It may be hard to believe, but we are already two-thirds of the way through the 2025 high school football season, which means only three weeks remain in the regular season.
Moline has already secured an Illinois playoff berth, and other teams continue their push for postseason play on both sides of the river.
Plenty of intriguing battles loom this week — especially on the Iowa side, where there are some key district matchups. Here are capsule looks at the Week 7 games involving the bigger Quad-City schools:
Western Big 6 capsules
United Township (3-3, 1-3 WB6) at Rock Island (1-5, 1-3 WB6)
Public School Stadium, 7 p.m.
Last week: UT fell 23-21 at home to Quincy; Rock Island was handed a 62-7 setback at Moline.
Game notes: After beating Galesburg 56-16 to open Western Big 6 Conference play, UT’s Panthers have dropped three straight – to Sterling (49-28), Geneseo (36-33) and Quincy (23-21) by a total of 26 points. Last week’s setback came down to a missed 39-yard field goal attempt in the waning seconds. … UT has outscored foes 217-145 this fall. Rock Island has been outscored 84-254. … UT snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Rocks last year at home, winning 34-7 by allowing the Rocks only 122 yards of offense. … UT’s last win at Rocky’s Almquist Field came in 2011, by a 44-28 score. … Panther senior RB Isaiah Navarrete (65 carries, 346 yards) leads the WB6 with 54 points that include two four-touchdown games. … RI senior Evan Ellis leads the league with 26 receptions (for 281 yards and 2 TDs).
Sterling (4-2, 3-1 WB6) at Geneseo (4-2, 3-1 WB6)
Bob Reade Field, 7 p.m.
Last week: Geneseo beat Galesburg 38-20; Sterling cruised past Alleman 55-13.
Game notes: This is a series that dates back to 1916, with Sterling holding a 36-23 advantage – many of those games coming during their epic NCIC battles. Sterling has won the last 10 meetings, and the Maple Leafs have not scored more than 8 points in the last nine games and have been shut out three times. … Either one of these teams will become playoff eligible with their fifth victory. … Geneseo, which is 3-0 at home this fall, has outscored foes 166-150 this year. … Sterling, which has won three straight and averaged just shy of 50 points in those, has outscored foes 233-120 this season. … In its four wins, the Maple Leafs have averaged 36 points. … Geneseo senior Kye Weinzierl is second in the league in rushing (35 carries, 387 yards), leading the WB6 by averaging 11.1 yards per carry in league play.
Galesburg (2-4, 1-3 WB6) at Quincy (4-2, 3-1 WB6)
Flinn Stadium, 7 p.m.
Last week: Galesburg lost 38-20 to Geneseo; Quincy held off UT 23-21.
Game notes: Quincy has won eight of the last nine meetings in this series, including the last three, and is coming in off last year’s 45-0 road win. Quincy’s last three wins over the Silver Streaks have come by a combined score of 143-33. … QHS is outscoring foes 177-100 and Galesburg is being outscored 132-233. … Quincy senior QB Hunter Schuckman is second in the WB6 in passing yards (640 on 62-96-5 passing) to Galesburg’s Grady Hickey (60-101-3, 686 yards). He was held to just 124 yards in last week’s road victory at Soule Bowl.
Iowa metro capsules
Iowa City Liberty (5-1) at Pleasant Valley (3-3)
Spartan Stadium, 7 p.m.
Last week: PV was blanked 29-0 at Linn-Mar; Liberty handled Davenport Central 54-7.
Game notes: This is a Class 5A District 6 meeting. … Pleasant Valley has won both meetings with the Lightning the last two seasons in games in which defense has been optional. PV won last year, 42-28, after taking the 2023 game by a 56-39 decision. … Liberty is No. 5 in the 5A power index, and PV is No. 19. The Top 16 teams in the final power index earn playoff bids. … PV is hoping for a better effort than in last week’s setback, which was hampered by five turnovers (four lost fumbles and a pick) and a blocked punt. The banged-up Spartans had just 155 yards of total offense in that contest. … The Lightning are just shy of 2,000 yards of offense this year (1,316 rushing, 613 passing), while the Spartans are over 2,300 yards (1,297 passing, 1,064 rushing). … Liberty averages 33.8 points per game and allows 17.7; PV averages 27.3 and allows 21.3.
Bettendorf (2-4) at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (1-5)
Kingston Stadium, 7 p.m.
Last week: Bettendorf is coming off a 35-11 loss to Cedar Falls; Jefferson was on the short side of a 21-10 score to Dubuque Senior.
Game notes: This Class 5A District 5 matchup is the first meeting between these two teams since Bettendorf’s 35-7 victory in the 2014 season. … Bettendorf is No. 23 in the latest 5A power index and Jefferson is No. 32. … A traditionally strong running team, the BHS Bulldogs have thrown for 1,048 yards this season while rushing for 567. Sophomore QB Cannon Davis has completed 81 of 139 passes with 8 touchdowns. … The Bulldogs have five interceptions this season to go with 40 tackles for loss. … Jefferson senior QB Vernon Benda (96/160) has thrown for 1,241 yards and 8 TDs. … Bettendorf averages 15.5 points per game and allows 23.7; Jefferson averages 20.0 ppg and allows 32.3.
Linn-Mar (2-4) at Muscatine (0-6)
Muscatine HS Stadium, 7 p.m.
Last week, Linn-Mar shocked Pleasant Valley 29-0, and Muscatine was defeated 69-7 by Iowa City West.
