In Class A a pair of highly ranked teams collide as third rated Madrid hosts number four Avoca AHST. Madrid coach Randy Hinkel says the defense must find a way to slow down a Vikings’ offense led by quarterback Seth Enke.
Hinkel says their quarter back is “just plain scary” as he can throw the ball and run, but his best ability is the ability to ad-lib. Hinkel says it will be Madrid’s power against AHST’s speed. He says his team will try to run over them, and they will try to spread things out.
This is a non-district game but Hinkel says it is a great challenge for his team. He says it’s a measuring stick to see where they are at this season, so when they get to post season they will know where they are at. Both teams are 5-0.
In class A district two sixth ranked Southern Cal is on the road to play number seven Clay Central-Everly. Southern Cal is the defending state champ and opened the season top ranked. Southern Cal coach Bryan Case says they struggled early on and from then they have steadily improved. The Mustangs are 4-1 overall and played a tough non-district schedule.
Case says the defense must find a way to slow down a Clay Central-Everly offense that has piled up more than 14 hundred yards on the ground this season. Clay Central-Everly is 5-0.
In eight-man district 7 a pair of rated teams collide as third ranked CAM (Anita) visits number ten Coon Rapids-Bayard. CAM is 5-0 and coach Joe Wollum says this team has had to adjust after losing all-stater Alex Stork to a shoulder injury. He says that has forced them to throw the ball more and find other ways to win.
The Cougars will try to slow down a Coon Rapids-Bayard offense that is led by quarterback Michael Schwenk and his better than 14 hundred yards of passing. Wopllum says the goal for the defense is to limit big plays. Wollum believes the Cougars are ready for a test like this as they have adjusted to the loss of Stork and the younger kids have more confidence.
In class 4A, seventh ranked Urbandale is on the road to battle an eight ranked Ankeny team that is looking to bounce back from a loss to number two Dowling Catholic. At 5-0 the J-Hawks have clinched their best record since back in 2002 and coach Sam Anderson says the turnaround began in 2008 during a 3-6 campaign.
Anderson says they were about 8 points from being 6-3 last year and the kids got hungry and did what they could to get better in the off season. Urbandale’s success begins with a ground game that has churned out more than 1,600 yards and a run defense that is vastly improved over last season.
Anderson says if you can run you will be successful and limiting turnovers has also been important. Anderson says Ankeny will offer a difficult test for his team. He says every game in the conference is big, especially with a traditional power like Ankeny.
Ryan Wendt of KWBG Boone contributed to this story.High s