Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Norwalk (1-3) at City High (0-4)

Where: Bates Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Norwalk junior tight end/defensive end Luke Brewer (6-6, 230) has caught 19 passes for 287 yards and three touchdown and also leads the Warriors with 23.5 tackles including 22 solo stops.

Key stat: Norwalk is even in turnover differential this season committing five turnovers on offense and forcing five turnovers on defense while City High is -8 in turnover margin, committing 11 turnovers and forcing three.

About the Warriors: Norwalk went 6-4 and reached the Class 4A postseason last fall before making the jump to Class 5A this season.

The Warriors lost three consecutive games to open the season before posting a 53-0 win at Ames last Friday.

Senior quarterback James Hatlevig (6-5, 205) leads a Norwalk offense that is averaging 280 total yards and 25 points per game.

Hatlevig has completed 54 percent of his passes while throwing for 834 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions.

Senior Eli Robbins (6-1, 190) has caught 30 passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns and joins Brewer and senior Xavier Bush (6-2, 185) who has 13 receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown as the top receiving targets.

Senior Breck Welch (5-7, 160) leads Norwalk with 166 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Junior Victor Esparza (6-0, 220) has 23 tackles and junior Luke Rewerts (6-3, 230) has three tackles for loss and a sack for the Warriors.

About the Little Hawks: City High has opened the season with four consecutive losses to teams with a combined 13-3 record.

The Little Hawks dropped top 0-4 with a 40-21 loss at Cedar Falls (3-1) last Friday and also have losses to two of the three Class 5A unbeaten teams in Waukee Northwest and West High.

City High is averaging 289 total yards and 10.3 points per game on offense while averaging 4.9 yards per play.

Sophomore quarterback Chris Kabaiza has completed 36-of-64 passes for 410 yards and two touchdowns with four interceptions and has rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown.

Marshall Sheldon has rushed for a team-high 261 yards while Chayse Newton has been the top receiving target with 25 receptions for 287 yards.

Jack Lampe has caught 10 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns and has also rushed for 33 yards and a touchdown.

Sheldon leads City High with 35.5 tackles including eight for loss and senior Raphael Etuma has 9.5 tackles for loss and two sacks among his 20.5 tackles.

Liberty High (3-1) at West High (4-0)

Where: Trojan Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: Liberty High 56, West High 45

Player to watch: Liberty High senior quarterback Reece Rettig has completed 94-of-132 passes for 851 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions and has rushed for a team-high 288 yards and five touchdowns.

Key stat: In last season’s meeting Liberty High and West High combined for 993 total yards of offense and 101 points while averaging 7.3 yards per play.

About the Lightning: Liberty High will look to bounce back from its first loss of the season following a 27-24 loss at Johnston last week.

The loss to the Dragons snapped a nine-game regular season winning streak for Liberty High which opened the season with wins over Cedar Falls, Southeast Polk and Linn-Mar.

Senior quarterback Reece Rettig leads a Liberty High offense that is averaging 368 total yards and 26.3 points per game while posting 5.4 yards per play.

Rettig has accounted for 1,139 yards of total offense and 13 touchdowns this season.

Senior Logan Laubenthal has rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown and caught 13 passes for 124 yards and junior Pryor Reiners has rushed for 109 yards and caught 19 passes for 185 yards.

Leo Rozz has caught a team-high 24 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns and Jordan Schrodder has 12 receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns.

The Liberty High defense is holding opponents to 230 total yards and 17 points per game and is allowing 5.4 yards per play.

Senior linebacker Landon Bell leads the Lightning with 19.5 tackles including 7.5 for loss and junior Cash Hennings has 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks among his 9.5 tackles.

About the Trojans: West High is one of only three unbeaten teams remaining in Class 5A and is coming off impressive back-to-back road wins over Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley.

The Trojans have been impressive on both sides of the ball during their 4-0 start to the season.

West High is averaging 428 total yards and 39.8 points per game and has scored at least 30 points in every game this season.

A balanced Trojan offense averaging 202.5 rushing yards, 225.5 passing yards and 7.4 yards per play is led by junior quarterback Reece Wheeler who has thrown for 859 yards and seven touchdowns.

Campbell Janis has rushed for a team-high 419 yards and three touchdowns and junior quarterback Mikey Moody has added 127 rushing yards and three scores.

Ethan Headings has been the top target in the passing game with 20 receptions for 552 yards and five touchdowns and Julian Manson has 10 receptions for 158 yards and two touchdowns.

On defense West High is holding opponents to 257 total yards and 12.8 points per game while surrendering just 4.7 yards per play.

