K.J. Pilcher

The Gazette Iowa high school sports staff answers questions about the first round of the playoffs for small schools, the RPI, Coach of the Year candidates and cool lids.

Dubuque benefited from a Coe holding penalty in the end zone, taking a 15-14 lead and the ball for a game-ending 3:25 drive. The Spartans handed Coe its first American Rivers Conference loss.

Cedar Rapids Xavier quarterback Ronan Thomas accounted for five touchdowns and the defense didn’t allow a TD for the fifth straight game. Both helped third-ranked Xavier capture the Class 4A District 4 title with a 42-3 victory over Newton.

Carter Maske bided his time and remained committed to be Coe’s starting quarterback. He earned another chance two weeks ago and hasn’t loosened his grip.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson sophomore Braylon Evans suffered loss with the death of his father, Nelson Evans III, who was a former J-Hawk all-state player and assistant coach. Evans continues to play the sport he shared with his dad.

The varsity victories may not have materialized but first-year Cedar Rapids Jefferson head football coach Ed Miles has seen positives behind the scenes in the program.

Top-tier Iowa high school football teams had statement wins in Week 7. We discuss the top teams and our top takeaways from Week 7 on this episode of the Prep Football Huddle podcast.

Which Iowa high school football class is the deepest? Will Xavier’s shutout streak continue? What’s the best concession stand food? Our staff answers in 4 Downs.

Reid Hall fired even-par 70 Saturday, giving him a two-day total of 141 and medalist honors at the Class 4A boys’ state golf meet at Elmcrest Country Club. He became Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s first state golf champion.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy dropped its first game of the season last week. The Cougars responded and knocked Davenport West from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Former West Branch prep Beau Cornwell transferred to Luther, a program coming off a winless 2021 campaign that hadn’t produced a multi-win season since 2017. The quarterback helped the Norse beat Simpson last week, their first win since 2019.

Cedar Rapids Xavier’s boys’ golf team is made up of a pair of brothers, but everybody seems to have a special bond that has propelled the program. Chemistry on and off the course has helped Xavier compete with Iowa’s top teams and propelled it to the Class 4A fall golf state tournament.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy has produced prominent linebackers throughout the last decade. Ryker Stelling embraces the opportunity to carry on the tradition with the hopes of inspiring future Cougars.

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.

Western Dubuque and Cedar Rapids Xavier each placed third at their respective boys’ golf districts to advance to the 2022 Class 4A state meet Friday and Saturday at Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids.