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Nodaway Valley at Southwest Valley
TIME AND SITE: 7 p.m. in Corning
RECORDS: Nodaway Valley 0-4 (District opener); Southwest Valley 4-0 (District opener)
LAST MATCHUP (2017): Southwest Valley 49, Nodaway Valley 7
LAST WEEK: West Central Valley 62, NV 12; Southwest Valley 20, Clarinda 16
OVERVIEW: Nodaway Valley took a step backward last week in a home loss to West Central Valley. The Wolverines must limit mistakes to show that they're maturing.
Southwest Valley is winning games by an average of 5.0 points per contest. If SWV plays to its capabilities, it will widen that margin.
NV PLAYERS TO WATCH: Junior WR/DB No. 5 Clay Hohertz hauled in one touchdown reception a week ago and the Wolverines are likely to look to use his size and athleticism in the passing game this week. With NV yet to score more than 13 points in a game this season, coach Taylor Ashman could call on quarterback Tyler Vandewater to dial up a few deep balls.
SWV PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior OL/DL No. 56 Jacob Webb seems to do something defensively every week that makes opposing offensive coaches sputter and spit as they try to find ways to limit his impact on the game. Webb has helped supply some of the pressure that has caused SWV to force seven interceptions this season. His blocking has helped pave the way for a strong Timberwolves running game as well.
Mount Ayr at West Central Valley
TIME AND SITE: 7 p.m. in Stuart
RECORDS: Mount Ayr 3-1 (District opener); WCV 1-3 (District opener)
LAST MATCHUP (2012): Mount Ayr 28, WCV 7
LAST WEEK: West Central Valley 62, NV 12; Mount Ayr 16, Clarke 14
OVERVIEW: Mount Ayr is surging into district play on a wave of positivity after a late comeback-win over Clarke last week. When the Raiders maintain their offensive focus, they have enough talent to make a team like West Central Valley pay often.
WCV may be looking to run the ball often with quarterback Carson Wadle, but don't necessarily expect a shootout despite WCV coming off a 62-point performance.
MA PLAYERS TO WATCH: Junior WR/DB No. 15 Dawson Frost is coming off a week where he caught two touchdown passes and is finding more confidence in his route-running with quarterback Payton Weehler and Myles Greene too if the time calls for it. Frost will be in the secondary and will likely find himself around WCV's player to watch often.
WCV PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior WR No. 5 Cole Arnburg is the go-to target for the Wildcats and everyone knows it. Arnburg hauled in all six of Carson Wadle's completions last week for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Arnburg has 409 yards receiving and seven touchdown receptions.
Seymour at Murray
TIME AND SITE: 7 p.m. in Murray
RECORDS: Seymour 1-3 (0-2 in District); Murray 2-2 (0-2 in District)
LAST WEEK: Southeast Warren 82, Seymour 12; Moravia 52, Murray 14
OVERVIEW: The Murray Mustangs are a little banged up, but looking to show their 2-0 start to the season is more indicative of the team they are than their last two games.
The Mustangs will be looking to get their licks in against a Seymour squad that is yet to give up fewer than 46 points in a game. Just last week, Southeast Warren tore through the Seymour defense for 552 yards, with 260 coming through the air.
SEYMOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior No. 10 Sloan Sulser can play a number of spots on the offensive side of the ball and has proved dangerous with his feet from the quarterback spot while still slinging the pigskin around. Sulser has thrown for 145 yards and ran for 296 yards on the ground and five rushing scoress. He also has four solo tackles for loss on defense.
MURRAY PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior WR/DB No. 4 Josh Webb is cleared to play after sustaining an injury last Monday. Coach Taylor Fulton will want to get his most dynamic receiver involved against a defense that gave up several big plays through the air a week ago. Webb's five receptions have gone for an average of 43.2 yards per catch.
East Union at Southeast Warren
TIME AND SITE: 7 p.m. in Liberty Center
RECORDS: East Union 2-2 (1-1 in District); Southeast Warren 4-0 (2-0 in District)
LAST WEEK: Lenox 57, East Union 20; Southeast Warren 82, Seymour 12
OVERVIEW: Southeast Warren has one of the top offenses in the state, regardless of class. The Warhawks are averaging 9.4 yards per play, 587 yards per game and they've proven they can do it on the ground and through the air.
EU's defense must play the best game of its season and the offense must prove explosive, like the first quarter of the Lenox loss last week.
EU PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior WR/DB No. 24 Dillon Weis had better be ready for a track meet because the Warhawks are going to throw the ball around and it will often be the seasoned defensive back in coverage. The Warhawks will score points, so it will be up to Weis to make some big plays and snag some bigtime receptions from senior QB No. 3 Matt McGuire.
SEW PLAYERS TO WATCH: Junior WR/DB No. 13 Bryce Hall has been near unstoppable through the air with 24 catches for 501 yards and eight touchdowns. And he's far from the only viable target for Senior QB No. 3 Colby Page, who has 20 touchdown passes thrown compared to just two interceptions. Hall also has intercepted three passes on defense.
Lenox at Mormon Trail
TIME AND SITE: 7 p.m. in Garden Grove
RECORDS: Lenox 3-1 (2-0 in District); Mormon Trail 2-2 (0-2 in District)
LAST WEEK: Lenox 57, East Union 20; Lamoni 68, Mormon Trail 21
OVERVIEW: Lenox enters on a three-game winning streak and has had its way on the ground, namely from junior running back Colton Gordon.
Mormon Trail owns a 38-0 loss to an East Union squad that the Tigers just beat, so expect the Lenox run game to operate on all cylinders.
LENOX PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sophomore LB/FB No. 11 Cullen Wood could benefit from his fullback spot if the Tigers choose to attack the heart of the Mormon Trail defense and have Colton Gordon take fewer hits this week. With 16 1/2 tackles through four games, Wood continues to be a defensive force as well.
MT PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior No. 23 Parker Hitt has been one of the Bluegrass Conference's better athletes in several sports for a few years and has had a strong start to his senior season. Hitt leads the team with 337 yards rushing (with 7 TDs) and has nine receptions for 105 yards (2 TDs). He is also the team leader with 51 1/2 tackles.