Week 1 Eastern Iowa high school football preview capsules

Area football capsules for Week 1:

Cedar Rapids Xavier at Iowa City Regina

Time and site — 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Regina

Records and rankings — Class 3A third-ranked Xavier was 11-1 last season; 1A No. 1 Regina was 11-2.

Overview — This is the fourth time these parochial powerhouses have met, with Xavier holding a 2-1 lead, including a 35-26 triumph last year at Saints Field. Xavier returns just three starters from last year's 3A state-semifinal team. One of them is Quinn Schulte, who moves from receiver to quarterback. Regina was the 1A runner-up last year after winning six consecutive state championships. Michael Conlon passed for 1,673 yards and 19 TDs as a junior; Isaac Vollstedt ran for 1,114 yards and 15 TDs.

Cedar Rapids Prairie at Cedar Rapids Washington

Time and site — 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Kingston Stadium

Records and rankings — Class 4A No. 9 Prairie was 9-2 last season; No. 6 Washington was 10-2.

Overview — Prairie was the feel-good team of the Metro last year, rising from 4-6 to a district-championship season. The Hawks won nine straight games after a 27-14 Week 1 loss to the Warriors. Prairie advanced to the second round of the playoffs, Washington reached the semifinals, and both were eliminated by Iowa City West. Friday is the debut for new coach Maurice Blue, who took over after Paul James left for Linn-Mar. Washington has its quarterback back in Brian Kunde (1,821 passing yards, 19 TDs), while Prairie has a playmaker in Levi Usher (24 catches, 651 yards, 9 TDs).

Iowa City High at Linn-Mar

Time and site — 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Linn-Mar Stadium

Records and rankings — City High was 8-3 last season; Linn-Mar was 3-6.

Overview — Paul James starts his new job at Linn-Mar, needing only three wins to reach 100 for his career. But he has some rebuilding to do. The Lions surrendered nearly 35 points per game last year. Isaiah Garman is back after leading the Lions with 57 tackles last season. City High beat the Lions, 26-6, in last year's opener on the way to a season in which the Little Hawks reached the 4A quarterfinals. A lot of the key Little Hawks have graduated, but Zach Jones (39 catches, 556 yards, 4 TDs) is back.

Union Community at Marion

Time and site — 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Thomas Park Field

Records and rankings — Class 2A fifth-rated Union was 11-2 last season; Marion was 5-4.

Overview — Union won this game last year, 35-0, at LaPorte City, and eventually made it all the way to the 2A championship game before falling to Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley. The Knights welcome back a top-shelf pass-catch combo in Troy Hanus (1,798 passing yards, 17 TDs) and Koby Alpers (50 catches, 687 yards, 8 TDs). Marion turned it around drastically after the Union loss, finishing 5-4. Blair Brooks caught 39 passes for 599 yards and five touchdowns. QB Trevor Paulsen threw for 937 yards and 10 scores.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy at Muscatine

Time and site — 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Muscatine

Records and rankings — Both teams were 5-4 last season.

Overview — Kennedy hopes to avenge a 29-25 loss to Muskies in last year's opener, and has the weapons to do it. The Cougars appear to be pretty well set in the skill positions, led by guys like quarterback B.J. White (754 passing yards, 10 touchdowns) and a backfield that returns its top three rushers, including Keyshawn Allers and Rizaiha Maide. Brock Hromidko recovered three fumbles. Muscatine was hit hard by graduation after last season, and the Cougars should be substantial favorites in this one.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson at Pleasant Valley

Time and site — 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Bettendorf (PV High School)

Records and rankings — Jefferson was 2-7 last season; Pleasant Valley was 4-5.

Overview — After back-to-back playoff appearances in 2014 and 2015 (including a first-round win in '15), Jefferson slid backwards last year. The J-Hawks started 0-6 (including a 31-7 opening loss to PV) before playing good ball at the end, beating Waterloo East and Mason City, and scaring Cedar Falls. Jefferson has some defensive pieces back — four of its top five tacklers from 2016 return. Pleasant Valley also was at its best last year in the late stages, winning three of its last four games, and the Spartans should be a District 6 contender.

