Three other TigerHawks have rushed for more than 500 yards, including Tanner and Trey Kuhens, who have 752 and 604, respectively. In the last meeting, Baumler ran for 181 yards and two TDs, while Jesse Mackey had 160 and three scores. North Fayette Valley forced five turnovers, including four interceptions. Waukon's Peyton Hesse has 2,369 yards passing and 341 on the ground with 32 passing TDs. Wyatt Wille has hauled in 12 touchdowns and Tanner Mathis has 11 receiving TDs. Colin Steiber leads Waukon with 548 rushing yards and seven scores.
CLASS 1A: No. 2 WEST BRANCH (11-0) at No. 1 IOWA CITY REGINA (10-1)
When and where: 7 p.m., at Regina
Overview: Two rival powerhouses with 77 total postseason wins collide with a trip to the UNI-Dome at stake. Regina Coach Marv Cook was a standout for the Bears and current head coach Butch Pedersen. The Regals are attempting to win an unprecedented sixth straight state title and seventh overall. Regina has won all three past postseason meetings, including a 27-9 second-round game in 2012. The Regals won quarterfinal games over the Bears in 2004 and 2005. Neither team has lost to a 1A opponent this season. West Branch has outscored its opponents by more than 28 points a game, beating Pella Christian, 42-27, to advance. Luke Lenoch is one of the top 1A rushers again, amassing 1,656 yards and 23 TDs. Cooper Koenig has added almost 1,600 passing yards and 18 TDs. The Bears defense has forced 19 turnovers. Regina topped Hudson, 35-6, in the second round. All-stater Nate Stenger has more than 2,000 yards of offense, including 1,280 passing yards. He has accounted for 29 total TDs. Nick Phillips has 829 rushing yards and 337 receiving with 17 total scores.
CLASS A: No. 6 GLADBROOK-REINBECK (9-2) at No. 1 BGM (11-0)
When and where: 7 p.m., at Brooklyn
Overview: The Bears made their eighth trip to the playoffs, all under head coach Jerod Burns. They are looking for their third semifinal appearance and first since a state runner-up finish in 2013. BGM leads Class A with 491 points and is third with 4,247 total yards of offense. Colton Massengale leads BGM with 1,751 rushing yards and 26 TDs. Tanner Jansen has thrown for 988 yards and 16 TDs, hitting Jayce Knight 28 times for 758 yards and 11 scores for the Bears, who edged Lisbon, 13-6, in the second round. Gladbrook-Reinbeck ended BGM's season last year, winning a second-round playoff game, 56-14. The Rebels are led by Eric Stoakes, who has run for 1,129 yards and 19 TDs. Jake Schuman has passed for 1,369 yards and 16 scores, and Ty Eiffler has nine tackles for loss and 3.5 total sacks for Gladbrook-Reinbeck.
8-PLAYER: No. 2 DON BOSCO (9-0) at No. 6 ELKADER CENTRAL (11-0)
When and where: 7 p.m., at Elkader
Overview: Both teams have dominated their way to the quarterfinals. The Dons are looking for their third trip to the UNI-Dome, reaching consecutive titles games and winning the 2013 state crown. Don Bosco has rushed for 3,012 yards, including 1,059 from Nick Mangrich. The Dons defense has dominated, holding opponents to 143 yards and a little more than 8.5 points per game, while scoring 54 or more in each game. Don Bosco topped Turkey Valley, 74-34, in the second round. Elkader Central is an offensive power, leading 8-player football with 4,529 total yards, including 2,747 on the ground. Central averages 62.7 points per game. Derek Ehrhardt leads the way with 1,516 passing yards and Aaron Hoth is the top rusher with 1,410 yards and 22 TDs. Hoth had 130 yards and a TD in a 28-14 second-round win over HLV.
l Comments: (319) 368-8857; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com
Cedar Rapids Washington's Tavian Patrick (22) tries to evade a tickle by Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Samuel Pape (99) during the first half of a football game at Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids on Friday, September 4, 2015. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)