City High (1-2) at West High (2-1)

Where: Trojan Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: City High 23, West High 8

Player to watch: City High senior quarterback Bobby Bacon (6-2, 175) has completed 69 percent of his passes while throwing for 636 yards and five touchdowns this season. In last year’s Battle for the Boot Bacon went 17-of-23 passing for 255 yards and a touchdown with one interception.

Key stat: City High has committed three turnovers and forced eight West High turnovers while winning three straight games in the Battle for the Boot. West High forced nine turnovers and committed just one turnover while winning four in a row in the series from 2017-2020.

About the Little Hawks: City High got back on track after back-to-back losses to open the season with a 53-14 win over Ames last week.

Led by Bacon the Little Hawks have been impressive offensively averaging 31.7 points and 397 total yards per game while averaging 7.8 yards per play.

Five different players have caught at least five passes for City High led by sophomore Chayse Newton (5-8, 140) with 13 receptions for 163 yards and a touchdown.

Senior tight end Parker Sutherland (6-6, 224) has nine receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown and senior Connor Cross has five receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Dominic Salibi (6-1, 183) has rushed for 230 yards and two touchdowns and caught eight passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.

The City High defense is allowing 37.7 points per game after giving up 50 and 49 points in consecutive losses to open the season.

Freshman linebacker Marshall Sheldon (6-0, 173) has a team-high 24.5 tackles while junior Blaine Heick (6-2, 180) has 16 stops.

Junior Raphael Etuma (6-2, 200) and senior Jalyn Ford (6-0, 252) each have three tackles for loss and two sacks.

About the Trojans: West High followed up a season-opening loss at Liberty High with back-to-back wins over Urbandale and Muscatine.

The Trojans have been among the most efficient offensive teams in Class 5A this season scoring at least 34 points in every game while averaging 400 total yards and 43.7 points per contest.

Senior quarterback Jack Wallace (6-3, 220) leads the way and has completed 73 percent of his passes while throwing for 778 yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions.

Wallace has also rushed for 70 yards and four touchdowns.

The Trojans have one of the top receiving combos in the state in junior Julian Manson (6-3, 215) and senior Mason Woods (6-2, 220).

Woods has caught 16 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns and Manson has 17 receptions for 274 yards and four touchdowns.

Henry Elser (6-1, 165) has added nine receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Butali Butali (5-8, 170) has rushed for a team-high 193 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 5.2 yards per carry.

West High is allowing 432 total yards per game on defense including 310 rushing yards per game.

Senior linebacker Declan Bunn (5-10, 200) leads the Trojans with 22.5 tackles including 1.5 for loss while Manson has 21 tackles.

Junior defensive back Ethan Headings (6-2, 285) has 18.5 tackles including 1.5 for loss.

Cedar Falls (2-1) at Liberty High (2-1)

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

Last season: Cedar Falls 35, Liberty High 19    

Player to watch: Cedar Falls senior running back Davarrion Clark (5-6, 194) has ranks fifth in Class 5A with 478 rushing yards and is second in 5A with 10 rushing touchdowns and is averaging 6.8 yards per carry.

Key stat: Liberty High senior wide receiver Dallas Miller is averaging 18.1 yards per offensive touch, running for 98 yards on six carries and catching 16 passes for 301 yards.

About the Lightning: Liberty High had a four-game winning streak that dated back to last season snapped with a 42-28 loss at Pleasant Valley last week.

The Lightning led Cedar Falls 7-0 at halftime last season but was outscored 21-0 in the third quarter in a 35-19 loss.

This season Liberty High has been impressive offensively averaging 44.3 points and 483 total yards per game while averaging 8.4 yards per play.

Junior quarterback Reece Rettig (5-10, 165) has completed 72 percent of his passes (36-of-50) while throwing for 658 yards and eight touchdowns and has rushed for 155 yards.

Miller (5-11, 170) has been the top target for Rettig while senior Sutton Koller (5-11, 180) has caught six passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns and has rushed for 159 yards and four touchdowns.

Senior Owen Drapeaux (6-1, 210) has rushed for a team-high 307 yards and five touchdowns as the Lightning are averaging 247 rushing yards per game.

