It's Week 7 of the football season. Three games remain in the regular season.

The playoff push is on.

Xavier and Kennedy have playoff berths all but locked up, but are playing for higher seeds.

All the rest have work to do, some much more than others.

Kennedy opens up the weekend with a Thursday night tilt against hapless Waterloo East. The Cougars should coast.

Xavier looks to get back on the winning track Friday night at Waterloo West. The Saints were stunned by Washington last Friday night and the Wahawks have already sprung one upset this year by beating Cedar Falls. Xavier can't afford to look ahead to next week's game against Cedar Falls and the Saints won't.

Washington looks to keep its three-game winning streak alive Friday against Jefferson at Kingston Stadium. The Warriors rocked the football world with their win over Xavier, which came on the heels of a miracle victory over Waterloo West. The J-Hawks are improved but have been their own worst enemy with penalties and turnovers. Washington has the upper hand in this one.

Prairie hosts Linn-Mar and the Hawks are looking to finish out the season on a run. They upset Cedar Falls, 10-7, last Friday night. Linn-Mar has to win one of its last three games for a shot at the playoffs. Prairie has been the more consistent club, so earns the nod here.

Marion squares off at Solon needing a win to stay in contention for the Class 3A District 6 title. The Spartans have lost their one home game of the year.

Cedar Valley Christian closes out its home schedule against winless Central City at LaSalle Middle School. The Huskies are 0-18 since beginning their program two years ago. Central City has won two games over that span, both against the Huskies by a combined score of 127-22. Enough said.

We're heading down the stretch.

Thursday

Waterloo East (0-6, 0-3) vs. Kennedy (4-2, 2-1)

Site: Kingston Stadium

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

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: KGYM (AM-1600/FM-107.5/FM-106.3)

Television: KCRG 9.2 (Mediacom 109, Imon 709)

Last meeting: Kennedy 38, Waterloo East 30 (Oct. 5, 2012)

Line: Kennedy by 20

Waterloo East - The Trojans were beaten by Waterloo West, 28-0, last Friday in a game that lasted little more than a quarter. Lightning halted the game with 11:54 left in the second quarter and school administrators decided to call it at that point. After a good run the last three seasons, the Trojans have fallen back on hard times. RB Deshay Wright has run for 286 yards. QB John Magnuson has passed for 966 yards and 7 TDs. Javon Middleton has 30 receptions for 454 yards and 4 TDs. Timoz Buford has 16 receptions for 315 yards. The Trojans have attempted only one PAT kick - and missed it. They have converted three 2-point PATs.

 

Kennedy - The Cougars rolled up 345 yards of rushing offense and beat Jefferson, 35-14, last Friday night. Miles Moa ran for 183 yards and 3 TDs. Terrance Hall ran for 88 yards and a TD. The defense surrendered 274 passing yards. Moa has rushed for 549 yards, Logan Wedo 299 and Hall 253. QB Derek Jacobus has run for 142 yards, and also has completed 49.3 percent of his passes (34 of 69) for 389 yards and 3 TDs. TE Drew Heitland has 14 receptions for 196 yards and 2 TDs. PK Mark Schulz is 14 of 15 on PAT kicks. He has not attempted a FG. Triston Christopher has 60 tackles, Prince Kollie 53 and Jordan Lunsford 50. This is a game the Cougars have to win to keep their hopes of a high playoff seed alive.

Friday

Jefferson (1-5) vs. Washington (3-3)

Site: Kingston Stadium

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

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: KGYM (AM-1600/FM-107.5)

Last meeting: Washington 34, Jefferson 21 (Oct. 5, 2012)

Line: Washington by 13

Jefferson - The J-Hawks got ground pounded by Kennedy in a 35-14 loss last Friday. Jefferson allowed 345 yards rushing, but had 388 yards of total offense. QB Layne Sullivan passed for 274 yards and 2 TDs, and also ran for 69 yards. The J-Hawks have allowed an average of 278 yards rushing per game. Sullivan leads the team in rushing with 368 yards. RB Michael Moncivais has  179 yards. Ben Koering has 12 receptions for 198 yards, and also has 20 carries for 166. Sullivan has completed 46.6 percent of his passes (61 of 131) for 897 yards and 5 TDs. He also has thrown 6 interceptions. Highly regarded two-way lineman Michael Smith has 38 tackles, LB Will Orr 39. PK Nick Rocha is 8 of 8 on PAT kicks, and 6 of 9 on FGs with a long of 46. Key mistakes have kept the improved J-Hawks from making the step up to winning. A perfect game is necessary to beat a suddenly white-hot Wash.

