Area football capsules, Week 1

(Statewide Week 1 schedule)

The week's top area football games:

LINN-MAR at CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON

Time and site: 7:15 p.m. Thursday, at Kingston Stadium

TV: KCRG 9.2

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-0. Class 4A eighth-rated Linn-Mar was 8-3 last season; Jefferson was 0-9.

Notable: Jefferson is mired in a 13-game losing streak, a skid that included a 43-15 loss to the Lions in last year's opener. Jer Garman has graduated from Linn-Mar after a brilliant career as a running back, leaving the leadership role to two-way starter Mark Atwater. He threw for 20 touchdowns and ran for nine more last year, and was the Lions' second-leading tackler. Five of the Lions' top seven tacklers are back, including the leader, Tommy Feller. Linn-Mar advanced to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs last year before losing to eventual runner-up Iowa City High. Alex Baxter returns at quarterback for the J-Hawks. He passed for 574 yards and ran for 476 in 2010.

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER at CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY

Time and site: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Kingston Stadium

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-0. Class 4A 10th-ranked Xavier was 7-3 last season; Kennedy was 7-5.

Notable: The 42nd Street rivals met twice in 2010, with the Saints rolling to a 35-7 win in Week 1, then the Cougars turning the tables in an 11-7 victory in the Class 4A playoffs, a triumph that helped Kennedy reach the state quarterfinals. Both teams suffered heavy graduation losses, though Kennedy does return a pair of studs in Josh Jahlas (93 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions) and Trevor Heitland (929 rushing yards, 10 TDs). Jack Boland had 13 tackles for loss last year for Xavier. Despite the lack of experience, the Saints can take comfort in the fact that their top two grades went 17-1 at the sophomore level.

CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON at CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE

Time and site: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at John Wall Field

TV: KCRG 9.2

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-0. Washington was 6-4 last season; Prairie was 2-7.

Notable: The Mike Morrissey era begins at Prairie on the new Field Turf at Wall Field. If preseason drills were any indication, the Hawks will be a more diverse, more open offensive unit than in the past. Count on Morrissey finding ways to get the ball to Demetrius Harper, the leading returning receiver with 35 catches for 643 yards and two touchdowns last year. Washington has been dealt a couple of blows in the preseason; starting quarterback A.J. Puk has decided to stop playing football to concentrate on baseball while tailback Will Griffin will be out for some time with an ankle injury. David Tann is back after leading the Warriors with 108 tackles last season.

DUBUQUE SENIOR at IOWA CITY HIGH

Time and site: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Bates Field

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-0. Senior was 0-9 last season; Class 4A second-rated City High was 13-1.

Notable: City High finished the last two seasons in the UNI-Dome on championship night. The Little Hawks were 4A state champions in 2009, then fell to West Des Moines Dowling in overtime last year. City certainly has some weapons back, led by Ronald Thompson (1,350 rushing yards, 21 TDs). Jasper Washington was a speedy receiver last year and moves to quarterback. Amos Lavela led the team in tackles last year as a sophomore, with 103 -- including 19 for loss. Senior absorbed a 48-6 loss to the Little Hawks in last year's opener and hopes to climb the ladder a bit in the MVC Mississippi Division. Robby Jones passed for 480 yards last season.

IOWA CITY REGINA at BGM

Time and site: 7 p.m. Friday, at Brooklyn

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-0. Class 2A second-rated Regina was 14-0 last year; Class A No. 9 BGM was 9-2.

Notable: Regina scaled the mountaintop last year, going undefeated and capturing the 2A state championship. The Regals did so decisively, outscoring their five postseason opponents by a 203-14 margin. They have some holes to fill, but the return of Jacob Vollstedt (88 tackles, 10 for loss) and Zach Ries (75 stops) gives Marv Cook reason to believe the defense will be extremely stout again. BGM was beaten handily by the Regals in last year's opener, but the Bears quickly turned it around, winning nine straight games and winning their district. They advanced to the second round of the Class A playoffs and bring back Danny Brau (1,051 rushing yards) and Spencer Gritsch (696 passing yards).

IOWA CITY WEST at WATERLOO EAST

Time and site: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Waterloo

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-0. Class 4A ninth-ranked West was 4-6 last year; East was 3-7.

Notable: West enters the season with high hopes, judging by their preseason ranking despite a losing record and a first-round playoff exit. Wonder why? Well, the Trojans return their top rusher (Charles Rogers, 689 yards, 6 TDs), their top passer (Rogers again, 1,351 yards, 9 TDs, 13 INT) and their top receiver (Dondre Alexander, 37 catches, 537 yards, 4 TDs), as well as their top eight tacklers (led by Anthony Brown, 77 tackles). East is finally making steps toward respectability and qualified for the postseason last year. Quarterback Desmond Van Arsdale is back for his junior season. He led East with 629 rushing yards and 926 passing yards.

MARION at MOUNT VERNON

Time and site: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Mount Vernon

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-0. Marion was 7-3 last season; Mount Vernon was 0-9.

