Week 2 roundup

Here’s our Week 2 roundup with Iowa high school football scores, stats and complete Gazette-area coverage.

Casey Kelley scores 6 TDs as Prairie rolls past Dubuque Senior

Elusive senior Casey Kelley scored six touchdowns, rushing for 226 yards on 14 carries as Cedar Rapids Prairie, ranked No. 7 in Class 5A, rolled to a 49-13 win over Dubuque Senior on Friday night at John Wall Field.

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Williamsburg creates its own breaks, snaps Xavier’s win streak

Williamsburg created its own breaks, made some big plays and denied Xavier’s late 2-point conversion in a 21-20 victory. The Saints’ 14-game winning streak came to an end.

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Seniors help Regina start with a pair of convincing wins

Following a pair of early playoff exits, Class 1A seventh-ranked Iowa City Regina (2-0) is off to a flying start. A week after a convincing 44-6 win over West Liberty, the Regals followed it up with another dominant performance, dispatching Mid-Prairie, 51-19, Friday night.

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Despite crucial injuries, Linn-Mar still runs past Cedar Rapids Washington

Linn-Mar’s football team lost three players to injuries in its game Friday night at Kingston Stadium against Cedar Rapids Washington. That includes its starting quarterback and standout tight end. Still the Class 5A No. 6 Lions were able to pull away for a 49-7 win, those points coming from an unstoppable run game.

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Armed with new weapons, Beckman and Liberty win Battle for Zeus

In an pivotal early-season Class 5A clash, Iowa City Liberty (1-1), led by Beckman, knocked off Iowa City High (0-2), 41-14, winning the Battle for Zeus for the fourth time in the six-year series. Quarterback Graham Beckman had one rushing touchdown and completed 26 of 32 passes for 269 yards and three scores — all three going to Dallas Miller.

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Final: Cedar Rapids Prairie 49, Dubuque Senior 13

Senior Casey Kelley rushed for five touchdowns and scored a sixth on a pass reception as the Class 5A No. 7 Hawks (2-0) rolled at John Wall Field to set up a road showdown next week against top-ranked Southeast Polk.

Kelley scored on runs of 27, 9 and 76 yards in the first half. He added a 16 yarder and caught an 18-yard pass from quarterback Will Phillips in the third quarter. Kelley capped his night with a 37-yard run early in the fourth quarter. He finished the night with 226 yards on 14 carries. Phillips threw three first-half interceptions, but finished with solid numbers otherwise, completing 12-of-20 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns.

Apollo Payne had five catches for 104 yards for Coach Kyle Knock's team.

Senior (0-2) got first-half scoring runs from Noah Roling (3 yards) and Meek Hall (2 yards).

FINAL: Williamsburg 21, Xavier 20.

Raiders 2-0, Saints 1-1.

Williamsburg covers the onside kick, and that will do it.

Final: Dike-New Hartford 9, West Branch 7

Cole McCumber kicked a 25-yard field goal for Dike-New Hartford and quarterback Colin Meester followed his center on fourth-and-1 for a TD as the Wolverines used a strong defense to hold off West Branch.

XAVIER TOUCHDOWN.

Ronan Thomas 2 run (pass failed).

1:30 4th: Williamsburg 21, Xavier 20.

Final: North Linn 60, Postville 0

Breckyn Betenbender carried the ball three times for 41 yards and scored three touchdowns.

XAVIER TOUCHDOWN.

Coleton Beasler-Weber 31 pass from Adam Cook (Kruse kick)

2 plays, 31 yards.

5:01 4th: Williamsburg 21, Xavier 14.

Xavier gets an INT and has the ball at the W31.

Williamsburg forces a punt, has the ball and a 14-point lead with 5:37 left. 

Final: Independence 39, Crestwood 13

EJ Miller completes 15 of 23 passes for 226 yards and 5 TDs. Bryce Christian caught 3 passes for 90 yards and 2 TDs

What a turn of events.

WILLIAMSBURG TOUCHDOWN.

Wetjen 24 pass from Cockrell (Rethwisch kick)

2 plays, 34 yards, 0:31.

7:59 4th: Williamsburg 21, Xavier 7.

Xavier gets to the 2, then a pick and long return by Heitman. Raiders are in Xavier territory.

Prairie 35, Dubuque Senior 13 (3:52 3rd)

Fourth score of the night for Kelley, this one a 16-yard run (Stiffler kick).

End-3: Williamsburg 14, Xavier 7.

Final: Liberty 41, City High 14

The Lightning (1-1) win the Battle for Zeus for the second straight year against City High (0-2).

WILLIAMSBURG TOUCHDOWN.

After a big punt return by Heitman ... Braylon Wetjen 23 pass from Cockrell.

1 play, 23 yards.

0:36 3rd: Williamsburg 14, Xavier 7.