Washington - The Warriors went to Saiints Field and bullied previously unbeaten and top-ranked Xavier, 26-10, last Friday. It was Washington's third straight win and by far its most impressive. QB Reid Snitker threw 3 TD passes and ran for another. He accounted for 240 yards of total offense. Clayton Bjornsen caught 2 TD passes. The defense held Xavier to 204 total yards. Snitker has run for 267 yards and 5 TDs the past three weeks, and also has thrown 6 TD passes. Snitker is completing 61.7 percent of his passes (71 of 115) for 817 yards and 8 TDs, but also has thrown 7 interceptions. He also has run for a team-high 325 yards and 5 TDs. RB Mason Taylor has 313 yards rushing. Landon Akers has 19 receptions for 293 yards and 2 TDs. Clayton Bjornsen has caught 18 passes for 211 yards and Isaiah Nimmers 17 passes for 137 yards. PK Gunnar Lenzen is 7 of 12 on PAT kicks, 2-of-2 on FGs. Connor Vincent has 57 tackles, Jake Bjornsen 51. The Warriors have forced 12 turnovers. Washington totaled only 25 points in its first three games, but has 80 in its last three outings. A win against the J-Hawks all but clinches a playoff berth. The Warriors must avoid looking back at Xavier and forward to Prairie next week.

Linn-Mar (2-4, 2-2) at Prairie (3-3, 2-1)

Site: John Wall Field

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

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: None

Last meeting: Prairie 49, Linn-Mar 27 (Oct. 5, 2012)

Line: Prairie by 8

Linn-Mar - The Lions limited Wahlert to a season low 184 total yards in a 42-17 rout last Friday. Linn-Mar rolled up 457 total yards, 256 on the ground. Ross Lembeck and Perrion Scott scored 2 TDs apiece. QB Ryan Schmidt has completed 58.7 percent of his passes (84 of 143) for 1,374 yards and 10 TDs. He has thrown 6 interceptions. Lembeck has rushed for 536 yards and 8 TDs, and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Scott has played in only three games because of leg injuries and has 57 yards. Logan Benter has rushed for 183 yards and is averaging 10.8 yards per carry. WR Griffin Bennecke has 18 receptions for 597 yards, a whopping 33.2 yards per catch, and 7 TDs. PK Austin Wolter is 26 of 27 on PAT kicks and 1-for-1 on FGs. Benter has a team-high 54 tackles. The Lions need at least one win in their last three games (Prairie, City High and Xavier) to have a chance to make the playoffs.

Prairie - The Hawks stunned Cedar Falls, 10-7, llast Friday night at the UNI-Dome. Sam Drysdale kicked a school record 50-yard field goal in the second quarter and Mitch Christensen's 1-yard plunge put the Hawks ahead in the third period. Prairie limited Cedar Falls to 71 yards rushing. The Tigers ran for 449 yards the previous week in a 56-28 win over Linn-Mar. Prairie's losses have been to Iowa City West (21-14), Kennedy (28-24) and Xavier (23-0), teams that are a combine 15-3. Christensen has rushed for 758 yards and 5 TDs. He is averaging 5.8 yards per carry. QB Trey Beckman has rushed for 146 yards, but is completing only 43.9 percent of his passes (50 of 114) and has thrown 5 TD passes and 6 interceptions. WR Mitch Dellamuth has 7 receptions for 143 yards and 2 TDS. WR Jesse Vizzini has 18 receptions for 197 yards. LB Tristan Beyer is a force on defense with 55 tackles. Ben Boldt leads the team with 56 stops. The Hawks have intercepted 5 passes. Drysdale is 12-of-13 on PAT kicks and 3-of-4 on FGs. The Hawks can all but clinch a playoff berth with a win.

Xavier (5-1, 2-1) at Waterloo West (3-3, 1-2)

Site: Memorial Stadium

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

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: KMRY (AM-1450/FM-93.1)

Last meeting: Xavier 49, Waterloo West 14 (Oct. 5, 2012)

Line: Xavier by 17

Xavier - The Saints allowed only 7 points in their first 5 games, but got lit up in a 26-10 loss to Washington that knocked Xavier from No.1 to No.9 in the Des Moines Register rankings. Xavier held its first 5 foes to an average of 88 total yards a game, but Wash put up 264. QB Quinton Scholer has completed 70.0 percent of his passes (49 of 70) for 603 yards and 9 TDs. He has been equally dangerous with his feet, rushing for 284 yards and 4 TDs. He averages 7.1 yards per carry. RB Brendan Miller leads the team with 98 carries for 614 yards and 6 TDs. WR Bryce Grimm has 14 receptions for 150 yards and 2 TDs. Frank Hill has 13 receptions for 212 yards. PK Ryan Persick is 22 of 23 on PAT kicks and 4-of-7 on FGs. Nic Ekland has 26 tackles. Daniel Vega has 23 tackles, including 11 solos for losses. Matt Nelson has 21 tackles, five for losses. The Saints haven't lost back-to-back games since the end of the 2011 season.

