Top Week 6 Games in Each Class, Players to Watch
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Let’s take a look at Week 6 top games and players in them for each class: Class 5A Game of the Week: Dowling (5-0) at Ankeny Centennial (3-2) The Setup: Centennial has dropped games to top-ranked Southeast Polk by three points and…
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Continue ReadingLet’s take a look at Week 6 top games and players in them for each class:
Class 5A
Game of the Week: Dowling (5-0) at Ankeny Centennial (3-2)
The Setup: Centennial has dropped games to top-ranked Southeast Polk by three points and to rival Ankeny by a point. The Jaguars now have a shot at the No. 2 Maroons at home. These teams have split their last four meetings.
Players to Watch: Dowling senior quarterback Dante Cataldo hurts opponents with his arm and legs. He’s completing 71.1 percent of his passes and is averaging 5.1 yards a rush. Junior running back Ra’Shawd Davis has 675 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Senior receiver Curtis Horras Curtis Horras 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Dowling Catholic | 2024 State IA has 15 catches for 258 yards and a score. Dylan Manning, Zach Smid Zach Smid 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Dallas Center Grimes | 2024 IA and Matthew Hanten are among the defensive standouts.
Trenton Smith Trenton Smith 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Ankeny Centennial | 2024 State IA has blossomed as a senior quarterback for Centennial. He’s completed 71.1 percent of his passes for 15 touchdowns against three interceptions. Running backs Elijah Porter and Braeden Jackson have combined for 725 yards and five TDs. Max Snyder and Chase Schutty Chase Schutty 6'5" | 210 lbs | TE Ankeny Centennial | 2024 State IA have stood out at receiver. On defense, Chase Kluver, Reed Anderson and Isaiah Bassett have shined.
Other Marquee Matchups in 5A: Johnston at Southeast Polk; Waukee Northwest at Valley; Cedar Falls at Pleasant Valley; Ankeny at Prairie; Bettendorf at Kennedy.
Class 4A
Game of the Week: North Scott (4-1) at Xavier (3-2)
The Setup: Xavier holds a 3-2 lead in this series after winning the last two meetings. Their lone common opponent in ’23 is Western Dubuque. The Saints own a 22-20 win in Cedar Rapids, while the Lancers only loss is a 31-24 setback in Epworth.
Players to Watch: North Scott’s Kyler Gerardy is enjoying an all-state season with 10 touchdown passes and only two picks with eight more scores on the ground, where he averages 10.0 yards a carry. Jerrod Lee complements the quarterback, having rushed for 353 yards and five TDs. Hunter Fox, Carson Lage Carson Lage 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR North Scott | 2025 IA and Cash Bowe give North Scott a trio of reliable receivers. Owen Jordahl, Nolan Engelbrecht and Luke Belken stand out on defense.
Xavier’s Ronan Thomas Ronan Thomas 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Cedar Rapids Xavier | 2024 IA has thrown for seven touchdowns (1 INT) and rushed for seven more scores. Seniors Coleton Beasler-Weber and Noah Schimberg are productive running backs that also can inflict damage in the passing game. Sophomore Carter Hoffmann is a breakout at receiver. Aidan Kinner, Eddie Becu Eddie Becu 6'0" | 260 lbs | DL Xavier | 2024 IA , Adam Cook, Jack Stevenson and Grant Helmle are leading the defense.
Other Marquee Matchups in 4A: Western Dubuque at Marion; North Polk at Ballard; Norwalk at Dallas Center-Grimes; Boone at Indianola.
Class 3A
Game of the Week: Assumption at Mount Vernon
The Setup: It’s only the third-ever meeting between these two proud programs with each side winning once. Interestingly, the visiting team has won both times.
Players to Watch: Assumption quarterback Jake Timmons Jake Timmons 6'5" | 190 lbs | QB Assumption | 2024 IA has completed 65.3 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and only one interception. Running back Angelo Jackson Angelo Jackson 6'0" | 160 lbs | RB Assumption | 2024 IA balances the offense with 873 yards and 13 scores on the ground. Dominic D’Aprille and Bauer Caspers carry a lot of the load at receiver. Timmons, Rhett Schaefer and Landen Derrer are among the defensive standouts.
Joey Rhomberg has thrown for 1,121 yards and 11 TDs with three interceptions for Mount Vernon with four more scores coming via rush. Cooper Hird and Jackson Hird form a solid 1-2 punch at running back. Evan Brase (28 catches, 528 yards, 5 TDs) is leading the receivers. Michael Ryan, Jackson Jaspers Jackson Jaspers 5'8" | 145 lbs | LB Mount Vernon | 2024 IA , Miles Francois, Tyler Williams and Kael Riniker are shining on defense.
Other Marquee Matchups in 3A: Algona at Clear Lake; Webster City at Hampton-Dumont-CAL; Humboldt at Charles City; Wahlert at Independence; Benton at Solon.
Class 2A
Game of the Week: Des Moines Christian (3-2) at Carroll Kuemper (3-2)
The Setup: Both programs started this season at 0-2 before winning three in a row. They meet for the first time ever for a leg up in 2A District 8.