Upset alert: Creston takes down Lewis Central

Last week it beat 3A No. 3 Harlan by a point, 4A No. 2 Lewis Central couldn't hang on this time.

3A No. 9 Creston will probably be a big riser in next week's Gazette poll with a 22-20 win over the Titans.

FINAL: BENTON COMMUNITY 38, MARION 7 Bobcats dominated from start to finish. Offensively, Benton rushed for 265 yards. Defense held Marion scoreless for 43 game minutes and didn't allow a first down until about the 10-minute mark of the 4th. Benton improves to 2-0. Marion is 1-1.

Final: Linn-Mar 49, Cedar Rapids Washington 7

Lions are 2-0, Warriors 0-2. 178 yards rushing and 3 TDs for Dylan Muszynski and 161 and 2 for Tyree Alons.

Linn-Mar 49, Cedar Rapids Washington 7 (1:42 4th)

Talan Sivertsen scores on a 22-yard run. Believe it or not, this was a 7-7 game with just over three minutes left until halftime.

Final: Sumner-Fredericksburg 27, North Fayette Valley 14

Sumner-Fredericksburg totaled 390 yards of offense. Davis Van Sickle passed for three touchdowns and ran for another for Sumner-Fredericksburg.

BENTON 38, MARION 7, 5:00 4th Quarter

Marion gets on the board on a Kaleb Diers 1-yard QB sneak. Marion also recovered an onside kick to give them another chance against Benton's reserves.

Liberty 41, City High 14 (6:09 4th)

Beckman just keeps rolling ... he finds Miller in the end zone, again, for a 9-yard score.

WILLIAMSBURG TOUCHDOWN.

Clayten Steckly 10 pass from Kellen Cockrell (Logan Rethwisch kick).

2 plays, 17 yards, 0:11.

6:09 3rd: Williamsburg 7, Xavier 7.

Final: 2A No. 7 Monticello 49, Dyersville Beckman 0

Senior Peyton Schilling caught seven passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns and returned a punt 70 yards for a score.

Linn-Mar 42, C.R. Washington 7 (10:19 4th)

Fullback Tyree Alons from 10 yards out for his second TD run of the night for Linn-Mar. Clock is running.

BENTON 38, MARION 0, 11:54 4th

Quarterback Blayke Heying with a 6-yard TD run to start a running clock after the first play of the 4th.

Regina 30, Mid-Prairie 13 (9:53 4th)

19-yard touchdown pass from Brady Weber to Dylan Henry puts Mid-Prairie back on the board.

BENTON 31, MARION 0, End of 3rd

Benton continues to cruise. Carson Bruns added a 1-yard TD run in the third. Marion still looking for first first down. Bobcats face 1st and goal from the 6 when play resumes. Subs are coming in for Benton.

Liberty 34, City High 14 (11:14 4th)

A 1-yard TD run from Dantrell Skinner caps a 9-play, 79-yard drive for Liberty.

Regina 30, Mid-Prairie 7 (11:22 4th)

Jackson Naeve has his third TD of the night, this one on a 6-yard catch;

Regina 23, Mid-Prairie 7 (2:31 3rd)

A leaping 32-yard catch from Cobi Hershberger sets up Mid-Prairie at the 1 and QB Brady Weber sneaks it in.

Linn-Mar 35, C.R. Washington 7 (7:00 3rd)

Muszynski again, this time from 6 yards out.

Muszynski has 161 yards rushing 15 carries and 3 touchdowns. On the negative side, he's thrown two incomplete halfback passes. LOL.

HALF: Xavier 7, Williamsburg 0.

Xavier scored on its second drive, thanks to a short field provided by an interception by Lucas Frost at the Williamsburg 28.

A 19-yard pass from Ronan Thomas to Carter Hoffmann got the Saints inside the 10, then Thomas scored two plays later on a 1-yard quarterback sneak.

It remained 7-0 throughout the rest of the half.

The Saints held Williamsburg without a first down through its first four possessions, then the Raiders drove from their own 15 to the Xavier 21 on their fifth march before turning it over on downs with 7:11 left in the half.

Xavier drove 73 yards in 13 plays. The Saints reached the 2-yard line, then it ended with a sack and a missed 24-yard field goal attempt.

Coleton Beasler-Weber had 164 total yards (80 rushing, 84 receiving) before intermission.

Prairie 28, Dubuque Senior 13 (4:10 2nd)

Nice drive for Senior: Meek Hall 2 run (kick blocked).

Linn-Mar 28, C.R. Washington 7 (8:34 3rd)

Fullback Tyree Alons runs for 27 yards, then Dylan Muszynski runs for 18 yards and a Linn-Mar touchdown.

Regina 23, Mid-Prairie 0 (4:30 3rd)

Jackson Naeve scores his second rushing TD.

HALF: Xavier 7, Williamsburg 0.

