Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

City High (0-2) at Ames (0-2) 

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

Last season: City High 55, Ames 19

Player to watch: Ames junior running back Jamison Poe (5-8, 170) has rushed for a team-high 115 yards while averaging 5.2 yards per carry and has caught four passes for 25 yards.

Key stat: The all-time record in the Little Cy/Hawk series is even at 4-4 but City High has won the last three meetings in the series by a combined score of 126-49.

About the Little Hawks: City High will look to bounce back after back-to-back losses to open the season and is seeking to avoid the first 0-3 start since the Little Hawks lost five in a row to open the 2014 season.

The Little Hawks are allowing 456 total yards and 264 rushing yards per game in their consecutive losses to open the season.

Senior linebacker Holdon Clay leads the City High defense with 22.5 tackles including 14 solo stops and one tackle for loss and senior Miles Parlet has made 16 tackles.

Offensively City High will look to get the ground game going against an Ames defense that is allowing 211 rushing yards per game.

City High is averaging just 76 rushing yards per game led by junior Dominic Salibi who has rushed for 84 yards while averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

Senior quarterback Drew Larson has passed for 324 yards and three touchdowns with senior Carsen Newton his top target with 14 receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown.

About the Little Cyclones: Ames is off to an 0-2 start with loss to Waukee (1-1) and Ankeny Centennial (1-1).

The Little Cyclones will look for an offensive spark in week three after averaging 268 total yards per game in back-to-back losses to open the season.

Senior quarterback Lane Kenny (6-0, 175) leads the Ames offense and has completed 12-of-23 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown.

Sophomore Jeffrey Roberts (5-11, 170) has been the top target for Kenny with nine receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown while sophomore Cameron Cantonwine (6-0, 190) has caught five passes for 141 yards.

Muscatine (1-1) at West High (1-1)

Where: Trojan Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: West High 42, Muscatine 21

Player to watch: Muscatine senior Dayton Truesdale (5-9, 170) has rushed for a team-leading 209 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards per carry and is second on the team with 11 tackles including one for loss.

Key stat: West High is averaging 65 rushing yards per game this season but rushed for 220 yards in a 42-21 win over Muscatine last season.

About the Trojans: After opening the season with a 35-28 win over cross-town rival Liberty High the Trojans allowed 21 fourth-quarter points in a 31-17 week-two road loss at Urbandale (1-1).

West High is averaging 281 total yards per game and 5 yards per play through two games led by junior quarterback Jack Wallace.

Wallace has completed 30-of-54 passes for 431 yards and three touchdowns and has rushed for 36 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Izaiah Loveless has caught a team-high nine passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns and junior Mason Woods has seven receptions for 95 yards.

West High is allowing 377 total yards and 199 rushing yards per game.

The West High defense has been led by senior linebacker Santana Miller who has a team-high 18 tackles including two for loss and junior Declan Bunn who has 13 tackles.

Senior defensive end Zach Logsdon has 10 tackles including two for loss.

About the Muskies: Muscatine bounced back from a season-opening loss to Cedar Rapids Jefferson last week with a 14-13 win at Davenport Central.

The Muskies were outgained 360 to 100 in the win over Davenport Central but took advantage of three fumbles, returning one for a touchdown.

Muscatine is allowing 409 yards of total offense including 245 rushing yards per game during its 1-1 start to the season.

The Muskie defense is led by Truesdale and junior defensive lineman Eli Trosen (6-0, 225) who has a team-high 11.5 tackles with one for loss.

Sophomore quarterback Gaige Curtis (5-11, 145) leads a run-heavy Muscatine offense that is averaging 184 rushing yards per game.

Curtis has completed three passes for 17 yards in two games and sophomore Seth Reiland has rushed for 47 yards.

Pleasant Valley (1-1) at Liberty High (1-1)

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

Last season: Did not play.

Player to watch: Pleasant Valley senior quarterback Coy Kipper (5-10, 160) has rushed for 99 yards and a team-high three touchdowns and completed 6-of-14 passes for 49 yards.

Key stat: Pleasant Valley is averaging 253 rushing yards per game on 5.8 yards per carry and Liberty High is holding opponents to 47 rushing yards per game on 1.9 yards per carry.

About the Spartans: After opening the season with a 30-10 loss to rival Bettendorf the Spartans got a much-needed bounce back win in week two defeating Cedar Rapids Kennedy 36-35 in overtime.

Pleasant Valley rushed for 191 yards in the week-one loss to Bettendorf but got its triple option running attack going last week rolling up 314 yards and averaging 5.3 yards per carry in the win over the Cougars.

Four players have run for over 96 yards for Pleasant Valley led by junior Elijah Rodney (5-6, 155) who is averaging 10.5 yards per carry while rushing for 136 yards and a touchdown.

Tyge Lyon (5-9, 175) has rushed for 116 yards and Tate Lyon (5-11, 210) has run for 96 yards and two touchdowns.

