Week 6 football primer

Week 6 football capsules for key area games:

CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY at LINN-MAR

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Linn-Mar Stadium

Records and rankings: No. 4 Kennedy is 5-0 overall, 1-0 Class 4A District 5; Linn-Mar is 2-3, 1-0.

Overview: A year after starting 0-6, Kennedy is a win away from flipping that completely. Only one back in the state has toted the ball more frequently than Kennedy's Tyler Dralle, whose 150 carries have netted 779 yards - a figure that ranks No. 2 in Class 4A - and seven touchdowns. The Cougars have allowed just two touchdowns in the past three games. All five of Linn-Mar games have been decided by 14 points or more, including a 54-0 rout of Waterloo East last week. Daniel Gorsich ranks ninth in 4A in receiving yards (425) and has six receiving TDs to his credit.

CEDAR FALLS at CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON

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

Records and rankings: No. 9 Cedar Falls is 4-1 overall, 1-0 Class 4A District 5; Jefferson is 3-2, 0-1.

Overview: Cedar Falls recovered from its first loss of the season, pulling away from Waterloo West in the final quarter of a 28-14 victory last week. Jefferson was beaten by Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 35-7, ending a three-game winning streak. The J-Hawks will try to slow Cedar Falls' Jodan DeGroote, who has rushed for 534 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jefferson's Valentino Green and Jacob Beaton have two interceptions apiece.

CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON at OTTUMWA

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

Records and rankings: No. 5 Washington is 4-1 overall, 1-0 Class 4A District 6; Ottumwa is 3-2, 0-1.

Overview: Washington appears to be catching its stride; the Warriors have won three straight games (scoring 126 points in the process). They opened their district schedule with a 35-21 win at previously unbeaten Muscatine last week. Ottumwa probably doesn't have the firepower to stay with the Warriors. The Bulldogs have lost their last two games, including a 35-17 decision to Iowa City High last week.

IOWA CITY HIGH at CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE

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

Records and rankings: City High is 3-2 overall, 1-0 Class 4A District 6; Prairie is 2-3, 1-0. Both teams are unranked.

Overview: The winner is likely to remain in a first-place tie with Cedar Rapids Washington in the 4A-6 race. With each passing week, last year's atypical 2-7 season is becoming a more distant memory for City High. The Little Hawks have won three straight games, capped by last week's 35-17 conquest of Ottumwa. Jason Jones is a dynamic playmaker, with 32 catches for 567 yards and five touchdowns. Prairie pounded Burlington, 57-7, last week. Jalen Rima averages 26 yards per reception, and has two special-teams returns for touchdowns.

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER at WESTERN DUBUQUE

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

Records and rankings: No. 3 Xavier is 4-0 overall, 3-0 Class 3A District 4; Western Dubuque is 1-4, 0-2.

Overview: Xavier is halfway to a district championship, and the Saints pay a visit to the team that upended them 7-6 last year in district play. Xavier was impressive last week in a 42-13 drubbing of Maquoketa (it was 42-0 at halftime), getting a balanced attack behind Bryce Schulte in the air and Maliki Wilson on the ground. Schulte has completed 64 percent of his passes for 715 yards and 10 TDs. Wilson tied a school record with four running TDs last week. Western Dubuque is coming off a 20-17 loss to Dubuque Wahlert.

IOWA CITY WEST at BETTENDORF

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

Records and rankings: West is 1-4; Class 4A second-ranked Bettendorf is 5-0.

Overview: According to the BC Moore computer, West has faced the second toughest schedule in 4A. The Trojans probably face the best team on their schedule in this non-district game. Bettendorf ranks in the top five in 4A in scoring offense (37.8 ppg) and defense (11.0 ppg allowed). Bettendorf QB Owen Ridenour has passed for 818 yards and 11 touchdowns. West counters with the potent receiving tandem of Oliver Martin and Devontae Lane, who have combined for 60 catches for 1,028 yards and nine touchdowns.

MAQUOKETA at MARION

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

Records and rankings: Maquoketa is 3-2 overall, 2-1 Class 3A District 4; Marion is 0-5, 0-2. Both teams are unranked.

