Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

City High (3-5) at Ottumwa (2-6)

Where: Schafer Stadium, 7 p.m.

Last season: City High 60, Ottumwa 14

Player to watch: Ottumwa junior quarterback Spencer Dalbey (5-10, 165) has completed 80-of-161 passes for 871 yards and six touchdowns and has rushed for a team-high 275 yards and four touchdowns.

Key stat: Ottumwa is allowing 232 rushing yards per game this season and has given up an average of 304 rushing yards per game during its current five-game losing streak.

About the Bulldogs: After a 2-1 start to the season Ottumwa has lost five game in a row following a 28-7 loss to Des Moines Roosevelt on Friday.

The Bulldogs are averaging 9.9 points and 190 total yards per game while averaging 4 yards per play.

Dalbey leads the Ottumwa offense while senior CJ Vance (5-8, 155) has rushed for 179 yards and a touchdown and senior Mitchell Jordan (5-8, 160) has rushed for 117 yards.

Senior Corbin Wilson (6-7, 215) has been the top target in the Ottumwa passing game with 32 receptions for 298 yards and two touchdowns and junior Nick Carlson (6-4, 170) has caught 11 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns.

On defense the Bulldogs are allowing 30.9 points and 355 total yards per game while allowing 7 yards per play.

Ottumwa has forced 13 turnovers in eight games with Jordan and Mason Gravett (6-0, 160) each picking off two passes.

Tate Frueh (5-10, 175) leads the Bulldogs with 44.5 tackles including seven for loss while John Inchell VI (5-9, 205) has 37.5 tackles with 5.5 for loss.

Charlie Morgan (6-4, 260) has 35 tackles and leads Ottumwa with 11 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

About the Little Hawks: City High is coming off a 41-14 loss to Liberty High on Friday in which the Little Hawks trailed just 14-7 at the half.

Senior quarterback Jackson Grabinski (6-0, 205) leads a City High offense that is averaging 28.9 points and 360 total yards per game while producing 6.3 yards per play.

The Little Hawks are averaging 149 rushing yards per game and 211 passing yards per game.

Grabinski has completed 110-of-171 passes while throwing for 1,285 yards and eight touchdowns with five interceptions and has rushed for 426 yards and five touchdowns.

Savion Miller (5-10, 200) has rushed for a team-high 832 yards and 14 touchdowns and has caught 24 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown.

Chayse Newton (5-8, 160) has caught a team-high 50 passes for 610 yards and five touchdowns and junior Branden Bickfhord (6-3, 168) has 36 receptions for 484 yards and three touchdowns.

On defense City High is allowing 27.4 points and 340 total yards per game while giving up 6.6 yards per play.

City High has forced 10 turnovers in eight games with senior Shepherd Stanton (6-2, 170) leading the team with five interceptions.

Junior linebacker Marshall Sheldon (6-1, 195) has 56 tackles with 10l5 for loss while Stanton has 35 tackles.

Junior Seth Barnett (5-10, 195) has 34 tackles with seven for loss and two sacks and Arrow Westerdahl (6-0, 190) has 29.5 tackles with four for loss.

Liberty High (5-3) at Muscatine (1-7)

Where: Muskie Field, 7:15 p.m.

Last season: Liberty High 68, Muscatine 14

Player to watch: Muscatine junior quarterback Garrick Fillmore (6-4, 170) has completed 104-of-187 passes for 1,025 yards and seven touchdowns with eight interceptions and has rushed for two touchdowns.

Key stat: Liberty High has allowed more than 300 yards of total offense just once in eight games this season and has held five of its eight opponents under 250 total yards.

About the Muskies: Muscatine snapped an eight-game losing streak that dated back to last season with a 28-13 win over Davenport Central last Friday in Davenport.

The Muskies are averaging 14.1 points and 224 total yards per game while averaging 4.2 yards per play.

Muscatine is averaging 133 passing yards and 91 rushing yards per game.

Senior Colin Glynn (6-1, 185) has rushed for a team-high 508 yards and four touchdowns and caught 17 passes for 190 yards while junior Emmanuel Glahn (5-8, 185) has added 108 rushing yards.

