Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Linn-Mar (4-3) at City High (4-3)

Where: Frank Bates Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Linn-Mar junior running back Dylan Muszynski (5-8, 175) has rushed for 522 yards and seven touchdowns and has caught 12 passes for 86 yards.

Key stat: City High senior running back Miles Parlet has rushed for 200 yards or more in four of the last five games racking up 1,019 yards and nine touchdowns during that stretch.

About the Little Hawks: City High has won four of its last five games including each of its last two and enters the final two weeks of the regular season in solidly in the 5A playoff race.

The Little Hawks moved up to No. 13 in the 5A RPI standings after a 47-13 win at Davenport North last Thursday and could give their postseason hopes a big boost with a win over the Lions.

City High had season-highs of 616 total yards and 389 rushing yards in the win over Davenport North last week continuing an impressive offensive season.

Junior quarterback Bobby Bacon (6-1, 165) leads a City High offense that is averaging 34.6 points and 444 total yards per game.

Bacon has completed 90-of-137 passes for 1,379 yards and 12 touchdowns with five interceptions and has rushed for three touchdowns.

Carsen Newton (5-7, 140) is the top receiver for City High with 39 receptions for 427 yards and two touchdowns and Jeremiah Madlock (6-0, 175) has caught 22 passes for 540 yards and three touchdowns.

City High is allowing 28.4 points and 331 total yards per game and has held teams under 255 yards of total offense in three of its past five games.

Senior defensive back Jake Mitchell (5-5, 135) leads the Little Hawks with 49 tackles with four sacks and seven tackles for loss and Sam Kueter (6-4, 200) has made 40 tackles with two tackles for loss.

About the Lions: Linn-Mar opened the season with back-to-back lopsided wins over Dubuque Senior and Cedar Rapids Washington before being outscored 88-34 in consecutive losses to Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Bettendorf and Cedar Falls.

The Lions have responded with consecutive wins over Muscatine and Davenport West and are right in the thick of the Class 5A playoff picture with two weeks remaining.

Linn-Mar is 12^th in the 5A RPI standings, one spot in front of City High, entering the week-eight matchup at Bates Field.

The Lions have been solid defensively this season holding opponents to 17.6 points and 240 total yards per game while allowing 5.4 yards per play.

Linn-Mar has allowed more than 285 yards of total offense just once this season with Cedar Rapids Kennedy the only team to put up more than 300 yards on the Lion defense.

Carson Luense (5-10, 200) leads Linn-Mar with 40.5 tackles while senior Sam Watts (6-3, 225) has 26.5 tackles including a team-high 3.5 sacks.

Senior Murphy Aucutt (6-0, 210) leads Linn-Mar with 6.5 tackles for loss.

The Linn-Mar offense is led by junior quarterback Stone Morgan (6-0, 150) who has completed 61 percent of his passes while throwing for 580 yards and three touchdowns.

Junior Landon Sorg (5-8, 150) has been the top pass catcher for the Lions with 22 receptions for 230 yards.

Muszynski and junior Tyree Alons (6-0, 220) have combined for more than 1,000 yards rushing this season with Alons running for a team-high 542 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 7.9 yards per carry.

Linn-Mar has relied heavily on the run game with 233 of its 343 total yards per game coming on the ground.

West High (4-3) at Pleasant Valley (6-1)

Where: Spartan Stadium, 7:15 p.m.

Last season: Pleasant Valley 35, West High 14

Player to watch: Pleasant Valley senior quarterback Coy Kipper (5-10, 160) has passed for 370 yards and six touchdowns with one interception and has rushed for 478 yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns.

Key stat: West High and Pleasant Valley are meeting for the fourth consecutive season with the Spartans winning the previous three matchups by a combined score of 114-58.

About the Trojans: West High has bounced back from back-to-back losses to City High and Ankeny with consecutive wins over Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Cedar Rapids Washington to jump back into the 5A playoff conversation.

The Trojans were 14^th in the 5A RPI standings released this week and will look to extend their winning streak on Friday.

West High has been impressive in its back-to-back wins outscoring Jefferson and Washington 102-8 while holding a combined 823 to 324 edge in total yardage.

