The upstarts take on the established powers in the third week of the prep football season.

Prairie takes on No.1 Xavier for the third time in the past 12 months Friday night.

Undefeated Kennedy travels to No.6 Iowa City West.

And a Washington team that started the season with games against Kennedy and West, gets no breather - traveling to the UNI-Dome for a date with No.2 Cedar Falls.

Prairie lost twice to Xavier during last year's 8-4 campaign. The last loss came in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A playoffs.

The Kennedy-West game has been declared a "Gold Out," with fans from both teams encouraged to wear gold in a show of solidarity to fight cancer. Activities and prizes will be awarded during the game. Camouflage and fun for the Cougar faithful? Hopefully not.

Washington? The less said the better at this point, although the Warriors always seem to put up a fight against the Tigers.

This marks the one-third point of the season.

Are we having fun yet?

Friday

Prairie (1-1) at Xavier (2-0)

Site: Saints Field

Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: KGYM (AM-1600/FM-107.5), KMRY (AM-1450/FM-93.1)

Last meeting: Xavier 28, Prairie 7 (Nov. 2, 2012)

Line: Xavier by 27

Prairie - The Hawks blew a 10-point lead in the second haf and were beaten by Kennedy, 28-24, last week. They downed Jefferson, 24-7, to open the season. RB Mitch Christensen has rushed for 243 yards and is averaging 7.1 yards per carry. QB Trey Beckman has rushed for 102 yards, but is completing only 42.5 percent of his passes and has thrown as many interceptions (3) as touchdown passes. LB Tristan Beyer is a force on defense with 29 tackles. PK Sam Drysdale is 6-of-6 on PATs and 2-of-2 on FGs. The Hawks were beaten twice by Xavier last year by a combined score of 76-21. This Prairie club doesn't appear to yet have the offensive capablilities of last year's team.

Xavier - The Saints blasted Jefferson 44-0 last Friday and whipped Dubuque Hempstead in their opener, 35-7. This game is a step up in caliber of opponent. QB Quinton Scholer has run for 143 yards and three TDs and has completed 77.8 percent of his passes (14-of-18) for 194 yards and three TDs. Scholer averages 13 yards per carry running out of the veer. RB Brendan Miller has rushed for 169 yards. PK Ryan Persick is 10 of 11 on PATs and 1-of-2 on FGs. The defense has seven starters back from last year's team. Daniel Vega and Sean Ickes have nine solo tackles apiece to lead the team. The Saints are ranked No.1 in the state by the Des Moines Register. They still will hold that ranking on Sunday.

Hempstead (1-1) at Jefferson (0-2)

Site: Kingston Stadium

Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Last meeting: Jefferson 12, Hempstead 7 (Sept. 7, 2012)

Line: Pick 'em

Hempstead - The Mustangs put a 41-14 tattoo on crosstown rival Wahlert last Friday. They were whipped by Xavier, 35-7, at home in their opener. RB Matt Zenner scored three TDs and the Mustangs ran off 34 unanswered points in their win over Wahlert. The victory snapped a 10-game losing skid and was the first for Coach Bob McIntyre at Hempstead. The Mustangs were held to 137 total yards against Xavier, but limited the Saints to 258 total yards. Zenner had 19 yards rushing against Xavier. Hempstead has won two of the last three games in the series and scored 42 points each time it won. The Mustangs appear like they can score points again this season.

Jefferson - The J-Hawks were jolted by Xavier 44-0 last Friday. They opened the season with a 24-7 loss to Prairie. QB Layne Sullivan leads Jefferson in rushing with 81 yards. RB Cam Frazier is next with 16 yards. Sullivan has completed 41.2 percent of his passes (14 of 34) for 133 yards and a TD. He also has thrown three interceptions. LB Will Orr has 14 tackles. Highly regarded two-way lineman Michael Smith has 13 tackles. Sullivan and Frazier have 10 stops apiece. Jefferson snapped a 24-game losing streak when it beat Hempstead up at Dubuque last year. The J-Hawks have not won since. This is a huge game for the J-Hawks.

