Breaking Down 8-Player Playoffs First Round
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Here’s a look at this week’s first-round playoff matchups in the Eight-Player Class: At-Large at 1st Place Turkey Valley (5-3) at Clarksville (9-0) Fourth-ranked Clarksville is outscoring the opposition by 33.2 points a game fueled by the play of MaKade Bloker,…
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Continue ReadingHere’s a look at this week’s first-round playoff matchups in the Eight-Player Class:
At-Large at 1st Place
Turkey Valley (5-3) at Clarksville (9-0)
Fourth-ranked Clarksville is outscoring the opposition by 33.2 points a game fueled by the play of MaKade Bloker, Owen Backer Owen Backer 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB Clarksville | 2026 State IA , Eli Schmidt, Kaiven Kielman Kaiven Kielman 5'11" | 190 lbs | LB Clarksville | 2026 IA , Rex Ross, Sam Hoodjer and others. Logan Busta, Oliver Schmitt, J.D. Kruse, Caleb Kurtenbach, Hunter Kruse and Burke Busta lead Turkey Valley’s upset bid.
Belle Plaine (4-4) at Winfield-Mount Union (8-0)
No. 1 Winfield-Mount Union is averaging 55.4 points and allowing just 12.5. The Wolves lean on Iowa commit Cam Buffington Cam Buffington 6'3" | 200 lbs | DL Winfield-Mt Union | 2024 IA , Army commit Abram Edwards Abram Edwards 6'5" | 215 lbs | TE Winfield-Mt Union | 2024 State IA , Jake Edwards, Cole Milks, Carter Loyd, Cooper Buffington Cooper Buffington 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL Winfield Mt. Union | 2025 State IA and Lane Genkinger. Ty Alcott, Lane Vokoun, Sam DeMeulenaere, Riley Simmons, Jax Stamp Jax Stamp 6'3" | 180 lbs | OL Belle Plaine | 2024 IA and Will Sankot are playing well for Belle Plaine.
3rd Place at 1st Place
Boyer Valley (6-3) at Audubon (7-1)
Audubon’s only loss this season is against third-ranked CAM. Aaron Olsen, Evan Alt, Gabe Jensen, Colton Hansen, Austin Christensen, Ely Jorgensen and Ezekiel Konkler rank among the key players for Audubon. Boyer Valley relies on Luke Cripps, Owen Garside, Jacob Berens, Ben Lantz, Owen Lehan, Matt Ferguson and others.
Janesville (6-2) at Bishop Garrigan, Algona (7-1)
Bishop Garrigan is averaging 46.9 points to its opponents’ 18.5 behind the strong play of Tate Foertsch Tate Foertsch QB Bishop Garrigan | 2026 IA , Caden Roethler, Sam Plathe, Drew Lappe, Keaton Helleseth and Brody Ludwig. Dane Appleby, Talan Pletz, Trevor Forey, Gabe Meaney Gabe Meaney 6'6" | 225 lbs | TE Janesville CSD | 2025 State IA and Jack Lindaman help make Janesville a dangerous team.
Fremont-Mills (4-4) at Bedford (8-0)
Second-ranked Bedford is outscoring it’s opponents by an average of 47.8 points on the backs of Conner Nally, Garrison Motsinger, Silas Walston, Kegan DeMott, Cal Peterman, Izaak Dukes, Dalton Swartz and others. Fremont-Mills looks to spring the upset behind strong play from Braxton Blackburn Braxton Blackburn 5'9" | 155 lbs | LB Fremont-Mills | 2024 IA , Lucas Madison, Sawyer Forney, JW Linkenhoker and Cooper Marvel Cooper Marvel 6'0" | 260 lbs | OL Fremont-Mills | 2024 State IA .
Iowa Valley (6-2) at BGM, Brooklyn (5-3)
BGM is a team that scored more than 90 points in two different games this season. The Bears are led by Beau Burns Beau Burns 5'11" | 165 lbs | ATH BGM | 2026 State IA , Dominic Coleman, Mason Maschmann, Dakota Heishman, Brooks Davis, Landen Cooling Landen Cooling DL BGM | 2026 IA , Tate Martin and Brayden Hepke. Iowa Valley owns a season-opening victory against BGM. The Tigers count on Nolan Kriegel Nolan Kriegel 6'3" | 165 lbs | ATH Iowa Valley | 2027 State IA , Dawson Smith, Caleb Haack, Taite Peach, Ian Smith and others.
Southeast Warren (4-4) at CAM, Anita (8-0)
No. 3 CAM isn’t playing close games as evidenced by it outscoring the opposition by an average of 53.6-11.0. Chase Spieker, Collin Bower, Jack Follmann Jack Follmann 5'11" | 150 lbs | LB CAM | 2024 IA , Brody Paulsen, Austin Williams, Owen Hoover, Kegan Croghan and Ryan Bower are among the standouts for the Cougars. Keep an eye on Southeast Warren’s Jamison Ewing Jamison Ewing 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Southeast Warren | 2026 State IA , Trey Fisher Trey Fisher 6'0" | 165 lbs | RB Southeast Warren | 2025 State IA , Brogan Ewing, Tate Dierking Tate Dierking 6'3" | 240 lbs | OL Southeast Warren | 2024 State IA and Robert Beardsley.
Kee, Lansing (6-2) at Central City (7-1)
Central City begins postseason play ranked No. 8 in the state, it’s only loss coming by eight points to Winfield-Mount Union. Other than that, the Wildcats are cruising with the help of strong play from Jayden Hanson Jayden Hanson 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Central City | 2024 IA , Aiden Klostermann Aiden Klostermann 5'11" | 165 lbs | RB Central City | 2024 IA , Matthew Klostermann, Mekhi Benton Mekhi Benton 6'3" | 205 lbs | TE Central City | 2024 IA , Daiton Price, Nolan Gates, and Max Arthur. Kee counts on Dalton Mudderman, Jackson Schulte, Carter Seitz, Kaleb Drape and Karsen Strong.
