The second season starts for four Metro football teams Wednesday night with first-round playoff games.

Or for Kennedy, it's the third season.

The torrid Cougars rededicated themselves at the end of September and have ripped off four straight wins. They called it their second season and they went 4-0 after an 0-5 start.

Prairie and Marion are back in the playoffs after short sabbaticals.

Xavier, meanwhile, has dreams of perfection dancing in its head.

It's playoff time. Enjoy.

Iowa City High (4-5) at No. 3 Xavier (9-0)

Site: Saints Field

Time: 7 p.m.

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

Playoff appearances (last): Iowa City High 25 (2011), Xavier 9 (2011)

Playoff record (state titles): Iowa City High 42-19 (1993, 1994, 1996, 2009); Xavier 9-7 (2006)

Storyline - Not too long ago, this game would have been a quarterfinal or semifinal round game. But Iowa City High has fallen on hard times this season and carries a four-game losing streak into this game. Xavier has been ousted from the playoffs in the first round the last two years. The Saints are on a mission. They completed an unbeaten regular season and won an outright Mississippi Valley Conference division title for only the second time in school history. The last time it happened was in 2006. Xavier won the state championship that year.

Iowa City High - The Little Hawks started the season strong, but saw their fortunes start to turn in a 21-0 loss to Dubuque Senior on Sept. 28. That started a four-game slide to end the season, during which City High was outscored 138-34. The Little Hawks have been banged up and also have struggled to throw the ball, completing only 46.2 percent of their passes. Amos Lavela is a standout back and linebacker, but carried the ball only once in a 40-14 loss to Kennedy last Friday. 
Team stats (season averages per game) - Rushing offense (185.2), Passing offense (69.9), Total offense (255.1), Points (23.1); Rushing defense (187.7), Passing defense (97.4), Total defense (285.1), Opponent points (25.8). Individual leaders - Rushing: Lavela 104-605 8 TDs, Xavier Washpun 76-381 6 TDs, Bryson Runge 64-375 1 TD, Jake Leohr 61-146 3 TDs; Passing: Tyler Stika 15-38-5-184 2 TDs, Jake Leohr 12-29-1-189 3 TDs; Receiving: Tony Perry 12-187 1 TD, Washpun 7-123 2 TDs; Tackles: DeAirius Salibi 37; PATs: Drew Cornwell 24-25; FGs: Cornwell 2-2 (long 21).

Xavier - The Saints are in the midst of a record-setting storybook season. Reggie Schulte has completed 75.6 percent of his passes, which leads the state. His 28 TD passes rank sixth in the state and second in Class 4A. Corbin Woods ranks eighth in Class 4A in receiving yards with 767 and his 12 TD receptions rank fourth in 4A. The defense has not allowed more than 196 yards in any game and has held six foes to 83 rushing yards or less. This is a complete team.
Team stats (season averages per game) - Rushing offense (200.8), Passing offense (183.4), Total offense (384.2), Points (42.6); Rushing defense (78.2), Passing defense (90.7), Total defense (168.9), Opponent points (8.3). Individual leaders - Rushing: Brendan Miller 101-653 7 TDs, Wes Gardner 32-188 2 TDs, Nick Steingreaber 14-147 3 TDs, Logan Jones 23-129 2 TDs; Passing: Schulte 102-135-3-1646 28 TDs; Receiving: Woods 38-767 12 TDs, Bryce Grimm 24-277 4 TDs, Matt Nelson 9-87 6 TDs; Tackles: Craig Murtha 57 (32 for loss); PATs: Ryan Persick 49-51; FGs: Persick 4-7.

Prairie (6-3) at Dubuque Senior (7-2)

Site: Chalmers Field (University of Dubuque)

Time: 7 p.m.

Radio: KGYM (FM-107.5)

Playoff appearances (last): Prairie 15 (2009), Dubuque Senior 2 (1997)

Playoff record (state titles): Prairie 4-13 (1981); Dubuque Senior 1-1 (0)

Storyline - Prairie is in the playoffs for the first time under Coach Mike Morrissey, who is in his second season at the helm of the Hawks. Prairie was only 2-7 a year ago, but flipped that around this season en route to a third-place finish in the Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division. Senior has enjoyed the same type of success. The Rams were 1-8 a year ago, but tied for second place in the MVC Mississippi Division this season. It's a feel-good story for both teams and should be a very competitive game.

