Jeff Johnson

Chase Smith connected with Kye Smith for a 25-yard touchdown with 29 seconds left to give North Scott a 28-24 win, handing Decorah its first loss in the Class 4A state football quarterfinals.

Senior lineman Nathan Beitz leads the state in tackles for loss this high school football season. His play defensively and at center on offense has played an important part in Maquoketa Valley winning nine games in a row and advancing to the Class A playoff quarterfinals.

With Iowa high school football teams one win away from the UNI-Dome, The Gazette’s Prep Football Huddle podcast reviews last week’s playoff games and takes a class-by-class look at this week’s quarterfinals.

Pryce Sandfort played minimal minutes last season as a true freshman for the Iowa men’s basketball team. But he bulked up in the offseason, says he has gained confidence and showed in Monday night’s season opener that he will play a significant role for the Hawkeyes.

Forward Daniel Astapovich of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders played in the United States Hockey League two seasons ago. He spent last season in the lower-level North American Hockey League, getting another USHL shot this season.

Believe it or not, Payton Sandfort admitted to a case of nerves early in the Iowa men’s basketball team’s season-opening game Monday night at home against Texas A&M-Commerce. But he and his teammates eventually settled down and ran to an 89-67 victory

A closer look at Iowa’s 42-10 win Saturday night over Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium. This game usually is won by who has the better rushing attack, and that was definitely the Hawkeyes.

The Independence football team scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, including a 29-yard touchdown pass from E.J. Miller to Bryce Christian with 21 seconds left for a 21-14 win over defending state champion Williamsburg in a Class 3A football playoff first-round game Friday night.

Former Iowa center and graduate assistant coach A.J. Blazek is in his first season as offensive line coach at Wisconsin. The Badgers travel to Iowa City for a Saturday night game at Kinnick Stadium against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

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.