Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

City High (0-3) at Cedar Falls (2-1)

Where: Cedar Falls High School, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Cedar Falls senior quarterback Leyton Wolf (6-7, 210) has completed 41-of-61 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns with one interception and has also rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown.

Key stat: City High had season-high’s in total yards (363), point (13) and yards per play (5.6) in a loss to unbeaten Waukee Northwest last week and has increased its total yardage, scoring output and yards per play in each game this season.

About the Tigers: Cedar Falls opened the season with a 15-14 loss at Liberty High but has rattled off back-to-back seven-point wins over Pleasant Valley (21-14) and Dubuque Senior (24-17) the past two weeks.

The Tigers have been stingy defensively allowing 313.7 total yards and 15.3 points per game.

Senior Camden Wroe (6-1, 191) leads Cedar Falls with 31.5 tackles including 4.5 for loss while junior Izzah Grandon (6-2, 195) has 21.5 tackles with a team-high eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Wolf leads a Tiger offense that has produced 286 total yards and 19.7 points per game through three games.

Will Remmert (5-11, 174) has caught a team-high 12 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown and sophomore Carsen Gary (6-1, 177) has 10 receptions for 107 yards.

Senior Ian Fuchtman (5-8, 178) has rushed for a team-leading 255 yards and a touchdown while averaging 5.8 yards per carry and Gary has rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown.

About the Little Hawks: City High is seeking to snap a four-game losing skid that dates back to last season on Friday when it travels to Mississippi Valley Conference rival Cedar Falls for the its first meeting with the Tigers since 2019.

City High trailed Waukee Northwest 7-6 at the half on Friday but was outscored by the Wolves 35-7 in the final two quarters.

The Little Hawks have made strides offensively the past two weeks after being shutout in a season-opening loss to West High.

Sophomore quarterbacks Coden Kurtz and Chris Kabaiza had their most effective game of the season last week against Waukee Northwest combining for 215 passing yards and each had a touchdown pass.

On the season Kurtz and Kabaiza have combined to complete 36-of-65 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns with six interceptions.

Sophomore Marshall Sheldon has rushed for a team-high 261 yards and also has a team-leading 29 tackles with six tackles for loss and a sack.

Junior Chayse Newton has been the top target in the passing game with 13 receptions for 134 yards while Jack Lame has eight receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior linebacker Blaine Heick has 24 tackles with four for loss and senior Raphael Etuma has a team-high eight tackles for loss among his 18 tackles.

West High (3-0) at Bettendorf (2-1)

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

Last season: West High 21, Bettendorf 16 (Class 5A first round)

Player to watch: Bettendorf sophomore quarterback Cannon Davis (6-1, 185) has completed 37-of-58 passes for 555 yards and five touchdowns with four interceptions and has rushed 138 yards while averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

Key stat: Last season West High averaged 151 rushing yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry and had 19 rushing touchdowns in 11 games. In three games this season the Trojans are averaging 243 rushing yards per game, 5.9 yards per carry and have 11 rushing touchdowns.

About the Bulldogs: After a 24-17 season-opening loss at Pleasant Valley the Bulldogs have posted back-to-back wins over City High in week two and a 14-11 victory at previously unbeaten Cedar Rapids Prairie last week.

Bettendorf has been impressive defensively through three games allowing 279 total yards and 14 points per game.

Junior linebacker Gavin Stecker (6-3, 205) leads Bettendorf with 31.5 tackles including 2.5 for loss while senior defensive lineman Armon Williams (6-0, 220) has a team-high seven tackles for loss with 2.5 sacks.

Junior Wyatt Freking (6-2, 200) has six tackles for loss and two sacks among his 24 tackles.

Davis leads a Bettendorf offense that is averaging 296 total yards and 17.3 points per game.

Senior Hayden Morrison (6-1, 185) has been the top target for Davis with 16 receptions for 296 yards and three touchdowns.

Senior Jack Wessel (6-0, 200) has rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns and has also caught seven passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns.

About the Trojans: West High is one of only five remaining unbeaten teams in Class 5A and has been as impressive as any team in the class through three games.

