Clinton (3-6) at No. 2 Linn-Mar (9-0)

Site: Linn-Mar Stadium

Time: 7 p.m.

Storyline - Linn-Mar begins its quest for its first state football championship since 1990. The Lions are seeded No. 1 in the eastern half of the state, Clinton is seeded No. 16.

Linn-Mar completed an unbeaten regular season last Friday with a 28-7 win at Xavier. The victory was tempered by the loss of senior tailback Mitch Wantock, who broke his ankle. Wantock rushed for 1,109 yards. Clinton is playing its second straight game without running back Torris Green, a 1,000-yard rusher who was one of three River Kings to quit the team during their Week 8 loss to Bettendorf. Clinton finished seventh in the Mississippi Athletic Conference and is the 16th seed in the East. The winner advances to play the winner of the Cedar Rapids Washington-Davenport Assumption game on Oct. 31.

Clinton - Junior Ryan Driscoll, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards a year ago, has replaced Green at running back. The River Kings were blasted by Bettendorf (44-6) and Pleasant Valley (42-3) in their last two games. They gained only 73 total yards against Bettendorf, but had 238 against Pleasant Valley. Clinton was held to 90 total yards in a 47-7 loss to Davenport Assumption to open the season.  The Clinton offense is averaging 255.3 yards per game and the defense 393.2. The River Kings surrendered more than 500 yards in three games. Top players: QB Will Carr, jr. (57-125-3-705, 6 TDs passing; 79-253, 3 TDs rushing); RB Ryan Driscoll, jr. (70-272, 3 TDs rushing; 6-62 receiving); WR Cody Collendar, jr. (19-308, 4 TDs receiving); LB Kyle Winter, sr. (100 tackles); DB Austin George, sr. (86 tackles; 3 int.); PK Seth Pennock, sr. (19-22 PATs, 1-1 FGs, long 41).

Linn-Mar - Senior Brandon Ophoff will replace Wantock at running back. Both The Lions ran their record to 26-5 over the past three seasons with their win at Xavier last Friday. Linn-Mar set school records with 514 yards rushing and 656 total yards against Wahlert on Sept. 9. The Lions have outscored their foes 357-93 and have outgained foes by more than 200 yards per game (428 to 220.4). They lead the MVC in total offense, total defense and scoring defense (10.3 points per game). Senior QB Mark Atwater has completed 64.7 percent of his passes, thrown for 23 TDs and run for eight TDs. His favorite target is senior Andy Henry, who has 17 TD receptions and returned a kickoff and punt for TDs. Top players: QB/LB Mark Atwater, sr. (96-585, 8 TDs rushing; 88-136-4-1523, 23 TDs passing; 45 tackles); RB Brandon Ophoff, sr. (26-128, 3 TDs rushing); LB Tommy Feller, sr. (73 tackles, 8 for loss); WR/KR Andy Henry, sr. (45-925, 17 TDs receiving); TE Jacob Hutchins, sr. (12-166 receiving); WR/DB Zach Martins, sr. (11-184, 3 TDs receiving; 30 tackles, 3 int.); C/DT Dustin Smith, sr. (37 tackles, 3 for loss); LB John Conner, sr. (44 tackles); PK Quinn Treiber, sr. (46-47 PATs, 3-3 FGs, long 42).

Kennedy (5-4) at No. 9 Iowa City High (7-2)

Site: Bates Field, Iowa City

Time: 7 p.m.

Radio: KGYM (AM-1600)

Storyline - This is a rematch of a Week 5 game won by Iowa City High, 34-13, at Kingston Stadium. City High only led by 6-0 at halftime, but Ronald Thompson ran for four second-half touchdowns for the then-No. 2 Little Hawks. Kennedy finished the season winning three of its last four games, City High went 2-2. The teams tied for second place in the MVC Mississippi Division, but Kennedy is the No. 12 seed and City High is the No. 5 seed. In a similar situation a year ago, Kennedy won a pair of playoff games and reached the quarterfinals. City High lost in overtime to West Des Moines Dowling in last year's state championship game, 38-31. The winner advances to play the winner of the Cedar Falls-Muscatine game on Oct. 31.