James Roberts (6-5, 205) has been the top pass catcher with 22 receptions for 305 yards and five touchdowns and Thomas Norton has caught 17 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown.

The Muscatine defense is allowing 37.1 points and 362 total yards per game while giving up 7 yards per play.

Muscatine has forced 11 turnovers through eight games with Jayden Saylee (6-0, 170) and Gavin Green (6-0, 165) leading the Muskies with two interceptions.

Jerry Mantan has a team-high 42 tackles while Roberts has 37 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss.

Glynn has 34 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss and Caleb Gault has 30 tackles with 3.5 for loss.

About the Lightning: Liberty High bounced back from a 27-26 week-seven loss to Pleasant Valley with a 41-14 win over City High last week in which the Lightning outscored the Little Hawks 27-7 in the second half.

The Lightning are 13^th in the Class 5A RPI rankings used to determine the 16 playoff qualifiers.

Liberty High is averaging 29.3 points and 382 total yards per game while posting 6.4 yards per play.

The Lightning have been balanced offensively averaging 281 passing yards and 100 rushing yards per game.

Senior quarterback Emerson Berner has completed 161-of-232 passes while throwing for 1,889 yards and 21 touchdowns with seven interceptions and has rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown.

Brody Beaver has rushed for a team-high 462 yards and four touchdowns and caught 14 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns while Leo Rozz has rushed for 212 yards and two touchdowns.

Pryor Reiners has a team-high 61 receptions for 868 yards and nine touchdowns and Adrian Clerry has caught 33 passes for 424 yards and six touchdowns.

Cooper Lester has 29 receptions for 419 yards and three touchdowns and Tate Rettig has caught 15 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.

The Liberty High defense is holding opponents to 18.5 points and 244 total yards per game while giving up 5.5 yards per play.

Liberty High has forced 20 turnovers in eight games with Clerry, Cooper Lester and Rettig each intercepting two passes.

Carter Lester leads the Lightning with 47 tackles including 11.5 for loss and Alex Strunk has 41 tackles with 11.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Asher Eisenbach has 31 tackles with 12.5 for loss and Eric Strunk has 29 tackles with eight for loss.

Hank Thompson has 25 tackles with 11.5 for loss and leads Liberty High with five sacks.

West High (4-4) at Linn-Mar (2-6)  

Where: Linn-Mar Stadium, 7 p.m.

Last season: West High 42, Linn-Mar 14

Player to watch: Linn-Mar junior quarterback Derek Roling (6-1, 165) has completed 94-of-145 passes while throwing for 1,205 yards and 10 touchdowns with four interceptions and has rushed for 187 yards and seven touchdowns.

Key stat: Five of the six losses for Linn-Mar have come to teams with at least five wins including three losses to six-win teams.

About the Trojans: West High had a two-game winning streak halted with a 32-11 loss to Cedar Rapids Prairie last week.

The Trojans have been among the best offensive teams in Class 5A this season averaging 29 points and 416 total yards per game while averaging 6.4 yards per play.

West High has been balanced offensively averaging 215 passing yards and 202 rushing yards per game.

Senior quarterback Reece Wheeler (5-11, 170) has completed 131-of-211 passes while throwing for 1,691 yards and 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions and has rushed for 293 yards and eight touchdowns.

Junior running back Atari Brown (5-11, 170) has rushed for 857 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Neil James (6-1, 180) has caught 38 passes for 608 yards and six touchdowns and Cade Towler (5-11, 170) has 29 receptions for 431 yards and five touchdowns.

Tayten Wheeler (6-2, 195) has 29 receptions for 326 yards and Cooper Bruxvoort (6-1, 175) has caught 21 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown.

The West High defense is allowing 26.5 points and 355 total yards per game while giving up 6.2 yards per play.

West High has forced 12 turnovers in eight games with James leading the team with two interceptions.

Carter Spark (5-10, 175) has a team-high 50 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and Jack Caylor (5-10, 195) has 44 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss.

Khylin Brink (6-0, 210) has 41.5 tackles with 8.5 for loss and Kingstone Ross (5-10, 195) has 30.5 tackles with 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Ashten Holmes (6-1, 210) has 30 tackles with 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

About the Lions: Linn-Mar has gone 2-2 following an 0-4 start to the season in which the Lions dropped three games by four points or less.