Overview: Despite last week's drubbing at the hands of Cedar Rapids Xavier, Maquoketa is in good shape for a playoff berth if it can bounce back Friday. Marion has dropped 13 straight games, but two of the last three have been competitive. The Indians fell to DeWitt Central, 21-14, last week. Kory Walsh has rushed for 612 yards (7.3 per carry) and three touchdowns.

IOWA CITY REGINA at COLUMBUS COMMUNITY

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Columbus Junction

Records and rankings: Top-rated Regina is 5-0 overall, 3-0 Class 1A District 6; Columbus is 2-3, 1-1.

Overview: Regina already is clear of the pack in the district and poised to run away with crown. The Regals have outscored their first three district foes by a combined 162-12. Friday's game is likely to be more of the same. Nick Phillips has rushed for 516 yards and seven touchdowns, and caught 15 passes for 230 yards and three more TDs. Quarterback Nathan Stenger has passed for 615 yards and run for 261, with a combined 15 TDs. Columbus' Maurico Ramirez is seventh in 1A with 752 rushing yards. He has rushed for 10 TDs.

WILLIAMSBURG at MID-PRAIRIE

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

Records and rankings: No. 6 Williamsburg is 4-1 overall, 3-0 Class 2A District 5; No. 7 Mid-Prairie is 5-0, 2-0.

Overview: Two of the best defenses in 2A collide. Williamsburg ranks fourth in the class, yielding 10 points per game while Mid-Prairie is fifth at 11 points per game. Both have held three opponents to a touchdown or less. Mid-Prairie has ascended after a 4-6 campaign a year ago and is led by Ricky Vargas, who ranks 10th in 2A with 603 rushing yards. Vargas has scored eight touchdowns. Williamsburg counters with a strong air attack led by quarterback Vic Malloy (886 yards, 10 TD, 0 INT) and Noah Heitshusen (29 catches, 326 yards, 5 TDs).

MONTICELLO at ANAMOSA

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

TV: KCRG 9.2

Records and rankings: Monticello is 3-2 overall, 1-1 Class 2A District 4; No. 4 Anamosa is 5-0, 3-0.

Overview: Five weeks into the season, and Anamosa still hasn't received a stern test. The Raiders have won all of their games by at least three touchdowns, including last week's 45-22 win over Camanche, are scoring at a 43-point clip, and a 9-0 regular season appears to be a distinct possibility. But this is a rivalry game, and the Panthers will compete. Monticello's Garrett Rieniets is tied for the 2A lead in fumble recoveries, with three.

MAQUOKETA VALLEY at NORTH-LINN

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 3-2 overall, 3-0 Class A District 5. Both are unranked.

Overview: Both of these teams have taken off after district play began. Maquoketa Valley has proven there truly is life after Ryan Parmely. The Wildcats have become more diversified; they have another good runner in Alec McDowell (725 yards, nine touchdowns), but also have developed a solid passing game steered by Jeremy Fischer (566 yards, eight TDs). North-Linn likes to throw, and throw a lot. Logan Novak is fourth in Class A with 1,156 passing yards. His top targets are Ben Wolff and Brandon Stepanek, who have combined for 35 catches, 790 yards and 10 TDs.

DON BOSCO at HLV

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

Records and rankings: No. 2 Don Bosco is 3-0 overall, 2-0 8-Player District 5; No. 6 HLV is 5-0, 3-0.

Overview: Twelve of the 40 remaining unbeatens in Iowa hail from the 8-player game, and this is the lone game matching unbeaten vs. unbeaten this week. Don Bosco's schedule has been cut to a seven-game slate - one game was canceled due to scheduling, another by weather. In its shortened schedule, though, the Dons have blistered their opponents by a margin of 203-15. HLV has been nearly as dominant, scoring 49 points or more each game and holding four opponents to a touchdown or less. The Warriors' backfield trio of Dalton Kriegel, Wyatt Kaplan and Nate Van Buren has combined for 1,585 yards and 29 touchdowns.

OTHER GAMES INVOLVING METRO/IOWA CITY TEAMS

Cedar Valley Christian (1-4, 0-3 8-Player District 4) at Midland (3-2, 2-1), 7 p.m. Friday

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

Class 4A

1. West Des Moines Dowling (4-0) is at Sioux City East (4-1).

2. Bettendorf (5-0) hosts Iowa City West (1-4).

3. West Des Moines Valley (4-1) hosts Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln (1-4).

4. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (5-0) is at Linn-Mar (2-3).

