Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Waukee Northwest (2-0) at City High (0-2)

Where: Bates Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Waukee Northwest junior quarterback Mack Heitland (6-1, 176) has completed 74 percent of his passes (25-of-34) while throwing for 367 yards and two touchdowns and has also rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Key stat: The two wins for Waukee Northwest this season have come by a combined total of four points. In its first four varsity seasons combined Waukee Northwest went 3-1 in games decided by three points or less.

About the Wolves: Waukee Northwest has one of the best resumes in Class 5A after two weeks of action.

The Wolves won at Ankeny 25-24 in the opener and are coming off a 27-24 win over defending state runner-up West Des Moines Valley last week.

Heitland is a two-year starter at quarterback with a career 74 percent completion percentage with 30 career touchdowns and just six interceptions.

Junior Jordon Green (5-11, 170) has caught 10 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown and senior Isaiah Oliver (6-1, 190) has 10 receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Ryan Woodruff (5-10, 190) has rushed for a team-high 280 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per carry after running for 209 yards in the win over West Des Moines Valley last Friday.

Waukee Northwest has five players with an interception through two games while seniors Austin Van Horn (5-10, 175) and Bodie Morrison (5-10, 190) lead the defense.

Morrison has a team-high three tackles for loss and a sack and Van Horn has a team-high 20 tackles with 18 solo stops.

About the Little Hawks: City High dropped to 0-2 with a 21-7 loss at Bettendorf last Friday.

Sophomore quarterbacks Chris Kabaiza and Coden Kurtz have combined to complete 20-of-39 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown with four interceptions leading a City High offense that is averaging 223.5 total yards per game and 4.3 yards per play.

Junior Chayse Newton has caught a team-high seven passes for 64 yards and senior Jack Lampe has five receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown.

Sophomore Marshall Sheldon has rushed for a team-high 215 yards and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

City High is allowing 305 total yards and 25.5 points per game on defense while giving up 5.2 yards per play.

Senior linebacker Blaine Heick leads City High with 16.5 tackles with three for loss while senior Raphael Etuma has 12.5 tackles with 7.5 for loss including a sack.

Linn-Mar (0-2) at Liberty High (2-0)

Where: Liberty Stadium, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play.

Player to watch: Linn-Mar junior running back Hud Turner (5-7, 175) has rushed for a team-high118 yards while averaging 3.9 yards per carry through two games.

Key stat: Liberty High has run 135 offensive plays in two games this season while its opponents have run taken a total of 76 offensive snaps.

About the Lions: Linn-Mar was 7-3 last season but has gotten off to a slow start in 2025 with back-to-back losses to Cedar Rapids Prairie and Ankeny Centennial by a combined score of 73-10.

The Lions are averaging 179.5 total yards per game and have been limited to 3.7 yards per play in the consecutive losses to open the season.

Three different Linn-Mar quarterbacks have combined to complete 15-of-30 passes for 83 yards with two interceptions.

Turner leads the way offensively with 118 yards rushing while junior quarterback Cael Fairley (5-10, 185) has rushed for 60 yards and sophomore quarterback Derek Roling (6-1, 160) has run for 32 yards and a touchdown.

Bradley Duncan-Porter (5-9, 200) has caught a team-high five passes for 27 yards and has also rushed for 33 yards while averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

Senior Tate McEowen (6-0, 185) leads the team with 13.5 tackles while senior Daniel Lorenz (6-2, 185) has 10.5 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and has also recovered a fumble.

About the Lightning: Liberty High has picked up where it left off last fall opening the season with back-to-back wins over 2024 Class 5A playoff qualifiers in Cedar Falls and Southeast Polk.

The Lightning avenged its 38-35 semifinal loss to Southeast Polk with a 38-20 win over the four-time defending state champion Rams last Friday.

Liberty High has been impressive defensively to open the season holding opponents to 216 total yards and 17 points per game.

Senior linebacker Landon Bell leads the Liberty High defense with 9.5 tackles including 4.5 for loss and two sacks while junior Cash Hennings has two sacks.

On offense Liberty High is averaging 336.5 total yards and 26.5 points per game while averaging 5 yards per play.

Senior quarterback Reece Rettig has completed 46-of-60 passes for 427 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions and has rushed for 88 yards.

Three Liberty High players have at least nine receptions led by junior Pryor Reiners with 12 catches for 129 yards and a touchdown and junior Leo Rozz who has 11 receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

West High (2-0) at Pleasant Valley (1-1)

Where: Pleasant Valley High School, 7:15 p.m.

Last season: West High 49, Pleasant Valley 35

Player to watch: Pleasant Valley senior quarterback Lincoln Dalton (6-4, 225) has completed 11-of-20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns and has rushed for 101 yards and three touchdowns.

Key stat: West High and Pleasant Valley have played each of the past seven seasons with Pleasant Valley holding a 4-3 advantage in those games. West High snapped a four-game losing streak to the Spartans with a 49-35 win last season in Iowa City.

About the Spartans: Pleasant Valley was 7-3 last season, its fifth consecutive season with at least seven wins.