The Lightning are allowing 417 total yards and 35.7 points per game defensively and are giving up 225 rushing yards per game.

Junior linebacker Landon Bell (6-0, 190) leads the Lightning with 24.5 tackles while Koller has 19.5 tackles.

Senior Nathan Burnett (6-0, 205) has 13.5 tackles while senior Ethan Barber (6-0, 230) has three tackles for loss and two sacks.

About the Tigers: Cedar Falls has faced a challenging schedule to open the season going 2-1 with wins over Cedar Rapids Prairie (2-1) and Johnston (1-2) before falling to Ankeny Centennial (3-0) 31-14 last Friday.

Junior quarterback Leyton Wolf (6-6, 210) leads a Cedar Falls offense that is averaging 28.7 points and 328 total yards per game.

Wolf has completed 56 percent of his passes (31-of-55) while throwing for 371 yards and a touchdown.

Junior Will Remmert (5-11, 175) has been the top receiving option with 10 receptions for 168 yards and a touchdown.

Clark is the focal point of the Tiger offense accounting for 51 percent of the total yardage for Cedar Falls.

The Cedar Falls defense is allowing 26 points and 356 total yards per game including 215 rushing yards per game.

Johnston rushed for 243 yards in week two and Ankeny Centennial rolled up 265 rushing yards in the win over the Tigers last week.

Senior Owen Dellinger (5-11, 220) leads Cedar Falls with 28.5 tackles while Tyler Hermansen (6-2, 175) has 26 tackles and Jarrett Kies (6-3, 205) has 23 tackles with two for loss.

Mount Vernon (3-0) at Solon (3-0)

Where: Spartan Stadium, 7:15 p.m.

Last season: Solon 37, Mount Vernon 20

Player to watch: Mount Vernon senior tight end and defensive end Ethan Wood (6-5, 235) has caught 11 passes for 60 yards and rushed nine times for 36 yards and a touchdown on offense. On defense, Wood ranks third on the team with 13.5 tackles including seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Key stat: Solon is averaging 228 rushing yards per game and 6.5 yards per carry. Mount Vernon is allowing 25.3 rushing yards per game and 1.1 yards per carry.

About the Spartans: Solon has outscored opponents 130-23 during a 3-0 start to the season that includes wins over Davenport Assumption, Clear Creek Amana and Central DeWitt.

The Spartans have been impressive on both sides of the ball averaging 7.1 yards per play while allowing 4.3 yards per play for a +2.8 yards per play differential.

Led by senior quarterback Ty Bell (6-1, 195) the Solon offense is averaging 43.3 points and 403 total yards per game.

Bell has completed 43-of-62 passes while throwing for 560 yards and six touchdowns with just two interceptions.

Sophomore Maddox Kelley (5-10, 170) has a team-high 17 receptions for 229 yard and three touchdowns and senior Karsyn Regennitter (5-9, 160) has six receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior tailback Eddie Johnson (6-2, 210) has rushed for 461 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 8.7 yards per carry.

Defensively, Solon is holding opponents to 7.7 points and 248 total yards per game including just 94 rushing yards per contest.

Kelley leads the Spartans with 16.5 tackles while senior linebacker Cole Carney (5-8, 170) has 15 tackles with five tackles for loss.

About the Mustangs: Mount Vernon is off to a 3-0 start for the third consecutive season and has outscored opponents 102-25.

The Mustangs opened with wins over Monticello (44-6) and Union (43-6) before holding off Benton Community 15-13 last Friday.

Led by junior quarterback Kellen Haverback (6-2, 180) the Mount Vernon offense is averaging 315 total yards and 34 points per game.

Haverback has completed 58 percent of his passes while throwing for 484 yards and three touchdowns with four interceptions and has also rushed for 71 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior Cooper Hird (5-9, 180) leads Mount Vernon with 157 rushing yards and five touchdowns and junior Jase Jaspers (5-8, 165) has rushed for 79 yards.

Jaspers has been the top receiver for the Mustangs with 17 receptions for 286 yards and a touchdown while Watson Krob (6-3, 190) has caught five passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns.