Senior defensive end Jackson Law leads West High with 23.5 tackles including seven tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks and Manson has 18.5 tackles and an interception.

Solon (4-0) at Fairfield (1-3)

Where: Fairfield High School, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Solon 61, Fairfield 19

Player to watch: Fairfield junior Ethan Bisgard (6-0, 167) has rushed for 408 yards and six touchdowns, has seven receptions for 75 yards and leads the Trojans with 30.5 tackles including four for loss.

Key stat: Fairfield ranks seventh in the state and leads Class 3A in rushing yards averaging 318.3 yards per game on the ground.

About the Trojans: Fairfield snapped a five-game losing skid that dated back to last season with a 55-16 win at Knoxville last Friday.

A run-heavy Fairfield offense is averaging 369.8 total yards and 34.8 points per game with the Trojans racking up 318.3 yards per game on the ground after running for a season-high 408 yards in the win over Knoxville.

Junior quarterback Voss Richardson (5-9, 170) has completed 14-of-30 passes for 218 yards and four touchdowns and has also rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns.

Two Fairfield running backs have over 400 yards on the season.

Junior Zandrik Allison (5-8, 170) has rushed for 412 yards and four touchdowns Bisgard has run for 408 yards and six touchdowns.

Allison also has four catches for 71 yards and three touchdowns and senior Spencer McCready (5-8, 140) has rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns.

Bisgard leads Fairfield with 30.5 tackles with four for loss while Tucker Robertson (5-10, 150) has 18 tackles.

About the Spartans: Solon remained unbeaten on the season with a 28-20 win at Benton Community last Friday.

With wins over Williamsburg and Benton Community in the opening four weeks Solon has now avenged both of its regular season losses from a year ago.

Solon opens Class 3A, District 4 play on Friday one of only seven remaining undefeated teams in Class 3A.

The Spartans are averaging 337 total yards and 33 points per game while posting 6.7 yards per play.

Senior quarterback Eli Kampman has completed 55-of-85 passes for 884 yards and 11 touchdowns with one interception and has also rushed for 216 yards and two touchdowns.

Maddox Kelley has caught 21 passes for 204 yards and five touchdowns and Kaden Hoeper has 14 receptions for 323 yards and five touchdowns.

Cody Milliman has 12 receptions for 203 yards and Owen Bock has five receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively Solon is allowing 266 total yards and 17 points per game while holding opponents to 4.7 yards per play.

Kyler Jensen has a team-high 36 tackles with five for loss and junior James Thomsen has five tackles for loss and four sacks among 17 tackles.

Clear Creek Amana (2-2) at Grinnell (1-3)

Where: TT Cranny Field, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Grinnell junior Josh Ringler (6-0, 200) has rushed for 576 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 7.6 yards per carry and also has a team-high 33.5 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Key stat: After not allowing a rushing touchdown in back-to-back wins to open the season Clear Creek Amana has allowed six rushing touchdowns in consecutive losses.

About the Tigers: Coming off back-to-back 6-3 seasons Grinnell is off to a 1-3 start in its move up to Class 4A.

The Tigers enter district play coming off consecutive losses to Carlisle (56-21) and Cedar Rapids Washington (24-21) after a week two win at Bondurant-Farrar.

Junior quarterback Eddie Harseim (5-11, 170) leads a Grinnell offense that is averaging 272 total yards and 13.8 points per game but has scored a season-high 21 points in each of its past two contests.

Harseim has completed 55 percent of his passes while throwing for 260 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions and has rushed for 59 yards.

Junior Beni Kiphanzu (5-10, 165) has rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns and senior Kellan Harter (5-11, 155) has been the top receiving target with nine receptions for 178 yards and a touchdown.

Kiphanzu has 25 tackles and an interception and senior Jack Gallagher has (6-1, 190) 21 tackles for the Tigers.

About the Clippers: Clear Creek Amana will be seeking to snap a two-game losing skid after a 33-30 overtime loss to North Scott last Friday.

Senior quarterback Conlan Poynton leads a Clear Creek Amana offense that is averaging 309 total yards and 41.3 points per game on 6.4 yards per play.

Poynton has completed 42-of-86 passes for 518 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions and has rushed for 311 yards and eight touchdowns.

Senior Ethan Vice and junior Noah Collis have combined for 222 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Tay Seals has been the top target for Poynton with 15 receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown and Nick Daniel has caught eight passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Aren Schlemme has seven receptions for 139 yards and three touchdowns.

The Clear Creek Amana defense is holding opponents to 291 total yards and 23.3 points per game while allowing 5.2 yards per play.