The Spartans opened the season with a 24-17 over Bettendorf before falling to Cedar Falls 21-14 last Friday in Cedar Falls.

Dalton leads a Pleasant Valley offense that is averaging 308 total yards per game and 5.3 yards per play.

Senior Evan Barr (6-0, 185) has rushed for a team-high 132 yards while Gavin Barber (5-7, 170) has rushed for 85 yards helping the Spartans average 197 yards per game on the ground.

Senior Jackson O’Melia (6-1, 175) has been the top target in the passing game with six receptions for 112 yards and junior Noah Thiel (6-2, 185) has two receptions for 21 yards and a touchdown.

Graham Rima (6-1, 185) leads Pleasant Valley with 14.5 tackles and Luke Knutson (6-2, 215) has 13 tackles with two for loss.

About the Trojans: West High has been dominant during its 2-0 start outscoring City High and Dubuque Hempstead 86-7 in back-to-back wins.

The Trojans are averaging 43 points and 430.5 total yards per game on offense while posting 7.8 yards per play.

Junior quarterback Reece Wheeler has completed 15-of-25 passes for 327 yards and four touchdowns without an interception and has rushed for 45 yards.

Mikey Moody has passed for 46 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior running back Campbell Janis has rushed for 228 yards and a touchdown and Ethan Headings has been the top pass catcher with eight receptions for 259 yards and four touchdowns.

Defensively West High is allowing 233 total yards and 3.5 points per game while holding teams to 4.5 yards per play.

Julian Manson leads the Trojans with nine tackles while Headings has a team-high 3.5 tackles for loss.

Mount Vernon (2-0) at Solon (2-0)

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

Last season: Solon 7, Mount Vernon 6

Player to watch: Mount Vernon senior quarterback Kellen Haverback (6-3, 190) has completed 28-of-49 passes for 469 yards and five touchdowns without an interception and has rushed for 75 yards and three touchdowns.

Key stat: Over the past three seasons Solon is 18-0 when allowing less than 21 points and is 2-5 in games it gives up 21 or more points. Mount Vernon has scored at least 21 points in 10 consecutive games dating back to last season. The last time the Mustangs failed to score 21 points was a 7-6 loss at Solon last September.

About the Mustangs: Mount Vernon went 10-2 last season advancing to the Class 3A semifinals and is off to a 2-0 start with wins over Monticello and Benton Community.

The Mustang offense led by Haverback is among the best in Class 3A averaging 43 points and 367.5 total yards per game on 6.7 yards per play.

Senior Jase Jaspers (5-8, 170) has caught a team-high seven passes for 114 yards and Michael Ryan (5-9, 175) has six receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

Tommy Rhomberg (6-2, 180) has five receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior Caysen Curran (5-11, 196) has rushed for 90 yards while junior Jakob Yock (5-8, 170) has rushed for 78 yards and three touchdowns.

Senior Jaxon Anderson (6-2, 190) leads the Mount Vernon defense with 14.5 tackles including 3.5 for loss and Leuie Korte II (6-0, 180) has 8.5 tackles with 2.5 for loss and two sacks.

About the Spartans: Solon has been impressive in back-to-back wins to open the season outscoring Williamsburg and Davenport Assumption by a combined score of 69-27.

The Spartans have been stingy defensively holding opponents to 243 total yards and 13.5 points per game while allowing 4.6 yards per play.

Senior linebacker Kyler Jensen leads Solon with 17 tackles including four tackles for loss and junior James Thomsen had eight tackles with three sacks.

The Solon offense is led by senior quarterback Eli Kampman who has completed 31-of-43 passes for 549 yards and eight touchdowns with one interception.

Kampman has also rushed for a team-high 39 yards and a touchdown.

Maddox Kelley has caught a team-high 14 passes for 166 yards and four touchdowns and Kaden Hoeper has eight receptions for 260 yards and four touchdowns.

Cody Milliman has six receptions for 112 yards.

Clear Creek Amana (2-0) at Cedar Rapids Xavier (2-0)

Where: Saints Field, 7:15 p.m.

Last season: Clear Creek Amana 28, Cedar Rapids Xavier 24

Player to watch: Cedar Rapids Xavier junior quarterback Cash Parks (6-2, 205) has completed 86 percent of his passes (18-of-21) for 250 yards and five touchdowns without an interception and has rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown.

Key stat: Cedar Rapids Xavier is allowing just 165 total yards per game this season while giving up 3.7 yards per play.

About the Saints: Cedar Rapids Xavier finished last season with a 7-4 record, falling to eventual 4A state champion North Polk in the 4A quarterfinals.

The Saints have been as impressive as any team in Class 4A to open the season posting back-to-back wins over North Scott and Western Dubuque by a combined score of 52-13.

Parks enters his second season leading the Xavier offense and has been razor sharp the first two games helping the Saints average 316 total yards per game and 6.6 yards per play.

Senior Sam Leuck (6-2, 180) has been the top pass catcher for the Saints with six receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior Ryan Kelly (5-9, 155) has five receptions for 88 yards and three touchdowns and James Madison basketball commit AJ Evans (6-9, 215) has three receptions for 44 yards.