The Trojans improved to 3-0 with a 42-30 win at Pleasant Valley last week and have outscored opponents 128-37 during its unbeaten start.

West High has been impressive on both sides of the ball averaging 446.7 total yards and 42.7 points per game on offense while producing 7.9 yards per play.

Junior quarterback Reece Wheeler has completed 26-of-42 passes for 564 yards and five touchdowns without an interception and has rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior Ethan Headings has been the top target in the passing game with 15 receptions for 423 yards and five touchdowns.

Senior Campbell Janis has rushed for a team-high 381 yards and three touchdowns and junior Mikey Moody has added 122 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

West High has been equally impressive defensively holding opponents to 258.7 total yards and 12.3 points per game while allowing just 4.7 yards per play.

Jackson Law leads West High with 14 tackles including two for loss and Janis has 13 tackles with 1.5 for loss.

Liberty High (3-0) at Johnston (2-1)

Where: Johnston High School, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Johnston junior quarterback Trevin Helming (6-3, 195) has completed 26-of-49 passes for 475 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions.

Key stat: Liberty High has run an astonishing 210 total offensive plays in three games this season which is 100 more than opponents have run against the Lightning this season.

About the Dragons: Johnston went 8-3 last season advancing to the Class 5A quarterfinals and is off to a 2-1 start this fall.

The Dragons opened the season with a 13-3 win over Waukee and bounced back from a 31-10 loss at West Des Moines Dowling in week two is averaging 24 points and 287 total yards per game.

Senior Tino Daye Jr. (6-2, 175) has been the top pass catcher with 13 receptions for 226 yards and four touchdowns and Bryce Beachem (5-10, 175) has two receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown.

Jeremiah Armstrong (5-8, 150) has rushed for a team-high 162 yards and a touchdown and Emri Jones (6-0, 175) has 143 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Senior linebacker Max Mincks (6-2, 210) leads a Johnston defense that is allowing 16 points and 298 total yards per game.

Mincks has a team-high 25.5 tackles with three tackles for loss while Zacharay Grider (6-2, 180) has 13 tackles with three tackles for loss.

About the Lightning: Liberty High has picked up where it left off from its semifinal season a year ago opening 2025 with three consecutive wins over Cedar Falls, Southeast Polk and Linn-Mar.

One of only five remaining unbeaten teams in Class 5A, Liberty High has been impressive during its 3-0 start that includes wins over 2-1 teams Cedar Falls and Southeast Polk.

Senior quarterback Reece Rettig leads a Liberty High offense that is averaging 375.3 total yards and 27 points per game while averaging 5.3 yards per play.

Rettig has completed 73-of-99 passes for 677 yards and eight touchdowns with six interceptions and has also rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior Logan Laubenthal has rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown and Pryor Reiners has added 85 yards on the ground.

Laubenthal and Reiners are among three Liberty High players with at least 11 receptions this season.

Reiners has 19 catches for 185 yards and two touchdowns and Leo Rozz has 19 receptions for 226 yards and two touchdowns.

Laubenthal has caught 11 passes for 86 yards and Jordan Schroeder has nine receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior linebacker Landon Bell has a team-high 14.5 tackles with seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks to lead a Liberty High defense that is holding opponents to 208.7 total yards and 13.7 points per game.

Cooper Lester has 14 tackles with 2.5 for loss and Cash Hennings has a pair of sacks for Liberty High.

Solon (3-0) at Benton Community (2-1)

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

Last season: Benton Community 21, Solon 20; Solon 34, Benton Community 27 (3A first round)

Player to watch: Benton Community senior quarterback Carson Nolan (6-0, 185) has completed 56-of-77 passes for 624 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions and has also rushed for 341 yards and five touchdowns.

Key stat: Carson Nolan has accounted for 86 percent of Benton Community’s yards from scrimmage and scored nine of the Bobcat’s 13 touchdowns.

About the Bobcats: Benton Community went 7-3 and reached the 3A playoffs last season and is off to a 2-1 start this season with wins over Fairfield (29-12) and Vinton-Shellsburg (42-0) and a 30-20 loss at Mount Vernon.