Game notes: This is a Class 5A District 6 contest. … Linn-Mar leads the series 6-0 in games played since 2018, including last year’s 47-7 decision. … Muscatine senior Seth Reiland, who was hurt two weeks ago in a loss at Pleasant Valley, totaled 84 yards from scrimmage in last week’s loss. … Muscatine and Iowa City High are the only two winless teams in Class 5A. … Linn-Mar’s win over PV last week upped the Lions to No. 22 in the 5A power index, while the Muskies remain No. 32. … Linn-Mar averages 17.2 points per game and allows 23.2; Muscatine averages 11.5 and gives up 46.8 – the second-most among 5A schools.
North Scott (3-3) at Clinton (3-3)
Coan Field, 7:15 p.m.
Last week: North Scott dropped a 14-13 heartbreaker at Western Dubuque; Clinton lost 42-0 to Davenport North.
Game notes: This is a Class 4A District 3 game. … North Scott enters the week ranked No. 14 in the 4A power index, and Clinton is ranked No. 22. … Since 2008, these schools have met 16 times. North Scott has won 14 of those, including the last eight, including last year’s 49-14 decision. … North Scott is looking to rebound from last week’s tough road setback that included giving up a 98-yard kickoff return and turning the ball over inside the Western Dubuque 5-yard line. … The Lancers have four running backs with at least 147 yards rushing this season, led by senior Evan Kruse’s 201. Six North Scott rushers have touchdowns. … Junior Ethan Carpenter leads Clinton with 608 yards rushing and six TDs. … North Scott averages 22.7 points per game and allows 18.2. Clinton averages 17.3 ppg and gives up an average of 27.0.
Western Dubuque (4-2) at Davenport West (0-6)
Brady Street Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Western Dubuque beat North Scott 14-13; West fell to Burlington 49-14.
Game notes: This is a Class 4A District 3 game that is West’s homecoming contest. … Western Dubuque is ranked No. 7 in this week’s 4A power index, and the Falcons are No. 34. … Western Dubuque has won four straight games after opening with losses to Dubuque Wahlert (10-6) and Cedar Rapids Xavier (21-13). … This is just the second meeting between these two since 2016. The Bobcats won that 2016 game, 43-7. … West has 1,135 yards total offense for the season, and the Bobcats have rushed for 1,099 of their 1,710 yards. … Western Dubuque junior RB Drew Bergfield has 814 yards rushing in 115 attempts and 6 TDs. … The Bobcats average 20.5 points per game and allow just 12.5. West averages just 5.7 points per game and allows 47.8.
Davenport North (4-2) at Burlington (5-1)
Bracewell Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: North whitewashed Clinton 42-0; Burlington handed Davenport West a 49-14 setback.
Game notes: This is a Class 4A District 3 game. … North’s Wildcats check in at No. 18 in this week’s 4A power index, while the Grayhounds are No. 15, right behind North Scott. … With last week’s victory over Clinton, North coach Adam Hite tied the school record for most coaching victories with 25. In his seventh year as Wildcats’ coach, he has a 25-33 record. … Burlington has won nine of the last 11 meetings since 2008, but North won the last two – 22-15 in 2016 and 40-7 in 2020. … North’s offense is incredibly balanced, rushing for 917 yards (led by senior Carson Williams’ 280 yards) and throwing for 1,178 (all by junior Neil Brown, 88-144, 13 TDs). … Burlington senior RB Keshawn Wyldon has 1,005 yards rushing and 15 TD on the ground. … North averages 22.7 points per game and allows 17.0 ppg, having allowed a total of 2 points in three of its last four games. … Burlington averages 42.5 points per game, leading Class 4A in scoring with ADM, and gives up 19.2 ppg.
Dubuque Wahlert (4-2) at Davenport Assumption (4-2)
Jack and Pat Bush Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Twitter: @TJ_DA
Last week: Wahlert comes in off a 17-12 win over Central DeWitt, and Assumption rolled Maquoketa 42-7.
Game notes: This is a Class 3A District 3 game between two of the three teams in the district (along with Mount Vernon) that are 2-0 in district play. … Assumption is No. 7 in this week’s 3A power index and Wahlert is No. 9. … Assumption leads the series 10-3 in their meetings since 2014, but Wahlert won both games last year – 38-21 in district play and 41-0 in the playoffs. … The Knights have 24 rushing touchdowns this season, part of 1,740 team rushing yards led by junior QB Luke Jobgen (48-452, 8 TDs). … Assumption is one of just 10 teams in Class 3A averaging 30-plus points per game, the Knights putting up 33.7 per game (and allowing 19.0 ppg). … Wahlert averages 24.2 points per game and has the second-stingiest defense in 3A, allowing just 11.7 points per game.
Mount Vernon (5-1) at Central DeWitt (4-2)
Central DeWitt HS Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Last week, Central DeWitt lost a 17-12 decision at Dubuque Wahlert, and Mount Vernon beat Center Point-Urbana 34-14. Both games were district contests.
Game notes: This is a Class 3A District 3 game. … Mount Vernon is ranked No. 11 in the 3A power index as the Sabers have slipped to No. 14. … Central DeWitt is on a two-game slide, losing to both Assumption (35-31) and Wahlert the last two weeks in district play after starting the season 4-0. … Mount Vernon is second in Class 3A in scoring (41.0 points per game) and fifth in points allowed (13.5). The Sabers average 38.2 ppg and allow 17.7. … Mount Vernon’s only loss is a 35-20 decision at Solon. … These are two of the most dynamic passing attacks in Class 3A. Mount Vernon senior quarterback Kellen Haverback has completed 105 of 167 passes for 1,473 yards and 15 TDs this season and added five more rushing TDs. Sabers senior QB Hudson Krukow is 111 for 151 for 1,530 yards and 18 TDs; he has also rushed for 5 TDs. … Mount Vernon has 2,152 yards of offense (358.7 per game) and the Sabers have totaled 2,509 yards (418.2 yards per game).
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TJ Johnston
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