The Lions have wins over Davenport Central and Muscatine this season and are coming off a 35-7 loss at Cedar Falls last week.

Linn-Mar is averaging 24.9 points and 297 total yards per game while averaging 6.3 yards per play.

The Lions are averaging 167 passing yards and 130 rushing yards per game.

Senior Hud Turner (5-7, 175) has rushed for a team-high 478 yards and four touchdowns and Bradley Duncan-Porter (5-9, 205) has rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns.

Senior Deklan Thoms (6-0, 175) has caught 41 passes for 658 yards and seven touchdowns and Roman Nielsen (6-4, 180) has 23 receptions for 254 yards and a touchdown.

The Linn-Mar defense is holding opponents to 26.5 points and 362 total yards per game while allowing 6.3 yards per play.

The Lions have forced 11 turnovers in eight games with senior Warren Sickels (5-10, 165) leading the team with three interceptions.

Steel Morgan (5-11, 205) has a team-high 55.5 tackles with five tackles for loss and Sickels has 55 tackles.

Holden Heideman (6-1, 240) has 40 tackles with a team-high 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks and Brendan Corbett (5-9, 175) has 28.5 tackles with four tackles for loss.

Clear Creek Amana (5-3) at Oskaloosa (0-8)

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

Last season: Clear Creek Amana 43, Oskaloosa 0

Player to watch: Oskaloosa senior Cael Ashman (5-9, 120) has caught 14 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns.

Key stat: Clear Creek Amana had thrown a touchdown pass in each of the first eight games this season before failing to throw a touchdown pass in a loss to Pella last week.

About the Clippers: After a 5-1 start the Clippers have lost back-to-back games to Newton and Pella.

Clear Creek Amana is still alive for an at-large playoff berth in Class 4A and are 15^th in the 4A RPI ratings used to determine the four at-large postseason qualifiers.

Led by junior quarterback Texton Bollers (6-2, 180) the Clear Creek Amana offense is averaging 32 points and 324 total yards per game while posting 6.5 yards per play.

Bollers has completed 109-of-181 passes while throwing for a Class 4A leading 1,722 yards and 14 touchdowns with five interceptions and has rushed for 251 yards and four touchdowns.

Senior Ian Kelley (5-8, 195) has rushed for a team-high 439 yards and nine touchdowns and Cal Robertson (5-8, 160) has rushed for 128 yards and four touchdowns.

Junior Jonah Drake (5-8, 165) has a team-high 32 receptions for 402 yards and three touchdowns and senior Myles Howell (6-2, 200) has 12 receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

Nolan Dao (6-1, 195) has caught 12 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns.

Clear Creek Amana has forced 10 turnovers in eight games with four different Clippers recording an interception.

Clear Creek Amana is holding opponents to 20.8 points and 294 total yards per game while allowing 5.8 yards per play.

Dao leads the Clippers with 40 tackles including 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks and Avery Sorensen (6-4, 226) has 32.5 tackles with six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Noah Evans (5-9, 160) has 25 tackles and Brody Schrock (5-10, 145) has 25 tackles with five for loss.

About the Indians: Oskaloosa has lost 18 games in a row dating back to 2024 and is seeking to avoid a second consecutive winless season.

The Indians are coming off a 41-10 loss to Marion last Friday and have allowed 41 or more points in each of their past five games.

Junior quarterback Coleton Fawcett (5-10, 150) completed 16-of-32 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Marion last week.

Carter Jordan (5-8, 140) has rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns and Ashman is the top receiving target while Ayden Plumb (6-1, 180) has caught 20 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown.

Oskaloosa is averaging 11.9 points and 211 total yards per game while posting 4.7 yards per play.

On defense Oskaloosa is allowing 40 points and 391 total yards per game while giving up 7.5 yards per play.

The Indians have forced eight turnovers in seven games with Aaron Dye (6-0, 178) leading the team with two interceptions.

Stuart Fleener (6-0, 185) has 28.5 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and Barrett Rinehart-Lynch (6-0, 205) has 28.5 tackles with three for loss.

