Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

West High (2-1) at City High (1-2)

Where: Frank Bates Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: City High 49, West High 0

Player to watch: West High junior quarterback Jack Wallace (6-3, 210) is completing 61 percent of his passes and has thrown for 682 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions and has rushed for 38 yards and two touchdowns.

Key stat: In 14 of the last 15 Battle for the Boot games the team with more rushing yards has won. The only team in the last 15 years to be outgained on the ground but win the Battle for the Boot was West High in 2019.

About the Little Hawks: After being outscored 89-27 in consecutive losses to Joliet Catholic and Liberty High City High got on track with a 49-28 win at Ames last week.

The Litle Hawks are seeking their first three-game winning streak in the Boot series since winning seven in a row from 2005 to 2011.

City High has outscored West High 105-7 in back-to-back Boot wins but is averaging just 25.7 points per game this season.

Junior quarterback Bobby Bacon passed for 223 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two touchdowns in his first career start last week at Ames.

Senior running back Miles Parlet (5-9, 185) ran for 206 yards in the win over Ames and has rushed for a team-high 222 yards and a touchdown this season.

Carsen Newton (5-7, 140) is the top receiver for City with 20 receptions for 202 yards and two touchdowns while senior Jeremiah Madlock (6-0, 175) has caught nine passes for 195 yards and a touchdown.

City High is allowing 39 points, 388 total yards and 203 rushing yards per game this season and has given up at least 28 points in every game.

Senior linebacker Holdon Clay (5-10, 180) leads City High with 24.5 tackles while senior safety Jake Mitchell (5-5, 135) has 20.5 tackles and leads the Little Hawks with three sacks.

About the Trojans: West High bounced back from a week-two loss at Urbandale with a 42-20 win over Muscatine last week.

The Trojans have been solid offensively to open the season averaging 31.3 points and 323 total yards per game.

Wallace has been the offensive catalyst and has four receivers with at least seven receptions on the season.

Junior Mason Woods (6-2, 200) leads West High with 14 receptions for 192 yards and a touchdown while Izaiah Loveless (5-11, 165) has caught 12 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns.

Erik Caperon (5-9, 165) and Mason Goering (6-5, 180) each have seven receptions and a touchdown catch.

West High is allowing 26.3 points and 336 total yards per game including 216 rushing yards per game.

In back-to-back losses to City High the past two seasons West High has allowed an average of 316 rushing yards per game.

West High is led defensively by senior linebacker Santana Miller (5-11, 205) who has a team-high 27 tackles with two for loss and junior linebacker Declan Bunn (5-10, 180) has 17 tackles.

Liberty High (1-2) at Cedar Falls (1-2)  

Where: UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Cedar Falls senior running back/linebacker Drew Gerdes (5-10, 205) has rushed for a team-high 222 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 6.7 yards per carry and leads the Tigers in tackles (21) and sacks (2) and is second on the team in tackles for loss (5).

Key stat: Liberty High senior quarterback Graham Beckman leads the state in passing and is averaging 357 passing yards per game faces a Cedar Falls defense that is allowing 263 passing yards per game and has given up at least 222 passing yards in all three games.

About the Lightning: Liberty High dropped to 1-2 on the season with a 56-39 loss to Pleasant Valley last week after falling to West High in its opener and downing City High 41-14 in week two.

The Lightning will look to get back on track on Friday in the UNI-Dome in its first ever meeting with Cedar Falls.

Liberty High has been impressive offensively through three games averaging 36 points and 479 total yards per game while averaging better than six yards per play.

The Lightning have run at least 73 offensive plays in every game this season and are averaging 79 offensive snaps per game.

Beckman (6-1, 194) leads the Liberty High offense passing for 1,072 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushing for a team-leading 118 yards and a touchdown.

Junior Sutton Koller (5-11, 165) has rushed for 117 yards and three touchdowns and caught 26 passes for 351 yards and four touchdowns.

Junior wide receiver Dallas Miller (5-10, 160) is tied with Koller for the team lead with 26 receptions for 358 yards and five touchdowns and junior Collin Decker (6-3, 190) has 11 receptions for 169 yards.

On defense Liberty High is allowing 35 points and 347 total yards per game including 199 rushing yards per game.

Senior linebacker Gavin Benton (5-11, 190) leads the Lightning with 21.5 tackles and five tackles for loss and senior Devin Anderson (5-11, 200) has 17.5 tackles.

About the Tigers: Cedar Falls was 8-3 last season but is off to a 1-2 start with road losses to Cedar Rapids Prairie (20-17) and Ankeny Centennial (42-13) around a week-two 35-21 win over Johnston at home.

The Tigers are averaging 21.7 points and 309 total yards per game and rely heavily on their running game averaging 201 rushing yards per contest.

Gerdes leads the Tiger running game while sophomore William Remmert (5-10, 170) has rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns and junior Ben Backes (5-8, 170) has rushed for 93 yards.

Senior quarterback Tate Hermansen (6-0, 165) has passed for 284 yards and two touchdowns with four interceptions and has rushed for 79 yards and two touchdowns.