The Trojans have posted their two best defensive performances of the season the past two weeks allowing just 3.2 yards per play in their back-to-back wins.

On the season West High is allowing 22.6 points and 326 total yards per game and 5.5 yards per play.

Senior linebacker Santana Miller (5-11, 205) leads West High with 50 tackles and has two interceptions.

Junior Declan Bunn (5-10, 180) has 44.5 tackles and senior Zach Logsdon (5-10, 200) has 31.5 tackles with two sacks and five tackles for loss.

The West High offense led by junior quarterback Jack Wallace (6-3, 210) is averaging 32.1 points and 333 total yards per game.

Wallace has completed 82-of-147 passes for 1,242 yards and 10 touchdowns with eight interceptions and has rushed for four touchdowns.

Junior Butali Butali (5-8, 155) leads the Trojans with 385 rushing yards and two touchdowns and senior Marquise Rose (5-9, 210) has rushed for 192 yards and a touchdown.

Mason Woods (6-2, 200) is the top receiver with 25 receptions for 417 yards and three touchdowns while Izaiah Loveless (5-11, 165) has caught 19 passes for 446 yards and five touchdowns.

About the Spartans: After a season-opening loss to rival Bettendorf the Spartans have rattled off six consecutive wins while outscoring opponents by an average of 15 points per game.

The current six-game winning streak for Pleasant Valley includes victories over Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Cedar Rapids Prairie and Cedar Falls who are all currently in the top 15 of the 5A RPI standings.

Pleasant Valley is fourth in 5A RPI entering Friday’s showdown with West High where the Spartans are seeking a fourth consecutive win over the Trojans.

The Spartans have been potent offensively averaging 37.9 points and 394 total yards per game using its triple option offense.

Seniors Tyge Lyon (5-9, 175) and Kipper headline a list of six Spartans with at least 200 yards rushing as Pleasant Valley is averaging 341 yards per game on the ground.

Tyge Lyon has run for a team-high 546 yards while Tate Lyon (5-11, 210) has rushed for 391 yard and seven touchdowns, senior David Gorsline (6-2, 185) has run for 371 yards and four touchdowns and junior

Elijah Rodney (5-6, 155) has rushed for 256 yards and two touchdowns.

The Pleasant Valley defense is allowing 27.9 points and 318 total yards per game this season and is allowing 216 passing yards per game.

Junior Harrison Fierce (6-0, 178) leads the Spartans with 28 tackles while junior Max Schmeltzer (6-4, 240) has 25.5 tackles with three sacks and six tackles for loss and Josh Hansen (6-3, 220) has 23 tackles with three sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss.

Waterloo West (4-3) at Liberty High (2-5)

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

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Waterloo West junior running back Ben Frazier (5-6, 150) has rushed for 721 yards and six touchdowns and is averaging 8.7 yards per carry.

Key stat: Waterloo West has four wins over teams with a combined record of 6-22 while Liberty High has five losses to teams with a combined record of 23-12.

About the Lightning: Liberty High dropped its fifth game of the season to a team with a winning record last week as Ankeny scored 20 fourth-quarter points to earn a 40-21 win.

The Lightning close out the season with consecutive games at Liberty Stadium where they are 2-1 this season.

Liberty High has continued to be productive offensively behind the play of senior quarterback Graham Beckman (6-1, 194).

The Lightning are averaging 34 points and 444 total yards per game while averaging 6.2 yards per play.

Beckman has completed 61 percent of his passes while throwing for a state-best 2,008 yards and 19 touchdowns with 11 interceptions and has rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns.

Junior Owen Drapeaux (6-1, 196) has rushed for a team-high 473 yards and three touchdowns.

Sutton Koller (5-11, 165) has rushed for 323 yards and seven touchdowns and has caught 54 passes for 686 yards and six touchdowns.

Dallas Miller has caught 50 passes for 608 yards and eight touchdowns.

Liberty High is allowing 32.6 points and 342 total yards per game and has given up 35 or more points five times.

