Previewing, Predicting 1st-Round Class 5A Playoff Games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A wild regular season in Class 5A turns to the playoffs on Friday. If the last nine weeks are any indication, the competition will be crazy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Predicting what's going to happen might be a fool's errand. Allow me to fill that role. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waukee (6-3) at Iowa City Liberty</strong> <strong>(8-1)</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> The scoreboard operator could get a workout in this one. Liberty leads 5A in scoring (44.0 PPG), and Waukee ranks third (42.4). Lightning QB Reece Rettig's 27 touchdown tosses ranks second in the class, while Waukee's [player_tooltip player_id='1240560' first='Beckett' last='Bakker'] is fifth (19). [player_tooltip player_id='1129677' first='Dallas' last='Miller'], [player_tooltip player_id='1196514' first='Collin' last='Decker'], [player_tooltip player_id='1278898' first='Owen' last='Drapeaux'], [player_tooltip player_id='988861' first='Sutton' last='Koller'], [player_tooltip player_id='1279995' first='Grant' last='Gammell'], [player_tooltip player_id='1280894' first='Maverick' last='Inman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1221928' first='Evan' last='Jacobson'] lead talented groups of skill players on both sidelines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Liberty </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linn-Mar at Ankeny</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4: </strong> Linn-Mar rides one of the state's most productive running backs into Ankeny for an intriguing first-round matchup. Lion senior [player_tooltip player_id='848086' first='Dylan' last='Muszynski'] has 1,298 yards (8.3 YPC) and 20 touchdowns rushing, and 12 receptions for 245 yards and a score. The Hawks counter with a potent rushing attack headed by [player_tooltip player_id='401669' first='Daniel' last='Larmie'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1278885' first='Caden' last='Henkes']. Landon Sorg is Linn-Mar's top receiving threat with [player_tooltip player_id='1280082' first='Evan' last='Irlmeier'] and [player_tooltip player_id='897474' first='Andrew' last='Brandhorst'] sharing that role for Ankeny.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Ankeny</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD B</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedar Falls (5-4) at Dowling Catholic (8-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4: </strong> Victors its last six games, Dowling shares 5A's longest current winning streak with Liberty and Johnston. [player_tooltip player_id='847998' first='Rashawd' last='Davis'] powers its productive running game, and [player_tooltip player_id='1279753' first='Trey' last='Wilson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1619623' first='Sam' last='Drexler'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1279933' first='Jakob' last='Skau'] provide Parker DePhillips and [player_tooltip player_id='401674' first='Joey' last='Nahas'] with talented targets. Tiger RB [player_tooltip player_id='1280019' first='Davarrion' last='Clark'] has 1430 yards and 25 TDs on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1221971' first='Leyton' last='Wolf'] is an efficient dual-threat quarterback, and Will Remmert is his most reliable receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Dowling </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa City High (6-3) at Ankeny Centennial (7-2)</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4: </strong>The Little Hawks downing Bettendorf Friday meant there were no more unbeaten teams in 5A. They rely on a bruising offensive line paving the way for running backs [player_tooltip player_id='1361313' first='Dawson' last='Kahl'] and Gabe Egeland. [player_tooltip player_id='1205114' first='Bobby' last='Bacon'] is an experienced and talented quarterback. Centennial leans on a rushing attack led by [player_tooltip player_id='1280497' first='Braeden' last='Jackson'] and JJ Morgan. [player_tooltip player_id='1286629' first='Chase' last='Kluver']'s efficient quarterbacking is bolstered by Caleb Reed and a talented group of wideouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Centennial </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD C</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa City West (5-4) at Bettendorf (8-1) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4: </strong>Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='245608' first='Jack' last='Wallace'] along with receivers [player_tooltip player_id='847948' first='Mason' last='Woods'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1238512' first='Julian' last='Manson'] give Iowa City West the best trio of its kind in Iowa. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1361552' first='Butali' last='Butali'] balances a Trojan offense capable of lifting the road team to an upset. It won't be easy against a Bulldog outfit that's won 16 games over the last two seasons. [player_tooltip player_id='1277230' first='Jackson' last='Laver'] stresses defenses with his arm and legs, and RB Jacob Whipple and WR [player_tooltip player_id='1240429' first='Hayden' last='Morrison'] are playmakers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Iowa City West </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southeast Polk (5-4) at Pleasant Valley (7-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4: </strong>The three-time defending state champion Rams open on the road against another of the state's most consistently-strong programs. [player_tooltip player_id='1278273' first='Sam' last='Zelenovich'] is one of the state's better receivers, and QB [player_tooltip player_id='254611' first='Holden' last='Hansen'] produces passing and running. Landon Vander Werff and [player_tooltip player_id='401671' first='Drew' last='Thompson'] share the running back work. PV also boasts a dual-threat signal caller in [player_tooltip player_id='1320126' first='Harrison' last='Fierce'], &nbsp;Elijah Rodney is a 1,000-yard back and [player_tooltip player_id='1466775' first='Camryn' last='LeMoine'] is a dangerous pass catcher. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Pleasant Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD D</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sioux City East (6-3) at WDM Valley (7-2) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4: </strong>Valley's two losses this season each came by three points in overtime. QB [player_tooltip player_id='401870' first='Drake' last='DeGroote'] is furnished with a talent receiving corps led by [player_tooltip player_id='847795' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='283945' first='Jayden' last='Brown'], and a dangerous TE in [player_tooltip player_id='1279870' first='Zach' last='Schemper']. [player_tooltip player_id='847993' first='Darius' last='Mason'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1524941' first='King' last='Coleman'] are a talented running back duo. East QB [player_tooltip player_id='1238521' first='Cal' last='Jepsen'] has more than 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns through the air with [player_tooltip player_id='604773' first='Louden' last='Grimsley'],&nbsp;John Yates and [player_tooltip player_id='1619632' first='Quinton' last='Ashcraft'] the top recipients. [player_tooltip player_id='1127791' first='Myles' last='Wegher'] is a versatile back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Valley </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waterloo West (6-3) at Johnston (7-2)</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4: </strong>As mentioned earlier, the Dragons' six-game winning streak is tied with Liberty and Dowling for the longest runs in 5A. [player_tooltip player_id='252226' first='William' last='Nuss'] is among the class's most experienced quarterbacks. He looks for [player_tooltip player_id='1279761' first='Nathan' last='King'], Tino Daye and Vincent Peterson when going vertical, and RB [player_tooltip player_id='1361616' first='D'Angelo' last='Barkue'] balances the attack. West is in the postseason for the first time in a non-Covid season since '16. [player_tooltip player_id='252341' first='Myles' last='Gardner'] is one of the top two-way players in this class, and [player_tooltip player_id='1221926' first='Carson' last='Nielsen'] is one of its best offensive linemen. Alen Dedic is 5 for 5 on field goals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Johnston </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->