Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

West High (1-3) at 5A No. 3 City High (4-0)

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

Last season: West High 56, City High 20 (Regular season), West High 35, City High 7 (Playoff)

Player to watch: City High junior linebacker Ben Kueter (6-3, 220) is a recent Iowa commit and leads the Little Hawks with 28.5 tackles that includes 13.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Key stat: City High leads Class 5A in scoring defense holding opponents to 5.5 points per game.

About the Trojans: West High dropped to 1-3 on the season with a 23-10 loss to Davenport North last Friday but can get back on track in a big way if it can extend its winning streak in the Battle for the Boot.

The Trojans have won four in a row in the boot series and five straight over the Little Hawks with the last City High win a 20-7 victory at West High in 2016.

West High has been solid on defense, holding opponents to 266.5 total yards per game but have struggled at times offensively going over 300 yards of offense just once in a week two win at Muscatine.

Freshman quarterback Jack Wallace (6-3, 200) has completed 52 percent of his passes while throwing for 501 yards and two touchdowns while senior Mason Applegate (6-0, 190) has rushed for 458 yards and seven touchdowns.

Senior Nate Gudenkauf (5-10, 155) has been the top receiving option for the Trojans catching 11 passes for 135 yards while Applegate has six receptions for 108 yards.

About the Little Hawks: An already impressive start to the season got even more impressive last week as City High improved to 4-0 with a 21-17 win over perennial power and defending state semifinalist West Des Moines Dowling.

The Little Hawks will look to keep that momentum going as they attempt to snap a five-game losing skid to cross-town rival West High that dates back to 2017.

City High has been among the best teams in the state defensively this season holding opponents to 5.5 points and 150 total yards per game while allowing just 2.9 yards per play.

On offense the Little Hawks have been balanced starting with sophomore quarterbacks Quinton Tran (5-10, 160) and Drew Larson (6-1, 165) who have combined to throw for 523 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions.

Four Little Hawks have rushed for more than 100 yards led by junior Darren Richardson (5-11, 195) with 252 yard and five touchdowns while Kueter leads a list of seven City High pass catchers with at least three receptions.

Liberty High (0-4) at 4A No. 1 North Scott (4-0)

Where: Eldridge, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Did not play.

Player to watch: North Scott senior quarterback Grayson Juel (6-3, 175) has completed 88-of-117 passes (75 percent) while throwing for 955 yards and 15 touchdowns with just two interceptions.

Key stat: During its current 12-game winning streak North Scott has allowed more than 14 points just twice and is giving up an average of just 10.2 points per game.

About the Lancers: Defending state champion North Scott has been downright dominant during a 4-0 start to the season that has stretched the Lancers’ winning streak to 12.

North Scott is outscoring opponents by 22.5 points per game while posting wins over5 Davenport North (2-2), 4A traditional power Western Dubuque (2-2), Davenport Assumption (2-2) and fourth-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier (3-1).

The Lancers have been stout on defense allowing just 242 total yards per game and have been especially strong against the run holding opponents to 83 yards per game on the ground on 2.8 yards per carry.

Juel and senior receivers Jakob Nelson (6-3, 200) and Oliver Hughes (5-11, 160) give the Lancers perhaps the best offensive trio in Class 4A.

Nelson has 32 receptions for 406 yards and nine touchdowns while Hughes has 26 receptions for 241 yards and four touchdowns.

Senior Darnell Butler (5-8, 160) has rushed for a team-high 280 yards and two touchdowns on 59 carries.

About the Lightning: Few teams in Class 4A have faced a more difficult start to the season than Liberty High who has played a pair of top-six ranked and unbeaten Class 5A teams during an 0-4 start.

Things won’t get any easier for the Lightning this week with a trip to defending state champion North Scott as the first five games of the season for Liberty High have come against teams with a combined 17-3 record.

Liberty High played its best game of the season last week putting up season-high’s of 460 total yards, 30 points, 344 rushing yards and 7.1 yards per play in a 31-30 loss to Clear Creek Amana.

