Week 2: CenturyLink Game of the Week: Iowa City West @ WDM Valley
Last week, one team got a last-minute win…the other team was outplayed. On Friday, one team looks to shrug off a slow start, and one team looks to even up their record with some home cooking.
Your Century Link Game of the Week this Friday returns to Valley Stadium as Iowa City West (1-0) faces West Des Moines Valley (0-1) in another big Class 4A east vs. west non-district showdown.
Valley opened the season at Waukee. Though both teams mirrored each other statistically, two Tigers interceptions and mustering two field goals proved to be Valley’s undoing, falling to the Warriors, 28-6. In his first start at quarterback, Rocky Lombardi completed 13 of 24 pass attempts for 154 yards and was picked off once. Returning starting running back Drew Gray shouldered the rushing game load for 16 carries for 117 yards, and wide receiver Dominique Dafney hauled in 8 catches for 86 yards, even after an awkward landing after a catch on his neck.
The Trojans of Iowa City West, on the other hand, were on their way to losing their home opener to Cedar Rapids Kennedy. With 1:59 left in regulation, West quarterback Aaron Bleil’s 4th-and-15 pass to Gabe Huniker for a 33-yard touchdown gave the Trojans a 12-9 win over the Cougars. Bleil was 15-31 for 201 yards and had a rushing touchdown in the Trojans first score of the night. Oliver Martin caught 7 receptions for 106 yards to spark the West offense, as the rushing game sputtered.
Who: Iowa City West (1-0) at West Des Moines Valley (0-1)
Where: Valley Stadium, West Des Moines
When: Friday, September 5th, 7:30pm kickoff
The Facts: Iowa City West escaped with a 12-9 win over Cedar Rapids Kennedy, after a 4th down touchdown pass from Aaron Bleil to Gabe Huniker. Valley fell to Waukee, 28-6, only mustering two field goals and having two passes intercepted by Waukee’s defense.
Things to watch:
- Will West mix up their defense to confuse Valley QB Rocky Lombardi?
- Can the Trojans play all 4 quarters?
- Will Valley’s sophomores step up and make a difference?
- Will the injuries hamper the Tigers?
Valley – Project Starting Lineups
Offensive starters – QB Rocky Lombardi, RB Drew Gray and Austin Koch, WR Dominique Dafney and Austin Hronich, TE John Gliniecki, T Cody Genzen and Sam Rogers, G John Rairdon and Zachary Matt, C Brady Smith
Defensive starters – NG Trey Walsh, DT Dan McCoy, Caleb Herrick, and JC Yates, RE Austin Turner, CB Matt Vertin and Noah Barr, LB Zach Downs and Ben Campos, S Gabe Honnold and Keller Prien
Special Teams – P Zach Downs, K Cole Hahn
Iowa City West – Projected Lineups
Offensive starters – QB Aaron Bleil, FB Mason Koch, TB, Kevin Dowell, WR Oliver Martin and Tyler Eads, TE Conner Greene, T Alex Kleinow and Carter Parker, G Blake Moser and Logan Stevens, C Mitch Boxwell
Defensive starters – DL Kevin Dowell, Blake Moser, Mitch Yoerger, and Chase Blatz, LB Conner Greene, Mason Koch, and Xavier Koch, C Tyler Eads and Gabe Huinker, SS John Milani, FS Oliver Martin
We will have a live blog of the game (Twitter hashtag #CISNliveblog). Check in to see any story lines develop and stats as they become available, and we’ll keep you updated on other happenings as the night progresses.
Paul Yeager, Keith Borness, and Jim Kirby will have the call of the game. Follow us on Twitter @CISportsNet
Our Audio Game of the Week, presented by Scheels, will be Des Moines Roosevelt (1-0) @ Ankeny Centennial (1-0), with Dar Danielson doing the play-by-play on CISN. As an added bonus, our partners at High School Cube will have the live online stream of #2 Waukee (1-0) at Southeast Polk (0-1).
