Jeff Johnson

Can Cedar Rapids Jefferson top rival Cedar Rapids Washington to reach 5-0? Offenses vs. Defenses? Midseason awards? Best mascots? The Gazette’s Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Nathan Ford share their insights on these Iowa high school football topics.

First-year head coach Mike Tangen has led Decorah’s football team to a 4-0 start, including a 21-14 win Friday night over Class 3A sixth-ranked Independence. The sixth-ranked Vikings begin Class 4A district play this coming week at Mason City.

Pleasant Valley runs a unique double-wing offense and it bamboozled Cedar Rapids Prairie’s defense Friday night at John Wall Field. The Class 5A eight-ranked Spartans scored points on all six possessions to beat No. 10 Prairie, 38-21.

Gordon Rundquist died Friday in Iowa City after a short illness. His 559 head coaching victories at West Branch and Maquoketa Valley are 24th all-time in state boys’ basketball history.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson knocked off Des Moines East, 24-8, Thursday night at Kingston Stadium. The J-Hawks have a 4-0 record, the same as they had through four games last season. Jefferson lost its final five games in 2023. We’ll see what happens this season.

Quarterback Max Brosmer transferred to Minnesota for his final season of college football eligibility after an FCS All-America career at New Hampshire. He gives the Golden Gophers a passing threat they haven’t had for years. Oh, and he was born in the state of Iowa.

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders won all five of their preseason games and hope to carry that momentum into the United States Hockey League’s regular season. That regular season begins Thursday for the club at the league’s Fall Classic in suburban Pittsburgh.

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.