Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

5A No. 9 Urbandale (7-2) at 5A No. 4 City High (8-1)

Where: Bates Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Urbandale junior quarterback Peyton Rottinghaus (5-11, 180) ranks third in Class 5A in passing yards with 2,013 yards and is tied for the 5A lead with 19 touchdown passes against just five interceptions.

Key stat: City High has 11 interceptions and allowed just three touchdown passes in nine games this season while holding opponents to 64 passing yards per game.

About the J-Hawks: Urbandale had a five-game winning streak snapped with a 17-16 loss to Waukee Northwest in the regular season finale last Friday.

The loss to Waukee Northwest was the fifth game for Urbandale this season decided by 10 points or less all coming against Class 5A playoff qualifiers.

The J-Hawks were 3-2 in those games with 10-point wins over Bettendorf and Johnston and a one-point victory over Ankeny Centennial.

Urbandale is averaging 27.7 points and 325 total yards per game this season but managed just 15.8 points and 274 total yards per game in five games against 5A playoff qualifiers and didn’t score more than 19 points in any of those games.

Rottinghaus leads an Urbandale offense that relies heavily on the passing game and features the best receiving duo in Class 5A.

Senior Graham Friedrichsen (6-2, 185) leads 5A with 830 receiving yards on 35 receptions and junior Kai Black (6-4, 205) ranks second in 5A with 746 receiving yards on 47 catches. The two have combined for 17 touchdowns.

Urbandale has been among the best defensive teams in 5A this season holding opponents to 8.7 points and 198 total yards per game while allowing just 3.9 yards per play.

The J-Hawks are allowing just 89 rushing yards per game on 2.9 yards per carry and are led by junior linebacker Cole Garwood (6-3, 210) who has a team-high 63 tackles including 9.5 sacks and 26 for loss.

About the Little Hawks: City High outscored its final two regular season opponents by a combined score of 139-7 and enters Friday’s postseason opener seeking its first trip to the state quarterfinals since 2016.

The Little Hawks have been among the most improved team in the state this season matching its win total from the previous four seasons combined and snapping a string of four consecutive two-win seasons by going 8-1 and outscoring opponents 424-67.

City High has used a stingy defense and strong running game to turn this around this season.

The Little Hawks have been among the best defensive teams in the state this fall holding opponents to 164 total yards and 7.4 points per game while posting four shutouts.

City High has held seven of nine opponents to seven points or fewer and has allowed more than 17 points just once this season.

Junior linebacker Ben Kueter (6-1, 192) leads the Little Hawks with a team-high 73 tackles and seven sacks and ranks first in Class 5A with 31.5 tackles for loss.

Senior Gable Mitchell (5-9, 170) has 51.5 tackles and senior linebackers John Klosterman and Carter Seaton (5-10, 158) have combined for 73.5 tackles and Seaton has a team-high three interceptions.

The City High offense is led by sophomore quarterback Drew Larson (6-1, 165) and Quinton Tran (5-10, 160) who have passed for 1,823 yards and 23 touchdowns with four interceptions while sharing the quarterback duties.

Mitchell is the top receiver with 22 receptions for 388 yards and four touchdowns to lead a group of seven City High players with at least 100 receiving yards.

Senior Darren Richardson (5-11, 195) has rushed for a team-high 591 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Clear Creek Amana (5-3) at 4A No. 7 Winterset (7-2)  

Where: Winterset, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Winterset senior running back Dawson Forgy (5-11, 185) ranks second in Class 4A in both rushing yards with 1,723 and rushing touchdowns with 25 and leads 4A with 30 total touchdowns.

Key stat: Winterset is averaging 297 rushing yards per game and 7.3 yards per carry and Clear Creek Amana is allowing 240 yards per game on the ground at 5.7 yards per attempt.

About the Clippers: Clear Creek Amana bounced back from back-to-back losses to Cedar Rapids Xavier and Pella with a 49-48 road win at Newton in the regular season finale.

The win at Newton was fourth one-point victory of the season for the Clippers with all four one-point wins coming on the road.

Clear Creek Amana is 4-1 away from home this season and will get another crack at a road win as the Clippers attempt to win their first postseason game since a 22-15 win over Union in the 3A opening round in 2010.

