Jeff Johnson

All four schools in Iowa City are in the state football playoffs’ round of 16. Iowa City Regina won its Class 1A first-round game last week. For the first time in the 16-qualifier era of big school football, a public district has three qualifiers in Iowa City Liberty, Iowa City West and Iowa City High in Class 5A.

It’s all about the playoffs now with 16 teams remaining in each of the seven Iowa high school football classes. This episode of the Prep Football Huddle takes a class-by-class look at the brackets with games to watch and surprise teams to consider.

Of all things, Dakota Raabe of the Iowa Heartlanders was a surfer growing up in Southern California, a member of his high school’s surfing team.

A closer look at Iowa’s 40-14 win Saturday afternoon over Northwestern at Kinnick Stadium. After a sluggish start, the Hawkeyes kicked it into high gear, thanks to a Kaden Wetjen punt return for touchdown, three rushing TDs by Kaleb Johnson and Brendan Sullivan taking over at quarterback.

Cedar Rapids Prairie rushed for 327 yards to beat Iowa City West, 28-21, in the regular-season finale at John Wall Field. This game was won up front, so give mega props to the big uglies, as they call them, guys who never get any glory.

A player hazing scandal rocked the Northwestern football program last summer and cost head coach Pat Fitzgerald his job. David Braun took over on an interim basis, led the Wildcats to eight wins, including in a bowl. He got the job permanently and has guided his team through a 2024 season in which it has played home games at a temporary 12,000-seat stadium.

Lisbon’s Tiernan Boots is one of the top small-school sprinters in the state (as well as a high-end wrestler), and he is agreeable to play wherever on the football field his coaches believe is the best for the team.

Iowa high school football’s Week 8 was full of surprises and the Prep Football Huddle puts them into perspective on this week’s podcast episode.

Which teams are peaking for the postseason and who’s poised for a possible upset? Plus, players capable of taking over games and programs with the coolest uniforms. The Gazette’s Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Nathan Ford share their insights on these Iowa high school football topics.

Riese Zmolek played junior hockey for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, played college hockey and then played professionally for the Iowa Heartlanders. His brother, Will, played junior hockey for the RoughRiders and is in his first season with the Hearlanders.

A closer look at Iowa’s 32-20 loss Saturday night to Michigan State at Spartan Stadium. The Hawkeyes did little offensively and gave up a great amount defensively in a very disappointing Big Ten Conference loss.

Iowa City High’s football team won two earlier games this season by scoring last-second touchdowns and getting two-point conversions after them. But it wouldn’t be 3-for-3, as Linn-Mar stopped City High’s two-point try after a TD with 22.5 seconds left for a 28-27 victory.

The kid is humble, except perhaps when it comes to comparing himself with his older brother, Aiden. Central City senior Matthew Klostermann has set multiple school records this football season. And he gives all the credit to his teammates.

Linebacker Jordan Turner always dreamed of playing college football at Michigan State University. But the suburban Detroit native ended up at Wisconsin first, where he became a starter. He transferred after last season to fulfill his MSU dreams.

Forward Will Calverley was literally knocked out of game for the Iowa Heartlanders this past March at Cincinnati. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher and didn’t play again the rest of the ECHL season. After contemplating hanging up his skates for good, Calverley decided to continue to play and is an alternate captain for Iowa, which begins its season at home this weekend.