The Xavier Saints reached the Class 4A championship game in 2012 and 2013, so some people have anointed them the favorite to win the 3A title this year after dropping down a class despite heavy graduation losses.

The Saints will find out where they really stand Friday night after hosting the third-ranked Solon Spartans.

Xavier whipped then-No.5 Davenport Assumption, 30-6, last Friday. Another convincing victory over Solon might prove the point.

Solon reached the semifinals of the Class 3A playoffs last year and snapped Iowa City Regina's 56-game winning streak this season, 29-28.

All eyes will be on Saints Field in the Class 3A District 4 opener for both clubs.

All eight Metro football teams will be in action Friday night. The Washington Warriors, ranked No.3 in Class 4A, will be hosting Iowa City West at Kingston Stadium. All of the other Metro teams are on the road.

The Linn-Mar Lions, who entered the Class 4A rankings this week at No.9, visit Clinton.

Jefferson faces Davenport North, Kennedy meets North Scott, Marion visits Cascade, Prairie travels to Dubuque Senior and Cedar Valley Christian visits Central City.

SOLON at XAVIER

7:15 p.m., Saints Field
KMRY-AM 1450

Records:

Solon (2-0 overall, 0-0 Class 3A District 4)
Xavier (1-1 overall, 0-0 Class 3A District 4)

Xavier lost to Class 4A No.1 Dowling in the season opener, 24-2, but it was a respectable loss to a powerful club. The Saints dominated Assumption in the second half last week after leading 3-0 at intermission.

Jay Kortemeyer has rushed 35 times for 196 yards for Xavier. Sophomore Bryce Schulte has completed 11 of 28 passes for 100 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns.

Brandon Childs has hit 26 of 37 passes for 222 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Solon. Brandon Kramer has rushed 31 times for 194 yards and three TDs. Connor Ham has 12 catches for 104 yards.

IOWA CITY WEST at WASHINGTON

7:15 p.m., Kingston Stadium
KCRG 1600 AM, 107.5 FM

Records:

Iowa City West (1-1 overall, 0-0 Class 4A District 7)
Washington (2-0 overall, 0-0 Class 4A District 6)

Washington plowed over Kennedy last week, 41-7, and is averaging 42 points per game. The Warriors feature a balanced attack with lots of weapons.

Washington quarterback Reid Snitker has completed 12 of 18 passes for 188 yards, three TDs and one interception. His understudy, TJ Vogel, has hit 5 of 6 for 97 yards for a combined mark of 17 of 24 (70.8 percent).

Tavian Patrick has rushed 19 times for 190 yards and two TDs. Johnny Dobbs has carried 21 times for 100 yards and three scores. Isaiah Nimmers and Landen Akers have four catches. Connor Vincent has 18 tackles.

Iowa City West QB Aaron Bleil has completed 34 of 64 passes for 413 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Oliver Martin has 16 grabs for 168 yards. The Trojans have not displayed much of a rushing attack, so the Warriors should expect to see lots of passes.

LINN-MAR at CLINTON

7:15 p.m.

Records:

Linn-Mar (2-0 overall, 0-0 Class 4A District 5)
Clinton (1-1 overall, 0-0 Class 4A District 8)

Linn-Mar quarterback Ryan Schmidt has completed 14 of 27 passes for 190 yards, one TD and no interceptions. He's also carried the ball 42 times for 121 yards and six touchdowns.

Perrion Scott has rushed 19 times for 140 yards and one TD.

Clinton quarterback Jonny Sullivan has hit 12 of 23 passes for 168 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Kristian Bahnsen has rushed 33 times for 279 yards and four TDs.

PRAIRIE at DUBUQUE SENIOR

7:15 p.m.

Records:

Prairie (1-1 overall, 0-0 Class 4A District 6)
Dubuque Senior (2-0 overall, 0-0 Class 4A District 8)

Prairie quarterback Trey Beckman has hit 28 of 51 passes for 365 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Keagan Pinter has rushed 33 times for 244 yards and two TDs.

