Top Week 3 Games in Each Class, Players to Watch

Let's take a look at Week 3 top games and players in them for each class:   Class 5A   Game of the Week: Cedar Rapids Prairie (2-0) at Southeast Polk (2-0)   The Setup: We've got a doozy to wrap up non-group play in 5A.   Prairie and new coach Kyle Knock, who played at Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Iowa State, opened the season with home wins against Cedar Falls and Dubuque Senior. Two-time defending state champion Southeast Polk has downed West Des Moines Valley and Ankeny.   It's a great measuring stick for the Prairie Hawks and Eastern Iowa 5A football in '23.   Players to Watch: Prairie fields a balanced offense that has thrown for 462 yards and rushed for 368. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='533062' first='Will' last='Phillips'] is completing 63.8 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Casey Kelley, a senior running back, has 40 carries for 389 yards and six scores, while classmate Apollo Payne sits with 10 receptions for 235 yards and two TDs. On defense, Collin Velky (13 solo tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss) and [player_tooltip player_id='1581860' first='Quinton' last='Alexander'] (6.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks) are standing out.   Iowa State commitment [player_tooltip player_id='376911' first='Connor' last='Moberly'] (464 yards, 7 TDs, 1 Int.) is off to a fast start quarterbacking Southeast Polk. Carson Robbins (11 catches 202 yards, 4 TD) and [player_tooltip player_id='1278273' first='Sam' last='Zelenovich'] (13-192-2) are his favorite targets. [player_tooltip player_id='247990' first='Draven' last='Woods'] (5.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) and [player_tooltip player_id='640854' first='Cooper' last='Martinson'] (10 solo, .5 TFL, .5 sack) are playing well defensively.   Other Marquee Matchups in 5A: Cedar Falls at Ankeny Centennial; Pleasant Valley at Iowa City Liberty; Bettendorf at Urbandale.   Class 4A   Game of the Week: North Scott (2-0) at Davenport Assumption (2-0)   The Setup: We're cheating a bit here with Assumption being in 3A and North Scott in 4A. It's worth it. This one should be fire.   North Scott has won the last five in this series after breaking Assumption's four-game winning streak. The Lancers have posted dominating victories against Central DeWitt and Waverly-Shell Rock so far in '23. The Knights have topped Solon and Davenport North convincingly.   Players to Watch: North Scott's Kyler Gerardy is one of the most impactful offensive players in the state. He's completing an insane 84.6 percent of his passes for 443 yards and five touchdowns without a pick. He has 21 carries for 290 yards and five more scores. Junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1402859' first='Jerrod' last='Lee'] (24 carries, 119 yards, 1 TD) keeps defenses honest. Receivers Hunter Fox (4-123-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='1279117' first='Cash' last='Bowe'] (11-149-2) are Gerardy's top targets. Colin Albrecht, Owen Jordahl, Nolan Engelbrecht and Luke Belken lead a stingy defense.   Senior workhorse running back [player_tooltip player_id='247948' first='Angelo' last='Jackson'] has carried 53 times for 424 yards and seven touchdowns through two games for Assumption. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='299869' first='Jake' last='Timmons'] has shown he can hurt opponents with his arm and legs. Wideout Bauer Caspers has caught 12 passes for 165 yards and a score. Maverick Kindred, Rhett Schaefer, Landen Derrer and Keaton O'Neill have been sound on defense.   Other Marquee Matchups in 4A: Lewis Central at ADM; Ballard at Creston; Glenwood at Harlan; Western Dubuque at Xavier; Norwalk at Newton.   Class 3A   Game of the Week: North Polk (2-0) at Webster City (2-0)   The Setup: The first-ever meeting between these two schools shapes up to be an entertaining one. We're bending the rules here, too, with North Polk in 4A and Webster City one class lower. But, again, it's worth using the wiggle room.   Players to Watch: North Polk quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='320817' first='Isaac' last='Zoske'] is completing 60.0 percent of his passes for 496 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='1361480' first='BJ' last='Tate'] balances the offense with 34 carries for 145 yards and three scores. [player_tooltip player_id='320816' first='Kale' last='Yoakum'] (6-120-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='320830' first='Colton' last='Manock'] (6-208-3) are the leading receivers. [player_tooltip player_id='320829' first='Brayden' last='Foster'] (9 solo, 4.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks), [player_tooltip player_id='320821' first='Cohan' last='Torres'], Nathan Feldman and Carter Van Brocklin lead the defense.   Webster City's [player_tooltip player_id='156632' first='Jaxon' last='Cherry'] is one of the state's top players, regardless of class. He already has 587 yards and eight touchdowns on 55 carries. He also has 11 solo tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='248021' first='Keegan' last='Hisler'] also stands out as a two-way player. Jayden Weinzetl, Josh Stansfield and Trevyn Lyons join Cherry and Hisler lead a salty defense.   Other Marquee Matchups in 3A: PCM at Nevada; Sioux City East at Heelan; Benton at Mount Vernon; Grinnell at Oskaloosa.   