Playoffs: Five Difference Makes In Round Of 16
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All seven classifications hit the field Friday night for the round of 16 in the Iowa prep football playoffs. And boy are we in for a treat. Plenty of intriguing and interesting matchups are on the docket. Here is a…
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Continue ReadingAll seven classifications hit the field Friday night for the round of 16 in the Iowa prep football playoffs.
And boy are we in for a treat.
Plenty of intriguing and interesting matchups are on the docket. Here is a look at five players who will have a key impact in their respective team either moving one step closer to the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, or making that emotional post-game speech following a loss.
Aidan Junker Aidan Junker 6'0" | 170 lbs | RB Aplington-Parkersburg | 2023 IA – Aplington-Parkersburg
Two historic programs square off as Aplington-Parkersburg entertains Western Christian in Class 1A action. Both also feature very talented dual-threat running backs. For the Falcons, senior Aidan Junker Aidan Junker 6'0" | 170 lbs | RB Aplington-Parkersburg | 2023 IA makes the offense go.
Junker is an elusive back, running for over 830 yards and 14 touchdowns on just 125 carries. But, he also has great hands, catching 14 passes for 239 and two scores. And, on defense, Junker is the leading tackler with 43.5 stops, including eight for loss.
The ability of Gavin Thomas and Aplington-Parkersburg to get Junker into space and perform will be important.
Jaxon Cherry Jaxon Cherry 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB Webster City | 2024 State IA – Webster City
What is the best way to keep a high-octane offense off the field? Have a bruising, speedy running back to churn out yards and first downs, while also bleeding the clock. Look for Webster City to do just that when they meet Iowa City Liberty in Class 4A action.
The Lynx, one of the top running teams in the state, are led by junior Jaxon Cherry Jaxon Cherry 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB Webster City | 2024 State IA . On the year, Cherry has 1,664 yards and 29 touchdowns on 194 carries, adding another 88 yards and a score in the air. He is also a key component of the Webster City defense with seven tackles for loss and four sacks.
To pull the upset and best Liberty and quarterback Graham Beckman Graham Beckman 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Liberty | 2024 State IA , expect plenty of Cherry along with his backfield mates Ty McKinney Ty McKinney 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Webster City | 2023 IA and CJ Hisler CJ Hisler 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Webster City | 2023 IA .
Ayden Price Ayden Price 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Valley | 2023 IA – West Des Moines Valley
It looks weird to see West Des Moines Valley sitting at 5-4 and on the road to begin the Class 5A playoffs. But this has been a weird season, and you can bet the Tigers are just happy to still be playing. One thing they have going for them is senior standout Ayden Price Ayden Price 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Valley | 2023 IA .
One of the top uncommitted prospects in Iowa, the two-time elite all-stater with 4.46 speed is a difference-maker. He has 361 yards receiving on 40 catches, adding 185 yards more on the ground. Price has found his way to the end zone four times.
Cole Ritchie Cole Ritchie 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB East (Sioux City) | 2023 State IA – Sioux City East
JJ Kohl JJ Kohl 6'6" | 225 lbs | QB Ankeny | 2023 State IA gets the headlines going into Ankeny’s matchup with Sioux City East, and rightfully so, but the Iowa State commit is far from the only standout quarterback set to take to the field. East features senior Cole Ritchie Cole Ritchie 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB East (Sioux City) | 2023 State IA , and you can bet there is nothing Ritchie and the Black Raiders would like more than knocking Kohl and the Hawks out short of the UNI-Dome.
Ritchie is a prototypical pocket passer, throwing for 2,559 yards and 31 touchdowns while completing 184 of 278 passes. He has a standout target in senior Kelynn Jacobsen Kelynn Jacobsen 6'3" | 190 lbs | WR Sioux City East | 2023 State IA who will give the Ankeny defense fits all night.
Max Burt Max Burt 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Newman Catholic | 2023 IA – Mason City Newman
Max Burt Max Burt 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Newman Catholic | 2023 IA is a Div. I athlete, as evident by his commitment to play baseball next year at the University of Iowa. But, now in his fourth season as the Mason City Newman quarterback, Burt is a superstar on the gridiron, as well. He enters a matchup with North Linn having thrown for over 1,500 yards, rushed for almost 500 and as a top tackler for the Knights.
Burt has consistently improved as a passer, sitting now at 120 of 192 on the year. He has 36 offensive touchdowns, having thrown for 24, ran in 11 and even caught one. On defense, he has three interceptions and 54.5 tackles.