Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Five weeks into the season Liberty High is one of the best stories in the state.

From an 0-5 start a year ago that turned into a 3-6 season Liberty High is off to a 4-1 start after a 20-16 come-from-behind win over fifth-ranked North Scott on Friday.

Junior quarterback Graham Beckman has garnered a bulk of the attention for the Lightning turnaround and with good reason.

A first-year starter under center Beckman has passed for 1,174 yards and 12 touchdowns with just one interception through five games.

What has perhaps flown under the radar during the impressive start for Liberty High is the production of the playmakers around Beckman.

With every passing game it gets harder and harder to not pay attention to what the likes of Trey Gregoire, Garrett Gregoire, Lucas Meyer, Wyatt Williams and Christian Barney provide the Liberty High offense.

All of those players have made big contributions for the Beckman-led Liberty High offense that is putting up 375 total yards and 33.2 points per game while averaging better than 6.3 yards per play.

On Friday it was Garrett Gregoire who took his turn standing out among a balanced group of Liberty High skill position players.

Garrett Gregoire caught five passes for 139 yards including an 80-yard touchdown pass that cut the North Scott lead to 16-13 in the fourth quarter.

“Coach told me I had to make a play,” Gregoire said of the 80-yard catch and run. “I make plays when they count.”

Gregoire made the catch, cut back and avoided several defenders before scoring the first of two fourth-quarter Liberty High touchdowns.

“I kind of under-threw him, but he made the catch and scored,” Beckman said. “He made a beautiful move on the sideline and put it in the end zone.”

Another of the under the radar Lightning weapons scored the game-winner as senior Wyatt Williams hauled in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Beckman that gave Liberty High its first lead of the game.

It was the first touchdown grab of the season for Williams who is one of five Liberty High players with at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards.

“They finally called a hitch-and-go, and it worked,” Williams said. “I was just locked in and caught it.”

Garrett Gregoire leads the Lightning with 19 receptions for 412 yards and five touchdowns.

Senior tight end Barney has 19 receptions for 183 yards and three touchdowns.

Meyer has 15 grabs for 226 yards and two scores and Williams has 10 receptions for 106 yards and a score.

In addition Ethan Neels and Ian Covarruibias have caught touchdown passes.

That’s the receivers, senior running back Trey Gregoire has rushed for 310 yards and three touchdowns and sophomore Owen Drapeaux has added 151 yards and a touchdown.

News and Notes

Solon Shutout: A Solon defense that has been impressive all season turned in perhaps its best effort of the season on Friday in a 36-0 shutout of West Burlington.

The Spartans allowed a season-low 65 yards of total offense while posting their second shutout of the season.

Solon held West Burlington to 42 rushing yards and just 1.81 yards per play in the win.

The second shutout of the season for Solon marked the second consecutive year the Spartans have had two shutouts.

Solon has had multiple shutouts in three of the last four seasons.

Boot Notes: The annual Battle for the Boot was all City High from the opening kick.

The Little Hawks won the toss, took the ball and marched 73 yards for a touchdown and never looked back in a 49-0 win.

The win was the second in a row for the Little Hawks in the Boot series and their first win at West High since 2016.

It was the first shutout in the series for City High since a 19-0 win at City High in 2003 and the first shutout for the Little Hawks at West High since a 42-0 win in 1993.

City High has now won back-to-back games in the series for the first time since 2016.

Henson’s Busy Night: West Branch senior Andy Henson put in his usual full night of work on Friday in a 35-13 win over Mediapolis.

Henson rushed for 163 yards and four touchdowns on a season-high 36 carries and also caught two passes for nine yards.

On defense Henson made 5.5 tackles, was in on a sack and averaged 33.3 yards on three punts.

Clipper Comeback: With the exception of a last-second loss at Independence in week two Clear Creek Amana had mostly avoided the late-game drama that followed the Clippers a season ago.

Clear Creek Amana returned to its old ways in a 28-14 win over Oskaloosa on Friday.

Clear Creek Amana saw a 13-0 first-half lead disappear and trailed 14-13 entering the fourth quarter but scored the final 15 points to win the Class 4A, District 4 opener for both teams.

Jackson Schmidt threw a 78-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Schlemme to put the Clippers in front and Reece Hoffman sealed the win returning an interception 27 yards for a touchdown.

Players of the week

Offensive Player of the Week: City High junior quarterback Drew Larson completed 16-of-23 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns, rushed for 15 yards and a touchdown, caught a 15-yard touchdown pass and had an interception in a 49-0 win over West High.

Defensive Player of the Week: Clear Creek Amana senior defensive back Reece Hoffman had four tackles and returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown to secure a 28-14 win over Oskaloosa.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Regina senior Evan Lacina converted on all four of his PAT attempts and also connected on a field goal in a 37-13 win over Wilton.

Helmet Stickers

Offense: West Branch senior quarterback Tye Hughes completed 10-of-13 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 89 yards on 14 carries in a 35-13 win over Mediapolis.

Offense: Regina junior Jackson Naeve caught five passes for 59 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 38 yards in a 37-13 win over Wilton.

Defense: Regina senior Steven Liu had five solo tackles and returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown in a 37-13 win over Wilton.

Defense: Liberty High senior Mason Gardner had 4.5 tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss in a 20-16 win over North Scott.

Special teams: City High senior kicker Thomas Ksobiech was a perfect 7-for-7 on PAT attempts in a 49-0 win over West High.

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