Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Davenport West (1-6) at 5A No. 7 City High (6-1)

Where: Bates Field, 7:15 p.m.

Last season: Did not play.

Player to watch: Davenport West junior quarterback Brady Hansen (6-1, 190) has completed 53 percent of his passes while throwing for 671 yards and two touchdowns and also rushing for a team-high three scores.

Key stat: The 31 points that City High allowed against Pleasant Valley in week seven are more than the Little Hawks had surrendered (29) in the first six games of the season.

About the Falcons: Davenport West has lost six straight games after opening the season with a 14-0 win over Clinton.

The Falcons are averaging 7 points per game on the season and have scored a total of 21 points over the past five games being shut out by Dubuque Hempstead and last week by top-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Hansen leads the Falcon offense while junior Tucker Avis (5-8, 165) has rushed for a team-high 369 yards and a touchdown.

Junior Devon Sanders Howard (6-1, 170) has caught a team-high 17 passes for 225 yards while Dalton Thompson (6-0, 165) has 16 receptions for 179 yards to highlight a group of four Falcon pass catchers with ore than 115 yards this season.

About the Little Hawks: City High finds itself in unchartered territory this season in week eight having to bounce back from a loss for the first time.

After opening the season with six consecutive wins the Little Hawks fell to Pleasant Valley 31-14 last week.

The Little Hawks will look to get back to its defensive dominance after allowing a season-high point output last week. City High is holding opponents to 8.6 points and 180 total yards per game.

Sophomore quarterback Drew Larson (6-1, 165) is coming off perhaps his best game a week ago and has passed for 697 yards and eight touchdowns and has rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown.

Darren Richardson (5-11, 195) has rushed for a team-high 478 yards and nine touchdowns while Joey Bouska (5-8, 170) has added 301 yards and four scores on the ground.

West High (2-5) at 5A No. 8 Cedar Rapids Prairie (5-2)  

Where: John Wall Field, 7:15 p.m.

Last season: Did not play.

Player to watch: Cedar Rapids Prairie junior running back Makelle Taylor (6-0, 175) has rushed for a team-high 771 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 6.8 yards per carry and also leads the Hawks with 12 receptions for 245 yards and a touchdown.

Key stat: Cedar Rapids Prairie ranks third in Class 4A in rushing averaging 253 yards per game on the ground while West High is allowing opponents 215 rushing yards per game.

About the Trojans: West High returns to action after being forced to forfeit last week’s game with Bettendorf due to Covid-19 concerns within the program.

The Trojans won’t get an easy task in their return to the field this week against a Cedar Rapids Prairie squad that is coming off a one-point loss to second-ranked Southeast Polk.

Even without playing last week West High senior Mason Applegate (6-0, 190) leads Class 4A in rushing and needs just 40 yards to crack the 1,000-yard barrier for the season.

Applegate is averaging 10.4 yards per carry and has a team-high 11 touchdowns this season to go with 9.5 tackles for loss and two sacks from his defensive line spot.

Freshman quarterback Jack Wallace (6-3, 200) has completed 45 percent of his passes while throwing for 590 yards and three touchdowns with senior Nate Gudenkauf (5-10, 155) leading the Trojans with 15 receptions for 213 yards and a touchdown.

About the Hawks: Cedar Rapids Prairie is a couple of plays and four points away from being unbeaten and towards the top of the 5A rankings.

The Hawks allowed a late touchdown in a 24-21 week three loss to Cedar Falls and had a potential game-winning field goal blocked in the final seconds of a 21-20 loss to Southeast Polk last week.

Even with those two tight losses Cedar Rapids Prairie has a solid resume with a win over eighth-ranked Pleasant Valley in the opener and double-digit victories over Dubuque Senior, Bettendorf and Waterloo West.

Senior quarterback Brandon Vlcko (6-3, 185) has completed 68 percent of his passes while throwing for 861 yards and six scores and has also rushed for 401 yards and seven scores.

Iowa State recruit Gabe Burkle (6-7, 240) has caught 12 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown and Elijah Ward (6-1, 165) has 10 receptions for 176 yards and three scores.

Burlington (5-2) at Liberty High (2-5)

Where: Liberty Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Did not play.

Player to watch: Burlington senior running back Bryant Williams (5-8, 170) ranks third in the state and first in Class 4A with 1,569 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns and is averaging 11.5 yards per carry.

Key stat: Burlington is the top rushing team in Class 4A this season averaging a 4A-leading 356 yards per game on the ground on 8.8 yards per carry and has scored a 4A-best 30 rushing touchdowns.

About the Lightning: Liberty High is coming off one of the top wins in the young history of the program, a 24-16 road win at sixth-ranked and previously unbeaten Fort Madison last week.

