𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 ... ⚡

📸 @rohl_man

Photos from @ICLibertyFB's 36-19 win over Iowa City High in the Clash at Kinnick ⤵️

— Iowa Prep Sports (@iowaprepsports) August 27, 2022

Game story from Mike Condon: Alburnett scores a season-opening upset win over North Linn

Game story from Ryan Pleggenkuhle: Clear Creek Amana's reload looks promising in a shutout win over Marion

Game story from K.J. Pilcher: Cedar Rapids Washington has a new look and "new energy" in a season-opening win over Cedar Rapids Jefferson

Game story from Culley Kline: Mount Vernon feels like it has a lot to clean up, but an "outstanding" defense helps earn a shutout win over Anamosa

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗪

Photos from @CRWarriorFB's 47-6 win over Cedar Rapids Jefferson ⤵️

— Iowa Prep Sports (@iowaprepsports) August 27, 2022

Game story from Jeff Linder: Williamsburg's defense is fast and nasty in a shutout win over Iowa City Regina

𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 = 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 ⛵

📸 @jerodringwald32

Photos from @CCAClippersFB's 26-0 win over Marion ⤵️

— Iowa Prep Sports (@iowaprepsports) August 27, 2022

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗼𝘂𝘁 🚫

📸 @_graceephotos

Photos from @WCSD_Raiders 31-0 win over Iowa City Regina ⤵️

— Iowa Prep Sports (@iowaprepsports) August 27, 2022

Mason City upsets 4A No. 9 Fort Dodge

 

And the Riverhawks' 35-30 win broke a long series losing streak as well.

The streak is over

Final: Mason City 35, Fort Dodge 30

The Riverhawks (1-0) usher in the new mascot era with their first win over the Dodgers (0-1) in 18 years

What. A. Game#iahsfb

— Zach Martin (@zach_martin95) August 27, 2022

Cascade knocks off Monticello

 

The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald reports Jack Menster ran for a pair of touchdowns (68 and 39 yards) and Will Hosch returned an interception 45 yards for a TD as Cascade built a 21-7 lead. And the Cougars held on to upset 2A No. 6 Monticello, 21-14.

Woodward-Granger wins 'The Bridge'

 

The coolest new trophy in Iowa high school football is Woodward-Granger's. The Hawks beat rival Madrid, 20-8, in the "Battle for the Bridge."

Who's going to win the "Battle for the Bridge" one night from now? Thanks to Dalton Construction for the best rivalry trophy in the state!

Madrid v. Woodward-Granger
Hawk Stadium - Woodward, IA
Friday, August 26
7pm#gohawks pic.twitter.com/fsLFuAuBan

— Woodward-Granger Activities (@wgactivities) August 20, 2022

Le Mars upsets Sergeant Bluff-Luton

 

The second-ranked team in Class 3A falls in Week 1. According to the Le Mars Daily Sentinel, the Bulldogs recovered a fumble late in the fourth quarter and turned it into a go-ahead 16-yard touchdown run from Beau Wadle with 1:33 left. Final score: Le Mars 17, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 14.

Final score: Le Mars 17, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 14

Here’s the final stop on defense to force a turnover on downs which led to the final kneel down. pic.twitter.com/nZlPqVTXZz

— Sentinel Sports (@LeMarsDSsports) August 27, 2022

Underwood rolls in a ranked matchup

 

It was all 1A No. 7 Underwood against A No. 10 Tri-Center. After a loss to 4A No. 1 Lewis Central in Week 0, the Eagles get in the win column with an impressive 58-14 win.

FINAL

Underwood 58
Tri-Center 14

Eagles were led on the night by their 3 Tailbacks: Maddox Nelson, Graham Jensen & Gage Savin. They combined for 24 carries for 144 yards & 3 touchdowns. #EaglesTrojans#KMASports pic.twitter.com/L9EXMREoVo

— Coach Tiarks (@CoachTiarks) August 27, 2022

Upset alert: Alburnett leads North Linn

 

The defense helps give Alburnett a 9-7 lead in the third quarter over A No. 4 North Linn.

After a Carson Neighbor pick and return, Brody Neighbor 4 run (kick failed). Pirates now lead 9-7, 9:16 left in the third. #iahsfb

— Mike Condon (@mikecondon) August 27, 2022

North Fayette Valley opens with a win

 

Big night for Kaleb White as the 2A No. 9 TigerHawks beat South Winneshiek.