Mount Vernon has been dominant defensively holding opponents to 8.3 points and 145 total yards per game.

Sophomore linebacker Jaxon Anderson (6-1, 185) leads the Mustangs with 20 tackles including 4.5 for loss but it is the Mount Vernon defensive line that has been most impressive.

Senior Nova Lane (6-4, 235) has 16 tackles with seven for loss and four sacks and senior Kael Riniker (6-0, 225) has 13 tackles with eight for loss including 7.5 sacks.

As team Mount Vernon has 35 tackles for loss and 24 sacks in three games.

Clear Creek Amana (1-2) at Benton Community (2-1)

Where: Benton Community, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Benton Community 42, Clear Creek Amana 27

Player to watch: Benton Community senior Brenden Heying (6-1, 195) has rushed for a team-high 292 yards and two touchdowns and has completed 7-of-11 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown. On defense Heying ranks third on the team with 14.5 tackles including four tackles for loss.

Key stat: Benton Community is averaging 230 rushing yards per game and 7.3 yards per carry.

About the Clippers: Following a 28-3 season-opening win over Marion the Clippers have dropped back-to-back games to ranked 3A opponents Solon (3-0) and Williamsburg (2-1).

Clear Creek Amana had a season-high 349 yards of total offense in a 47-20 loss to Williamsburg last season and is averaging 20.7 points and 343 total yards per game on the season.

Junior quarterback Conlan Poynton (5-11, 180) has completed 11-of-23 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns and has rushed for a team-leading 352 yards and four touchdowns.

Junior Wyatt Key (6-0, 155) has completed 27-of-49 passes while throwing for 297 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Owen Rosenberg (6-2, 180) has been the top target in the passing game with 10 receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown while senior Cale Nash (5-9, 145) has caught 10 passes for 52 yards.

Defensively Clear Creek Amana is allowing 30.7 points and 383 total yards per game.

The Clipper defense has been led by junior Dylan Schrock (5-11, 165) who has a team-high 20.5 tackles including 4.5 for loss.

Senior Trace Robertson (6-0, 170) has 19.5 tackles and senior Nolan Howell (5-10, 165) has 15.5 stops.

About the Bobcats: Benton Community is off to a 2-1 start for the fifth consecutive season after a 15-13 loss to Mount Vernon last week in a game that came down to the final minute.

The Bobcats have relied on a stingy defense and powerful running game during its strong start.

Benton Community is averaging 337 total yards per game with 230 of those yards coming on the ground.

Heying leads three Bobcats with more than 170 rushing yards as junior Carson Nolan (6-0, 185) has rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns and senior Dylan LeFebvere (5-10, 190) has run for 173 yards and four touchdowns.

Brody Timmerman (5-10, 150) is the top option in the pass game with seven receptions for 89 yards.

Benton Community has been solid defensively through three weeks holding opponents to 9.3 points and 219 total yards per game.

The Bobcats are allowing just 4.2 yards per play and have picked off five passes, three by junior Eli Patterson (6-4, 175).

Grant Volesky (6-0, 190) leads Benton Community with 16.5 tackles while LeFebvere and Heying have combined for 30.5 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss.

Regina (3-0) at Durant (1-2)   

Where: Durant, 7 p.m.

Last season: Regina 49, Durant 12

Player to watch: Durant junior Colby Gast leads the Wildcats with 13 receptions for 190 yards and a touchdown and has also rushed four times for 28 yards. On defense Gast is second on the team with 16.5 tackles including 13 solo stops and a tackle for loss.

Key stat: Regina has defeated Durant each of the past three seasons with an average margin of victory of 23 points.

About the Regals: Regina is off to a 3-0 start under first-year head coach Dustin Elsbury after a 31-21 win over Mediapolis last week and has been solid on both sides of the ball.

The Regals are averaging 33.7 points and 369 total yards per game while averaging 6.7 yards per play.

Junior quarterback Kyle Tracy (5-10, 175) has completed 34-of-49 passes for 574 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions and has rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns.

Sophomore tight end Tate Wallace (6-2, 225) has caught a team-high 15 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns and Drew Greve (6-0, 150) has caught five passes for 104 yards and three touchdowns.

