Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Des Moines East (1-5) at City High (2-4)  

Where: Bates Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: City High 59, Des Moines East 14

Player to watch: Des Moines East junior quarterback Marquise Pierce (6-1, 175) has completed 63-of-115 passes for 717 yards and five touchdowns with six interceptions and has rushed for 221 yards and three touchdowns.

Key stat: City High ranks third in Class 5A in passing with 246 yards per game and has thrown at least one touchdown pass in each of its past five games.

About the Scarlets: Des Moines East has lost five game in a row following a season-opening win over Des Moines North.

Three of the losses for Des Moines East have come by a touchdown or less and the Scarlets are coming off a 21-7 loss last week against Norwalk.

Pierce leads a Des Moines East offense that is averaging 16.2 points and 241 total yards per game and produces 5 yards per play.

Senior Robbie Sykes (5-9, 190) has rushed for a team-high 401 yards and two touchdowns helping Des Moines East average 118 rushing yards per game.

Senior Braylen Jenkins (5-7, 145) leads the Scarlets with 22 receptions for 205 yards and three touchdowns while Nicholas Hunt (5-10, 165) has nine receptions for 156 yards.

Jamel Heliman (6-0, 175) and Koen Davis (5-10, 155) each have six catches including a touchdown reception.

The Des Moines East defense is allowing 23.2 points and 287 total yards per game including 161 rushing yards per contest and is giving up 5.7 yards per play.

Senior Lance Williams (6-0, 240) leads the way with 34 tackles including 11 for loss and 1.5 sacks while D’Mondre Blake (6-1, 250) has 24 tackles with 5.5 for loss.

Des Moines East has forced 13 turnovers in six games and has four different players with an interception while Anthony Richardson and Mason Cook-Vasquez (6-0, 265) each have two fumble recoveries.

About the Little Hawks: City High is coming off a 49-21 loss at unbeaten Southeast Polk last Friday.

The Little Hawks are averaging 385 total yards and 26.8 points per game while posting 6.1 yards per play.

City High is averaging 246 passing yards per game and 138 rushing yards per game while averaging 4.6 yards per carry.

Senior quarterback Jackson Grabinski (6-0, 205) has completed 94-of-143 passes for 1,128 yards and six touchdowns with five interceptions and has rushed for 217 yards and four touchdowns.

Savion Miller (5-10, 200) has rushed for a team-high 555 yards and nine touchdowns and has 23 receptions for 225 yards.

Chayse Newton (5-8, 160) has caught 38 passes for 466 yards and three touchdowns and junior Braden Bickford (6-3, 168) has 34 receptions for 472 yards and three touchdowns.

The City High defense is allowing 28.5 points, 351 total yards and 137 rushing yards per game and giving up 7.1 yards per play.

Junior linebacker Marshall Sheldon (6-1, 195) has a team-high 38.5 tackles with five tackles for loss and senior Shepherd Stanton (6-2, 170) has 25.5 tackles with one for loss and two interceptions.

Junior Seth Barnett (5-10, 195) has 19.5 tackles with three for loss and junior Coden Kurtz (5-11, 180) has 19.5 tackles.

Pleasant Valley (4-2) at Liberty High (4-2)

Where: Liberty Stadium, 7 p.m.

Last season: Liberty High 28, Pleasant Valley 14

Player to watch: Pleasant Valley junior quarterback Colin Townsend (5-10, 180) has completed 40-of-77 passes for 508 yards and three touchdowns with five interceptions and has rushed for 259 yards and a team-high nine touchdowns.

Key stat: Pleasant Valley averaged 15 points and 150 rushing yards per game in back-to-back losses to open the season and has averaged 42.5 points and 324 rushing yards per game in its current four-game winning streak.

About the Spartans: Pleasant Valley has rattled off four consecutive wins after opening the season with back-to-back losses to Bettendorf and Cedar Falls.

