Previewing, Predicting 1st-Round Class 3A Playoff Games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A closer look at Friday's first-round game in Class 3A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clear Lake (6-3) at Humboldt (8-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong>&nbsp;Humboldt won this matchup, 23-13, on Oct. 18 at Clear Lake. Coen Matson threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns in that contest with [player_tooltip player_id='1280029' first='Keegan' last='Groat'] catching four of his throws for 147 yards and a pair of scores. Groat also racked up 11.5 tackles in that contest, and [player_tooltip player_id='1197447' first='Broedy' last='Hendricks'] racked up 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. [player_tooltip player_id='1204540' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'] ended up with 272 yards and two touchdown tosses in defeat, and [player_tooltip player_id='1361104' first='Alex' last='Kerr'] caught seven balls for 99 yards and a TD. [player_tooltip player_id='1361107' first='Titan' last='Schmitt'] rushed for 75 yards, and [player_tooltip player_id='1844805' first='Raif' last='Baack'] led the way with 7.0 tackles (1.0 TFL). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Humboldt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Solon (7-2) and Benton (7-2) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> It's another rematch of a game played earlier this season. In this case, Benton claimed a 21-20 decision against the visiting Spartans on Oct. 4. The Bobcats received 137 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries from Dylan LeFebvere, and Logan Upah hauled in a 66-yard score on his only catch. Blayke Heying paced the victors with 11.5 tackles (1.0 TFL). Solon's leading rusher, [player_tooltip player_id='1360709' first='Eddie' last='Johnson'], was hurt in that game and only ran twice. [player_tooltip player_id='1360778' first='Tyler' last='Bell'] threw for 273 yards with a score throwing and running, and [player_tooltip player_id='1532898' first='Maddox' last='Kelley'] caught eight passes for 105 yards against Benton. [player_tooltip player_id='1842569' first='Tripp' last='Johnson'] produced 10.0 tackles (2.0 TFL).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Solon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD B</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MOC-Floyd Valley (6-3) at Sergeant Bluff-Luton (9-0) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> Keeping with our theme in 3A, we have another rematch from the regular season. During a 45-21 Sergeant Bluff-Luton home victory on Oct. 4, Joe Hardy, [player_tooltip player_id='1529036' first='Ryan' last='Husen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1692983' first='Isaiah' last='Jervik'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1529022' first='Zayvion' last='Ellington'] combined for 382 ground yards with six touchdowns on 47 carries. Bo Koedam picked off a pass in the win. Blake Aalber threw for 170 yards and two touchdowns for MOC-Floyd Valley with [player_tooltip player_id='773212' first='Ahman' last='Langton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1282275' first='Braylon' last='Van Gelder'] teaming up on five receptions for 139 yards and two TDs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Sergeant Bluff-Luton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Heelan (6-3) at Nevada (7-2) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong>&nbsp;Breaking away from our trend of rematches, these schools meet for the first time. Nevada won five of its last six games, its only setback coming against Harlan. [player_tooltip player_id='1406631' first='Connor' last='King'] has 1,199 yards and 12 touchdowns passing for the Cubs, adding three rushing scores. Anthony Eaton has run for 1,551 yards and 23 TDs, and Gavin Egeland has six touchdown receptions. Heelan's [player_tooltip player_id='1238514' first='Kasen' last='Thomas'] is one of the state's top sophomores, shining at running back and linebacker. Zachary Harpenau and Will Pattee rack up tackles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Heelan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD C</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assumption (4-5) at Wahlert (9-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> And now back to our rundown of 3A rematches. Wahlert picked up a 38-21 triumph at Assumption on Sept. 20, a game the Golden Eagles trailed 14-7 at halftime. [player_tooltip player_id='1286448' first='Michael' last='Bormann'] led the comeback, finishing with 123 yards and two touchdowns rushing and a team-best 8.0 tackles. [player_tooltip player_id='1286440' first='Tom' last='Scherr'] provided 148 combined yards rushing and receiving with two touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1840781' first='Will' last='Welbes'] registered 6.5 tackles, and Greg Smith chipped in 6.0 (4.0 TFL, 1.0 Sacks). Braylon Thomsen had 173 yards and a touchdown passing for Assumption, connecting with Brady Curoe 11 times for 91 yards and a TD. Tommy Bedford and Ben Yeggy combined for 13 solo stops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Wahlert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Williamsburg (7-2) at Independence (7-2) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> Defending state champion Williamsburg will need road magic to return to The Dome. It starts at Independence, where the programs will meet for the first time. Mustang QB EJ Miller has more than 2,300 yards and 26 combined touchdowns passing and rushing. [player_tooltip player_id='252312' first='Brady' last='Kurt'] is a 1,000-yard receiver and has 16 total TDs, and AJ Kitner has 565 yards and five scores on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1406617' first='Tate' last='Wood'] leads the defense with 96.0 tackles (10.5 TFL, 1.0 Sacks). For the Raiders, [player_tooltip player_id='1516961' first='Grant' last='Hocker'] has rolled up 2,206 yards and 37 touchdowns passing and is complemented by Nile Sinn, who has 887 yards and eight TDs rushing. [player_tooltip player_id='848057' first='Rayce' last='Heitman'] has 1,015 yards and 20 touchdowns receiving and also leads the squad with 69.0 tackles (9.0 TFL, 1.0 Sacks).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Williamsburg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD D</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Harlan (6-3) at Algona (8-1) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong>&nbsp;It appears the 3A opening-round games are rematches or the first time the programs have met. This contest falls into the latter category. Algona will be navigating the postseason without Iowa State quarterback commitment [player_tooltip player_id='252221' first='Alex' last='Manske'], the state's top signal caller. He suffered a season-ending injury and has been replaced by his brother, [player_tooltip player_id='1204547' first='Nathan' last='Manske'], who has five touchdown throws against no interceptions. The Bulldogs boast excellent skill players in [player_tooltip player_id='1240418' first='William' last='Weichert'], [player_tooltip player_id='1240413' first='Evan' last='Allie'] and Tate Slagle, among others. Cyclone pledge [player_tooltip player_id='252334' first='Jack' last='Limbaugh'] leads the defense. Historically successful Harlan won its final four games to reach the postseason again behind QB [player_tooltip player_id='1242847' first='Gabe' last='Arkfeld'], RB [player_tooltip player_id='1279799' first='Lukas' last='Francis'] and TE [player_tooltip player_id='245592' first='Jozef' last='Reisz']. Bryce Van Baale and [player_tooltip player_id='1242264' first='Dallas' last='McDowell'] are among the defensive standouts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Algona</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carroll (6-3) at Mount Vernon (8-1) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> We wrap up the writeup with teams matching up for the first time. Kellen Haverback has thrown for 20 touchdowns and rushed for seven more for the Mustangs. [player_tooltip player_id='1841752' first='Jase' last='Jaspers'] is a two-way standout, and [player_tooltip player_id='1360967' first='Cooper' last='Hird'] leads the ground attack. [player_tooltip player_id='1241540' first='Jaxon' last='Anderson'], Kael Riniker, [player_tooltip player_id='1279984' first='Nova' last='Lane'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1278806' first='Ethan' last='Wood'] are among the defensive stars. Carter Essick is a dual-threat QB for Carroll with Owen Klocke and Reece Ziegmann being his top targets. [player_tooltip player_id='1529009' first='Taidyn' last='Peterson'] has 1,263 yards and 14 scores on the ground, and [player_tooltip player_id='1242825' first='Quinten' last='Polking'] and Edrik Heisterkamp are the leading tacklers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Mount Vernon </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->