Williamsburg: 22 rush, 58 pass = 80 total

Xavier: 73 rush, 103 pass = 176 total

Half: Independence 19, Crestwood 13

EJ Miller has passed for 101 yards and two TDS.

0:14 2nd: Xavier 7, Williamsburg 0.

Saints drive to the 2, then miss 24-yard FG attempt.

Raiders take over at the 20

Central Iowa 5A scores of note

It's a tight one in West Des Moines. No. 2 Dowling leads No. 4 Valley 7-0 in the third quarter.

Top-ranked Southeast Polk, meanwhile, is having no issue with No. 5 Ankeny. It's 42-7 Rams, also in the third.

Liberty 28, City High 14 (9:39 3rd)

On a fourth-and-4, again from City High's 5, Graham Beckman drops a beautiful over the shoulder pass to Dallas Miller in the right corner of the end zone for a score. That was a pretty, whew.

Prairie 28, Dubuque Senior 7 (10:34 2nd)

Another quick strike for Prairie. After recovering a Senior fumble on very next play: Denzil Green 22 pass from Will Phillips (Stiffler kick).

4:02 2nd: Xavier 7, Williamsburg 0.

Saints are on the move, inside Williamsburg territory.

Beasler-Weber with 75 rushing yards, plus 3-48 receiving.

7:11 2nd: Xavier 7, Williamsburg 0.

Nice drive by Raiders stalls at the Xavier 21.

Prairie 21, Dubuque Senior 7 (11:36 2nd)

Prairie responds quickly. First play after kick, Kelley 76 run (Stiffler kick). Third TD for Kelley.

Prairie 14, Dubuque Senior 7 (11:53 2nd)

Rams cash in on the first play of the second quarter. Noah Roling 3 run (Eli Callahan kick).

BENTON 24, MARION 0, HALFTIME

Bobcats added a 23-yard FG from Caleb Gessner with :45 left before halftime. Benton has rushed 31 times for 159 yards in the first half. Marion has just 28 yards of total offense without a first down. Wolves have run just 13 plays. Marion will receive the opening second half kick.

End-1: Xavier 7, Williamsburg 0.

Saints will have 2nd and 20 from own 36 when we return.

Yards: Xavier 89, Williamsburg 18.

Linn-Mar 21, C.R. Washington 7 (0:16 2nd).

Linn-Mar's Dylan Muszynski takes an in-motion wingback pitch, hits the middle, somehow breaks away from that scrum of players, then runs through two tacklers at about the Washington 15 for a 67-yard TD run.

Linn-Mar 14, C.R. Washington 7 (1:57 2nd)

Fullback Tyree Alons takes a trap run up the middle for 64 yards and a Linn-Mar touchdown.

With a backup QB in there and its TE also out injured, ya gotta div Linn-Mar's gonna be very run heavy.

Liberty 20, City High 14 (0:15 2nd)

On fourth-and-3 from City High's 5, Liberty's Sutton Koller finds a hole and explodes up the middle for a TD. 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty after the score makes it a long extra point, which is missed.

BENTON 21, MARION 0, 3:47 2nd

Quarter Bobcats stuff Marion on 4th and 1 from the Wolves' 45. Bobcats take over and four plays later Tjelmeland with a 22-yard TD run. Benton rolling

XAVIER TOUCHDOWN

After an interception ... 

Ronan Thomas 1 run (Brady Kruse kick)

3 plays, 28 yards, 0:59.

6:21 1st: Xavier 7, Williamsburg 0.

 

Prairie 14, Dubuque Senior 0 (8:30 1st)

After forcing a Senior punt, a 59-yard pass from Will Phillips to Payne sets up Kelley for his second score, a 9-yard run.

Half: Regina 17, Mid-Prairie 0

Regina tacks on a 25-yd FG to close the half. Regina has outgained the Golden Hawks 273-55.

7:28 1st: Xavier 0, Williamsburg 0.

Raiders go 3-and-out, Saints drive to the red zone, turn it over on downs.

C.R. Washington 7, Linn-Mar 7 (3:02 2nd)

Second-and-goal at the Washington 11, Linn-Mar QB Austin Waller is sacked and fumbles, with Wash's Brock Davis picking it up and rolling 85 yards down the sideline for a TD.

Waller hurt on the play, being helped off the field.

Junior Stone Morgan now in at QB for Linn-Mar.

BENTON 14, MARION 0, 7:37 2nd Quarter

Owen Tjelmeland capped a 34-yard drive after the Marion turnover with a 2-yard TD run.

City High 14, Liberty 14 (3:49 2nd)

City High's special teams unit comes up big with a blocked punt. Sam Kueter recovers and runs in for a TD. Holdon Clay then converts the 2.

Prairie 7, Dubuque Senior 0 (11:25 1st)

Two plays in: Casey Kelley 27 run (Brady Stiffler kick).