Gavin Benton (5-11, 190) leads Liberty High with 48.5 tackles with 12 tackles for loss and senior Dantrell Skinner (6-0, 210) has made 29.5 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

About the WaHawks: Waterloo West enters week eight ranked 22^nd in the Class 5A RPI standings and likely needing wins over Liberty High and Ottumwa in the final two weeks to reach the postseason.

The WaHawks opened the season 3-1 but have lost two of their last three, being outscored 113-0 in losses to Waukee Northwest and West Des Moines Valley.

Waterloo West is averaging 23.1 points and 297 total yards per game behind junior quarterback Brady Dean (5-11, 185) who has passed for 743 yards and six touchdowns with just two interceptions and rushed for 164 yards and six touchdowns.

Senior Courtney Gladney (5-10, 170) has been the top target for Dean with 14 receptions for 146 yards and sophomores Deztin McMurrin (6-0, 170) and Torian Doss (6-2, 180) have been big play threats.

McMurrin has caught eight passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns and Doss has eight receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively the WaHawks are allowing 27 points and 311 total yards per game while surrendering 5.6 yards per play.

McMurrin leads the WaHawks with 34 tackles including 5.5 for loss while senior Andrew Kline (5-10, 175) has 30 tackles and leads the team with two sacks and seven tackles for loss.

Solon (6-1) at Fairfield (3-4)

Where: Fairfield,7 p.m.

Last season: Solon 45, Fairfield 25

Player to watch: Solon junior linebacker Brett White (6-1, 210) ranks second in 3A with 74.5 tackles and has a 3A-best 18.5 tackles for loss and three sacks and has recovered three fumbles.

Key stat: Solon is allowing 177 total yards and 11.3 points per game and 2.9 yards per play in three district wins.

About the Spartans: Solon stretched its winning streak to six and put itself in the Class 3A, District 5 drivers seat with a 21-14 win over top-ranked and previously unbeaten Williamsburg last Friday.

Since an opening-week loss to Assumption the Spartans have outscored opponents 162-63 in six consecutive wins, a stretch that includes victories over ranked opponents Williamsburg and Mount Vernon.

Solon has relied on a stingy defense that is holding opponents to 13.9 points and 258 total yards per game this season and just 4.4 yards per play.

The Spartans have also forced 17 turnovers, 16 of which have come during their current six-game winning streak.

White leads the Solon defense while senior safety Jack McCarty (5-10, 175) has 33.5 tackles and an interception and Brayden Moore (5-9, 185) has 31.5 tackles with six for loss.

Junior quarterback Ty Bell (6-1, 180) leads a Solon offense that is averaging 24.1 points and 262 total yards per game.

Bell has passed for 748 yards and seven touchdowns with senior Nash Kotar (6-1, 185) his top target with 14 receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns.

Sophomore Conlan Poynton (5-10, 175) has rushed for a team-high 501 yards and five touchdowns and Eddie Johnson (6-1, 205) has added 186 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

About the Trojans: Fairfield stopped a three-game losing skid with a 20-7 win over South Tama last week after being outscored 124-27 in consecutive losses to Keokuk, Benton Community and Williamsburg.

The Trojans started the season 2-1 with wins over Mount Pleasant and Washington around a 21-14 loss at Fort Madison.

Fairfield is allowing 26.6 points and 288 total yards per game this season while giving up 6.3 yards per play.

The Trojan defense is led by senior Sam Weaton (6-2, 190) with 21.5 tackles while senior Bode Hoskins (6-1, 155) has 17 tackles and has recovered two fumbles.

Senior defensive back Tallon Bates (5-9, 145) has a team-high four interceptions and has returned one for a touchdown.

Junior running back Cason Miller (5-11, 150) is the top offensive weapon for Fairfield rushing for 724 yards and six touchdowns while junior Wyatt Johnson (5-8, 164) has rushed for 308 yards.

Cedar Rapids Xavier (5-2) at Clear Creek Amana (2-5)

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

Last season: Cedar Rapids Xavier 49, Clear Creek Amana 0

Player to watch: Cedar Rapids Xavier senior quarterback Ronan Thomas (6-0, 185) has completed 58-of-85 passes (68%) for 1,057 yards and nine touchdowns with one interception and has rushed for a team-high eight touchdowns.