The Clippers have been efficient, effective and balanced offensively this season averaging 29 points and 332 total yards per game.

Clear Creek Amana is averaging 156 rushing yards and 175 passing yards per game in an offense directed by senior quarterback Ben Swails.

Swails (6-2, 175) has passed for 1,576 yards and 17 touchdowns with just three interceptions and has also rushed for 318 yards and four scores.

Senior tailback Gage Freeman (5-11, 185) has rushed for a team-leading 739 yards and 10 touchdowns while senior wide receiver Harrison Rosenberg (6-2, 170) ranks third in 4A with 789 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 41 receptions.

Clear Creek Amana is allowing 27.2 points and 362 yards of total offense per game this season and will be tested by a Winterset running game that ranks among the best in 4A.

Freeman leads the Clippers with 58.5 tackles while fellow senior linebacker Gunther Sandersfeld is second on the team with 42 stops.

About the Huskies: Winterset is enjoying its best season in nearly a decade and is seeking its first trip to the state quarterfinals since 2012.

Before winning its postseason opener a year ago when every team was in the playoff field the Huskies hadn’t won a postseason game since it reached the 3A quarterfinals in 2012.

With a win on Friday the Huskies can match its highest win total since that 2012 season.

Winterset had a five-game winning streak snapped with a 38-37 loss to Council Bluffs Lewis Central in the regular season finale last Friday with its only other loss a 28-13 setback to 1A top-ranked Van Meter in week three.

The headliner for the Huskies is Forgy who has rushed for 4,184 yards and 56 touchdowns over the past three seasons.

Winterset is strong up front led by brothers Drake Knobloch (6-3, 240) and Beau Knobloch (6-4, 267) who have paved the way for the Huskies to average 297 rushing yards per game this season.

Senior quarterback Caden Kleemeier (5-11, 190) has completed 59 percent of his passes while throwing for 831 yards and eight touchdowns with Levi Gurwell (6-1, 152) catching 16 passes for 210 yards and Forgy making 12 receptions for 260 yards and five scores.

The Winterset defense is allowing 17.3 points per game and has forced 23 turnovers.

Leading the way defensively is senior Blake Bellamy (6-1, 200) with 74 tackles including a team-high 19.5 for loss while senior Brady Barringer (5-11, 175) has 45 tackles and a team-best 5.5 sacks.

Davenport Assumption (6-3) at 3A No. 3 Solon (9-0)  

Where: Spartan Stadium, 7 p.m.

Regular season: Solon 38, Davenport Assumption 10

Player to watch: Davenport Assumption senior running back John Argo (X) has rushed for 1,264 yards and 17 touchdowns while averaging 7.3 yards per carry and has also caught nine passes for 167 yards and a touchdown.

Key stat: In Davenport Assumption’s six wins this season Argo has rushed for 1,069 yards and 16 touchdowns and in the three losses for the Knights the senior tailback has been held to 195 yards and one score.

About the Knights: After rare playoff misses in 2018 and 2019 Davenport Assumption is seeking a second consecutive trip to the quarterfinals after falling to eventual 3A champion North Scott in the 3A quarters a year ago.

The Knights have seen quality competition this season with their three losses coming to 4A top-ranked North Scott, Solon and 3A third-ranked Benton Community which have a combined record of 26-1.

Davenport Assumption was outscored 76-24 in back-to-back losses to North Scott and Solon but rebounded to win four of its final five games with the lone loss a 23-3 setback at Benton Community on October 8.

The Knights’ power running offense led by Argo averages 236 yards per game on the ground.

Sophomore Angelo Jackson (6-0, 165) has been a nice change of pace to the bruising Argo adding 439 rushing yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 11 yards per carry and junior Derrick Bass (5-9, 140) has rushed for 268 yards and a touchdown.

Senior quarterback Ayden Weiman (6-0, 175) has completed 43 percent of his passes for 590 yards and two touchdowns with six interceptions.

Senior Reese Harris (6-2, 170) has been the top targe with 15 receptions for 237 yards and a touchdown while David Neuberger (6-1, 190) has caught 12 passes for 109 yards.

