All of the Class 4A football teams in the Metro area refused to play Xavier when the Saints dropped to Class 3A this year, so the Saints had to get creative and find some willing partners.

They succeeded beyond anyone's wildest imagination.

Xavier will host Iowa City Regina Friday night at Saints Field in an intriguing showdown of state powers.

The Saints reached the Class 4A finals in 2012 and 2013 before the advent of district play in Eastern Iowa allowed them to drop safely into their proper enrollment bracket in Class 3A. The Regals, meanwhile, are the premier program in Class 1A and have won four straight state titles under Coach Marv Cook.

Regina saw its 56-game winning streak come to an end against Solon - a Class 3A club - in the season opener this year, but the Regals have won six straight games since then and are averaging 43.4 points per game.

Cook, a former University of Iowa star and NFL all-pro tight end, was not afraid to play Xavier this season, even though at the time it was scheduled it looked like Regina might be putting its winning streak in serious jeopardy. Solon took care of the streak, 29-28, and now Regina will be facing a team that beat Solon earlier this year.

The stands at Saints Field figure to be crowded for this game. So will the pressbox, with three different radio stations all broadcasting the game (KMRY, KGYM and KCJJ).

Drew Cook, the coach's son, has passed for 1,123 yards and 14 touchdowns this season while completing 65.5 percent of his passes. Incredibly, he has not thrown an interception all year. Cook will be following his father's footsteps and enrolling at Iowa to play football.

Nick Phillips has caught 26 passes for 285 yards and six TDs for Regina. Jake Brinkman has rushed for 585 yards and seven touchdowns.

Jay Kortemeyer leads Xavier with 771 yards on the ground. Bryce Schulte has passed for 457 yards and four TDs. Schulte also has run for 10 touchdowns. Nick Stark has caught 12 passes for 192 yards. Dylan Eller has five interceptions.

LINN-MAR at WATERLOO WEST

Waterloo Central Intermediate School
7:15 p.m.

Records:

Linn-Mar (6-1 overall, 3-0 Class 4A District 5)
Waterloo West (3-4 overall, 2-1 Class 4A District 5)

The sixth-ranked Lions can clinch the District 5 title and a No.1 seed for the playoffs with a victory.

Perrion Scott has rushed for 604 yards for Linn-Mar and is averaging 8.5 yards per carry. Ryan Schmidt has passed for 725 yards and five touchdowns. Schmidt also has run for 14 TDs.

Scott has 11 receptions for 81 yards. Garret Evans has 11 catches for 160 yards. Logan Nelson leads the defense with 43.5 tackles.

WATERLOO EAST at JEFFERSON

Kingston Stadium, 7:15 p.m.

Records:

Waterloo East (0-7 overall, 0-3 Class 4A District 5)
Jefferson (3-4 overall, 1-2 Class 4A District 5)

The J-Hawks will be heavily favored to square their record at 4-4 and improve their playoff hopes with a victory over winless Waterloo East.

Jesse Furrow has passed for 1,092 yards and nine touchdowns for Jefferson. Tavian Rashed has rushed for 441 yards and scored six TDs. Bryce Lund has 12 catches for 239 yards. Dakota Tomkins leads the defense with 39.5 tackles.

PRAIRIE at MUSCATINE
7:15 P.M.

Records:

Prairie (3-4 overall, 1-2 Class 4A District 6)
Muscatine (5-2, 2-1 Class 4A District 6)

The Prairie Hawks hope everyone is healthy for an important district game with Muscatine.

Quarterback Trey Beckman has been sidelined for several games with the lingering effects of a concussion and receiver/kick returner Jalen Rima left last week's game against Washington with an injured ankle.

Keagan Pinter has rushed for 886 yards and scored seven touchdowns for Prairie. Ben Boldt leads the Metro with 76 tackles. JoJo Simpson is a strong punter with a 39.5-yard average and excels on defense. Coen Brown has four interceptions.

KENNEDY at CEDAR FALLS

UNI-Dome, 7:15 p.m.

Records:

Kennedy (1-6 overall, 1-2 Class 4A District 5)
Cedar Falls (5-2 overall, 2-1 Class 4A District 5)

The Cougars won their first game of the season against Waterloo East last week, but they'll be severely challenged by the talented Cedar Falls Tigers.

Sammy Lizarraga has passed for 925 yards and 10 touchdowns for Kennedy. Shaun Beyer has caught 18 passes for 281 yards and five touchdowns. Beyer also has 51 tackles. Tyler Dralle has rushed for 478 yards and six TDs. Drake Brewster has 17 catches for 163 yards.

DUBUQUE WAHLERT at MARION

Thomas Park Field, 7:15 p.m.

Records:

Wahlert (2-5 overall, 2-2 Class 3A District 4)
Marion (1-6 overall, 0-4 Class 3A District 4)

The Marion Indians hope to snap a six-game losing streak when they host Wahlert, which dropped from Class 4A to 3A this year with district play.

Kory Walsh has rushed for 566 yards and six touchdowns for Marion. John Carstensen has made 50 tackles.