Previewing 4A First-Round Playoff Games

POD A   Newton (6-3) at Western Dubuque (8-1)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1279823' first='Tanner' last='Anderson'], JR, QB, Western Dubuque; Grant Glausser, SR, RB, Western Dubuque; [player_tooltip player_id='320880' first='Brock' last='Carpenter'], SR, WR, Western Dubuque; Hunter Quagliano, SR, LB, Western Dubuque;  Derek Hoerner, SR, LB, Western Dubuque; Ryan Digmann, SR, LB, Western Dubuque; Caleb Mattes, SR, QB, Newton; [player_tooltip player_id='247949' first='Cody' last='Klein'], SR, RB, Newton; Nathan Milburn, SR, LB, Newton; [player_tooltip player_id='1619687' first='Caden' last='Klein'], SO, DB, Newton; Nate Lampe, SR, DB, Newton.   Breakdown: Western Dubuque lost 22-20 at Xavier on Sept. 8, its lone setback of the season. The Bobcats topped Pod A mates North Scott, 31-24, and Decorah, 28-7, this season. They reached the playoffs for the fourth time in the last six seasons, winning it all in 2019 after finishing as the runner-up a year earlier. Anderson has thrown 17 TDs and only three interceptions. Glausser has rushed for 1,906 yards and 22 scores. Carpenter has stood out on both sides of the ball.   Newton returns to the playoffs after making it last year for the first time since '14. The Cardinals' rich history includes a stretch of reaching the postseason every year from 1987-2003. They defeated fellow 3A playoff team Pella, 21-18, on Sept. 29, and lost to three teams (ADM, Norwalk, Bondurant-Farrar) still playing this weekend. Mattes has thrown nine touchdowns and run for nine scores. Klein has rushed for 1,180 yards and 13 TDs. Milburn is a disruptive defender.   Decorah (6-3) at North Scott (7-2)   Players to Watch: Kyler Gerardy, SR, QB, North Scott; [player_tooltip player_id='1402859' first='Jerrod' last='Lee'], JR, RB, North Scott; [player_tooltip player_id='1279117' first='Cash' last='Bowe'], JR, WR, North Scott; Luke Belken, SR, LB, North Scott; Owen Jordahl, SR, DB, North Scott; Dakota Johnson, SR, RB, Decorah; [player_tooltip player_id='1619841' first='Trevor' last='Kuennen'], SO, LB, Decorah; [player_tooltip player_id='1466771' first='Gatlin' last='Dahlberg'], JR, LB, Decorah; Brady Benzing, SR, LB, Decorah.   Breakdown: North Scott has toppled all of its opponents with the exception of Xavier and Western Dubuque, two other schools you can read about in this preview. The Lancers clinched their 16th playoff berth in a row, winning it all in '20. Gerardy has been one of the better players in the state, regardless of class. He committed to North Dakota State as a defensive back before the season.   Decorah won five of its first six games this season before dropping two of its final three contests. The Vikings defeated 3A playoff team West Delaware this season. They reached the postseason for the 25th time in their history. Johnson has performed like one of the top running backs in the class with 1279 yards (8.9 YPC) and 21 touchdowns rushing.   POD B   LeMars (7-2) at Lewis Central (7-2)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1279100' first='Brady' last='Hetzel'], JR, QB, Lewis Central; [player_tooltip player_id='1360057' first='Brody' last='Patlan'], JR, RB, Lewis Central;  [player_tooltip player_id='248038' first='Curtis' last='Witte'], SR, WR/DB, Lewis Central; [player_tooltip player_id='156631' first='Caleb' last='Moore'], SR, LB, Lewis Central; [player_tooltip player_id='592378' first='Kamdyn' last='Cross'], SR, LB, Lewis Central; Teagen Kasel, SR, QB, LeMars; Alex Allen, SR, DL, LeMars; Evan Jalas, SR, LB, LeMars; Andrew Fifita, SR, DB, LeMars.   Breakdown: Lewis Central returns to the postseason for a 12th year in a row. The Titans won it all in '21 and finished as the runners-up to Xavier for last season's championship. They've won their last five games with their only losses coming against fellow 4A playoff squad, Bondurant-Farrar, and 3A No. 1 Creston. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1279100' first='Brady' last='Hetzel'] has developed a good connection with receiver [player_tooltip player_id='248038' first='Curtis' last='Witte'], who also stands out on defense.   