Previewing 5A First-Round Playoff Games

Happy high school football playoff season to all who celebrate. Friday night's first-round surely will come with fireworks as teams from around the state begin their quest to hold up the biggest trophy next month.   Here's a closer look at Friday's first-round games in 5A:   POD A   No. 16 Marion Linn-Mar (4-5) at No. 1 Southeast Polk (9-0)   Linn-Mar grabbed the last playoff spot in 5A and as a reward will play at the two-time defending state champions in this class. The Rams have won their last 18 games and 43 of their last 46 contests. Ankeny has been the only team to defeat them.   The Lions have their work cut out for them in this one. Making the task more difficult is being without some of their top players, who are sidelined with injuries. That group included Iowa State tight end commitment [player_tooltip player_id='132270' first='Keaton' last='Roskop'], who also stood out on defense. Linn-Mar did play a close game against No. 3 Pleasant Valley last week.   Southeast Polk is guided by Roskop's future Cyclone teammate [player_tooltip player_id='376911' first='Connor' last='Moberly']. The senior quarterback is completing 66.8 percent of his passes and enters the postseason with 19 touchdowns against just two interceptions while also rushing for five scores. [player_tooltip player_id='247943' first='CJ' last='Phillip'] (809 rushing yards, 5.5 YPC, 12 TDs) is the main man on the ground with [player_tooltip player_id='1278273' first='Sam' last='Zelenovich'] (48 catches-676 yards-6 TDs) and Carson Robbins (34-586-8) holding it down on the outside.   [player_tooltip player_id='247990' first='Draven' last='Woods'] (42 solo tackles, 20.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks) leads a Ram defense that has pitched shutouts in two of its last three outings. [player_tooltip player_id='220467' first='Caleb' last='Chebuhar'], [player_tooltip player_id='640854' first='Cooper' last='Martinson'], Trey Lust, Mason Van Der Brink, Carter Pesek, [player_tooltip player_id='1279618' first='Kaden' last='Hills'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1279607' first='Emmanuel' last='Gaye'] also are enjoying solid seasons on that side of the ball.   For Linn-Mar, running backs [player_tooltip player_id='848086' first='Dylan' last='Muszynski'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1417954' first='Tyree' last='Alons'] have 1,255 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing between them. [player_tooltip player_id='1279977' first='Stone' last='Morgan'] is experienced now after replacing starting quarterback Austin Waller (injury) early in the season. He has reliable targets in Landon Sorg and [player_tooltip player_id='1417963' first='Daniel' last='Peplinski']. [player_tooltip player_id='247997' first='Sam' last='Watts'], Murphy Aucutt, Carson Luense, [player_tooltip player_id='1241409' first='Tate' last='McEowen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1249578' first='Bryson' last='Miell'] lead a Lion defense trying to slow down a Southeast Polk attack averaging 40.4 points per game.   No. 9 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (6-3) at No. 8 Cedar Falls (6-3)   Two of the top teams in Eastern Iowa this season have been that for awhile. Cedar Falls is in the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season, while Kennedy clinched its sixth postseason berth in a row.   The Tigers topped Kennedy, 17-14, on Oct. 13 in Cedar Falls. They knocked off the Cougars, 23-16, last September at the UNI-Dome. Kennedy had won the two previous meetings.   Cedar Falls also claims victories against playoff teams in Linn-Mar and Johnston in '23. Its three losses are against postseason teams Prairie, Ankeny Centennial and Pleasant Valley.   An offensive line led by Nebraska commitment Jake Peters and [player_tooltip player_id='847962' first='Will' last='Tompkins'] helps the Tigers average 5.7 yards per carry. Quarterback Tate Hermansen along with running backs Drake Gelhaus, [player_tooltip player_id='1221961' first='William' last='Remmert'] and Drew Gerdes benefit from the team strength. Remmert also figures into the passing game as does Logan Wroe (29-356-4) and Cade Courbat (7-133-4).   