The win was the second straight for the Lightning and kept the playoff hopes alive for Liberty High.

Liberty High sits a in a three-way tie for second in the 4A, District 3 standings joining Fort Madison and Burlington at 2-1 in district play.

The Lightning control their own destiny and can reach the playoffs with back-to-back wins to end the regular season.

Look for Liberty High to rely on senior running back Darius Willis-Newell heavily down the stretch. Willis-Newell has rushed for 100 yards in three of the last four games and leads the Lightning with 783 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season.

About the Grayhounds: There may not be a better turnaround or a better story anywhere in the state this season than the about face the Burlington program has produced this fall.

A team that hadn’t won more than three games in a season in more than a decade, Burlington has already clinched its first winning season since 2009 with a 5-2 start and is still in the playoff hunt in Class 4A, District 3 with two weeks left in the regular season.

The Grayhounds have relied heavily on Williams who has emerged as one of the top playmakers in Class 4A but it has been an improved defense that has been pivotal in the 5-2 start.

Burlington is holding opponents to 199 total yards and 16.3 points per game this season and has been stingy on the ground allowing just 99 rushing yards per game.

Defending state champion North Scott is the only team to put up more than 255 yards against the Burlington defense this season as the Lancers had 315 total yards in a 42-0 win in week six.

Senior quarterback Kanyae Baker (5-11, 165) has completed 10-of-28 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns and has rushed for 322 yards and six scores.

Pella (3-4) at Clear Creek Amana (5-2)

Where: Clipper Field, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Did not play.

Player to watch: Pella senior running back Aidan Pollock (5-10, 185) has rushed for a team-leading 562 yards and seven touchdowns and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Key stat: Pella has allowed 7.3 points per game in its three wins and given up an average of 33.5 points per game in its four losses this season.

About the Clippers: Clear Creek Amana had a four-game winning streak snapped with a 34-7 road loss at third-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier last week.

The Clippers still sit in strong position to earn a playoff berth and are tied with Pella at 2-1 in Class 4A, District 4 play so a win on Friday would put the Clippers in the drivers’ seat for an automatic berth entering week nine.

Clear Creek Amana will look to get its offense back on track after being held to a season-low 213 yards and seven points in the loss to Xavier last week.

Even in the loss last week senior quarterback Ben Swails (6-2, 175) continued his strong season throwing for 147 yards with senior Harrison Rosenberg (6-2, 170) catching a season-high 11 passes for 118 yards.

Swails has passed for 1,132 yards and 11 touchdowns this season with Rosenberg hauling in a team-high 35 passes for 626 yards and eight touchdowns.

About the Dutch: The 3-4 record stands out for a Pella program that has produced double digit wins in nine of the last 13 seasons and has won eight or more games every season but two dating back to 2006.

Before getting too caught up in the 3-4 mark for the Dutch this season consider this – the four losses have come to the second, third, fourth and seventh ranked teams in Class 4A this season that own a combined record of 25-3.

Three of those losses have been by 11 points or fewer including a seven-point loss to No. 7 Indianola and a three-point loss to fourth-ranked Norwalk.

Pella is averaging 209 rushing yards per game as a team and has three players with at least 330 rushing yards.

Pollock leads the ground attack but Nolan Clayberg (6-0, 195) has rushed for 368 yards and four touchdowns and senior quarterback Blake Meyer (6-2, 195) has added 338 yards rushing and five scores.

Meyer has also thrown for 558 yards and four touchdowns with Jason Knox (6-2, 190) his top target with nine receptions for 209 yards and a touchdown.

3A No. 3 Solon (7-0) at Grinnell (5-2)

Where: Grinnell, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Did not play.

Player to watch: Grinnell senior running back Cole Johnson (5-10, 175) has rushed for 806 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 5.9 yards per carry.

Key stat: Solon is holding opponents to 3.9 yards per play this season and has held teams to under 4 yards per play in four of seven games.

About the Tigers: Grinnell has won three consecutive Class 3A, District 5 games following a 49-7 win over West Burlington last week and has outscored its three district opponents 136-34.

The Tigers went 2-2 against a challenging non-district slate that included a win over eighth-ranked Benton Community and losses to 3A top-ranked Harlan and at North Polk.

Seniors Alex Smith (5-9, 148) and Colin Gibson (6-2, 182) have split time at quarterback throughout the season combining to pass for 991 yards and 14 touchdowns with five interceptions.

Gibson has thrown for 682 yards and 11 scores while Smith has rushed for 339 yards and six touchdowns.

