Jeff Johnson

Iowa City Liberty definitely was the underdog in Friday night’s big “Clash At Kinnick.” But the Lightning put on a great display of football, scoring early and dominating the second half for a 36-19 win over Iowa City High before 10,000 fans at Kinnick Stadium.

Friday night’s high school football game between Iowa City High and Iowa City Liberty at Kinnick Stadium has been almost a year in the making. It began with one simple question: Is this a possibility?

The Prep Football Huddle is back! The Gazette's Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson and K.J. Pilcher preview the 2022 Iowa high school football season and Week 1's top games, including the Iowa City Liberty-Iowa City High clash at Kinnick Stadium.

Cedar Rapids Prairie head football coach Mark Bliss has been at it over 30 years, has enough time put in to retire if he wants. But ball coaches have to coach ball, so Bliss continues.

Iowa football was Tyler Goodson centric at running back last season. It is yet to be determined how is production will be made up, and who will be making it up.

Senior Jack Campbell leads a veteran group of linebackers for the Iowa football team that includes fellow starters Jestin Jacobs and Seth Benson.

Senior Blake Timmons was the guy tabbed to replace all-stater Cam Miller in 2021 as Solon’s quarterback. Miller is the school’s all-time yardage leader and led North Dakota State to an FCS national championship last year. Timmons, meanwhile, has acquitted himself very nicely, leading the Spartans to the state playoff semifinals and quarterfinals in his career.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels beat Wisconsin in five of six games of their Midwest League series this week. It’s a good sign for a ballclub prepping for the upcoming playoffs.

Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Jon Olsen was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2018, but didn’t begin his pro baseball career until last season because of injuries and the COVID pandemic. After a second Tommy John surgery in the offseason, he’s back again and grateful.

Cedar Rapids Kernels shortstop Brooks Lee was the first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins recently, the eighth overall selection. Despite going 2 1/2 months between games after his college season ended, Lee has done nothing but hit since he turned pro.

Linn-Mar’s football team will play its first home football game of the 2022 season at Cedar Rapids Prairie because of issues with the installation of field turf at the school’s stadium. The game against Pleasant Valley is Sept. 9.

Cedar Rapids Kernels relief pitcher Matt Mullenbach has had a ton of pleasant memories emerge this 2022 season. The Waukee graduate is pitching near home, pitching very well and got to pitch last week at the Field of Dreams.

Former Cedar Rapids Xavier prep Quinn Schulte is atop the Iowa football at depth chart. Is he the next walk-on-turned starter for the Hawkeyes at that position?

Former Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker and NFL player Ed Miles is in his first season as head football coach at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. His mantras of full effort, physical and mental toughness has players excited to rebuild program.

The Quad Cities River Bandits beat the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 7-2, Tuesday night in the first minor-league baseball game played at the Field of Dreams. It was an amazing experience for everyone.