Two of the top running backs in the state will be on display in the UNI-Dome this evening as fifth ranked Cedar Falls hosts number eight Iowa City High in a class 4A playoff game. City High has put the ball in the hands of tailback Ronald Thompson an average of 22 times a game this season as he’s racked up more than 1,700 rushing yards.

But Cedar Falls co-head coach Brad Remmert says that Thompson is just one cog in the Little Hawk running machine as they have a physical offensive line and a good running quarterback. He says they try to average 3 yards a carry and will go for it on 4th down to keep the ball from their opponent.

Remmert says the Cedar Falls defense will try to put City High in some unfavorable down-and-distance situations. He says they will have to be solid on first down and force some 3rd and long and 4th and long, something he says they didn’t do last year.

City High beat the Tigers 49-28 in the quarterfinal round a year ago. Cedar Falls has a pretty good running back in the form of All-Stater Barkley Hill, who leads Class 4A in rushing.

Tiger co-head coach Pat Mitchell says that with a back like Hill, Cedar Falls could play a bit of ball control as well. He says last year they defense couldn’t stop them, as they were able to move the ball. Mitchell is hoping his team can get the ball and keep and and force Iowa City to “cool their heels” a little bit.

By Jesse Gavin, KCNZ,Cedar Falls

In class 3A, two high scoring teams collide as second ranked Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley hosts Carroll. Both team average better than 30 points per game. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley coach Cory Brandt says they have a great quarterback and outstanding receivers and use multiple looks that require you to cover the whole field.

The Nighthawks are 10-0 on the season and will have to play hard as all the teams are extremely good at this point.

Carroll coach Dennis McCartan would prefer a low scoring contest, as he says “you don’t want to get into a track meet with a track team.” He says they will take a win whether it is 3-0 or 49-8.

McCartan says the Tigers need to protect the football as the Nighthawks lead the state with 40 takeaways, or four a game.

By Doug Broek, KSOU,Sioux Center

Class 2A second ranked West Marshall would reach the quarterfinals and coach Ken Winkler would reach a milestone with a victory over North Polk. Winkler would become only the eighth coach to reach the 300 mark. Winkler says it’s something that’s okay, but not why he coaches. He says it could mean he’s getting old and has been around longer than anyone else.

Winkler is in his 44th year of coaching and has been at West Marshall since 1984. He says year in and year out they haven’t had division one players, but have hard-nosed players that show up and like to play. Winkler says that’s been the standard of the school throughout the years.

West Marshall will take on district rival North Polk this evening and will be looking for another big game out of running back Dalton Ferch, who rushed for 443 yards in a first round victory over Bondurant-Farrar. He did it in three quarters and one carry in the 4th quarter, which Winkler says makes the accomplishment even more phenomenal.

It’s a battle of quarterbacks Monday night as fourth-ranked Mediapolis (10-0) welcomes in Wilton (8-2) for the second round of the Class 2A football playoffs. The Bulldogs are led by Jesse Ertz, who’s racked up more than 2,800 yards of total offense and 35 touchdowns this season.

As for Wilton, Dylan Stepleton is their offensive leader with more than 2,100 yards and 37 scores. Mediapolis coach Brian Borrison, says the top key is to keep him in the pocket and not let him scramble and make plays. He says the defense has to read its keys and then deliver a blow when they get there.

Stepleton says his team will have to play much better than they did in their playoff opener and play all four quarters without any letdowns.

The winner will move on to face either West Liberty or top-ranked Iowa City Regina.

By Michael Cation, KBUR, Burlington and Elwin Huffman, KOEL, Oelwein