Iowa Prep Football Must-Watch, Week-3 Matchups

Clear Creek Amana 2028 Texton Bollers. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Redzone)

Rob Howe September 9, 2026 @ 10:36 AM

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   It's hard to believe we'll be a third of the way through the regular season at the completion of Friday's games. It goes fast and every week matters.   We should get another round of impactful games in Week 3. Here's a closer look at contests you won't want to miss:   Dallas Center-Grimes (2-0) at Dowling Catholic (2-0)   After wins against Urbandale and Ottumwa, Dallas Center-Grimes will feel the competition level increase significantly this week against the defending state champions. Dowling Catholic last lost in the 2025 season-opener against Valley. The Maroons own a pair of impressive victories against Valley and Johnston this fall. They won the first-ever meeting with DCG, 27-0, last year.   Senior signal caller [player_tooltip player_id='1361134' first='Ethan' last='La Cava'] has gotten off to a fast start in his first season as QB1, efficiently throwing for four touchdowns and running for two. [player_tooltip player_id='1588666' first='Henry' last='Smid'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2118876' first='Beau' last='Williams'] are skill-position weapons, and the offensive line dominates with [player_tooltip player_id='1583613' first='Carter' last='Barrett'], [player_tooltip player_id='1286887' first='Evan' last='Mitchell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2384952' first='Finn' last='Day']. [player_tooltip player_id='513361' first='Carlos' last='Blount Jr']., [player_tooltip player_id='1617528' first='Brady' last='Hagan'], [player_tooltip player_id='1696694' first='Liam' last='Towey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1452144' first='Levi' last='Chulu'] are among Maroons playing well defensively.   [player_tooltip player_id='1198821' first='Chase' last='Engel'] has thrown five touchdowns without an interception, [player_tooltip player_id='1198819' first='Ozzie' last='Grimm'] has rushed for 280 yards (7.8 YPC) and four scores, and [player_tooltip player_id='1895648' first='Gabe' last='Wright'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1198820' first='Chase' last='Heitland'] have combined for five receiving TDs for the Mustangs. Kellen Wegner, Jaxon Quinlivan, [player_tooltip player_id='1197446' first='Wyatt' last='Valenta'] and Brody Lansink help form a stingy defense.   Xavier (2-0) at Clear Creek Amana (2-0)   In a scenario close to our first game listed in this rundown, defending Class 4A champion Xavier faces off with an unbeaten opponent testing itself against the best competition it's faced in 2026 by a substantial margin. Clear Creek Amana tries to topple the title holders after handling Davenport North and Davenport West.   The Saints enter action with a 15-game winning streak. Their victories this year are against teams thought to be challengers to the crown in North Scott and Western Dubuque. They're relying on a strong rushing attack headed by [player_tooltip player_id='1618776' first='Dawson' last='Doyle'], [player_tooltip player_id='1937346' first='Dustin' last='Cook'] and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1827747' first='Cash' last='Parks']. Carter Tuck, [player_tooltip player_id='1699590' first='Austin' last='Dostal'], [player_tooltip player_id='1827797' first='Nolan' last='Wilgenbusch'], [player_tooltip player_id='1937349' first='Deronte' last='Strong'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1827791' first='Beau' last='Morio'] are key parts of a salty defense.   Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1596516' first='Texton' last='Bollers'] stresses Clipper opponents with his dual-threat abilities behind center and is complemented by running back [player_tooltip player_id='1943027' first='Ian' last='Kelley'], who is averaging almost 10 yards a carry and has scored five touchdowns, and big-play receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1621055' first='Tay' last='Seals']. Tucker Stockman, [player_tooltip player_id='1035313' first='Nolan' last='Dao'], Brody Schrock, Madox Schmitz and Joe Vaske are off to strong starts on defense.   Solon (2-0) at Mount Vernon (2-0)   A rivalry built by proximity and history carries early-season implications in the Class 3A playoff picture. Unbeaten teams with championship aspirations could end up meeting again during the playoffs with Friday night's outcome determining home field.   Solon has won 17 of the last 19 meetings in the series dating back to 2008, according to Bound. The Mustangs' victories both were in 2022.   The Spartans lean heavily on senior [player_tooltip player_id='1532898' first='Maddox' last='Kelley'], who is QB1 for the first time in his career. He has six passing TDs without an interception and leads the team in rushing by a considerable margin. [player_tooltip player_id='1885005' first='Kaden' last='Hoeper'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1693683' first='Cody' last='Milliman'] are big-play receivers. A stifling defense is led by Kelley, [player_tooltip player_id='1204514' first='Lucas' last='Feuerbach'], [player_tooltip player_id='2090942' first='James' last='Thomsen'], Simon Einwalter, Wyatt Young and others.   Mount Vernon has received efficient performances from junior quarterbacks [player_tooltip player_id='2107351' first='Noah' last='Olsen'] and Easton Reasland. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='1885084' first='Jakob' last='Yock'] and receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1884963' first='Holden' last='Hlavacek'] are key cogs in a balanced attack. Xander Riniker, [player_tooltip player_id='2075385' first='Beckett' last='Curran'], [player_tooltip player_id='2153293' first='Andrew' last='Dix'], Gabe Graft and [player_tooltip player_id='2120844' first='Graham' last='Yanda'] impact a formidable defense.   Bishop Heelan (1-1) at Sioux City East (2-0)   A rare 5A-3A matchup that usually is competitive and spirited, the Heelan-East series is tied 8-8 dating back to 2010, according to Bound. It should be another important litmus test for programs with championship aspirations.   The Black Raiders have been dominant to start 2026, outscoring Sioux City North and Norwalk, 80-3. Heelan bounced back with a win against Le Mars after falling against Sergeant Bluff-Luton in Week 1.   Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2111670' first='Callan' last='Koch'] has settled in nicely as QB1 at East surrounded by talented skill players in [player_tooltip player_id='1570267' first='Amos' last='Collins Jr']., [player_tooltip player_id='1942271' first='Tanner' last='Boonstra'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1105157' first='Christopher' last='Ford']. [player_tooltip player_id='1198829' first='Kason' last='Clayborne'], [player_tooltip player_id='1617668' first='Kuper' last='Fritz'], [player_tooltip player_id='2119612' first='Leland' last='David'], [player_tooltip player_id='1583610' first='Landan' last='Monk'], Teegan Surber and Lyncoln McCaffrey are shining defensively.   Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1685735' first='Eli' last='Mielke'] has accounted for all of Heelan's passing and rushing touchdowns. Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1906706' first='Grant' last='Whitcomb'] hits opponents for big gainers, and [player_tooltip player_id='1906718' first='Prince' last='Weagbah'] complements him well on the outside. They, along with [player_tooltip player_id='2061250' first='Dylan' last='Knapp'], [player_tooltip player_id='2159918' first='Maxwell' last='Aesoph'], [player_tooltip player_id='2204358' first='Finnigan' last='Peck'], Bodee Schramm and Nolan Muecke are important components in a stingy defense.

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