The Spartans have been impressive during their four-game winning streak that started with a road win at West High, outscoring opponents 170-55 during that stretch.

Pleasant Valley is averaging 33.3 points and 351 total yards per game this season and ranks second in Class 5A with 266 rushing yards per game.

Townsend leads the Spartan offense that is averaging 6.6 yards per play.

Seven different Spartans have rushed for more than 100 yards and a touchdown this season led by senior Ashton Stoflet (6-0, 190) with 288 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior Elijah Bolaji (5-8, 165) has run for 202 yards and a touchdown while averaging 11.2 yards per carry, Mason Mcfate (6-3, 215) has rushed for 199 yards and five touchdowns and Cordell Hatcher (5-8, 165) has rushed for 195 yards and a touchdown while averaging 12.2 yards per carry.

Sophomore Gavin Holmes has rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns and Tripp Barclay (5-11, 175) has rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown and averages 15.8 yards per carry.

Junior Maddox Murdock (6-4, 175) has been the top target in the passing game with 13 receptions for 172 yards and a touchdown.

Pleasant Valley is allowing 19.5 points, 290 total yards and 93 rushing yards per game while giving up 5.7 yards per play.

Luke Knutson (6-2, 230) leads the Spartans with 27 tackles including five for loss and Brady Resetich (5-9, 175) has 25.5 tackles with two for loss.

Senior Dane Cox (6-1, 260) has 19.5 tackles including a team-high nine tackles for loss while Jackson Herlich (6-0, 230) has 17 tackles with 5.5 for loss and three sacks.

About the Lightning: Liberty High has won two in a row after a 48-6 victory at Davenport Central on Friday.

The two losses for Liberty High have come against the top two teams in the 5A RPI rankings in Southeast Polk (6-0) and Johnston (5-1).

Liberty High is averaging 27.8 points and 358 total yards per game while averaging 6.2 yards per carry.

Senior quarterback Emerson Berner has completed 104-of-153 passes for 1,284 yards and 15 touchdowns with seven interceptions.

Pryor Reiners has a team-high 40 receptions for 518 yards and six touchdowns while Adrian Clerry has 25 receptions for 357 yards and four touchdowns.

Cooper Lester has caught 17 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns and Brody Beaver has rushed for 332 yards and three touchdowns and caught 12 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

The Liberty High defense is allowing 17.8 points and 234 total yards per game while holding opponents to 5.4 yards per play.

Alex Strunk has a team-high 34.5 tackles with 9.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks and Carter Lester has 32 tackles with eight for loss.

Eric Strunk has 24 tackles with 6.5 for loss and Asher Eisenbach has 21.5 tackles with seven for loss.

Hank Thompson has 18 tackles with 9.5 for loss and a team-high four sacks.

Davenport Central (3-3) at West High (3-3)

Where: Trojan Stadium, 7 p.m.

Last season: West High 63, Davenport Central 7

Player to watch: Davenport Central senior quarterback Jaleel Toney Walker (5-10, 170) has completed 78-of-144 passes for 1,078 yards and eight touchdowns with four interceptions and has rushed for a team-high 235 yards and two touchdowns.

Key stat: West High has committed three turnovers and is +3 in turnover margin in three wins and has committed nine turnovers and is -6 in turnover margin in three losses.

About the Trojans: West High snapped a three-game losing streak with a 33-0 win at Muscatine on Friday.

The Trojans are averaging 28.8 points and 437 total yards per game while producing 6.5 yards per play.

West High is balanced offensively averaging 227 passing yards and 210 rushing yards per game.

Senior quarterback Reece Wheeler (5-11, 170) has completed 106-of-169 passes for 1,349 yards and nine touchdowns with six interceptions and has rushed for 255 yards and six touchdowns.

Junior running back Atari Brown (5-11, 170) has rushed for a team-high 630 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per carry.

Neil James (6-1, 180) has a team-high 32 receptions for 525 yards and five touchdowns while Tayten Wheeler (6-2, 195) has 25 receptions for 271 yards.

