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Collins-Maxwell at Murray
TIME AND SITE: 7 p.m. in Murray
RECORDS: Collins Maxwell (0-2); Murray (1-0)
LAST WEEK: Collins-Maxwell lost 53-14 to Newell-Fonda; Murray defeated Essex 70-28.
OVERVIEW: It's the battle of two teams who did not win a game a season ago. The difference now? Murray is coming off a confidence-building win.
The Mustangs showed far more offensive firepower in their week one victory than they did at any point a year ago, led namely by Devin Slaughter's play at quarterback and a cast of athletes like Josh Webb, Reece Held and Chance Lecy that helped get the job done at the skill positions. With a more experienced offensive and defensive line, look for Murray to keep finding ways to score points against Collins-Maxwell.
The Spartans could not move the ball consistently a week ago, but senior Calab Fullerton will have a go at the Mustangs' defense after leading C-M in rushes each of the last two weeks.
COLLINS-MAXWELL PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior No. 3 Calab Fullerton had 60 yards on 28 rushes and that's who the Spartans will look to get the ball to. His 14 1/2 tackles lead the Spartans defensively.
MURRAY PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sophomore RB/LB No. 28 Chance Lecy was a breakout performer for Murray a week ago after a performance of 11 tackles and 126 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Murray will sit in the driver's seat if it establishes the running game early.
Interstate 35 at Mount Ayr
TIME AND SITE: 7 p.m. in Mount Ayr
RECORDS: Interstate 35 (1-0); Mount Ayr (1-0)
LAST WEEK: I-35 defeated Central Decatur 26-12; Mount Ayr defeated Nodaway Valley 36-0
LAST MEETING: I-35 defeated Mount Ayr 34-25 week 9 last year.
OVERVIEW: The Roadrunners capped a five-game winning streak to end last season when they defeated the Raiders at home. I-35 passed for 185 yards through the air and Mason Cassady ripped through the Mount Ayr defense for 164 yards rushing and four touchdowns. This year, Mount Ayr welcomes I-35 to its turf field for the first time. The Raiders are coming off a week where they did most of their damage in the first half. Mount Ayr will truly have the ability to break out its diverse array of offensively skilled players in its first home game of the season.
I-35 PLAYER TO WATCH: Senior RB/DB No. 6 Mason Cassady has terrorized defenses with his speed and agility for years. He proved difficult to stop a year ago against Mount Ayr, and the Roadrunners will look to get him going again this time around. Cassady ran for 108 yards and a touchdown last week against rival Central Decatur.
MOUNT AYR PLAYER TO WATCH: Sophomore QB/LB No. 14 Payton Weehler accounted for four touchdowns (two rushing, two passing) in his first varsity start as the signal-caller. The Roadrunner defense will mount a more challenging obstacle to get through, so look to see what the young QB is capable of week 2. If I-35 shades wide receiver Dawson Frost closely, Weehler will have to spread the ball out.
Griswold at East Union
TIME AND SITE: 7 p.m. in Afton
RECORDS: Griswold (0-2); East Union (0-1)
LAST WEEK: Griswold lost to Southeast Warren 63-22; East Union lost to East Mills 42-0.
OVERVIEW: Griswold has moved down to the eight-player level and ran into a tough Southeast Warren squad a week ago that it had trouble slowing down. The Eagles, on the other hand, did not get their offensive moving in a painful home loss to East Mills.
Griswold ran for 246 yards a week ago, but posted just 10 yards passing.
East Union is trying to reload with young talent after losing a senior class that finished with five wins or better each of its four seasons in Afton.
The Eagles must have a better game on the ground after running for just 81 yards week 1.
GRISWOLD PLAYER TO WATCH: Junior No. 42 Derek Mueller didn't quite have the most yards of anybody for Griswold last week, but his 84 rushing yards and two touchdowns showed him to be a reliable and worrisome target for the Eagles to try and shade this Friday.
EAST UNION PLAYER TO WATCH: Senior No. 24 Dillon Weis' five catches went for 42 of QB Matt McGuire's yards through the air week one. The Eagles will need Weis to break out into space and churn out some yards in order to get the offense going.
Melcher-Dallas at Lenox
TIME AND SITE: 7 p.m. in Melcher-Dallas
RECORDS: Lenox (0-1); Melcher-Dallas (0-1)
LAST WEEK: Lenox lost to Sidney 26-16; Melcher-Dallas lost to Seymour/Moulton-Udell 46-6.
OVERVIEW: Lenox has lost its season opener each of the last three seasons, but tends to bounce back. The Tigers' run game showed flashes of the ground success they've built their offense on for years.
Now the task will just be finding ways to finish drives against a Saints' squad that surrendered 46 points and 376 yards of offense last week.
LENOX PLAYER TO WATCH: Junior RB/DB No. 4 Colton Gordon scored two touchdowns and ran for 144 yards as the feature back for the Tigers last week. The Saints must stack the box if they are to stop the Tiger run game.
MELCHER-DALLAS PLAYER TO WATCH: Junior No. 88 Joe Branson ran for 63 yards last week as the Saints greatly relied on him offensively.
Central Decatur at Southwest Valley
TIME AND SITE: 7 p.m. in Corning
RECORDS: Central Decatur (0-1); Southwest Valley (1-0)
LAST WEEK: Central Decatur lost to I-35 26-12; Southwest Valley defeated Red Oak 24-21
OVERVIEW: Southwest Valley enters trying to hold intact a 12-game regular season game winning streak against a Cardinals squad that led Interstate 35 for a good portion of last week's contest.
The Timberwolves' strength is their line play on both sides of the ball, but several athletes showed flashes of explosiveness a week ago as SWV accounted for 295 yards of offense.
CD PLAYERS TO WATCH: Junior No. 12 QB/LB Cole Pedersen the Iowa State commit was Mr. Do-It-All for the Cardinals last week as he ran for 79 yards, attempted 20 passes (9 completions) and threw for 104 yards. However, two of his interceptions did hinder the Cards.
SWV PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sophomore DE/TE No. 85 Tallen Myers was all over the field with 10 assisted tackles (7 solo) last week. Don't be surprised if his name gets called in the Cardinal backfield. Myers could factor more into the passing game a week after hauling in just one catch.
Nodaway Valley at Clarke
TIME AND SITE: 7 p.m. at Clarke, Osceola
RECORDS: Nodaway Valley (0-1); Clarke(1-0)
LAST WEEK: Mount Ayr 36, Nodaway Valley 0; Clarke 45, Martensdale-St. Marys 0.
OVERVIEW: In a game of teams in the midst of building upward, the Clarke Indians play host to their first game on their new field turf. While the Indians employ a jumbled together, Wing T-looking offense. They will from time to time look to put several explosive athletes out in space.
Clarke gashed its way to 359 yards on the ground last week, while the Wolverines surrendered 6.3 yards per carry to Mount Ayr week 1.
The Wolverines must limit the mistakes that plagued them last week. NV looks to show that week 1 was not an indicator of how the rest of the season will go.
NV PLAYER TO WATCH: Senior WR/TE/DE No. 7 Aryll Shantz. Martensdale-St. Marys had some success through the air last week against the Indians. If NV is going to move the ball with consistency,it will need another wide receiver threat opposite of Brady Hilpipre to make some big plays. Look for junior quarterback Tyler Vandewater to take some early chances through the air.
CLARKE PLAYER TO WATCH:Senior QB/DB No. 5 Riley Domina. The senior two-way leader will appear to be all over the field to Wolverine fans in attendance Friday. NV must look to be physical up front and make Domina get used to seeing defensive bodies in front of him.