The Bobcats are led by Nolan who is has been among the most productive quarterbacks in the state this season accounting for 941 total yards and nine touchdowns.

Brody Timmerman (5-11, 160) and Eli Patterson (6-4, 175) have been the top two targets for Nolan in the passing game.

Timmerman has 25 receptions for 260 yards and two touchdowns and Patterson has 13 receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns.

The Benton Community defense is led by senior Grant Volesky (6-0, 190) who has a team-leading 29 tackles with two for loss.

Nolan leads the Bobcats with six tackles for loss and two sacks while senior Grady Frese (5-10, 205) has two sacks among his 11.5 tackles.

About the Spartans: Solon is off to a 3-0 start that includes an impressive 35-20 win over rival Mount Vernon last Friday.

The Spartans have been efficient on both sides of the ball during a 3-0 start in which they have outscored opponents 104-47.

Senior quarterback Eli Kampman leads a Solon offense that is averaging 368 total yards and 34.7 points per game while putting up 7.4 yards per play.

Kampman has completed 42-of-61 passes while throwing for 741 yards and 11 touchdowns with one interception and has rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown.

Maddox Kelley has 17 receptions for 187 yards and five touchdowns and has rushed for 119 yards and three touchdowns.

Kaden Hoeper has 11 receptions for 304 yards and five touchdowns and Cody Milliman has seven receptions for 131 yards.

Defensively Solon is holding opponents to 253.7 total yards and 15.7 points per game while allowing 4.6 yards per play.

Senior linebacker Kyler Jensen leads Solon with 27 tackles including five for loss while Tripp Johnson has 12.5 tackles with 2.5 for loss and James Thomsen has a team-high four sacks.

North Scott (1-2) at Clear Creek Amana (2-1)

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

Last season: North Scott 28, Clear Creek Amana 7

Player to watch: North Scott senior Brady Hubner (5-10, 160) has eight receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown, has seven tackles and a tackle for loss, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and averages 26 yards per punt return.

Key stat: North Scott has finished with exactly nine wins in seven of the last eight seasons.

About the Lancers: A state semifinalist a year ago, North Scott is off to a 1-2 start with losses to defending 4A runner-up Pella and unbeaten Cedar Rapids Xavier.

The Lancers defeated Cedar Rapids Washington 38-16 in week two before falling to Pella 10-3 last week.

North Scott has been solid defensively holding opponents to 316 total yards and 19 points per game.

Senior Benjamin Lightle (5-11, 180) leads North Scott with 9.5 tackles including three for loss and a sack while Brett Rouse (5-11, 160) has seven tackles.

North Scott has forced five turnovers through three games with Hubner intercepting two passes.

Senior quarterback Cole Green (6-0, 175) has completed 17-of-28 passes for 140 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions and has also rushed for a team-high 195 yards and a touchdown.

About the Clippers: Clear Creek Amana had a two-game winning streak to open the season snapped with a 54-21 loss at unbeaten Cedar Rapids Xavier last week.

The Clippers have been effective on both sides of the ball during their 2-1 start to the season.

Clear Creek Amana is averaging 314 total yards and 45 points per game while posting 7 yards per play on offense behind senior quarterback Conlan Poynton.

Poynton has completed 34-of-66 passes for 403 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions and has also rushed for a team-high 198 yards and six touchdowns.

Tay Seals leads the Clippers with 15 receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown and Nick Daniel has caught eight passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.

A Clear Creek Amana defense that is allowing 278 total yards and 20 points per game is led by senior linebacker Aidan Schrock.

Schrock has a team-best 23 tackles with three for loss and a sack and junior Ian Kelley has 11.5 tackles with 1.5 for loss.

Regina (3-0) at Cardinal (0-3)

Where: Cardinal High School in Eldon, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Cardinal junior Zach Luedtke (5-10, 140) ranks fourth in the state with 41.5 tackles including 32 solo stops and has also rushed for a team-high 74 yards and a touchdown.

Key stat: Only 12 teams in the entire state have more interceptions than Regina senior defensive back Drew Greve who ranks second in the state with five interceptions.

About the Comets: Following back-to-back 5-4 seasons in 2020 and 2021 Cardinal has got 1-27 in its last 28 games over the past four seasons.