Prairie - The Hawks are riding a three-game winning streak. Their losses have been to Iowa City West, Xavier and Cedar Falls, who are seeded 2-3-4 in the tournament and have a combined record of 26-1. Quarterback Jace Hanna is eighth in Class 4A in passing yards with 1,819 and his 23 TD passes rank fourth. Jarred Edmonds is fourth in 4A in receiving yards with 963 and his 14 TD receptions lead Class 4A. Rushing defense is a concern. The Hawks are allowing 240.3 yards rushing per game. 
Team stats (season averages per game) - Rushing offense (131.1), Passing offense (236.8), Total offense (367.9), Points (34.2); Rushing defense (240.3), Passing defense (81.0), Total defense (321.3), Opponent points (26.8). Individual leaders - Rushing: Mitch Christensen 80-392 4 TDs, Hanna 58-267 3 TDs, Demetrius Harper 29-143 1 TD; Passing: Hanna 109-186-5-1819 23 TDs; Receiving: Harper 45-474 5 TDs, Edmonds 40-963 14 TDs, Kentrel Smith 11-230 3 TDs, Mitch Dellamuth 11-185 3 TDs; Tackles: Cam Rathje 116; INT: Dellamuth 5; PATs: Sam Drysdale 39-42; FGs: Drysdale 3-4 (long 34).

Dubuque Senior - The Rams sneaked out a couple of overtime wins against Waterloo West and Linn-Mar to start the season before finding their groove in a 21-0 pasting of Iowa City High. Their losses were to Iowa City West and Waterloo East, both playoff qualifiers. Austin Clemens is completing 63.7 percent of his passes, which ranks seventh in Class 4A. Keenan Gallery's 57 receptions rank fifth in 4A. Alex Duster is second in the MVC in rushing with 975 yards. The Rams have intercepted 12 passes.
Team stats (season averages per game) - Rushing offense (149.7), Passing offense (148.8), Total offense (298.4), Points (25.9); Rushing defense (186.3), Passing defense (92.1), Total defense (278.4), Opponent points (19.9). Individual leaders - Rushing: Duster 201-975 8 TDs, Parker Hammel 59-272 6 TDs; Passing: Clemens 114-179-3-1339 14 TDs; Receiving: Gallery 57-699 7 TDs, Ethan Lembke 13-138 1 TD, Brandon Richey 13-169 1 TD; Tackles: Streat Hoerner 129 (7 for loss), Brook Anderson 104; INT: Hoerner 5; PATs: Ben Martin 28-29; FGs: Martin 2-3 (long 25).

Kennedy (4-5) at Muscatine (7-2)

Site: Muscatine

Time: 7 p.m.

Radio: None

Playoff appearances (last): Kennedy 14 (2011), Muscatine 11 (2011)

Playoff record (state titles): Kennedy 8-13 (0); Muscatine 4-10 (0)

Storyline - This is a power vs. finesse game if ever there was one. Kennedy is averaging more than 200 yards rushing per game and holding its opponents to 93.7 rushing yards per game. Muscatine lights up the night with its passing attack, which is averaging 293.1 yards per game. The Cougars were blitzed by Prairie, Iowa City West, Dubuque Senior and Xavier passing attacks early in the season. Personnel changes have helped Kennedy turn it around, but the Cougar secondary may be facing its toughest test yet. Keep away wins the game.

Kennedy - The Cougars have won four straight games to power into the playoffs. They have averaged 250 yards rushing, while holding foes to 47 rushing yards per game over that span and outscored their opponents 170-51. Alex Hillyer is tied for second in Class 4A with 1,418 yards rushing, which set a single-season school record. The Cougar defense held Iowa City High to 45 total yards in a 40-14 win last Friday. Four of Kennedy's five losses were to playoff teams.
Team stats (season averages per game) - Rushing offense (201.1), Passing offense (75.7), Total offense (276.8), Points (26.3); Rushing defense (93.7), Passing defense (179.3), Total defense (273.0), Opponent points (22.2). Individual leaders - Rushing: Hillyer 231-1418 16 TDs, Miles Moa 41-189; Passing: Riley Fergus 48-110-4-600 9 TDs; Receiving: Jacob Frazier-Flores 12-241 4 TDs, Patrick Martin 10-160 3 TDs; Tackles: Grant Miller 69, Andrew Johnson 55, David Hynek 52; INT: Donovan Kosman 3; Fumble Recoveries: Tommy Kaiser 4; PATs: Eric Bertroche 27-30; FGs: Bertroche 4-5 (long 38).

