By Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Tom Adolph considers himself a pretty straight forward guy.

The West High senior defensive tackle doesn’t say a lot but likes to speak what’s on his mind.

He’s a worker with a no-nonsense attitude.

So, it comes as no surprise he likes his football the same way – straight forward with no frills.

“I like lining up and going head-to-head,” Adolph said. “I don’t really like when teams spread it out and do all that stuff I like when they come right at you.”

Adolph expects to get the exact type of smashmouth slugfest he loves on Friday when No. 3 West High (2-0) travels to the UNI-Dome to face No. 8 Cedar Falls (2-0).

“There are no surprises with them, they are going to be physical and come right at you,” Adolph said. “We just have to do what we do and worry about taking care of ourselves.”

Cedar Falls has been as impressive as any team in the state through two weeks.

The Tigers have outscored opponents 120-14 in wins over Fort Dodge and Ames, coming with 29 points of matching their scoring total from all of last season.

“Cedar Falls has kind of flown under the radar but they have our full attention,” West High coach Garrett Hartwig said. “They are good, they are solid, they are fundamental, they are tough, they are strong and they have the capability of beating anybody in the state in my opinion.”

The calling card for Cedar Falls for years has been a strong defense and punishing ground game.

This season the Tigers have been dominant in both of those areas so far.

Behind a big offensive line anchored by junior Jackson Leistikow (6-3, 275) the Tigers are averaging 282 yards per game on the ground and 7.5 yards per carry.

Junior Sam Gary has averaged 11.2 yards per carry while rushing for 302 yards and six touchdowns in two games.

“I don’t know who we will see that will be better than Cedar Falls,” Hartwig said. “That’s not to say there aren’t teams out there that are better but I have that much respect for Cedar Falls. They are huge, they are strong, they are good, they are well-coached.”

The Tigers’ no frills power offense will be a big test for Adolph and his West High defensive mates.

Last season Cedar Falls scored more than 27 points in a game once, in a 35-7 win over Ames.

The Tigers have scored 35 points in the first half of each of its first two contests.

It’s a test that Adolph is looking forward to.

“It’s kind of nice, they don’t try anything too tricky they just do what they do,” Adolph said. “We have to be ready for it because we know they are going to come at us.”

West High isn’t big up front with Adolph (5-11, 210) and junior Landon Green (5-8, 190) in the middle of its defensive front.

But the Trojans are strong and more importantly productive up front.

“They aren’t big and they understand that but pound-for-pound they are very strong and they are fast,” Hartwig said of Adolph and Green. “As a defensive coach I like speed first and size second personally.

Adolph ranks third on the team with 5.5 tackles while Green is right behind with five stops.

Together the two have combined for two tackles for loss and helped West High limit opponents to 65.5 yards per game on the ground.

The West High defensive front will get a big test on Friday from the Tigers.

“We work hard and I think we can get the job done,” Adolph said. “I think we are ready. I’m looking forward to it.”

An explosive West High offense will get its toughest test of the season to date against a Cedar Falls defense that has allowed 246 total yards in two games combined.

West High’s Evan Flitz-led offense has been among the best in the state thus far averaging 483.5 yards and 44 points per game.

A Cedar Falls defense allowing just 15 rushing yards per game should provide a measuring stick for the Trojan offense.  

“They are a quality opponent, they are ranked they have won two big games and they are a good team just like last year when they were a good team,” Flitz said. “It’s a really good test before we get into district play and the games that matter.”