Waterloo West (1-1) at Linn-Mar (0-2)

Site: Linn-Mar Stadium

Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Last meeting: Waterloo West 27, Linn-Mar 14 (Sept. 7, 2012)

Line: Waterloo West by 7

Waterloo West - The Wahawks lost a 42-34 slugfest with Iowa City High last week, and beat Dubuque Senior, 13-7, in their opener. QB Alex Young has run for 301 yards and four TDs, but has only completed 36.8 percent of his passes (8 of 22) for 118 yards and a TD. RB Lance Dunn has run for 218 yards and a TD. Kyler Mathews has 29 tackles and Blake Thomas has 27, including six solos for losses. Young, Dunn and Thomas missed time in the second half of the City High game with cramping issues. PK Kedo Osmancevic is 3-of-6 on PATs. This is an improving team with a two-pronged weapon in the backfield that led it to the playoffs a year ago. The start of that surge came in the win over Linn-Mar, when Dunn scored three TDs in the fourth quarter and the Wahawks overcame a seven-point deficit to end a 15-game losing streak.

Linn-Mar - The Lions were beaten by Dubuque Senior, 28-13, last week and bounced by Iowa City West, 67-28, in their season opener. The defense stepped up, limiting Senior to 320 yards after being shredded for 607 a week earlier by West. QB Ryan Schmidt has completed 63.5 percent of his passes (33 of 52) for 444 yards, but only one TD. He has thrown three interceptions. RB Ross Lembeck has rushed for 209 yards and a TD. He is averaging 6.1 yards per carry. RB Perrion Scott, one of the state's top sprinters, has yet to play because of hamstring issues. Trevor Noble leads the team with eight receptions. PK Austin Wolter is 5 of 6 on PATs. Logan Benter has a team-high 19 tackles. DE Jon Schlotterback has not played because of a broken hand. The Lions have been scuttled by penalties and turnovers. Eliminate those and they have a chance against the Wahawks for a badly needed win.

Kennedy (2-0) at IC West (2-0)

Site: Trojan Field

Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: KCJJ (AM-1630)

Last meeting: Iowa City West 35, Kennedy 14 (Sept. 6, 2012)

Line: Iowa City West by 21

Kennedy - The Cougars scored two TDs in the fourth quarter to erase a 10-point deficit and beat Prairie, 28-24, last week. They also overcame a 10-point deficit to beat Washington, 14-10, in their opener. RB Miles Moa has rushed for 208 yards. FB Terrance Hall ran for 96 yards and two TDs against Prairie. Both TDs came in the fourth quarter. QB Derek Jacobus has thrown only 25 passes, completing 12 for 133 yards and two TDs. TE Drew Heitland has caught eight passes for 111 yards and a TD. PK Mark Schulz is 6 of 6. He has not attempted a FG. Triston Christopher has 20 tackles, Jordan Lunsford 14 and Prince Kollie 13. Jacob Shannon leads a secondary that will be severely tested by West. The Cougars can not afford to fall behind against the Trojans, who have a habit of running off points in bunches. Controlling the ball and sure tackling is a must to have a chance to knock off West.

Iowa City West - The Trojans ripped Washington last week, 49-8, and Linn-Mar, 67-28, in their opener. QB Nate Boland has completed 70 percent of his passes (21 of 30) for 410 yards and six TDs. He also has run for 173 yards and four TDs, averaging 13.3 yards per carry. RB Devin Raffensperger has rushed for 203 yards and a TD. WR Anthony Batie has nine receptions for 186 yards and four TDs. He is averaging 20.7 yards per catch. PK Connor Gordon is 14 of 15 on PATs. He has not attempted a FG. The Trojans have punted only once. Micah Kelsay has 18 tackles, Kevin Dowell 15, Brock Hatzky 13. West is ranked sixth by the Des Moines Register. The Trojans like to score points. Kennedy wins if West gets caught looking ahead to next week's revenge game against Prairie. That is highly unlikely.

Washington (0-2) at Cedar Falls (2-0)

Site: UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls

Time: 7:15 p.m. (approximately)

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: KCNZ (AM-1650)

Last meeting: Cedar Falls 31, Washington 16 (Sept. 7, 2012)

Line: Cedar Falls by 20

Washington - The Warriors were walloped by Iowa City West, 49-8, last week and dropped a 14-10 decision to Kennedy in their season opener. They held early leads in both games. QB Reid Snitker has completed 54.1 percent of his passes (20 of 37) for 253 yards and a TD. RB Mason Taylor leads the team in rushing with 105 yards. Snitker has 46. WR Landon Akers has six receptions for 102 yards. PK Gunnar Lenzen is 1-of-1. Connor Vincent has 21 tackles, Jake Bjornsen 20. RB/LB Johnny Dobbs sat out last game with an ankle injury suffered against Kennedy. The Warriors need a win, but the UNI-Dome is a tough place to get one, especially against a quality opponent like the Tigers. Wash Coach Paul James is a Cedar Falls grad.

