Week 1 area football capsules

Area capsules for Week 1 of the high school football season:

CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON vs. CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON

* Site and time: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Kingston Stadium (Washington is the home team, and fans sit on the west side)

* Records and rankings: Jefferson was 1-8 last season and is unranked; Washington (6-4) is No. 5 in Class 4A.

* Overview: Optimism is the buzzword on both sides of the river as the new season begins. Washington figures to be the Metro's brightest burning candle, with key returners all over the place from a team that won its final six regular season games last year. Lineman Julian Good-Jones has committed to Iowa State, and the Warriors are blessed with speed at the skill positions, led by QB Reid Snitker and wideouts Landen Akers and Isaiah Nimmers. The presence of quarterback Jesse Furrow, a move-in from Indiana, has vaulted hopes at Jefferson after years of suffering. Luke Sedlacek and Cameron Frazier are defensive returners, and the J-Hawks had a competitive sophomore squad last season.

LINN-MAR at CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE

* Site and time: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at John Wall Field

* Records and rankings: Linn-Mar was 2-7 last season; Prairie 5-5. Both teams are unranked.

* Overview: After two straight down seasons that didn't equate into postseason berths, Linn-Mar might be poised for a breakthrough. The Lions' roster is senior-laden, led by quarterback Ryan Schmidt, who ranks fourth among returning 4A passers with 1,716 yards last season. Linn-Mar's fate will ultimately be decided by the progress of a defense that yielded 42 points per game in 2013. Prairie has had back-to-back productive seasons under Mike Morrissey, and has a veteran quarterback of its own in Trey Beckman. Lineman Bryce Meeker has committed to Iowa State.

CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY at IOWA CITY WEST

* Site and time: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Trojan Field

* Records and rankings: Kennedy (8-4 last year) is unranked; West (9-2) is No. 8 in Class 4A.

* Overview: Rookie head coaches will inhabit both sidelines on the new artificial turf at West. Brian White takes over at Kennedy while Garrett Hartwig is the man at charge at West. Say adios to Kennedy's stack-I, ground-it-out offense that was quite successful. In its place will be a more balanced attack piloted by quarterback Sammy Lizarraga. Terrance Hall did a little bit of everything for the Cougars, rushing for 361 yards and collecting 75 tackles. Oliver Martin caught 20 passes last year as a freshman for West, and John Milani's 67 tackles were second-most on the team.

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER at WEST DES MOINES DOWLING

* Site and time: 7 p.m. Friday, at Valley Stadium, West Des Moines

* Records and rankings: Xavier (12-2 last year) is rated No. 2 in Class 3A; Dowling (14-0) is No. 1 in 4A.

* Overview: They played for the 4A championship last November, with Dowling rolling to a 44-13 triumph. Now, with the advent of district football, a juicy matchup like this is possible in the regular season. The Maroons are led by Iowa recruit Ryan Boyle at quarterback. Boyle passed for 1,833 yards and 21 touchdowns (against just three INTs) and ran for 1,332 yards last season. Xavier made it to two straight 4A finals with a 3A-sized enrollment, and is now playing 3A district football. The Saints were hit hard by graduation, but bring back their top tackler in Nic Ekland.

IOWA CITY REGINA at SOLON

* Site and time: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Solon

* Records and rankings: Class 2A No. 1 Regina was 14-0 last year; 3A No. 7 Solon was 11-2.

* Overview: Regina owns the state record with 56 straight wins, and if it prevails Friday, can set the state standard with an unbeaten streak of 57 in a row. The Regals have won four consecutive state titles, and this might be their best crew yet, led by quarterback Drew Cook (2,563 passing yards, 22-to-3 TD-to-INT mark) and running back Jake Brinkman (563 rushing yards, 13 TDs). Solon counters with a typically sound club; the Spartans bring back their featured back in Brandon Kramer, who rushed for 1,175 yards and eight scores, and probably will have the fastest guy on the field in Connor Ham, who averaged 23 yards per catch and is the top returning tackler.

CEDAR FALLS at IOWA CITY HIGH

* Site and time: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Bates Field

* Records and rankings: Cedar Falls (7-4 last year) is rated No. 6 in Class 4A; City High (8-3) is unranked.

* Overview: After 47 years, 344 victories and 25 playoff appearances, Pat Mitchell has stepped down as Cedar Falls coach, leaving Brad Remmert solely in charge. He'll have a typically talented team, one that's favored to win the 4A District 5 title. QB Trey Hansen is back, as are the top two tacklers (Rayce Willett and Jared Halterman). They'll be pursuing City High speedster Bryson Runge, who rushed for 286 yards last year and probably will be the featured back. Jason Jones caught 14 passes last season, two for touchdowns.

