Things get interesting on high school football fields Friday evening with a huge Western Big 6 showdown and the start of district play on the Iowa side.
The outright Big 6 lead is on the line when the last two undefeated teams remaining in league play meet when Moline travels to Quincy to face the Blue Devils.
With district play finally starting in earnest in Iowa, we get to enjoy some head-to-head battles of local teams this week.
Here are capsule looks at each of the games involving Metro Quad-City schools:
WESTERN BIG 6
United Township (3-1, 1-1) at Geneseo (2-2, 1-1)
Bob Reade Field, Geneseo, 7 p.m.
Last week: Geneseo lost 28-7 at Moline; UT lost 49-28 to Sterling.
Game notes: Both teams hope to bounce back from tough league losses last week. … UT junior Leo Sim and senior Isaiah Navarrete share the league lead in scoring with 24 points each. … UT kicker Max Colgan has hit all 12 of his point-after kicks in WB6 play. … Geneseo senior Kye Weinzierl is second in all-purpose yards in Big 6 play with 262 from scrimmage. … The Panthers beat Geneseo 35-16 last season.
Moline (3-1, 2-0) at Quincy (3-1, 2-0)
Flinn Stadium, Quincy, 7 p.m.
Last week: Moline beat Geneseo 28-7; Quincy beat Rock Island 53-6.
Game notes: Both teams are on three-game win streaks after dropping their season openers. … The winner will be the only unbeaten team left in the league. … Moline junior RB Marc Cary leads the Big 6 in rushing with 313 yards and three TDs in two games. He has 438 yards in four games. … Quincy beat Moline twice last season – 43-21 in the regular season at Moline and 44-14 at Flinn Stadium in the second round of the playoffs. … With last week’s 53-6 win over Rocky (scoring 53 straight points), Quincy won its 17th straight WB6 contest, setting a league record. The Blue Devils were tied with Alleman (1988-91) and Rock Island (1999-2002) for the longest win streak.
Rock Island (0-4, 0-2) at Alleman (1-3, 0-2)
Knowlton Outdoor Athletic Complex, 7 p.m.
Last week: Rock Island lost 53-6 to Quincy; Alleman lost 54-22 to Galesburg.
Game notes: This is the first meeting between the intra-city schools since Sept. 9, 2022, when Rocky logged a 47-6 home win over the Pioneers. … Dating back to last season, the Rocks have lost six straight games. Rocky’s last victory was a 13-6 decision over Galesburg on Oct. 11, 2024. … Offense has been an issue for the Rocks. Averaging just 6.5 points per game this season, they have scored more than 14 points in a game just once since the start of the 2024 season – that in a 41-31 loss to Dunlap in Week 2 of last year’s 1-8 campaign. The Rocks’ highest point total this season came in a 45-10 loss to Geneseo to open Big 6 play. … After opening the season with a 62-13 victory, the Pioneers have given up an average of 45 points per game in three subsequent losses and been outscored 103-22 in two Big 6 games. … Alleman does get senior RB Will Otten-Thoms back in the lineup this week after he missed the last two weeks with an injury.
Galesburg (2-2, 1-1) at Sterling (2-2, 1-1)
Roscoe Eades Stadium, Sterling, 7 p.m.
Last week: Sterling beat UT 49-28; Galesburg topped Alleman 54-22.
Game notes: Sterling’s Maurice Delacruz is among three players tied for the WB6 scoring lead with 24 points. … Galesburg’s Antwon Walker leads the league in receptions with 12, those covering 241 yards and three of them going for scores. … The Golden Warriors won last year 40-3 and have scored at least 40 points in the last three matchups against the Silver Streaks.
IOWA METRO
Muscatine (0-4) at Pleasant Valley (2-2)
Spartan Stadium, 7:15 p.m.
X (formerly Twitter): @TJ_DA
Last week: PV snapped a two-game losing streak with a 40-13 win over Dubuque Hempstead; Muscatine dropped a 35-7 decision to Dubuque Senior.
Game notes: This is a Class 5A, District 6 contest. … PV dropped its District 6 opener 42-30 to Iowa City West two weeks ago. … PV has won eight straight over the Muskies and 13 of the 15 meetings since 2008. Muscatine’s last win over the Spartans was a 27-13 decision in 2016. … Muscatine has more passing yards (441) than rushing (413). … That passing attack is triggered by senior Gage Curtis, who has completed 29 of 53 passes with four of those going for scores. … PV QB Lincoln Dalton has completed 20 of 40 passes for 304 yards and a TD. Senior classmate Jackson O’Melia has been on the receiving end of 11 of those passes for 153 yards, but has yet to find the end zone. … PV is 12th in this week’s Class 5A state power index; Muscatine is 36th.