Colton Shaffer (5-10, 160) has 26.5 tackles with a team-leading 5.5 tackles for loss.

Fort Madison (3-5) at Solon (8-0)

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

Last season: Solon 51, Fort Madison 2

Player to watch: Fort Madison junior Moses Thatcher (5-9, 205) has rushed for 1,313 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

Key stat: Solon has scored at least 38 points in every game this season and has scored 41 or more points six times.

About the Spartans: Solon locked up the Class 3A, District 4 title last week with a 38-6 win over previously unbeaten Mount Pleasant last Friday and will look to secure a second consecutive unbeaten regular season on Friday.

The Spartans are averaging 44.4 points and 376 total yards per game while posting 8.5 yards per play.

Solon has been balanced offensively averaging 156 passing yards and 221 rushing yards per game.

Senior quarterback Maddox Kelley (5-10, 185) has completed 68-of-100 passes while throwing for 1,107 yards and 18 touchdowns with four interceptions and has rushed for a team-high 761 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Jackson Burk (5-8, 180) has rushed for 458 yards and six touchdowns and Kaden Hoeper (6-2, 190) has caught a team-high 28 passes for 470 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Owen Bock (6-1, 180) has 14 receptions for 307 yards and four touchdowns and Cody Milliman (6-2, 200) has 14 catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns.

The Solon defense is holding opponents to 6 points and 193 total yards per game while allowing just 3.9 yards per play.

Solon has forced 16 turnovers in eight games with four different Spartans intercepting at least two passes.

Lucas Feuerbach (6-2, 260) leads Solon with 39 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss and James Thomsen (6-3, 230) has 21.5 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.

Simon Einwalter (6-3, 215s) has 30.5 tackles with a team-high 14.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

About the Bloodhounds: After a 3-2 star to the season Fort Madison has dropped three straight game while being outscored 134-30 in losses to Mount Pleasant, Fairfield and Washington.

The Bloodhounds are averaging 25.6 points and 307 total yards per game while averaging 5.6 yards per play.

Fort Madison is averaging 212 rushing yards per game and 6 yards per carry and 95 passing yards per game.

Junior quarterback Owen Huffman (5-9, 155) has completed 80-of-151 passes for 733 yards and eight touchdowns with five interceptions and has rushed or 351 yards and four touchdowns.

Thacher leads the rushing attack while Aurelio Jaciunde (5-10, 150) has caught 13 passes for 200 yards and four touchdowns.

Max Jones (6-3, 225) has 23 receptions for 176 yards and Jayden Cratton (6-1, 160) has 10 receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns.

Fort Madison has forced seven turnovers in seven games with five fumble recoveries and two interceptions.

The Bloodhounds are allowing 37.1 points and 365 total yards per game while allowing 8.6 yards per play.

Liam Prier (5-10, 170) has a team-high 45 tackles with 38 solo stops while Marshall Hetimann (5-10, 205) has 44 tackles with five for loss.

Ren Watson (6-2, 220) has 35.5 tackles with a team-high six tackles for loss and two sacks.

Waterloo Columbus (2-6) at Class 1A No. 1 Regina (8-0)

Where: Regal Field, 7 p.m.

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Waterloo Columbus senior quarterback Bryce Noland (6-1, 192) has completed 105-of-203 passes for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns with 10 interceptions and has rushed for a team-high 660 yards and five touchdowns.

Key stat: Regina has held five consecutive opponents to single digit scoring outputs and hasn’t allowed more than 12 points in a game this season.

About the Sailors: Despite being 2-6 the Sailors have been outscored by a total of just 213-173 on the season and four of the six losses for Waterloo Columbus have come by eight points or fewer.

The Sailors have four losses to teams with at least five wins including losses to third-ranked Aplington-Parkersburg and seventh-ranked Dyersville Beckman.

Waterloo Columbus is averaging 21.7 points and 316 total yards per game while averaging 5.9 yards per play.

Noland leads the Sailor offense that is averaging 168 passing yards and 148 rushing yards per game.

Isaac Sitzman (5-11, 160) has rushed for 463 yards and seven touchdowns and senior Owen Hosch (6-4, 190) has caught 60 passes for 874 yards and nine touchdowns.

