Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – For the third consecutive season City High won the Battle for the Boot.

Once again it was a similar formula that kept the Boot on the East side.

City High used a strong defensive effort and potent running game to secure a 23-8 win over West High on Friday night at Bates Field for its first three-game winning streak in the series since winning seven in a row from 2005 to 2011.

“It wasn’t always pretty but they were gritty and tough and they enjoy the process,” City High coach Mitch Moore said. “They enjoy being taught things in the middle of the game.”

City High continued its string of strong defensive showings in the Boot series on Friday limiting West High to 218 total yards and forcing four turnovers.

It was the third straight time City High has held West High to single digit scoring outputs in the Boot game allowing a total of 15 points during its current winning streak.

“We found our coverage that worked well and we stayed in that pretty much the whole game,” City High senior safety Drew Larson said. “We held them from getting the deep shots and stopped the run.”

From 1988 to 1994 City High held West High to single digits in seven consecutive Boot games posting five shutouts and allowing 13 total points during that stretch.

The current stretch is the best three-game defensive effort for the Little Hawks in the series since.

West High averaged 44.25 points per game while winning four in a row in the series from 2017 to 2020.

Since then the Trojans have managed just 15 points.

City High got fumble recoveries from Sam Kueter and Larson on Friday and safety Kael Kurtz and corner back Dominic Salibi each had interceptions.

“We are believing in ourselves and a lot more communication,” Kurtz said. “Everyone is talking and we are making sure we are executing.”

City High used a career-high 220 yards from senior tailback Miles Parlet to win the always import rushing battle in the Boot series.

Behind the big game from Parlet City High held a 187 to 69 edge in rushing yards marking the 15^th time in the past 16 seasons the team with more rushing yards has won the Battle for the Boot.

After rushing for 16 yards on five carries in back-to-back losses to start the season Parlet has run for 426 yards and three touchdowns in consecutive City High wins.

“Our coaches they always preach positivity,” Parlet said. “They always preach that adversity is an opportunity to grow. I think that’s the biggest thing is we started 0-2 and we looked at it as motivation.

News and Notes

Solons’ Secret Weapon: Solon deployed a new offensive wrinkle in its showdown with rival Mount Vernon and sophomore quarterback Conlan Poynton and the Spartans executed it to perfection.

Poynton, who hadn’t had a carry in a varsity game this season, was used as a running quarterback in the Solon offense and ran for 218 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-20 Spartan win.

The sophomore completed his only pass attempt for 12 yards while splitting time with junior Tyler Bell who went 9-of-12 for 141 yards and a touchdown.

Poynton had touchdown runs of 66, 62 and 58 yards in the win.

Short (But Big) Night for Naeve: It was a short night for Jackson Naeve and many of his fellow Regina starters as the Regals jumped to a 43-0 halftime lead and played reserves throughout the second half in a 49-12 win over Durant.

Naeve still put together his usual solid numbers in the first half.

The senior caught two passes for 90 yards and a touchdown, rushed for a touchdown and averaged 23.5 yards on two punt returns.

Sutton Keeps Rolling: Liberty High junior running back Sutton Koller continued his strong start to the season with another big game against Cedar Falls on Friday.

Koller caught a team-high 11 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns in the 35-19 loss to the Tigers at the UNI-Dome.

It was the third consecutive game with double digit receptions and at least 100 receiving yards for Sutton who has scored a touchdown in all four games this season.

Sutton has 37 receptions for 459 yards and six touchdowns on the season and ranks third in Class 5A in receiving yards.

West Branch Shutout: The first shutout of the season for a Your Prep Sports area teams belongs to West Branch which blanked Cascade 38-0 on Friday at the Little Rose Bowl.

It was the fifth shutout in the past 14 games for West Branch dating back to last season when the Bears posted four shutouts.

Players of the Week

Offensive player of the week: City High senior tailback Miles Parlet posted his second consecutive 200-yard game on Friday rushing for a career-high 220 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries and also catching three passes in a 23-8 win over West High.

Defensive player of the week: Solon junior defensive end Eddie Johnson had a huge game in a 37-20 win over Mount Vernon. Johnson had 5.5 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks and returned a fumble 61 yards for a touchdown.

Special teams player of the week: West Branch senior Joe Hamann returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown and averaged 11 yards on two punt returns in a 38-0 win over Cascade.

Helmet Stickers

Offense: City High senior wide receiver Jeremiah Madlock had five receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown in a 23-8 win over West High.

Offense: Clear Creek Amana senior Jackson Stevens rushed for 68 yards and three touchdowns, caught three passes for 12 yards and had 6.5 tackles with two tackles for loss in a 42-27 loss to Benton Community.

Defense: West High linebacker Declan Bunn had 7.5 tackles, including three solo stops and two tackles for loss in a 23-8 loss to City High.

Defense: Regina senior defensive lineman Ian Udell had four tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack in a 49-12 win over Durant.

Special teams: Solon senior Grant Knipper went 4-for-4 on PAT attempts and made a 33 yard field goal in a 37-20 win over Mount Vernon.

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