The Battle for 42nd Street.

Kennedy versus Xavier.

Xavier and its high-powered offense, stifling defense and lofty state ranking.

A cornered Kennedy club that is winless in four games and facing the best team it has played to date.

Kennedy has not beaten Xavier in a regular-season game since a 28-21 win in 2007, although the Cougars pulled a shocking 11-7 win in the 2010 playoffs.

It's the Battle for 42nd Street.

And it's Xavier's to lose.

Friday

Kennedy (0-4) at No. 4 Xavier (4-0)

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)

Storyline - This is a non-division game. Xavier has won the last four regular-season games against Kennedy by an aggregate score of 123-39. The Saints have outscored their foes this season 198-35, although the cumulative record of those clubs is 4-12. Kennedy has been outscored 114-67. Its foes are a combined 11-5 and include unbeatens Iowa City West and Dubuque Senior. The Cougars have had success stopping the run, but have been killed by the pass. Xavier does both very well. Change the street to an avenue and its the Avenue of the Saints.

Kennedy - The Cougars spotted Dubuque Senior a 21-0 lead last Friday night before battling back in a 21-14 loss. Alex Hillyer ran for 83 yards and a touchdown and Riley Fergus threw a TD pass to Patrick Martin. The defense held Senior to 85 yards rushing, but the Rams threw for 227, the third straight week the Cougars gave up more than 200 yards passing. Season leaders - Rushing: Hillyer 106-600 4 TDs; Passing: Fergus 22-53-1-232 5 TDs; Receiving: Jacob Frazier-Flores 7-105 3 TDs; Tackles: Grant Miller 36; PATs: Eric Bertroche 6-7; FGs: Bertroche 2-2 (long 38).

Xavier - The Saints shellacked Wahlert 53-14 last Friday. Brendan Miller, subbing for the injured Cal Stovie, ran for 222 yards and Reggie Schulte threw four TD passes. Schulte is tied for first in the state with 14 TD passes and his 75.9 completion percentage ranks second among 4A QBs with more than 25 attempts. Season leaders - Rushing: Miller 27-262 3 TDs; Passing: Schulte 41-54-1-691 14 TDs; Receiving: Corbin Woods 14-274 5 TDs, Bryce Grimm 8-87 2 TDs, Jim Moore 5-161 3 TDs; Tackles: Craig Murtha 19 (10 for loss); PATs: Ryan Persick 25-26; FGs: Persick 3-5.

Waterloo East (2-2, 1-1) at Jefferson (1-3, 1-1)

Site: Kingston Stadium

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

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: None

Storyline - Jefferson ended a 24-game losing streak two weeks ago in a 12-7 win over Hempstead. East beat Hempstead 22-7 last week. You would think that could make for a close game in this one. But this isn't your father's East. The Trojans have had a revitalization under Coach Kody Asmus and have qualified for the playoffs the last two years. Their losses this season are to City High (38-26) and Cedar Falls (30-20). The Jeff defense will be tested by East's speed and the offense has struggled to score. It's a sad homecoming for the J-Hawks.

Waterloo East - The Trojans bounced back from losses to City High and Cedar Falls to beat Hempstead, 22-7, last Friday. Aaron Taylor ran for 171 yards and John Magnuson passed for 203 in his first varsity start. Multi-threat QB Desmond Van Arsdale sat out the game with an ankle injury. Season leaders - Rushing: Taylor 67-464 1 TD, Van Arsdale 45-204 5 TDs; Passing: Van Arsdale 30-63-2-516 3 TDs, Magnuson 24-42-1-431 5 TDs; Receiving: Jacob Hewitt 14-178 1 TD, Russell Jones 4-184 2 TDs; Tackles: Jones 51; PATs: Juan Martinez 9-12; FGs: Martinez 3-4 (long 32).

Jefferson - The J-Hawks were held to 104 total yards in a 38-0 loss to City High last Friday. They rolled up 277 yards of rushing offense in beating Hempstead the previous week. Jefferson has struggled to score points this season, with just 19 in their first four games. Season leaders - Rushing: Michael Moncivais 29-186, Nick O'Connell 39-133 1 TD, Layne Sullivan 43-60 2 TDs ; Passing: Sullivan 21-48-0-259; Receiving: Hunter Kloubec 6-37, Peter Watson 4-54; PATs: Reece Suckow 1-3.

No. 2 Cedar Falls (4-0, 2-0) at Linn-Mar (1-3, 1-1)

Site: Linn-Mar Stadium

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

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: None

Storyline - This was the anticipated showdown in the eastern half of the state in last year's playoffs, but it never materialized when Washington stunned the Lions. Linn-Mar returned the favor to the Warriors last week. This has not been a typical Cedar Falls team, despite the 4-0 mark. The Tigers run the ball, but have yet to prove they can throw it consistently. The defense is allowing 16 points a game. If Linn-Mar plays a perfect game, it can compete with the Tigers. Throw in a couple of Cedar Fall turnovers and you could have a huge upset.