Kaleb White rushed for 124 yards and 2 TDs as North Fayette Valley opened with a 35-6 win over South Winneshiek.#iahsfb

— J.R. Ogden (@JROgden) August 27, 2022

Ankeny back in control

 

Our preseason top-ranked team in Class 5A, Ankeny trailed Waukee 7-0 at halftime. But the Hawks have scored 26 unanswered since. Upset alert canceled.

Kohl to Williams for the touchdown!! Hawks up 26-7.
8:11 left in the game

— Ankeny High School Activities (@Ankeny_Hawks) August 27, 2022

Southeast Polk pulling away

 

Abu Sama's fourth touchdown of the night put the Rams up 35-17 late in the third quarter against West Des Moines Dowling.

Here is touchdown #4 of the night for @AB3_sama, this one from 2 yards out. SE Polk has extended its lead to 35-17 with 21 unanswered points. 1:32 left in 3Q #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/7Dy9WfEi1K

— Jamie DeMoney (@Jamie_XOS) August 27, 2022

The Kinnick Wave is back

 

Iowa City High and Iowa City Liberty wave to the Stead Family Children's Hospital patients after the first quarter.

This is what community looks like.

We Wave #FTK‼️#TSTL | #TheGOLDStandard #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/lOM6ML03ro

— City High Football (@CityHighFB) August 27, 2022

Independence bouncing back

 

3A No. 6 Independence got its season started a week early and took a 26-7 loss at 3A No. 10 Davenport Assumption. But the Mustangs aren't having any problems with Maquoketa in Week 1, up 31-3 in the second quarter.

Independence now up 31-3 with 4 minutes left in first half. Mitchell Johnson 7 of 10 for 97 yards and 3 TDs, Trey Weber 14 carries for 141 yards#iahsfb

— J.R. Ogden (@JROgden) August 27, 2022

City High gets back in it, but then ...

 

Iowa City High got on the board with an 80-yard touchdown pass from Drew Larson to Akili Mattox. That cut the lead to 9-6. But Liberty answered right away. Wyatt Williams, 92-yard kickoff return.

 

Lightning up 16-6 with 11:26 to go in the second quarter.

And Wyatt Williams of Liberty runs the ensuing kickoff back 92 yards for a touchdown. Hit seam, got a couple of great blocks well downfield that sprung him. Liberty 16, City High 6. That runback took 13 seconds. #iahsfb

— Jeff Johnson (@jeje66) August 27, 2022

Big night for Iowa commit Derek Weisskopf

 

Williamsburg's Derek Weisskopf has two interceptions against Iowa City Regina as the Raiders lead 21-0 in the third quarter.

 

The Iowa commit is listed as a 3-star athlete on 247Sports.

Weisskopf with his 2nd INT.

Raiders start own 28.#iahsfb

— Jeff Linder (@jtlinder) August 27, 2022

Xavier takes the lead at Western Dubuque

 

The 4A No. 5-ranked Saints have scored 14 unanswered to take the lead on the road.

Ronan Thomas to Coleton Beasler-Weber for a TD! pic.twitter.com/L3JqCLiCvr

— Xavier Activities (@XavierSaintsAD) August 27, 2022

Lightning strikes at Kinnick

 

Iowa City High blew out Iowa City Liberty 41-0 in last year's season opener. It doesn't look like something similar will happen in the Clash at Kinnick.

 

Liberty went 86 yards on its opening possession, scoring the first TD of the game on a 40-yard Graham Beckman pass to Garrett Gregoire. It's 6-0 Liberty with 7:42 left in the first quarter.

Statewide halftime scores of note

 

2A No. 3 Williamsburg 14, 1A No. 6 Iowa City Regina 0

 

Waukee 7, 5A No. 1 Ankeny 0

 

5A No. 4 Southeast Polk 21, 5A No. 2 West Des Moines Dowling 17

 

5A No. 10 Waukee Northwest 7, 5A No. 7 West Des Moines Valley 7

 

Le Mars 3, 3A No. 2 Sergeant Bluff-Luton 0

 

South Hardin 0, A No. 9 Grundy Center 0

 

2A No. 2 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 39, 3A No. 8 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 0

East Buc is rolling

 

Coming off a UNI-Dome appearance, the Buccaneers are rolling against Highland in their season opener. It's already 40-0 before halftime. East Buchanan was the first team receiving votes to be left out of our Class A Top 10.

