Week 8 Football Capsules: Breaking Down the Your Prep Sports Area Games
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
Liberty High (4-3) at City High (3-4)
Where: Bates Field, 7 p.m.
Last season: Liberty High 48, City High 29
City High player to watch: City High senior running back Savion Miller has rushed for 714 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per carry, has caught 24 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown and returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
Liberty High player to watch: Liberty High senior Pryor Reiners has caught 54 passes for 695 yards and eight touchdowns and ranks seventh on the team with 18 tackles.
Key stat: Liberty High has won four straight games over City High and is averaging 43.5 points per game during that four-game winning streak.
About the Lightning: Liberty High had a two-game winning streak snapped with a 27-26 loss to Pleasant Valley last week.
The Lightning are 15th in the latest Class 5A rankings used to determine the 16 state playoff qualifiers.
Liberty High is averaging 27.6 points and 376 total yards per game while averaging 6.3 yards per play.
The Lightning are averaging 271 passing yards and 105 rushing yards per game on 3.8 yards per carry.
Senior quarterback Emerson Berner has completed 133-of-197 passes while throwing for 1,613 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions and has rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Brody Beaver has rushed for a team-high 392 yards and four touchdowns and has caught 12 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns and Leo Rozz has rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns.
Reiners is the top target in the passing games with Adrian Clerry making 28 receptions for 381 yards and four touchdowns.
Cooper Lester has caught 24 passes for 365 yards and two touchdowns.
Liberty High is allowing 19.1 points and 243 total yards per game while allowing 5.5 yards per play.
The Lightning are holding opponents to 115 rushing yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry.
Carter Lester leads Liberty High with 41.5 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss while Alex Strunk has 37.5 tackles with 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Eric Strunk has 27 tackles with 7.5 for loss and Asher Eisenbach has 26.5 tackles with 10.5 for loss.
Hank Thompson has 20.5 tackles with 9.5 for loss and a team-leading four sacks.
Liberty High has forced 16 turnovers in seven games with Cooper Lester, Tate Rettig and Clerry each picking off two passes.
About the Little Hawks: City High is coming off a 56-7 win over Des Moines East last Friday and is currently 21st in the Class 5A RPI rankings.
City High is averaging 31 points and 376 total yards per game while averaging 6.4 yards per play.
The Little Hawks are averaging 230 passing yards and 146 rushing yards per game while averaging 5 yards per carry.
Senior quarterback Jackson Grabinski has completed 100-of-151 passes while throwing for 1,209 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions and has rushed for 227 yards and five touchdowns.
Savion Miller leads the Little Hawks in rushing while Chayse Newton has caught a team-high 44 passes for 563 yards and four touchdowns.
Braden Bickford has caught 34 passes for 472 yards and three touchdowns.
City High is allowing 25.4 points and 325 total yards per game while allowing 6.7 yards per play.
City High is giving up 197 passing yards and 129 rushing yards per game while allowing 4.7 yards per carry.
Marshall Sheldon leads City High with 48 tackles including 8.5 tackles for loss while Shepherd Stanton has 28 tackles and a team-high five interceptions.
Seth Barnett has 26 tackles with six for loss and Crosby Newton has 22.5 tackles with two for loss.
Cedar Rapids Prairie (5-2) at West High (4-3)
Where: Trojan Stadium, 7 p.m.
Last season: Cedar Rapids Prairie 45, West High 31
Player to watch: Cedar Rapids Prairie running back Dawson Kahl (6-0, 210) has rushed for 614 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards per carry and has eight receptions for 55 yards.
Key stat: Cedar Rapids Prairie has won five in a row over West High defeating the Trojans in each of the past five seasons and the Hawks are averaging 43.4 points per game in those five wins.
About the Trojans: After dropping three consecutive games to Pleasant Valley, Bettendorf and Liberty High the Trojans have bounced back with back-to-back wins over Muscatine and Davenport Central.
West High is 20th in the Class 5A RPI rankings entering the final two weeks of the season while Cedar Rapids Prairie is 11th.