MARION at MOUNT VERNON

* Site and time: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Mount Vernon

* Records and rankings: Marion was 4-6 last season; Mount Vernon was 4-5. Both teams are unranked.

* Overview: A pair of teams hoping to push forward and put together a winning season after coming up a bit short in 2013. Both ends of Marion's Hardman-to-Cannoy connection have graduated, and the Indians' headliners now are twins Deshaun and Devin Quinn. Lance Pedersen takes the coaching reins at Mount Vernon after building a strong program at Wilton. He inherits a couple weapons in Herrmann Connor (18 catches, 277 yards) and Mickey Hines (460 rushing yards).

DECORAH at NORTH FAYETTE VALLEY

* Site and time: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at West Union

* Records and rankings: Class 3A No. 6 Decorah was 11-1 last season; 2A No. 2 North Fayette Valley was 11-2.

* Overview: The first year of the North Fayette Valley marriage was a great one, not ending until the 1A state semifinals. The honeymoon should continue this fall. The TigerHawks are up a class, but figure to be a major player in their new home. Josh Mackey and Derrick Kuehner rushed for more than 3,000 yards and 44 touchdowns between them last season, and Trevor Hurd spearheads the passing game. On defense, NFV welcomes back its top five tacklers from last year. In short, this team is stacked. Decorah is two years removed from a state-title season, and looks to reload after being hit by graduation. Jake Hovden rushed for 440 yards and eight TDs.

PELLA vs. WASHINGTON

* Site and time: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Washington, Iowa

* Records and rankings: Class 3A No. 4 Pella was 11-1 last year; 3A No. 5 Washington was 12-2.

* Overview: The top 3A-vs.-3A matchup statewide of the night. These teams split a pair of games last year, with Pella claiming the regular-season contest, 14-7, then the Demons more than getting even, 28-0, in the state quarterfinals. Washington QB Daryn Seibelius passed for 937 yards (and 13 touchdowns) and rushed for 774 yards (eight TDs), and will be counted on to do more after the graduation of Alex Coker. Pella has a top-flight signal-caller as well in junior Noah Clayberg, who rushed for 1,271 yards and passed for 703 a year ago, running for 21 TDs. Nathan Henry added 848 rushing yards.

SOUTH WINNESHIEK at WAUKON

* Site and time: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Waukon

* Records and rankings: Class 1A No. 3 South Winn was 9-3 last year; 2A No. 10 Waukon was 12-2.

* Overview: Waukon ignited a memorable season (one that ended in the 2A state finals) with a 52-0 pasting of South Winneshiek last year. It figures to be a lot more competitive this time around, because the Warriors are well fortified. Jordan Rommes is one of the best receivers around, catching 52 passes for 1,333 yards and 18 touchdowns last year. Ryan Hageman leads the ground attack while Tyler Numedahl and Hageman both collected more than 100 tackles. Waukon lost a lot of standouts from its runner-up team, but figures to rebuild quite well behind Jacob Ronan and Marshall Lyons.

LISBON vs. WEST BRANCH

* Site and time: 6 p.m. Friday, at West Branch

* Records and rankings: Lisbon was 8-3 last year; West Branch was 6-4. Both teams are unranked.

* Overview: This has developed into a competitive non-district rivalry between two traditionally strong programs. West Branch figures to contend for the 1A District 5 crown behind quarterback Lucas Lamont (1,517 passing yards, 335 passing yards), and received a lift when all-state lineman Jacob Giese moved in from Wilton. Lisbon returns a good portion of its defense, led by guys like Connor Woodward, Keegan Tritle and Benton Frey.

MAQUOKETA VALLEY at ALBURNETT

* Site and time: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Alburnett

* Records and rankings: Class A No. 1 Maquoketa Valley was 11-1 last year; Alburnett was 5-4.

* Overview: Expectations are sky-high at Maquoketa Valley after the Wildcats reached the 1A quarterfinals (their 24-7 loss to Iowa City Regina was the closest anybody played the Regals all season), then dropped a class. One big reason for the optimism is the return of Ryan Parmely, the state's top returning rusher after grinding out 2,544 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also collected 139 tackles. Alburnett returns a solid receiving corps, led by Kolton Rose (45 catches, 638 yards), plus leading tackler Connor Shulista, who recorded 111 stops last year as a sophomore.

OTHER GAMES INVOLVING METRO/IOWA CITY TEAMS

* Cedar Valley Christian (0-9 in 2013) at Harmony (0-0), 7 p.m. Friday

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