Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

What Stood Out?

City High. Again.

The Little Hawks continued their impressive start with another lopsided win on Friday, turning a 14-3 halftime lead into a 43-5 rout of Ames (1-2) in the annual Little Cy-Hawk showdown.

As it has all season City High improved to 3-0 in emphatic fashion, scoring a pair of defensive touchdowns and getting three second-half touchdown runs from Darren Richardson to pull away.

With the win City High (3-0) has surpassed the two-win total for the first time since 2016, is 3-0 for the first time since 2010 and has outscored opponents 152-5.

Those impressive numbers have come against teams with a combined 1-7 record this season.

So where does sixth-ranked City High stand as a state contender during its breakthrough season.

We’ll get a much better answer to that question next Friday when the Little Hawks welcome perennial 5A power West Des Moines Dowling to Bates Field.

There will be more about that matchup later but what stood out Friday was City High again taking care of business by wreaking havoc defensively and grinding out yards on the ground.

That’s a formula that wins games.

What Were We Watching?

The West Branch Offense

As a non-district contest at trip to Maquoketa Valley for West Branch didn’t land in the must win category.

What the non-district finale for the Bears did feel like was a game where the offensive momentum had to be gained.

Mission accomplished.

West Branch (2-1) had its best offensive performance of the season, racking up 340 total yards and averaging 8.5 yards per play in a win over Maquoketa Valley (1-2).

The Bears had scuffled early with a young offensive line and first-year quarterback scoring 18 total points during a 1-1 start.

West Branch got going early on Friday scoring 42 points in the first half in a performance that should build confidence for a number of players.

Junior tailback Andy Henson ran for 206 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. Henson is a workhorse capable of leading the West Branch offense and was a rare know commodity on a young offensive group.

The encouraging part of the performance on Friday was the Bears got others involved.

Senior receiver Peyton Miller had a breakthrough game with four touchdowns coming on a pair of touchdown receptions, a run and a kick return and junior quarterback Carver Boelk had his best game.

West High has a chance to build on its momentum next Friday at home against 0-3 Louisa-Muscatine.

Where Was the Focus?

Clear Creek Amana’s Direction

Just as West Branch wasn’t facing a ‘must win’ on Friday neither was Clear Creek Amana at home against Washington.

However, with a loaded district setting up a stiff back half of the schedule Clear Creek Amana certainly would feel a lot better going forward coming off a bounce back style win.

That’s exactly what the Clippers got on Friday and they got it in impressive fashion.

Clear Creek Amana rebounded from a loss to Independence on Friday with a 48-14 win over Washington (1-2) in which the Clippers rushed for a season-high 287 yards.

Gage Freeman was electric, running for a career-high 182 yards and two scores as Clear Creek Amana improved to 2-1.

Why is this win so important?

After a rivalry game with Liberty High (0-3) to wrap up non-district play the Clippers face a five-game district slate that owns a combined 12-3 record now.

The last five weeks go Oskaloosa (3-0), at No. 4 Cedar Rapids Washington (2-1), at No. 2 Cedar Rapids Xavier (3-0), Pella (1-2) and at Newton (3-0).

That’s a tough road which makes early season wins and momentum for Matt Haddy’s group even more important.

Who Stepped up?

Solon Senior Jake Quillin

When Solon needed a big play on either side of the ball on Friday against Williamsburg its senior leader provided one.

Quillin gave Solon a 14-7 lead with a 39-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter and set up the Spartans’ go-ahead score with an interception late in the quarter.

The senior defensive back also had a tackle for loss that stopped a Williamsburg drive and broke up a pass as 3A fifth-ranked Solon improved to 3-0 with a 28-14 win over the Raiders.

What’s Next?

Three games to keep an eye on next Friday

No. 3 West Des Moines Dowling (1-2) at No. 6 City High (3-0) – West Des Moines Dowling enters with two losses, two top-ranked Southeast Polk at the horn in the opener and to defending state champ Ankeny last week but the Maroons are still the gold standard for 5A football giving City High an opportunity to make its biggest statement yet.

Clear Creek Amana (2-1) at Liberty High (0-3) – This series has all the ingredients for a great rivalry and this game has all the makings of the type of tight game that can get a rivalry going.

No. 5 Solon (3-0) at No. 6 Davenport Assumption (2-1) – A road trip to Davenport Assumption is likely the most challenging task remaining on the Spartan’s regular season schedule.

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