Week 1 area football capsules

A dozen key area football games for Week 1: 

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE at CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON

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

TV: KCRG 9.2

Records and rankings: Prairie was 8-4 last season; Jefferson was 1-8. Both teams are unranked.

Notable: The 2013 season kicks off with the annual Kolache Bowl. Prairie made a big jump last season, going from 2-7 the previous year to a berth in the Class 4A state quarterfinals, and the Hawks won last year's game against their west-side rivals, 28-7. Coach Mike Morrissey returns for his third year, trying to reload despite the loss of some quality skill players. The Hawks do return their leading rusher in Mitch Christensen (661 yards, 8 TDs). Jefferson hopes to make a step forward this season behind senior Layne Sullivan, who led the team in rushing, passing and tackles last season. Brian Webb is in his second season at Jefferson.

 

CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON vs. CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY

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

Records and rankings: Washington was 3-6 last season; Kennedy was 5-6. Both teams are unranked.

Notable: Paul James begins his second coaching stint at Washington; he succeeds Tony Lombardi. Washington won last year's game, but it was Kennedy that got off the mat after an 0-5 start to make the Class 4A playoffs. The Cougars won five in a row, including a first-round win over Muscatine. First-team all-state lineman Austin Holzer returns for the Cougars. Washington brings back three of its top five tacklers from a year ago -- Jake Bjornsen, Connor Vincent and Reid Snitker -- and had a very strong sophomore team in 2012.

 

LINN-MAR at IOWA CITY WEST

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

Records and rankings: Linn-Mar was 3-6 last season; Class 4A No. 3 West was 10-1.

Notable: West enjoyed a remarkable season in 2012, winning the MVC divisional title and racking up a lot of points. But it ended much earlier than the Trojans would have liked, with a loss to Cedar Rapids Prairie in the second round of the 4A playoffs. Most of the big-play guys are gone, but quarterback Nate Boland returns. Linn-Mar boasted one of the best teams in the state in 2011, but slid to 3-6 last year. The Lions try to bounce back behind leading rusher Ross Lembeck, who netted 693 yards last season.

 

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER at DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD

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

Records and rankings: Class 4A No. 1 Xavier was 13-1 last season; Hempstead was 0-9.

Notable: This appears to have "mismatch" written all over it. Xavier returns a wealth of talent from a team that nearly won a state championship last season -- the Saints fell to Ankeny, 23-17, in the final game -- while Hempstead hopes to move up after a winless campaign. Xavier TE/DE  Matt Nelson has committed to play at the University of Iowa, and RB Brendan Miller rushed for 1,068 yards last season. Coach Duane Schulte needs one win to reach 100 for his career at Xavier. Hempstead returns some key defensive players, along with leading rusher Matt Zenner.

 

CEDAR FALLS at IOWA CITY HIGH

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

Records and rankings: Class 4A No. 9 Cedar Falls was 11-2 last season; City High was 4-6.

Notable: The injury-riddled disappointment of 2012 is over, and City High hopes to be more like City High this fall. The Little Hawks face a challenging opener against another traditional MVC powerhouse. Cedar Falls has a pair of studs in Alabama commitment Ross Pierschbacher and linebacker Jared Farley. City High has some pieces in place, such as quarterback Mitch Wieland, running back Bryson Runge and two-way performer Xavier Washpun. Punter Jake Leohr is a returning first-team all-stater.

 

MOUNT PLEASANT at MARION

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

Records and rankings: Mount Pleasant was 2-7 last season; Marion was 8-3.

Notable: The Indians annihilated Mount Pleasant 70-7 last year, and it ignited them to another solid season, one which ended with a Class 3A District 6 title. Marion has a lot of shoes to fill on the defensive side of the ball, and is reworking an offensive line that will be smaller but potentially more athletic. Back are quarterback Trevor Hardman and leading receiver Quinn Cannoy. Mount Pleasant lost much of its skill personnel, but does bring back its three top tacklers from a year ago.

