City High (2-2) at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (1-3)

Where: Kingston Stadium, 7 p.m. on Thursday

Last season: Cedar Rapids Kennedy 61, City High 34

Player to watch: Cedar Rapids Kennedy senior quarterback Vinny Gianforte (6-0, 190) has completed 68 percent of his passes while throwing for 568 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions and has rushed for a touchdown.

Key stat: Cedar Rapids Kennedy rushed for 356 yards and four touchdowns on 59 attempts in a 61-34 win over City High last season.

About the Little Hawks: City High has bounced back from an 0-2 start with back-to-back wins after rallying for a 40-39 win over West High last week.

The Little Hawks have been among the most efficient offenses in Class 5A this season averaging 412 total yards and 33.8 points per game while averaging 7.5 yards per play.

Senior quarterback Bobby Bacon (6-2, 175) has completed 74 percent of his passes (62-of-84) while throwing for 892 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions and has rushed for 27 yards.

Four different Little Hawks have at least eight receptions and 100 yards led by sophomore Chayse Newton (5-8, 140) who has a team-high 16 receptions for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

Parker Sutherland (6-6, 224) has 13 receptions for 210 yards and two touchdowns and Connor Cross (6-1, 165) has caught 11 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Dominic Salibi (6-1, 183) has rushed for 323 yards and four touchdowns and caught eight passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior Gabe Egeland (5-6, 157) has rushed for 247 yards and two touchdowns and sophomore Dawson Kahl (6-2, 190) has rushed for 117 yards and four touchdowns.

Freshman linebacker Marshall Sheldon (6-0, 170) leads City High with 31 tackles including two for loss while junior Blaine Heick (6-2, 180) has 22 tackles.

Jalyn Ford (6-0, 252) has 18 tackles including two sacks and five tackles for loss and junior Raphael Etuma (6-2, 200) has 14.5 tackles and four tackles for loss with two sacks.

About the Cougars: Cedar Rapids Kennedy snapped a three-game losing streak to open the season with a 28-14 win over Cedar Rapids Washington last week.

The three consecutive losses for the Cougars to open the season came against three opponents in West Des Moines Dowling, Pleasant Valley and Linn-Mar that are all 3-1.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy is averaging 16.8 points and 298 total yards per game after scoring a season-high 28 points in the win over Cedar Rapids Washington last week.

Gianforte is a three-year starter at quarterback that has passed for 4,297 yards and 42 touchdowns in his career.

Senior Pierce McCrary (6-3, 185) has been the top option for Gianforte this season in the passing game with 14 receptions for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Deacon Kucera (6-4, 210) has seven receptions for 106 yards and Jackson Popelka (5-9, 160) has caught 10 passes for 104 yards.

Senior Jacob Doyle (6-1, 215) has rushed for a team-high 361 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 7.4 yards per carry while sophomore Damarian Orr (5-9, 180) has rushed for 226 yards and a touchdown.

The Cougars have been solid defensively holding opponents to 23.5 points and 321.3 total yards per game while allowing 6.4 yards per play.

Senior Rex Preston (6-0, 200) leads the Cougars with 26 tackles while Sam Adams (5-9, 190) has 25 tackles including three for loss.

Senior Alex Myers (5-9, 175) leads the team with four tackles for loss and three sacks.

West High (2-2) at Ankeny (1-3)

Where: Ankeny City Stadium, 7 p.m.

Last season: Ankeny 48, West High 21  

Player to watch: Ankeny senior quarterback Luke Anderson (6-1, 180) has completed 60 percent of his passes while throwing for 902 yards and four touchdowns with six interceptions.

Key stat: Ankeny has outgained three of its four opponents in total yardage this season and has outgained its four opponents by a combined 40 yards.

About the Hawks: Ankeny has faced as tough an early-season schedule as any team in the state going 1-3 against teams with a combined 10-5 record.

The Hawks opened the season with back-to-back losses to Ankeny Centennial and Southeast Polk before a week-three win over West Des Moines Dowling.

Ankeny fell to Johnston 24-7 last week.