Iowa commitment [player_tooltip player_id='247989' first='Drew' last='Campbell'], younger brother of Hawkeye great Jack Campbell, leads a stingy Cedar Falls defense with 38 solo tackles, 17.0 stops for loss and 3.0 sacks. Gerdes, Ian Bohnenkamp, Andrew Lageschulte, Nolan Plagge and Colin Coonradt also shine in that phase.   Like Cedar Falls, Kennedy brings a balanced offense into the competition. Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='847811' first='Vincenzo' last='Gianforte'] is completing 65.5 percent of his passes for 2197 yards and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions. [player_tooltip player_id='986660' first='Cyrus' last='Courtney'] (61-978-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='1101671' first='Pierce' last='McCrary'] (23-402-2) stand out in catching passes as does running back Calvin White (16-161-7), who also shines carrying the ball and at linebacker. Trevor Scott and [player_tooltip player_id='332995' first='Jacob' last='Doyle'] together have 1,345 yards and 13 scores on the ground running behind a line anchored by Iowa commitment [player_tooltip player_id='847892' first='Nick' last='Brooks'].   BJ Henry, Christian Gasper, Owen Anderson and [player_tooltip player_id='1361687' first='Sam' last='Adams'] lead the Cougar defense.   POD B   No. 15 Sioux City East (5-4) vs. No. 2 West Des Moines Dowling Catholic (8-1), at Williams Stadium   Dowling's lone setback was a 37-34 loss on Oct. 13 at Southeast Polk. It didn't eliminate the Maroons from being strong contenders for their 11th state title. They've defeated each of their other opponents this season by at least two touchdowns and most by more than that.   Junior running back Ra'Shawd Davis stands out on the Dowling offense with 1230 yards (5.7 YPC) and 23 touchdowns rushing. Quarterback Dante Cataldo is completing 68.0 percent of his passes with six TDs through the air and a pair on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='208615' first='Curtis' last='Horras'] (31-377-2) and Hank Brown (31-302-2) are his favorite targets. Kansas State offensive line commitment [player_tooltip player_id='204373' first='Kyle' last='Rakers'] anchors a strong front. [player_tooltip player_id='1278782' first='Dylan' last='Manning'], [player_tooltip player_id='320773' first='Zach' last='Smid'], Matthew Hanten and Kenyi James lead a defense with three shutouts this season.   Southeast Polk overwhelmed East, 48-14, on Sept. 22 in Sioux City. The Raiders have won three of four games since then. Their sophomore quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='1238521' first='Cal' last='Jepsen'], can sling it. He has 2319 yards and 19 touchdowns passing with eight interceptions. Richard Stewart (53-810-6) is among the state's most productive receivers. [player_tooltip player_id='1127791' first='Myles' last='Wegher'], Michael Williams and Logan Dolphin are other reliable targets. Wegher has a team-high 597 yards and nine scores rushing. [player_tooltip player_id='1619359' first='James' last='Hogancamp'], [player_tooltip player_id='773219' first='Jacob' last='Breyfogle'], Chris Ford and [player_tooltip player_id='613443' first='Keagan' last='Augustine'] stand out defensively.   No. 10 Johnston (5-4) at No. 7 Ankeny (6-3)   Ankeny lost to Dowling, 35-14, on Sept. 8 at Valley Stadium. Johnston did not face the Maroons this season but was outscored 80-22 in a pair of losses to them in the previous two seasons.   If a meeting on Sept. 15 is any indication, this game should be competitive. Ankeny claims a 16-10 victory against Johnston from last month.   Ankeny junior [player_tooltip player_id='1280955' first='Luke' last='Anderson'] has 1,634 yards and 15 touchdowns with 10 picks passing. [player_tooltip player_id='1280082' first='Evan' last='Irlmeier'] (41-571-4) and Devon Akers (36-744-7) provide him with reliable options. [player_tooltip player_id='1278885' first='Caden' last='Henkes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='401669' first='Daniel' last='Larmie'] have a combined 1,562 yards and 16 scores on the ground. For the Hawk defense, Connor Kayser (14.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks), Angelo Wernau (8.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks), Lio Aguirre (8.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks), Dylan Dougherty (68.0 tackles) and Jacob Mohrfeld (19 solo tackles, 4 INTs) lock it down.   