Cade Towler (5-11, 170) has 20 receptions for 277 yards and three touchdowns and Cooper Bruxvoort (6-1, 175) has 16 receptions for 182 yards and a touchdown.

The West High defense is allowing 26.5 points and 360 yards per game while giving up 6.3 yards per play.

Khylin Brink (6-0, 210) has a team-high 35.5 tackles with 6.5 for loss and Jack Caylor (5-10, 195) has 31.5 tackles with 5.5 for loss.

Carter Spark (5-10, 175) has 30.5 tackles with 4.5 for loss and Kingstone Ross (5-10, 195) has 20 tackles with 8.5 tackles and three sacks.

Senior Jack McLaskey (6-0, 190) has 18.5 tackles with four tackles for loss and two sacks.

About the Blue Devils: Davenport Central opened the season with three straight wins over Dubuque Senior, Clinton and Davenport West but has lost its last three games after a 48-6 loss to Liberty High last Friday.

The Blue Devils have allowed an average of 46.7 points and 431 total yards per game during their current three-game losing streak.

Toney Walker leads a Davenport Central offense that is averaging 21.5 points, 306 total yards and 126 rushing yards per game while producing 6.3 yards per play.

Senior wide receiver TK Morrison (6-1, 170) has been among the most productive pass catchers in the state this season ranking third in 5A in receiving yards (582), second in receiving touchdowns (7) and all-purpose yards (1,114) while leading 5A in yards per reception (20.1).

Senior Messiah Johnson (5-11, 150) has 15 receptions for 191 yards and Frankie Lewis (5-11, 180) has caught nine passes for 169 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

Junior Markey Glenn (6-0, 170) has rushed for 168 yards and three touchdowns and Morrison has run for 115 yards and a touchdown.

The Davenport Central defense is allowing 32.3 points, 321 total yards and 186 rushing yards per game while giving up 6.6 yards per play and has forced nine turnovers in six games.

Senior Beckhim Hutchison (6-0, 195) ranks third in 5A with 52 tackles and has nine tackles for loss and a sack.

Jerome Bahahti (5-11, 180) has 48.5 tackles with Blesshym Patterson (5-9, 170) has 39.5 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss.

Erick Jones (6-2, 220) has 21 tackles with five for loss and two sacks and Brandon Halligan (6-1, 205) has 21 tackles with 4.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Clear Creek Amana (5-1) at Newton (3-3)

Where: H.A. Lynn Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Newton 31, Clear Creek Amana 19

Player to watch: Newton senior running back Isaiah Hansen (6-1, 185) has rushed for 569 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry, has 13 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown and has thrown a touchdown pass.

Key stat: Newton has allowed an average of 169 rushing yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry in its three losses and has held opponents to 64 rushing yards per game and 2.5 yards per carry in three wins.

About the Clippers: Clear Creek Amana stretched its winning streak to three and improved to 2-0 in Class 4A, District 4 action with a 43-7 win at Marion last Friday.

The Clippers are averaging 35.7 points per game during their current three-game win streak that includes victories over North Scott and Grinnell.

Led by junior quarterback Texton Bollers (6-2, 185) Clear Creek Amana is averaging 36.8 points and 326 total yards per game while producing 6.8 yards per play.

The Clippers are averaging 201 passing yards and 125 rushing yards per game.

Bollers has been among the best quarterbacks in Class 4A this season completing 76-of-125 passes for 1,185 yards and 11 touchdowns with just one interception while rushing for 299 yards and four touchdowns.

Senior Ian Kelley (5-8, 195) has rushed for 373 yards and eight touchdowns and has caught five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown.

Jonah Drake (5-8, 165) leads the Clippers with 27 receptions for 342 yards and three touchdowns and Tay Seals (5-10, 145) has 18 receptions for 405 yards and six touchdowns.

