K.J. Pilcher

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.

Previewing Thursday’s Iowa high school football 8-Player state quarterfinal games involving Gazette-area teams.

The second-ranked Hawkeyes won eight matches, Ryder Block, Kyle Parco and Stephen Buchanan won their Iowa debut and posted a 30-7 victory over Oregon State.

Iowa City West played well in all three phases of the game and Jack Wallace hit Julian Manson for three touchdowns in a 21-16 victory over No. 6 Bettendorf. The Trojans advance to the Class 5A state quarterfinals at Southeast Polk.

Junior quarterback Kellen Haverback rushed for three touchdowns and passed for another in No. 4 Mount Vernon’s 42-6 win over Carroll in the first round of the Class 3A state football playoffs.

The second-ranked Iowa men’s wrestling team is getting an early start to the season, hitting the road for a dual at Oregon State. Gabe Arnold made his dual debut last year against the Beavers and is listed as the starting 184-pounder for Saturday.

How will Coe respond from its first loss of the season? Will Wartburg extend its shutout streak against Luther? Plus more storylines in Iowa small college football this weekend.

Iowa’s men’s wrestling team welcomes three All-America transfers, who could solidify the No. 2-ranked Hawkeyes. They will join a lineup with NCAA finalist Drake Ayala, All-Americans Nelson Brands and Michael Caliendo and young talents Gabe Arnold, Ben Kueter and Ryder Block.

Twenty-two Iowa high school football playoff games Friday feature Gazette-area teams. Here is an overview of 12 contests and the full schedule.

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.

All four Iowa City football programs are in the Round of 16. Which Metro team has the best chance to advance? Will the playoffs eventually include all teams? The Gazette’s Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Nathan Ford share their insights on these Iowa high school football topics.

Week 9 Iowa high school football rewind: Decorah records an unbeaten regular season, West Branch upsets Sigourney-Keota Iowa City Liberty gets the No. 1 seed in Class 5A and Solon and Benton meet again.

Benton Community’s hard-nosed defense and pounding ground game produced a 21-0 win over top-ranked Williamsburg Friday night in Van Horne. The No. 8 Bobcats claimed the Class 3A District 5 title.

More than half of Tyler Staker’s life has revolved around the Coe football program he played for and has led since succeeding his dad in 2016. His devotion to Coe, its football program and his players can be contagious and the Kohawks witness it daily.

The storm that postponed the regular-season finale couldn’t put a damper on Eric Addy’s first season as the Warriors’ head coach. Cedar Rapids Washington entered Week 9 with a 3-5 record, surpassing last year’s win total.