Week 2 Whip-Around: Statements Being Made

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The data rolled in after Week 2 of prep football action around the state. Some developments this season were predictable while others have surprised. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Either way, statements have been made. Programs have served noticed that they'll be a factor in championship pursuits. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some schools that have shined early on: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bettendorf</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bettendorf ranks as a name-brand program with seven state championships to its name. It's odd when the Bulldogs aren't competing for titles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That was the case last season when they slumped to 3-6 after finishing 5-5 in '21. They entered this season motivated to get it going back in the right direction. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bettendorf delivered a statement in Week 1 with a 30-10 win against rival Pleasant Valley, a team that beat it, 44-14, last fall. Friday, the Bulldogs improved to 2-0 with a convincing 48-0 victory against Davenport West. They started '22 at 0-4 and dropped the first two contests the year before. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They're leaning on the running game and a stingy defense. Quarterback Charlie Zimmerman has three rushing touchdowns and two more passing. Running backs [player_tooltip player_id='282056' first='Gavin' last='Barta'], Will Taylor and Jacob Whipple have a combined 52 carries for 359 yards and six TDs. Cooper Agosta leads the D with eight solo tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks, while Dylan McCormick has six solo tackles (2.0 for loss) and an interception. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bettendorf can make another statement the next two Fridays. It's traveling to Urbandale first before a trip to Linn-Mar. The matchups could play a key role in determining postseason matchups. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Williamsburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps nobody has made a louder statement in '23 than Williamsburg. The Class 3A Raiders dominated 1A West Branch in their season-opener. They followed it up by stunning defending state 4A champion Xavier, 21-20, Friday in Cedar Rapids. The Saints had lost a combined three games during the previous three seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williamsburg is receiving strong quarterback play from senior Kellen Cockrell (65.1 completion percentage, 9 combined TDs). Iowa Hawkeye commitment [player_tooltip player_id='248037' first='Derek' last='Weisskopf'] has six catches for 84 yards and a touchdown with 13 solo tackles on defense. Braylon Wetjen, [player_tooltip player_id='848057' first='Rayce' last='Heitman'], Clayten Steckly, [player_tooltip player_id='1360498' first='Micah' last='Lang'] and Ian Stumpff also have played well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williamsburg plays host to rival Clear Creek Amana next week before heading to Fort Madison. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Norwalk</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Norwalk served notice in Week 1 with a 52-32 triumph against a Carlisle squad that whooped it, 49-28, in '22. The Warriors followed it up by outlasting rival Indianola, 21-14, Friday. Indianola won last year's matchup, 45-33. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='986654' first='Aidan' last='Harder'] is off to a great start for the Warriors, completing 68.0 percent of his passes for 804 yards and eight touchdowns with only one pick. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='283943' first='Eli' last='Robbins'] has 12 catches for 403 yards and three scores, while [player_tooltip player_id='247960' first='Keilor' last='Rodman'] has 10 grabs for 211 yards and three TDs. Defensively, all 18.0 of Will Clark's tackles are solo with 4.0 for loss. He also has an interception. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grundy Center</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defending Class A champion Grundy Center moved up a level this season. It delivered a 31-7 statement win Friday against rival Aplington-Parkersburg, which reached the second round of the 1A playoffs in '22. Grundy Center topped Dike-New Hartford, 7-6, in Week 1 after beating the Wolverines, 17-14, a year ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The impressive 2-0 start comes on the heels of a 13-0 mark in '22. The Spartans are seeking an appearance in a state championship game for the fifth season in a row. They can lean on senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='320787' first='Colin' last='Gordon'] along with classmate [player_tooltip player_id='320786' first='Trent' last='Cakerice'], a preferred walk-on lineman commitment for Iowa. Brody Zinkula is a tackling machine, while fellow junior, [player_tooltip player_id='252315' first='Tiernan' last='Vokes'], disrupts opposing offenses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Polk</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Polk opened the season with victories against two of 4A's top teams in '22. The Comets topped Bondurant-Farrar, 43-39, in Week 1 before besting Carlisle, 43-7, on Friday. Those opponents were a combined 18-4 last fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='320817' first='Isaac' last='Zoske'], a senior quarterback, has completed 60 percent of his passes for 496 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception. [player_tooltip player_id='320830' first='Colton' last='Manock'] has turned six receptions into 208 yards and three scores. [player_tooltip player_id='1361480' first='BJ' last='Tate'] has rushed for 145 yards and three TDs. Nathan Feldman, [player_tooltip player_id='320829' first='Brayden' last='Foster'] and [player_tooltip player_id='320821' first='Cohan' last='Torres'] have stood out on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->