Savion Miller (5-11, 180) has rushed for a team-high 255 yards and two touchdowns and has caught four passes for 40 yards.

The Regals have been stingy defensively holding teams to 22 points and 270 total yards per game.

Senior safety Will Aitchison (5-10, 180) has made a team-high 16 tackles while Edwin Gangba (5-9, 154) has 14.5 tackles.

Senior defensive lineman Noah Clark (6-0, 220) leads the Regals with four tackles for loss and three sacks and senior linebacker Leren Fernandez (5-11, 190) has 10 tackles with 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks.

About the Wildcats: Durant opened the season with a 30-0 loss at Lisbon before knocking off Waterloo Columbus 12-7 in week two.

The Wildcats dropped to 1-2 with a 21-7 loss at Central Lee last week in which Durant allowed 369 rushing yards.

Durant is averaging 201 total yards and 6.3 points per game behind freshman quarterback Cannon Davis who has completed 57 percent of his passes while throwing for 361 yards and two touchdowns.

Junior Tate McKinley has rushed for a team-high 185 yards and a touchdown while Gast leads the Wildcat receivers along with senior Joshua Peel who has eight receptions for 84 yards.

Durant has been strong defensively holding opponents to 19.3 points and 325 total yards per game.

Bryce Daufeldt leads the Wildcats with 22.5 tackles including three for loss while sophomore Gunner Klahn and senior Isaac Nielsen each have 16 tackles.

West Branch (1-2) at Cascade (2-1)  

Where: Cascade, 7 p.m.

Last season: West Branch 38, Cascade 0

Player to watch: Cascade junior quarterback Mick Hoffman (6-1, 180) has completed 38-of-65 passes while throwing for 465 yards and three touchdowns without an interception and has also rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Key stat: West Branch averaged 3.8 yards per play in consecutive losses to Williamsburg and Dike-New Hartford to open the season but averaged 9.7 yards per play in a 49-7 win over Waterloo Columbus last week.

About the Bears: West Branch was outscored 82-10 in losses to 3A defending champion Williamsburg and Dike-New Hartford to open the season before bouncing back with a dominating 49-7 win over Waterloo Columbus last week.

Senior Connor Rios made his first start at quarterback this season in the win over Waterloo Columbus as the Bears put up a season-high 438 total yards.

Junior Cooper Gates has rushed for a team-high 238 yards and three touchdowns for West Branch which is averaging 19.7 points and 282 total yards per game this season.

After averaging 3.8 yards per play in back-to-back losses to open the season the Bears averaged 9.7 per offensive snap in its win over Waterloo Columbus last week.

West Branch has been solid defensively all season holding opponents to 29.7 points and 259 total yards per game.

Gates leads the team with 14.5 tackles while junior Lincoln Naber has 14 tackles including three for loss with 2.5 sacks.

Junior Conner Capper has 11.5 tackles with a team-high 3.5 for loss and Brandon Pedersen and Tate Frantz each have 10.5 tackles.

About the Cougars: Cascade was outscored by 65 points during an 0-3 start last season.

This year the Cougars have reversed that trend going 2-1 with wins over Maquoketa Valley and Monticello, two teams that outscored Cascade by a combined total of 68-12 a year ago.

Led by Hoffman the Cascade offense is averaging 12.3 points and 243 total yards per game.

Sophomore Jackson Green (6-1, 180) has rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown and has caught three passes for 13 yards and a score.

Senior Nathan Schockemoehl (6-3, 195) has been the top target in the passing game with 15 receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown and junior Brody Otting (6-2, 180) has caught five passes for 144 yards and a touchdown.

Cascade has been solid defensively holding opponents to 17.3 points and 309 total yards per game.

The Cougars are giving up 198 rushing yards per game and allowed more than 215 rushing yards in games against Maquoketa Valley (222) and Hudson (218).

Schockemoehl leads the Cougars with 17 tackles including two for loss while Otting has 16.5 tackles and Carson Rausch (6-2, 200) has 14 tackles with two for loss.

Senior Brody Beecher (6-0, 215) has 10 tackles and leads Cascade in tackles for loss (3) and sacks (2).

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