Xavier has been balanced on offense averaging 179.5 rushing yards per game behind Parks and senior Carter Hoffmann (6-1, 180) who has rushed for a team-high 166 yards and a touchdown.

Junior linebacker Beau Morio (6-2, 205) leads the Saints with 14 tackles including two tackles for loss and senior Jack Schimberg (6-0, 215) has 9.5 tackles.

About the Clippers: Clear Creek Amana has been sharp on both sides of the ball to open the season outscoring Davenport West and Davenport North by a combined score of 114-6 in back-to-back wins.

The Clippers have been most impressive on defense allowing 195 total yards and 3 points per game while holding opponents to 4.2 yards per play.

Senior linebacker Aidan Schrock has a team-high 8.5 tackles while junior Ian Kelley has eight tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss.

Offensively the Clippers are averaging 347.5 total yards and 57 points per game while posting 7.7 points per play.

Senior quarterback Conlan Poynton has completed 19-of-36 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns and has rushed for 142 yards and a team-high five touchdowns while averaging 6.8 yards per carry.

Noah Collis has rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns and Ethan Vice has rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown.

Tay Seals leads Clear Creek Amana with eight receptions for 104 yards and Aren Schlemme has three catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns.

Alburnett (2-0) at Regina (2-0)

Where: Regal Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Alburnett junior running back Laken Caves (5-11, 180) has rushed for 405 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 9.9 yards per carry and has also caught six passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.

Key stat: Caves has accounted for 498 of the 666 total yards (75%) for the Alburnett offense this season and has scored seven of the Pirates’ eight touchdowns.

About the Pirates: Alburnett went 5-4 last season falling in the opening round of the Class 1A postseason.

The Pirates make the move up to Class 2A this season and are off to a 2-0 start with back-to-back wins over Center Point-Urbana (14-0) and Mid-Prairie (42-37).

Junior quarterback Brody Kaestner (6-0, 185) has completed 52 percent of his passes (14-of-27) while throwing for 241 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

Caves has been the top receiver while junior Cash Varner (5-9, 175) has caught three passes for 94 yards and sophomore Liam Carolan (6-0, 165) has two catches for 22 yards and a touchdown.

Junior Cooper Franklin (5-10, 180) leads the Pirates with 19.5 tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss while sophomore Eaghan Fleshman (6-1, 230) has a team-high eight tackles for loss including three sacks.

About the Regals: Regina has gotten off to a stellar start with back-to-back wins over 2A teams Wilton and West Branch to open the season.

The Regals have been as advertised on offense averaging 371.5 total yards and 35 points per game on 6.9 yards per play.

Senior quarterback Kyle Tracy has completed 22-of-30 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions and has rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown.

Junior tailback Savion Miller has rushed for 298 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 7.5 yards per carry and sophomore Gabriel Hegeleimer has run for 98 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 8.2 yards per carry.

Tate Wallace has been the top target in the passing game with 10 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown and Drew Greve has six receptions for 64 yards.

Defensively Regina is allowing 265.5 total yards and 18 points per game while giving up 5.6 yards per play.

James Whisler leads Regina with 11 tackles with 1.5 for loss while Wallace has 9.5 tackles with a sack and Greve has four interceptions.

Camanche (1-1) at West Branch (1-1)

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

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Camanche senior quarterback Charlie Sager (6-4, 200) has completed 58 percent of his passes (42-of-72) while throwing for 600 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.

Key stat: West Branch is averaging 272 rushing yards per game and 7.7 yards per carry. Camanche is holding opponents to 48 rushing yards per game and 1.9 yards per carry.

About the Storm: Camanche finished 1-7 last season and is off to a 1-1 start this fall opening the season with a 17-6 win over Tipton before falling 42-35 last Friday at Bellevue.

Sager leads a Storm offense that is 334.5 total yards per game and 5,4 yards per play.

Seniors Wes McDanel (5-8, 175) and Gavin Baker (6-1, 185) are the top two targets for Sager in the Storm passing game.

McDanel has 15 receptions for 215 yards and three touchdowns and Baker has caught 11 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Tyson Graves (5-11, 185) has rushed for a team-high 68 yards and two touchdowns and has also caught three passes for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Camanche has forced six turnovers in two games with junior Harper Hoge (6-0, 160) leading the way with two interceptions.

Kai Seibel (5-9, 210) leads the Camanche defense with 12 tackles including two for loss while Graves has 11.5 tackles with one for loss.

About the Bears: West Branch opened the season with a 35-21 win over West Liberty before falling to Regina 28-16 last Friday in Iowa City.

The Bears are averaging 322.5 total yards and 25.5 points per game on 7 yards per play.

Junior Keaton Gates has rushed for 370 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 10 yards per carry and senior Cooper Gates has rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 17 yards and a touchdown.

Senior quarterback Brennen Dale has completed 6-of-16 passes for 102 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and has rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Nolan Staker has caught two passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.

The West Branch defense is allowing 373.5 total yards and 24.5 points per game while giving up 7 yards per play.

Keaton Gates leads the team with 13 tackles while Conner Capper has 10.5 tackles and Lincoln Naber has 10 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss.

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