12:00 1st: Xavier 0, Williamsburg 0.

Saints win toss, defer. Raiders will receive, Saints will defend south goal.

Away we go.

BENTON 7, MARION 0, End of 1st

Bobcats just recovered a fumble at Marion 34.

Milks delivers for WMU

Cole Milks has been all over the place tonight for Winfield-Mount Union. He scores three times and almost once more on a kick return. Cam Buffington has a pair of scores as well.

WMU up 42-0 after 1 in New London.

Liberty 14, City High 6 (6:36 2nd)

From a yard out, QB Graham Beckman bulldozes his way into the end zone. PAT good.

Liberty 7, City High 6 (9:17 2nd)

Drew Larson connects with Carsen Newton for a 5-yard socre. PAT is no good.

Larson » Newton

Familiar sight 👀#iahsfb x #L23D pic.twitter.com/Qm8EL0sSsN

— City High Football (@CityHighFB) September 2, 2023

BENTON 7, MARION 0, 7:00 1st Quarter

Bobcats strike first, going 80 yards on 12 plays. Carson Bruns punches it in from the 3. Nothing but rushes for Benton on that drive, winning battle up front.

Linn-Mar 7, C.R. Washington 0 (9:03 1st)

Linn-Mar's first possession = hot knife through butter. 80 yards, TD pass from Austin Waller to Kade Jesse.

7-0 Lions, 8:45 remain in the 1st Qtr!! TD : Waller > Jesse pic.twitter.com/dj3GZaIHwA

— Linn-Mar Football (@TheLMFootball) September 2, 2023

Liberty 7, City High 0 (11:53 2nd)

Graham Beckman finds Dallas Miller in the left corner of the end zone for a 4-yard TD.

MARION AT BENTON COMMUNITY

Benton will receive the opening kick.

Regina 14, Mid-Prairie 0 (1:09 1st)

Gentry Dumont is 5 of 6 for 103 yards, but it's two rushing touchdowns that have given the Regals a two-score lead.

Close to 8 p.m. kickoff at Prairie

It will be a late start, just before 8 p.m. for Dubuque Senior (0-1) at No. 7 Cedar Rapids Prairie (1-0).

On a fourth-and-7 in OT, Prairie completes a TD pass to win the freshman/sophomore 18-12 over Senior.

End 1: Liberty 0, City High 0

I think that's the fastest first quarter I've ever witnessed. After 1, it's 0-0. Liberty has it third-and-goal from the 4.

WILLIAMSBURG at XAVIER

Kickoff will be more like 7:55-8:00.

WILLIAMSBURG at XAVIER

Looks like Xavier will be wearing white uniforms tonight at home. Raiders will be wearing red.

Fast start for WMU

Early in New London and 8-Player No. 2 Winfield-Mount Union is already on top 16-0. Jake Edwards hits Cam Buffington for a 38-yard score, then Cole Milks in from 40.

Regina 7, Mid-Prairie 0 (9:46 1st)

On the first snap, Gentry Dumont finds Jackson Naeve for 54 yards. The Regals punch it in on a 9-yard William Aitchison run four plays later.

MARION AT BENTON COMMUNITY

Good evening from Bobcat Stadium in Van Horne.

Something is going to give tonight. The Wolves and Bobcats are both 1-0. Another interesting fact is both shut out opponents in Week 1. At least one of those goose eggs have to crack before the night is done.

WILLIAMSBURG vs. CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER

Howdy from Saints Field.

Non-district football tonight, and it's a dandy ...

3A #2 Williamsburg (1-0) vs. 4A #1 Cedar Rapids Xavier (1-0).

Raiders lead the opening game 26-13 in the 3rd quarter.

Jefferson J-Hawks soar to 2-0

Cedar Rapids Jefferson has a win streak and likely its best start since 2000. The J-Hawks won their second straight game to start the season, thumping Marshalltown, 40-0, Thursday night at Kingston Stadium.

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Live scoreboard

Stay up to date with every Gazette area game via our live scoreboard.

Week 2 preview

Is this a night we throw everything we thought we knew out the window? Or will our Week 1 takeaways be confirmed.

Here's a closer look at 11 Gazette-area games to watch.

We'll be keeping up with a lot tonight, but here is where we have reporters stationed for more in-depth updates:

• 5A No. 6 Linn-Mar at Cedar Rapids Washington: Jeff Johnson

• 3A No. 2 Williamsburg at 4A No. 1 Cedar Rapids Xavier: Jeff Linder

• Iowa City High at Iowa City Liberty: Ryan Pleggenkuhle

• Marion at Benton Community: K.J. Pilcher

Mid-Prairie at 1A No. 7 Iowa City Regina: Culley Kline

Dubuque Senior at 5A No. 7 Cedar Rapids Prairie: Mike Condon