Small school football preview

The Iowa High School football season will be in full swing on Friday night. That means a lot of football across the Union area.

Found below are all the matchups of the area’s small school teams.

Cardinal at Pekin

The Cardinal, Pekin rivalry reignites on Friday night. The Panthers have a 10-2 all time record against the Comets, but in the last four games it’s split 2-2.

Pekin has come out victorious in the last two meeting, pulling out a 20-2 win last year.

Columbus vs. Mediapolis

Columbus will be looking to break an 0-7 streak dating back to 2008 against Mediapolis.

The Wildcats opened against the Bulldogs a season ago, which ended with the Bulldogs on top 33-7.

Columbus lost some very good talent off last year’s team, but brings back plenty to give Mediapolis a run.

Van Buren County at Central Lee

Van Buren County will face off with Central Lee in its first game of the season.

Before last year’s matchup, the Warriors had won three straight over the Hawks. Central Lee took the 2023 game handily, 35-8.

Highland at North Cedar

Highland will be looking to end a two-game slide against North Cedar in the pairs first game of the season.

In the last four matchups, the Huskies and Knights are tied 2-2. North Cedar defeated Highland last year 38-6.

No. 8 Mid-Prairie at Wilton

Mid-Prairie is ranked No. 8 to begin the 2024 season. They get Wilton in week one. A team that has had the Golden Hawks number historically.

Last season, the Golden Hawks fell to the Beavers 13-0. The last time the two squad played before that matchup was 2019, in which Mid-Prairie won 40-6.

Sigourney-Keota vs. No. 3 PCM Monroe

Sigourney-Keota gets a very tough matchup to open the 2024 season.

The Cobras will square off with No. 3 ranked PCM Monroe. The two played a close one a year ago as a youthful Mustangs squad pulled out a 22-15 win over the upperclassmen heavy Cobras.

PCM brings back quite a bit, which includes quarterback Gavin VanGorp and 2,182 yard rusher sophomore Adrien Robbins.

  Buy Photo

Winfield-Mt. Union vs. Central City

Winfield-Mt. Union kicks off the season with a game against Central City. The pair opened the season last year against one another. Both were ranked inside the 8-player top five during that contest.

WMU won the previous bout 44-36.

For WMU, it’s the first game of the season. Meanwhile, Central City enters with one game under its belt, a 51-36 loss to No. 9 WACO.

No. 9 WACO vs. Coon Rapids-Bayard

WACO’s matchup with Coon Rapids-Bayard will take place at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines. It’s the second game of the season for the Warriors as they downed Central City last week 51-36.

It’s the second straight season WACO will play at Valley Stadium.

For Coon Rapids-Bayard, it’s the first game of the season. They went 3-5 in 2023.

New London vs. Easton Valley

New London will open its season with a home matchup against Easton Valley and will be looking to get some revenge.

It will be a familiar matchup as stat leaders from the 2023 contest are all back. New London senior Gavin Menke-Bailey led New London in passing, rushing and total tackles in that one.

In last year’s game, the Tigers fell 61-22.

  Buy Photo