Connor Grade and Jalen Rima have seven receptions. JoJo Simpson and Pinter have six grabs.

Dubuque Senior quarterback Lee Bonifas has completed 15 of 25 passes for 206 yards, three TDs and no interceptions. He also has carried the ball 31 times for 174 yards, making him a dual threat.

Colton Iwasaki has rushed 48 times for 235 yards and two TDs. Sam Jaeger has seven catches for 107 yards and one TD.

MARION at CASCADE

7:15 p.m.

Records:

Marion (1-1, 0-0 Class 3A District 4)
Cascade (1-1, 0-0 Class 2A District 4)

Marion Coach Tony Perkins will be trying to match the legendary Les Hipple for the most victories in school history tonight. Perkins has won 104 games in 15 years with the Indians, one shy of Hipple's mark of 105.

Marion quarterbacks Hayden Meister and Gage Kray have combined to hit 15 of 30 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns. Kory Walsh has rushed 33 times for 126 yards and four TDs.

Cascade QB Derek Lieurance has connected on 37 of 51 passes for 510 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions, so Marion can expect to see the air filled with footballs. Nate Bergfeld has 16 catches for 315 yards and four TDs.

Luke Recker gives Cascade a running threat with 122 yards and two TDs on 29 carries.

JEFFERSON at DAVENPORT NORTH

Brady Street Stadium, 7:15 p.m.

Records:

Jefferson (0-2 overall, 0-0 Class 4A District 5)
Davenport North (1-1 overall, 0-0 Class 4A District 7)

Jefferson suffered a near-miss in a 17-14 loss against Prairie last week. The J-Hawks failed to score from the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter and had a 10-yard touchdown scamper by Jesse Furrow wiped out by a holding penalty.

Furrow has completed 20 of 41 passes for 441 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Tavian Rashed has rushed 30 times for 94 yards and two TDs.

Bryce Lund has five grabs for 146 yards and two scores. Mason Furnish has five receptions for 107 yards.

Dalton Kuehl, Jefferson's top lineman, did not play last week due to a leg injury. Coach Brian Webb expected him back in practice this week.

Davenport North has defeated Davenport West, 24-22, and lost to Clinton, 34-13.

KENNEDY at NORTH SCOTT

7:15 p.m.

Records:

Kennedy (0-2 overall, 0-0 Class 4A District 5)
North Scott (2-0 overall, 0-0 Class 4A District 8)

Kennedy had a near-miss in a 12-9 loss to Iowa City West in the season opener, then got squashed by Washington 41-7.

Kennedy QB Sammy Lizarraga has hit 22 of 55 passes for 211 yards, one interception and no touchdowns. Shaun Beyer has six grabs for 64 yards.

Logan Wedo has rushed 23 times for 122 yards, Jay Blank 19 times for 101 yards and Tyler Dralle 14 times for 80 yards.

North Scott quarterback Matt Sacia has hit 29 of 50 passes for 294 yards, three TDs and one interception. Jordan Gronewold and Ricky Grimes have 10 catches. Jacob Ridgeway has rushed 45 times for 174 yards and three TDs.

CEDAR VALLEY at CENTRAL CITY

7 p.m.

Records:

Cedar Valley Christian (1-1 overall, 0-0 8-Player District 4)
Central City (0-2 overall, 0-0 8-Player District 4)

Cedar Valley Christian will be hunting for its second victory of the season against Central City, which has been outscored 120-0 in two games.

Cedar Valley quarterback Kenan Ulmer has hit 19 of 30 passes for 244 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also has rushed 42 times for 79 yards and five TDs. Collin Heeren has five catches for 109 yards and one touchdown.

Central City quarterback A.J. Lucas has completed 6 of 18 passes for 53 yards and two interceptions. Gavin Pospisil has carried 22 times for 37 yards.