Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

With one week remaining in the regular season there is still plenty to shake out in the Class 5A playoff race.

Week nine games will clear all of that up and City High, Liberty High and West High are among several teams state-wide that will play a central role in shaping the 5A postseason.

West High, City High and Liberty High all play an opponent in week nine that is ranked in the top 22 in the most recent 5A Ratings Percentage Index used to determine the 16 playoff qualifiers.

There are eight 5A games in week nine between two teams both current in the RPI top 22 meaning there is a lot up for grabs in the final week of the regular season.

It also means 5A is as balanced and unpredictable as any time in recent history.

“It’s wild,” City High senior quarterback Bobby Bacon said of the 5A landscape. “It’s even, every game matters, it’s a lot of fun to play in those games.”

Ninth-ranked City High (5-3) will be involved in one of the bigger playoff implication games of week nine hosting top-ranked Bettendorf (8-0).

Both teams are playoff bound but a win in that game could sway seeding and matchups.

Bettendorf is the lone remaining unbeaten team in 5A and defeated City High in the opening round of the 5A playoffs last season.

The Bulldogs are among a list of what would be considered postseason favorites in 5A though narrowing down that list of potential championships teams is as difficult as any season in a decade.

“We still have a lot of football left,” City High coach Mitch Moore said. “We have a big game next week, it’s senior night and we play a team we certainly think we are capable of playing with because I think everyone is capable of playing with the top 10 teams.”

No. 11 West High (5-3) travels to No. 21 Cedar Rapids Prairie (3-5) attempt to leave no doubt in its playoff hopes.

Second-ranked Liberty High (7-1) travels to No. 22 Cedar Rapids Jefferson (5-3).

Of the 36 teams in Class 5A 21 enter the final week of the regular season with a record of 4-4 or better.

All three Iowa City teams can reach the playoffs and have already demonstrated through eight weeks can be major players in the 5A race.

“It’s an open playing field and this game was a great example they can all go either way,” Bacon said. “I believe we can hang with any team out there as long as we execute and play the football we can play.”

News and Notes

Best yet: In what has already been a record setting season West High senior quarterback Jack Wallace may just have come up with his best game yet in week eight.

Wallace completed 21-of-26 passes for 373 yards and five touchdowns without an interception and also rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns in a 49-35 win over Pleasant Valley.

1,000-yard Watch: Entering the final week of the season several area players are closing in on the 1,000-yard mark.

Solon senior running back Eddie Johnson needs just 15 yards in the regular season final to crack 1,000 yards after rushing for 131 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Fairfield last week.

Clear Creek Amana junior quarterback Conlan Poynton (785 yards), City High sophomore running back Dawson Kahl (709 yards), Liberty High senior running back Owen Drapeaux (676 yards) and Regina sophomore running back Savion Miller (677) are all narrowing in on 1,000 yards.

Players of the Week

Offensive player of the week: Clear Creek Amana junior quarterback Conlan Poynton came up with his best game of the season in biggest moment.

Poynton completed 20-of-30 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown in a 28-24 win at Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Defensive player of the week: Clear Creek Amana senior defensive back Owen Rosenberg twice ended Cedar Rapids Xavier drives deep in Clipper territory with interceptions in a 28-24 road win over the Saints.

The two interceptions for Rosenberg included the game-clincher in the final minute as Clear Creek Amana improved to 5-3.

Special teams player of the week: West Branch junior place kicker Reese Gingerich connected on a pair of field goals in a 13-6 loss to Durant.

Gingerich made a school-record 49 yard field goal and added a 28 yarder.

Helmet Stickers

Offense: Regina sophomore running back Savion Miller rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 38 yards in a 20-8 win over Wilton.

Offense: West High senior Mason Woods had nine receptions for 212 yards and a touchdown and also had four tackles with three solo stops and an interception in a 49-35 win over Pleasant Valley.

Offense: Solon senior linebacker Oliver Owens had 4.5 tackles including three solo stops, two tackles for loss and a sack in a 61-19 win over Fairfield.

Offense: Liberty High senior Sutton Koller had seven carries for 56 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 118 yards and three touchdowns in a 63-9 win at Waterloo West.

Defense: West Branch junior Lincoln Naber had 5.5 tackles including four solo stops, two tackles for loss and a sack in a 13-6 loss to Durant.

Defense: Clear Creek Amana senior defensive lineman Brody Clubb had seven tackles including five solo stops and a tackle for loss in a 28-24 win over Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Defense: West High senior linebacker Declan Bunn had 10.5 tackles including four solo stops in a 49-35 win over Pleasant Valley.

Defense: Regina defensive back Spencer Winders had 6.5 tackles including five solo stops and intercepted a pass in a 20-8 win over Wilton.

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