Kennedy - The Cougars have won five of their last seven games after switching to a Stack-I offense that has pounded out the ground yardage. Kennedy whipped Dubuque Wahlert, 36-14, last week. Trevor Heitland had 248 all-purpose yards and scored three TDs. QB Chico Lizarraga passed for a career-best 336 yards against Iowa City West three weeks ago in a 35-28 loss. Junior Josh Hillyer has taken over as tailback and has run for 751 yards the last seven games after netting 11 in the first two. Top players: FL/LB Trevor Heitland, sr. (116-715, 12 TDs rushing; 29-541, 5 TDs receiving); WR/DB Josh Jahlas, sr. (6-62, 1 TD rushing; 21-453, 3 TDs receiving; 103 tackles); RB Alex Hillyer, jr. (173-762, 11 TDs rushing; 17-224 receiving); QB Chico Lizarraga, sr. (84-158-3-1383, 8 TDs passing); S Andrew Johnson, jr. (48 tackles); LB Prince Kollie, soph. (38 tackles); DE Logan LeTellier, sr. (82 tackles, 8 for loss); LB David Hynek, jr. (64 tackles); LB Riley Fergus, jr. (63 tackles); DE Tommy Kaiser, jr. (37 tackles); PK Jordan Holzer, sr. (25-29 PATs).

Iowa City High - The Little Hawks knocked Prairie out of the playoffs with a 44-14 win last Friday at Bates Field. Ronald Thompson and Jasper Washington ran for 114 and 113 yards, respectively. Washington passed for a season-high 120 yards. City High is outscoring its opponents by an average 35 to 16. The Little Hawks also are averaging 388 yards on offense and allowing 272 on defense. Most of City High's offensive yards have come from senior tailback Ronald Thompson, who has run for 1,669 yards, an average of 185.4 per game. Thompson's lowest ouput this season was 69 yards against Linn-Mar. His high game was 362 in Week 3 against Iowa City West. Top players: RB Ronald Thompson, sr. (198-1669, 19 TDs rushing); QB/DB Jasper Washington, sr. (92-633, 9 TDs rushing; 24-54-1-464, 6 TDs passing; 44 tackles, 1 int.); FB/DT Amos Lavela, jr. (50-382, 4 TDs rushing; 59 tackles); WR/DB Jeremy Johnson, sr. (17-336, 4 TDs receiving; 22 tackles); LB John Law, sr. (57 tackles, 7 for loss); TE/DE Steve Ferentz, sr. (3-54, 2 TDs receiving; 37 tackles); PK Drew Cornwell, so. (39-40 PATs, 10-13 FGs, 39 long).

Washington (6-3) at Assumption (7-2)

Site: Brady Street Stadium, Davenport

Time: 7 p.m.

Storyline - This is a game of keep away and the guy Washington has to keep the ball away from is Assumption's Tim Kilfoy, a threat to score on offense, defense and special teams. Kilfoy has rushed for six touchdowns, caught passes for four touchdowns, returned four interceptions for touchdowns, and returned a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns. No word on whether or not he sells popcorn at halftime. The winner of this game advances to play the winner of the Linn-Mar--Clinton game on Oct. 31.

Washington - Washington is getting healthy at the right time of the year. Will Griffin has run for 358 yards the last two games. He missed the first five games after undergoing preseason ankle surgery. The Warriors have scored 115 points in their last two games, whipping Iowa City West (66-37) and Waterloo West (49-7). Flynn Heald has a conference-best 52 receptions, including 21 in a loss to Kennedy on Sept. 9. Senior wideout Ryan Cain, who had missed most of the first four games (collarbone), caught the winning touchdown pass against City High. David Tann is a sure tackler and quick through the line at fullback. Top players: RB Will Griffin, sr. (78-434, 8 TDs rushing); QB Braedon Tovey, sr. (87-172-11-1216, 9 TDs passing; 34-202, 4 TDs rushing); WR/CB Flynn Heald, sr. (52-797, 4 TDs receiving; 18-85, 1 TD rushing); RB Mitch Bredeson, jr. (128-657, 7 TDs rushing); FB/S David Tann, sr. (71-575, 7 TDs rushing; 78 tackles, 15 for loss, 2 int.); OL/DL Storhm Henry, sr. (16 tackles); T/LB Sean Bredl, sr. (71 tackles, 7 for loss); LB/PK Michael Daughtery, sr. (57 tackles; 41-42 PATs, 2-2 FGs, 36 long); P Michael Peterson (21-41.8).