Players to Watch: Tate Platte has thrown for 1,494 yards and 19 touchdowns with nine interceptions this season for Des Moines Christian. He’s added 255 yards and two scores rushing. Jake Kistenmacher, John Doohen, Landon Craven and Tyler Drefke Tyler Drefke 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Des Moines Christian | 2026 State IA are receiving threats for the pass-happy Lions. Jace Fadden, Caleb Bailey Caleb Bailey 5'9" | 185 lbs | LB Des Moines Christian | 2026 State IA and Kyle Friend Kyle Friend 5'10" | 225 lbs | LB Des Moines Christian | 2026 State IA lead a stingy defense.
Sophomore Brock Badding Brock Badding 6'1" | QB Kuemper Catholic | 2026 IA is enjoying a breakout campaign behind center for the Knights, completing 72.4 percent of his throws with nine touchdowns and three picks. Kaesin Pierce, Michael Kasperbauer and Benjamin Gerken all are important pieces on the offense. Defensively, Jake Irlbeck, Tate Bieret, Kyle Sundrup, Will Simons and Jake Hausman lead the way.
Other Marquee Matchups in 2A: Spirit Lake at Estherville Lincoln Central; Greene County at Roland-Story; Anamosa at Tipton; Cherokee Washington at West Lyon.
Class 1A
Game of the Week: Underwood (4-1) at Treynor (5-0)
The Setup: The unbeaten Cardinals have dropped the last three games in this series. They have not scored in those contests.
Players to Watch: Sophomore Garrett Luett Garrett Luett 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB Underwood | 2026 State IA is completing 64.8 percent of his passes for 1,013 yards and 10 touchdowns against two interceptions for Underwood. Maddox Nelson and Graham Jensen Graham Jensen 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Underwood | 2024 IA lead the ground attack. Mason Boothby, Josh Ravlin and Jack Vanfossan are productive receivers. Vanfossan, Nelson Sam Schoening, Easton Robertson and Will Buckholdt are among the defensive standouts.
Treynor’s Ben Casey Ben Casey 5'10" Treynor | 2025 IA , a junior, has tossed 13 touchdowns and just three interceptions with three scores on the ground. Danny Kinsella has 253 yards and five TDs rushing. Karson Elwood Karson Elwood 6'2" Treynor | 2024 IA , Jace Tams and Caleb Cooper are Casey’s top targets. Elwood, Tams, Cooper, Zack Robbins, Holden Minahan and Aaron Ehmke stand out on a defense that has held three opponents to six or fewer points.
Other Marquee Matchups in 1A: Regina at West Branch; Sumner-Fredericksburg at Denver; MFL MarMac at Dike-New Hartford; South Hamilton at Ogden; Pella Christian at Sigourney-Keota;
Class A
Game of the Week: Woodbury Central (5-0) at Kingsley-Pierson (4-1)
The Setup: Woodbury Central has won the first three meetings in this series. The Panthers are looking for revenge in a critical contest in District 8.
Players to Watch: Drew Kluender Drew Kluender 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Woodbury Central | 2024 State IA has 1,162 yards and nine touchdowns passing along with four rushing scores for Woodbury Central. Zack Butler has contributed 497 yards and 11 TDs rushing. Eric McGill and Jayden Lloyd Jayden Lloyd 5'6" | 130 lbs | ATH Woodbury Central | 2027 IA are receivers that stress opponents. Butler, McGill, Logan Jensen, Jackson Reblitz Jackson Reblitz 6'3" | 215 lbs | DL Woodbury Central | 2024 IA and Jayden Lloyd Jayden Lloyd 5'6" | 130 lbs | ATH Woodbury Central | 2027 IA get down on defense.
Kingsley-Pierson quarterback Beau Goodwin has connected on nine scoring throws and has averaged 7.7 yards a carry with nine more TDs rushing. Brady Collins and Beau Goodwin carry a lot of the rushing load. Kevin Wright and Landon Howe are receiving threats. Goodwin, Tyler Koch and Kaden Kraft stand out on defense.
Other Marquee Matchups in A: West Hancock at South Central Calhoun; IKM-Manning at ACGC; Maquoketa Valley at Bellevue; Madrid at Central Decatur; Mount Ayr at Lynnville-Sully.
8-Player
Game of the Week: Ar-We-Va (4-1) at Remsen St. Mary’s (5-0)
The Setup: St. Mary’s leads the all-time series, 7-3, after winning the last three meetings. The next installment of in the rivalry is a key contest in District 1.
Players to Watch: Junior Blayne Smith is a dual-threat quarterback for Ar-We-Va, having thrown for 12 touchdowns and run for six more. Wyatt Ragaller also has a half dozen scores on the ground to go with 463 yards. The sophomore also has 32 catches for 449 yards and six TDs. Wyatt Ragaller, Wade Ragaller, Tyson VonGlan and Devon Ehlers stand out on defense.
Landon Waldschmitt also falls in the dual-threat quarterback category with seven touchdowns throws and 11 rushing scores for St. Mary’s. Keaton Harpenau Keaton Harpenau 5'6" | 140 lbs | RB Remsen St. Mary's | 2025 IA contributes as a runner and receiver, while Braxton Kniep and Collin Homan each has three receiving scores. Kniep, Cade Tentinger, Brady Wurth and Ty Tritz are strong on defense.
Other Marquee Matchups in 8-Player: Winfield-Mount Union at Iowa Valley; Glidden-Ralston at Audubon; GTRA at Harris-Lake Park; Dunkerton at Janesville.