Jeff Johnson

Coach and General Manager Mark Carlson doesn’t think there’s much significance to it, but his Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have 12 players on the opening-day roster who have played at least one game previously with the club. The Riders begin the United States Hockey League regular season Thursday afternoon in Pittsburgh against the Lincoln Stars.

When you need to understand the wonders of high school football in Eastern Iowa, people seek our answers. Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, Nathan Ford and K.J. Pilcher address midseason MVP candidates, deep talent pools in the Metro, midseason surprises and whether seven classes work.

Central City’s football team moved to 4-0 Friday night with a 44-20 win over Midland. The Wildcats have their best team since they made the Eight-Player playoffs in 2018.

The South Bend Cubs scored four runs in the top of the first inning and rolled past the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 9-3, Friday night in the deciding third game of their Midwest League Western Division championship playoff series.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, on one hit, three walks, a hit by pitch and run-scoring balk to beat the South Bend Cubs, 5-3, in Game 2 of the Midwest League Western Division playoff series. The winner-take-all Game 3 is Friday night in Cedar Rapids.

Nevada’s football team has played quarterbacks Nate Cox and Shane Illingworth in both its games this season. Both are listed as potential starters for Saturday night’s game against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The Gazette's Jeff Johnson, Jeff Linder and K.J. Pilcher discuss the parity in Class 1A, more takeaways from Week 3 and Week 4 games to watch on the latest Prep Football Huddle podcast.

Christian Janis missed most of last season for the Iowa City West football game after breaking his collarbone in the third quarter of its opening game. The senior wide receiver has posted some impressive numbers through West’s first three games this season, including seven touchdowns.

The South Bend Cubs scratched across a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally past the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 2-1, Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Midwest League Western Division championship playoff series.

Shane Falco approves our answers to Iowa high school football questions. Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, Nathan Ford and K.J. Pilcher talk Week 2 wins, defenses, upcoming games and what programs could make good reality TV.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels have qualified for the Midwest League playoffs all nine years they have been affiliated with the Minnesota Twins. This year’s team plays South Bend in the Western Division finals, which begin Tuesday.

South Bend beat the Cedar Rapids Kernels in Sunday’s regular-season finale, 9-2. The Kernels went 73-58 overall. These teams face off in the Midwest League playoffs, beginning Tuesday night.

Cedar Rapids Xavier’s football team put up a 27-point second quarter and limited Dubuque Wahlert to 1 yard in the first half in a 40-7 victory.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s football team came oh, so close to ending its losing streak, but fell in overtime to Davenport Central, 19-12, Thursday night at Kingston Stadium. The J-Hawks have lost 20 straight.

NIL is the first topic on this week’s Prep Football Huddle podcast. Then, it’s back to the field. Jeff Johnson, Jeff Linder and K.J. Pilcher discuss the Iowa high school football teams and players that had the best performances last week, plus the games to watch this week.