Assumption - The Knights are the last MAC team to reach the 4A playoff semifinals, doing so in 2005. Assumption won its first five games, including a 14-5 upset of Bettendorf, but then suffered back-to-back losses to Pleasant Valley and North Scott before rebounding to win its last two games. The Knights finished tied for third place with Pleasant Valley in the MAC. The Knights average 304.7 yards per game on offense and allow 249.6. They have outscored their foes, 289-123.  Top players: QB Derek Fulton, sr. (61-103-2-821, 9 TDs passing; 48-174 rushing); RB Zach Mumm, sr. (155-926, 13 TDs rushing; 8-108, 1 TD receiving); FL/DB Tim Kilfoy, sr. (32-294, 6 TDs rushing; 23-336, 4 TDs receiving; 91 tackles, 4 int.); RB/LB Alex Matthys, sr. (24-178, 3 TDs rushing; 108 tackles, 3 for loss); PK Cole Clements, sr. (35-41 PATs; 2-3 FGs, 35 long).

Xavier (5-4) at Pleasant Valley (7-2)

Site: Pleasant Valley

Time: 7 p.m.

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

Storyline - This could be Xavier's last Class 4A playoff appearance. If the Iowa High School Athletic Association opts to begin district play in 4A, Xavier has indicated it will move down to Class 3A, where it would be playing now if it were not a member of the Mississippi Valley Conference. Xavier won the Class 4A state title in 2006, but had a quick exit from last year's postseason with a home loss to Kennedy in the first round. Xavier beat Pleasant Valley by 17 points in a first-round game in 2009 at Xavier. The winner of this game advances to play the winner of the Bettendorf-Davenport Central game on Oct. 31.

Xavier - All four of the Saints' losses have been to teams that were ranked in the top 10 when they played them. Those losses were to Iowa City High (52-24), Cedar Falls (27-7), Iowa City West (49-19) and Linn-Mar (28-7). The Saints shutout their first three foes (Kennedy, Prairie, Hempstead) and also beat Waterloo East (19-13) and Jefferson (37-10). On offense, senior Carter Valentine has six 100-yard games and ran for a season-best 232 against East three weeks ago, but he has been hobbled recently by an ankle injury.  Valentine is third in the Metro in rushing with 1,036 yards. Top players: RB Carter Valentine, sr. (189-1036, 8 TDs rushing); QB Reggie Schulte, jr. (92-148-9-1192, 10 TDs passing; 54-(-31), 2 TDs rushing); WR Jordan Hoffman, sr. (16-273, 4 TDs); WR Corbin Woods, jr. (30-362, 4 TDs receiving); TE/DE Kevin Hosch, sr. (10-108, 1 TD receiving; 28 tackles, 3 for loss); FB Matt Hansen, sr. (56-266, 4 TDs rushing); RB Nick Ball, sr. (24-182 rushing); WR/DB Jordan Weber, sr. (12-322 receiving; 37 tackles, 6 for loss); LB Craig Murtha, jr. (42 tackles, 4 for loss); PK Chad Gilmer (16-17 PATs; 3-6 FGs, 42 long); PK Josh Steffensmeier, sr. (6-6 PATs, 1-2 FGs).

Pleasant Valley - The Spartans have not won a playoff game since 1999. They are hosting their first playoff game since a 42-7 loss to Bettendorf in 2002. Pleasant Valley is averaging 419 yards and 40 points per game. The defense, meanwhile, is limiting foes to 275 yards and 16 points per game.  Top players: QB Grant Lang, sr. (56-92-3-965, 13 TDs passing; 68-297, 4 TDs rushing); RB Dylan Latham, sr. (126-805, 7 TDs rushing; 11-145, 2 TDs receiving); RB Dustin Beswick, jr. (54-449, 5 TDs rushing); RB Brandon Infeisto, so. (35-366, 6 TDs rushing); WR Jason Stewart, sr. (34-531, 4 TDs receiving); LB Cole Picchiotti, jr. (100 tackles); PK Ben Trewyn, sr. (42-44 PATs; 9-9 FGs, long 48).