Argo leads the Knights with 78 tackles from his linebacker spot while junior Cale Preston (6-1, 190) has made 55 tackles and sophomore Jack Carroll (6-3, 200) has a team-high 10 tackles for loss.

About the Spartans: Solon completed its fifth unbeaten regular season in the past six years with a 63-6 win over Keokuk on Friday and has now won 16 of its last 17 games after an 0-2 start to the 2020 season.

The Spartans had an average margin of victory of nearly 36 points in its nine regular season wins and didn’t have a game decided by fewer than 14 points.

Solon is seeking a return to the state quarterfinals after falling to eventual 2A champion Waukon 24-8 in the quarterfinals last season.

The Spartans have been explosive on offense this season averaging 47.1 points and 419 total yards per game.

It has been an increase in balance that has helped the Spartan offense excel as Solon is putting up 159 passing yards per game to go with 260 yards per game on the ground.

Junior quarterback Blake Timmons (5-10, 175) has completed 52 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,200 yards and 18 touchdowns with four interceptions and has also rushed for 726 yards and eight touchdowns.

Six different Solon players have more than 100 yards receiving and 10 different Spartans have caught a touchdown pass.

Junior Sean Stahle (5-10, 162) has been a big-play threat in the Spartan backfield averaging 7.4 yards per carry while rushing for 984 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Solon has been stingy defensively holding opponents to 10.7 points and 166 total yards per game while limiting five of nine opponents to less than 3.7 yards per play.

The Spartans are giving up just 76 rushing yards per game and haven’t allowed more than 118 rushing yards in a game since week two against Mount Vernon.

West Branch (7-2) at No. 6 Dyersville Beckman (9-0)

Where: Dyersville Beckman

Last season: West Branch 35, Dyersville Beckman 21

Player to watch: Dyersville Beckman junior quarterback Cayden Gassmann (5-11, 155) has completed 60 percent of his passes while throwing for 927 yards and 11 touchdowns and has also rushed for 463 yards and seven scores.

Key stat: Dyersville Beckman has won seven consecutive home games outscoring opponents by an average score of 34-10.5. The last home loss for the Blazers was a 35-21 setback to West Branch on October 9 of 2020.

About the Bears: West Branch is seeking a third state quarterfinal trip in the past four seasons after downing Cardinal 35-6 in the opening round last week.

The Bears have won back-to-back games since a 26-8 loss to fourth-ranked Regina in week seven and have produced two of their most productive offensive performances of the season since putting up just 135 total yards in the loss to the Regals.

West Branch had 382 total yards in a win over Wilton in the regular season finale and had 400 yards in the playoff opener against Cardinal thanks in part to a season-high 133 passing yards from junior quarterback Carver Boelk (5-10, 175).

Boelk has passed for 631 yards and five touchdowns with six interceptions this season and has also rushed for 254 yards and six touchdowns.

The West Branch offense has centered around junior tailback Andy Henson (6-2, 205) who has rushed for a team-high 1,295 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 7.4 yards per carry.

West Branch has been stout defensively holding teams to 12 points and 223 total yards per game.

The Bears are allowing just 126 rushing yards per game and have given up more than 161 yards per game on the ground just twice this season, both to 1A playoff qualifiers.

West Branch will get a stiff test from a Beckman ground game averaging more than 300 yards per game and will need a strong game from defensive lineman Drake Berry (6-3, 225) and Logan Wright (6-2, 230) who have combined for 43 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss this season.

Linebackers Cole Bailey (5-9, 170) and Henson will need to have big games. Bailey has 39.5 tackles and Henson has a team-leading 11 tackles for loss.

About the Blazers: Dyersville Beckman has followed up a 6-3 season that ended with a 35-14 loss to Sigourney-Keota in the round of 16 last fall with its best season in nearly a decade.

The Blazers have already posted their highest win total since going 10-3 and reaching the Class 2A semifinals in 2014 this season and are seeking their first quarter berth since that season.

Dyersville Beckman has been impressive all season outscoring opponents 298-89 with its only game decided by fewer than 14 points a 35-34 win over Waterloo Columbus in week six.

The Blazers have showcased a powerful running game and stout defense during their 9-0 start.

Led by senior tailback Owen Huehnergarth (5-8, 205) the Blazers are averaging 303 rushing yards per game and 6.3 yards per carry.

Huehnergarth leads four Blazers with more than 400 rushing yards with a team-high 1,229 yards and 21 touchdowns and junior Nick Wulfekuhle (6-0, 165) has rushed for 417 yards.

Juniors Luke Schieltz (5-8, 145) and Padraig Gallagher (6-4, 175) are the top receivers combining for 24 receptions, 354 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

Defensively Dyersville Beckman is holding opponents to 9.9 points and 234 total yards per game and has allowed more than 300 yards just twice this season.

The Blazers have been especially tough against the run limiting opponents to 86 rushing yards per game.

Dyersville Beckman has also been good at taking the ball away forcing 20 turnovers in eight games this season including 14 interceptions.

MFL Mar Mac (7-2) at 1A No. 4 Regina (9-0)

Where: Regal Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: MFL Mar-Mac senior running back Cullen McShane (6-2, 210) has rushed for 1,012 yards and 14 touchdowns and has also leads the Bulldogs with 12 receptions for 256 yards and three scores.

Key stat: MFL Mar-Mac has scored 29 rushing touchdowns in eight games this season and Regina has allowed three rushing touchdowns in seven games.

About the Regals: The defending Class A state champion Regina pushed its state-leading winning streak to 20 in a row with a 41-19 win over Cascade in the opening round last week.

The Regals are seeking a third consecutive state quarterfinal appearance and have outscored opponents 220-70 this season.

For Regina it all starts on defense where the Regals are once again one of the best in the state.

Regina is holding opponents to 10 points and 202 total yards per game this season and is giving up just 111 rushing yards per game and just more than four yards per play.

The Regals have forced 16 turnovers in seven games this season with Steven Liu (6-2, 165) and Carson Jensen (5-8, 135) each picking off three passes.

It is upfront on defense where Regina can really create problems for opponents.

Senior defensive lineman Aidan Udell (5-10, 185) leads the team with 55 tackles, three sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss while fellow senior defensive lineman Josh Gaffey (6-4, 230) has 31 tackles, three sacks and five tackles for loss.

The Regal offense is led by junior quarterback Jack Tierney (6-1, 175) who has passed for 851 yards and nine touchdowns and also rushed for 526 yards and four scores.

Junior running back Levi Daniel (6-2, 185) has rushed for 991 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry.

The top targets for Tierney have been seniors Sam Aitchison (5-9, 170), Blake Chambliss (6-1, 165) and Jensen.

That trio has combined for 49 receptions for 736 yards and seven touchdowns.

About the Bulldogs: One of the top up and coming programs in Class 1A over the past several seasons meets one of the perennial small school powers as MFL Mar-Mac faces defending state champion Regina.

MFL Mar-Mac has been among the most improved programs in the state over the past three seasons.

In the 10 seasons prior to 2019 MFL Mar-Mac won a combined 23 games, had four one-win seasons and didn’t finishing over .500 or win a postseason game during that stretch.

Since 2019 the Bulldogs are 26-5 and have made consecutive trips to the state quarterfinals.

At the center of the resurgence for MFL Mar-Mac has been the senior running back duo of Cullen McShane (6-2, 210) and Gabe McGeough (5-10, 170).

Together McShane and McGeough have combined for 5,693 career rushing yards and 65 touchdowns and lead a Bulldog ground game that is averaging 316 yards per game this season.

McShane has rushed for a team-high 1,012 yards and 14 touchdowns this season while McGeough has added 927 yards and eight touchdowns.

Sophomore quarterback Carver Blietz-Bentien (6-0, 180) has completed 45 percent of his passes for 636 yards and four touchdowns with McShane catching 12 passes for 256 yards and three scores.

Not surprisingly it is the duo of McShane and McGeough that lead the Bulldogs defensively.

MFL Mar-Mac is holding opponents to 271 total yards and 20.1 points per game this season and is allowing just 119 yards per game on the ground.

McShane has a team-high 56.5 tackles while McGeough has 45.5 stops and sophomore Wyatt Powell (6-0, 190) has 53 tackles including a team-high 13 for loss.

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