Bettendorf (2-2) at Dubuque Senior (2-2)
Dalzell Field, Dubuque, 7:15 p.m.
Last week: Bettendorf dropped a 31-14 non-district decision at Iowa City West; Dubuque Senior beat Muscatine 35-7.
Game notes: This is a Class 5A, District 5 contest. … Bettendorf won its District 5 opener two weeks ago, beating Cedar Rapids Prairie 14-11. … This is the first meeting between the two schools since back-to-back meetings – both BHS victories by scores 31-14 and 51-14 – in 2014 and 2015. … The Bulldogs come into the game with 739 yards passing and 399 rushing. Sophomore QB Cannon Davis is 51-85 with 6 passing TDs and 203 rushing yards and another score. … Similarly, Dubuque Senior senior QB Joey Schlosser leads the Rams in passing yards with 690 (60-89, 6 TDs) and rushing yards with 299 and 4 TDs. … Bettendorf is 15th in this week’s Class 5A power index; Dubuque Senior is 27th.
Western Dubuque (2-2) at Davenport North (3-1)
Brady Street Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: North beat in-town rival Central 26-2; Western Dubuque beat Decorah 35-17.
Game notes: According to state records, this is the first matchup between these two schools. … This is a Class 4A, District 3 game and is the second homecoming game at Brady Street Stadium in two days, following Davenport Central’s contest on Thursday. … North transfer quarterback Neil Brown leads all 4A quarterbacks with 868 yards passing and is tied for fourth with 9 touchdown passes. … North wideout David Joiner is fifth in Class 4A receiving yards with 383. … Rams junior RB Drew Bergfeld has 549 of the Rams’ 784 rushing yards. … Western Dubuque is 14th in this week’s Class 4A power rankings and Davenport North checks in at 19th.
Davenport West (0-4) at North Scott (2-2)
Lancer Stadium, Eldridge, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: West suffered a 42-0 loss to Davenport Assumption; North Scott won a 33-30 overtime thriller over Clear Creek-Amana.
Game notes: North Scott comes in having beaten the Falcons in all nine meetings they have had, dating back to 2008. Their last contest was a 55-6 North Scott victory in 2017. … This North Scott homecoming game is a Class 4A, District 3 battle. … West has been outscored 189-12 this season. … While junior quarterback Miller Haedt (26-42-0, 2 TDs, 260 yards) has thrown for a majority of North Scott’s 400 passing yards, the rushing attack has been balanced. Senior Cole Green (29-195), junior Gage Wagner (40-138) and senior Evan Kruse (25-108) are all over 100 yards, Haedt is close with 89 yards. … Senior Adam Anderson leads the Falcons with 27.5 tackles, 20 of those solos. … North Scott ranks No. 8 in this week’s Class 4A power rankings; Davenport West is 34th.
Davenport Assumption (2-2) at Central DeWitt (4-0)
Central DeWitt HS, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Assumption thumped West 42-0; Central Dewaitt handled Mount Pleasant 49-27.
Game notes: This Class 3A, District 3 game is Central DeWitt’s homecoming/hall of fame induction game. … Assumption has won all eight previous meetings since 2016, including a 31-10 win in 2022 in the most recent clash. … Central DeWitt QB Hudson Krukow has a ridiculous QB rating of 214.2. The senior leads Class 3A QBs with 15 touchdown passes and is fourth in passing yards (847). … Sabers senior Brady Meadows leads Class 3A in receiving yards with 349. … Knights junior QB Luke Jobgen has seven of his team’s 16 touchdowns – a team-high five rushing and two passing. … Assumption has won two straight games after an o-2 start, beating Muscatine and West, who are a combined 0-8, by a 94-14 margin. … The Sabers are one of seven remaining undefeated Class 3A teams and are ranked No. 5 in the week’s 3A power ranking. Assumption is No. 21 in the power rankings.
Clinton (3-1) at Burlington (3-1)
Bracewell Stadium, Burlington, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Clinton beat Maquoketa 35-14; Burlington ran away from Keokuk 62-27.
Game notes: Clinton snapped a four-game losing streak to the Grayhounds with last year’s 34-32 victory, but Burlington leads the series 6-5 in games since 2008. … This Class 4A, District 3 contest is Burlington’s homecoming contest. … Clinton is on a three-game win streak after dropping its opener 53-15 to Central DeWitt. … Burlington’s only loss was a 16-14 setback at Washington two weeks ago. … Grayhounds senior RB Keshawn Wyldon is second among Class 4A rushers with 649 yards on the ground. He has 9 rushing TDs for a team averaging 24.0 points per game and allowing 24.3. … Clinton ranks 10th in this week’s Class 4A power rankings and Burlington is 17th.
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TJ Johnston
sports writer/golf editor
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