Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

City High players and coaches didn’t hide the fact that last Friday’s come-from-behind win over Dubuque Hempstead was a big win.

Just how big was the 23-22 win over the Mustangs in the non-district finale for City High at Bates Field?

Pretty big.

“It was huge,” City High senior Max DePrenger said. “It was just a huge win because it gives us momentum, it made us 2-2 and because it makes our guys know that we can play at that level and play hard, fast, physical football.”

The win over Hempstead snapped a two-game City High losing skid in which the Little Hawks were outscored 82-0.

Perhaps as important as the win itself was how City High got to 2-2.

The Little Hawks put together a game-winning drive in the final seven minutes and then game up with a pair of late defensive stops.

“I think it was just how we responded,” City High coach Dan Sabers said. “Once again we were down in the fourth quarter and kept battling and found ways to do it and we had some people step up big time and make plays for us and that makes you a dangerous team.”

The games only get bigger from here for the Little Hawks.

Last week’s win sends City High (2-2) into Class 4A, District 4 play on a high note as the Little Hawks travel to Muscatine (3-1) for a district opener on Friday a confident bunch.

“I think we would have still be o.k. if it hadn’t worked out because I saw so many positive things that we could build on but obviously to win, 2-2 vs. 1-3 is a huge difference,” Sabers said. “We gained some confidence from that game so it was a big one.”  

With the playoff changes this season only the seven district champions in Class 4A are guaranteed playoff spots.

The rest of the nine spots in the 4A playoff field will be at-large berths determined by a RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) formula.

Four weeks into the season City High is No. 16 in the 4A RPI rankings, firmly in the playoff picture.

“I think we are confident,” DePrenger said. “The practices are different this week, everyone is a lot more motivated because coming off that win we had last week everyone sees what we can do and what type of team we can be.”

District Breakdowns

Class 4A District 4

Teams: West High, Pleasant Valley, Muscatine, City High, Linn-Mar, Davenport North

Favorite: West High. Two-time defending state runner-up and fifth-ranked West High is off to a 3-1 start with its lone setback a three-point road loss to No. 4 Bettendorf.

Top contenders: The winner of Friday’s district opener between City High (2-2) and Muscatine climbs to the top of the list along with perennial power Pleasant Valley (1-3) and Davenport North (4-1) which is off to its best start in 31 years.

Game to watch: October 19. City High at West High. The annual Battle for the Boot is always a high stakes matchup wort watching but this season it could come with a district title and playoff berth on the line.

Breakdown: West High enters as the heavy favorite to earn the automatic playoff spot from District four and can put take a big step toward doing that with a win over top contender Pleasant Valley (1-3) in the district opener on Friday.

The rest of the district appears wide open and every win will be important as teams chase a potential at-large playoff berth.

Class 3A District 5

Teams: Clear Creek Amana, Liberty High, Davenport Assumption, Clinton, North Scott, Central DeWitt

Favorite: A 4A quarterfinalist a year ago, No. 8 North Scott (3-1) has won three straight games following a season-opening loss at West High.

Top contenders: Clear Creek Amana has been one of the biggest surprises in 3A with an unbeaten non-district performance that launched the Clippers to No. 9 in the AP rankings. The Clippers have put themselves in a position to battle for a playoff spot down the stretch but have tough tests to start district play Friday at home against Liberty High (2-2) and at Clinton in week 6. Clinton (3-1) is another former 4A team current on a three-game winning streak.

Game to watch: October 12. North Scott at Clear Creek Amana. The preseason district favorite Lancers travel to one the biggest surprises in 3A this season for a week 8 matchup that could determine the district champ.

Breakdown: Pegged early as one of the toughest districts in 3A the district 5 race promises to be entertaining.

Four of the six teams went 3-1 or better in non-district play, a list that doesn’t include perennial power Davenport Assumption.

Keep an eye on Clinton and Clear Creek Amana a couple of teams capable of pushing North Scott or earning at-large playoff berths with strong finishes.

Class 3A District 6

Teams: Solon, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Mount Pleasant, Washington

Favorite: Third-ranked Solon (4-0) enters district play coming off back-to-back impressive performances and is a heavy favorite to run the table in district play.

Top contenders: There should be a battle for the runner-up spot behind Solon with the rest of the district competition fairly evenly matches. Mount Pleasant and Fairfield appear to be the top challengers and both must travel to Solon.

Game to watch: October 19. Fairfield at Solon. The Spartans will likely be seeking a second consecutive unbeaten regular season when they host the Trojans in week nine.  

Breakdown: Solon is the lone team with more than two wins entering district play and appears to be the Class of District 6.

Fairfield, Fort Madison, Mount Pleasant and Washington all went 2-2 during non-district play making it unlikely that District 6 produces an at-large qualifier in the event Solon wins the title.

Class 1A District 4

Teams: West Branch, Bellevue, Cascade, Dyersville Beckman, North Cedar, Northeast

Favorite: Top-ranked West Branch (4-0) is the district favorite again after posting a 9-0 regular season a year ago.

Top contenders: No. 5 Bellevue pushed West Branch to the limit last season in a 45-41 loss at the Little Rose Bowl and has the talent, namely senior running back/linebacker Hunter Clasen to challenge the Bears again.

Game to watch: September 21. West Branch at Bellevue. The district opener for both teams will also likely be the district title game. The teams have split the last two meetings with Bellevue winning the last game on its home field 26-13 in 2016.

Breakdown: West Branch and Bellevue are both top-five teams in Class 1A that will likely appear in the 16-team playoff field.

Don’t count out Cascade (2-2) which lost to ranked 2A squads No. 4 Benton Community and No. 7 Waukon in non-district play.

Cascade should keep its district title hopes alive until the final two weeks of the season when it travels to West Branch and hosts Bellevue to close out the season.

Class 1A District 6

Teams: Dike-New Hartford, North Linn, Regina, Jesup, South Hardin, East Marshall

Favorite: Two-time defending 1A runner-up Regina started the season as the District 6 favorite but as district play arrives it is third-ranked Dike-New Hartford (4-0) that holds that distinction.

Top contenders: If Dike-New Hartford is the new favorite in District 6 then Regina is undoubtedly the Wolverines top challenger. Regina (1-3) is seeking an unprecedented ninth consecutive state title game appearance.

Game to watch: October 19. Dike-New Hartford at Regina. It should play out just the way you want it to, the top two teams in the district battling for a title on the final night of the regular season.

Breakdown: Dike-New Hartford is the lone unbeaten team coming out of non-district play while North Linn is 3-1. Regina is 1-3 after a challenging schedule that featured losses to 3A top-ranked Xavier, Pella Christian and Williamsburg.

The Regals will likely need to win the district to return to the postseason but a healthy Regina team has proved it is capable of doing that.

Did you enjoy this subscription-free content? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by becoming a member.