Top 10 area football matchups: Week 2

Here are the top 10 area football matchups for Week 2:

THURSDAY

LINN-MAR at CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY

Time & place: 7:15 p.m., at Kingston Stadium

Records: Linn-Mar is 1-0; Kennedy is 0-1.

Notable: Mark Atwater made a sparkling debut as the Linn-Mar quarterback, rushing for 275 yards and passing for 163 more in the Lions' 43-15 thumping of Cedar Rapids Jefferson last week. The Lions scored the first 29 points. Despite the lopsided win, Linn-Mar dropped two spots to No. 9 in the 4A rankings. Kennedy opened with a 35-7 loss at Cedar Rapids Xavier. The Cougars turned the ball over on their first play from scrimmage, fell behind 14-0 within 4 minutes and never recovered. 

FRIDAY

IOWA CITY REGINA at SOLON

Time & place: 7:30 p.m., at Solon

Records: Regina is 1-0; Solon is 1-0.

Notable: Without a doubt, the biggest game in the area this week. Class 3A second-rated Solon extended its winning streak to 42 games with a 35-13 drubbing of DeWitt Central while 2A No. 1 Regina jumped to a 35-point halftime lead and handled BGM, 42-6. Solon defeated the Regals in last year's playoffs on the road to a third consecutive 2A championship.

MARION at BENTON COMMUNITY

Time & place: 7:30 p.m., at Van Horne

Records: Marion is 1-0; Benton is 1-0.

Notable: The Indians captured their 16th consecutive regular-season win last Friday, scoring 27 points in the third quarter of a 42-3 rout of Mount Vernon. Junior Colton Storla ran for 196 yards and three touchdowns. Marion moved into the 3A rankings this week, at No. 8. Benton opened with a 21-7 win over county rival Vinton-Shellsburg. Zach Twedt rushed for 141 yards and collected eight tackles.

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER at CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE

Time & place: 7:15 p.m., at John Wall Field

Records: Xavier is 1-0; Prairie is 0-1.

Notable: Class 4A fourth-rated Xavier was extremely impressive in its season-opening 35-7 win over Cedar Rapids Kennedy. The Saints forced a turnover on the first play from scrimmage and led 28-0 by halftime. Quarterback Andy Didio completed 11 of 12 passes for 112 yards. Coach Duane Schulte earned his 100th career win. Prairie stayed with Cedar Rapids Washington for a half before falling, 41-21, last week

CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON at CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON

Time & place: 7:15 p.m., at Kingston Stadium (Jefferson is the home team and its fans will be on the west side).

Records: Washington is 1-0; Jefferson is 0-1.

Notable: The city's oldest existing rivalry has tilted heavily to the east in recent years, and 4A No. 10 Washington is favored once again. The Warriors erupted for 34 second-half points in a 41-21 win over Cedar Rapids Prairie last week. Alex Carr rushed for 257 yards on 25 carries. Jefferson surrendered 467 yards of offense in a 43-15 loss to Linn-Mar. Alex Baxter rushed for 108 yards; Tanner Unkel scored both touchdowns.

LISBON at WEST BRANCH

Time & place: 7 p.m., at West Branch

Records: Lisbon is 1-0; West Branch is 1-0.

Notable: Class A No. 10 Lisbon goes up in class and on the road for what will likely be its toughest challenge of the season. The Lions opened with a 20-0 triumph over Valley Community behind Tait Simpson's two touchdowns. The 1A third-rated Bears are coming off a 27-13 win over rival West Liberty. Travis Maher scored a pair of touchdowns.

CLAYTON RIDGE at ELKADER CENTRAL

Time & place: 7 p.m., at Elkader

Records: Clayton Ridge is 2-0; Central is 1-0.

Notable: Both teams are riding potent rushing attacks. Clayton Ridge's Jeremy Greve rushed for 214 yards in last week's 38-34 victory over Cascade. Central counters with returning all-stater Zack Tade, who netted 330 yards on 25 carries as the Warriors dumped MFL MarMac, 31-6. Clayton Ridge is ranked eighth in Class 1A; Central is No. 5 in Class A.

OELWEIN at NORTH FAYETTE

Time & place: 7:30 p.m., at West Union

Records: Oelwein is 1-0; North Fayette is 1-0.

Notable: Traditional Class 2A powerhouse North Fayette goes after a second straight win over a 3A school to start the season; the Hawks whacked Waukon, 42-6. Next week, the second-ranked Hawks will begin pursuit of a seventh straight district title. Oelwein started impressively, defeating a solid Sumner-Fredericksburg squad, 27-10.

INDEPENDENCE at UNION

Time & place: 7:30 p.m., at Dysart

Records: Independence is 1-0; Union is 1-0.

Notable: Independence's 27-game losing streak is history; the Mustangs rallied from a 17-7 halftime deficit to beat Waterloo Columbus, 27-24, last week. Blaize Cabell netted 216 rushing yards and four touchdowns as the Mustangs picked up their first win since 2006. Union overcame an early 13-point deficit to knock off Decorah, 35-20, behind Wesley Burnside's 228 yards and two touchdowns.

ALBURNETT at IOWA VALLEY

Time & place: 7:15 p.m., at Marengo

Records: Alburnett is 1-0; Iowa Valley is 1-0.

Notable: Winless a year ago, Alburnett snapped a 10-game losing chain in Week 1 with a 33-6 win over North Linn. Mitch Harger highlighted a strong Pirate running attack, rushing for 188 yards. Iowa Valley defeated English Valleys, 20-14.

OTHER METRO/IOWA CITY GAMESIowa City West (1-0) at Dubuque Hempstead (0-1), 7:15 p.m.Waterloo West (0-1) at Iowa City High (1-0), 7:15 p.m.