65 yards through the air! QB1 Trystin Russel puts it long to Hunter Bowers for the TD! Bucs lead 40-0

— East Buchanan School (@EB_Bucs) August 27, 2022

Southeast Polk takes early lead

 

Iowa State commit Abu Sama ran for a 72-yard TD on Southeast Polk's first play from scrimmage against West Des Moines Dowling. Rams up 7-0 after the first quarter.

Dowling moves the chains twice, then punts.

On Southeast Polk’s first play from scrimmage, Abu Sama takes the handoff, cuts back right, goes 72 yards to the house. Goodness.

7-0, Rams, 7:27 left in Q1. #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/ekHhOh5sPj

— Cody Goodwin (@codygoodwin) August 27, 2022

Touchdown Kinnick!

 

Speaking of Kinnick, he just scored for West Branch. Kinnick Boelk, that is. The 1A No. 8 Bears are rolling against Lisbon.

The Bears go up 20-0 after a Kinnick Boelk defensive fumble recovery for a touchdown. 6:05 remaining Q1 #iahsfb

— West Branch Football (@wbbearsfootball) August 27, 2022

Kinnick is ready for football

 

Some scenes from the sophomore game and varsity pregame, thanks to The Gazette's Nick Rohlman:

Kinnick is ready for football.#iahsfb pic.twitter.com/5DJhcDwCdv

— Iowa Prep Sports (@iowaprepsports) August 27, 2022

Cedar Rapids Washington's new look

 

The Warriors are debuting blue helmets at Kingston Stadium for their matchup with Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

C.R. Washington’s new look without any red. Is it permanent? pic.twitter.com/hPIHqqv609

— K.J. Pilcher (@kjpilcher) August 27, 2022

Friday 5: Watch live Iowa high school football

 

Here are live streams to watch five of Friday's best games.

 

• 5A No. 6 Iowa City High vs. Iowa City Liberty (Clash at Kinnick): KCRG

 

• 5A No. 7 West Des Moines Valley at 5A No. 10 Waukee Northwest: CISN TV (YouTube)

 

• 8P No. 2 Easton Valley at 8P No. 7 Don Bosco: Miles Telephone (YouTube)

 

• A No. 2 Hartley HMS at 1A No. 1 West Sioux: Metro Sports TV (Rofkin)

 

• 5A No. 4 Southeast Polk at 5A No. 2 West Des Moines Dowling: CISN TV (YouTube)

 

Stands filling up at Kinnick

 

This is going to be such a cool experience.

Terrible crowd estimator, but there are a lot of people here for Clash At Kinnick. #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/clDcKY6I9V

— Jeff Johnson (@jeje66) August 26, 2022

Thursday night football

 

Week 1 didn't need to wait until Friday to produce big games.

 

The highlight was over in western Iowa, a 1-vs.-1 clash. Lewis Central, the top-ranked team in Class 4A rallied to beat 3A No. 1 Harlan, 30-27. The Titans recovered a late onside kick to set up their winning drive.

 

At Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids, 5A No. 8 Cedar Rapids Kennedy opened the season with a 28-19 win over Iowa City West. K.J. Pilcher has more on Kennedy running back Trevor Scott, who carried the load with 135 yards on 31 attempts. He's a selfless guy, too. "I’m just here to help the team win every week," he said. "That’s the only thing I’m here for. I’m not looking to be recruited or set any records. Just help the team any way I can."

Week 1 preview

 

A couple items to get you ready for the action:

 

• How the Clash at Kinnick came about: Jeff Johnson talked to Iowa City High and University of Iowa administrators about setting up this unique event.

 

• Who the ranked teams face: 12 ranked matchups this week, including one Thursday night (4A No. 1 Lewis Central beat 3A No. 1 Harlan in a classic, 30-27).

 

• Gazette area games to watch: Jeff Linder walks us through the games involving Metro teams and the best games to check out in Eastern Iowa

Welcome to Week 1!

 

Happy Friday football fans! A few games that have my attention tonight:

 

• Iowa City High vs. Iowa City Liberty: I can't wait to see what high school football at Kinnick looks like. But I'm also excited to see what the 5A No. 6-ranked Little Hawks have in store after a breakout season.

 

• Southeast Polk at West Des Moines Dowling: I'm the only Gazette poll voter who had the Rams No. 1 in our 5A preseason poll. And they have a big early test against Jaxon Smolik, a recent Penn State QB commit.

 

• Iowa City Regina at Williamsburg: Both traditional powers are ranked in their respective classes. This might develop into a really fun I-80 rivalry.