1st Edition – Week 5 Games and Players to Watch

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Week 5 of the Iowa High School football season hasn’t even started fully yet, but things have started to get crazy. Many good teams will be sitting at home this week, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any good games.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Let’s take a look at some games and players to watch for tonight.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Look for more editions, more players, and more games to watch for before kickoff tonight.</span> &nbsp; <strong>Johnston vs. Waukee</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Talk about two teams who have been sandwiched with deadly schedules. These two teams have played a ranked team almost every night, yet they’re a combined 5-3.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Players to watch</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Jakob Holcomb, Waukee - Waukee likes to run, but they will need to stay balanced. Holcomb has done an excellent job in the passing game this season. He’s thrown for 497 yards, six touchdowns, and just one pick.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="23834" first="Joe" last="Morrison"], Waukee - Morrison is another senior for Waukee that will need to be significant. Morrison leads the Warriors in tackles with 22.5, and Waukee will need to stop the Johnston offense.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Karter Kriegel, Johnston - Waukee can’t let Kriegel get into the open-field. On just 11 catches this season, he has 230 yards and three touchdowns - an incredible 21.7 yards per catch.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="23998" first="Jack" last="Rutz"], Johnston - The Dragons dual-threat quarterback can be dangerous every time he steps on the field. He completes 50% percent of his passes in the pocket, but he has thrown for 714 yards and six touchdowns. He has scored another three touchdowns on the ground, 125 yards on 23 carries, his longest from 67 yards out.</span> &nbsp; <strong>Mason City vs. Webster City</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">This could be one of the most underrated games in the state this week. A game no one is talking about, but I will. Both teams are two of just a few undefeated teams left in Class 3A. Mason City has only played two games this season, and I think they have something to prove.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Players to watch</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="24005" first="Carter" last="Thomas"], Mason City - A star in multiple sports for the MoHawks, Thomas will need to be a playmaker this week. Thomas has caught nine passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. He can be dangerous anywhere, though. They gave him the ball once in the backfield, and he broke it off for a 21-yard touchdown. Oh wait, in two games this season, Thomas has two interceptions.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Connor Dalen, Mason City - The other stud on offense for Mason City is Dalen. He’s rushed for 202 yards and four touchdowns through the first two games.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Everyone in the stadium tonight will know what the Lynx want to do on offense. They will run the football all night with a committee of backs. Instead of the standard picking a couple of key guys, I’m going to highlight the Webster City backfield.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Chase Rattenborg, Webster City - 58 carries, 364 yards, and four touchdowns</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">CJ Hisler, Webster City - 32 carries, 148 yards, four touchdowns</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Trey Mathis, Webster City - 86 carries, 607 yards, three touchdowns</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Other guys Connor Hanson, Jaxon Cherry, Kyzer Stanley, Keegan Hisler, Austin Mason, will all be in the backfield for Webster City.</span>