High School Football: Five area games to watch in Week Five

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Here are the five area games to watch in week five of the high school football season.

CLASS 3A No. 2 Clear Lake (4-0) at No. 5 Independence (4-0)

Where: Lyle Leinbaugh Field, Independence

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

The buzz around Friday's game: There might not be a better Class 3A district opener in the state than this one, pitting the Lions and Mustangs. Playing against each other for the first time in the Iowa Bound Statistical era, these two squads are red hot. Clear Lake is coming off a 21-14 win over No. 4 Nevada at home last week, while Indee racked up another blowout win, topping Center Point-Urbana, 45-6. Lions' quarterback Jaxson McIntire, a junior, has completed 77.8 percent of his passes for 703 yards and six scores. He has also rushed for 196 yards and five scores. Clear Lake has speed to burn with senior tailback Sam Dodge (33 carries for 176 yards and six scores) and senior receiver Kolby Hodnefield is averaging 11.3 yards per carry and has 19 receptions for 267 yards and four scores. Last May, running for South Hamilton, Hodnefield won the 1A 200- and 400-meter state titles and was third in the 100. ... Independence runs with senior quarterback Christopher Meyer. Meyer has passed for 843 yards and six scores, and he has rushed for 634 yards and 10 scores. Bryce Christian has 32 receptions for 279 yards and a score,

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8-PLAYER

No. 5 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (4-0) at Don Bosco (2-1)

Where: Tom Ryan Field, Gilbertville

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

The buzz around Friday's game: Is there a better 8-player rivalry in the state? In the last five meetings between the Rebels and Dons, the games were decided by one, seven, 13, three and six. Since 2018, Don Bosco leads the series, 5-2, but Gladbrook-Reinbeck has won two of the last three. The Rebels have given up six points in four games and have scored 55 or more points in all four games, and 63 or more in their last three contests. Players to watch are quarterback Trevor Mathern and G-R's jack of all trades man Hudson Clark, who has five receiving touchdowns and has picked off four passes, returning three for touchdowns, Additionally, Clark has returned a kickoff 64 yards for another score...Since losing to No. 3 Iowa Valley in week one, Don Bosco has outscored its last two opponents (135-0). The Dons had last week off after their game with Dunkerton was cancelled. Quarterback Tucker Youngblut has passed for 402 yards and seven scores, while Ty Christensen has rushed for 364 yards and six scores.

Class 4A

Mason City (2-2) at Waverly-Shell Rock (1-3) Where: Waverly-Shell Rock High School

When: 7:15 p.m., Friday

The buzz around Friday's game: This is an important district opener for two teams who would like to be in the hunt for a playoff spot in late October, and in a district that includes a pair of ranked teams in Decorah and Cedar Rapids Xavier. The Riverhawks have dominated their last two games over Marion and Marshalltown after opening the season with losses to ranked foes Gilbert and Fort Dodge. Quarterback Jameer Falls has passed for 474 yards and five scores, and he has rushed for 185. Dane Hanson has rushed for 314 yards. Mason City has a dangerous return game. Drew Hobart has returned two kicks for touchdowns, both 90-plus yards, and Drayden Witt has returned a punt for 65 yards. This was the week the Go-Hawks were expecting the return of elite athlete Jayden Stephens, who suffered an injury in preseason camp. Already being watched by several Division I schools, the sophomore gives the Go-Hawks the big-play athlete it has been missing. WSR may have lost three in a row, but all three of those teams were playoff qualifiers in 2024.

No. 6 Wapsie Valley (4-0) at Maquoketa Valley (3-1) Where: Maquoketa Valley H.S., Delhi

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

The buzz around Friday's game: This game pits the Warriors' high-powered offense that has scored 53 or more points in three straight games against a Wildcat defense that has allowed 26 points in four games. Hunter Curley has been dominant on the ground for Wapsie Valley with 681 yards and 14 scores, while Maquoketa Valley will counter with Rogan Heidt, who has rushed for 512 yards. The Warriors won the last time these two met in the 2023 Class A playoffs, a 26-0 victory.

No. 3 Saint Ansgar (4-0) at Nashua-Plainfield (4-0)

Where: N-P High School, Nashua

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

The buzz around Friday's game: Nashua-Plainfield cruised in its first three games before being pushed to the wire last week by North Butler, a 10-7 victory. Saint Ansgar's toughest test also came in week three as it downed Newman Catholic 27-6. The Huskies have allowed just 13 points in four games, while the Saints are averaging 49 plus a game. Korben Michels averages 20.2 yards per carry for St. Ansgar, as he has rushed for 465 yards and nine scores. He also has two touchdown catches. The Huskies will counter with the three-headed monster of Navaril Williams, Devon Blanchard and Eli Kalainoff. That trio has combined for 846 yards and 14 touchdowns in four games.

-- Capsules compiled by Courier Sports Editor Jim Nelson

High School Football: How the AP Top Ten Fared in Week 4

At least one No. 1 team was upset Friday in the state of Iowa.

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