Class 5A Week 1 Matchups, Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 1 of the high school football season has arrived. Action will be happening Thursday and Friday around the state, our first piece of data for 2024, but still just one piece. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each week we'll take a look at games and players to watch, usually for release on Tuesday or Wednesday. Updated team rankings and players of the week will be posted on Mondays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS 5A </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GAME OF THE WEEK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 8 Cedar Rapids Kennedy at No. 5 Dowling Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a really strong opening slate of games in 5A. This matchup rises above other worthy candidates because it pits two top programs from different parts of the state against each other. Dowling took last year's meeting, 38-21, Week 1 in Cedar Rapids. Maroon RB [player_tooltip player_id='847998' first='Rashawd' last='Davis'] rushed for 144 yards and four touchdowns. He'll be relied upon again in an offense that graduated a lot of production. Kennedy QB [player_tooltip player_id='847811' first='Vincenzo' last='Gianforte'] also returns having thrown for 267 yards and three scores without an interception in this game last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cougars bring back more proven pieces from a year ago than does Dowling, but the Maroons usually reload. That setup makes this one of the more intriguing contests among all classes this week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='332995' first='Jacob' last='Doyle'],&nbsp;RB, CRK; [player_tooltip player_id='1101671' first='Pierce' last='McCrary'],&nbsp;WR, CRK; [player_tooltip player_id='342733' first='Braylon' last='Edwards'], OL, CRK; [player_tooltip player_id='1238497' first='Ethan' last='Sloan'], OL, CRK; [player_tooltip player_id='1361687' first='Sam' last='Adams'], LB, CRK; Ryan Bartels,&nbsp;S, CRK; [player_tooltip player_id='1236892' first='Bralin' last='Henry'],&nbsp;DL, CRK; [player_tooltip player_id='1279753' first='Trey' last='Wilson'], WR, DC; [player_tooltip player_id='245539' first='Parker' last='Pearson'], DB, DC; Aiden Ducharme, LB, DC; [player_tooltip player_id='1619297' first='Ryan' last='Bobo'], DL, DC; [player_tooltip player_id='1271437' first='Owen' last='Pins'], OL, DC; [player_tooltip player_id='1278782' first='Dylan' last='Manning'], DE/OLB, DC. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FOUR MORE </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 2 Ankeny vs. No. 9 Ankeny Centennial</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ankeny has claimed the last three meetings in the series, including two wins last season, the second being in the state semifinals. The Jaguars should be motived behind a strong defense led by LB [player_tooltip player_id='1279727' first='Reed' last='Anderson']. The Hawks also should test the strength of the unit with the return of QB [player_tooltip player_id='1280955' first='Luke' last='Anderson'] and RB [player_tooltip player_id='1278885' first='Caden' last='Henkes']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='401669' first='Daniel' last='Larmie'], RB, ANK; [player_tooltip player_id='1280082' first='Evan' last='Irlmeier'], WR, ANK; Samuel Sandvig, S, ANK; Kinnick Vos, CB, ANK; Manning Allen, DT, ANK; [player_tooltip player_id='1280953' first='Andrew' last='Haase'],&nbsp;DE, ANK; [player_tooltip player_id='245544' first='Malachi' last='Curvey'], LB, AC; [player_tooltip player_id='1280497' first='Braeden' last='Jackson'], RB; AC; [player_tooltip player_id='401673' first='Javaris' last='Morgan'], RB, AC; [player_tooltip player_id='1286629' first='Chase' last='Kluver'], AC; [player_tooltip player_id='1279763' first='Mitchell' last='Grider'],&nbsp;AC; Carlos Blount,&nbsp;LB, AC; &nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1227598' first='Houston' last='Luce'], AC; [player_tooltip player_id='1277268' first='Isaiah' last='Bassett'],&nbsp;DE, AC. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 1 WDM Valley at No. 4 Southeast Polk</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maybe this one is the game of the week. It certainly has a case. Nobody will be surprised if these teams end up in The Dome come November as they've done last three years. Valley's roster is loaded. It includes one of the state's top overall players, receiver [player_tooltip player_id='847795' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson']. The three-time defending state champion Rams own a six-game winning streak in this series, including two wins last year. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1278273' first='Sam' last='Zelenovich'] also is one of the state's wideouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong>: Landon Vander Werff,&nbsp;RB, SEP; [player_tooltip player_id='1279607' first='Emmanuel' last='Gaye'], DB, SEP; [player_tooltip player_id='1279618' first='Kaden' last='Hills'],&nbsp;DB, SEP; &nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='640854' first='Cooper' last='Martinson'],&nbsp;DT, SEP; [player_tooltip player_id='401870' first='Drake' last='DeGroote'],&nbsp;QB, WDMV; [player_tooltip player_id='847993' first='Darius' last='Mason'],&nbsp;RB, WDMV; [player_tooltip player_id='283946' first='Jayden' last='McGregory'], WR/DB, WDMV; [player_tooltip player_id='283945' first='Jayden' last='Brown'], WR, WDMV; &nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1589904' first='Andrew' last='Price'], DB, WDMV; [player_tooltip player_id='533051' first='Gage' last='Olsen'], DB, WDMV; [player_tooltip player_id='1280032' first='Cam' last='Cribari'],&nbsp;DB, WDMV; [player_tooltip player_id='1361677' first='Ryan' last='Arbab'], LB, WDMV; [player_tooltip player_id='1209595' first='Marcus' last='McGregor'], OL, WDMV; [player_tooltip player_id='1279870' first='Zach' last='Schemper'], TE, WDMV; [player_tooltip player_id='1273296' first='Derek' last='Ellens'], OL, WDMV. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 10</strong> <strong>Bettendorf at No. 7 Pleasant Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs ended a four-game skid against their rival last year with a 30-10, Week 1 victory. Both programs are replacing their starting quarterbacks from that game. Safety [player_tooltip player_id='1277230' first='Jackson' last='Laver'], who led Bettendorf in tackles that night, returns with a strong nucleus to make it a stingy defense once again. The Spartans are led by dominant two-way lineman [player_tooltip player_id='252328' first='Joey' last='VanWetzinga'], an Iowa commitment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1295017' first='Sam' last='Beecher'], LB, BET; Connor Mack, DB, BET; Cole Odefey, DB, BET; Jacob Whipple,&nbsp;RB, BET; [player_tooltip player_id='1280007' first='Amari' last='Washington'], TE, BET; [player_tooltip player_id='1272825' first='Tommy' last='Bloome'], TE, BET; [player_tooltip player_id='1240429' first='Hayden' last='Morrison'], WR, BET; [player_tooltip player_id='401666' first='Armon' last='Williams'], RB, BET; [player_tooltip player_id='1278822' first='Max' last='Schmeltzer'], DE/TE, PV; [player_tooltip player_id='1320126' first='Harrison' last='Fierce'], LB, PV; [player_tooltip player_id='1361702' first='Sam' last='Munn'], OL, PV; [player_tooltip player_id='1361707' first='Will' last='Diaz'], OL, PV. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 3 Cedar Falls at Cedar Rapids Prairie</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These Mississippi Valley Conference members know each other across all sports. They meet frequently in football as well, including the Prairie Hawks winning the last two seasonns and in three of four this decade. The Tigers dropped a heartbreaking, 21-20 decision to Southeast Polk in last season's quarterfinals. They're led by a strong offense line, which includes Iowa State commitment [player_tooltip player_id='847962' first='Will' last='Tompkins']. Prairie boasts a pair of play-making receivers in [player_tooltip player_id='1279710' first='T.Y.' last='Pour'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1279712' first='Denzil' last='Green']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1080239' first='Jarrett' last='Kies'], LB, CF; [player_tooltip player_id='1221971' first='Leyton' last='Wolf'], QB, CF; [player_tooltip player_id='1221961' first='William' last='Remmert'], RB, CF; Kai Smith, TE/DE, CF; [player_tooltip player_id='1221959' first='Hayden' last='Bishop'], OL, CF; [player_tooltip player_id='1183033' first='Connor' last='Best'], OL, CF; [player_tooltip player_id='1399565' first='Parker' last='Yokem'], OL, CF; Jaxon Schreiber, DB, CF; Owen Dellinger, LB, CF; [player_tooltip player_id='1216911' first='Max' last='Schwieger'], LB, CRP; LaMarious Clark, DB, CRP; [player_tooltip player_id='1581860' first='Quinton' last='Alexander'], DE, CRP; Tyler Beck, LB, CRP; [player_tooltip player_id='1279707' first='Roby' last='Swartzendruber'], OL, CRP; [player_tooltip player_id='1279711' first='Jace' last='Tonne'], OL, CRP. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->