Previewing Class 3A State Quarterfinals

A trip to The Dome is on the line Friday night when the state quarterfinals kick off around the state. With the eight remaining teams in 3A, the action should be fiercely competitive.   Let's take a look at the four matchups in 3A:   POD A   Webster City (8-2) at Creston (10-0)   According to records on Bound, these schools will be playing each other for the first time since at least '08. It could be because they are 125 miles apart.   Creston is the only remaining unbeaten squad left in 3A. They're in the quarterfinals after topping Harlan, 35-27, in last week's opening round of the playoffs, the second time it topped the Cyclones in '23. The Panthers also have wins against postseason teams in Ballard and Lewis Central.   [player_tooltip player_id='320765' first='Cael' last='Turner'] has enjoyed a wonderful senior campaign as Creston's quarterback with 2,442 yards and 29 touchdowns passing against only six interceptions. He's added 315 yards and five scores rushing. [player_tooltip player_id='320767' first='Brennan' last='Hayes'] has rumbled for 1,547 yards and 16 TDs on the ground. Hayes, Brandon Briley and [player_tooltip player_id='1360535' first='Josh' last='Schaefer'] each has caught more than 30 passes. On defense, Jack Walter, McCoy Haines, Austin Evans, Will Bolinger and [player_tooltip player_id='320768' first='Max' last='Chapman'] lead as stingy unit.   Webster City reached this point with a 27-7 win against Nevada in last week's postseason opener. The Lynx own notable victories Humboldt, Algona and North Polk with the two losses coming against ranked West Delaware and Clear Lake.   The Lynx have completed just 12 of 38 passes this season, preferring to run the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='156632' first='Jaxon' last='Cherry'] has led the way with 1,699 yards and 24 touchdowns rushing. [player_tooltip player_id='248021' first='Keegan' last='Hisler'], Luke Estlund and [player_tooltip player_id='1361121' first='Cael' last='Nixon'] have combined for 1,546 yards and 14 scores on the ground. Cherry, [player_tooltip player_id='248021' first='Keegan' last='Hisler'], [player_tooltip player_id='1811636' first='Aiden' last='Hrnicek'], Briar Klaver and Jayden Weinzetl have been on a group standing out defensively.   POD B   West Delaware (7-3) at Solon (9-1)   Unlike Pod A, the schools in Pod B are plenty familiar with each other. This is the third year in a row they're meeting in the playoffs with Solon winning the previous two matchups, including the '22 quarterfinals and in the first round two years ago.   Solon dropped its season opener, 34-7, at Davenport Assumption but bounced back to win nine in a row. The Spartans dominated Fort Madison in last week's first round, 50-7. They also knocked off playoff teams in Williamsburg and Mount Vernon.   Solon prefers to run the ball with [player_tooltip player_id='1242954' first='Conlan' last='Poynton'] leading the way at 861 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing. He's complemented by [player_tooltip player_id='1360709' first='Eddie' last='Johnson'], who has 300 yards and five scores on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1360778' first='Tyler' last='Bell'] has 924 yards and 11 TDs passing with his favorite targets being Grant Knipper and Nash Kotar. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='248019' first='Brett' last='White'] leads a defense that yields only around 11 points per game and also includes standouts in [player_tooltip player_id='665099' first='Ben' last='Kampman'], Jack McCarty, Brayden Moore and Austin Knight.   The Hawks reached the quarterfinals with an exciting, 58-45 triumph against Assumption in last week's opening round. They also bested playoff teams in Independence and Webster City with their losses being against postseason squads in Western Dubuque and Decorah along with Dubuque Wahlert (5-4).   West Delaware junior Brent Yonkovic has proven to be a problem for opponents as a quarterback with 1,182 yards and 11 touchdowns passing to go with 1,459 yards and 21 scores on the ground. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1242282' first='Macoy' last='Roling'] has added 540 yards and seven TDs rushing. Conrad Smith and [player_tooltip player_id='1406645' first='Seth' last='Jackson'] have been a productive 1-2 punch at receiver. Conrad Smith, Jack Smith, Noah Felton, Memphis Voelker and Ryan Hilby hold it down for the Hawks defensively.   POD C   Mount Vernon (9-1) at Williamsburg (9-1)   According to Bound, these programs last met in '17 when many of these players were in elementary school. The schools are 3-3 against each other since the start of the '10 campaign. Their lone losses in '23 were against Solon.   Williamsburg has defeated Class 4A quarterfinalist Xavier in Cedar Rapids earlier this season. The Raiders also have notched victories against postseason teams in West Branch and Fort Madison. They eliminated Humboldt, 23-0, in last week's first round.   Kellen Cockrell has racked up 1,179 yards and 23 touchdowns with only four interceptions passing. Iowa linebacker recruit [player_tooltip player_id='248037' first='Derek' last='Weisskopf'] has thrown 10 touchdowns, caught four scores and rushed for two. He has 37 solo tackles and a pick. Nile Sinn has been the team's leading runner with Braylon Wetjen, [player_tooltip player_id='848057' first='Rayce' last='Heitman'] and Clayten Steckly shining at receiver. Weisskopf, Heitman, [player_tooltip player_id='1421438' first='Cael' last='Moore'], Simeon Armbrech and Ian Stumpff have led the defense.   The Mustangs have won seven games in a row since the setback against Solon. That included a 50-6 victory versus Independence in last week's opening round. They have taken down playoff teams in Monticello, Fort Madison and Assumption.   Joey Rhomberg has thrown for 2,035 yards and 20 touchdowns with nine more scores coming on the ground. Jackson Hird and [player_tooltip player_id='1360967' first='Cooper' last='Hird'] have combined for 1,091 yards and nine TDs rushing. Evan Brase has caught 52 passes for 925 yards and 10 touchdowns. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1361005' first='Tyler' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='1279984' first='Nova' last='Lane'], [player_tooltip player_id='156633' first='Jackson' last='Jaspers'], Miles Francois and [player_tooltip player_id='1278806' first='Ethan' last='Wood'] have ranked among the standouts.   POD D   Bishop Heelan, Sioux City (9-1) at Sioux Center (9-1)   Having played in each of the last three seasons, these teams should be plenty familiar with each other. Heelan will be looking at avenging losses in them, including a 21-0 setback at Sioux Center in September.   Sioux Center topped Algona, 28-21, in last week's opening round of the postseason. They've run the table after opening 'the season'23 with a loss to West Lyon.   Brodie Van Regenmorter has thrown for 1,060 yards and 10 touchdowns with 552 yards and five more scores coming on the ground. Solomon Tea has registered 822 yards and 12 TDs, and Connor Kamerman has contributed 425 yards and seven touchdowns rushing. Kansas commitment [player_tooltip player_id='247970' first='Carson' last='Bruhn'] has caught 22 passes for 258 yards and four scores. On defense, Bruhn, Reid Hulshof, Kade Bauer, [player_tooltip player_id='1241519' first='Cody' last='Sandbulte'] and Seth Andersen have led the way.   Heelan eliminated Clear Lake, 22-19, in last week's first round. The Crusaders also knocked off a playoff team in Kuemper Catholic, and beat two 5A schools in Sioux City East and Council Bluffs Lincoln, during the year.   They've received 1,008 yards and 18 touchdowns passing with 811 yards and 13 scores on the ground from Quinn Olson. Ricky Feauto has added 775 yards and 10 TDs rushing. [player_tooltip player_id='156649' first='Sir' last='Brandon Watts'] and [player_tooltip player_id='431418' first='Kannon' last='Bork'] have teamed up for 551 yards and 11 touchdowns receiving. Olson, Bork, [player_tooltip player_id='1238514' first='Kasen' last='Thomas'], James Cleary, Will Pattee and [player_tooltip player_id='378942' first='Max' last='Delaney'] have stood out among a strong group on defense.

A trip to The Dome is on the line Friday night when the state quarterfinals kick off around the state. With the eight remaining teams in 3A, the action should be fiercely competitive.