Previewing Class 4A Quarterfinal Games
There are no unbeaten teams left in the Class 4A playoffs. That should make this weekend’s quarterfinal games around the state very intriguing. Let’s take a closer look at the matchups: POD A NORTH SCOTT (8-2) AT WESTERN DUBUQUE (9-1)…
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Continue ReadingThere are no unbeaten teams left in the Class 4A playoffs. That should make this weekend’s quarterfinal games around the state very intriguing.
Let’s take a closer look at the matchups:
POD A
NORTH SCOTT (8-2) AT WESTERN DUBUQUE (9-1)
These two teams are very familiar with each other. They’re running back a matchup from Sept. 15 won by Western Dubuque, 31-24. That is after North Scott won both of last year’s meetings, including a 38-15 victory in the first round of the playoffs.
Western Dubuque’s lone setback in ’23 happened 22-20 on Sept. 8 at Cedar Rapids Xavier. The Bobcats are here after defeating Newton, 41-2, in last week’s first-round. They also have a win against West Delaware, which still is alive in the 3A postseason.
Junior Tanner Anderson engineers the Western Dubuque offense, entering this game with 17 touchdown passes against just four interceptions. Running back Grant Glausser helps balance the offense with 2,203 yards and 27 scores on the ground. Brock Carpenter Brock Carpenter 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Western Dubuque | 2024 IA has 33 receptions for 592 yards and seven TDs. On defense, Carpenter, Derek Hoerner, Hunter Quagliano, Ryan Digmann and Garret Kluesner are standing out.
In addition to the loss to Western Dubuque, North Scott’s other defeat is at the hands of Xavier. The Lancers have a win against 3A playoff qualifier, Assumption, and their season still is going because of last week’s first-round win against Decorah.
North Scott quarterback Kyler Gerardy is one of the more productive players in the state with a more than 2,000 yards and 26 touchdowns passing and rushing. Running back Jerrod Lee, who has 861 yards and 13 scores, adds to the ground game, while Cash Bowe and Carson Lage Carson Lage 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR North Scott | 2025 IA are the team’s leading receivers. Colin Albrecht, Owen Jordahl, Nolan Engelbrecht, Luke Belken and Jay Lightle are among the defensive standouts.
POD B
ADM (7-3) AT LEWIS CENTRAL (8-2)
It’s another rematch of a regular-season contest. Lewis Central owns a 38-31 victory from Sept. 8 at ADM. According to Bound, Lewis Central is 5-2 against the Tigers since ’08, which includes four wins in a row.
The Titans reached the quarterfinals with a 42-10 win against LeMars in last week’s first round. They also have strong victories against Harlan, Norwalk and Dallas Center Grimes with their coming against Creston and Bondurant-Farrar.
Brady Hetzel has thrown for 20 touchdowns and rushed for three more in his first season as the Titans starting quarterback. Brody Patlan has 751 yards and 12 scores rushing, while Curtis Witte Curtis Witte 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Lewis Central | 2024 State IA and Ryan Ortega have stood out as receivers. Witte has been a key contributor defensively as has Kamdyn Cross Kamdyn Cross 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB Lewis Central | 2024 IA , Owen Thomas, Caleb Moore Caleb Moore 6'0" | 180 lbs | LB Lewis Central | 2024 State IA , Nathan Beyenhof and Bryce Juon.
ADM has wins against Newton, Norwalk and Ballard with setbacks at the hands of Indianola and North Polk this season. The Tigers enter the action off of a 42-0 domination of Denison-Schleswig in last week’s first round.
Iowa State preferred walk-on commitment Aiden Flora Aiden Flora 5'10" | 165 lbs | ATH ADM | 2024 State IA has 12 passing touchdowns and 25 more rushing for ADM. Cameron Forgy complements him in the running game with Rhylan Stine-Smith and Zach Lohmann serving as receiving threats. Brayden Rynearson, Talan Guile Talan Guile 5'9" | 140 lbs | DB ADM | 2024 IA , Karver Sutton, Ethan Asche and Grant Engleman help give the Tigers a salty defense.