 

WEST LIBERTY at IOWA CITY REGINA

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

Records and rankings: West Liberty was 6-5 last season; Class 1A No. 1 Regina was 14-0.

Notable: The countdown to an all-time state record is under way. The Regals have won 42 consecutive games (and three straight state titles). Run the table again, and they match an unbeaten string of 56 set by Waterloo East. The journey begins at home with a veteran team. Riley Dixon (1,641 yards, 14 touchdowns) leads an offense that figures to be potent. Coach Marv Cook's son, junior Drew Cook, takes over the quarterbacking duties. The defense will be staunch, led by Jake Brinkman and Elliot Halsch. West Liberty receiver Brett Becker caught 46 passes for 665 yards and 10 TDs last year.

 

HLV at CEDAR VALLEY CHRISTIAN

Time and site: 7 p.m. Friday, at LaSalle Middle School

Records and rankings: 8-Man No. 8 HLV is 0-1, and 9-1 last season. CVCS was 0-9.

Notable: Year 3 of the plunge into IHSAA-sanctioned football begins at Cedar Valley, which faces another steep unhill climb. The Huskies have a roster of 14 players, and open a difficult starting schedule against a team that won a district title last year and already has a game under its belt. HLV was beaten last week, 58-14, by Springville, but has some high-end players and figures to contend in 8M-District 5 again. Nate Van Buren ran for 70 yards and a touchdown last week.

 

SOLON at MOUNT VERNON

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

Records and rankings: Solon was 8-3 last season; Mount Vernon was 5-5. Both teams are unranked.

Notable: Solon has won 10 straight in this Highway 1 rivalry, but Mount Vernon is steadily closing the gap and has to feel it has a fighting chance to end the streak this year. The Mustangs led last year at halftime before the Spartans hunkered down defensively for a 21-11 win. Senior Jordan Wymer is a solid two-way performer for the Spartans; he posted 425 rushing yards and 68 tackles last season. Mount Vernon welcomes back a lot of key defensive players -- six of its top eight tacklers from 2012 are back.

 

GRINNELL at WILLIAMSBURG

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

Records and rankings: Class 3A No. 2 Grinnell was 12-1 last season; No. 5 Williamsburg was 11-2.

Notable: Both teams were district champions last year, and both advanced to the semifinals of the Class 3A playoffs. Grinnell boasts one of the state's most prolific quarterbacks in Eli Dunne, who passed for 3,099 yards and 28 touchdowns (against just five interceptions) last year. He'll be slinging it to Christian Mertens and Bryce Lidtka, who combined for 63 receptions last year. Williamsburg also returns its quarterback (Jacob Donohoe), as well as five of its top seven tacklers from a year ago. Grinnell won last year's encounter, 21-10, at home.

 

WEST BRANCH at LISBON

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

Records and rankings: West Branch was 8-3 last season; Class A No. 3 Lisbon was 9-2.

Notable: A veteran Lisbon squad goes up a class to face the perennially strong Bears. Two years ago, the Lions beat West Branch, and that propelled them to a state-championship campaign. The Bears got some revenge last year, 28-7. Lisbon's Logan Rickard is a run-pass threat at quarterback, and is also one of the top returning tacklers. West Branch Coach Butch Pederson ranks 17th all-time in career wins among Iowa coaches, with 254. He's got some rebuilding to do with skill personnel, but the Bears do have their top tackler back (Michael Gould, 113).

 

BENTON COMMUNITY at VINTON-SHELLSBURG

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

TV: KCRG 9.2

Records and rankings: Benton was 1-8 last season; Vinton-Shellsburg was 3-6. Both teams are unranked.

Notable: It was a rough season for Benton last year, and it started with a 48-0 drubbing on its home field at the hands of its county rival. But the Bobcats return a lot of players that gained experience, and should be one of the most improved teams in the area. Vinton-Shellsburg started 3-2 last year, and was in the playoff hunt until the final week.