Cedar Falls is allowing 27.7 points and 376 total yards per game on defense.

The Tiger defense is led by Gerdes and fellow senior Drew Campbell (6-4, 234) who has 18.5 tackles and a team-leading six tackles for loss.

Solon (2-1) at 3A No. 2 Mount Vernon (3-0)

Where: First Street Field, 7:15 p.m.

Last season: Mount Vernon 17, Solon 14; Mount Vernon 17, Solon 0 (3A Quarterfinals)

Player to watch: Mount Vernon senior quarterback Joey Rhomberg (6-3, 195) has completed 60 percent of his passes while throwing for 541 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions and has rushed for 72 yards and three touchdowns.

Key stat: In eight consecutive wins over Mount Vernon from 2014-2021 Solon was +18 in turnover margin, forcing 24 Mustangs turnovers and committing six. In two losses to Mount Vernon last season Solon was -4 in turnover margin turning the ball over five times and forcing one.

About the Spartans: Solon has posted back-to-back wins over Clear Creek Amana and Central DeWitt following a season-opening loss at Davenport Assumption.

After allowing 34 points and 408 total yards in the loss to Assumption the Spartans have allowed an average of 192.5 total yards and 4.5 points in back-to-back victories.

Senior inside linebacker Brett White (6-0, 210) leads Solon with 29.5 tackles including a team-high nine for loss while senior defensive back Jack McCarty (5-10, 175) has 16 tackles.

Solon is coming off its best offensive performance of the season last week in the win over Central DeWitt.

Junior quarterback Ty Bell (6-1, 180) has passed for 245 yards and two touchdowns and senior Brayden Moore (5-9, 185) leads the Spartans with 99 rushing yards and a touchdown and senior Barret Schade (5-10, 195) has rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite losing twice to Mount Vernon last season Solon had more rushing yards in both games against the Mustangs.

Solon outgained Mount Vernon 128 to 96 on the ground in a 17-14 regular season loss and 89 to 81 in a 17-0 quarterfinal loss.

About the Mustangs: Coming off a 12-1 season and Class 3A runner-up finish last fall Mount Vernon has outscored opponents 87-13 during a 3-0 start this season.

The Mustangs snapped a 19-game losing streak to Solon with a regular season win over the Spartans last September and added a 17-0 home win over their Highway 1 rival in the playoffs.

Mount Vernon will seek to extend its winning streak over Solon to three on Friday in the final game at First Street Field before the Mustangs move into their new stadium later this month.

The Mustangs have been impressive defensively during their 3-0 start holding opponents to 4.3 points, 174 total yards and 82 rushing yards per game.

Mount Vernon allowed just 86 rushing yards on 35 attempts in a 19-7 win over Benton Community last week.

Senior linebacker Jackson Jaspers (5-8, 155) leads the Mount Vernon defense with 21.5 tackles while senior Miles Francois (6-1, 200) has 16 tackles and leads the team with seven tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

Mount Vernon allowed 34.8 points per game in 14 consecutive losses to Solon from 2008-2021 but limited the Spartans to 411 total yards and a combined 14 points in two meetings last season.

The Mount Vernon offense led by Rhomberg is averaging 342 total yards and 29 points per game.

Senior Jackson Hird (5-9, 180) has rushed for a team-high 145 yards while junior Cooper Hird (5-8, 170) has rushed for 122 yards.

Senior Evan Brase (6-4, 195) is the top target for Rhomberg with 17 receptions for 206 yards and two touchdowns and junior Watson Krob (6-3, 185) has caught eight passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns.

Benton Community (2-1) at Clear Creek Amana (0-3)

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

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Benton Community senior quarterback Owen Tjelmeland (5-11, 170) has completed 10-of-16 passes for 125 yards and has rushed for 264 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 6.8 yards per carry.

Key stat: Benton Community is averaging 240 rushing yards per game and 5.9 yards per carry and Clear Creek Amana is allowing 139 rushing yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry.

About the Clippers: Clear Creek Amana dropped to 0-3 on the season with a 49-20 loss to Williamsburg last week after losses to Marion and Solon to open the season.

The three losses for Clear Creek Amana have come to teams with a combined record of 7-2 this season and the Clippers face another challenge on Friday against Benton Community.

Clear Creek Amana is averaging 209 total yards and 7.7 points per game but is coming off season-highs in rushing yards, total yards and points against Williamsburg.

Senior quarterback Quinton Tran (5-9, 165) has completed 56 percent of his passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns and has rushed for 49 yards.

Senior running back Jackson Stevens (5-10, 155) has rushed for a team-high 202 yards and a touchdown and has also caught seven passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns.

Junior Owen Rosenberg (6-2, 180) leads the Clippers with 16 receptions for 149 yards.

Junior defensive lineman Brody Clubb (6-4, 255) leads a Clear Creek Amana defense that is allowing 275 total yards and 23.7 points per game.

Clubb has a team-high 16 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss while junior defensive back Trace Robertson (6-0, 170) has 13 tackles and three tackles for loss.