Cedar Falls - The Tigers rallied from a 16-7 halftime deficit to beat Waterloo West, 17-16, last Friday. Cedar Falls used a dominant rushing game to wear dowon West in the second half. The Tigers finished with 226 rushing yards, including a team-high 84 for Eli Berregaard. Season leaders - Rushing: Jake Buck 76-347 4 TDs, Nick Clark 35-249 4 TDs, Berregaard 28-206 1 TD; Passing: Brayden Longnecker 25-39-2-329 4 TDs; Receiving: Ike Boettger 10-157 2 TDs, Brandon Corkery 7-114 2 TDs; PATs: Jacob Newton 13-14; FGs: Newton 1-1 (long 28), Berregaard 2-2 (long 37).

Linn-Mar - The Lions scored a late touchdown to tie, then Austin Wolter kicked the winning field goal in overtime in a 24-21 win over Washington last Friday. QB Rhys Davis ran for 61 yards, passed for 93 and caught the tying TD pass from Ross Lembeck. Season leaders - Rushing: Davis 71-309 5 TDs, Ross Lembeck 43-219 1 TD, Nick Trabucco 31-113 2 TDs; Passing: Davis 27-62-4-319 2 TDs; Receiving: Zach Martins 9-121 1 TD; Tackles: Lucas Meyer 38, Trabucco 36, Dakota Digmann 31 (8 for loss); PATs: Wolter 11-11; FGs: Wolter 1-3 (long 23).

Maquoketa (3-1, 1-1) at Marion (3-1, 1-0)

Site: Thomas Park

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

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

TV: Mediacom 22 (Replays Saturday at 9 p.m., Sunday at 6 p.m.)

Storyline - Marion jumps back into division play against one of the top contenders. Maquoketa handed the Indians a 31-7 whipping a year ago when the Cardinals cruised through the district undefeated. Maquoketa was surprised two weeks ago by DeWitt Central, 14-10. Marion makes no pretense of what it is going to do on offense. The Indians run the ball. They have attempted only 35 passes all season. If they can run the ball against Maquoketa, they win. If not ...

Maquoketa - The Cardinals bounced back from a 14-10 loss to DeWitt Central with a 40-0 rout of Anamosa. Josh Kirk ran for 175 yards and three TDs. QB Trent Bollman added 54 yards and two TDs on the ground. Maquoketa was held to 94 total yards in its loss to DeWitt Central. Season leaders - Rushing: Kirk 83-438 6 TDs, Bollman 64-215 5 TDs; Passing: Clemens 25-52-5-220 1 TD; Receiving: Blaise Waller 6-85, Cory Wirth 6-40 1 TD; Tackles: Cohl Kueter 48 (8 for loss); PATs: Wirth 12-13; FGs: Wirth 1-2 (long 22).

Marion - The Indians built a 13-0 lead, then held on for a 13-10 win at Washington, Iowa, in a nondistrict game last Friday. Trev Biery ran for 110 yards and a TD for the Indians. Marion held the Demons to 23 rushing yards. The Indians are averaging nearly 210 rushing yards per game. Season leaders - Rushing: Biery 46-409 5 TDs, Colton Mowry 40-182 3 TDs, Tyler Gunderson 22-137 2 TDs; Passing: Trevor Hardman 16-35-0-233 2 TDs; Receiving: Ethan Herren 5-58 1 TD. Tackles: Herren 28, Isaac Frazier 27, Biery 23; PATs: Dalton Ott 6-8, Ben Kroemer 3-4; FGs: Ott 0-1.

Prairie (2-2, 0-1) at Dubuque Wahlert (1-3, 0-1)

Site: Rock Bowl (Loras College), Dubuque

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

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Radio: None

Storyline - Prairie got tossed in with the big boys the last two weeks and paid with losses to No. 4 Xavier and No. 3 Iowa City West. Wahlert does not fit into that category, although the Golden Eagles have a one-point win over Hempstead and a five-point loss to unbeaten Dubuque Senior. A healthy Jace Hanna would make Prairie and overwhelming favorite in this game, but he sat out last Friday night's game against West with a leg injury. If he is back healthy, Prairie rolls. If not, this is a tossup.

Prairie - The Hawks absorbed their second straight whipping, falling to Iowa City West, 58-27, last Friday night. Prairie was beaten by Xavier 48-14 the previous week. QB Jace Hanna did not play against West, but backups Trey Beckman and Dylan Kuchemann combined for 209 yards passing and three TDs. Demetrius Harper caught three for 169 yards and 3 TDs. Season leaders - Rushing: Hanna 29-129 1 TD; Passing: Hanna 43-68-3-696 8 TDs; Receiving: Harper 22-367 5 TDs, Jarred Edmonds 17-373 5 TDs; Tackles: Cam Rathje 46, Casey Becker 35; PATs: Sam Drysdale 14-15.

