Area football capsules, Week 4

 A dozen key area football games for Week 4: 

DUBUQUE SENIOR at CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY

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

TV: KCRG 9.2

Records and rankings: Senior is 1-2 overall, 0-0 MVC Mississippi Division; Kennedy is 2-1, 0-1. Both teams are unranked.

Notable: After a breakthrough season last year, Senior has followed thus far as being the MVC's biggest disappointment. Still, the Rams have been decent defensively, and Kennedy can't afford to be looking ahead to next week's game with Cedar Rapids Xavier (or this week's homecoming festivities). Kennedy suffered its first defeat last week at Iowa City West, but possesses a nice, balanced running attack led by backs Miles Moa (263 yards) and Logan Wedo (232 yards, 3 TDs). Senior's Mike Williams has rushed for 306 yards. 

IOWA CITY REGINA at EDDYVILLE EBF

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 3-0 overall, 1-0 Class 1A District 6. Regina is ranked No. 1.

Notable: It's a battle of unbeatens, but these are two different animals. Regina won its 45th straight game Friday, 41-16 over West Branch, building a 34-0 halftime lead. EBF (formerly Eddyville-Blakesburg, which has added Fremont) is off to a fast start against teams that have combined for a 2-7 record. Regina running back Riley Dixon (422 yards) is doubtful after suffering an injury to his left ankle last week. Drew Cook has passed for 386 yards and four touchdowns (and no interceptions). Cory Archer has rushed for 304 yards for the Rockets. 

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER at DUBUQUE WAHLERT

Time and site: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Dubuque (Rock Bowl)

Records and rankings: Class 4A No. 1 Xavier is 3-0 overall, 1-0 MVC Valley Division; Wahlert is 2-1, 0-0.

Notable: Xavier takes the best scoring defense in Class 4A (2.3 points per game) to the Tri-State area for battle against one the MVC's biggest surprises. The Golden Eagles have surpassed their win total from last year (they were 1-8 in 2012), beating Waterloo East and Dubuque Senior. This is a gigantic leap in competition, though. Xavier allowed just 92 yards (27 in the first three quarters) in last week's 23-0 win over Cedar Rapids Prairie. The Saints came on after a flat first half to score two touchdowns in the third quarter to break it open. 

IOWA CITY WEST at CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE

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

Records and rankings: Class 4A No. 3 West is 3-0; Prairie is 1-2.

Notable: Prairie has dropped two games in a row, and it will take a big effort to stop the slide Friday. West ranks second in Class 4A in scoring (behind Urbandale), averaging 52.3 points per game. Nate Boland has accounted for 14 touchdowns (eight rushing, six passing) and has accumulated 570 passing yards and a team-high 285 on the ground. Prairie gave a nice defensive effort last week in a 23-0 loss to Cedar Rapids Xavier, but could get nothing going offensively, mustering only 92 yards. Mitch Christensen has rushed for 296 yards. 

WASHINGTON (Iowa) at MARION

Time and site: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Thomas Park Field

TV: KCRG 9.2

Records and rankings: Both teams are 2-1 and unranked.

Notable: It's a non-district game, one that figures to be as competitive as last year, when Marion walked away with a 13-10 win at Washington. Both teams suffered their lone loss to elite teams -- Marion to defending 3A state champion Decorah, and Washington to Pella -- in Week 2. Marion possesses a big-play passing combo in Trevor Hardman and Quinn Cannoy (10 catches, 286 yards, 5 TDs). Washington's run-oriented attack is led by Alex Coker (208 yards, 5 TDs). 

CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON at IOWA CITY HIGH

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

Records and rankings: Jefferson is 0-3 overall, 0-1 MVC Mississippi Division; City High is 2-1, 1-0. Both teams are unranked.

Notable: It's been a tough road so far for the J-Hawks, who have faced the fourth toughest schedule in Class 4A. It gets no easier this week against a City High squad that has rebounded from a rough 4-6 campaign last year. The Little Hawks are a point away from a 3-0 start. Xavier Washpun has toted the load with 460 rushing yards (fourth most in 4A) and six touchdowns. Jefferson has managed little offensive punch, averaging just 6.3 points per game. Good news, though ... the schedule does ease somewhat after Friday, with winless Waterloo East up in Week 5. 

LINN-MAR at CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON

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

Records and rankings: Linn-Mar is 1-2 overall, 1-0 MVC Valley Division; Washington is 0-3, 0-1. Both teams are unranked.