The Clear Creek Amana defense is holding opponents to 16 points and 269 total yards per game while allowing 5.1 yards per play.

Nolan Dao (6-1, 195) leads Clear Creek Amana with 29.5 tackles including 3.5 for loss and two sacks and senior Tucker Stockman (5-11, 200) has 29 tackles with six for loss.

Avery Sorensen (6-4, 226) has 24.5 tackles with four for loss and 2.5 sacks and Noah Evans (5-9, 160) has 21 tackles.

About the Cardinals: A Class 4A semifinalist last season, Newton opened the season 1-3 with loses to unbeaten Carlisle, North Polk (4-2) and Class 5A Indianola but has won back-to-back games over Oskaloosa and Pella to open 4A, District 4 play.

Junior quarterback Josh Lampe (6-1, 195) leads a Newton offense that is averaging 21.8 points and 267 total yards per game, including 211 rushing yards per game and 5.1 yards per play.

Lampe has completed 29-of-66 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions and has rushed for 410 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per carry.

Hansen is the focal point, leading the Cardinals in rushing and receiving while senior Qhjuan Coley (6-0, 210) has rushed for 214 yards and three touchdowns.

Nick Milburn (6-3, 225) has five receptions for 77 yards and Drew Bauer (6-0, 150) has caught five passes for 64 yards.

Newton has been excellent defensively holding opponents to 18 points and 214 total yards per game while giving up 116 rushing yards per game and allowing 4.9 yards per play.

The Cardinals have forced 13 turnovers in six games with Reagan Maki (5-7, 140) leading the team with four interceptions and Milburn has recovered four fumbles and forced four fumbles.

Milburn has a team-high 42.5 tackles with 9.5 for loss and a sack and Landry Rausch (5-10, 165) and Jesse Miller (6-1, 170) each have 18 tackles.

Solon (6-0) at Washington (3-3)  

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

Last season: Solon 42, Washington 0

Player to watch: Washington senior quarterback Nic Stone (6-4, 215) has completed 63-of-107 passes for 815 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions and has rushed for a team-high 295 yards and four touchdowns.

Key stat: Solon has outscored opponents 105-7 in the first quarter this season.

About the Spartans: Solon continued a dominant start to the season with a 51-0 win at Keokuk last Friday, the third shutout in six games for the Spartans.

Solon has outscored opponents 268-29 during its 6-0 start and has held five of six opponents to eight points or fewer.

Solon is averaging 44.7 points and 378 total yards per game while posting 8.9 yards per play.
The Spartans have been balanced on offense rushing for 208 yards per game and throwing for 171 yards per game.

Senior quarterback Maddox Kelley (5-10, 185) has completed 49-of-71 passes for 887 yards and 15 touchdowns with one interception and has rushed for 547 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Senior Jackson Burk (5-8, 180) has rushed for 280 yards and four touchdowns and junior Sawyer Hancox (5-10, 190) has rushed for 210 yards and a touchdown.

Kaden Hoeper (6-2, 190) leads Solon with 18 receptions for 356 yards and 11 touchdowns and Owen Bock (6-1, 180) has 12 receptions for 28 yards and two touchdowns.

Cody Milliman (6-2, 200) has caught 10 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns.

The Solon defense is holding opponents to 182 total yards and 4.8 points per game posting three shutouts in six games.

Solon is allowing just 125 rushing yards per game and giving up just 3.6 yards per play.

Senior Lucas Feuerbach (6-2, 260) has a team-high 29 tackles with 3.5 for loss while senior Simon Einwalter (6-3, 215) has 22.5 tackles with 8.5 for loss and four sacks.

James Thomsen (6-3, 230) has 22 tackles with six for loss and three sacks and Kelley has 13 tackles and an interception.

About the Demons: Washington opened the season 3-1 but has dropped back-to-back games to Mount Pleasant and Fairfield to open Class 3A, District 4 play.