Cedar Falls - The Tigers pounded Waterloo East, 36-6, last week and clipped Iowa City High, 14-13, in their opener. RB Eli Berregaard has rushed for 333 yards and three TDs. He is averaging 7.1 yards per carry. Dennison Harrington has 83 yards and two TDs. QB Trey Hansen has thrown only 12 passes, completing six for 154 yards. Brian Cook is 2 of 8 for 91 yards and a TD. PK Caleb Iehl is 5 of 7 on PATs and 1 of 1 on FGs. Jared Farley has a team leading 23 tackles, including four solos for losses. The defense is allowing 221 yards per game. City High ran for 129 yards, East passed for 167. The Tigers are ranked No.2 in the state by the Des Moines Register, which seems to be too high. But make no mistake. The Tigers are physical. And they are plenty good.

Marion (1-1) at Anamosa (0-2)

Site: Anamosa

Time: 7 p.m.

Last meeting: Marion 28, Anamosa 0 (Sept. 7, 2012)

Line: Marion by 35

Marion - The Indians were overpowered by Decorah, 34-7, last week after blanking Mount Pleasant, 40-0, in their opener. RB Colton Mowry carried the ball 18 times for 162 yards and two TDs against Mount Pleasant, but injured a knee and is out. John Carstensen stpped in and rushed for 98 yards against Decorah and has 108 for the season. QB Trevor Hardman has thrown only 25 passes, completing 12 for 231 yards and two TDs. He also has thrown two interceptions. WR Quinn Cannoy has six receptions for 169 yards and two TDs. He is averaging 28.2 yards per catch. PK Ben Kroemer is 3 of 4 on PATs and 0 for 1 on FGs. Carstensen has a team-high 16 tackles. Deshaun Quinn has 14 tackles, including five solos for losses. The Indians held Anamosa to 5 yards rushing and 74 total yards a year ago. They rolled up 356 yards of rushing offense. Expect similar results in this contest.

Anamosa - The Raiders were beaten by Camanche, 39-14, last week and Monticello, 28-0, in their opener. RB Tyler Frasher has rushed for 100 yards. QB Austin Seehusen has run for 87 yards. The Raiders have attempted only 12 passes and completed five. PK Gavin Timp is 2 of 2 on PATs. He has not attempted a FG. Frasher leads the team with 10 tackles. Monticello had two 100-yard rushers against the Raiders. Camanche ran for 476 yards and had one runner crack the 200-yard barrier and another over 100. The Anamosa defense has another huge test stopping the run against Marion. It won't be pretty.

Springville (3-0) at Cedar Valley (0-1)

Site: LaSalle Middle School

Time: 7 p.m.

Last meeting: Springville 68, Cedar Valley 6 (Sept. 7, 2012)

Line: No line

Springville - The Orioles blasted Meskwaki, 56-14, last week. They also beat Elkader Central, 62-0, and HLV, 58-14. RB Elias Nissen has rushed for 444 yards and 11 TDs. Cody Blake has 196 yards and 3 TDs, Tyler McDowell 146 and 2 TDs. The Orioles are averaging 9.5 yards per carry as a team. QB Sam Scriver has completed 11 of 16 passes for 249 yards and six TDs. Nissen has four receptions for 125 yards and three TDs. PK Brian Allsup is 21 of 22 on PATs and 1 of 4 on FGs. He kicked a 40-yard field goal. Allsup also has 27 touchbacks in his 28 kickoffs. Tyler Stewart leads the defense with 27 tackles, including nine solos for losses. Nissen has 26 tackles. Springville had only 207 yards of total offense in scoring 68 points against the Huskies last year. The Orioles are ranked fourth by the Des Moines Register. They can name the score against most foes, Cedar Valley included.

Cedar Valley - The Huskies had last week off after a 70-6 loss to HLV in their opener two weeks ago. That game lasted only one half before it was called off because of heat and safety concerns for the Cedar Valley players. This game has the potential to be every bit as dangerous for the outmanned Huskies, whose spirit will never be questioned. Cedar Valley gained 132 yards to 133 for HLV. The Huskies had six turnovers, five that were returned for touchdowns. The bright spot was a 46-yard TD pass from Eric Gustafson to Caleb Severson. The Huskies will be searching for silver linings again tonight. And, despite the score, they will find them.