Anderson is among the best quarterbacks in the state and leads an Ankeny offense that is averaging 360 total yards and 13.3 points per game.

Four Hawks have caught at least 12 passes for 100 yards this season led by junior Andrew Brandhorst (6-1, 205) who has 21 receptions for 359 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior Evan Irlmeier (5-8, 160) has a team-high 28 receptions for 275 yards and a touchdown and Owen Fischer (5-10, 160) has 12 receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown.

Junior Daniel Larmie (5-9, 185) has rushed for a team-high 375 yards and a touchdown.

Ankeny is allowing 23 points and 350 total yards per game this season while giving up 6 yards per play.

The Hawks are giving up 228 rushing yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry after allowing 240 rushing yards in the loss at Johnston last week.

Sophomore Dawson Whitinger (6-1, 200) and senior Samuel Sandvig (6-2, 185) each have 30 tackles to lead the Hawks.

Senior Andrew Haase (6-3, 220) has 14.5 tackles and leads Ankeny with five tackles for loss and four sacks.

About the Trojans: West High had a two-game winning streak snapped with a 40-39 loss to City High last week.

The Trojans have been operating at a high level on offense all season behind senior quarterback Jack Wallace (6-3, 220).

West High has scored at least 34 points in every game this season and is averaging 42.5 points and 404 total yards per game while averaging 7.3 yards per play.

Wallace became the all-time leading passer in West High history in the loss to City High and has completed 74 percent of his passes this season while throwing for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns with three interceptions and has rushed for 161 yards and four touchdowns.

Mason Woods (6-2, 220) has caught 20 passes for 371 yards and five touchdowns and Julian Manson (6-3, 215) has 20 receptions for 312 yards and five touchdowns.

Senior Butali Butali (5-8, 170) has rushed for a team-high 258 yards and three touchdowns and Campbell Janis (5-8, 160) has rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown.

West High is allowing 36 points and 438 total yards per game this season and has forced five turnovers.

Manson leads the team with 30.5 tackles while senior linebacker Declan Bunn (5-10, 200) has 29 tackles with three for loss.

Junior Ethan Headings (6-2, 185) has 24.5 tackles and senior Sterling Warren (6-0, 190) has 22 tackles with two for loss.

Cedar Rapids Prairie (2-2) at Liberty High (3-1)

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

Last season: Cedar Rapids Prairie 38, Liberty High 30

Player to watch: Cedar Rapids Prairie senior quarterback Wyatt Eash (6-1, 180) has completed 67 percent of his passes while throwing for 618 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions and has rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns.

Key stat: Cedar Rapids Prairie has allowed an average of 296 rushing yards per game in its two losses and held opponents to 34 rushing yards per game in its two wins.

About the Hawks: Cedar Rapids Prairie had a two-game winning streak snapped with a 38-21 home loss to Pleasant Valley last Friday.

The Hawks opened the season with a 35-13 loss at Cedar Falls before back-to-back wins over Dubuque Senior and Southeast Polk.

Eash leads a Prairie offense that is averaging 353 total yards and 26.3 points per game.

The Hawks do their best work on the ground, averaging 186 rushing yards per game led by junior Bjay Bush (5-8, 180) who has rushed for 237 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Talan Jackson (6-1, 185) has rushed for 222 yards and three touchdowns and senior Quinton Alexander (6-0, 185) has added 98 yards and two touchdowns.

David Fason (6-1, 235) has been the top target in the passing game with 21 receptions for 284 yards and five touchdowns and Drew Bennis (6-0, 170) has caught 13 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown.

Prairie is allowing 28.5 points and 324 total yards per game including 165 rushing yards per game.

Sophomore Carsyn Hand (6-0, 200) leads the Hawks with 25 tackles while junior Max Schwieger (6-1, 180) has 13 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Brady Peterka (6-1, 180) and Keaton Mullins (5-8, 165) each have two interceptions helping Prairie force eight turnovers in four games.

About the Lightning: Liberty High bounced back from its first loss of the season with a critical 49-42 home win over Cedar Falls last week.

The high-powered Liberty High offense continues to be one of the best in the state racking up a season-high 579 total yards and 8.6 yards per play in the win over Cedar Falls.

Junior quarterback Reece Rettig (5-10, 165) has been exceptional in leading a Lightning offense that is averaging 45.5 points and 507 total yards per game while producing 8.5 yards per play.

Rettig has completed 76 percent of his passes while throwing for 950 yards and 10 touchdowns with one interception and has rushed for 230 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior running back Owen Drapeaux (6-1, 210) has rushed for 402 yards and seven touchdowns and Sutton Koller (5-11, 180) has rushed for 268 yards and five touchdowns and has also caught 10 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns.

Senior Dallas Miller (5-11, 170) has been the top target in the passing game with 23 receptions for 403 yards and three touchdowns.

Collin Decker (6-3, 210) has caught 15 passes for 142 yards and Landon Bell (6-0, 190) has six receptions for 70 yards and three touchdowns.

Liberty High is allowing 37.3 points and 434 total yards per game on defense and is led by Sutton and Bell who have combined for 60.5 tackles.

Ethan Barber (6-0, 230) has three tackles for loss and two sacks among 10 tackles while Logan Laubenthal (5-10, 160) has 15 tackles and an interception.

Grinnell (4-0) at Solon (4-0)

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

Last season: Solon 40, Grinnell 7

Player to watch: Grinnell senior quarterback Brady Coffman (6-3, 210) has completed 63 percent of his passes and passed for 509 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception and has rushed for 222 yards and two touchdowns.

Key stat: Grinnell is +2.9 yards per play this season averaging 6.1 yards per offensive snaps and holding opponents to just 3.2 yards per play defensively.

About the Spartans: Solon enters Class 3A, District 5 play unbeaten and coming off a 7-6 win over previously unbeaten Mount Vernon.

The Spartans have been impressive on both sides of the ball during their 4-0 start outscoring opponents 137-29.

Solon is averaging 358 total yards and 34.3 points per game behind senior quarterback Ty Bell (6-1, 195) who has completed 73 percent of his passes while throwing for 623 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions.

Sophomore Maddox Kelley (5-10, 175) leads the Spartans with 19 receptions for 230 yards and two touchdowns while Karsyn Regennitter (5-9, 160) has 12 receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior running back Eddie Johnson (6-2, 210) has rushed for 570 yards and eight touchdowns and has caught five passes for 108 yards and a touchdown.

Cole Carney (5-8, 170) has rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns and Einar Stecher (5-8, 175) has rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown.

The Spartans have been equally impressive on defense holding teams to 7.3 points and 252 total yards per game.

Junior linebacker Kyler Jensen (6-0, 215) leads the Spartans with 26.5 tackles including six tackles for loss.

Kelley has 23.5 tackles and a team-high three interceptions while Johnson has 13.5 tackles with a team-high three sacks and six tackles for loss.

About the Tigers: Grinnell has been among the most impressive teams in Class 3A to open the season outscoring opponents 119-14 during a 4-0 start that includes three shutouts.

The Tigers are off to their first 4-0 start since winning 12 straight to open the 2012 season after a 31-0 win over previously unbeaten Washington last week.

Coffman leads a balanced Tiger offense that is averaging 29.8 points and 297 total yards per game.

Grinnell is averaging 127 passing yards and 170 rushing yards per game and has gotten production from a number of players.

Senior Broc Heishman (6-0, 170) has been the top option in the passing game with 11 receptions for 281 yards and five touchdowns.

Sophomore Josh Ringler (6-0, 200) has rushed for a team-high 229 yards and two touchdowns and has nine receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown.

Sophomore Beni Kiphanzu (5-10, 160) has added 11 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Grinnell has been most impressive on defense holding all four opponents to under 200 yards of total offense.

The Tigers are allowing 147 total yards per game and just 3.2 yards per play while posting three shutouts.

Senior Logan McDonald (6-0, 160) leads the Tigers with 23 tackles including 2.5 for loss while Ringler has 17.5 tackles and leads the team with three sacks.

Junior Keaton Iverson (6-0, 190) has 12.5 tackles with a team-high 6.5 for loss.

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

Where: Lacey Sports Complex in Oskaloosa, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Clear Creek Amana 28, Oskaloosa 21

Player to watch: Oskaloosa junior running back AJ Walker (5-10, 175) has rushed for 413 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry and has caught two passes for nine yards and a touchdown.

Key stat: Oskaloosa has 32 tackles for loss this season and has eight players with multiple tackles for loss including five players with three or more tackles for loss.

About the Clippers: Clear Creek Amana snapped a two-game losing skid with a 21-10 road win at Benton Community last Friday.

The Clippers allowed an average of 44.5 points in losses to top-five ranked 3A teams Solon and Williamsburg but have held Marion and Benton Community to a combined 13 points in two wins.

Junior quarterback Conlan Poynton (5-11, 180) leads a Clipper offense that is averaging 20.8 points and 348 total yards per game.

Poynton has completed 54 percent of his passes (20-37) while throwing for 310 yards and four touchdowns without an interception and has rushed for a team-high 483 yards and five touchdowns.

Senior Owen Rosenberg (6-2, 180) has been the top receiver for the Clippers with 15 receptions for 255 yards and two touchdowns while senior Cale Nash (X) has caught 13 passes for 73 yards.

Junior Ethan Vice (6-0, 170) has rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown and sophomore Noah Collis (5-8, 175) has rushed for 92 yards.

Defensively the Clippers are allowing 25.5 points and 345 total yards per game and are coming off their best performance of the season when the limited Benton Community to 3.9 yards per play.

Junior Dylan Schrock (5-11, 165) has a team-high 27 tackles while senior Trace Robertson (6-0, 170) has 26.5 tackles including a team-high three sacks and six tackles for loss.

Clear Creek Amana has forced 10 turnovers, including nine interceptions led by Rosenberg with three picks.

About the Indians: After a 1-1 start to the season Oskaloosa has allowed 112 points in back-to-back losses to Grinnell and Ottumwa.

An Oskaloosa offense led by junior quarterback Kayne Boender (5-10, 160) is averaging 24.7 points and 270.5 total yards per game.

Boender has completed 52 percent of his passes (35-of-67) while throwing for 459 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions.

Three players have at least eight receptions and 100 receiving yards led by Heavon Knox (5-10, 185) with eight receptions for 164 yards and Tyler Edgar (6-2, 162) with 11 receptions for 148 yards and three touchdowns.

Oskaloosa is allowing 38.3 points and 365 total yards per game while giving up 7.5 yards per play.

The Indians are allowing 223.5 rushing yards per game and 6.5 yards per carry and have given up 248 and 453 rushing yards in losses to Grinnell and Ottumwa.

Senior Dom Piersel (5-11, 191) leads Oskaloosa with 19 tackles including five for loss, junior Parker Jordan (6-2, 206) has 19 tackles and a team-high three sacks and senior Maddux Ashman (6-0, 148) has 18 tackles with seven tackles for loss.

Cascade (2-2) at Regina (4-0)

Where: Regal Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: Regina 49, Cascade 14

Player to watch: Cascade junior quarterback Mick Hoffman (6-1, 180) has completed 56 percent of his passes for 619 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions and has rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

Key stat: Regina is averaging 7.6 yards per play this season and has averaged better than 7.1 yards per play three times in four games.

About the Regals: Regina improved to 4-0 with a 49-14 win over Durant in its district opener last week.

The Regals have excelled offensively behind first-year starting quarterback Kyle Tracy (5-10, 175).

Regina is averaging 37.5 points and 378 total yards per game while averaging 7.6 yards per play.

Tracy has completed 69 percent of his passes (42-of-61) while throwing for 754 yards and nine touchdowns with two interceptions and has also rushed for 213 yards and four touchdowns.

Sophomore Tate Wallace (6-2, 225) has caught 19 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns while Will Aitchison (5-10, 180) has caught seven passes for 144 yards and Drew Greve (6-0, 150) has six receptions for 108 yards and three touchdowns.