The Trojans have been among the best offensive teams in Class 5A this season averaging 402 total yards and 45.4 points per game while posting 6.6 yards per play.
West High is led by senior quarterback Reece Wheeler (5-11, 170) who has completed 120-of-194 passes for 1,541 yards and 13 touchdowns with six interceptions and has rushed for 268 yards and eight touchdowns.
Atari Brown (5-11, 170) has rushed for 779 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 6.7 yards per play.
Neil James (X) has caught 33 passes for 548 yards and six touchdowns and Tayten Wheeler (6-2, 195) has 27 receptions for 307 yards.
Cade Towler (5-11, 170) has 25 receptions for 360 yards and five touchdowns and Cooper Bruxvoort (6-1, 170) has 21 receptions for 220 yards and a touchdown.
The West High defense is allowing 25.7 points and 361 total yards per game while giving up 6.2 yards per play.
Khylin Brink (6-0, 210) has a team-high 37.5 points with 7.5 tackles for loss and Jack Caylor (5-10, 195) has 37 tackles with 6.5 for loss.
Carter Spark (5-10, 175) has 36 tackles with Kingstone Ross (5-10, 195) has 26 tackles with a team-high 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.
The Trojans have forced 11 turnovers in seven games with James leading the team with two interceptions.
About the Hawks: After back-to-back road losses at Bettendorf and Waukee Northwest the Hawks have rattled off three consecutive wins over Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Dubuque Hempstead and Cedar Falls by a combined score of 160-7.
After allowing an average of 366 total yards and 36.5 points in losses to Bettendorf and Waukee Northwest Cedar Rapids Prairie has allowed 168 total yards and two points per game during its current three-game winning streak.
Cedar Rapids Prairie is averaging 32.3 points and 295 total yards per game while posting 6.8 yards per play.
Senior quarterback Cael Kongshaug (6-3, 215) has completed 101-of-135 passes for 1,168 yards and 14 touchdowns with three interceptions.
Kahl leads the Cedar Rapids Prairie rushing attack while Colt Hobson (5-11, 190) has rushed for 226 yards and two touchdowns.
Drew Bennis (6-0, 175) has caught 38 passes for 529 yards and seven touchdowns and Tae Alexander (6-3, 180) has caught 17 passes for 221 yards and four touchdowns.
Jahlil Clay has 15 receptions for 136 yards and Bennett Koch (6-2, 195) has caught nine passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.
The Cedar Rapids Prairie defense is allowing 17.9 points and 245 total yards per game while allowing 4.7 yards per play.
The Hawks are allowing 126 rushing yards and 119 passing yards per game.
Wesley Koppes (6-0, 205) has 46.5 tackles with 11 for loss and Jayden Stumpff (6-2, 190) has 44.5 tackles with 14.5 for loss and 7.5 sacks.
Hobson has 33.5 tackles with eight for loss and Andenn Moses (6-1, 185) has 31.5 tackles with four for loss.
Cedar Rapids Prairie has forced 12 turnovers in seven games with Owen Marxen (6-3, 190) leading the team with three interceptions.
Pella (4-3) at Clear Creek Amana (5-2)
Where: Clipper Field, 7:30 p.m.
Last season: Pella 44, Clear Creek Amana 7
Player to watch: Pella senior quarterback Griffin Simpson (6-4, 180) has completed 97-of-162 passes for 1,216 yards and 14 touchdowns with three interceptions and has rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown.
Key stat: Pella has held five of seven opponents under 200 yards of total offense and has allowed more than 300 yards of total offense just once in seven games this season.
About the Clippers: Clear Creek Amana had a three-game winning streak snapped with a 35-28 loss at Newton last Friday.
The Clippers are tied with Pella at 2-1 for second in the Class 4A, District 4 standings entering the final two weeks of the regular season.
Clear Creek Amana is averaging 35.6 points and 335 total yards per game while posting 6.7 yards per play.
The Clippers are averaging 222 passing yards and 113 rushing yards per game.
Junior quarterback Texton Bollers (6-2, 180) has completed 98-of-153 passes while throwing for a Class 4A-leading 1,535 yards and 14 touchdowns with just two interceptions and has rushed for 280 yards and four touchdowns.