The Demons fell to unbeaten Mount Pleasant 29-28 in its district opener and lost 28-14 at Fairfield last Friday.

Led by Stone the Washington offense is averaging 23.8 points and 308 total yards per game, rushing for 145 yards per game and averaging 6 yards per play.

Junior Liam Roberts (6-0, 190) has rushed for 232 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 7.7 yards per carry and has caught a team-high 21 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns.

Sophomore Julian Parsons (6-1, 190) has rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns and sophomore Bryer Sobaski (6-1, 175) has caught 20 passes for a team-leading 362 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, Washington in allowing 23.4 points and 263 total yards per game while surrendering 152 rushing yards per game and giving up 5.1 yards per play.

Senior Blaine Rees (6-0, 215) leads the Demons with 47 tackles including 10 tackles for loss.

Junior Clayton Evans (6-0, 195) has 42.5 tackles with a team-high 14.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks and senior Boden Brown (5-11, 180) has 29.5 tackles with 2.5 for loss.

Sophomore Junior Valdez (5-10, 165) has 23 tackles with 9.5 for loss and senior Greyson Hartman (6-2, 275) has 14.5 tackles with 8.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks.

West Branch (2-4) at Anamosa (4-2)

Where: Anamosa Sports Complex, 7:15 p.m.

Last season: West Branch 23, Anamosa 3

Player to watch: Anamosa senior quarterback Reilly Shaw (5-10, 160) has completed 45-of-78 passes for 555 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions and has rushed for a team-high 566 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Key stat: Anamosa is allowing 228 total yards, 82 rushing yards and 13.7 points per game in three District 5 wins while holding opponents to 5.1 yards per play.

About the Bears: West Branch snapped a two-game losing streak to start Class 2A, District 5 play with a 10-6 win over Tipton last Friday.

The Bears dropped back-to-back games to Monticello and Alburnett to open district play.

West Branch is averaging 16.5 points and 232 total yards per game, including 193 rushing yards, while averaging 5 yards per play.

Senior Keaton Gates has rushed for 828 yards and nine touchdowns and sophomore Motley Johnston has added 100 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Freshman Thomas Pedersen has been the top target in the passing game with 15 receptions for 206 yards and two touchdowns.

West Branch has been solid defensively holding opponents to 23.8 points and 281 total yards per game including 133 rushing yards per contest.

The Bears are allowing 5.9 yards per play.

Gates leads the Bears with 32 tackles including two for loss while Johnston has 30 tackles with four for loss and a sack.

Sophomore Brooks Seydel has 18.5 tackles and two interceptions and junior Gabe Depoorter has 17.5 tackles with six for loss and 3.5 sacks.

About the Blue Raiders: Anamosa opened 1-2 with losses to consecutive losses to Class 3A opponents Dubuque Wahlert and Center Point-Urbana but has won three consecutive games to start Class 2A, District 5 play.

The Blue Raiders have defeated Bellevue, Tipton and Monticello and are tied with Alburnett atop the District 5 standings.

Shaw leads an Anamosa offense that is averaging 19 points and 264 total yards per game while posting 5.1 yards per play.

Colt Nebergall (6-1, 165) has rushed for 265 yards and a touchdown while averaging 5.5 yards per carry while Hudson Welton (5-10, 150) has rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown.

Asa Bentley (6-4, 180) has a team-high 12 receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown and Welton has 10 receptions for 142 yards and Ronnie Holub (6-1, 165) has seven receptions for 106 yards.

The Anamosa defense is allowing 20.8 points and 278 total yards per game while giving up 130 rushing yards per game and 6.1 yards per play.

Anamosa has forced nine turnovers in six games with Preston Geltz (6-0, 165) and Welton each picking off two passes.

Nebergall has a team-high 35 tackles while Connor McNamara (6-0, 205) has 33.5 tackles including a team-high 7.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Holub has 29.5 tackles with three tackles for loss and Andrew Tjaden (6-0, 175) has 22.5 tackles with six tackles for loss.