Will Nuss has 1,666 yards and 17 touchdown passing with 10 interceptions for the Dragons. He shares a good connection with Minnesota tight end commitment [player_tooltip player_id='247958' first='Jacob' last='Simpson'] (40-678-10). [player_tooltip player_id='1361616' first='D'Angelo' last='Barkue'] enters the postseason with 632 yards and six touchdowns rushing. Collin Hodapp (32 solo tackles, 8.0 TFLs), Robert Gbollie (9.5 TFLs), Jacob Helgeson (48.0 tackles, 6.0 TFLs) and Taye Proctor (5.5 TFLs, 3 INTs) disrupt opposing offenses.   POD C   No. 14 West Des Moines Valley (4-5) at No. 3 Pleasant Valley (8-1)   Pleasant Valley reeled off eight wins in a row following a season-opening loss to rival Bettendorf. The Spartans reached the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season. Valley won in four of the last five weeks to extend the state's longest active streak of postseason appearances to 32.   The Spartans have been challenged in three of the last four games, the closest being a 31-28 victory Sept. 29 against visiting Cedar Falls. That may have prepared them for close postseason games. Iowa Hawkeye commitment [player_tooltip player_id='252328' first='Joey' last='VanWetzinga'] impacts the game as a two-way lineman. [player_tooltip player_id='248041' first='Coy' last='Kipper'] has been efficient throwing the ball with seven touchdown passes and only one pick. The senior is a dangerous runner as evidenced by his 609 yards and 17 TDs on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='247946' first='Tyge' last='Lyon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='156486' first='Tate' last='Lyon'] together have 1272 yards and 11 scores rushing.   In addition to VanWetzinga on defense, the Spartans lean on [player_tooltip player_id='1320126' first='Harrison' last='Fierce'], [player_tooltip player_id='1278822' first='Max' last='Schmeltzer'], David Gorsline and Josh Hansen, among others.   Valley has overcome a key season-ending injury to standout receiver Xzavion Robinson and heavy graduation losses from last year's state championship game squad. Damon Head has enjoyed a super senior season with 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns rushing, while junior [player_tooltip player_id='847993' first='Darius' last='Mason'] has added 409 yards and seven scores on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='401870' first='Drake' last='DeGroote'] has thrown 10 TD passes and Noah Cracraft has caught 27 balls for 360 yards and a pair of scores. [player_tooltip player_id='590250' first='Isaiah' last='Pinks'], Ramez Naba, Cole Weible, Theron Castle, Nic VanArkel and [player_tooltip player_id='933187' first='Andrew' last='Price'] have stood out on the other side of the ball.   No. 11 Cedar Rapids Priarie (5-4) at No. 6 Waukee (7-2)   Waukee returns to the playoffs for the first time since a nine-year postseason run ended in '20. The Warriors' losses are against No. 4 Waukee Northwest and No. 1 Southeast Polk.   Prairie defeated Iowa City West last week in clinching its 12th postseason trip in a row. The Prairie Hawks posted a 3-3 mark in their final six games this season. Their four setbacks were to No. 1 Southeast Polk, No. 3 Pleasant Valley, No. 5 Bettendorf and No. 7 Ankeny.   Warrior sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1240560' first='Beckett' last='Bakker'] has thrown for 1,228 yards and 13 touchdowns with six interceptions, and added 477 yards and four scores rushing. [player_tooltip player_id='1279995' first='Grant' last='Gammell'] has contributed 712 yards and 11 TDs on the ground. Gammell, Henrick Nimley, [player_tooltip player_id='320876' first='Cooper' last='Andrews'] and Jojo Layee all have caught at least 10 balls this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1279956' first='Ian' last='Samples'], Orson Harrop, [player_tooltip player_id='320871' first='Mason' last='Brooks'], [player_tooltip player_id='1277154' first='Carter' last='Johnson'] and Sam Diener are among a group playing well defensively.   Backup quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1581807' first='Wyatt' last='Eash'] led Prairie to the win at Iowa City West. The junior is surrounded by talent in running back Casey Kelley along with receivers Apollo Payne, [player_tooltip player_id='1279712' first='Denzil' last='Green'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1279710' first='T.Y.' last='Pour']. On defense, Collin Velky, Ian Monnahan, Tyler Beck, [player_tooltip player_id='1581860' first='Quinton' last='Alexander'], LaMarious Clark, Wyatt Vlasek and CJ Wade stand out among a physical Prairie group.   