Union’s small schools want big end

The Union Coverage area's slate of teams will be playing in the final regular season game Friday, which usually means a lot for playoff qualifying. However in the year of the coronavirus, everyone qualifies for the playoffs.

WEST BURLINGTON/NOTRE DAME (3-3) at MID-PRAIRIE (2-3)

The Golden Hawks host WB/ND for Homecoming and it looks to be a ground war with WB/ND's Travian Donaldson already at 1088 yards on 142 carries (7.7 yards per) with 15 touchdowns. Mid-Prairie's Kayden Reinier set a school rushing record early this season and has 756 yards on 77 carries (9.8 per) with 11 TDs. Vinny Bowlin has five Hawks TDs passing with 649 yards on 44-of-95. Hayden Vandenburg has thrown two TDs on 20-of-46 for 239 yards.

WACO (3-3) at WINFIELD-MT. UNION (3-3)

In what could be the closest area game, WACO and Winfield-Mt. Union will renew their rivalry.

The Warriors and Wolves enter the game with the same record and the same results against common opponents. Both WACO and W-MU have defeated Tri-County, but have lost to New London and Montezuma.

Will Edeker has anchored the Warriors offense in his first year as starting quarterback and been the definition of a dual threat, running for 412 yards and eight touchdowns, and throwing for 394 yards and five. Junior Zach Schmitz has caught 12 passes for 233 yards and four touchdowns.

W-MU has had continued success in the running game, especially behind freshman Cam Buffington, who has ran for 697 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Wolves have yet to score through the air.

PEKIN (2-3) at VAN BUREN COUNTY (1-4)

Pekin and Van Buren County both want to enter the playoffs on a high note after an up-and-down season. Both teams have beaten Central Lee, and Pekin picked up its second win last Friday with a 38-12 win at Louisa-Muscatine.

Pekin has been hot and cold on offense, scoring over 35 in both wins, but a combined three points in the losses. Michael Jones has run for 291 yards, and Mason Juhl has 233 with three scores.

VBC has run for 1,234 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Sophomore Sam Warth has 475 yards rushing and six touchdowns.

COLUMBUS (2-4) at NORTH CEDAR (0-5)

After tough losses the last two weeks, the Wildcats face a winless team that has scored 40 points total all year. Columbus has totaled at least 22 in four of its games and 49 in one. North Cedar has 167 yards rushing on 116 attempts compared to Columbus at 1,010 on 216 with Will Scwab at 557 with eight TDs. The Knights are an aerial offense with 658 yards to Columbus' 297.

HIGHLAND AT No. 3 IOWA CITY REGINA

The Huskies face a ranked team for the second straight game after losing to Lisbon 52-6. The Regals roll up yards rushing (Theo Lolie 820 on 92 attempts) and passing (Ashton Cook 1,275 on 93-of-150 throws) while Highland likes the ground with Owen Donovan at 662 on 84 carries and Connor Grinstead at 347 yards. The Huskies have an advantage in the return game with more than double the yards Regina has and four TDs to none.

NEW LONDON (4-1) at TWIN CEDARS (0-4)

The New London football team will be huge favorites. Twin Cedars has had a ton of trouble stopping teams this season, giving up 62 points to W-MU, 42 to Tri-County, 70 to English Valleys and 74 to Meskwaki Settlement.

New London's Blaise Porter could hit 1,000 yards this week, despite the Tigers only playing six games. Porter has rushed for 934 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. Twin Cedars receiver Dylan Myers has more receiving yards than either of the team's two quarterbacks have passing yards, with 377 and five touchdowns in the Sabers' four games.