Top Week 1 Games in Each Class, Players to Watch

We made it. Week 1 of high school football in the state kicks off later this week.   Each week, I'll highlight a game in every class along with players to watch in that contest. If you're looking for a broader view of some of the top student-athletes in Iowa, you can check out our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/08/23-preseason-super-7-eight-player-defensive-backs/">Super 7 series</a> from this preseason.   Class 5A   Game of the Week: Southeast Polk at West Des Moines Valley, Friday, 7.p.m.   The Setup: It's a rematch of last season's 5A title game won by Southeast Polk, 49-14. The Rams also won the regular-season matchup, 24-7, in Week 2.   The Tigers are among the teams looking to unseat two-time defending state champion Southeast Polk. They're seeking to end a four-game skid in the series after winning six in a row against their central Iowa rival.   Players to Watch: Southeast Polk must replace plenty of star power from last year's squad, including left tackle Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) and Abu Sama (Iowa State). The Rams do welcome back starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='376911' first='Connor' last='Moberly'], an Iowa State commitment, along with IPSWA first-team all-state linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='247990' first='Draven' last='Woods'] and offensive lineman Brayden Harmon, a second-team all-stater in '22. Carson Robbins comes back after leading the team in receiving yards (743) and touchdown catches (6) last fall.   Valley also will be making up for graduation losses, including all-everything performer Ayden Price, a freshman at Iowa. The Tigers do bring in exciting sophomore quarterback Jayden McGregory, who transferred in from Des Moines Roosevelt this offseason, and reports scholarship offers from Iowa State and Minnesota. He'll be throwing to standout receiver [player_tooltip player_id='847795' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson'], who reports offers from Colorado, Iowa, Iowa State, Missouri and Vanderbilt. Offensive lineman Braylon Jenkins along with a 1-2 punch at running back in [player_tooltip player_id='847993' first='Darius' last='Mason'] and Damon Head add to a wealth of talent on that side of the ball.   Other Marquee Matchups in 5A: Joliet Catholic at Iowa City High; Ankeny Centennial at Ankeny; Johnston at Waukee Northwest; Bettendorf at Pleasant Valley; Cedar Rapids Prairie at Cedar Falls; West Des Moines Dowling at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (Saturday).   Class 4A   Game of the Week: Cedar Rapids Xavier at Waverly-Shell Rock, Friday, 7:30 p.m.   The Setup: The defending state-champion Saints hit the road for their season opener against a Waverly-Shell Rock outfit that won 10 of 11 games last season. These teams will be among the favorites to win their respective districts again in '23.   Xavier has claimed victory in the five previous meetings between these programs. They last met in '17.   Players to Watch: Xavier quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='633628' first='Ronan' last='Thomas'] completed 67.1 percent of his passes with 21 touchdowns and just five interceptions last season as a junior. He added nine rushing scores. His classmates - Coleton Beasler-Weber, Bryce Kramer and [player_tooltip player_id='533050' first='Eddie' last='Becu'] - enjoyed strong 11-grade campaigns as well.   The Go-Hawks also welcome back their quarterback in senior Cole Marsh, an Iowa pledge. He'll be supported by running backs Ethan Bibler and [player_tooltip player_id='248044' first='Robert' last='Poyner'], who also stands out on defense. Cole Thompson is coming off a junior year that saw him rack up 8.0 tackles for loss.   Other Marquee Matchups in 4A: Lewis Central at Harlan (3A); Urbandale (5A) at Indianola; ADM at Newton; Fort Madison at Burlington.   Class 3A   Game of the Week: Solon at Davenport Assumption, Friday, 7:30 p.m.   The Setup: I could have gone in a couple of different directions in this class, but decided on two 3A programs with rich histories who could meet again in the postseason. Solon has won all six meetings in this new rivalry, including a 35-10 decision last season. The teams plays twice in '21.   Players to Watch: Senior [player_tooltip player_id='248019' first='Brett' last='White'], a Baylor baseball commitment, excels on both sides of the ball for Solon. He's coming off a season that saw him rush for almost 1,000 yards (8.3 YPC) and stack up 15.0 tackles for loss. Nash Kotar, Cole Buffington, [player_tooltip player_id='665099' first='Ben' last='Kampman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1360745' first='Grant' last='Wilson'] are others Spartans on which to keep an eye.   Assumption brings back its starting quarterback in senior [player_tooltip player_id='299869' first='Jake' last='Timmons'], its top touchdown scorer from '22 in running back [player_tooltip player_id='247948' first='Angelo' last='Jackson'] and Bauer Caspers, the team's leading receiver. Rhett Schaefer is back after producing 7.0 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks last fall.   