Top Week 8 Games in Each Class, Players to Watch

Let's take a look at Week 7 top games in each class and players in them:   Class 5A   Game of the Week: Dowling Catholic (7-0) at Southeast Polk (7-0)   The Setup: The two top teams in the 5A RPI collide on Friday the 13th in Pleasant Hill. It might not be their only meeting this season. Two-time defending state champion Southeast Polk is riding a three-game winning streak in this series. The Rams also hold a 6-5 all-time lead.   Players to Watch: Dowling quarterback Dante Cataldo has completed 65.4 percent of his passes for 852 yards and five touchdowns. Ra'Shawd Davis has rushed for 1,035 yards and 18 touchdowns, and Hank Brown has caught 23 passes for 247 yards and two scores for the Maroons. [player_tooltip player_id='1278782' first='Dylan' last='Manning'], [player_tooltip player_id='320773' first='Zach' last='Smid'], Matthew Hanten and Kenyi James have performed well on defense.   Rams quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='376911' first='Connor' last='Moberly'], an Iowa State commitment, has completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 1,381 yards and 15 touchdowns with just one interception. [player_tooltip player_id='247943' first='CJ' last='Phillip'] has led the rushing attack with 656 yards and nine scores, while [player_tooltip player_id='1278273' first='Sam' last='Zelenovich'] (38 catches, 556 yards, 4 TDs) and Carson Robbins (29-488-7) have done damage as receivers. [player_tooltip player_id='220467' first='Caleb' last='Chebuhar'], [player_tooltip player_id='247990' first='Draven' last='Woods'], Carter Pesek and [player_tooltip player_id='640854' first='Cooper' last='Martinson'] have stood out defensively.   Other Marquee Matchups in 5A: Waukee Northwest at Ankeny Centennial; Linn-Mar at Iowa City High; Urbandale at Johnston; Iowa City West at Pleasant Valley; Bettendorf at Cedar Rapids Prairie; Cedar Rapids Kennedy at Cedar Falls.   Class 4A   Game of the Week: Lewis Central (5-2) at Norwalk (5-2)   The Setup: Lewis Central, which reached the state championship game a year ago, comes into this contest third in the 4A RPI, while Norwalk checks in at No. 7. The Titans are 3-0 all-time against Norwalk, all three meetings happening during the last three seasons.   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1279100' first='Brady' last='Hetzel'] has thrown for 1,426 yards and 15 touchdowns with six interceptions and rushed for a pair of scores for Lewis Central. [player_tooltip player_id='1360057' first='Brody' last='Patlan'] has chewed up 730 yards on the ground with 12 touchdowns, and [player_tooltip player_id='248038' first='Curtis' last='Witte'] (21-478-5) and Lual Maker (15-296-2) have been key targets in the passing game. Witte, Owen Thomas, [player_tooltip player_id='156631' first='Caleb' last='Moore'] and Nathan Beyenhof have led the defense.   Norwalk has received 1865 passing yards and 17 touchdowns from senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='986654' first='Aidan' last='Harder']. Dominic Tigner has powered the rushing attack along with Harder and [player_tooltip player_id='283943' first='Eli' last='Robbins'], who also has been one of the team's leading receivers with 40 catches for 696 yards and four TDS. [player_tooltip player_id='247960' first='Keilor' last='Rodman'] (38-697-10) has paired nicely with Robbins on the outside. Will Clark, [player_tooltip player_id='245555' first='Harrison' last='Tripp'] and [player_tooltip player_id='252331' first='Kolton' last='Borcherding-Johnson'] have been disruptive defenders.   Other Marquee Matchups in 4A: ADM at Indianola; Decorah at Western Dubuque; Bondurant-Farrar at Pella; Gilbert at Newton; Denison-Schleswig at LeMars.   Class 3A   Game of the Week: Nevada (6-1) at Creston (7-0)   The Setup: One of two unbeaten teams in 3A, Creston is ranked second in the RPI behind 7-0 Clear Lake. Nevada checks in at No. 6 this week with the only blemish on its record being a three-point loss to No. 15 Hampton-Dumont/CAL. It's the first-ever meeting between the programs.   