Notable: Both teams enter the season hoping to wash away from bitter memories from 2010. Marion was sailing along at 7-0 before dropping a 41-35 heartbreaker to Union, then losing the regular-season finale to Maquoketa and the first-round playoff game to Grinnell. Mount Vernon, meanwhile, hopes to start moving forward again after a decade-long decline. The Mustangs do have some key components back, including quarterback Jacob Timm (803 passing yards). Colton Storla is back for Marion after running for 1,250 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. He will navigate behind a line that features a pair of 300-pound-plus tackles. Jake McDonald collected 128 tackles, a team high.

DECORAH at UNION

Time and site: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at La Porte City

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-0. Decorah was 9-3 last year; Class 3A fourth-ranked Union was 9-1.

Notable: The Wes Burnside rushing derby begins in earnest Friday. Burnside was the second-leading scorer in 11-man football last year and led Class 3A rushers with 2,336 yards and 30 touchdowns. He's certainly not the only weapon in the Knights' holster; QB Trev Hadachek is back after throwing for nearly 1,000 yards and 13 TDs, and the top three tacklers are back. Like Union, Decorah was a district champion last year. Unlike the Knights, the Vikings had a lengthy postseason run, advancing to the 3A quarterfinals. Jacob Humpal (66 tackles) and Josey Jewell (62) lead a defense that brings back quite a few components.

DE WITT CENTRAL at SOLON

Time and site: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Solon

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-0. Central was 4-6 last year; Class 3A second-rated Solon was 13-1.

Notable: This is all that Solon has accomplished in the past four seasons: a 54-1 record and four state titles. After winning it all in 2A in 2007, 2008 and 2009, the Spartans climbed a class and did it in 3A last year. They suffered a loss to Iowa City Regina in Week 2, then rattled off 11 straight wins, including a 45-7 thrashing of Sioux City Heelan in the state final. The program has produced three straight Gazette Male Athletes of the Year in Matt Morrison, James Morris and Derrick Loveless. J.J. Hanus is the leader now after orchestrating the title run as quarterback. He threw for 1,639 yards and 16 touchdowns; Jake Morris collected 86 tackles. Central tied for third in its district last year and lost to Solon, 38-8, in the first round of the playoffs. Joe Carber collected 67 tackles last year, 15 for loss.

LISBON at VALLEY COMMUNITY

Time and site: 7 p.m. Friday, at Elgin

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-0.  Class A sixth-ranked Lisbon was 9-3 last year; Valley was 3-7.

Notable: Lisbon reached the Class A quarterfinals last year, and many expect the Lions to go further in 2011. Tait Simpson rushed for 11 touchdowns and passed for nine last year. But the strength of the team ought to be its defense; just about everyone from that side of the ball returns. Valley is in a rebuilding state after reaching the playoffs last year.

MAQUOKETA at WEST DELAWARE

Time and site: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Manchester

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-0. Maquoketa was 6-4 last season; Class 3A ninth-rated West Delaware was 10-3.

Notable: After finishing in a three-way tie for the 3A District 4 title (with Decorah and Waverly-Shell Rock), West Delaware caught fire in the playoffs and advanced all the way to the semifinals before dropping a 42-35 classic against Sioux City Heelan. The Hawks lost some firepower, but return their leading receiver in Trey MacTaggart. Cole Stephen racked up 117 tackles, including 16 for loss. Maquoketa is a trendy pick to challenge Union and Marion for the District 5 title behind Chase Coakley (1,990 passing yards, 410 rushing yards, a combined 25 TDs). Leading rusher Craig Johnson (704 yards, 8 TDs) and leading receiver Perry Hawks (40 catches, 729 yards, 3 TDs) also return.

VINTON-SHELLSBURG at BENTON COMMUNITY

Time and site: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Van Horne

Records and rankings: Both teams are 0-0. Both teams were 4-5 last season.

Notable: After narrowly missing the playoffs last year, these Benton County rivals hope to get off on the right foot Friday. Last year, it was Benton that came out on top, 21-7. The Bobcats finished their season with two straight wins. QB Mitch Moser threw for 740 yards and five touchdowns last season, but did give up nine interceptions. Gunner Tranel is a force on both sides of the ball for Vinton-Shellsburg. He rushed for 677 yards and seven touchdowns last year and accumulated 101 tackles, 14 for loss.

WESTERN DUBUQUE at DYERSVILLE BECKMAN

Time and site: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Dyersville

Records and rankings: Western Dubuque was 5-4 last season; Class 2A fifth-rated Beckman was 9-3.

Notable: This could be a big, big season for Beckman. The Blazers return 93 percent of their rushing attack and 87 percent of their receiving yards. Connor Golden is the man that orchestrates it. He passed for 2,083 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Beckman should be stout defensively, with eight of its top 10 tacklers returning, including Kirby Kendrick (162 tackles). Western Dubuque was part of the three-way tie for third place in 3A District 5, but was the odd team out when the playoff field was announced. The Bobcats handled Beckman, 28-0, last year.