Prep Redzone Iowa | Games of the Week | 3rd Edition

Take a look below at the game preview capsules for some of Iowa’s most high-profile contests that feature top talent, sought-after recruits, and rising stars. The spotlight will be on these programs after two weeks have set the stage for some very exciting matchups. Every week brings new challenges and these teams certainly have their hands full. Who will come out on top in Prep Redzone Iowa’s games of the week? Waukee Northwest vs. Southeast Polk The Wolves are off to an 0-2 start, but those losses have only come by a combined 8 points and they were against two of 5A’a better teams in Dowling Catholic and Valley. Southeast Polk, having played the same two teams, is sitting on the other end at 2-0, but haven’t exactly won in the kind of blowout fashion many were expecting the Rams to deliver. This matchup, at least on paper, looks like it could be close and the Wolves will be fighting for a historical first program victory. For that to happen, though, the Wolves will need bigger contributions from Quarterback Carson Renken and star Wide Receiver [player_tooltip player_id="24008" first="Hayden" last="Huntley"]. They have been steady through two weeks, but an uptick in productivity will be necessary. [player_tooltip player_id="147998" first="Tanner" last="Spyksma"] is one of the better, and more underrated, backs in Iowa and he can’t do it alone against the Rams’ top defense that features the likes of [player_tooltip player_id="23942" first="Xavier" last="Nwankpa"], [player_tooltip player_id="101038" first="Andrew" last="Harris"], and [player_tooltip player_id="100804" first="Andrew" last="Reed"]. New faces like [player_tooltip player_id="105163" first="Sam" last="Goode"] and Caleb Chebuhar make them even more dangerous. Will the Wolves defense, led by [player_tooltip player_id="100041" first="Benjamin" last="Reiland"], be able to slow down the Southeast Polk offense? [player_tooltip player_id="23947" first="Jaxon" last="Dailey"] has established some serious rapport with [player_tooltip player_id="148732" first="Cole" last="Filloon"]. It looks like this unit is on the verge of totally clicking and that could mean big problems for the rest of Iowa starting with Waukee Northwest this Friday. Prep Redzone Iowa’s Pick: Southeast Polk   Cedar Rapids Washington vs. Cedar Rapids Kennedy In a highly anticipated matchup and, possibly the biggest regular season game for each team, the 2-0 Warriors will take on the 2-0 Cougars in a rivalry game at their shared home, Kingston stadium. Washington has looked nothing short of dominant posting wins over Jefferson and Marion. Reid Ortiz looks settled in at Quarterback and there has been no shortage of weapons to hand the ball off to with [player_tooltip player_id="105206" first="Miles" last="Thompson"], Jabari Dobbs, Brisahn Fields splitting the workload. Can they be just as productive against a tougher opponent featuring top defenders like Ryker Stelling and [player_tooltip player_id="148881" first="Dkhai" last="Pope"]? The Warrior defense has only allowed 9 points so far this season. They are loaded with talent and led by [player_tooltip player_id="105189" first="Watts" last="McBride"] and [player_tooltip player_id="105168" first="Chase" last="Mahoney"] who are, without a doubt, a couple of the best Iowa has to offer. They stand to face a big challenge this week, certainly their most difficult task so far, in trying to find a way to stop Carson Blietz, [player_tooltip player_id="152703" first="Jazan" last="Williams"], and Jeron Senters. They have been one of the better trios in the state so far in steady, balanced offensive attacks that earned the Cougars wins against Iowa City West and Bettendorf. Each program boasts strengths and top players all over the field and on both sides of the ball. A lot of eyes will be on this one as Washington and Kennedy are looking like top contenders in 4A and 5A respectively. Prep Redzone Iowa’s Pick: Kennedy   Harlan vs. Sergeant Bluff-Luton Can anyone stop the 2-0 Harlan Cyclones and put one in their loss column? After gutting one out that went down to the wire against Lewis Central, their 3rd matchup with the Titans in seven games, it looks like only a few teams have a chance and the first up are the 2-0 Sergeant Bluff-Luton Warriors. The Harlan offense looks virtually unstoppable and have certainly met high expectations so far through two contests. [player_tooltip player_id="104082" first="Teagon" last="Kasperbauer"] and his slew of targets haven’t skipped a beat. [player_tooltip player_id="99142" first="Connor" last="Frame"], [player_tooltip player_id="104715" first="Aidan" last="Hall"], and [player_tooltip player_id="148723" first="Joey" last="Moser"] have fit the bill and, if they weren’t enough, you can add a fourth name in Jacob Birch to that crew who Kasperbauer has connected with often so far this season. It is hard to see anyone being able to score with the Cyclones, especially when you have arguably the best defensive players in Iowa on the other side of the ball in [player_tooltip player_id="23949" first="Will" last="McLaughlin"] getting the ball back in his offense’s hands. McLaughin’s future Iowa State teammate and another name that comes up in the best defensive players conversation, [player_tooltip player_id="23950" first="Jacob" last="Imming"], leads the charge for Sergeant Bluff-Luton. Stopping the Harlan offensive assault just doesn’t seem possible, but if the Warriors’ defense can get a few stops they do have some big time offensive players of their own in top Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="104079" first="Tyler" last="Smith"] and Wide Receiver Tyler Schenkelberg who can make it interesting. Prep Redzone Iowa’s Pick: Harlan   Estherville Lincoln Central vs. Humboldt A battle of 2-0 teams will take place in Humboldt here in week 3 as the Wildcats host the