5. Cedar Rapids Washington (4-1) is at Ottumwa (3-2).

6. Fort Dodge (5-0) is at Indianola (3-2).

7. Ankeny (4-1) hosts Des Moines East (3-2).

8. Waukee (3-2) is at Urbandale (3-2).

9. Cedar Falls (4-1) is at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (3-2).

9. Johnston (4-1) hosts Des Moines Roosevelt (0-5).

Class 3A

1. Pella (5-0) hosts Carlisle (3-2).

2. West Delaware (5-0) hosts Charles City (2-3).

3. Cedar Rapids Xavier (4-0) is at Western Dubuque (1-4).

4. Dallas Center-Grimes (4-1) hosts Atlantic (1-4).

5. Webster City (5-0) is at Iowa Falls-Alden (2-3).

6. Independence (5-0) hosts Crestwood (2-3).

7. Harlan (4-1) hosts Winterset (2-3).

8. Norwalk (4-1) hosts Chariton (4-1).

9. Glenwood (5-0) hosts Denison-Schleswig (0-5).

9. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (4-1) hosts Storm Lake (2-3).

Class 2A

1. Spirit Lake (5-0) is at Sioux Center (3-2).

2. Albia (5-0) hosts Davis County (1-4).

3. South Tama (5-0) hosts Roland-Story (2-2).

4. Anamosa (5-0) hosts Monticello (3-2).

5. North Fayette Valley (4-1) is at Dyersville Beckman (2-3).

6. Williamsburg (4-1) is at No. 7 Mid-Prairie (5-0).

7. Mid-Prairie (5-0) hosts No. 6 Williamsburg (4-1).

8. Mount Vernon (4-1) is at Center Point-Urbana (3-2).

9. Monroe PCM (4-1) hosts West Marshall (2-3).

10. Waukon (4-1) hosts Waterloo Columbus (0-5).

Class 1A

1. Iowa City Regina (5-0) is at Columbus Community (2-3).

2. Dike-New Hartford (5-0) hosts MFL MarMac (2-3).

3. West Branch (5-0) hosts Durant (1-4).

4. Hinton (5-0) hosts No. 9 West Lyon (4-1).

5. Madrid (5-0) is at Fort Dodge St. Edmond (2-3).

6. Panorama (5-0) hosts Van Meter (4-1).

7. South Winneshiek (4-1) is at Jesup (3-2).

8. Underwood (5-0) is at West Monona-Whiting (0-5).

9. West Lyon (4-1) is at No. 4 Hinton (5-0).

10. Avoca AHSTW (4-1) hosts Missouri Valley (3-2).

Class A

1. BGM (5-0) hosts Lynnville-Sully (3-2).

2. Algona Garrigan (5-0) hosts North Butler (2-3).

3. Denver (4-1) is at Ackley AGWSR (2-3).

4. Logan-Magnolia (4-1) is at Tri-Center (0-5).

5. West Sioux (5-0) is at LeMars Gehlen (0-5).

6. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (3-2) hosts North Tama (0-5).

6. Pleasantville (5-0) is at Earlham (4-1).

8. Audubon (4-1) is at Oakland Riverside (0-5).

9. Belmond-Klemme (4-1) is at North Union (0-5).

10. Montezuma (4-1) is at Colfax-Mingo (4-1).

8-Player

1. Newell-Fonda (5-0) is at Ar-We-Va (4-1).

2. Don Bosco (3-0) is at No. 6 HLV (5-0).

3. Glidden-Ralston (5-0) is at Adair-Casey (0-5).

4. Fremont-Mills (5-0) hosts Stanton (4-1).

4. Marcus MMC (4-0) is at Clay Central-Everly (0-5).

6. HLV (5-0) hosts No. 2 Don Bosco (3-0).

7. Janesville (4-0) hosts Tripoli (3-2).

8. Elkader Central (5-0) is at Turkey Valley (4-1).

9. Colo-Nesco (6-0) is idle.

10. Lenox (5-0) hosts East Mills (4-1).

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