POD D   No. 13 Ankeny Centennial (5-4) at No. 4 Waukee Northwest (7-2)   Northwest has reached the postseason in all three years of its existence. The Wolves have dropped games against Dowling and No. 10 Johnston this fall but defeated No. 6 Waukee, No. 14 Valley and this week's opponent, No. 13 Centennial, 17-7, on Oct. 13 in Ankeny.   The Centennial football program has played in the playoffs every season since its doors opened in '13. In addition to the Northwest setback, the Jaguars have fallen against Southeast Polk, Dowling and Ankeny.   Dual-threat quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='294444' first='Sam' last='Johnson'] has 1,377 yards and 14 touchdown passes to go with 723 yards and 11 scores rushing. Caleb James and [player_tooltip player_id='1361719' first='Ryan' last='Woodruff'] have teamed up for 822 yards and 12 TDs on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1280894' first='Maverick' last='Inman'] (35-715-8) has shined at receiver, while Will Retz also has been a reliable wideout. [player_tooltip player_id='248018' first='Harry' last='Leinen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1361723' first='Andrew' last='Eastman'], [player_tooltip player_id='248017' first='Chase' last='Lamb'], Henry Kennedy and Henry Kennedy help form a salty Wolves' defense.   The Jaguars boast a potent passing attack with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='118822' first='Trenton' last='Smith'] at the controls. He's completing 66.9 percent of his passes for 1,393 and 18 touchdowns against seven interceptions. Running back Elijah Porter, a Northern Illinois pledge, has rushed for 968 yards (8.3 YPC) and 11 scores, while backfield mate [player_tooltip player_id='1280497' first='Braeden' last='Jackson'] has added 413 yards and 5 TDs on the ground. Max Snyder is the top receiver, and [player_tooltip player_id='1277268' first='Isaiah' last='Bassett'], Zechariah Howe, Cole Pieper, [player_tooltip player_id='1279727' first='Reed' last='Anderson'] and Drake Dittmar will lead the defense against Northwest.   No. 12 Iowa City High (6-3) at No. 5 Bettendorf (7-2)   Sometimes we see quirky developments in postseason matchups. This would be one of them.   City High will return to Bettendorf for a second Friday in a row after stopping the Bulldogs, 42-21, last week and ending a five-game skid in the series. The two teams share a memorable history, especially from the 1990s.   Bettendorf sat out the postseason last year for the first time since '97. The resurgence on offense was led by the three-headed rushing attack of quarterback Charlie Zimmerman, and running backs [player_tooltip player_id='282056' first='Gavin' last='Barta'] and Jacob Whipple. The trio has a combined for 1,452 yards and 24 touchdowns running the ball. Jake Schulz (24-543-7) has been Zimmerman's favorite target, and Landon Coleman, Aiden Lee, Cooper Agosta, [player_tooltip player_id='1280007' first='Amari' last='Washington'], [player_tooltip player_id='1277230' first='Jackson' last='Laver'] and Isaiah Dunn have been factors for a physical defense.   The Little Hawks make their third consecutive trip to the postseason following a four-year absence. [player_tooltip player_id='1205114' first='Bobby' last='Bacon'] completed 18 of 21 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns with one pick last Friday. He's improved as the season has advanced as have running back Miles Parlet (1,309 yards rushing, 13 TDs), receivers [player_tooltip player_id='320791' first='Jeremiah' last='Madlock'] (28-662-5), Carsen Newton (46-532-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='1279961' first='Connor' last='Cross'] (3 TDs), and tight end [player_tooltip player_id='983337' first='Parker' last='Sutherland']. On defense, [player_tooltip player_id='247995' first='Sam' last='Kueter'], [player_tooltip player_id='247981' first='Dax' last='Judge'], Jake Mitchell and [player_tooltip player_id='156557' first='Tono' last='Cornell'] stand out.

Happy high school football playoff season to all who celebrate. Friday night's first-round surely will come with fireworks as teams from around the state begin their quest to hold up the biggest trophy next month.