Week 4 football primer

Week 4 football capsules for key area games:

LINN-MAR at CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Thursday, at Kingston Stadium

TV: KCRG 9.2

Records and rankings: Linn-Mar is 1-2; Class 4A No. 7 Washington is 2-1.

Overview: Linn-Mar reached the win column last week in impressive style, a 50-14 throttling of previously unbeaten Clinton behind five touchdown passes by Reese Phillips. Daniel Gorsich caught four of them, and had eight receptions in all for 151 yards. Gorsich is third in 4A in receiving yards, with 338. Washington made a nice rebound last week after suffering a Week 2 loss to Cedar Rapids Kennedy, handling Iowa City West, 42-13. T.J. Vogel threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns; Isaiah Nimmers caught six passes for 145 yards and two TDs.

CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY at PLEASANT VALLEY

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Bettendorf

Records and rankings: Class 4A fifth-ranked Kennedy is 3-0; No. 10 Pleasant Valley is 2-1.

Overview: This is a stark contrast to recent tradition for Kennedy, which had built the reputation of starting slow and finishing with a flourish. There's no delay this year, and the Cougars have matched their win total from 2014. Tyler Dralle ranks No. 1 among rushers in Class 4A, with 465 yards on a whopping 88 carries. He has scored five touchdowns. Pleasant Valley suffered its first loss last week, 27-3, to Bettendorf. The teams have played contrasting styles of games the first three weeks, with Kennedy averaging 34.7 points per game. PV, on the other hand, relies on a strong defense (15.7 ppg allowed) to stay afloat.

DAVENPORT WEST at CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Kingston Stadium

Records and rankings: West is 3-0; Jefferson is 2-1. Both teams are unranked.

Overview: Call this one the Early-Season Surprise Bowl. Jefferson has won two games in a row after a competitive opening loss to Cedar Rapids Washington, handling Cedar Rapids Prairie, 55-37, then whipping Davenport North, 35-6. North is a common opponent for these teams, taking West to the wire before falling, 16-14. Jefferson quarterback Jared Eivins has rushed for 219 yards and passed for 383, with a combined nine touchdowns. West's Dot Combs ranks fifth in 4A rushing at 434 yards, with seven TDs.

IOWA CITY WEST at IOWA CITY HIGH

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Bates Field

TV: KCRG 9.2

Records and rankings: West is 0-3; City High is 1-2. Both teams are unranked.

Overview: For the second straight year, the Battle for the Boot contains a pair of teams below .500. But this ought to be a very good matchup. City High picked up its first win last week, 26-10 over Ames. Jared Taylor passed for 232 yards and Sarrive Rukakiza converted all four of his field goal attempts. West has met three opponents with a combined record of 8-1, and has faced arguably the toughest early schedule in 4A. Junior receivers Devontae Lane and Oliver Martin have combined for 32 catches for 574 yards for the Trojans.

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE at NORTH SCOTT

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Eldridge

Records and rankings: Prairie is 1-2; North Scott is 0-3. Both teams are unranked.

Overview: Prairie has dropped two straight games, but nothing is ailing the Hawks' offense, which is averaging a healthy 32 points per game. Problem is, the Hawks have sprung a leak defensively, surrendering 97 points in the past two weeks. Jalen Rima is a big-play threat on offense (he averages 12.7 yards per rush and 20.8 yards per catch), and on special teams. North Scott has endured difficulties on offense, allowing only 7 points per game. The Lancers were shut out last week at Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

DeWITT CENTRAL at CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Saints Field

Records and rankings: Central is 0-3 overall, 0-1 Class 3A District 4; third-ranked Xavier is 2-0, 1-0.

Overview: The first three weeks haven't been without drama for Xavier. The Saints endured a pregame thunderstorm in Week 1 that canceled their game with West Des Moines Dowling, then they won by slim margins in their next two games - 14-7 over Davenport Assumption, then 22-19 over Solon, in which the Saints rallied for two touchdowns in the final 10 minutes. Bryce Schulte connected with Nick Stark for the game-winner, a 58-yarder with 2:03 left. That sort of drama is unlikely to be necessary this week against Central, though the Sabers did compete toe to toe last week with Dubuque Wahlert before falling, 24-19.

SOLON at MARION

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Thomas Park Field

Records and rankings: Solon is 1-2 overall, 0-1 Class 3A District 4; Marion is 0-3, 0-0. Both are unranked.