Midgets. Estherville Lincoln Central has a big opportunity to knock off a top contender in a classification above to solidify themselves as a serious threat in 2A. Humboldt will look to keep it rolling against one of the bigger challenges they will face in the regular season. The Wildcats’ offense has been on fire so far this year led by [player_tooltip player_id="148361" first="Caden" last="Matson"], one of the hottest Quarterbacks in Iowa. He has accumulated 729 total yards of offense and 9 passing touchdowns. Will Orness and Jacob Heier have been unstoppable in the receiving game and Running Back Lance Coon is settling in nicely to balance out the attack. [player_tooltip player_id="119142" first="Zavion" last="McMurran"], one of the top defensive players in the class of 2023, and the rest of the Midgets’ defense have their hands full. They have been lights out so far shutting out Storm Lake and holding West Lyon to 7 points, but this is a new challenge and one that will determine exactly who they are as a unit. On the other side of this contest is a balanced Estherville offense that will need to assert themselves early on to keep up with their counterpart that could put a lot of points on the board. Tyler Schiltz has been dynamic so far and certainly has the ability to strike fast, unless Humboldt’s Tanner McKimmey and [player_tooltip player_id="153180" first="Nolan" last="Lammers"] have something to say about it. Prep Redzone Iowa’s Pick: Humboldt   Monticello vs. Beckman Catholic Monticello is looking like a real contender in 2A; [player_tooltip player_id="156453" first="Preston" last="Ries"] and the rest of the Panthers will look to stay perfect as they host the Beckman Catholic Trailblazers in week 3. Ries has been nothing short of incredible through two games throwing for 592 yards and 6 touchdowns and rushing for 341 yards and 2 touchdowns. He is unquestionably one of the best dual-threats in Iowa and should be expected to give the Trailblazers’ defense fits this Friday. Caleb Sauser and Tate Peterson are very dangerous with the ball in their hands, too and Ries knows how to get it to them. Those three have led the charge on defense as well, accompanied by Rylan Cooper and Gage Guilford, to hold down a high powered Cascade offense and shut down Maquoketa so far on the year. Beckman Catholic is the first of a few remaining challenges for the Panthers in the regular season. The Knights wasted no time in sending a message to the rest of the 1A field with decisive wins over Anamosa and Camanche. Quarterback Cayden Gassmann and Running Back Owen Huehnergarth have given the Knights nearly perfect balance and efficiency on offense. These two will certainly test the Panthers this week. The Trailblazers defense is only allowing 7 points per game through two contests and the recipe the Knights have cooking could be hard for Monticello to figure out. Prep Redzone Iowa’s Pick: Monticello   IKM-Manning vs. Woodbury Central The Woodbury Central Wildcats are looking like a force to be reckoned with so far in Class A football. They came away with a huge win over fellow Class A top contender Logan-Magnolia in week 1 and fired on all cylinders in a week 2 rout of Hinton. This week they travel to IKM-Manning who is off to a 1-1 start after dropping a close contest to AHSTW in week 2. The Wolves will be looking to rebound at home, but will have to find a way to compete with and beat a very tough Wildcats team to make that happen. They have a two-headed monster in the backfield in Amos Rasmussen and Cooper Irlmeier, but will need Quarterback Nolan Ramsey to have a big night and take the Woodbury Central defense’s attention off their run game. The Wolves’ defense powered by Luke Ramsey and has been sound against tough competition, but will need to elevate their game and rise to what should be their biggest challenge yet. Woodbury Central Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="100847" first="Dallas" last="Kluender"] and Running Back [player_tooltip player_id="152758" first="Max" last="McGill"] steer the ship for the Wildcats’ offense and have been very effective through two games. They are pitching in to average nearly 400 yards of offense and that number can be expected to rise as they get into some contests with more typical game flow. Linebacker Luke Paulsen has held it down for the Wildcats on defense and should be showcased this Friday. Prep Redzone Iowa’s Pick: Woodbury Central   Bedford vs. Lenox The world of 8-player football brings the IHSAA an exciting matchup as the Bedford Bulldogs and Lenox Tigers will rumble in a battle of top ten teams. Each program has cruised to a 2-0 record. Bedford has defeated Lamoni 66-28 and Griswold 52-0 decisively. Lenox dominated Seymour 64-6 and East Mills 76-30. Expect plenty of points to be scored in this one as each team has a lot of big play ability, especially at Running Back. Both programs feature some of the best in the 8-player landscape. Silas Walston and Logan Bucher have been very productive through two weeks and the run-heavy attack will need to continue in week 3 if the Bulldogs want to maintain pace with Lenox. The Tigers have [player_tooltip player_id="152752" first="Isaac" last="Grundman"] pounding the rock and he has gone off so far this year for 346 yards and 6 touchdowns on just 15 carries. Several others have contributed for the Tigers this year in blowout wins, but expect the workload for Grundman to increase this week in what should be a very competitive game. Freshman Gabe Funk is taking snaps for Lenox, while the Bulldogs have a little more experience at Quarterback in Tristen Cummings. Look out if this game turns into any kind of scenario where one or both teams are forced to abandon the run. If for whatever reason Funk and Cummings have to air it out this game could come down to who has the better Quarterback play. Prep Redzone Iowa’s Pick: Lenox