Edgewood-Colesburg (6-2) at Don Bosco, Gilbertville (7-1)
The seventh-ranked Dons from Don Bosco are in the playoffs for a 13th year in a row thanks, in large part, to guys like Kaiden Knaack, Kyler Knaack, Ty Christensen, Zach Belew, Andrew Kimball, David Schmitz and Franklin Bell. A game Edgewood-Colesburg outfit is led by Pryce Rochford, Carter Oberbroeckling, Carson Ingles, Caden Cole and Bennett Steger.
Harris-Lake Park (5-3) at St. Mary’s, Remsen (8-0)
No. 5 St. Mary’s is riding an eight-game winning streak in the series with Harris-Lake park. Landon Waldschmitt, Keaton Harpenau Keaton Harpenau 5'6" | 140 lbs | RB Remsen St. Mary's | 2025 IA , Brady Koenck, Collin Homan, Colbey Penning, Braxton Kniep and Brady Wurth hope to make in nine in a row for the Hawks. Harris-Lake Park’s pursuit of an upset will be led by Lucas Ahrenstorff, Caleb Hemphill, Devin Meyer, Landon Wittrock and Duane Ingham.
3rd Place at 2nd Place (host by point +/-)
Montezuma (5-4) at Gladbrook-Reinbeck (7-1)
Gladbrook-Reinbeck embarks on quest for its first state title since ’16 as the sixth-ranked team in the class. The Rebels receive key contributions from Isaac Clark Isaac Clark 5'10" | 135 lbs | QB Gladbrook Reinbeck | 2024 IA , Austin Vaverka, Drew Eilers Drew Eilers 6'3" | 200 lbs | DL Gladbrook-Reinbeck | 2025 State IA , Hudson Clark Hudson Clark 5'10" | 155 lbs | ATH Gladbrook-Reinbeck | 2026 State IA , Michael Boyd, Hunter Roberts, Treyvon Herron Treyvon Herron 5'8" | 160 lbs | ATH Gladbrook-Reinback | 2027 IA and Austin Gehring. Brady Boulton, Brett Plants, Garrett Watts, Briar Simpson and Tod Geiger Tod Geiger 6'1" | 240 lbs | DL Montezuma | 2024 IA are some of the key players for Montezuma.
Baxter (5-3) at WACO (6-1)
Tenth-ranked WACO returns to the playoffs for a third season in a row, finishing as the state’s runner-up last fall. The Warriors are guided to success by Clayton Miller, Louden Huisenga Louden Huisenga 6'3" | 190 lbs | ATH Waco | 2025 State IA , Colton Leichty Colton Leichty 6'1" | 185 lbs | TE WACO | 2024 State IA , Chase Waterhouse Chase Waterhouse 6'4" | 180 lbs | OL WACO | 2024 IA , Hunter Hughes, Joel Meyer and Chase Waterhouse Chase Waterhouse 6'4" | 180 lbs | OL WACO | 2024 IA . Perrin Sulzle Perrin Sulzle 6'4" | 220 lbs | QB Baxter | 2025 State IA , Cade Robinson, Treyton Travis, Cainan Travis and Cael Wishman Cael Wishman 6'2" | 190 lbs | LB Baxter | 2026 State IA are counted on by Baxter.
2nd Place at 2nd Place (host by point +/-)
Glidden-Ralston (6-2) at Exira-EHK (5-3)
EHK, the runner-up to CAM in District 10, is making its second postseason appearance in the last three years. The Spartans boast a talented roster that includes Jameson Kilworth, Alex Hansen, Cash Emgarten, Jathen Devereaux-Carlile, Cannon Hansen, Bryce Brabham and Jackson Radcliff. Colby Wallace, Emmett Snyder, Alex Daniel, Charles Schon, Mark Lensch, Waylon Hein and stand out for Glidden-Ralston.
Woodbine (5-3) at Lenox (7-1)
No. 9 Lenox cruises into the postseason for a third consecutive year and looking for its first title since ’08. The Lions receive major contributions from Gabe Funk, Jordan Martin-England, Dalton Kitzman, Donald Bashor, Brody Brokaw, Laramie Stoaks and Dawson Evans. Brodyn Pryor, Brodie Ludwig, Landon Blum Landon Blum 6'5" | 175 lbs | WR Woodbine | 2027 State IA , Micah Moores, Landon Fitchhorn, Gavin Kelley and Brenner Sullivan excel for Woodbine.
Moravia (7-2) at Lone Tree (6-2)
This game could be a memorable one with two very capable teams facing off. Ethan Bockelman, Maddox Jondle, Ethan Bockelman, Emmett Burke, Brody Magruder, Jader Sanchez and Jack Patterson make Lone Tree a dangerous operation. Moravia receives similar contributions from Shane Helmick Shane Helmick 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Moravia | 2024 IA , Jackson McDanel, Wyatt Throckmorton, Declan DeJong Declan DeJong 6'1" | 185 lbs | ATH Moravia | 2026 IA and Matthew McDanel.
Riceville (6-2) at West Bend-Mallard (6-2)
West Bend-Mallard makes its first back-to-back playoff appearances since ’14-15. The Wolverines are a talented bunch that includes Landon Montag, Logan Grimm, Mitch Stevens Mitch Stevens 5'9" | 150 lbs | TE West Bend-Mallard | 2024 IA , Cole Fehr, Jaxon Zaugg, Cortlyn Schupbach and Carter Fehr. Jack Adams, Andrew Beran, Kaden Kobliska, Marco Avila and Aidan Ebert make Riceville a formidable opponent.