Overview: It was hoped that this would be a bounceback season for Marion, but it hasn't worked out that way. The Indians' losing streak has reached 11 games, and the season has been speckled by controversy. Coach Tony Perkins missed a game for unspecified reasons, and his brother, Nick has been dismissed as an assistant. The Indians had a chance to win last week, but fell to Cascade, 29-26. Solon has endured the toughest part of the schedule, which included a 22-19 loss to Cedar Rapids Xavier last week. The Spartans led that game 19-7 before giving up two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

EDDYVILLE EBF at IOWA CITY REGINA

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Regina

Records and rankings: EBF is 1-2 overall, 1-0 Class 1A District 6; top-ranked Regina is 3-0, 1-0.

Overview: It's extremely unlikely that Regina will be tested between now and Week 8, when it hosts Cedar Rapids Xavier in a non-district game. After downing Solon in a Week 1 turnoverfest, the Regals blasted their next two opponents by a combined 114-30, and it's unlikely that the Rockets will provide much resistance. Regina's Nick Phillips has rushed for 347 yards and five touchdowns, and has caught 11 passes for 177 yards and three scores. He's pretty handy on defense too, with three interceptions.

CEDAR VALLEY CHRISTIAN at ELKADER CENTRAL

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Elkader

Records and rankings: Cedar Valley is 1-2 overall, 0-1 8-Player District 4; eighth-rated Central is 3-0, 1-0.

Overview: After ringing up 70-plus points in each of its last two games, Central is heavily favored against the Huskies. Aaron Hoth is the Warriors' new featured back, with 475 yards and eight touchdowns. Cedar Valley has lost two straight after opening with a rout of Harmony. The Huskies appear to have a winnable game on the horizon next week, at home against Lansing Kee.

INDEPENDENCE at WAVERLY-SHELL ROCK

When and where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Waverly

Records and rankings: Ninth-ranked Independence is 3-0 overall, 1-0 Class 3A District 3; WSR is 2-1, 0-1.

Overview: Independence is making its first appearance in the Gazette/KCRG/KGYM rankings, and if the Mustangs can get past this week's challenge, they have a legitimate chance to get to a Week 8 showdown with West Delaware as an unbeaten. Nicholas Holt has been a prolific runner, ranking third among Class 3A backs with 562 yards. He has rushed for eight touchdowns. Waverly-Shell Rock is coming off its first loss, 47-25 last week to West Delaware.

WEST DELAWARE at VINTON-SHELLSBURG

When and where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Vinton

Records and rankings: Second-rated West Delaware is 3-0 overall, 1-0 Class 3A District 3; Vinton-Shellsburg is 2-1, 1-0.

Overview: West Delaware has been a pick-your-poison squad, and both the run and pass attacks have been lethal to opponents in a three-game offensive avalanche that has netted 47.3 points per game - against good competition. Coy Roussell leads the all-class rushing derby by nearly 100 yards; he has netted 659 yards on 60 carries for eight touchdowns. Stack the box? Well, Max Ridenour is No. 2 in 3A in passing yards (651) and Sam Maloney has a 3A-best 463 receiving yards, and eight of his 12 catches have gone for touchdowns. Vinton-Shellsburg is 2-1 despite scoring just 20 points in three games; the Vikings' defense is No. 4 in 3A, yielding just 11.3 points per game.

DYERSVILLE BECKMAN at WAUKON

When and where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Waukon

Records and rankings: Eighth-ranked Beckman is 2-1 overall, 1-0 Class 2A District 3; No. 6 Waukon is 3-0, 0-0.

Overview: After a 3-6 season in 2014, Waukon appeared poised for a big step forward this fall and has not disappointed. The next two games (they're at North Fayette Valley in Week 5) will have a big say in how far the Indians truly have progressed. This is a matchup of two of the most prolific quarterbacks in 2A: Waukon's Peyton Hesse has passed for 695 yards and 11 touchdowns while Beckman's Sam Stelken has thrown for 588 yards. Waukon's Wyatt Wille has caught 15 passes for 346 yards.

The Gazette/KCRG/KGYM ranked teams - who and where they play. All games are Friday unless noted.