Iowa City West at Southeast Polk

Time and site — 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Pleasant Hill

Records and rankings — Class 4A fourth-rated West was 10-3 last season; Southeast Polk was 5-5.

Overview — West was a district runner-up last year, then caught fire in the postseason and marched all the way to the Class 4A championship game before falling short against West Des Moines Dowling. Oliver Martin has departed for the University of Michigan, leaving quarterback Evan Flitz looking for new receivers. Flitz completed better than 70 percent of his passes last year for 2,237 yards and 22 touchdowns (against five interceptions). Southeast Polk's Gavin Williams netted 805 rushing yards and caught 22 passes last year — as a freshman.

Solon at Mount Vernon

Time and site — 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Mount Vernon (Cornell College)

Records and rankings — Solon was 9-2 last season; Class 2A second-rated Mount Vernon was 9-3.

Overview — Mount Vernon has made two straight appearances in the UNI-Dome, reaching the 2A final in 2015 and the semifinals last season. But this series has been all Solon; the Spartans have won 14 straight times against the Mustangs, including a 26-21 verdict last year. Mount Vernon brings back quarterback Drew Adams, who led the state (all classes) in passing yards, with 2,785, and his top receiver in Cale Snedden. Solon has an anchor on the line in University of Iowa commitment Tyler Linderbaum, who will help pave the way for Kendrick Harris (883 rushing yards, 12 TDs in 2016).

Decorah at North Fayette Valley

Time and site — 7:30 p.m. Friday, at West Union

Records and rankings — Decorah was 5-4 last season; North Fayette Valley was 10-1.

Overview — North Fayette Valley handled its 3A opponent, 28-7, in last year's opener that ignited the TigerHawks to perfect regular season. It ended in the 2A quarterfinals with a loss to Union Community. NFV faces a rebuilding chore, but welcome back its top tackler in Jace Burrow (55.5). Decorah won its last three games to finish last season after a 2-4 start, and returns a pretty good corps with hopes of moving up among the top contenders in 3A District 3, including QB Brannan Hogan and RB Jake Muhlbauer.

West Liberty at West Branch

Time and site — 7:30 p.m. Friday, at West Branch

Records and rankings — West Liberty was 5-4 last season; West Branch was 6-4.

Overview — A surprise contender in Class 2A District 5 for much of the season (starting 4-0 in district play), West Liberty has the potential for even bigger things this season, and a win Friday would certainly put the Comets on that path. Senior Joe Kelly rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last year, and the Comets have several key defensive players back, including Kelly and Spencer Daufeldt (who recorded 16 tackles for loss). The Bears begin life without Luke Lenoch, and will rely on a relatively experienced defense to keep them afloat early. West Branch won, 40-20, last year.

Springville at Central City

Time and site — 7 p.m. Friday, at Central City

Records and rankings — Springville is 1-0; Central City is 0-1.

Overview — Both teams have reason for optimism after Week Zero contests. Springville whipped West Central, 51-12, last week as Zach March and Henry Hoogland each reached triple-digits in rushing yards (with Hoogland scoring four touchdowns). Central City fell, 26-18, to a Lone Tree outfit that went 8-1 last year, but the Wildcats were stout defensively. Braxton Van Alst completed just 4 of 10 passes, but those four completions netted 33.5 yards per catch, and two touchdowns. The Orioles won last year's Tractor Bowl, 55-13.

Iowa Valley at HLV

Time and site — 7 p.m. Friday, at Victor

Records and rankings — Both teams are 1-0. HLV is ranked No. 10 in 8-Player.

Overview — Iowa Valley's first foray into eight-player football netted a share of a district championship. The Tigers defeated HLV, 57-34, last year at Marengo. Both teams impressed in Week Zero. Ben Smith ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more in Iowa Valley's 68-22 rout of Clarksville, and HLV got 164 rushing yards and five touchdowns from Chase Sternhagen in a 67-20 triumph over WACO.

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