Sophomore Savion Miller (5-11, 180) has rushed for a team-high 333 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry.

Regina has been strong defensively holding opponents to 20 points and 222 total yards per game while allowing just 4.6 yards per play.

Aitchison has a team-leading 18 tackles while Spencer Winders (5-10, 170) has 16.5 tackles and Edwin Gangba (5-9, 154) has 15.5 tackles.

Noah Clark (6-0, 220) has a team-high four tackles for loss with three sacks while Simon Shetler (5-10, 208) has 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

About the Cougars: Cascade dropped its Class 1A, District 5 opener last week to West Branch 35-13 after going 2-1 in non-district play.

The Cougars had held opponents to 17.3 points per game and didn’t give up more than 28 points in non-district play and have been solid defensively all season.

Cascade is allowing 21.8 points and 293 total yards per game holding teams to 5.5 yards per play.

Nathan Schockemoehl (6-3, 195) leads the Cougars with 26.5 tackles including two for loss and a sack while Brody Otting (6-2, 180) has 23 tackles including two for loss.

Cascade has forced just five turnovers in four games with sophomore Jackson Green (6-1, 180) leading the way with three interceptions.

Hoffman leads a Cascade offense that is averaging 12.5 points and 242 total yards per game.

Schockemoehl has caught 24 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown while Otting has five receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown.

Green has rushed for a team-high 195 yards and a touchdown.

Dyersville Beckman (2-2) at West Branch (2-2)

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

Last season: West Branch 28, Dyersville Beckman 3

Player to watch: Dyersville Beckman senior running back Isaac Burlage (5-11, 170) has rushed for 451 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

Key stat: West Branch has scored three non-offensive touchdowns in the past two games.

About the Bears: West Branch won its second game in a row following an 0-2 start, downing Cascade 35-13 in its Class 1A, District 5 opener last week.

After being outscored 82-10 in back-to-back losses to Williamsburg and Dike-New Hartford to open the season the Bears have outscored Waterloo Columbus and Cascade by a combined total of 84-10 in consecutive wins.

West Branch is averaging 23.5 points and 274 total yards per game while producing 5.5 yards per play on offense.

Senior quarterback Connor Rios has led the Bears to back-to-back wins in his first two starts of the season and has thrown for 399 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 148 yards and two scores.

Junior Cooper Gates has rushed for 294 yards and four touchdowns and sophomore Keaton Gates has added 75 yards and a touchdown.

Conner Capper has caught 12 passes for 135 yards and Lincoln Naber has five receptions for 75 yards.

West Branch has tightened down defensively over the past two weeks and is allowing 25.5 points and 255 total yards per game on the season.

Cooper Gates has a team-high 22 tackles including 4.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks and Naber has 17 tackles with four for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Tate Frantz has 15.5 tackles with four for loss and Capper has 13.5 tackles with 3.5 for loss.

About the Blazers: Beckman outscored Waterloo Columbus and Monticello 78-14 in back-to-back wins to open the season but has dropped two in a row after falling to Wilton 35-7 in its district opener last week.

The Blazers are averaging 24.8 points and 285 total yards per game this season behind senior quarterback Dylan Recker (5-11, 160).

Recker has completed 46 percent of his passes while throwing for 294 yards and a touchdown with five interceptions and has rushed for 154 yards and four touchdowns.

Dyersville Beckman is averaging 212 rushing yards per game with Recker and Burlage teaming with senior Tanner Ostwinkle (6-2, 190) who has rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns.

Chase White (6-0, 185) has caught eight passes for 100 yards and Ostwinkle has six receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown.

The Blazers are allowing 17.5 points and 164 total yards per game and have given up more than 200 total yards just once in four games.

Beckman is holding opponents to 65.8 rushing yards and 2.8 yards per carry.

Zach Wulfekuhle (5-11, 155) leads Beckman with 18 tackles while junior Julien Kramer (6-0, 200) has 15.5 tackles including 5.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Senior Griffin Davis (5-10, 210) has 8.5 tackles with three sacks and Ostwinkle has four tackles for loss and two sacks.

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