Previewing, Predicting 1st-Round Class 4A Playoff Games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A closer look at Friday's first-round game in Class 4A: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Dodge (7-2) at North Polk (9-0) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> North Polk prefers keeping it on the ground, as evidenced by its 2,546 rushing yards compared to 672 passing. Nathan Feldmann does both really well, racking up 1,377 yards and 19 touchdowns rushing to go with eight scoring tosses. [player_tooltip player_id='1361480' first='BJ' last='Tate Jr']. has more than 800 yards carrying the ball, and [player_tooltip player_id='1361539' first='Jakob' last='Phillips'] (49.0 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 2 INT, 1.0 Sacks) leads the defense. Fort Dodge leans on a balanced offense with QB [player_tooltip player_id='1644900' first='Tru' last='McBride'] (17 TD passes), RB Jamarius Green (1,213 yards, 13 TDS rushing) and [player_tooltip player_id='1619907' first='Tytrell' last='Mosley'] (31 catches) leading the way. [player_tooltip player_id='1620020' first='Jesse' last='Egli'] (57.0 tackles, 7.0 TFL) is among its defensive standouts. [player_tooltip player_id='1198836' first='Victor' last='Esparza'] has 51.0 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> North Polk</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Xavier (6-3) at Norwalk (6-3) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> Norwalk has emerged victorious its last five games, and the Saints are winners of four of their last five. Both teams have faced challenging schedules. They're talented and legitimate threats to advance out of this pod. Warrior QB [player_tooltip player_id='1619680' first='James' last='Hatlevig'] has thrown for 16 TDs and is an efficient passer. Dominic Tigner leads the rushing attack, and WR [player_tooltip player_id='283943' first='Eli' last='Robbins'] and TE [player_tooltip player_id='1198816' first='Luke' last='Brewer'], are two of the better players at their position in 4A. Xavier QB [player_tooltip player_id='1827747' first='Cash' last='Parks'] is recovered from a car accident and dangerous as a dual threat. Carter Hoffmann is a 1,000-yard RB, and WR [player_tooltip player_id='1619867' first='Ryan' last='Kelly'] has 46 catches for 584 yards. Jack Stevenson paces the defense with 54.0 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Xavier </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD B</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Newton (6-3) at Decorah (9-0)</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> A year after coming up just short in multiple games, Decorah has flipped the script this fall, winning close contests against good competition. Efficient senior quarterback Louis Bucksa has 14 touchdown passes against just three interceptions, adding four scores on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1619841' first='Trevor' last='Kuennen'] is the leading rusher, [player_tooltip player_id='1619944' first='Noah' last='Milburn'] is the top receiving target and William Hahn is one of the better two-way linemen in this class. Newton is capable of pulling off the upset behind dynamic, two-way standout [player_tooltip player_id='1619687' first='Caden' last='Klein'] and disruptive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1532913' first='Nick' last='Milburn']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Decorah</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Western Dubuque (6-3) at North Scott (7-2) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> It's a rematch of a game Western Dubuque won, 21-7, on Sept. 20 in Eldridge. North Scott gets another chance at Lancer Stadium. North Scott senior [player_tooltip player_id='690937' first='Thanaphat' last='Chase Smith'] has thrown 23 touchdowns against just three interceptions and rushed for three more scores. He's furnished with one of the better 1-2 punches at receiver in [player_tooltip player_id='305767' first='Carson' last='Lage'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1279117' first='Cash' last='Bowe'], who also share the team lead with two interceptions apiece. Western Dubuque leans on a balanced offense led by RBs [player_tooltip player_id='1621113' first='Drew' last='Bergfeld'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1282223' first='Drew' last='Burds']. [player_tooltip player_id='1277238' first='Garret' last='Kluesner'] is a super two-way lineman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> North Scott </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD C</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clear Creek-Amana (6-3) at Pella (8-1) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> A 14-7 setback against Gilbert in the regular-season finale ruined Pella's run at 9-0. The Dutch look to get back on track when it matters most behind dual-threat dynamo [player_tooltip player_id='1286458' first='Colin' last='Kerndt'] along with versatile running back [player_tooltip player_id='1240470' first='Emmanuel' last='Diers']. Nate Warner, Ben Wilcox and [player_tooltip player_id='1644914' first='Kyler' last='VanMaanen'] are disruptive defenders. CCA overcame a 1-2 start to win five of its last six games. Two-way lineman [player_tooltip player_id='252329' first='Brody' last='Clubb'] is a problem for opponents. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1242954' first='Conlan' last='Poynton'] gashes defenses with his arm and legs, and [player_tooltip player_id='1406686' first='Owen' last='Rosenberg'] shines at receiver and defensive back, where he's intercepted eight passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Pella </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waverly-Shell Rock (6-3) at Gilbert (8-1) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> Bondurant-Farrar ruined Gilbert's perfect season with a 31-28 road victory on Oct. 11. The Tigers then handed Pella its first defeat, 14-7, last week. Gilbert RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='252314' first='Will' last='Hawthorne'] has a strong argument to be player of the year in 4A. He gets help on defense from [player_tooltip player_id='1418106' first='Bowen' last='Kruse'], &nbsp;Blake Bell, [player_tooltip player_id='1238526' first='Tayshawn' last='Gillen'] and Easton Van Cleave. Waverly-Shell Rock's three setbacks came against fellow playoff teams Xavier, North Scott and Decorah. Ethan Bibler is a handful to defend at running back. [player_tooltip player_id='1619985' first='Brady' last='Bodensteiner'] is a productive defender, leading the team with three interceptions, and [player_tooltip player_id='1240475' first='Ian' last='Sedgwick'] is tough in the trenches. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Gilbert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD D</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ballard (5-4) at Lewis Central (8-1) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> Defending state champion Lewis Central saw its 16-game winning streak come to an end two weeks ago, falling to visiting Norwalk, 21-7. Senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='1279100' first='Brady' last='Hetzel'] helped the Titans rebound with a 49-8 win at Dallas-Center Grimes on Friday. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1360075' first='Chance' last='Chappell'] (12 TDS) and WR Leonardo Tatum (9 TDs) love the end zone. [player_tooltip player_id='1360092' first='Joseph' last='Monge'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1197453' first='Kyler' last='McNeal'] are menaces on the D-Line. Ballard has navigated one of 4A's toughest schedules with a balanced offense and a stingy defense, headed by one of the state's top LBs, [player_tooltip player_id='1165288' first='Jackson' last='Wacha']. DB Tucker Vitzthum (3.0 TFL, 3 INT) also delivers on that side of the ball as do Rhett Hedrick, Caden Anderson and [player_tooltip player_id='1818864' first='Blake' last='Brendeland'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Lewis Central </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ADM (7-2) at Spencer (6-3) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> Spencer had ripped off five wins in a row before Fort Dodge spoiled the Tigers' senior night Friday, 24-20. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1418087' first='Miles' last='Robbins'] powers the Spencer offensive attack along with dual-threat QB [player_tooltip player_id='827114' first='Cael' last='Bruning']. [player_tooltip player_id='1644925' first='Brody' last='Johnson'] stands out on the Tiger defense, and the same can be said about [player_tooltip player_id='1418078' first='Jack' last='Berends'], [player_tooltip player_id='1418072' first='Brody' last='Jordan'],&nbsp;Foster Roos and [player_tooltip player_id='1280034' first='Brady' last='Vreeman']. ADM also dropped its final regular-season game, a 27-14 defeat at North Polk. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1619815' first='Hudson' last='Shull'] is enjoying a breakout season for ADM, getting help on the ground from Jonathon Hatchitt and through the air by [player_tooltip player_id='1279866' first='Corbin' last='Reed']. &nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1402881' first='Brayden' last='Rynearson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1402893' first='Karver' last='Sutton'],&nbsp;Grant Jansen and Grant Engleman make a difference defensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> ADM </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->