Other Marquee Matchups in 3A: Kuemper Catholic (2A) at Bishop Heelan; Harlan at Lewis Central (4A); Monticello at Mount Vernon; Central DeWitt at North Scott; Spencer (4A) at Humboldt; Fort Dodge at Webster City.   Class 2A   Game of the Week: Nevada (3A) at West Marshall, Friday, 7:30 p.m.   The Setup: Writing up the previous classes in this piece, I tried to pick matchups of teams in the same class. I couldn't resist this one, however.   West Marshall will be motivated in '23 after running the table in the regular season before falling to Dubuque Wahlert in a second-round 2A playoff game. Nevada is seeking revenge for 35-31 home loss to West Marshall a year ago on its way to an 8-3 season.   Players to Watch: West Marshall's [player_tooltip player_id='252236' first='Ben' last='Gonzalez'] returns at running back on the heels of a sophomore season that saw him rush for 1,398 yards and 14 touchdowns. Receivers Preston Reese and Jace Eich along with defenders Dillon McMorran and Carson Davis also are part of a strong foundation.   The Cubs bring back leading rusher, [player_tooltip player_id='247944' first='Cason' last='Stevenson'], and receiver, Kyle Kingsbury, from last season. Leading tackler Jackson Burlage also returns along with two-way contributor Will Palmer.   Other Marquee Matchups in 2A: Spirit Lake at Algona (3A); Kuemper Catholic at Bishop Heelan (3A); Van Meter at Underwood (1A); Monticello at Mount Vernon (3A).   Class 1A   Game of the Week: Grundy Center at Dike-New Hartford, Friday, 7 p.m.   The Setup: Grundy Center moves up after winning the Class A championship without losing a game in '22. That included a 17-14 home triumph against Dike-New Hartford. The Wolverines reached the second round of the 1A playoffs a year ago.   Players to Watch: Grundy Center is equipped for the step up in class with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='320787' first='Colin' last='Gordon'] returning after passing for more than 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns, and topping 500 yards with 11 rushing scores in '22. Running back Justin Knaack (890 yards, 19 TDs) also comes back as does the team's top three receivers - [player_tooltip player_id='320785' first='Tate' last='Jirovsky'], [player_tooltip player_id='252315' first='Tiernan' last='Vokes'] and Tanner Laube.   Micah Walston is back for DNH after piling up 679 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing to go with four more scores through the air. Zachry Adelmund stands out on both sides of the line for the Wolverines, while teammate Jayce Jensen looks to build on the three interceptions he had a year ago.   Other Marquee Matchups in 1A: West Branch at Williamsburg (3A); West Liberty (2A) at Iowa City Regina; Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn (A) at West Sioux; Van Meter (2A) at Underwood.   Class A   Game of the Week: North Linn at Alburnett   The Setup: These schools, separated by about 13 miles, have played in 14 of the last 15 years, including the last 12 in a row. They've split the last four meetings. Alburnett moved up a class to 1A after last season, while North Linn remained in A.   Players to Watch: North Linn finished 9-2 a year ago with then-sophomore Mason Bechen rushing for 900 yards and 15 touchdowns. Seniors Landen Helmrich, Jake Van Etten and Lane Sommerfelt lead a stingy Lynx defense.   Alburnett squeezed out a 16-13 victory at North Linn last season en route to an 8-2 campaign. Braydon Osborn (38 catches, 532 yards, 8 touchdowns) and Payton Baker (26-320-3) stood out as junior receivers. Their classmate, Rory McGargill, scored three rushing touchdowns and totaled 42.0 tackles. Josiah Steen and Matthew Neighbor shined on defense in their sophomore seasons.   Other Marquee Matchups in A: Osage (2A) at St. Ansgar; Lawton-Bronson (1A) at Woodbury Central; Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn at West Sioux (1A); Columbus at Mediapolis (2A).   8-Player   Game of the Week: West Bend-Mallard at Newell-Fonda, Friday, 7 p.m.   The Setup: These teams combined to go 17-5 last season, both reaching the playoffs. Newell-Fonda's campaign ended with a tough 29-21 loss to WACO in the state semifinals. Eventual state-champion Remsen St. Mary's eliminated West Bend-Mallard in the second round.   These rivals have played every season since '10. Newell-Fonda has won 12 of the 14 meetings, including the last nine.   Players to Watch: Newell-Fonda is replacing its starting quarterback, top three rushers, top four receivers and top two tacklers from a year ago. Ty Tauber and Trenton Struss return after putting together strong junior seasons. Current junior [player_tooltip player_id='1359055' first='Guyson' last='Lyman'] could take on a bigger role in '23.   Landon Montag is back for West Bend-Mallard after rushing for 834 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior last fall. The defense will be led by Jaxon Zaugg, who had 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks a year ago.   Other Marquee Matchups in 8-Player: Don Bosco at Gladbrook-Reinbeck; Winfield-Mount Union at Central City; East Mills at West Harrison; New London at Easton Valley.

We made it. Week 1 of high school football in the state kicks off later this week.