Aidan Schrock has a team-high 29.5 tackles with three for loss and Evan Waring has 14.5 tackles with one for loss.

Ian Kelley has 13.5 tackles and Avery Sorensen has four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Durant (3-1) at Regina (4-0)

Where: Regal Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: Regina 49, Durant 14

Player to watch: Durant sophomore Owen DeLong (6-0, 175) has rushed for a team-leading 318 yards and three touchdowns, has caught seven passes for 94 yards and a touchdown and has 11 tackles and three interceptions on defense.

Key stat: Durant has already matched its season win total from a season ago and is halfway to winning more than five games in a season for the first time in the last 18 years.

About the Wildcats: Durant has already matched its win total from a year ago with a 3-1 start that includes wins over Northeast (32-27), Lisbon (28-14) and Louisa-Muscatine (50-6).

The lone loss for the Wildcats was a 20-0 setback at Wilton in week three.

Senior quarterback Trey Ramer III (6-0, 160) leads a Durant offense that is averaging 304 total yards and 27.5 points per game while putting up 7.8 yards per play.

Ramer has completed 27-of-49 passes while throwing for 501 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions.

DeLong leads the Durant running game while senior Tate Mckinley (6-0, 250) has rushed for 249 yards and three touchdowns.

Colby Gast (5-10, 145) has caught 12 passes for 320 yards and five touchdowns and Gunner Klahn (6-0, 150) has five receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Christian Frantz (5-10, 150) has a team-high 25 tackles with seven tackles for loss and Reid Hollenback (6-2, 195) has 23.5 tackles with four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

About the Regals: Regina improved to 4-0 with a 55-6 win over Cardinal in its district opener last week and is one of five remaining unbeaten teams in Class 1A.

The Regals have scored 55 or more points in back-to-back games and are averaging 46 points and 369 total yards per game while averaging 7.4 yards per play.

Senior quarterback Kyle Tracy has completed 43-of-58 passes for 590 yards and nine touchdowns with two interceptions and has rushed for 193 yards and three touchdowns.

Junior Savion Miller has rushed for a team-high 357 yards and six touchdowns and is averaging 7 yards per carry to go with two receptions for 41 yards and two touchdowns.

Tate Wallace has caught 15 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns and Drew Greve has 10 receptions for 150 yards.

Defensively Regina is allowing just 17.3 points and 214 total yards per game while holding opponents to 4.6 yards per play.

James Whisler has a team-high 17 tackles with 3.5 for loss and Wallace has 16.5 tackles with 3.5 for loss and a sack.

Greve has five interceptions and Edwin Gangba and Brady Venzon also have interceptions for the Regals.

West Branch (3-1) at Alburnett (3-1)

Where: Martin Sports Complex, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Alburnett junior Laken Caves (X) has rushed for 556 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 8.1 yards per carry, has caught 12 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown and has also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

Key stat: West Branch has averaged 320 rushing yards and scored 16 rushing touchdowns in its three wins and managed 172 rushing yards and didn’t score a rushing touchdown in its lone loss this season at Regina.

About the Pirates: Alburnett responded from a week-three loss to Regina with a 14-0 win at Tipton last Friday.

The Pirates are averaging 274 total yards and 24.3 points per game while putting up 5.7 yards per play.

Junior quarterback Brody Kaestner (6-0, 185) has completed 36-of-62 passes for 440 yards and three touchdowns with four interceptions.

Caves is the top rusher and receiver while junior Cooper Franklin (5-10, 180) has rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns and caught five passes for 59 yards.

Franklin has a team-high 32.5 tackles with three tackles for loss and sophomore Owen Henriksen (5-9, 165) has 22 tackles with 1.5 for loss.

Sophomore Eaghan Fleshman (6-1, 230) has 22 tackles and leads the Pirates with 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

About the Bears: West Branch has won back-to-back games after a week-two loss outscoring opponents 104-14 following a 48-7 win over Monticello in its district opener.

West Branch is averaging 363 total yards and 38.8 points per game on offense while posting 8.1 yards per play.

Senior quarterback Brennen Dale has completed 19-of-41 passes for 290 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions and has rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns.

Junior Keaton Gates has rushed for 586 yards and five touchdowns and Cooper Gates has rushed for 281 yards and five touchdowns and has caught six passes for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Nolan Staker has been the top receiving target with six receptions for 141 yards and three touchdowns and Brandon Pedersen has five receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown.

On defense West Branch is allowing 280 total yards and 15.8 points per game while allowing 5.4 yards per play.

Conner Capper has a team-high 20.5 tackles while Cooper Gates has 17.5 tackles including 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.

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