Key stat: Clear Creek Amana has played Cedar Rapids Xavier in two of the past three seasons and the Clippers have averaged just 200 total yards and seven points per game in the previous two meetings.

About the Clippers: Clear Creek Amana had a two-game winning streak snapped last week but pushed North Scott to the limit in a 16-14 loss to the Lancers in Eldridge.

The Clippers continued their solid defensive play of late holding North Scott to 213 total yards on 4.5 yards per play last week.

On the season Clear Creek Amana is allowing 24.4 points and 283 total yards per game while giving up 5.5 yards per play.

Jackson Stevens (5-10, 155) leads Clear Creek Amana with 42.5 tackles including six tackles for loss and has two interceptions.

Ben Haughey (5-10, 175 ) has 39.5 tackles with four tackles for loss and Zach Vance (6-1, 225) has 30 tackles with a team-high 6.5 tackles for loss.

The Clear Creek Amana offense is averaging 275 total yards and 18 points per game behind senior quarterback Quinton Tran.

Tran (5-9, 165) has passed for 780 yards and four touchdowns with five interceptions and has rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Stevens has rushed for a team-high 827 yards and 10 touchdowns and Sam Pettinger (6-0, 205) has rushed for 189 yards and two touchdowns.

Owen Rosenberg (6-2, 180) is the top receiver for the Clippers with 25 receptions for 303 yards and a touchdown.

About the Saints: Cedar Rapids Xavier sits alone atop the Class 4A, District 3 standings at 3-0 and can clinch the top spot in the district with a win on Friday.

The Saints lost non-district games to Williamsburg and Pella but have hit stride the last few weeks outscoring Clinton, North Scott and Oskaloosa by a combined total of 110-20 in three district wins.

Cedar Rapids Xavier has been stingy defensively holding teams to 14 points and 209 total yards per game while allowing 4.7 yards per play.

Senior linebacker Grant Helmle (6-0, 200) leads Xavier with 32 tackles with five tackles for loss and senior Aidan Kinner (6-0, 205) has 29.5 tackles a team-high seven tackles for loss.

A Xavier offense averaging 30.6 points and 339 total yards per game is led by Thomas who has accounted for 17 touchdowns.

Senior Coleton Beasler-Weber (6-1, 190) has rushed for 488 yards and three touchdowns and senior Noah Schimberg (5-9, 165) has added 420 yards and six touchdowns.

Carter Hoffman (6-1, 175) has caught a team-high 18 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns and Beasler-Weber has caught 13 passes for 395 yards and four touchdowns.

Class 1A No. 6 Regina (6-1) at Class 1A No. 5 Wilton (7-0)  

Where: Wilton, 7 p.m.

Last season: Regina 37, Wilton 13

Player to watch: Wilton junior Owen Hassell (5-9, 165) has rushed for a team-high 772 yards and 16 touchdowns, has caught seven passes for 146 yards and a touchdown and has returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.

Key stat: Wilton is averaging 204 rushing yards per game and has rushed for at least 152 yards in every game this season. Regina is allowing 80 rushing yards per game and hasn’t given up more than 132 yards on the ground in a game this season.

About the Regals: Regina bounced back from a 21-17 loss at West Branch in week six with a 48-21 win over Dyersville Beckman last Friday.

The Regals join West Branch at 3-1 in district play and can win the District 5 title via point differential tiebreaker by defeating West Branch by more than four points on Friday.

Regina has been solid on both sides of the ball this season and is averaging 43.3 points and 379 total yards of offense per game while averaging 8.2 yards per play.

Senior quarterback Gentry Dumont (6-2, 205) has completed 93-of-148 passes for 1,691 yards with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions and has rushed for a touchdown.

Jackson Naeve (6-1, 180) has been the top target for Dumont with 28 receptions for 689 yards and nine touchdowns and senior Ty Joss (6-0, 175) has caught 18 passes for 413 yards and eight touchdowns.