Junior quarterback Tye Hughes (6-1, 175) has passed for 613 yards and three touchdowns while senior Darius Willis-Newell (5-8, 170) is coming off a breakthrough game last week and has rushed for 450 yards and four touchdowns.

Oskaloosa (4-0) at Clear Creek Amana (3-1)

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

Last season: Clear Creek Amana 37, Oskaloosa 7

Player to watch: Oskaloosa junior receiver Waylon Bolibaugh (6-1, 165) has caught 16 passes for 424 yards and six touchdowns and is also averaging 21 yards per punt return and has taken two back for touchdowns.

Key stat: Clear Creek Amana rushed for 312 yards while averaging 9.8 yards per carry in a 30-point win over Oskaloosa last season.

About the Clippers: Clear Creek Amana won its second straight game and second one-point game of the season last week when it rallied in the fourth quarter for a 31-30 road win at Liberty High.

The Clippers have scored 31 or more points in three of four games and are averaging 32.3 points and 340 total yards per game on 6.5 yards per play.

Senior quarterback Ben Swails (6-2, 175) has completed 52-of-89 passes for 712 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 196 yards and three more scores.

Senior receiver Harrison Rosenberg (6-2, 170) has been the top target for Swails with 18 receptions for 341 yards and four touchdowns while senior tailback Gage Freeman (5-11, 185) has caught 12 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 353 yards and five scores.

About the Indians: After having a string of four consecutive winning seasons snapped with a 2-6 campaign last fall Oskaloosa has bounced back quickly with its first 4-0 start in the last 15 years.

Oskaloosa has defeated Ottumwa, Knoxville, Burlington and Keokuk by an average of nearly 26 points with only a 24-19 win over Burlington being decided by less than three touchdowns.

The Indians have been solid defensively allowing just 219.5 total yards and 10 points per game despite giving up 178.8 yards per game on the ground.

Senior quarterback Keaton Flaherty (6-4, 190) leads an Oskaloosa offense that is averaging better than 35 points and 317 total yards per game.

Flaherty has completed 64 percent of his passes while throwing for 778 yards and 11 touchdowns while senior Darryl Fane (5-10, 190) has rushed for a team-high 391 yards and three touchdowns.

West Burlington (0-4) at 3A No. 3 Solon (4-0)

Where: Spartan Stadium, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play.

Player to watch: West Burlington junior Hayden Vandenberg (6-0, 190) has passed for 403 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for 173 yards and two scores and also leads the Falcons with 39 tackles including 31 solo stops.

Key stat: Solon is averaging 461 yards of total offense per game and has had at least 454 yards of total offense in three of four games this season.

About the Spartans: A strong start to the season for Solon gained even more momentum last week with a 38-10 road win at then ninth-ranked Davenport Assumption.

Solon has been among the most productive teams in the state offensively through four games this season averaging 42.5 points and 461 total yards per game while producing 8.3 yards per play.

Junior quarterback Blake Timmons (5-10, 175) has passed for 590 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception and has also rushed for 394 yards and four scores.

Junior running back Sean Stahle (5-10, 162) has rushed for 572 yards and eight touchdowns and senior wide receiver Jake Quillin (5-10, 160) has emerged as a big play threat at wide receiver averaging 24.8 yards per catch making nine receptions for 223 yards and four touchdowns.

Solon is holding opponents to 210 total yards and 12.8 points per game and has intercepted seven passes in four games.

About the Falcons: West Burlington put up a season-high point total last week but couldn’t get over the hump against Mount Pleasant dropping to 0-4 on the season with a 24-20 loss.

The Falcons have struggled offensively this season averaging 219 total yards and 10 points per game.

Vandenberg is a dual threat leading the Falcon offense but has completed just 38 percent of his passes through four games.

Junior Travain Donaldson (5-10, 175) has rushed for a team-high 301 yards while averaging 4.6 yards per carry and senior Kobe Twillie (5-10, 175) is the top pass catcher with seven receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively the Falcons are allowing 34 points and 349 total yards per game including 182 rushing yards per game.

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

Where: Mediapolis, 7 p.m.

