Linn-Mar Lions

Sorting out the Gazette-area Iowa high school football playoff hopefuls in Class 5A, 4A and 3A as Week 9 approaches, plus a look at select games in 2A, 1A, A and 8-Player.

Which teams are peaking for the postseason and who’s poised for a possible upset? Plus, players capable of taking over games and programs with the coolest uniforms. The Gazette’s Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Nathan Ford share their insights on these Iowa high school football topics.

Iowa high school football rankings: Changes atop 5A and 4A; West Lyon, Grundy Center, West Hancock and Remsen St. Mary’s head into the 2A, 1A, A and 8-Player playoffs at No. 1.

Week 8 Iowa high school football rewind: Lance Pedersen has Clear Creek Amana on the climb. A breakthrough win at Cedar Rapids Xavier moves the Clippers into a Class 4A District 3 first-place tie.

Iowa City High’s football team won two earlier games this season by scoring last-second touchdowns and getting two-point conversions after them. But it wouldn’t be 3-for-3, as Linn-Mar stopped City High’s two-point try after a TD with 22.5 seconds left for a 28-27 victory.

Here’s how all 70 Iowa high school football teams ranked in this week’s Gazette poll fared in Week 8 games Friday night.

Seventh-ranked Linn-Mar beat No. 9 Iowa City High 28-27 in a Class 5A Iowa high school football game Friday night in Marion.

Here’s who all 70 Iowa high school football teams ranked in this week’s Gazette poll face in Week 8 games Friday night.