Wahlert - The Golden Eagles were blown away by Xavier, 53-14, last Friday. Jacob Decker ran for 69 yards, including a 32-yard TD scamper. John Burgmeier passed for 80 yards and a touchdown. It was Burgmeier's second straight start. Burgmeier barely played in Week 2 when Wahlert beat Hempstead, 21-20. Jared Walker passed for 168 yards in that game. Season leaders - Rushing: Decker 69-287 2 TDs; Passing: Walker 21-44-1-287 2 TDs, Burgmeier 18-38-1-158 3 TDs; Receiving: Kyle Steines 20-267 4 TDs; PATs: Nick Nemmers 8-8; FGs: Nemmers 1-3 (long 28).

Washington (1-3, 0-2) at Waterloo West (1-3, 1-1)

Site: Memorial Stadium, Waterloo

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

Sophomore game: 5 p.m.

Storyline - Washington has turned into this year's question mark club, as in which Warrior outfit is going to show up tonight? The Warriors were dominant in a season-opening win over Kennedy before losses to Iowa City West and Cedar Falls. Then came last week's debacle at Linn-Mar when the Warriors had minus-38 yards rushing. That won't cut it against a West club that appears to have turned a corner with its 27-14 win over Linn-Mar two weeks ago. That win snapped a 15-game losing streak. The Wahawks nearly knocked off Cedar Falls last week and owe the Warriors payback after a 49-7 whipping last season. Tossup.

Washington - The Warriors were stunned by Linn-Mar, 24-21, last Friday night at Linn-Mar when the Lions scored a TD with 70 seconds left and kicked the winning field goal in overtime. It was their third straight loss. Mitch Blades passed for 271 yards, but the Warriors were held to minus-38 yards rushing. Jason Oney caught 11 passes. Season leaders - Rushing: Mitch Bredeson 76-328 3 TDs, Blades 56-203 4 TDs; Passing: Blades 44-93-5-683 2 TDs; Receiving: Oney 26-362 2 TDs; Tackles: Jake Bjornsen 38; PATs: Riyad Ajram 11-12; FGs: Ajram 2-3 (long 42).

Waterloo West - The Wahawks were beaten by Cedar Falls, 17-16, last Friday night after holding a 16-7 lead at halftime. They beat Linn-Mar the Previous week, 27-14. QB Alex Young ran for 123 yards against Cedar Falls and scored once. He only completed 5 of 13 passes for 38 yards. Season leaders - Rushing: Young 55-280 2 TDs, Dequayvious Martin 25-233 2 TDs, Lance Dunn 31-197 5 TDs; Passing: Young 23-45-3-187; Receiving: Jacob Showalter 10-104; Tackles: Blake Thomas 51 (11 for loss); PATs: Skyler Capelle 4-9, Jon Schmadeke 1-1; FGs: Schmadeke 1-2 (long 36).

Lansing Kee (3-1, 2-1) at Cedar Valley Christian (0-4, 0-3)

Site: LaSalle Middle School

Time: 7 p.m.

Storyline - Cedar Valley Christian has scored points in its last two games. The Huskies can't stop anyone from scoring, witness the 13 touchdowns scored by West Central in last week's 93-16 loss. But the offense is getting better with 22 points in the last two weeks. And isn't scoring what is fun about the game?

Lansing Kee - The Hawks lost a 49-48 overtime decision to Springville last Friday night. Blair Cooper passed for 266 yards and two TDs and ran for 28 yards and three scores. Jameson Peterson ran for 178 yards and two TDs. Season leaders - Rushing: J.Peterson 111-661 7 TDs, Cooper 40-155 7 TDs; Passing: Cooper 28-58-4-429 5 TDs; Receiving: Dylon Peterson 11-182 2 TDs; Tackles: Jack Janett 41 (8 for loss); Int.: D.Peterson 4, Cooper 3; PATs: None.

Cedar Valley - The Huskies were drubbed by West Central, 93-16, last Friday night at Maynard. Arturo Melendez ran for 82 yards, but threw four interceptions. He also caught a TD pass from Spencer Zielke for the second straight week. CVC has been outscored 309-22 in losses to HLV (76-0), Valley (72-0), Springville (68-6) and West Central. Season leaders - Rushing: Daniel Ostroot 13-101; Passing: Melendez 21-69-7-104, Zielke 3-9-0-93 2 TDs; Receiving: Eric Gustafson 14-57, Melendez 2-52 2 TDs; Tackles: Gustafson 26 (3 for loss). PATs: None.