Players to Watch: Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1406631' first='Connor' last='King'] has thrown for 1110 yards and 15 touchdowns against four picks for Nevada. [player_tooltip player_id='247944' first='Cason' last='Stevenson'], a senior, has piled up 1143 yards and 12 scores on the ground. Kyle Kingsbury (24-466-6) and Jacob Khounsourath (23-540-8) have paced a potent receiving group. Will Palmer, [player_tooltip player_id='1242256' first='Austin' last='Waldera'], Jackson Burlage and [player_tooltip player_id='1242280' first='John' last='Nelson'] have been among the defensive standouts.   Creston quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='320765' first='Cael' last='Turner'] has spun the ball for 1789 yards, 22 touchdowns with only three interceptions. The senior has added three rushing scores. [player_tooltip player_id='320767' first='Brennan' last='Hayes'] has a combined 1,695 yards and 15 TDs rushing and receiving. Brandon Briley (27-523-7) and [player_tooltip player_id='1360535' first='Josh' last='Schaefer'] (23-190-5) have been two more reliable receivers. Milo Staver, Will Bolinger and [player_tooltip player_id='320768' first='Max' last='Chapman'] have thrived defensively.   Other Marquee Matchups in 3A: Clear Lake at Humboldt; Algona at Webster City; Grinnell at Williamsburg.   Class 2A   Game of the Week: West Lyon (7-0) at Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (7-0)   The Setup: Defending state champion CL/G-LR carries the 2A's top ranking coming into this contest against No. 3 West Lyon. The Lions own a three-game winning streak in this series and have captured five of the last six meetings. Perhaps we see these teams match up with higher stakes later in the season, but a district crown is on the line in this one.   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1282297' first='Bryson' last='Childress'] has enjoyed a strong season as the West Lyon quarterback. The junior has thrown for 661 yards and 10 touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='318135' first='Tate' last='Hawf'] has rushed for 486 yards and 10 scores and caught 14 passes for 224 yards and four TDs. Carson Hoogeveen (22-343-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='1238539' first='Ben' last='Meyer'] (7-177-2) have joined Hawf in hurting opponents through the air. Meyer, [player_tooltip player_id='827113' first='Jaxan' last='Huyser'] and Mathias Knoblock have ranked among the team's top defenders.   CL/G-LR's [player_tooltip player_id='573617' first='Reece' last='Vander Zee'], who is committed to Iowa as a receiver, has completed 75.4 percent of his passes for 765 yards and 10 touchdowns with two interceptions while adding 907 yards (13.1 YPC) and 11 scores on the ground. Fellow Hawkeye pledge [player_tooltip player_id='320758' first='Graham' last='Eben'] has rushed for 706 yards (7.8 YPC) and 20 TDs, while [player_tooltip player_id='245890' first='Isaiah' last='Johnson'] (25-411-2) and Reide Folkens (5-70-3) have been threats among receivers. Vander Zee, Eben, [player_tooltip player_id='1282232' first='Drew' last='Kupferschmid'] and Xaccai Ditsworth have been standing out defensively.   Other Marquee Matchups in 2A: Southeast Valley at Carroll Kuemper.   Class 1A   Game of the Week: Iowa City Regina (6-1) at Wilton (7-0)   The Setup: Fifth-ranked Wilton is one of the season's pleasant surprises after winning four games a year ago. The Beavers play host to a Regina program that it hasn't beaten in 11 tries. The Regals are ranked sixth with their lone loss coming at West Branch, a team Wilton beat at home last week.   Players to Watch: Gentry Dumont has excelled at quarterback for Regina in '23. The senior has thrown for 1691 yards and 20 touchdowns with just three interceptions. Jackson Naeve has caught 28 passes for 689 yards and nine scores and also rushed for 189 yards and five TDs. William Aitchison has rushed for 383 yards and five touchdowns, and Ty Joss has 18 receptions for 413 yards and eight scores. Jack Clark, Ian Udell and Noah Clark have been disruptive on defense.   