Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Four weeks into the high school football season and the number of unbeaten teams has already shrunk to 45.

Of those 45 undefeated teams three, West High, Solon and Regina, are in the Your Prep Sports area.

West High, Solon and Regina all improved to 4-0 with wins on Friday and have been among the most impressive teams in their respective classes.

Here is a closer look at each of the remaining three unbeaten teams in the Your Prep Sports area, their 4-0 resume and how they got to this point.

We start with West High which is one of only three remaining teams in what appears to be an evenly match and wide open 5A field.

The Trojans are certainly in the mix for the most impressive 4-0 resume in Class 5A.\

After outscoring City High and Dubuque Hempstead by a combined total of 86-7 to open the season West High has recorded impressive back-to-back road wins at Pleasant Valley (42-30) and last week at Bettendorf (31-14).

Waukee Northwest likely has the best resume in 5A with wins over 3-1 Ankeny and West Des Moines Dowling and wins over City High and Cedar Rapids Prairie the last two weeks by a combined total of 94-23 but

West High is right in the mix and should be a factor all season.

Solon has posted its own impressive back-to-back weeks, following up a 35-20 win over Mount Vernon last week with a 28-21 road win at Benton Community on Friday.

The Spartans are one of seven remaining unbeaten teams in Class 3A, which is the highest amount of unbeaten teams in any 11-player class other than Class A (11).

Solon has been impressive early adding wins over Davenport Assumption (2-2) and Williamsburg (1-3) and has already navigated easily the most challenging part of its regular season schedule.

Regina is one of only five remaining unbeaten teams in what is shaping up as a top-heavy Class 1A field.

The Regals opened the season with three consecutive convincing wins over 2A opponents Wilton (2-2), West Branch (3-1) and Alburnett (3-1) before cruising to a 55-6 road win at Cardinal in its district opener on Friday.

Defending champion Grundy Center and last seasons’ 2A champion West Lyon join Regina as undefeated teams in Class 1A.

Other undefeated notes.

Class 4A has four remaining unbeaten teams and Clear Creek Amana has already played one (Cedar Rapids Xavier) and will play at currently undefeated Pella October 17.

There are five unbeaten teams in Class 2A but West Branch is one of 13 2A teams with one loss.

Liberty High is one of 11 teams in Class 5A with a single loss.

News and Notes

Staker Does it All: How about this for an all-around game from West Branch senior Nolan Staker on Friday?

On offense Staker caught two passes for 28 yards and a touchdown, on defense Staker had 1.5 tackles and a pair of interceptions and on special teams Staker averaged 38.5 yards per punt on a pair of punts in a 48-7 win over Monticello.

Tracy Leads Regina: A week after posting perhaps the best game of his career when he accounted for six touchdowns in a win over Alburnett Regina senior quarterback Kyle Tracy produced perhaps his most efficient game in a 55-6 road win at Cardinal. Tracy completed all nine of his pass attempts throwing for 132 yards and three touchdowns as Regina rolled in its Class 1A, District 6 opener.

Solon Plays Takeaway: It was the Solon offense that garnered much of the attention during the Spartans’ 3-0 start to the season. In a win at Benton Community it was the Solon defense that came up big.

Solon forced five turnovers, two interceptions and three fumbles, in a come-from-behind 28-21 over the Bobcats in Van Horne.

Ethan Ulch and Cody Milliman picked off passes, Milliman, James Thomsen and Kaden Hoeper all recovered fumbles as Solon outscored Benton 13-7 in the second half.

Players of the Week

Offensive player of the week: West High junior quarterback Reece Wheeler completed 14-of-29 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 14 yards in a 31-14 win at Bettendorf.

Defensive player of the week: West High senior defensive end broke a 30-year old school record for sacks in a single game with five in a 31-14 win at Bettendorf. Law had a team-high 9.5 tackles, including eight solo stops, and forced three fumbles while breaking the West High single game sack record of 4.5 set by Shane Baumgart in the 1995 state championship game.

Special teams player of the week: Clear Creek Amana junior kicker Aiden Gross connected on all three field goal attempts, including a 35 yarder and was 3-for-3 on PATs in a 33-30 overtime loss to North Scott.

Helmet stickers

Offense: City High junior wide receiver Chayse Newton caught 12 passes for 153 yards in a 41-20 loss at Cedar Falls.

Offense: Liberty High senior quarterback Reece Rettig completed 21-of-33 passes for 174 yards and also rushed for 133 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-24 loss at Johnston.

Offense: West High senior Julian Manson had five receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns and also had 6.5 tackles in a 31-14 win at Bettendorf.

Defense: Solon junior Cody Milliman had six tackles including four solo stops, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and had an interception and also caught five passes for 72 yards in a 28-21 win over Benton Community.

Defense: Clear Creek Amana junior defensive end Avery Sorensen had 5.5 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in a 33-30 overtime loss to North Scott.

Defense: City High senior linebacker Blaine Heick had 11 tackles including five solo stops and two tackles for loss in a 41-20 loss at Cedar Falls.

Special Teams: Solon senior Ryan Locke connected on all three of his field goal attempts in a 28-21 win over Benton Community.

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