LeMars has tasted victory in four of its last five outings. The Bulldogs reached the playoffs for a second year in a row after missing out on the postseason from '13-'21. They lost to Lewis Central, 57-7 last season and have dropped the last five meetings with the Titans. Teagen Kasel has provided LeMars with a reliable running back, and defensive lineman Alex Allen has been disrupting opposing offenses all fall.   ADM (6-3) at Denison-Schleswig (7-2)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='247928' first='Luke' last='Wiebers'], SR, QB, Denison-Schleswig; Blaine Brodsky, SR, RB, Denison-Schleswig; Joel Murillo, JR, LB, Denison-Schleswig; Jake Fink, SR; WR/DB, Denison-Schleswig; [player_tooltip player_id='320738' first='Aiden' last='Flora'], SR, QB, ADM; [player_tooltip player_id='1402881' first='Brayden' last='Rynearson'], JR, DB, ADM; Drew Obstarczyk, SR, LB, ADM; [player_tooltip player_id='1402893' first='Karver' last='Sutton'], JR, DL, ADM; [player_tooltip player_id='248045' first='Talan' last='Guile'], SR, DB, ADM.   Breakdown: Denison-Schleswig reached the playoffs for the first time since '09. The program enjoyed a super run to the postseason from the mid-'90s through the '00s. The Monarchs have won five games in a row coming into this contest, which included a 16-14 victory against LeMars. Wiebers, Brodsky and Fink have played well both ways. Wiebers is a dual-threat at quarterback.   ADM earned their way into the postseason for the third season in a row. The Tigers did so without the services of star running back [player_tooltip player_id='156484' first='Brevin' last='Doll'], who is headed to Iowa. Flora's exploits played a large role in their ability to march on. He's throws for 12 touchdowns and run for 21 more scores. Obstarczyk has led the defense with 54.0 tackles (46 solo, 5.5 for loss), while Rynearson has racked up 42 solo tackles.   POD C   Norwalk (5-4) at Glenwood (7-2)   Players to Watch: Kellan Scott, SR, RB, Glenwood; Kayden Anderson, SR, QB, Glenwood; Payton Longmeyer, SR, WR, Glenwood; [player_tooltip player_id='247994' first='Trent' last='Patton'], SR, DL, Glenwood; [player_tooltip player_id='1619887' first='Jack' last='Johnson'], SO, DB, Glenwood; [player_tooltip player_id='986654' first='Aidan' last='Harder'], SR, QB, Norwalk; [player_tooltip player_id='247960' first='Keilor' last='Rodman'], SR, WR; Norwalk; Will Clark, SR, LB, Norwalk; [player_tooltip player_id='245555' first='Harrison' last='Tripp'], JR, LB, Norwalk.   Breakdown: It's a rematch of a game from this past Friday in the same location. The home team took it, 43-35, in a contest tied at 14-14 after one quarter.   Glenwood's two losses this season have happened against Lewis Central and 3A playoff qualifier Harlan. The Rams advanced to the postseason for the second season in a row and for the sixth time since '15. Longmeyer has caught 54 passes for 644 yards and eight touchdowns. Kellan Scott has proven to be a dangerous running back, and Patton has been a handful on the D-Line.   Norwalk reached the playoffs for the 11th time since '10 and for the 15th time in the history of the program. The week before losing to Glenwood, the Warriors dropped a 42-13 decision against Lewis Central. They also lost contests against ADM and Dallas Center-Grimes. Harder has thrown for 2,439 yards and 22 touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='283943' first='Eli' last='Robbins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='247960' first='Keilor' last='Rodman'] each has caught more than 50 balls.   Pella (6-3) at Bondurant-Farrar (7-2)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='156487' first='Titus' last='Cram'], SR, RB/DB, Bondurant-Farrar; [player_tooltip player_id='252225' first='Jordan' last='Rial'], JR, QB, Bondurant-Farrar; [player_tooltip player_id='247963' first='Reed' last='Pfaltzgraff'], SR, WR, Bondurant-Farrar; [player_tooltip player_id='156631' first='Caleb' last='Moore'], SR, RB/LB, Bondurant-Farrar; [player_tooltip player_id='247976' first='Dalton' last='House'], SR, OG/DT, Bondurant-Farrar; Luke Hardman, SR, QB, Pella; Colin Kerndt, JR, WR, Pella; [player_tooltip player_id='1286455' first='Tyson' last='Barnes'], JR, WR, Pella; Noah Parsons, SR, DT, Pella.   Breakdown: The state put together another rematch in 3A. Pella took down Bondurant-Farrar, 40-13, on Oct. 13 at home. The Bluejays had won the previous two meetings in the series.   