Area football preview: Murray takes on Martensdale-St Marys; Southwest Valley, Riverside showdown

TIME AND SITE:

7 p.m. in Martensdale

RECORDS:

Murray (4-2), Martensdale (6-0)

LAST MATCHUP :

First matchup

OVERVIEW:

In one of the most interesting are matchups of the week, Murray's 4-2 record doesn't tell the whole story. The Mustangs have found a groove and are playing well late in the season.

Murray's offense has been dynamic since scoring 20 points against Southeast Warren to open the season. The Mustangs are averaging 51 points, but not completely due to the offense. Murray's special teams has been playing well, blocking punts in each of the last two games to keep Murray scoring in each facet.

Martensdale-St Marys is full of athletes and has dominated opponents this year, scoring over 50 points in each game and winning by an average of 45 points. The Blue Devils' offense is slightly more balanced than Murray, passing for 1,490 yards and rushing for 1,044.

Murray is going to have to play its best game of the season, limiting mistakes to pull off an upset against the Blue Devils. The defense will have to make senior quarterback Jack Franey uncomfortable in the pocket, and the special teams will have to make plays.

MURRAY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Zack Belden is a sophomore quarterback for the Mustangs, but has played above that all season. He'll have to be composed to keep up with Martensdale-St Marys. Look for Brycen Wookey to step up and have an impact defensively, being tied for the team-high in sacks with two.

MARTENSDALE-ST MARYS PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Franey has dominated in his final season, passing for 1,334 yards, 26 touchdowns and only one interception. Franey has been efficient, keeping the ball away from opponents. The Blue Devils have two 100-yard rushers, one 200-yard rusher and Brooks Trom as a 400-yard rusher with seven touchdowns. Franey also has 10 touchdowns on the ground.

TIME AND SITE:

7 p.m. in Leon

RECORDS:

Mount Ayr (5-1), Central Decatur (2-4)

LAST MATCHUP (2019):

Mount Ayr 49, Central Decatur 14

OVERVIEW:

Class 1A No. 9 Mount Ayr looks to knock off Central Decatur for the third consecutive year and win its fourth straight game in 2020. The Raiders picked up a big win over then-ranked Interstate 35 last week and are rolling throughout the last month.

The Raiders' defense was a strength, intercepting three passes a week ago. Mount Ayr has held opponents to one score in the last three weeks as well, finding its stride and making things tough on opponents. The ground game has continued to be the strength as well, rushing for 586 yards in the last three games.

Central Decatur is very different without quarterback and linebacker Cole Pedersen who is a linebacker at Iowa State. The Cardinals' two wins on the season came against winless Wayne and winless Colfax-Mingo. The offense has struggled, averaging 14 points per game and scoring seven points or less in each loss.

Expect Mount Ayr's defense to stifle Central Decatur. The Cardinals have passed for more interceptions than touchdowns this season. Mount Ayr looks to end the season on a high note and solidify itself as a ranked team and earn itself a high seed in the playoffs.

MOUNT AYR PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Jaixen Frost is controlling the offense as a sophomore. Expect Frost, Payton Weehler, Adler Shay and bevy of running backs to control the clock and put up points.

CENTRAL DECATUR PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Matt Boothe has passed for 845 yards this season but has thrown six interceptions. Devin Adams has been a strong part of the offense, rushing for 332 yards and four touchdowns on 60 carries. Trey and Tyke Hullinger are strong options at receiver.

TIME AND SITE:

7 p.m. in Oakland

RECORDS:

Southwest Valley (6-1), Riverside (5-1)

LAST MATCHUP (2019):

Riverside 45, Southwest Valley 0

OVERVIEW:

Southwest Valley is on a two-game winning streak, facing a tough opponent in Riverside to end the regular season. The Timberwolves were dominated a season ago against Riverside and look to have a bounce-back game.

Southwest Valley struggled to stop Riverside's passing attack last year, allowing 239 yards passing and three touchdowns to then-sophomore quarterback Austin Kremkoski. This season, Southwest Valley has allowed 782 total passing yards – three games with over 150 passing yards allowed and one game of over 200 yards passing allowed.

This year, Kremkoski has passed for 11 touchdowns and 887 yards but has been turnover prone. He's thrown seven interceptions. The Bulldogs have had a strong offensive season, averaging 34 points per game. Along with Kremkoski, the rushing attack has been strong with Rhett Bentley rushing for 636 yards and six touchdowns.

The Timberwolves are going to have to find a way to force pressure on Kremkoski and stop the high-powered Bulldog offense. Southwest Valley's rushing attack is going to have to control the time of possession and keep Riverside's offense off the field.

SOUTHWEST VALLEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Brendan Knapp will be one of the most important pieces for the Timberwolves this week. He's run the offense with great success this season, and he'll have to play mistake-free this week. Tallen Myers is going to be key on defense, putting pressure on Kremkoski in the backfield.

RIVERSIDE PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Kremkoski has been a key player in the Bulldogs' success this year. Look for him to step up and try to give Riverside a higher seed in the playoffs one week away. Expect Brogan Allensworth to be a key target, catching five touchdowns and gaining 307 receiving yards this season.

TIME AND SITE:

7 p.m. in Bedford

RECORDS:

East Union (1-4), Bedford (0-5)

LAST MATCHUP (2017):

Bedford 28, East Union 8

OVERVIEW:

East Union looks to keep Bedford winless to end the season Friday. The Eagles are coming off a tough loss to East Mills, but have their best chance of the season to get things right before the first round of the playoffs.

East Union's rushing attack was a strong part of its lone win over Griswold but struggled to get going last week. Bedford's defense has struggled to stop the run against Lenox, CAM and Fremont-Mills, but the trio is the top of the conference. The Eagles are going to need strong line play this week compared to last week.

Bedford's offense has averaged 10 points per game, but has shown explosive signs against a strong Lenox group. The bulk of the Bulldogs' offense comes from two main sources, quarterback Tristen Cummings and running back Eli Morris. The duo has combined for 563 of Bedford's rushing 639 yards.

Expect this to be a close game determined by the physicality of the offensive and defensive lines. Cummings is a solid scrambler, finding ways to make plays when the pocket collapses, so East Union will have to account for his ability to move outside the pocket.

EAST UNION PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Look for Gus McNeill and Caleb Comstock to build on the connection they built last week. McNeill made two deep passes to Comstock, so the offense might look for Comstock more in the passing game.

BEDFORD PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Cummings and Morris have been mainstays in any success Bedford has found this week. Expect a heavy dose of rushes from the Bulldogs to try and wear down the defense.