Pleasant Valley is allowing 441 total yards per game after giving up 482 passing yards and 538 total yards last week against Cedar Rapids Kennedy.
Junior Harrison Fierce (6-0, 178) has a team-high 10 tackles and the Spartans have forced five turnovers in two games.

About the Lightning: Liberty High bounced back from an opening-week loss to cross-town rival West High with a resounding 41-14 win over City High in its home opener last week.

The Lightning welcome Pleasant Valley to Liberty Stadium on Friday where the Lightning have won six of their last seven games dating back to last season.

Liberty High has been impressive defensively to open the season holding teams to 244 total yards and 47 rushing yards per game while allowing 4.8 yards per play.

Senior linebackers Gavin Benton and Devin Anderson lead the Liberty High defense and have combined for 24 tackles including six for loss.

Defensive lineman Dantrell Skinner and Cameron Hamers have combined for 15.5 tackles and five tackles for loss.

The Liberty High offense runs through senior quarterback Graham Beckman who has completed 51-of-79 passes for 554 yards and five touchdowns.

Junior Sutton Koller has rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns and caught 16 passes for 143 yards.

Dallas Miller leads the Lightning with 16 receptions for 189 yards and five touchdowns.

Central DeWitt (1-1) at Solon (1-1)

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

Last season: Did not play.

Player to watch: Central DeWitt senior Michael Cabrera (6-1, 200) has rushed for 263 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 7.1 yards per carry and ranks third on the team with six tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Key stat: Over the last two seasons Central DeWitt is 5-0 when it rushes for more than 200 yards and 2-5 when it fails to crack the 200-yard mark on the ground.

About the Spartans: Solon responded to a 34-7 loss at Davenport Assumption in week one with a 7-3 win over Clear Creek Amana in its home opener last week.

The Spartans clamped down defensive in its win over the Clippers and are allowing 303 total yards and 193 rushing yards per game through two games.

Solon is led defensively by senior linebackers Brett White and Brayden Moore.
White has a team-high 20.5 tackles with six tackles for loss while Moore has 12.5 tackles with three tackles for loss.

Junior quarterback Ty Bell has completed 13-of-36 passes for 100 yards with his top target senior Nash Kotar catching four passes for 21 yards.

Barret Schade has rushed for a team-high 95 yards and a touchdown and Moore has rushed for 44 yards.

About the Sabers: Central DeWitt is coming off a 6-4 season a year ago that included a Class 3A playoff berth.

The Sabers opened the season with a 34-7 loss at Class 4A top-ranked North Scott before rebounding with a 37-14 win over Northeast in their home opener last week.

Central DeWitt is allowing 358 total yards and 191 rushing yards per game to opponents and is led by seniors Drew McAvan (6-0, 180) and Conner Pena (6-0, 185).

McAvan and Pena each had nine tackles and Pena is second on the team with 1.5 tackles for loss.

Offensively the Sabers are averaging 246 rushing yards per game and averaging 5.8 yards per carry.

Cabrera leads the team in rushing and junior Colton Sawyer (5-11, 180) has added 158 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Senior quarterback Gus Pickup (5-11, 175) has passed for 50 yards and rushed for 18 yards and a touchdown.

Clear Creek Amana (0-2) at 3A No. 1 Williamsburg (2-0)

Where: Bob Murphy Stadium in Williamsburg, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Did not play.

Player to watch: Williamsburg senior quarterback Kellen Cockrell (6-4, 195) has completed 28-of-43 passes for 413 yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions and has rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown.

Key stat: Williamsburg has won 13 consecutive home games dating back to the 2021 season.

About the Clippers: Clear Creek Amana is looking to get into the win column against rival Williamsburg after opening the season with back-to-back losses to WAMAC opponents Marion and Solon.

The Clippers will try to rev up the offense this week after averaging 195 total yards and 64 rushing yards while scoring three total points in its two losses.

Senior quarterback Quinton Tran has completed 23-of-37 passes for 244 yards and has rushed for 34 yards to lead the Clipper offense.

Senior tailback Jackson Stevens has rushed for 119 yards and has caught four passes for 30 yards.

Junior Owen Rosenberg has caught a team-high 12 passes for 95 yards while senior Haiden Hardy has five receptions for 86 yards.

Clear Creek Amana has been solid defensively holding opponents to 11 points, 222 total yards and 110 rushing yards per game.

Junior defensive lineman Brody Clubb leads the Clipper defense with 11.5 tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks and junior linebacker Ben Haughey has 9.5 tackles and two sacks.

About the Raiders: Williamsburg followed up an impressive 42-14 win over West Branch in week one with a 21-20 victory over defending 4A state champion Cedar Rapids Xavier last week.

The Raider offense is led by Cockrell who has a strong group of skill position players around him.