Junior William Aitchison (5-9, 175) leads Regina with 383 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

The Regina defense is holding opponents to 14.3 points and 203 total yards per game while allowing 4.1 yards per play.

Junior Leren Fernandez (5-10, 180) leads the Regals with 32 tackles while senior Jack Clark (6-2, 215) has 29.5 tackles with a team-high five sacks and seven tackles for loss.

Senior Ian Udell (6-0, 210) has 27.5 tackles with two sacks and seven tackles for loss.

About the Beavers: One of only two remaining unbeaten teams in Class 1A Wilton is coming off its biggest win of the season a 21-17 come-from-behind victory over West Branch last Friday.

The Beavers have been impressive all season outscoring opponents 215-48 during its unbeaten start.

Wilton can secure the Class 1A, District 5 title and a home playoff game with a win on Friday.

The Beavers have been among the best defensive teams in 1A this season holding opponents to 6.9 points and 215 total yards per game while allowing just 4.2 yards per play.

Junior Owen Milder (5-10, 185) leads Wilton with 48 tackles including 9.5 for loss while sophomore Kane Willey (6-0, 210) has 32 tackles and leads the Beavers with 3.5 sacks to go with 10.5 tackles for loss.

Junior Carter Drake Metzger (6-3, 255) has 28 tackles and a team-high 11 for loss.

Offensively the Beavers are led by dual threat junior quarterback Drew Keith (6-0, 185) who has passed for 833 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 590 yards and four scores.

Behind Keith and Hassell the Beavers are averaging 30.7 points and 323 total yards per game while averaging 5.7 yards per play.

Four Beavers have double digit receptions this season led by junior Cade Souhrada (5-10, 160) with 21 receptions for 307 yards and four touchdowns.

Durant (0-7) at West Branch (4-3)

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

Last season: West Branch 49, Durant 13

Player to watch: Durant sophomore running back Tate McKinley has rushed for a team-high 595 yards and a touchdown while averaging 5.3 yards per carry and has 16 tackles including two for loss.

Key stat: West Branch has held opponents to less than 4 yards per play in three of its four district games.

About the Bears: West Branch had a four-game winning streak stopped with a 21-17 loss at Wilton last Friday and is tied with Regina at 3-1 in the 1A, District 5 standings.

The Bears will look to get back on track in the regular season finale against Durant before turning their attention to the postseason.

West Branch is averaging 22.1 points and 267 total yards per game this season including 156 rushing yards per contest.

Sophomore quarterback Brennen Dale (6-0, 175) leads the West Branch offense and has passed for 612 yards and five touchdowns while completing 62 percent of his passes.

Dale has also rushed for 171 yards and six touchdowns.

Cale Seydel (5-10, 165) has been the top target for Dale with 19 receptions for 199 yards and two touchdowns and senior Joe Hamann (6-0, 170) has caught nine passes for 158 yards and three touchdowns.

West Branch has been impressive defensively all season holding teams to 16.4 points and 283 total yards per game while allowing 5.2 yards per play.

Senior Shae Farmer (6-1, 175) leads West Branch with 39 tackles including three tackles for loss and Reese Trepanier (6-1, 210) has 34 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss.

Sophomore Cooper Gates (5-11, 185) has 6.5 tackles for loss and senior Logan Wright (6-3, 235) leads the Bears with 11 tackles for loss.

Seydel has five interceptions and 14 tackles.

About the Wildcats: Durant has lost 11 consecutive games dating back to last season a streak that started with a 49-13 home loss to West Branch.

The Wildcats dropped to 0-7 and 0-4 in District 5 play with a 42-7 loss to Cascade last Friday.

Durant is averaging 8.2 points and 203 total yards per game behind quarterbacks Charlie Huesmann and Isaac Nielsen.

Huesmann has passed for 339 yards and two touchdowns and Nielsen has thrown for 259 yards and a touchdown and Huesmann has rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Caden Meyer has been the top pass catcher for the Wildcats with 19 receptions for 320 yards and two touchdowns.

The Durant defense is led by senior Ryan Wulf who has a team-high 30.5 tackles with four tackles for loss.

Senior Nicholas Postin has 24 tackles with four tackles for loss.

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