Carter Hogendorn (5-10, 150) has five receptions for 172 yards and a touchdown and Spencer Schaefer (6-0, 160) has 16 receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown.

Waterloo Columbus is allowing 26.7 points and 342 total yards per game while giving up 7 yards per play.

The Sailors have forced 18 turnovers in eight games this season including 14 interceptions.

August Treinen (6-1, 180) has a team-high 66.5 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss and Thomas Fereday (6-4, 255) has 33 tackles with 8.5 for loss and four sacks.

Hosch has 29.5 tackles with seven for loss.

About the Regals: Regina completed a second consecutive unbeaten regular season last Friday with a 47-6 win over Louisa-Muscatine.

The Regals have been efficient on both sides of the ball through eight games.

Regina is averaging 45.6 points and 405 total yards per game on offense while averaging 9.7 yards per play.

Junior quarterback Aiden Gaffey (6-3, 170) has completed 63-of-84 passes for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns without an interception.

Gabe Hegelheimer (6-0, 205) has rushed for 970 yards and 14 touchdowns and has caught 13 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns.

Tate Wallace (6-4, 240) has 24 receptions for 365 yards and four touchdowns and Holt Hinkel (5-11, 145) has caught 12 passes for 357 yards and five touchdowns.

The Regina defense is allowing 6.8 points and 164 total yards per game while holding opponents to 4 yards per play.

Roan Eckhoff (6-2, 225) leads Regina with 42.5 tackles including 7.5 for loss while Wallace has 37 tackles with 19 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.

Zachary Poe (6-1, 190) has 19 tackles with 3.5 for loss and Luke Hamilton (5-11, 175) has 17 tackles with five for loss.

Class 2A No. 10 Osage (7-1) at West Branch (4-4)   

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

Last season: Did not play

Player to watch: Osage senior running back Gavin Muller (6-0, 220) has rushed for a Class 2A-leading 1,449 yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 7.6 yards per carry and has nine receptions for 73 yards. Muller also leads Osage with 74 tackles, including 28 tackles for loss and has two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Key stat: Muller has accounted for better than 52 percent of the total offense for Osage this season averaging 190 total yards per game.

About the Green Devils: Osage opened the season with five consecutive wins and closed the regular season with back-to-back wins over Crestwood and Forest City following a 30-20 loss at Waukon in week six.

The Green Devils are averaging 31.6 points and 365 total yards per game while averaging 7.3 yards per play.

Muller is the main offensive threat while senior quarterback Griffin Uhlenhopp (6-0, 165) has completed 61-of-104 passes while throwing for 786 yards and nine touchdowns with five interceptions and has rushed for 306 yards and five touchdowns.

Cooper Street (5-10, 188) has caught a team-high 21 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns and Tate Tabbert (6-0, 189) has 17 receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown.

Osage is holding opponents to 13.5 points and 238 total yards per game while giving up 4.5 yards per play.
The Green Devils are allowing 124 rushing yards and 115 passing yards.

Kamden Ross (5-11, 187) has 45 tackles with seven for loss while Rylen Hanson (5-11, 168) has 38 tackles with four for loss.

Cayl Muller (6-0, 197) has 23.5 tackles with 10.5 for loss and three sacks.

About the Bears: West Branch rebounded from a 1-4 start to the season with three consecutive wins to close the regular season.

The Bears won consecutive games over Tipton, Anamosa and Bellevue to earn a runner-up finish in Class 2A, District 5.

West Branch is averaging 19.5 points and 258 total yards per game while averaging 5.4 yards per play.

Senior Keaton Gates has rushed for a team-high 1,250 yards and 14 touchdowns and Motley Johnston has rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown.

Freshman quarterback Teddy Bucknell has completed 18-of-29 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown and has rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns.

Freshman Thomas Pedersen has caught 24 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns.

The West Branch defense is holding opponents to 22.9 points and 290 total yards while allowing 6.1 yards per play.

Johnston has a team-high 43.5 tackles with four for loss and Gates has 40 tackles with two for loss.

Brooks Seydel has 32 tackles and a team-high four interceptions and Gabe Depoorter has 22 tackles with 7.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks.

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