Last season: Mediapolis 20, West Branch 13 (1A playoffs)

Player to watch: Mediapolis junior tailback Anthony Isley (6-1, 175) has rushed for 707 yards and eight touchdowns this season while averaging 12.2 yards per carry.

Key stat: Isley rushed for 285 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries in a 20-13 Mediapolis win over West Branch in the Class 1A playoffs last season.

About the Bulldogs: Mediapolis had a string of three consecutive wins to open the season snapped with a 34-0 loss at third-ranked Regina last week.

After averaging 38 points per game during a 3-0 start that featured wins over Wapello, Tipton and West Burlington the Bulldogs could muster just 268 total yards and failed to get on the scoreboard against the Regals.

For Mediapolis it all starts with Isley who still managed to rush for 110 yards on 20 carries in the loss to Regina last week.

The junior tailback averaged 199 yards per game on the ground in the Bulldogs’ three wins to open the season.

Junior quarterback Ben Egan (5-10, 165) has passed for 293 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions and has also rushed for 193 yards and three scores.

Cole Lipper (6-3, 205) is the top target for Egan with nine receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

About the Bears: West Branch has bounced back from a week two loss to Waterloo Columbus with back-to-back lopsided wins over Maquoketa Valley and Louisa-Muscatine.

After scoring 18 points combined in its first two games the Bears have scored 103 over the past two weeks while outscoring those two opponents by an average of 48.5 points.

The key for the offensive outburst has been increased production in the running game.

West Branch averaged 62.5 rushing yards against Lisbon and Waterloo Columbus to open the season but has put up 229.5 yards per game on the ground during its back-to-back wins.

Junior Andy Henson (6-2, 205) leads the way rushing for a team-high 442 yards and seven touchdowns and also leads the Bears with 19.5 tackles including 7.5 for loss from his linebacker spot.

Junior quarterback Carver Boelk (5-10, 175) has completed 14-of-30 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns with senior Peyton Miller (5-8, 170) making six receptions for 109 yards and two scores.

1A No. 3 Regina (4-0) at Wilton (4-0)  

Where: Wilton, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play.

Player to watch: Wilton senior running back Jackson Hull (6-0, 205) has rushed for 529 yards and 11 touchdowns and is averaging 7.6 yards per carry.

Key stat: Wilton is 4-0 for the first time since starting 5-0 in 2017. The Beavers finished 9-2 that season with both losses coming to Regina, 49-7 in the regular season and 35-0 in the Class 1A playoffs.

About the Beavers: Wilton has already doubled up its win total from a season ago with its 4-0 start after going 2-6 last fall.

The Beavers opened the season with wins over Tipton, Northeast and Highland before slipping past rival Durant 24-22 last week.

Wilton has relied on a solid running game and stout defense during its 4-0 start.

Led by Hull the Beavers are averaging nearly 200 yards per game on the ground with senior quarterback Mason Ormsby (5-8, 150) rushing for 304 yards and three touchdowns.

Ormsby has lineup up all over the field this season passing for 116 yards and catching a team-high 12 passes for 82 yards.

Junior Aidan Walker (6-0, 140) has completed 31-of-54 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns with junior Caden Kirkman (6-8, 200) catching 12 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown.

On defense the Beavers are allowing 17 points per game but have held opponents to just 198.5 total yards per contest.

About the Regals: A week off didn’t do much to slow Regina as the Regals posted their most impressive win of the season last Friday with a 34-0 victory over previously unbeaten Mediapolis after receiving a forfeit over Mid-Prairie in week three.

Regina has been dominant defensively all season holding opponents to 6.7 points and 194 total yards per game while limiting teams to 3.8 yards per play.

The Regals haven’t given up more than 268 total yards or 14 points in a game this season and have forced 11 turnovers in three games.

Offensively Regina has relied on a running game that is putting up more than 244 yards per game.

Junior running back Levi Daniel (6-2, 185) has rushed for a team-high 461 yards and six touchdowns while junior quarterback Jack Tierney (6-1, 175) has added 181 yards and two touchdowns.

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