Ian Kelley (5-8, 195) has rushed for 429 yards and nine touchdowns and caught eight passes for 111 yards and a touchdown and Cal Robertson (5-8, 168) has run for 56 yards and three touchdowns.
Tay Seals (5-10, 145) has caught 21 passes for 481 yards and seven touchdowns and Jonah Drake (5-8, 165) has 31 receptions for 392 yards and three touchdowns.
Myles Howell (6-2, 200) has 11 receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns and Nolan Dao (6-1, 195) has 11 receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns.
The Clear Creek Amana defense is allowing 18.7 points and 290 total yards per game while giving up 5.7 yards per play and has forced nine turnovers in seven games.
Dao leads the Clippers with 34.5 tackles with 3.5 for loss and Tucker Stockman (5-11, 200) has 32 tackles with seven for loss.
Avery Sorensen (6-4, 226) has 28 tackles with five for loss and 2.5 sacks and Noah Evans (5-9, 160) has 24 tackles.
About the Dutch: Pella has faced a challenging schedule with losses to five-win teams North Polk and Waverly-Shell Rock and 4-3 Newton along with wins over 5-2 Ballard and 3-4 North Scott.
The Dutch have won two of their last three games with victories over Marion and Oskaloosa and a 20-10 loss at Newton.
Pella is averaging 21.6 points and 304 total yards per game while posting 6.4 yards per play.
The Dutch have averaged 185 passing yards and 119 rushing yards per game.
Simpson leads the Dutch offense while Riker Branderhorst (5-7, 170) has rushed for 536 yards and two touchdowns while Colt Koeppen (6-4, 180) has rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown and caught 12 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
Logan VanDenBroek (6-5, 195) has caught 30 passes for 545 yards and nine touchdowns and Max Stelpflug (6-2, 176) has 13 receptions for 196 yards and a touchdown.
Pella has been among the best defensive teams in Class 4A this season holding opponents to 7.6 points an 196 total yards per game while limiting opponents to 3.7 yards per play.
The Dutch are holding teams to 69 rushing yards and 127 passing yards per game and have forced nine turnovers in seven games.
Aidyn Halverson (6-1, 210) has a team-high 43.5 tackles with 14.5 for loss and Gage Branderhorst (6-0, 180) has 37.5 tackles with 8.5 for loss.
Kyler VanMaanen (6-3, 225) has 31 tackles with eight for loss and Bryce Ligman (6-0, 210) has 19 tackles with seven for loss.
Mount Pleasant (7-0) at Solon (7-0)
Where: Spartan Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Last season: Solon 35, Mount Pleasant 0
Player to watch: Mount Pleasant quarterback Grayson Walker (6-1, 170) has completed 78-of-114 passes for 1,187 yards and 20 touchdowns with five interceptions and has rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
Key stat: Solon and Mount Pleasant are two of only four remaining unbeaten teams in Class 3A joining Clear Lake and Des Moines Christian as the last undefeated teams.
About the Spartans: Solon continued to roll through the season improving to 7-0 with a 49-13 win at Washington last week.
The Spartans have defeated four teams with winning records and have won all seven games by at least 34 points while outscoring opponents by a combined total of 317-42.
Solon is averaging 45.3 points and 386 total yards per game while producing 8.9 yards per play.
The Spartans are averaging 222 rushing yards per game and 7.9 yards per carry and 164 passing yards per game.
Senior quarterback Maddox Kelley (5-10, 180) has completed 59-of-86 passes for 1,012 yards and 17 touchdowns with three interceptions and has rushed for 649 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Senior Jackson Burk (5-8, 180) has rushed for 388 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
Kaden Hoeper (6-2, 190) has caught 21 passes for 398 yards and 12 touchdowns and Owen Bock (X) has 13 receptions for 297 yards and three touchdowns.
Cody Milliman (6-2, 200) has 13 receptions for 196 yards and two touchdowns.
The Solon defense is holding opponents 6 points and 185 total yards per game while allowing 3.7 yards per play.
