Key Player In Each Class 4A Quarterfinal Playoff Game

Man oh man, are we in for quite the slate of action in Class 4A this Friday night. First, can seven-time defending state champion West Des Moines Dowling end the surprising postseason run of rival West Des Moines Valley? Iowa City West looks to continue its charge to the UNI-Dome when they try to eliminate Pleasant Valley, Cedar Rapids Kennedy hits the road to take on No. 1 Southeast Polk and Ankeny faces Waukee in a battle of teams very familiar with one another. Here’s a look at a key player from each team that could make a big difference this week: <strong>Iowa City West at Pleasant Valley</strong> <em>[player_tooltip player_id="23831" first="Marcus" last="Morgan"], Iowa City West (2021)</em> It was a trying season for Iowa City West, as the Trojans were forced to wait to play for several weeks. However, that could serve them well as they are a little more rested at this point. [player_tooltip player_id="23831" first="Marcus" last="Morgan"] is a top recruit for both football and baseball. The West senior has thrown for over 1,400 yards, is completing nearly 70 percent of his passes and has a sparking 17-to-3 TD-to-interception ratio. He also shows off his athleticism with 207 yards and six scores on the ground. <em>Andrew DePaepe, Pleasant Valley (2023)</em> Definitely remember this name moving forward, as Andrew DePaepe could turn into quite the find from the Class of 2023. The Pleasant Valley sophomore will be looking to chase down [player_tooltip player_id="23831" first="Marcus" last="Morgan"] this week. DePaepe leads a strong Pleasant Valley defense with 3.5 sacks and five tackles for loss. At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, he is going to stand out on the field and will make a big impact over the next two seasons. <strong>Cedar Rapids Kennedy at Southeast Polk</strong> <em>[player_tooltip player_id="23839" first="Max" last="White"], Cedar Rapids Kennedy (2021)</em> If Cedar Rapids Kennedy is going to make it to the UNI-Dome this fall, they will do so behind the play of [player_tooltip player_id="23839" first="Max" last="White"]. The talented senior quarterback has thrown for 535 yards with four TDs while rushing for 1,300 with 17 scores. White is a true athlete at the position, averaging over seven yards per carry and 14 yards per completion. How athletic is he? White averages over 23 yards per kickoff return. Not too often you find your starting QB returning kicks, especially at this level of play. <em>[player_tooltip player_id="23942" first="Xavier" last="Nwankpa"], Southeast Polk (2022)</em> Pinpointing just one for Southeast Polk to highlight is tough, as the Rams feature one of the more talented rosters in the state. However, the X-factor could be [player_tooltip player_id="23942" first="Xavier" last="Nwankpa"]. Nwankpa has become one of the top defenders in the country, but he also gets it done on offense, averaging nearly 12 yards per rush with seven touchdowns. On the other side, he has picked off five passes, returning one for a score while also averaging 10.5 yards per punt return and a 92-yard kickoff return to his credit. <strong>Ankeny at Waukee</strong> <em>[player_tooltip player_id="23828" first="Jase" last="Bauer"], Ankeny (2021)</em> Yes, [player_tooltip player_id="23828" first="Jase" last="Bauer"] has been gifted with high-level talent around him including University of Iowa recruits [player_tooltip player_id="23810" first="Brody" last="Brecht"] and [player_tooltip player_id="35343" first="Arland" last="Bruce IV"]. However, Bauer makes all the right decisions and is a special athletic in his own right. On the year, the senior has completed nearly 64 percent of his passes for 1,642 yards with 24 touchdowns, adding another 543 yards and seven scores on the ground. <em>Alexander Linquist, Waukee (2021)</em> When you look at the explosive players Ankeny presents, one would think Waukee’s focus will be to control the clock. That is where senior running back Alexander Linquist comes in. Linquist has carried the ball 262 times this year, recording over 1,400 yards and six scores. He also is strong out of the backfield, having caught 10 passes. Look for the Warriors to lean heavily on the 190-pound back. <strong>West Des Moines Valley at West Des Moines Dowling</strong> <em>Mason Morrow, West Des Moines Valley (2022)</em> Sitting at 1-4, West Des Moines Valley appeared ready to pack it in and focus on 2021. However, these Tigers rallied, winning their final two regular season games before handling both Council Bluffs Lincoln and Urbandale to advance. Mason Morrow didn’t start those early games, giving way to Jake Rubley, but when Rubley was declared ineligible, he stepped right in. Morrow has completed over 61 percent of his passes for 551 yards with three TDs, adding another two scores on the ground. <em>[player_tooltip player_id="23842" first="Louis" last="Brooks"], West Des Moines Dowling (2021)</em> Expect seven-time and defending state champion West Des Moines Dowling to go for the throat of rival West Des Moines Valley early behind senior [player_tooltip player_id="23842" first="Louis" last="Brooks"]. Brooks is a game-changer, averaging 17 yards and hauling in eight touchdowns this year. He has excellent speed and can carry the offense with his abilities at the wide receiver position.