Muscatine - The Muskies feature a high-powered passing attack that produced a lot of yards and a lot of points. Jon Crowe ranks second in the state in Class 4A in completion percentage (74.7) and passing yardage (2,592). His 30 TD passes are tied for first in 4A.  The Muskies won their first five games, but are 2-2 in their last four with losses to Pleasant Valley and North Scott, both playoff team. Muscatine finished tied for second with Assumption in the Mississippi Athletic Conference.
Team stats (season averages per game) - Rushing offense (116.7), Passing offense (293.1), Total offense (409.8), Points (38.6); Rushing defense (198.4), Passing defense (118.3), Total defense (316.8), Opponent points (23.2). Individual leaders - Rushing: Alex Neda 76-330 2 TDs, Austin Moss 53-314 4 TDs, Crowe 67-195 6 TDs; Passing: Crowe 177-237-8-2592 30 TDs; Receiving: Tyler Lloyd 53-872 13 TDs, Drake Kulick 40-523 4 TDs, Jake Shoultz 28-447 3 TDs, Luke Rauenbuehler 27-446 9 TDs; Tackles: Max Weber 65, Shoultz 63; PATs: Daylan Oldfield 32-34; FGs: Oldfield 2-2 (long 25).

Western Dubuque (4-5) at Marion (7-2)

Site: Thomas Park

Time: 7 p.m.

Radio: None

Playoff appearances (last): Western Dubuque 10 (2011), Marion 16 (2010)

Playoff record (state titles): Western Dubuque 8-8 (2001); Marion 10-14 (1980)

Storyline - Marion is back in the playoffs after a one-year absence, but the Indians are limping in. Marion was beaten by DeWitt Central 17-16 last Friday. The loss dropped the Indians into a three-way tie in Class 3A District 6, but they won the No. 1 seed by virtue of a tiebreaker. Marion suffered a huge loss when versatile Andrew Davis broke his leg and was lost for the season. Western Dubuque is the fourth-place team from Class 3A District 5.

Western Dubuque - The Bobcats scored 128 of their 174 points in their four wins and were outscored 136-46 in their five losses. They ran for 154 yards and two TDs last Friday in a 37-14 loss to No. 1 Decorah. The Bobcats were held to 227 total yards or less in five games and three times were held to less than 200 yards. Their foes are averaging 4.6 yards per carry and 181.4 yards per game. DeWitt Central ran for 323 yards and four TDs on Oct. 5. 
Team stats (season averages per game) - Rushing offense (154.7), Passing offense (93.1), Total offense (247.8), Points (19.3); Rushing defense (181.4), Passing defense (85.1), Total defense (266.6), Opponent points (17.3). Individual leaders - Rushing: Blake Kass 69-332 5 TDs, Daniel Beard 61-304 1 TD, Dawson Nemmers 61-264 2 TDs, Dylan Gansen 25-213 3 TDs, Cody Reimer 35-184 1 TD; Passing: Dylan Kramer 71-136-9-814 7 TDs; Receiving: Dylan James 49-538 5 TDs; Tackles: Kass 72, Mason Simon-Ressler 56; INT: James 3; PATs: Nick Kruse 22-23; FGs: Kruse 2-2 (30 long).

Marion - The Indians run the ball and run the ball and run the ball some more. They average 5.4 yards per carry and 238.4 yards rushing per game. Trev Biery led District 6 in rushing with 1,021 yards and averages 7.8 yards per carry. His 16 rushing TDs are tied for sixth in the state in Class 3A. Trevor Hardman has not thrown much, but has only one interception in 82 attempts. The defense has been magnificent. Only three teams have broken the 100-yard rushing barrier, topped by DeWitt's 166.
Team stats (season averages per game) - Rushing offense (238.4), Passing offense (73.1), Total offense (311.6), Points (29.6); Rushing defense (71.6), Passing defense (84.6), Total defense (156.1), Opponent points (10.8). Individual leaders - Rushing: Biery 131-1021 16 TDs, Colton Mowry 87-399 5 TDs,Tyler Gunderson 32-197 2 TDs; Passing: Trevor Hardman 43-82-1-658 4 TDs; Receiving: Quinn Cannoy 15-302 1 TD, Ethan Herren 11-147 1 TD. Tackles: Herren 65, Isaac Frazier 65 (29 for loss), Biery 53; INT: Biery 3; PATs: Dalton Ott 18-20, Ben Kroemer 6-7; FGs: Ott 2-3 (long 33).