HawkeyeReport.com - In-state commits head into post-season play

October 26, 2009

Blair Sanderson
Staff

With the regular season wrapping up this past weekend, it is time for post-season play in the state of Iowa with sub-state games beginning on Wednesday night. Those contests will include several Division I prospects, including all five in-state commits for the Hawkeyes. With that in mind, we take a closer look at the matchups, how each recruit is doing this year, plus a whole lot more.

THE COMMITS

A.J. Derby, City High (Iowa City, IA)

Matchup: City High (9-0) vs. Iowa City West (3-6) in Class 4A
Wednesday, October 28 at 7 PM at City High's Bates Field

Notes: Derby's City High team made it through the regular season undefeated and remains ranked No. 1 in Class 4A. On the year, the 6-foot-4, 218-pound quarterback has completed 49/99 pass attempts for 1,035 yards and 11 touchdowns with 7 interceptions. Derby also has 506 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground as well. City High will face cross-town rival Iowa City West on Wednesday in a rematch of a week four game that the Little Hawks easily won 49-10. The victor will advance to face the winner of Dubuque Hempstead (7-2) and Davenport Central (5-4) next week.

Matt Hoch, Harlan (Harlan, IA)

Matchup: Harlan (9-0) vs. MOC-Floyd Valley (5-4) in Class 3A
Wednesday, October 28 at 7 PM at Harlan's Merrill Field

Notes: Hoch's Harlan team has been No. 1 in Class 3A all year and has shutout their last four opponents on the way to a 9-0 regular season record. Playing linebacker, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Hoch has 102 tackles on the year, including 23 for a loss. On the offensive side of the football, he has 327 yards rushing and 207 yards receiving, scoring 6 touchdowns in all from his fullback position. If Harlan advances past MOC-Floyd Valley as expected, they will face the winner of Le Mars (6-3) and ADM (6-3) next week.

Brandon Scherff, Denison-Schleswig (Denison, IA)

Matchup: Denison-Schleswig (5-4) vs. Glenwood (6-3) in Class 3A
Wednesday, October 28 at 7 PM at Glenwood

Notes: Scherff's Denison-Schleswig team headed into the final week of the regular season needing a win to get into post-season play and got it with a 12-7 victory over Spencer last Friday. On offense, the 6-foot-6, 295-pound Scherff has helped pave the way for a rushing attack that is averaging over 180 yards per game on the ground. Defensively, he has 41 tackles, including 14 for a loss from his end position. The winner of Denison-Schleswig vs. Glenwood will face either Sioux City Heelan (8-1) or Creston (5-4) next week.

Austin Vier, Ballard (Huxley, IA)

Matchup: Ballard (8-1) vs. Webster City (5-4) in Class 3A
Wednesday, October 28 at 7 PM at Ballard's Strouse Field

Notes: Vier's Ballard team ended the regular season with only one blemish on their record, a 28-14 loss to undefeated Carroll in week seven. On the year, the 6-foot-7, 220-pound quarterback has completed 77/112 pass attempts for 816 yards and 12 touchdowns with 6 interceptions. Ballard hosts Webster City on Wednesday with the winner advancing to face either Clear Lake (9-0) or JSPC, Jefferson (5-4) next week.

James Morris, Solon (Solon, IA)

Matchup: Solon (9-0) vs. Mediapolis (6-3) in Class 2A
Wednesday, October 28 at 7 PM at Solon

Notes: Morris and Solon continued their dominance in Class 2A this regular season, as they have now won 36 games in a row dating back to 2007. The No. 1 ranked Spartans will be looking for their third consecutive state championship as they begin post-season play against Mediapolis on Wednesday. On the season, Morris has 103 carries for 1,335 yards and 25 touchdowns along with 43 tackles and 10 TFL on defense. If Solon advances as expected, they will face the winner of Mid-Prairie, Wellman (7-2) and Center Point-Urbana (6-3) next week.

OTHER GAMES & NAMES TO WATCH

Austin Blythe, Williamsburg (Williamsburg, IA)

Matchup: Williamsburg (8-1) vs. Pella (6-3) in Class 3A
Wednesday, October 28 at 7 PM at Williamsburg's Miller Field

Notes: Only a junior, the 6-foot-3, 280-pound Blythe already has scholarship offers from Iowa, Iowa State, and Stanford, and interest from a number of others. This season, he has 38 tackles and 17 TFL on defense and has helped pave the way for over 2,500 rushing yards on offense as well. Williamsburg hosts Pella on Wednesday with the winner facing either Grinnell (8-1) or Fairfield (7-2) next week.

David Johnson, Clinton (Clinton, IA)

Matchup: Clinton (9-0) vs. Cedar Rapids Prairie (3-6) in Class 4A
Wednesday, October 28 at 7 PM at Clinton

Notes: A senior, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Johnson has scholarship offers from UNI and Illinois State and continues to pick up more college interest with a huge senior season to date. Johnson currently has 131 carries for 1,159 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns along with 237 yards receiving and 9 touchdown catches as well. If Clinton advances, they face the winner of Cedar Falls (7-2) and Davenport Assumption (5-4) next week.

Andre Dawson, Cedar Rapids Washington (Cedar Rapids, IA)

Matchup: Cedar Rapids Washington (7-2) vs. North Scott (5-4) in Class 4A
Wednesday, October 28 at 7 PM at Cedar Rapids' Kingston Stadium

Notes: After somewhat of a slow start to the season, Dawson and the Warriors turned it on down the stretch, winning their last five games to finish 7-2 on the year. Currently, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Dawson has 205 carries for 1,656 yards and 25 touchdowns on the season. According to his coach, Tony Lombardi, recently Purdue, Cincinnati and Kansas are the schools showing the most interest. The winner of Washington vs. North Scott faces either Bettendorf (8-1) or Cedar Rapids Kennedy (4-5) next.

Of course, that is just a small start on what to watch as the march to the UNI-Dome begins all across the state this week. Be sure to look for continued coverage on HawkeyeReport.com and IowaPreps.com on the Rivals.com network.

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