Class 4A

1. West Des Moines Valley (3-0) is at No. 3 West Des Moines Dowling (2-0).

2. Bettendorf (3-0) is at Davenport Central (1-2), Thursday.

3. West Des Moines Dowling (2-0) hosts No. 1 West Des Moines Valley (3-0).

4. Cedar Falls (3-0) is at Urbandale (1-2).

5. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (3-0) is at No. 10 Pleasant Valley (2-1).

6. Johnston (3-0) hosts Waukee (1-2).

7. Cedar Rapids Washington (2-1) hosts Linn-Mar (1-2), Thursday.

8. Fort Dodge (3-0) is at Waterloo East (0-3).

9. Ankeny (2-1) hosts Des Moines North (0-3).

10. Pleasant Valley (2-1) hosts No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (3-0).

Class 3A

1. Pella (3-0) is at No. 7 Norwalk (3-0).

2. West Delaware (3-0) is at Vinton-Shellsburg (2-1).

3. Cedar Rapids Xavier (2-0) hosts DeWitt Central (0-3).

4. Sioux City Heelan (3-0) is at Spencer (2-1).

5. Webster City (3-0) hosts Algona (3-0).

6. Dallas Center-Grimes (2-1) is at No. 7 Harlan (3-0).

7. Harlan (3-0) hosts No. 6 Dallas Center-Grimes (2-1).

7. Norwalk (3-0) hosts No. 1 Pella (3-0).

9. Independence (3-0) is at Waverly-Shell Rock (2-1).

10. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (3-0) hosts Sergeant Bluff-Luton (2-1).

Class 2A

1. Spirit Lake (3-0) is at Okoboji (2-1).

2. Albia (3-0) hosts North Polk (2-1).

3. South Tama (3-0) hosts Union (1-2).

4. Baxter CMB (3-0) is at Nevada (2-1).

5. Anamosa (3-0) is at Northeast (1-2).

6. Waukon (3-0) hosts No. 8 Dyersville Beckman (2-1).

7. North Fayette Valley (2-1) is at Oelwein (0-3).

8. Dyersville Beckman (2-1) is at No. 6 Waukon (3-0).

9. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (1-2) hosts MOC-Floyd Valley (2-1).

10. Garner-Hayfield/Ventura (3-0) hosts Hampton-Dumont (2-1).

Class 1A

1. Iowa City Regina (3-0) hosts Eddyville EBF (1-2).

2. Dike-New Hartford (3-0) is at Clayton Ridge (2-1).

3. West Branch (3-0) hosts North Cedar (0-3).

4. Hinton (3-0) is at Hartley HMS (0-3).

5. Madrid (3-0) hosts Ogden (1-2).

6. Panorama (3-0) is at Woodward-Granger (1-2).

7. South Winneshiek (2-1) hosts New Hampton (2-1).

8. Underwood (3-0) is at Southwest Valley (1-2).

8. West Lyon (2-1) is at Emmetsburg (2-1).

10. Pella Christian (2-1) hosts Sigourney-Keota (1-2).

Class A

1. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (2-1) is at No. 8 Denver (2-1).

2. BGM (3-0) hosts North Mahaska (1-2).

3. Belmond-Klemme (3-0) is at North Butler (2-1).

4. Audubon (3-0) hosts No. 8 Logan-Magnolia (2-1).

5. Montezuma (3-0) is at Lynnville-Sully (1-2).

6. Algona Garrigan (3-0) hosts Mason City Newman (1-2).

7. Bedford (3-0) hosts Earlham (2-1).

8. Denver (2-1) hosts No. 1 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (2-1).

9. Logan-Magnolia (2-1) is at No. 4 Audubon (3-0).

10. South O'Brien (3-0) hosts West Sioux (3-0).

8-Player

1. Newell-Fonda (3-0) is at Kingsley-Pierson (4-0).

2. Fremont-Mills (3-0) hosts Nishnabotna (1-2).

3. Don Bosco (1-0) hosts Meskawki Settlement (1-3).

4. Glidden-Ralston (3-0) is at East Union (2-1).

5. Marcus MMC (3-0) is idle.

6. HLV (4-0) hosts Tri-County (1-3).

7. Janesville (3-0) is idle.

8. Elkader Central (3-0) hosts Cedar Valley Christian (1-2).

9. Coon Rapids-Bayard (2-1) is at Adair-Casey (0-3).

10. Colo-Nesco (4-0) hosts Dunkerton (0-4).

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