Lucas Feuerbach (6-2, 260) leads Solon with 32.5 tackles including 4.5 tackles for loss while James Thomsen (6-3, 230) has 26 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Simon Einwalter (6-3, 215) has 25 tackles with 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks and Kelley has 14.5 tackles and an interception.
About the Panthers: Mount Pleasant has rattled off seven consecutive wins to open the season including a 4-0 mark in Class 3A, District 4 games.
The Panthers defeated Central DeWitt 16-14 in week four and followed with a 29-28 win over Washington in week five before outscoring Fort Madison and Keokuk by a combined score of 101-16.
The Mount Pleasant offense is averaging 38 points and 326 total yards per game while posting 6.7 yards per play.
The Panthers have been balanced offensively averaging 171 passing yards and 155 rushing yards per game.
Walker leads the Mount Pleasant offense while Ryan Helling (5-11, 190) has rushed for 530 yards and eight touchdowns and Griffen Jones (5-9, 185) has rushed for 304 yards and three touchdowns.
Kaden Schadt (6-3, 205) has been the top target in the passing game with 22 receptions for 433 yards and eight touchdowns and Isaiah Lange (6-4, 235) has added 23 receptions for 338 yards and seven touchdowns.
Brody Clark (6-3, 195) has caught 18 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns.
On defense Mount Pleasant is allowing 10.4 points and 196 total yards per game holding opponents to 86 rushing yards per game and 4.2 yards per play.
Lange leads the Panthers with 39 tackles including 20 for loss and seven sacks while Asa Rose (5-9, 165) has 30.5 tackles with 3.5 for loss.
Keegan Birdsell (6-1, 190) has 28.5 tackles with three for loss, Keegan Heaton (6-6, 220) has 21 tackles with six for loss and Brandon Veloz (6-3, 210) has 19 tackles with seven for loss and four sacks.
Mount Pleasant has forced 21 turnovers in seven games with Caleb Shepherd (6-3, 190) leading the Panthers with three interceptions while Simeon English (X), Grayson Lowery (6-2, 175) and Adam Denning (5-9, 150) all have two interceptions.
Bellevue (3-4) at West Branch (3-4)
Where: The Little Rose Bowl, 7 p.m.
Last season: West Branch 43, Bellevue 20
Player to watch: Bellevue junior running back Eli Laban (6-0, 165) has rushed for 943 yards and 17 touchdowns while averaging 7.9 yards per carry and has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns while averaging 29.7 yards per kick off return on 10 attempts.
Key stat: Bellevue is allowing 278 rushing yards per game in its four losses this season and is holding teams to 87 yards per game on the ground in three wins this season.
About the Comets: Bellevue bounced back from a 43-21 loss to Alburnett in week six with a 50-32 win at Tipton last week.
The Comets are averaging 30.6 points and 325 total yards per game putting up 172 passing yards and 154 rushing yards per game while averaging 6.4 yards per play.
Sophomore quarterback Trace Bonifas (6-3, 165) has completed 106-of-186 passes for 1,201 yards and nine touchdowns with nine interceptions and has rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown.
Four different Bellevue players have at least 10 catches and 100 receiving yards led by Corbin Kilburg (5-7, 125) with 38 receptions for 342 yards and a touchdown.
Connor Dryman (5-11, 155) has caught 22 passes for 393 yards and three touchdowns and David Marshall (6-5, 205) has 19 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns.
Jack Kirk (6-3, 200) has 11 receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown.
On defense Bellevue is allowing 28.6 points and 317 total yards per game allowing 196 rushing yards per game and 5.9 yards per play.
Parker Kueter (6-1, 165) has a team-high 34 tackles with 12 tackles for loss and three sacks and Kirk has 26.5 tackles with 5.5 for loss.
Parker Richter (5-9, 180) has 19 tackles with 7.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks and Jonathan Michel (6-0, 210) has 19 tackles with 7.5 for loss and seven sacks.
Bellevue has forced eight turnovers in seven games with Colt Kunde (5-11, 185) leading the team with three interceptions.