Wilton junior [player_tooltip player_id='609822' first='Drew' last='Keith'] has attacked defenses as a dual-threat quarterback this season. He's thrown for 833 yards and seven touchdowns, and rushed for 590 yards and four scores. His classmate, [player_tooltip player_id='1286459' first='Owen' last='Hassell'], has run for 772 yards and 16 TDs. [player_tooltip player_id='1418742' first='Cade' last='Souhrada'] (21-307-4), [player_tooltip player_id='1241501' first='Gatlin' last='Rogers'] (14-145-1 ) and Kale McQuillen (18-116-0) have served as Keith's top targets. Jordan Dusenberry, Carter Drake Metzger, [player_tooltip player_id='1241496' first='Kane' last='Willey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='245546' first='Damian' last='Pestle'] have stood out on a strong defense.   Other Marquee Matchups in 1A: Waterloo Columbus at South Hardin; Dike-New Hartford at Denver.   Class A   Game of the Week: Maquoketa Valley (6-1) at Starmont (6-1)   The Setup: Maquoketa Valley lost to East Buchanan, who Starmont Defeated. Starmont fell to North Linn, who lost to Maquoketa Valley. Maquoketa Valley has won seven of the last eight meetings in this series. Starmont was ranked ninth in 1A in last week's poll.   Players to Watch: Maquoketa Valley sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1242831' first='Brady' last='Wall'] has thrown for three touchdowns and run for three more. [player_tooltip player_id='986657' first='Lance' last='McShane'] has filled the workhorse role for the offense with 1,709 yards (9.7 YPC) and 28 touchdowns rushing. Elijah Dougherty, [player_tooltip player_id='1360433' first='Anderson' last='Holtz'] and Lukas Chestnut each has caught a touchdown. McShane, [player_tooltip player_id='1360436' first='Dylan' last='Knipper'] and Nathan Beitz have led the defense.   Nick Willfong has tossed seven touchdowns and carried the ball into the end zone three times for Starmont. Anthony King has led the ground attack with 472 yards (6.0 YPC) and 11 scores. Keaton Moeller and Avery Vaske each has rushed for a TD, and Jase Tommasin has caught two touchdown passes and scored twice on the ground. Isaiah Maker (27-406-3) has led the receiving corps. Moeller, Vaske Sawyer Beatty and Andrew Harkin have powered the defense.   Other Marquee Matchups in A: Saint Ansgar at Lake Mills; Wapsie Valley at Nashua-Plainfield; Lynnville-Sully at Central Dekatur.   Eight-Player   Game of the Week: Baxter (5-2) at Audubon (6-1)   The Setup: Audubon can wrap up an outright district championship with a victory. The Wheelers also are jockeying for postseason positioning. Baxter is fighting for a playoff spot. It's the first meeting between the two schools.   Players to Watch: Baxter quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1279742' first='Perrin' last='Sulzle'] has piled up 1979 yards and 29 touchdowns passing. The junior also has paced the team in rushing with 425 yards and five scores. Cade Robinson also has contributed to the ground attack. Treyton Travis has caught 78 balls for 1170 yards and 21 touchdowns, while [player_tooltip player_id='1358260' first='Cainan' last='Travis'] has posted 32 receptions for 419 yards and six TDs and added some juice in the running game. [player_tooltip player_id='340216' first='Cael' last='Wishman'], Treyton Travis and [player_tooltip player_id='1358260' first='Cainan' last='Travis'] have stood out on defense.   The Audubon offensive machine is powered by [player_tooltip player_id='1358172' first='Aaron' last='Olsen'] and Evan Alt, who have combined for 1,709 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground. Olsen has chipped in with two touchdown passes, and Carson Wessel has contributed 196 yards and five scores rushing. Edward Miller has caught 11 passes for 223 yards and a pair of TDs. Olsen, Gabe Jensen, Colton Hansen and [player_tooltip player_id='1242853' first='Austin' last='Christensen'] have shined defensively.   Other Marquee Matchups in Eight-Player: Harris-Lake Park at Bishop Garrigan; Edgewood-Colesburg at Lansing Kee; Belle Plaine at Iowa Valley.

Let's take a look at Week 7 top games in each class and players in them: