The Washington Warriors and Xavier Saints are facing new challenges and new opponents with the advent of district competition for all the Metro football teams this year.

Both squads have fared very well so far and are ranked No. 1 in their respective classes, but more new challenges await both clubs Friday night in home games.

The Warriors entertain Ottumwa in a Class 4A district battle at Kingston Stadium and the Saints host Western Dubuque in a Class 3A district contest at Saints Field.

In other games Friday night, the Marion Indians will be hunting for their second victory of the season at Maquoketa and the Cedar Valley Huskies host Midland of Wyoming at LaSalle Middle School.

OTTUMWA at WASHINGTON

Kingston Stadium, 7:15 p.m.

Records:

Ottumwa 4-1 overall, 1-0 4A District 6
Washington 5-0 overall, 1-0 4A District 6

The Ottumwa Bulldogs come to Cedar Rapids with a potent offense that is capable of putting points on the board.

Ottumwa quarterback Brok Hopwood has completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 871 yards, nine touchdowns and only two interceptions. His favorite target is Papay Kruah, who has 27 catches for 489 yards and five TDs.

Isaiah Cox has carried the ball 98 times for 610 yards and 6 TDs, giving Ottumwa a balanced attack. Two of Ottumwa's victories came against Class 3A opponents in Mount Pleasant and Oskaloosa. The other two wins were against 4A clubs Marshalltown and Iowa City High. Their loss was to Indianola.

Washington's defense has been allowing only 11.4 points per game, but the Warriors could be tested Friday.

Washington tailback Tavian Patrick leads the Metro in rushing with 48 carries for 589 yards after racing for 212 yards against Muscatine last week. He is averaging 12.27 yards per carry with four touchdowns.

Johnny Dobbs has rushed 56 times for 282 yards and six TDs. The Warriors are averaging a healthy 272.6 yards on the ground, but only 81.8 yards through the air. Quarterback Reid Snitker has completed 20 of 47 passes for 312 yards, six touchdowns and only one interception. Landen Akers has nine catches for 176 yards and has scored five TDs.

Snitker has intercepted three passes on defense.

WESTERN DUBUQUE at XAVIER

Saints Field, 7:15 p.m.
KMRY 1450-AM, KGYM 1600 AM/107.5 FM

Records:

Western Dubuque 3-2 overall, 2-0 3A District 4
Xavier 4-1 overall, 3-0 3A District 4

Xavier's defense has been allowing only 55.2 yards per game on the ground, but the Saints could be tested by Western Dubuque.

The Bobcats have rushed for 1,222 yards this season for an average of 244.4 per game. Ben Burds has carried the ball 100 times for 498 yards and 4 TDs for Western Dubuque and Reid Hoefler has rushed 55 times for 398 yards and five TDs.

Western Dubuque quarterback Nolan Baumhover has completed 39 of 91 passes for 497 yards and one touchdown. Mitch Kramer has 13 receptions for 159 yards.

Xavier quarterback Bryce Schulte has hit 30 of 56 passes for 361 yards and two TDs. He also has scored nine touchdowns.

Jay Kortemeyer has carried the ball 78 times for 459 yards. Nic Ekland has nine receptions for 112 yards. Nick Stark has eight catches for 132 yards.

Xavier has been allowing only 148.4 yards and 7.8 points per game. Dylan Eller has three interceptions.

MARION at MAQUOKETA

Maquoketa High School, 7:15 p.m.

Records:

Marion 1-4 overall, 0-2 3A District 4
Maquoketa 0-5, 0-3 3A District 4

The Marion Indians opened the season with a victory over Mount Vernon on Aug. 29, but the Indians went 0-for-September with four straight losses during the month.

Marion Coach Tony Perkins still needs one victory to tie Les Hipple for the most wins in school history at 105. He could get the milestone tonight against a Maquoketa club that has been outscored 184-36 while losing five straight games.

Kory Walsh has rushed for 391 yards and scored five touchdowns for Marion. Quarterbacks Hayden Meister and Gage Kray have completed 29 of 71 passes for 423 yards and four touchdowns, with four interceptions.

The Indians are averaging just 229.4 yards of offense per game and need to get it cranked up.

Justin Snyder has hit 31 of 70 passes for 330 yards for Maquoketa. Jordan Rapp is the leading rusher with 60 carries for 143 yards.