The Tigers have relied heavily on the running of Johnson while Calvin Jaworski (6-1, 170) has emerged as a weapon in the passing game leading the team with 24 receptions for 426 yards and six touchdowns.

About the Spartans: Solon improved to 7-0 with an impressive 56-7 win over Fairfield last week and can lock up the district title with a road win at Grinnell.

The Spartans have been dominant on both sides of the ball throughout the season but have been especially impressive defensively against district foes.

Solon is allowing 9.3 points and 148 total yards per game against district competition and is allowing just 11.3 points and 184 total yards per game on the season.

The Spartans have been explosively offensively putting up 46.6 points and 443 yards per game while averaging 8.6 yards per play.

Junior quarterback Blake Timmons (5-10, 175) has passed for 1,072 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 575 yards and seven more scores.

Junior Sean Stahle (5-10, 162) has rushed for a team-high 727 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 7.2 yards per carry.

Wilton (5-2) at West Branch (5-2)

Where: The Little Rose Bowl, 7 p.m.

Last season: West Branch 43, Wilton 8

Player to watch: Wilton senior running back Jackson Hull (6-0, 205) has rushed for 621 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 5.9 yards per carry.

Key stat: West Branch junior running back Andy Henson needs 118 rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the season and give the Bears a 1,000-yard rusher for the ninth time in 11 seasons.

About the Bears: West Branch had a four-game winning streak snapped with a 26-8 loss to third-ranked Regina last week but still has a playoff spot locked up entering the final week of the regular season.

At 3-1 in 1A, District 5 the Bears are locked into the playoffs but can finish the season as the outright district runner-up with a win over Wilton in the regular season finale.

West Branch averaged 244 rushing yard and rushed for more than 220 yards in each game during its four-game winning streak but was held to 94 yards in the loss to the Regals.

Look for West Branch to get the ground game going early behind Henson against the Beavers.

Junior quarterback Carver Boelk (5-10, 175) has passed for 431 yards and five touchdowns with Peyton Miller (5-8, 170) leading the team with 13 receptions for 165 yards and three touchdowns.

About the Beavers: Wilton opened the season with four consecutive wins but dropped back-to-back 1A, District 5 games to Regina and Mediapolis before picking up a forfeit victory over Louisa-Muscatine last week.

Sitting at 2-2 in district play Wilton can lock up a playoff berth with a win over West Branch.

The Beavers allowed 17 points and didn’t give up more than 26 points during its 4-0 start but has allowed 35 and 49 points in losses to Regina and Mediapolis.

Senior quarterback Mason Ormsby (5-8, 150) has rushed for 367 yards and three touchdowns to go with Hull in the Beaver running game.

On defense keep an eye on Tyrell Hughes (6-2, 200) who leads the team with 31.5 tackles including 13 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Durant (2-5) at 1A No. 3 Regina (7-0)

Where: Regal Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play.

Player to watch: Durant junior running back Nolan DeLong (6-1, 191) ranks second in Class 1A with 1,325 yards, is fifth with 16 rushing touchdowns and averages 7.7 yards per carry.

Key stat: Regina is holding teams to 103 rushing yards per game and has held four of five opponents to under 100 yards on the ground.

About the Regals: Regina remained unbeaten on the season with a 26-8 win over West Branch on Friday in a game in which the Regals didn’t allow an offensive point.

The Regals have continued to dominant defensively holding opponents 7 points and 170 total yards per game after limiting West Branch to 135 total yards a week ago.

On offense the Regals have continued to rely on junior tailback Levi Daniel (6-2, 185) who has rushed for 779 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 156 rushing yards per game.

Junior quarterback Jack Tierney (6-1, 175) has passed for 469 yards and six touchdowns and has also rushed for 296 yards and two scores.

Sam Aitchison (5-9, 170) has caught a team-high 14 passes for 136 yards while Carson Jensen (5-8, 135) has 12 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns.

About the Wildcats: Durant gave its playoff hopes a big boost last week with its best win of the season, an 18-7 road victory over Mediapolis.

The Wildcats moved to 2-2 in district play with the win at Mediapolis and are in the thick of the playoff race entering the final week of the regular season.

Durant has won two of three following an 0-4 start to the season with the lone loss a 28-14 setback at West Branch in week six.

Everything for Durant goes through DeLong who accounts for more than 68 percent of the Wildcats’ offensive output and has scored 16 of the Wildcats’ 20 offensive touchdowns.

Sophomore quarterback Charlie Huesmann (5-11, 148) has passed for 389 yards and three touchdowns with five interceptions.

Senior Ethan Gast (5-10, 143) is the top receiving threat with 14 receptions for 214 yards and three touchdowns.

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