Class 2A   Game of the Week: Van Meter (2-0) at Humboldt (2-0)   The Setup: We may as well keep bending the rules during non-district play. Humboldt hails from 3A, while Van Meter is up at 2A after winning the last two state titles at 1A. These proud programs are meeting for the first time ever.   Players to Watch: Van Meter quarterback Austin Baumhover is providing a lot of offense this season with five passing touchdowns and three more on the ground. Senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='320866' first='Ben' last='Gordon'] (40-333-2), and receivers Jaxon Hanselman (2-62-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='320867' first='Cael' last='Trudo'] (6-90-2) also stand out on that side of the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='320865' first='Porter' last='Doggett'] paces the squad in tackles with [player_tooltip player_id='320863' first='Teddy' last='Sieck'], [player_tooltip player_id='320862' first='John' last='Braun'], Cole Moore, Cason Peterson and [player_tooltip player_id='156631' first='Caleb' last='Moore'] also beefing up the defense.   Junior Coen Matson is a dual-threat signal caller whose favorite receiver is [player_tooltip player_id='252098' first='Corey' last='Dettmann']. Mason Van Pelt, [player_tooltip player_id='1840888' first='Cael' last='Donahe'], [player_tooltip player_id='252098' first='Corey' last='Dettmann'], Grant Dieleman, [player_tooltip player_id='1197447' first='Broedy' last='Hendricks'] and Gaige Allen help the Wildcats cause problems for opposing offenses.   Other Marquee Matchups in 2A: Roland-Story at South Hamilton; Albia at Chariton; Cherokee Washington at Ridge View; Clarinda at Treynor.   Class 1A   Game of the Week: Lynnville-Sully (2-0) at Pleasantville (2-0)   The Setup: Lynnville-Sully ended a three-game skid in this series with a 32-7 home victory last season. That gave the Hawks a 4-3 all-time record against Pleasantville.   Players to Watch: Lannon Montgomery, [player_tooltip player_id='156493' first='Corder' last='Noun Harder'], Lucas Sieck and CJ Nikkel each has at least two rushing touchdowns for Lynnville-Sully. [player_tooltip player_id='1360359' first='Terran' last='Gosselink'] is the team's top tackler, and sophomores Dawson James and Wyatt Mathis along with senior Blake Van Wyk also among the main contributors on defense.   Quarterback Ryder Thill, running back Caleb Cook, and receivers Trent Jolly, [player_tooltip player_id='1239312' first='Yusef' last='Gulley'] and Dayson Leerhoff spark a balances Pleasantville attack. Xavier Schrader, Dayson Leerhoff and [player_tooltip player_id='1084825' first='Logan' last='Roff'] are standouts on the Trojan defense.   Other Marquee Matchups in 1A: Pella Christian at Grundy Center; Roland-Story at South Hamilton; Clarinda at Treynor.   Class A   Game of the Week: West Hancock (2-0) at Saint Ansgar (2-0)   The Setup: Saint Ansgar claimed the first four games in this series only to see West Hancock take the last two by a combined score of 67-0. West Hancock, which has captured two of the last four Class A state championships, has outscored its opponents, 115-6, in '23.   Players to Watch: West Hancock quarterback Mitchell Smith has been efficient, completing all seven of his pass attempts for 168 yards and three touchdown to go with four carries for 60 yards and a score. Jaxen Peterson, Kale Zuehl, Creighton Kelly and Kellen Smith also have delivered big plays on offense. [player_tooltip player_id='247996' first='David' last='Smith'] has performed well on defense.   Jayce Schwiesow is gashing defenses as a dual-threat quarterback for Saint Ansgar. [player_tooltip player_id='1406631' first='Connor' last='King'], Christian Michels and Regan Witt are making their marks in the rushing game. Receivers [player_tooltip player_id='1359938' first='Dylan' last='Brumm'] and Hunter Hillman keep defenses honest. Hillman, King, Witt and Korben Michels stick out for the Saints' defense.   Other Marquee Matchups in A: Panorama at ACGC; Maquoketa Valley at East Buchanan; Earlham at IKM-Manning; Woodbury Central at Logan-Magnolia; Madrid at Mount Ayr; Starmont at North Linn.   Eight Player   Game of the Week: Lenox (2-0) at Bedford (2-0)   The Setup: Bedford won the first matchup up in this series back in '16. Lenox has claimed the last five meetings, including a 38-27 decision a year ago. The way these teams have performed to date set up what should be a high-scoring affair.   Players to Watch: Lenox junior [player_tooltip player_id='1358165' first='Gabe' last='Funk'] has thrown for three touchdowns and run for six more, while his classmate, [player_tooltip player_id='1358158' first='Jordan' last='Martin-England'] has been dangerous rushing the football and catching it. Receivers Gio Cruz and Donald Bashor have made defenses pay for overplaying the run. Funk, Martin-England, Bashor, Dawson Evans and Dalton Kitzman power the defense.   Bedford signal caller Conner Nally has tossed six TDs and added four on the ground. He's also contributed 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack on defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1352475' first='Garrison' last='Motsinger'] and Silas Walston support him in the run game with receivers Brody King and [player_tooltip player_id='1352452' first='Cal' last='Peterman'] threatening teams down the field. Motsinger, Izaak Dukes and [player_tooltip player_id='1352466' first='Dalton' last='Swartz'] have been disruptive on defense.   Other Marquee Matchups in Eight Player: Edgewood-Colesburg at Central City; Janesville at Clarksville; Baxter at St. Edmond; WACO at Winfield-Mount Union.

Let's take a look at Week 3 top games and players in them for each class: