Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The big story from the opening week of the prep football season in the Your Prep Sports area was Liberty High’s stunning 36-19 win over City High.

With the win Liberty High reversed a 41-0 setback to the Little Hawks to open last season that started an 0-5 start to the James Harris era at Liberty High.

The Lightning scored on the opening drive and never trailed on Friday in an impressive win.

That was without a doubt the story of week one in the area.

The overarching story was the overall overwhelming success of the ‘Clash at Kinnick’ that brought high school football back to Kinnick Stadium for the first time in more than 40 years.

The weather was perfect, the crowd was amazing, the bands from both schools were excellent.

Everything about the night was memorable for the players and the more than 10,000 fans that attended.

“What an unbelievable event,” City High coach Mitch Moore said. “I am incredible grateful to be a part of it, I think our team is incredibly grateful to be a part of it. This community of Iowa City, I can’t say enough about how grateful our program is to be a part of it.”

City High played a central role in getting what was originally a home game for the Little Hawks moved to the home of the Hawkeyes.

While the Little Hawks didn’t get a win it felt like a win for football in the state of Iowa.

“I can’t say enough about the turnout,” Moore said. “Before the game I did soak it in. I did. I took a moment and lived in the moment and you felt it. I felt grateful that’s all I can say.”

News and Notes

Scooping and Scoring: West Branch had scored three defensive touchdowns in its previous 18 games entering the 2022 season.

The Bears matched that total in less than a half in its opener against Lisbon on Friday.

Cale Seydel, Kinnick Boelk and Jaxson Kaalberg all recovered fumbled and returned them for touchdowns in the first half of a 61-20 win over the Lions.

Kaalberg started the defensive scoring with a 5-yard scoop and score off a fumbled snap on a punt on the fourth play of the game.

Boelk took a fumble back 40 yards and Seydel went 43 yards after picking up a loose ball in the second quarter.

Welcome Back: A year ago Christian Janis had his season end in the first half of the season opener sustaining a broken collar bone against Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Janis is back healthy this season and is set to be a pain for opposing defense.

The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Janis caught six passes for 170 yards in a 28-19 loss to Cedar Rapids Kennedy on Thursday.

Janis had touchdown grabs of 86, 54 and 24 yards in the opener and also made a tackle and averaged 18.7 yards on three kick off returns.

New Home for Hughes: Tye Hughes started all nine games for Liberty High last season before transferring to West Branch for his final prep season.

The senior quarterback had a stellar debut in his new home on Friday.
Hughes completed 12-of-14 passes for 190 yards and three scores and also ran for a touchdown in a 61-20 win over Lisbon.

New-look Clear Creek Amana Defense: Clear Creek Amana won six games in the debut season for head coach Matt Haddy last fall.

One thing the Clippers didn’t do a year ago was post a shutout.

Clear Creek Amana did exactly that in its opener on Friday blanking Marion 26-0 while holding the Wolves to 195 yards of total offense.

Haddy handed the defense over to new coordinator Ted Haag this season who made a few changes and added a few wrinkles.
One of those subtle changes was moving sophomore Brody Clubb from defensive end to linebacker.

Clubb had 8.5 tackles and a sack on Friday while senior linebacker Brock Sherman had 10 tackles.

Schmidt Shines: Speaking of Clear Creek Amana how about the quarterback debut for senior Jackson Schmidt?

Schmidt completed 7-of-8 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown in his first career start and the slot receiver turned quarterback also rushed for 80 yards and a score.

Keep an eye on Kotar: Solon will be led by a trio of familiar names and returning all-staters this season in Blake Timmons, Sean Stahle and Brett White.

Get to know the name Nash Kotar.

Kotar returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown and led Solon with four receptions for 26 yards and also made two tackles in his first varsity action on Friday in a 42-0 win at West Liberty.

Players of the week

Offensive Player of the Week: Liberty High junior quarterback Graham Beckman completed 16-of-24 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 48 yards and a score in a 36-19 win over City High.

Defensive Player of the Week: Solon junior linebacker Brett White had 6.5 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and intercepted a pass as Solon shut out West Liberty 42-0. White also rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown and caught a pass for 15 yards.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Liberty High senior Wyatt Williams gave the Lightning a 16-6 lead and all the momentum with a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter of a 36-19 win over City High.

Helmet Stickers

Offense: West High senior receiver Christian Janis caught six passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-19 loss to Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Offense: City High junior quarterback Drew Larson completed 21-of-26 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 18 yards and a score and made seven tackles in a loss to Liberty High.

Defense: West Branch senior Jack McCullough had 5.5 tackles including three for loss and a sack in a 61-20 win over Lisbon.

Defense: Regina senior defensive end Chris Waikel had six tackles, including one for loss and recovered a fumble in a 31-0 loss to Williamsburg.

Special teams: Liberty High senior Hayden Saul converted 3-of-4 PAT attempts, made a 37-yard field goal and averaged 30 yard on a pair of punts in the win over City High.

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