About the Bobcats: After outscoring Vinton-Shellsburg and Marion by a combined total of 87-7 in back-to-back wins to open the season Benton Community fell to defending 3A runner-up Mount Vernon 19-7 last week.

The Bobcats have relied heavily on a stout defense and powerful running game during their 2-1 start to the season.

Benton Community is holding opponents to 182 total yards and 8.7 points per game this season and has not allowed more than 270 yards in a game this season.

Junior Dylan LeFebvere (5-11, 165) leads Benton Community with 15.5 tackles while senior defensive lineman Brennen Blegen (6-3, 290) has 14 tackles including a team-high three for loss.

On offense the Bobcats are averaging 292 total yards, 240 rushing yards and 31.3 points per game.

Tjelmeland leads the Bobcat offense and teams with senior running back Carson Bruns (5-11, 175) for an effective rushing combo.

Bruns has rushed for a team-high 292 yards and four touchdowns while senior Easton Pfiffner (6-0, 180) leads the team with 10 receptions for 121 yards.

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

Where: Regal Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: Regina 26, Durant 12

Player to watch: Durant senior quarterback Charlie Huesmann has passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns and is second on the team with 110 rushing yards while averaging 5.8 yards per carry.

Key stat: Regina senior quarterback Gentry Dumont leads Class 1A with 858 passing yards and ranks second in 1A with nine touchdown passes.

About the Regals: Regina is off to a 3-0 start for the third time in the past four seasons following an impressive 45-7 win at Mediapolis last week.

The Regals open district play at home where Regina has won six in a row dating back to last season.

Dumont leads a Regina offense that is off to a strong start, averaging 46.7 points and 454 total yards per game and 9 yards per play.

Junior William Aitchison (5-9, 175) has rushed for a team-leading 277 yards and two touchdowns while senior Jackson Naeve (6-1, 180) has rushed for 106 yards and three touchdowns and leads the Regals with 17 receptions for 357 yards and six touchdowns.

Regina has been equally impressive defensively holding opponents to 10.7 points and 199 total yards per game.

The Regals are allowing just 94 rushing yards per game and a total of 3.8 yards per play.

Junior Leren Fernandez (5-10, 180) leads Regina with 18.5 tackles including two for loss while senior Jack Clark (6-2, 215) has 15.5 tackles.

Senior Drew Streb (6-2, 235) has a team-high four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

About the Wildcats: Durant opens district play seeking its first win after consecutive losses to Lisbon, Waterloo Columbus and Central Lee to open the season.

The Wildcat offense led by Huesmann is averaging 10.7 points and 215 total yards per game this season.

Sophomore Tate Mckinley leads Durant with 192 rushing yards and a touchdown and senior Caden Meyer has been the top receiving target with eight receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown.

Durant is allowing 38.3 points, 333 total yards and 196 rushing yards per game and is coming off its best defensive effort of the season holding Central Lee to 218 total yards and 17 points.

Junior defensive lineman Bryce Daufeldt leads the Wildcats with 13 tackles including three for loss and senior Nicholas Postin has 12.5 tackles and a team-high four tackles for loss.

Cascade (0-3) at West Branch (1-2)

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

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Cascade senior quarterback Will Hosch (5-11, 185) has passed for 434 yards and three touchdowns, has rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown and on defense has made eight tackles and intercepted a pass.

Key stat: West Branch has forced six turnovers in three games this season and is plus four in turnover margin.

About the Bears: West Branch got back on track last week after back-to-back losses to open the season with a 30-23 win at Waterloo Columbus.

The Bears got their offense going in the week-three win at Waterloo Columbus posting season-highs in rushing yards, passing yards, total yards, points and yards per play.

Sophomore quarterback Brennen Dale (6-0, 175) threw for 144 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 20 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start last week.

Senior Zach Capper (5-10, 180) leads West Branch with 124 rushing yards while senior Joe Hamann (6-0, 170) has been the top receiving option for the Bears with seven receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

West Branch is allowing 24.7 points, 151 rushing yards and 354 total yards per game this season while allowing opponents 6.6 yards per play.

Senior Shae Farmer (6-1, 175) leads the Bears with 14.5 tackles while senior linebacker Reese Trepanier (6-1, 210) has 14 tackles and senior Logan Wright (6-3, 235) has four tackles for loss.

About the Cougars: Cascade has won at least four games each of the past three seasons and was 5-4 a year ago but is off to an 0-3 start following a 35-0 loss to rival Monticello last week.

The Cougars opened the season with a loss at Maquoketa Valley before falling to Hudson in week two.

Cascade is averaging just eight points and 192 yards of total offense per game after being shutout last week.

Senior Juan Alvarado (5-6, 155) leads the team with 91 rushing yards and Nathan Schockemoehl (6-2, 180) has been the top target for Hosch with 15 receptions for 167 yards and a touchdown.

On defense Cascade is allowing 29.7 points and 379 total yards per game including 212 rushing yards per game.

Schockemoehl lead the Cougars with 35.5 tackles including 2.5 for loss and has an interception.

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