Jeff Johnson

Teams like Cedar Rapids Prairie, Linn-Mar and North Linn are climbing The Gazette’s Iowa high school football rankings after big Week 3 wins. The Prep Football Huddle podcast discusses what stood out last week and the Week 4 games that might shake up the next poll.

How is Linn-Mar making co-head coaches work? Which 0-3 team is in desperate need of a victory? Sifting through the Class 5A jumble and identifying coaches who would make good podcast hosts. The Gazette’s Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Nathan Ford share their thoughts on these Iowa high school football topics.

Iowa used a big second half and dominant rushing performance to get past a stubborn Troy team Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. Here’s a look at some key numbers and notes from the game.

Senior running back Dylan Muszynski rushed 25 times for 272 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion as Class 5A No. 8 Linn-Mar beat Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 21-7, Friday night at Kingston Stadium

Defenseman Nikita Konevych of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders came to the United States three years ago at the age of 15 to pursue his hockey dreams. He hasn’t been home to Ukraine since because of the Russian invasion of his country two years ago. His family insists he stay here, though they live a literal day-to-day existence in their war-torn country.

When Ed Miles first got the head football coaching job at Cedar Rapids Jefferson, he met a freshman named L.J. Nyenow Jr., who told him he was “a hooper,” a basketball player. Miles coaxed him into playing football as well, and Nyenow has emerged as a legitimate Division I college talent.

Which Iowa high school football teams made the biggest statements in Week 2? We look back at some key Gazette-area games and how those results shook up the rankings on the Prep Football Huddle.

What teams have made big strides in the opening weeks? Why the disparity in 8-Player District 7? Most impressive start and your top fantasy league picks? The Gazette’s Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Nathan Ford share their thoughts on these topics.

For the first time in 11 seasons as an affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, the Cedar Rapids Kernels failed to make the Midwest League playoffs. They still finished with a winning overall record, with a number of players moving up in the Twins farm system, including one who made the major leagues.

A clutch late drive and even more clutch 54-yard field goal with six seconds left by Kyle Konrardy gave the Iowa State Cyclones a 20-19 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes in Saturday’s Cy-Hawk Game at Kinnick Stadium.

Sophomore quarterback Cash Parks completed 27 of 42 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns as Class 4A No. 7 Cedar Rapids Xavier beat 3A top-ranked Williamsburg, 29-27 in a thriller of a prep football game Friday night.

Rudy Guimond is a Quebec resident, Yale commit and Detroit Red Wings draft pick. The 19-year-old goaltender hopes to have a strong second season for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, who begin preseason play this weekend.

Cedar Rapids Prairie head football coach Kyle Knock coaxed his father, Don, out of retirement this season to help coach the Hawks offensive linemen.

Walker Jenkins was the first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins last year. Kaelen Culpepper was Minnesota’s first-round pick this year. They find themselves together as members of the Cedar Rapids Kernels to end this baseball season.

The Prep Football Huddle podcast reviews Week 1 of the Iowa high school football season with takeaways including a young Cedar Rapids Xavier team’s potential, Clear Creek Amana’s new era, Class 5A rankings upheaval and more.