Iowa Prep Football Week 3: What Did We Learn?

Cedar Rapids Xavier 2026. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Redzone)

Rob Howe September 13, 2026 @ 12:14 PM

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/09/scouting-iowa-freshmen-off-to-a-fast-start-in-2026/">Scouting Iowa Freshmen Off to A Fast Start in 2026</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/09/photo-gallery-xavier-at-clear-creek-amana/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2026/09/photo-gallery-xavier-at-clear-creek-amana/">Photo Gallery: Xavier at Clear Creek Amana</a>   Friday night had me in Tiffin for the Xavier at Clear Creek Amana contest. A large crowd filed into Clipper Stadium for a showdown between Class 4A unbeaten teams. Fans were treated to a competitive affair, eventually claimed by the visitors, 28-17.   CCA jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, marching 80 yards to pay dirt on the opening drive. [player_tooltip player_id='1596516' first='Texton' last='Bollers'] connected with [player_tooltip player_id='1621055' first='Tay' last='Seals'] for the score. Xavier tied it at 7-7 on a 13-yard TD run by quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1827747' first='Cash' last='Parks'] in the second quarter. Aiden Gross's 41-yard field goal as time expired in the first half sent the Clippers to the locker room with a 10-7 advantage.   It looked like an upset was brewing when CCA went up 17-7 roughly midway through the third quarter. Bollers connected with [player_tooltip player_id='1331146' first='Jonah' last='Drake'] for a 50-yard touchdown.   The Saints received the wake-up call, however, scoring 21 unanswered points from there to claim their 16th victory in a row. Parks hit [player_tooltip player_id='1937346' first='Dustin' last='Cook'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2389110' first='Ty' last='Weiss'] for scores, and [player_tooltip player_id='1618776' first='Dawson' last='Doyle'] added one on the ground.   Xavier overcame fumbles and puzzling penalties to rally. For that, the defending Class 4A state champions deserve credit. To be 3-0 against the teams they've faced impresses.   The Clippers must bounce back after going toe-to-toe with the best. They now know they can compete at a high level and have to keep the effort there. The pieces are in place for a special season.   Let's whip around the state for more interesting results:   -Sioux City East continued dominating the competition, taking out Bishop Heelan, 35-10, Friday night. The Black Raiders have outscored opponents, 116-13, in a 3-0 start.   Neither team did much offensively in the city matchup, but East's defense and special teams were the difference. [player_tooltip player_id='1198829' first='Kason' last='Clayborne'] delivered 11.0 tackles, nine of which were solo. He collected 3.0 tackles for loss, a sack and an interception. [player_tooltip player_id='1583610' first='Landan' last='Monk'] returned a fumble 36 yards for a TD, Carter Modlin had a 26-yards Pick-6 and [player_tooltip player_id='1105157' first='Christopher' last='Ford'] housed an 82-yard kick return.   -Waukee Northwest, which didn't lose until Week 8 last year, was 0-2 heading into Friday's game against visiting Iowa City High. The Wolves needed a win after falling to Ankeny and Valley. They got it.   Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1204436' first='Mack' last='Heitland'] completed 8 of 11 throws for 134 yards and a touchdown, and rushed six times for 77 yards and three scores. [player_tooltip player_id='1603066' first='Paulo' last='Tobongye'] carried six times for 69 yards and a touchdown, and [player_tooltip player_id='1656826' first='Max' last='Schmitz'] had 113 yards on 16 attempts. [player_tooltip player_id='1204438' first='Joe' last='Vinyard'] caught a touchdown, and [player_tooltip player_id='1219585' first='Eddie' last='Kennedy'] registered eight solo tackles and intercepted a pass.   -Bettendorf responded to a loss at Iowa City High last week by knocking off previously unbeaten Prairie, 26-14, Friday night in the Quad Cities. The Bulldogs improved to 2-1 with a game at Iowa City West (2-1) next.   Ben Whipple helped Bettendorf control the clock against the Prairie Hawks with 120 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, while the defense held the visitors to 43 ground yards on 20 attempts. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='980028' first='Cannon' last='Davis'] had TDs throwing and rushing, and his younger brother, [player_tooltip player_id='1663794' first='Kolt' last='Davis'], caught four balls for 75 yards and a score. [player_tooltip player_id='2138662' first='Wyatt' last='Freking'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1609271' first='Gavin' last='Stecker'] delivered 7.0 tackles apiece in the win, and Charlie Martin picked off a pair of passes.   -A couple of teams with designs on deep Class 4A postseason runs met up Friday in Waverly. Western Dubuque responded to dropping a tough decision to defending champion Xavier last week with a thrilling 32-31 victory versus previously unbeaten Waverly-Shell Rock.   [player_tooltip player_id='1741922' first='Brady' last='Rissman'] threw for 149 yards and a touchdown, [player_tooltip player_id='1689158' first='Kyan' last='Vaassen'] rushed for 149 yards and a score, and Willie Williams Jr. caught three passes for 66 yards and a TD in the win. Williams also averaged 29 yards on three kick returns. [player_tooltip player_id='1596610' first='Jayden' last='Stephens'] was excellent in defeat, catching six passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns, recording 5.5 tackles and intercepting a pass.

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