Bondurant-Farrar still ended up with the home game here despite the head-to-head result by virtue of a better RPI rating. It won games against fellow 4A playoff teams in Newton, North Polk and Lewis Central. The Bluejays landed in the postseason for the third year in a row and for the 11th time in the program's history. Cram has collected 1,238 yards (8.7 YPC) and 17 touchdowns along with Division I scholarship offers.   In addition to its victory against this week's opponent, Pella also defeated defending state champion Xavier, 31-21, at home in mid-September. The Dutch dropped decisions versus 4A playoff teams in Indianola, Newton and Ballard. Pella returned to the postseason for the first time since '20, which ended a run of 14 consecutive playoff appearances. It's leaned on Hardman, who has thrown for 16 touchdowns and run for 13 more.   POD D   Ballard (5-4) at North Polk (7-2)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='320817' first='Isaac' last='Zoske'], SR, QB, North Polk; [player_tooltip player_id='1361480' first='BJ' last='Tate'], JR, RB, North Polk; [player_tooltip player_id='320829' first='Brayden' last='Foster'], SR, LB, North Polk; [player_tooltip player_id='320821' first='Cohan' last='Torres'], SR, LB, North Polk; [player_tooltip player_id='320816' first='Kale' last='Yoakum'], SR, WR/S, North Polk; [player_tooltip player_id='247947' first='Eli' last='Rouse'], SR, RB, Ballard; Chance Lande, SR, WR, Ballard; Jackson Wacha, JR, LB, Ballard; [player_tooltip player_id='156495' first='Brody' last='Sampson'], SR, LB, Ballard.   Breakdown: Guess what? We were given another rematch. Ballard won a 7-6 slugfest against the Comets on Sept. 29. North Polk comfortably won last year's matchup after Ballard escaped with a 43-42 victory two years ago.   North Polk reached the playoffs last season for the first time since '15, which ended a six-year postseason run that included a runner-up finish in '10. Despite losing to Ballard, the Comets took out fellow playoff teams in Bondurant-Farrar, Indianola and ADM this season. Zoske has thrown for 15 touchdowns against just two interceptions, while Foster disrupted opposing offenses with 18.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.   Indianola and ADM defeated Ballard this fall. The Bombers also fell against 3A playoff teams in Humboldt and unbeaten Creston. They did win at Pella, 20-17, in the season-opener. They missed the postseason a year ago after reaching it the two previous seasons. In '23, Rouse has rumbled for 1,304 yards (7.0 YPC) and 16 touchdowns on the ground. Sampson supplied 16.0 tackles for loss and 11.0 sacks.   Indianola (6-3) at Cedar Rapids Xavier (7-2)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='633628' first='Ronan' last='Thomas'], SR, QB, Xavier; Noah Schimberg, SR, RB, Xavier; Carter Hoffmann, SO, WR, Xavier; [player_tooltip player_id='533050' first='Eddie' last='Becu'], SR, DL, Xavier; Jack Stevenson, JR, LB, Xavier; Jake Pontier, JR, RB, Indianola; [player_tooltip player_id='248025' first='Jack' last='Strong'], SR, LB, Indianola; [player_tooltip player_id='1418127' first='Adler' last='Deike'], JR, LB, Indianola; Wyatt DeWitt, SR, DL, Indianola.   Breakdown: The defending state champion Saints defeated Indianola, 23-6, in last season's 4A quarterfinals. It was the first meeting between the schools since at least '07-08, according to Bound.   Xavier stumbled a few times early this season against Pella and 3A playoff qualifier Williamsburg but won its last five games, including a 26-20 triumph against North Scott on Sept. 29. The Saints won those five contests by a combined score of 197-34. They reached the postseason for a 17th year in a row, winning four titles and finishing runner-up three times in that stretch. Thomas has thrown for 11 touchdowns and run for 10 more in '23, and a strong defense has started up front with Becu.   Indianola clinched a sixth playoff berth in a row. Before losing to eventual state champion Xavier during last year's playoffs, Indianola fell to '21 champion Lewis Central in the quarterfinals. This year, it has knocked off playoff teams in Pella, Ballard and ADM and fallen against postseason squads in North Polk and Norwalk. Pontier has rushed for 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns, and Strong has led a solid defense.

POD A