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (6-1) at Class 1A No. 1 Regina (6-0)

Where: Regal Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: Regina 49, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 8

Player to watch: Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont senior Zane Mullenix (5-10, 185) ranks second in 1A in rushing yards (1,012), fourth in all-purpose yards (1,125) and leads 1A with 23 rushing touchdowns. Mullenix is averaging 7.6 yards per carry and has five receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown and also leads the Rockets with 49 tackles with 4.5 for loss.

Key stat: Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont has allowed a total of 49 total yards and is giving up .8 yards per play in its last two wins over Cardinal and Louisa-Muscatine.

About the Regals: Regina continued its impressive start to the season with a 44-9 win over Sigourney-Keota last Friday.

The Regals have outscored opponents 274-40 and have not allowed more than 12 points in a game this season.

Regina hasn’t allowed more than nine points in a district game and has outscored opponents 161-22 in three district wins.

The Regals are averaging 45.7 points and 393 total yards per game while averaging 9 yards per play.

Regina has been balanced offensively averaging 206 rushing yards and 187 passing yards per game.

Junior quarterback Aiden Gaffey (6-3, 170) has completed 42-of-58 passes for 768 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception.

Junior Gabe Hegelheimer (6-0, 205) has rushed for 758 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught seven passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns.

Tate Wallace (6-4, 240) has a team-high 19 receptions for 262 yards and two touchdowns and junior Holt Hinkel (5-11, 145) has 11 receptions for 290 yards and four touchdowns.

Defensively, Regina is limiting opponents to 6.7 points and 161 total yards per game while allowing just 3.9 yards per play.

Regina is allowing just 47 rushing yards per game and 1.8 yards per carry.

Wallace leads Regina with 30 tackles including 16 for loss and 8.5 sacks while Roan Eckhoff (6-2, 225) has 24 tackles with 7.5 for loss and three sacks.

Senior Luke Hamilton (5-11, 175) has 15.5 tackles with five for loss and two sacks and Zach Poe (6-1, 190) has 13.5 tackles with 2.5 for loss.

About the Rockets: With six wins Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont has already matched its highest win total since 2013 and secured its first winning season since 2018.

The Rockets were 3-6 last season and hadn’t won more than three games in a season since it went 5-4 in 2018.

After a 27-12 season-opening loss to unbeaten Pekin the Rockets have won six in a row a stretch that includes three consecutive wins in Class 1A, District 6 games.

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont has outscored three district opponents by a combined score of 127-14 following back-to-back shutouts of Cardinal and Louisa-Muscatine.

Senior quarterback Dalton Brinegar (5-10, 155) leads a Rocket offense that is averaging 39.5 points and 349 total yards per game including 283 rushing yards while averaging 7.4 yards per play.

Brinegar has completed 21-of-41 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions and has rushed for 222 yards and two touchdowns.

Mullenix leads the Rocket rushing attacked while senior Gavin Hopkins (5-8, 180) has rushed for 214 yards and a touchdown and caught a team-high seven passes for 100 yards.

Kaden Kirkpatrick (5-6, 130) has rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns and Tyler Gillespie (5-11, 150) has four receptions for 47 yards.

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont has been impressive on defense holding opponents to 8.8 points and 135 total yards per game allowing just 61 rushing yards per game and 3.4 yards per play.

The Rockets have forced 14 turnovers in six games, with Brinegar intercepting three passes and Corbin Kirkpatrick (5-10, 140) adding two interceptions.

Kaden Kirkpatrick has 36.5 tackles with 10.5 for loss and three sacks and junior Logan Gardner (6-1, 205) has 33.5 tackles with 11.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Corby Padgett (6-3, 300) has 23 tackles with eight for loss and 1.6 sacks and Slater Thomas (5-6, 135) has 23.5 tackles with 2.5 for loss.

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