Class A State Championship Game Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've reached the final week of the prep football season in Iowa. Champions will be crowed Thursday and Friday at the UNI-Dome.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To get you prepared for the action, we bring you some players to watch from each title contest. Here's a look at the Class A matchup:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GRUNDY CENTER (12-0) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>No. 7 [player_tooltip player_id='320787' first='Colin' last='Gordon'], '24, QB/DB, 6-1, 181 - </strong>The junior is completing more than 70 percent of his passes for 1,942 yards and 23 touchdowns with eight interceptions. He's added 432 yards and 10 scores rushing. Defensively, he's picked off three passes, and delivered 3.0 tackles for a loss and a sack. He's averaged 39.0 yards on 21 punts as well. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>No. 23 Justin Knaack, '24, RB/LB, 5-8, 149 - </strong>Knaack leads the Spartans with 786 yards and 19 touchdowns rushing. He's also contributed 22 solo tackles and 7.0 tackles for loss. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>No. 76 [player_tooltip player_id='320786' first='Trent' last='Cakerice'], '24, OL/DL, 6-5, 231 - </strong>Cakerice is a big boy and a nice prospect. He paces Grundy Center in total tackles (64.5), tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (4.0). He's also recorded a Pick-6 this season. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>No. 24 [player_tooltip player_id='248024' first='Clay' last='Saak'], '24, RB/LB, 5-11, 183 - </strong>A three-phase contributor, Saak has 447 yards and five touchdowns rushing, seven catches for 30 yards and two scores, 53.5 tackles (5.5 for loss), two fumble recoveries, an interception and 286 yards on 24 punt returns. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>No. 18 [player_tooltip player_id='252315' first='Tiernan' last='Vokes'], '25, TE/DL, 6-4, 194 - </strong>The sophomore leads his squad with 10 receiving touchdowns with 439 yards on 24 catches. He's added 18 tackles (11.0 solo), a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BRITT WEST HANCOCK (12-0) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>No. 5 [player_tooltip player_id='247896' first='Rylan' last='Barnes'], '23, TE/LB, 6-3, 200 - </strong>The senior has caught 27 balls for 526 yards and eight touchdowns to go with 92 rushing yards and four scores. Defensively, he's picked off five passes and recovered three fumbles. He has 72.0 tackles, 13.5 of which are for loss. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>No. 15 Mitchell Smith, '24, QB/LB, 6-4, 210 - </strong>Smith has thrown for more than 700 yards and 11 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He's rushed 128 times for 1.016 yards and 11 scores. On defense, he has delivered 2.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. He has intercepted two passes and averaged 23.2 yards on 10 punt returns. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>No. 7 Kale Zuehl, '24, RB/LB, 5-11, 200 - </strong>Zuehl leads Eagles with 1,169 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. He's added 10.5 tackles (6 solo, 1.5 for loss). He's converted 10 two-point conversions. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>No. 57 [player_tooltip player_id='247996' first='David' last='Smith'], '24, OT-DE, 6-1, 210 - </strong>Smith creates havoc off the edge. He leads West Hancock with 5.5 sacks and is tied with Barnes for the most tackles for loss (13.5). Of his 47.0 total tackles, 27 are solo. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>No. 1 Jaxen Peterson, '24, RB/CB, 5-11, 150 -</strong> Peterson has rushed 64 times for 432 yards and seven touchdowns. He's added five receptions for 63 yards and two scores. He's recorded 27.0 tackles (20 solo, 1.0 for loss) and a Pick-6. He's averaged 26.2 yards and scored a touchdown on 10 kick returns. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->