 

Waterloo West - The Wahawks whipped Waterloo East, 28-0, last Friday in a game that was called because of lightning just 6 seconds into the second quarter. Lance Dunn had TD runs of 80 and 39 yards. QB Alex Young leads the team with 806 rushing yards and 12 TDs. He has completed 42.5 percent of his passes (17 of 40) for 213 yards and 3 TDs. Dunn has rushed for 620 yards and 4 TDs. Jalon Jones has 6 receptions for 153 yards and 3 TDs. QB Mitchell Paeper has completed 14 of 32 passes for 220 yards and a TD. PK Kedo Osmancevic is 7 of 16 on PAT kicks, and 1-for-1 on FGS. Blake Thomas has 76 tackles. Dunn has 3 interceptions. The Wahawks won 3 games a year ago and made the playoffs. A fourth win may have to wait until next week against Wahlert.

Marion (3-3, 2-1) at Solon (5-1, 3-0)

Site: Solon

Time: 7:30 p.m. (approximately)

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: WMT (AM-600)

Television: MC-22 (Tape delayed broadcasts Saturday at 10 p.m., Sunday at 6 p.m.)

Last meeting: Marion 24, Solon 14 (Oct. 5, 2012)

Line: Solon by 13

Marion - The Indians got back on the winning track with a 41-0 romp past Benton last Friday. The win snapped a two-game losing skid when the Indians were outscored 69-22. Marion ran for 234 yards against Benton after being held to 141 in their previous two games. QB Trevor Hardman has completed 56.1 percent of his passes (46 of 82) for 801 yards and 8 TDs. RB Colton Mowry has rushed for 282 yards. He had 162 and two TDs against Mount Pleasant in the opener, but also suffered a knee injury that has slowed him. John Carstensen has rushed for 220 yards, Logan Fuller 179 and Dontavious Young 168. WR Quinn Cannoy has 22 receptions for 463 yards and 7 TDs. Fuller has 19 receptions for 291 yards. PK Ben Kroemer is 16 of 18 on PAT kicks and 1 for 2 on FGs. The Indians have forced 8 turnovers. Carstensen has a team-high 29 tackles. Deshaun Quinn has 28 tackles, including 8 solos for losses. Marion ran for 240 yards and 3 TDs against Solon a year ago. A win would all but clinch a playoff berth. A loss puts the Indians on eggshells.

 

Solon - The Spartans thrashed Anamosa 64-3 last Friday. Solon QB Jacob Black ran for 123 yards and 3 TDs, and completed 8 of 9 passes for 92 yards and 2 TDs. Black leads the team in rushing with 740 yards and 10 TDs. He is averaging 9.7 yards per carry. He also has completed 53.6 percent of his passes (30 of 56) for 461 yards and 6 TDs. He has not been intercepted. Brandon Kramer has run for 547 yards and 5 TDs, Jordan Wymer 226 and 4 TDs. The Spartand are averaging 7.6 yards per rushing attempt as a team. Connor Ham has 5 receptions and three have gone for TDs. PK Jackson Rushek is 25 of 28 on PAT kicks and 2 of 3 on FGs. Nate Kennedy has 51 tackles, Ham 3 interceptions. Solon's only loss was to Class 1A No.1 Iowa City Regina. A win sets up next week's game against Maquoketa as the probable District 6 title game.

Central City (0-6, 0-5) at Cedar Valley (0-5, 0-4)

Site: LaSalle Middle School

Time: 7 p.m.

Radio: None

Last meeting: Central City 70, Cedar Valley 16 (Oct. 5, 2012)

Line: No line

Central City - The Wildcats were blasted by Lansing Kee, 57-8, last Friday. They have been outscored 329-107, an average score of 55-18. Central City throws the ball. QB David Mosher has passed for 1,036 yards and 8 TDs, but also has thrown 8 interceptions. Seth Schlotterbeck has 21 receptions for 237 yards and 3 TDs. Deshawn Leudeman has 20 receptions for 239 yards and 2 TDs. Gavin Pospisil is the leading rusher with 153 yards. Nick McCarry has 149 yards rushing. George Kaufman has 70 tackles, McCarry 2 interceptions. Central City has won one game each of the last two years. Both were against Cedar Valley Christian by a cumulative score of 127-22.

 

Cedar Valley - The Huskies have been outscored 351-50 in their five games, most recently a 64-18 loss at Midland last Friday. Kenan Ulmer threw 2 TD passes and ran for another score. Midland had 323 yards of offense, 246 and 6 TDs on the ground. Ulmer leads the Huskies in rushing with 120 yards and 4 TDs. He also has thrown for 292 yards, completing 12 of 49 passes. He has been intercepted 8 times. Caleb Severson is the leading receiver with 4 receptions for 137 yards and 3 TDs. Tom Scroggs has 3 catches for 83 yards and a TD. Eric Gustafson has a team-high 52 tackles and also has recovered 3 fumbles. The Huskies are still searching for their first win.

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