Iowa high school football 2025: Gazette-area Week 4 games to watch

The following are area football capsules for Week 4 of the Iowa high school football season:

Iowa City Liberty at Johnston

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Johnston

Records and rankings: Class 5A No. 2 Liberty is 3-0; No. 8 Johnston is 2-1.

Overview: This is the second of a three-week stretch in which Liberty is playing a homecoming game. The Bolts celebrated their own homecoming with a 28-7 win over Linn-Mar last week, then have challenging road contests the next two weeks (next Friday is at Iowa City West). Lightning QB Reece Rettig is at the top of the 5A stats chart in multiple categories, including passing touchdowns (8) and completions (73). Liberty already has been successful in one sojourn into Central Iowa, topping Southeast Polk in Week 2.

Waukee Northwest at Cedar Rapids Prairie

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at John Wall Field

Records and rankings: Class 5A No. 1 Northwest is 3-0; Prairie is 2-1.

Overview: Prairie has no time for self-pity after a disappointing 14-11 loss to Bettendorf last week, because No. 1 comes to town Friday. The Hawks will be facing an elite quarterback in junior Mack Heitland, who has passed for a 5A-high 815 yards and eight touchdowns (five to Jordon Green), completing 80 percent of his throws. The Hawks counter with one of the state’s best pass rushers in new Iowa commit David Fason, who has accumulated six sacks. The Hawks’ scoring defense of 9.0 points per game is the best in 5A.

Iowa City West at Bettendorf

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Bettendorf

Records and rankings: Class 5A No. 8 West is 3-0; Bettendorf is 2-1.

Overview: West continues to score in droves; the Trojans lead 5A in offense, at a 42.7-point clip. Ethan Headings is tops in the big-school class in receiving yards (423), and five of his 15 receptions have gone for touchdowns. When Bettendorf plays, points come reluctantly. The Bulldogs average 17.3 points per game and allow 14.0. Junior Gavin Stecker already has compiled 31.5 tackles and has recovered a fumble.

Cedar Rapids Xavier at Williamsburg

When and where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Williamsburg

Records and rankings: Class 4A No. 1 Xavier is 3-0; Williamsburg is 1-2.

Overview: This series didn’t begin until 2023, but both games have been cliff-hangers. Williamsburg won at Saints Field, 21-20, in the first meeting before Xavier turned the tables at Williamsburg last season, 29-27. The Saints fell into a 14-0 hole last week against Clear Creek Amana, but quickly climbed out of it and rolled, 54-21. The Raiders are in the midst of a killer five-game stretch; they open Class 3A District 5 play with challenges against Des Moines Christian and Nevada, both of which are 3-0.

Iowa City Regina at Cardinal

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Eldon

Records and rankings: Class 1A No. 3 Regina is 3-0; Cardinal is 0-3.

Overview: Regina opens 1A District 6 action this week, and the Regals will be heavily favored in all five of their remaining games. This one has the potential to get out of hand in a hurry. Regina is averaging 43 points and 385 yards per game behind quarterback Kyle Tracy (660 yards of total offense, nine total touchdowns). Junior RB Savion Miller has rushed for 347 yards and five scores. Cardinal’s Alijah Frase has thrown for 568 yards, but is completing less than half of his attempts.

Iowa City High at Cedar Falls

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Cedar Falls

Records and rankings: City High is 0-3; Class 5A No. 9 Cedar Falls is 2-1.

Overview: City High has struggled mightily in the first three weeks, but the Little Hawks’ early schedule has been the strongest in 5A, with their opponents off to a combined 8-1 start. It doesn’t get much easier this week. Cedar Falls has held all three of its opponents to 17 points or less behind junior Izzah Grandon, who has made eight tackles for loss. That poses a challenge for the Little Hawks, who have managed 20 points in three weeks, second-fewest in Class 5A.

Urbandale at Cedar Rapids Jefferson

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Kingston Stadium

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-2.

Overview: Jefferson has the skill personnel to compete in this game. Vernon Benda has passed for 504 yards and a 68-percent completion rate, Uweza Kalolero rushes for nearly 9 yards per carry and L.J. Nyenow has 13 receptions for 194 yards. But the J-Hawks will have to be on point against an Urbandale squad that appears to have some wins on its horizon that could land a playoff berth. Junior QB Landon Rinnan has passed for 333 yards, and has passed for 254.

Cedar Rapids Washington at Grinnell

When and where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Grinnell

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-2.

Overview: Is it safe to say this is the first meeting between these teams? Probably. Washington is in dire need of a victory after a painful loss last week to Clinton, and upcoming Class 4A District 2 contests with Cedar Rapids Xavier and Decorah. QB Grady McGuire has rushed for 378 yards (8.2 per carry), and has thrown for 342, accounting for six offensive touchdowns. Grinnell could use a break or two in this one; the Tigers have only two takeaways in three games.

Marion at Mason City

When and where: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Mason City

Records and rankings: Both teams are 1-2.

Overview: After a pair of losses to 4A ranked opponents, Mason City broke through with a 42-17 thumping of Marshalltown last week. Jameer Falls completed 14 of 15 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, and the River Hawks pulled away in the second half. Marion looks to pick up the offense after averaging 7 points and 162 yards through the first three weeks.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy at Linn-Mar

When and where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Linn-Mar Stadium

Records and rankings: Kennedy is 1-2; Linn-Mar is 0-3.

Overview: If Kennedy is going to break .500 and make a postseason charge, it absolutely must begin this week. Gavin Grant has keyed the Cougars’ defense, picking off three enemy passes. But points have been hard to come by in the last two weeks. Linn-Mar’s first three opponents have a combined 7-2 record, and the Lions played their best game of the season, so far, last week when they hung with No. 2 Iowa City Liberty for a while before bowing, 28-7.

Solon at Benton Community

When and where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Van Horne

Records and rankings: Class 3A No. 1 Solon is 3-0; Benton is 2-1.

Overview: If you’re into the Transitive Property, then you’ve got to like Solon. The Spartans knocked off then-No. 1 Mount Vernon by a 35-20 margin, a week after the Mustangs topped Benton, 30-20. However, the winners of both of those games were at home, and this time Benton enjoys home-field advantage. Both teams are able to score; the Spartans are hitting at a 34.7-point clip; it’s 30.3 for the Bobcats. This likely will be Solon’s final serious challenge of the regular season; the Spartans are far above their 3A District 4 foes.

Edgewood-Colesburg at Turkey Valley

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Jackson Junction

Records and rankings: Both teams are 3-0. Ed-Co is ranked No. 6 in 8-Player.

Overview: Ed-Co’s Jax Steger has proven to be a quality successor to the great Pryce Rochford. Steger has accumulated 16 touchdowns (11 passing, against no interceptions, and five rushing) and 905 yards of total offense through just three games. Turkey Valley opened with a pair of one-score victories, then handled West Central last week, 66-23. Trojans QB Logan Busta has been productive as well, compiling 607 total yards and 10 touchdowns.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com