Notable: Linn-Mar got off the mat in convincing fashion last week, drumming Waterloo West, 59-35. The Lions racked up 555 yards of total offense, including 398 in the first half. Ryan Schmidt has passed for 757 yards and completed 65 percent of his passes. Defense remains an issue with the Lions, who are surrendering 43.3 points per game. Washington has had difficulty scoring (just 8.3 points per game), but that has come against three teams that are a combined 8-1. Four of the Warriors' last six opponents are sub-.500, and the postseason is still much in play. But the road probably has to start with a win Friday. 

SAINT ANSGAR at NORTH FAYETTE VALLEY

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

Records and rankings: No. 8 Saint Ansgar is 3-0 overall, 0-0 Class 1A District 4; No. 10 North Fayette Valley is 3-0, 1-0.

Notable: As far as power at the top of a district goes, it's tough to argue with 1A-4. Three teams are in this week's Gazette rankings, and these are two of them. North Fayette was a somewhat-down 5-4 last year, missing the playoffs. But a year of maturity -- and a merger with Valley Community -- has this program back among the state's elite. The TigerHawks have outscored their first three foes, 132-3. Juniors Josh Mackey and Derrick Kuehner have rushed for 522 and 355 yards, respectively, with 11 touchdowns between them. Saint Ansgar is run-oriented, as well, led by Kyle Hanson's 336 yards. 

WILTON at WEST BRANCH

Time and site: 7 p.m. Friday, at West Branch

Records and rankings: No. 5 Wilton is 3-0 overall, 1-0 Class 1A District 6; West Branch is 2-1, 0-1.

Notable: Wilton Coach Lance Pedersen returns home for a battle with his alma mater -- and his father, West Branch Coach Butch Pedersen. The Beavers put a knot on previously ranked Sigourney-Keota last week, 41-13, and are averaging a robust 41.3 points per game. QB Tyler Hetzler has passed for 641 yards and 10 touchdowns. West Branch is coming off a 41-16 loss to No. 1 Iowa City Regina. The Bears aren't afraid to put the ball in the air, either ... Lucas Lamont has 557 passing yards to his credit. 

CLAYTON RIDGE at ALBURNETT

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

Records and rankings: Both teams are 2-1 overall, 0-1 Class 1A District 5, and unranked.

Notable: The loser of this game will have a difficult road to get back into the 1A-5 playoff race. Clayton Ridge lost a heartbreaker to Maquoketa Valley last week, dropping a 19-17 decision when a last minute field goal sailed wide. Alburnett fell to rejuvenated North Cedar, 36-8, last week, and has Maquoketa Valley and a non-conference battle with Iowa City Regina coming up the next two weeks. Two potent passing attacks here -- The Eagles are paced by Kohle Helle, who has passed for 697 yards and seven touchdowns to a balanced receiving corps. Alburnett's Alec Philipp has passed for 675 yards and nine scores. 

LANSING KEE at SPRINGVILLE

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

Records and rankings: Kee High is 2-2 overall, 2-0 Eight-Man District 4; No. 6 Springville is 4-0, 2-0.

Notable: The first four games have been a string of continuous-clock wins for Springville, which -- after making the playoffs for the first time in school history last year -- appears to have made its way to the upper crust of eight-man football. Elias Nissen has rushed for 508 yards, and 17 of his 38 offensive touches have resulted in touchdowns. The Orioles haven't had to throw much, but Sam Scriver has passed with blinding efficiency when called upon. Jameson Peterson has rushed for 533 yards and nine touchdowns for Kee High. Springville won a thriller, 49-48, in overtime last year at Lansing. 

INDEPENDENCE at WEST DELAWARE

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

Records and rankings: Independence is 1-2 overall, 0-1 Class 3A District 5; West Delaware is 2-1, 1-0.

Notable: Perhaps this Highway 20 rivalry will be a little more competitive than it has been in recent years. Independence appears to be making progress, winning one game and losing another in triple overtime, and with some talented juniors and sophomores on the varsity roster, the best may be yet to come. West Delaware dropped its opener, but has bounced back with a pair of wins, including a triumph over Dyersville Beckman in Week 2. A win Friday would set up a showdown at Decorah next week. Sophomore Coy Roussell has rushed for 383 yards, with Brent Lammers adding 233 ground yards. 

OTHER METRO/IOWA CITY GAMES:West Central (1-2 overall, 1-1 8-Man District 4) at Cedar Valley Christian (0-2, 0-1), 7 p.m. Friday, at LaSalle Middle School