Top Week 9 Games in 5A, 4A, 3A with Players to Watch
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While the four smallest classes in the state embark on their postseasons, the three largest groups finish up their regular season and finalize their playoff picture this week. Let’s take a look at some of the most impactful games remaining…
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Continue ReadingWhile the four smallest classes in the state embark on their postseasons, the three largest groups finish up their regular season and finalize their playoff picture this week. Let’s take a look at some of the most impactful games remaining in 5A, 4A and 3A:
Class 5A
Game of the Week: Cedar Rapids Prairie (4-4) at Iowa City West (4-4)
The Setup: All of the games listed here and others will play roles in figuring out whose seasons end and the playoff matchups for schools moving on. I chose this game because it appears to be an elimination game based on the RPI rankings going into it. Prairie is No. 13 in the state and West sits four spots behind that.
Players to Watch: Senior quarterback Will Phillips Will Phillips 6'4" Cedar Rapids | 2024 IA has thrown for 1,444 yards and 11 touchdowns for Prairie this season. Apollo Payne (42 catches, 803 yards, 8 TDs) and Denzil Green (20-256-2) are his top targets. Casey Kelley helps the Prairie Hawks balance their attack with 959 yards (6.3 YPC) and 10 scores rushing. On defense, Quinton Alexander, Wyatt Vlasek, Collin Velky, LaMarious Clark and Tyler Beck stand out.
For West, junior quarterback Jack Wallace Jack Wallace 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB Iowa City West | 2025 State IA is in his third season as the starter. He’s rolled up 1,349 yards and 10 touchdowns passing and 152 yards with five more scores on the ground. Ashton Honore Ashton Honore 6'0" | 225 lbs | LB Iowa City West | 2024 IA is a productive running back, and Izaiah Loveless and Mason Woods Mason Woods 6'2" | 195 lbs | ATH Iowa City West | 2025 State IA shine as receivers. Woods, Honore, Zach Logsdon, Santana Miller Santana Miller 6'2" | LB Iowa City | 2024 IA , Adrian DeWaard, Declan Bunn and Ethan Headings Ethan Headings 6'2" | 175 lbs | ATH Iowa City West | 2026 IA are among the Trojan playmakers on defense.
Other Marquee Matchups in 5A: Iowa City High at Bettendorf; Johnston at Sioux City East; Ankeny Centennial at Urbandale; Cedar Falls at Davenport West; Pleasant Valley at Linn-Mar.
Class 4A
Game of the Week: North Polk (6-2) at ADM (6-2)
The Setup: These teams are comfortably into the postseason no matter what happens here. North Polk ranks third in the RPI and ADM checks in at No. 5. A district title, playoff positioning and bragging rights are riding on this one.
Players to Watch: At the controls for North Polk is senior quarterback Isaac Zoske Isaac Zoske 6'3" | 163 lbs | QB North Polk Alleman | 2024 IA , who has thrown for 1,153 yards and 14 touchdowns. Running back BJ Tate has 874 yards and 11 scores rushing, while Brock Miller Brock Miller 5'7" | 140 lbs | WR North Polk Alleman | 2024 IA (30-298-2), Kale Yoakum Kale Yoakum 5'10" | 155 lbs | WR North Polk Alleman | 2024 IA (18-280-6) and Colton Manock Colton Manock 5'11" | 155 lbs | WR North Polk Alleman | 2024 IA (8-286-4) are receivers that stress out opponents. On defense, Brayden Foster Brayden Foster 5'10" | 175 lbs North Polk Alleman | 2024 IA , Dyllon Ireland Dyllon Ireland 6'0" | 166.3 lbs North Polk Alleman | 2024 IA , Cohan Torres Cohan Torres 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB North Polk Alleman | 2024 IA and Nathan Feldman stand out.
ADM continues rolling despite losing Iowa Hawkeye running back commitment Brevin Doll Brevin Doll 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB ADM | 2024 State IA to a season-ending injury early on because of quarterback Aiden Flora Aiden Flora 5'10" | 165 lbs | ATH ADM | 2024 State IA . The senior, who is off to Iowa State as a preferred walk-on, has thrown for 798 yards and 11 touchdowns, and run for 1,444 yards and 20 scores. Cameron Forgy, Tyler Gelhaar, Zach Lohmann and Rhylan Stine-Smith are other important pieces on offense. Karver Sutton, Drew Obstarczyk, Ethan Asche, Brayden Rynearson and Talan Guile Talan Guile 5'9" | 140 lbs | DB ADM | 2024 IA lead the defense.
Other Marquee Matchups in 4A: Norwalk at Glenwood; Dallas Center-Grimes at Council Bluffs Lewis Central; Pella at Gilbert.
Class 3A
Game of the Week: Algona (5-3) at Hampton-Dumont-CAL (5-3)
The Setup: I’m a sucker elimination games and this could be one based on the current RPI. Algona enters action this week at No. 13 with Hampton-Dumont-CAL residing three places behind the Bulldogs.
Players to Watch: Algona junior Alex Manske Alex Manske 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Algona | 2025 State IA is one of the more sought-after quarterbacks in the region for 2025 with reported scholarship offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin. He’s has thrown for 1,510 yards and 14 touchdowns without an interception in ’23. He leads the team in rushing scores (11) and ranks second in ground yards (605) behind only Evan Allie Evan Allie 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Algona | 2026 State IA (634). Porter Reffer (38-823-7) is Manske’s favorite target. On defense, Jack Limbaugh Jack Limbaugh 6'4" | 225 lbs | ATH Algona | 2025 State IA , Landon Thompson, Tate Slagle and Devin Larsen are among the key players.
For Hampton-Dumont-CAL, senior quarterback Gavin Meader pressures opponents with his arm and legs. He has a combined 18 touchdowns passing and running. Brody Walton has 730 yards and eight scores on the ground with Karter Janssen chipping in with 271 yards and two TDS rushing. Tucker Heeren (23-411-4) is the main receiving threat with Scott Harr (12-138-2) also being a factor there. Harr, Austin Hanson, Taylor Mahler, Brody Strother, Carter Heilskov and Cael Burmester are impact players on defense.
Other Marquee Matchups in 3A: Bishop Heelan at MOC-Floyd Valley; Humboldt at Webster City; West Delaware at Central DeWitt; Benton at Williamsburg.