Jeff Johnson

With the release of the first official Iowa high school football RPI standings of the season, we break down what stands out on this week's Prep Football Huddle podcast.

The Gazette prep sports staff answers questions on hot teams and even hotter takes as fall continues and the high school football season reaches Week 7.

Waukon’s football team has advanced to the state playoff semifinals five years in a row and won two championships. Despite several key returning players, the Indians began this season 0-3. After a 28-6 win Friday night over Class 2A seventh-ranked Dubuque Wahlert, the Indians are back even at 3-3 and looking primed for another postseason run.

Cedar Rapids Washington took a 21-0 lead on Clear Creek Amana in the third quarter Friday night. But the Clippers rallied and the game went off the rails before Washington finally secured a 27-24 win.

Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids opened with a high school football double-header on Sept. 12, 1952. 96-year-old Bob Ask of Cedar Rapids was a coach for one of the schools involved.

Michigan junior running back Blake Corum added 11 pounds of muscle to his 5-foot-8 frame in the offseason. It allowed him to rack up 30 carries last week in a win over Maryland, not to mention 243 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Did it seem like there were more blowouts than usual in Iowa high school football last Friday? We consider whether that’s a trend or an anomaly on this episode of the Prep Football Huddle podcast and discuss what else stood out in Week 5.

Iowa’s high school football season has reached the second half of the regular season for all classes. We answer questions on teams, individuals and venues.

Coe’s football team has rotated quarterbacks so far this season. Junior Carter Maske got his first start Saturday against Simpson and made the most of it, throwing three touchdowns in a 48-10 victory.

Central City’s football team hung around for the first half of Friday night’s big 8-Player game at Central City, trailing at the half, 20-6, But No. 6 Easton Valley pulled away big in the second half for a 49-6 win.

Rutgers hasn’t named a starting quarterback for its home football game Saturday night against the Iowa Hawkeyes, in part because it doesn’t know who will be available. Noah Vedral and Gavin Wimsatt will be game-time decisions for the Scarlet Knights.

Iowa Hawkeyes commit Preston Ries of Monticello is his team’s leading passer, rusher and tackler. With the exception of kicks and kickoffs, he never leaves the field.

From Iowa City Liberty and Marion, to Cascade, East Buchanan and more, we run through the most-impressive wins of Iowa high school football Week 4 on the latest episode of the Prep Football Huddle podcast.

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.