Four players have at least 84 yards receiving led by senior Clayten Steckly (6-0, 175) who has caught eight passes for 106 yards and three touchdowns and senior Braylon Wetjen (6-0, 175) who has seven receptions for 96 yards and three touchdowns.

Senior Derek Weisskopf (6-3, 210) has six receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown and ranks second on the team with 15.5 tackles.

Junior linebacker Rayce Heitman (6-1, 175) leads the Raiders with 18 tackles including 3.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks.

1A No. 9 Regina (2-0) at Mediapolis (1-1)

Where: Mediapolis High School, 7 p.m.

Last season: Mediapolis 17, Regina 7

Player to watch: Mediapolis senior Drew Miller (6-2, 210) is the top-ranked prep punter in the nation and the Georgia commit is averaging 45 yards per punt on six attempts this season. Miller is also a starter at quarterback and has passed for 211 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 52 yards.

Key stat: Regina senior receiver Jackson Naeve has scored eight touchdowns in two games, catching five touchdown passes, rushing for two scores and returning a kick off for a touchdown.

About the Regals: Regina is off to a strong start averaging 47.5 points, 469 total yards and 223 rushing yards per game in back-to-back wins over West Liberty and Mid-Prairie.

The Regals will get their toughest test to date in their first road game as they travel to Mediapolis after falling 17-7 to the Bulldogs last season in Mediapolis.

Regina is led by senior quarterback Gentry Dumont who has completed 27-of-47 passes for 459 yards and six touchdowns with one interception.

Naeve has been the top target for Dumont making 11 catches for 195 yards and five touchdowns while senior Alex Jensen has seven receptions for 68 yards and senior Ty Joss has caught four passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

A Regina defense allowing just 203 total yards and 75 rushing yards per game is led by junior Leren Fernandez with 12 tackles and senior linemen Jack Clark and Drew Streb.

Clark has 10.5 tackles and Streb has nine tackles with 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks.

About the Bulldogs: Mediapolis opened the season with a 33-7 win at Columbus before falling to Sigourney-Keota 21-0 last week.

The Bulldogs are averaging 284 total yards per game behind its senior quarterback Miller and relies on a running attack that is averaging 179 yards per game on the ground.

Senior Jackson Hutcheson (5-10, 165) has rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns and junior Noah Schmidgall (5-10, 170) has run for 121 yards.

Senior Aedin Nelson (5-11, 185) has been the top receiving target for Miller with eight receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

The Mediapolis defense is led by senior linebacker Chett Mohr (6-3, 205) who has 22 tackles including five for loss and senior Quinton Schulz (5-10, 170) who has 19 tackles with six tackles for loss.

West Branch (0-2) at 1A No. 4 Waterloo Columbus (2-0)

Where: Waterloo Columbus High School, 7 p.m.

Last season: West Branch 34, Waterloo Columbus 13; West Branch 27, Waterloo Columbus 14 (1A playoff second round)

Player to watch: Waterloo Columbus senior quarterback Carter Lockert (6-1, 195) has completed 27-of-31 passes for 456 yards and six touchdowns and has rushed for 20 yards and a touchdown.

Key stat: In two wins over Waterloo Columbus last season West Branch limited the Sailors to 228 total yards and 13.5 points per game.

About the Bears: West Branch will look to get on track on Friday after back-to-back losses to ranked opponents to open the season.

The Bears fell to 3A top-ranked Williamsburg in the opening and lost a 9-7 contest to Dike-New Hartford at the Little Rose Bowl last Friday.

Junior quarterback Connor Rios leads the West Branch offense and has completed 12-of-27 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown.

Seniors Jake Swisher and Cale Seydel have been the top targets for Rios with Swisher catching four passes for 61 yards and Seydel making four receptions for 23 yards.

Sophomore Cooper Gates has rushed for a team-high 86 yards and two touchdowns while senior Zach Capper has run for 66 yards and Rios has run for 58 yards.

Senior Trenton Schutte leads the West Branch defense with 11.5 tackles and senior Logan Wright has 2.5 tackles for loss.

About the Sailors: Waterloo Columbus continued its recent string of success last fall going 6-4 with two of those losses coming to 1A semifinalist West Branch.

After winning seven games combined in a seven-year stretch from 2011 to 2017 the Sailors have had five consecutive winning seasons and are off to a 2-0 start this fall with wins over Wilton and Dyersville Beckman.

The Sailors are averaging 46.5 points and 411 total yards per game on offense behind Lockert and senior tailback Parker Kjeldsen (5-10, 180).

Kjeldsen has rushed for 301 yards and four touchdowns and is averaging 8.1 yards per carry.

Junior Myles Gardner (6-4, 190) has caught 10 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns and senior Nick Merrifield (6-3, 190) has eight receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

The Waterloo Columbus defense is led by senior lineman Mason Knipp (6-3, 265) who has a team-high 12 tackles and leads the Sailors with 8.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Gardner is second on the team with 7.5 tackles and has two interceptions.

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.