POD C
BONDURANT-FARRAR (8-2) AT GLENWOOD (8-2)
According to Bound records dating back to ’02, this is the first meeting between these schools.
Glenwood arrived here with wins against Norwalk the last two weeks, including a 21-0 victory in the first of the playoffs last week. The Rams’ losses this fall have happened against Harlan and Lewis Central.
Glenwood quarterback Kayden Anderson has thrown for 12 touchdowns and run for two more. Kellan Scott and Trent Patton Trent Patton 6'2" | 230 lbs | DL Glenwood | 2024 State IA have teamed up for 999 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Payton Longmeyer has caught 62 passes for 750 yards and 10 TDs. Casey Godbout and Jack Johnson also have been outside threats. On defense, Scott, Patton, Johnson, Brodie Schafer and Preston Longchaya stand out.
Bondurant-Farrar defeated Lewis Central this season. The Bluejays have been beaten by North Polk and Pella. They came back to beat Pella in last week’s playoff first round, 23-6.
Jordan Rial Jordan Rial 5'7" | 130 lbs | QB Bondurant-Farrar | 2025 IA has tossed 16 touchdowns against just five interceptions quarterbacking Bondurant-Farrar. Titus Cram Titus Cram 6'1" | 190 lbs | RB Bondurant-Farrar | 2024 State IA and Caleb Moore Caleb Moore 6'0" | 180 lbs | LB Lewis Central | 2024 State IA lead a potent rushing attack, combining for more than 2,200 yards and 27 touchdowns on the ground. Reed Pfaltzgraff Reed Pfaltzgraff 6'3" | 165 lbs | WR Bondurant-Farrar | 2024 IA and Cole Miller have led the receiving corps. Moore, Pfaltzgraff, Cram, Parker Ernst and Jacob VanderLinden have shine on defense.
POD D
CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER (8-2) at NORTH POLK (8-2)
Bounds indicates that this is also the first-ever meeting between Xavier and North Polk.
North Polk edged Ballard, 17-14, in the first round of the playoffs last week. The Comets avenged a 7-6 loss from earlier this season. They’ve also downed ADM, Bondurant-Farrar and Indianola this campaign with their other loss coming against by one point to Webster City.
Comet signal caller Isaac Zoske Isaac Zoske 6'3" | 163 lbs | QB North Polk Alleman | 2024 IA has thrown for 1,282 yards and 15 touchdown passes this fall. Brock Miller Brock Miller 5'7" | 140 lbs | WR North Polk Alleman | 2024 IA has caught 33 balls for 335 yards and two TDs, while Kale Yoakum Kale Yoakum 5'10" | 155 lbs | WR North Polk Alleman | 2024 IA has a team-high six scoring receptions to go with 399 yards. On the ground, BJ Tate has rushed for 1,052 yards and 11 scores. The defense is led by a group that includes Nathan Feldman, Cohan Torres Cohan Torres 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB North Polk Alleman | 2024 IA , Brayden Foster Brayden Foster 5'10" | 175 lbs North Polk Alleman | 2024 IA , Carter Van Brocklin and Colton Manock Colton Manock 5'11" | 155 lbs | WR North Polk Alleman | 2024 IA .
Defending state champion Xavier dropped two of its first four contests this season before settling in for six wins in a row, including a 17-10, playoff triumph against Indianola last week. The Saints also have knocked off Western Dubuque and North Scott with their setbacks coming against Williamsburg and Pella.
Ronan Thomas Ronan Thomas 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Cedar Rapids Xavier | 2024 IA , who quarterback Xavier to the state title a year ago, has thrown 12 touchdowns and added 11 more on the ground. Noah Schimberg has rushed for 864 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Coleton Beasler-Weber has added 512 yards and three scores on the ground. Sophomore Carter Hoffmann has caught 32 passes for 526 yards and five TDs. On defense, Adam Cook, Jack Stevenson, Aidan Kinner, Quinn Oleson and Grant Helmle have gotten it done defensively.