Cardinal has been outscored 115-44 in losses to New London, Lynnville-Sully and Van Buren to open the season.

Senior quarterback Alijah Frase (6-1, 160) leads a Comet offense that is averaging 231.7 total yards and 14.7 points per game.

Frase has completed 32-of-77 passes for 568 yards and five touchdowns and three interceptions and has rushed for 19 yards.

Senior Treyton Hafele (6-0, 165) has been the top target for Frase with 12 receptions for 270 yards and five touchdowns and Bode Ferrell (6-1, 178) has caught 11 passes for 127 yards.

Luedtke leads the Cardinal defense while sophomore Carter Ehrenhard (6-2, 198) has 19.5 tackles and sophomore Logan Schultz (5-9, 156) has 15 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss.

About the Regals: Regina will look to open Class 1A, District play with a win after outscoring Class 2A non-district opponents Wilton, West Branch and Alburnett by a combined total of 129-63.

The Regals have one of the most impressive early season resumes of any team in Class 1A and have been solid on both sides of the ball during its unbeaten start.

Regina is averaging 385.3 total yards and 43 points per game on offense while averaging 7.2 yards per play.

Senior quarterback Kyle Tracy has completed 34-of-49 passes for 458 yards with six touchdown and two interceptions and has rushed for 202 yards and three touchdowns.

Savion Miler has rushed for a team-high 347 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 7.2 yards per carry and also has a receiving touchdown.

Tate Wallace has a team-high 14 receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown and Drew Greve has nine receptions for 137 yards for Regina.

The Regals are holding opponents to 260 total yards and 21 points per game while surrendering 5.4 yards per play.

Senior James Whisler has a team-high 16 tackles with three for loss while Luke Hamilton has 16 tackles with two for loss and Wallace has 15 tackles with three for loss.

Monticello (0-3) at West Branch (2-1)

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

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Monticello senior running back Lincoln Schneiter (6-2, 205) has rushed for a team-high 212 yards and one touchdown while averaging 4.7 yards per carry and has also caught nine passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Key stat: West Branch averaged 10.4 yards per play in a 56-7 win over Camanche last week, it’s most since averaging 11.3 yards per snap in an 86-0 win at Louisa-Muscatine on September 16 of 2022.

About the Panthers: Monticello was 2-7 last season and has lost five consecutive games dating back to last year after being outscored by a combined total of 135-45 in losses to Mount Vernon, Dyersville Beckman and Cascade to open this season.

The Panthers are averaging 262 total yards and 15 points per game this season after scoring a season-high 26 in a loss to Cascade last week.

Freshman quarterback Wyatt Wilson (5-5, 145) has completed 23-of-40 passes for 303 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions and has rushed for 20 yards and a score.

Schneiter is the leading rusher and is one of three Panthers with 100 yards receiving this season.

Junior Isaac Kray (5-10, 155) has caught 10 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown and senior Conley Schauf (6-4, 190) has 11 receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown.

Wilson also has a team-high 14.5 tackles while senior Alex Jamison (6-5, 160) and Schneiter each have 12.5 tackles for a Monticello defense that is allowing 394 total yards and 45 points per game.

About the Bears: West Branch bounced back from a week-two loss at Regina with an impressive 56-7 win over Camanche last week.

The Bears open Class 2A, District 5 play with a second consecutive game at the Little Rose Bowl where it is 2-0 this season.

West Branch is averaging 371 total yards and 35.7 points per game this season and has done most of its damage on the ground averaging 288.7 rushing yards per game.

Three players have rushed for at least 100 yards this season led by junior Keaton Gates who has run for 586 yards and five touchdowns while Cooper Gates has rushed for 115 yards and three touchdowns.

Senior quarterback Brennen Dale has completed 12-of-29 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns and has also rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown.

West Branch is allowing 310.7 total yards and 18.7 points per game on defense while giving up 5.9 yards per play.

Conner Capper leads the Bears with 16 tackles while Keaton Gates has 14.5 tackles and Cooper Gates has 12.5 tackles with three for loss and 1.5 sacks.

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