About the Bears: West Branch joins Bellevue at 2-2 in Class 1A, District 4 play and can secure a home playoff game with a win and an Anamosa loss to Alburnett.
After opening district play with back-to-back losses to Monticello and Alburnett the Bears have won consecutive games over Tipton and Anamosa the past two weeks.
West Branch is averaging 17.4 points and 242 total yards per game, rushing for 199 yards per game and averaging 5.1 yards per play.
Senior running back Keaton Gates has rushed for 1,005 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
Freshman quarterback Teddy Bucknell has completed 12-of-20 passes for 92 yards and has rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
Thomas Pedersen has caught 21 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns.
The West Branch defense is allowing 21.4 points and 265 total yards per game while allowing 5.7 yards per play.
Gates leads the Bears with 36 tackles while sophomore linebacker Motley Johnston has 35 tackles with four tackles for loss.
Brooks Seydel has 23.5 tackles and a team-high two interceptions and Gabe DePoorter has 20.5 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Regina (7-0) at Louisa-Muscatine (1-6)
Where: Richard F. Paine Field, 7 p.m.
Last season: Regina 42, Louisa-Muscatine 0
Player to watch: Louisa-Muscatine senior Gaije Carter has rushed for 954 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 7.6 yards per carry. Carter also has 14 receptions for 216 yards and has returned a kick off 75 yards for a touchdown.
Key stat: Regina has averaged better than 10 yards per play in all four district games and is averaging 12.4 yards per play in district games.
About the Falcons: Louisa-Muscatine has lost six games in a row following a 26-20 season-opening win over Wapello.
The Falcons are averaging 13.4 points and 248 total yards per game posting 154 rushing yards and 94 passing yards per contest and averaging 5.5 yards per play.
Carter is the top offensive weapon while sophomore quarterback Walker Riggan has completed 40-of-105 passes while throwing for 642 yards and two touchdowns with six interceptions.
Jaxson Wedekind has rushed for 118 yards while Owen Pugh has caught six passes for 135 yards and Chris Demayo has eight receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Louisa-Muscatine is allowing 38.4 points and 388 total yards per game while giving up 7.5 yards per play.
Eddie Hoopes has a team-high 50.5 tackles with seven tackles for loss and two sacks and Wedekind has 37 tackles with four for loss.
Bo Hake has 33.5 tackles with 3.5 for loss and Tate Nelson (X) has 28.5 tackles with 3.5 for loss and a team-high three sacks.
About the Regals: Regina wrapped up the Class 1A, District 6 title with a 44-8 win over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont last week and can complete a second consecutive unbeaten regular season with a win in Letts on Friday.
The top-ranked Regals have outscored opponents 318-48 during its 7-0 start to the season.
Regina is averaging 45.4 points and 402 total yards per game while averaging 9.5 yards per play.
The Regals have been balanced averaging 207 passing yards and 194 rushing yards per game while averaging 7.7 yards per carry.
Junior quarterback Aiden Gaffey (6-3, 170) has completed 55-of-75 passes for 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns without an interception.
Junior Gabriel Hegelheimer (6-0, 205) has rushed for 869 yards and 13 touchdowns and has caught 11 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns.
Six different Regals have more than 100 receiving yards led by junior Holt Hinkel (5-11, 145) with 12 receptions for 357 yards and five touchdowns.
Tate Wallace (6-4, 240) has caught 22 passes for 331 yards and three touchdowns and Kaleb Moeller (6-0, 170) has 12 receptions for 185 yards and two touchdowns.
The Regina defense is allowing 6.9 points and 166 total yards per game while holding opponents to 4.1 yards per play.
Roan Eckhoff (6-2, 225) has 36.5 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks and Wallace has 36 tackles with 18 tackles for loss and 9.5 tackles.
Zachary Poe (6-1, 190) has 16 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and Luke Hamilton (5-11, 175) has 15.5 tackles with five tackles for loss.
Regina has forced five turnovers and scored four defensive touchdowns and has two punt returns and a kick return for a touchdown.
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