Iowa high school football's best performances in Week 9 of 2023 season

Here are some stars from the past week’s high school football games across Iowa.

If you know of a top performance we should include, please email nate@scorebooklive.com.

Austin Baumhover, Van Meter 

The senior quarterback passed for 146 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 54 yards and another score. The 9-0 Bulldogs, who won the Class 1A title last season, rolled past Albia 56-7 in a 2A playoff opener.

Cam Buffington, Winfield-Mt. Union

The senior and University of Iowa commit had 192 rushing yards and three touchdowns along with a receiving score in the unbeaten Wolves’ 64-8 win over Belle Plaine in an 8-player first-round playoff game.

Ben Casey, Treynor

The junior completed 17 of 22 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns as the Cardinals downed West Sioux 31-13 in a Class 1A first-round playoff game. All four of the scoring passes went to Karson Elwood, who had 11 catches for 216 yards.

Jaxon Cherry, Webster City

The senior carried 31 times for 234 yards and three touchdowns, and the Lynx closed the regular season with a 26-7 win over Humboldt. Cherry heads into the playoffs with 1,499 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Kanen Decker, Wapsie Valley

The junior quarterback rushed for 177 yards (17 carries) and five touchdowns, while also passing for 76 yards and another score in the 8-1 Warriors’ 43-6 Class A playoff win over Danville.

Karson Downey, Clarinda

The senior rushed for 141 yards and four touchdowns and also returned an interception for a score as the Cardinals beat Des Moines Christian 56-28 in an opening-round Class 2A playoff contest. Clarinda (7-2) rushed for 339 yards.

Gentry Dumont, Iowa City Regina

The senior quarterback passed for 186 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score in the Regals’ 48-20 win over Eddyville-Blakesburg in a 1A first-round playoff game. Dumont completed 10 of 13 throws.

Colin Gordon, Grundy Center

The senior quarterback completed 20 of 25 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns, leading the 9-0 Spartans to a 50-14 victory over Cascade in a Class 1A playoff opener. Grundy Center won the Class A title last season.

Shane Helmick, Moravia

The senior passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more, leading the Mohawks to a 45-33 win over Lone Tree in a first-round 8-player playoff contest. Helmick has thrown for 31 touchdowns this season.

Sam Johnson, Waukee Northwest

The senior passed for 218 yards and three touchdowns and tacked on a rushing touchdown as the Wolves closed the regular season with a 49-7 win over Ames. Waukee Northwest hosts Ankeny Centennial in a first-round Class 5A playoff game.

Drew Keith, Wilton

The junior tossed five touchdown passes in a 49-21 Class 1A playoff win over Woodward-Granger. Owen Hassell and Cade Souhrada each hauled in a pair of scoring passes for the 8-1 Beavers.

Drew Kluender, Woodbury Central

The senior and Southwest Minnesota State recruit passed for 295 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown in the Wildcats’ 51-13 Class A playoff victory over North Union. Kluender has passed for 1,953 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Carter Lockert, Waterloo Columbus

The senior threw five touchdown passes – three to Myle Gardner – and Columbus sailed past Pocahontas Area 47-6 in a first-round Class 1A playoff game. It was the fourth consecutive time the Sailors won their opening-round playoff contest.

Garrett Luett, Underwood

The sophomore threw four touchdown passes as the 8-1 Eagles opened Class 1A playoff action with a 44-6 victory over East Sac County. Luett was 12-for-16 for 187 yards through the air.

Caden Lundt, Spirit Lake

The junior quarterback was 12-for-16 for 207 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 49-0 first-round Class 2A playoff win over Southeast Valley. All three of the scoring passes went to junior Dylan Stecker.

Ashton McCully, Akron-Westfield

The senior spearheaded a Westerner defense that shut out Tri-Center, 35-0, in a Class A playoff opener. McCully finished with nine tackles, 2.5 for loss, and a sack. A-W’s Ian Blowe rushed for 207 yards and a touchdown.

Braden McShane, New Hampton

The senior rushed for 223 yards on 31 carries, scoring four touchdowns for the Chickasaws in a 41-21 2A playoff win over West Marshall. McShane also had four tackles and recovered a fumble.

Garrison Motsinger, Bedford

The junior rushed for 194 yards and five touchdowns and also caught a touchdown pass for the 9-0 Bulldogs in a 65-14 8-player playoff victory over Fremont-Mills.

Jonah Petersen, MMCRU

The senior completed 13 of 19 passes for 309 yards and six touchdowns, leading the Royals to a 50-14 win over Kingsley-Pierson/River Valley in a Class A first-round playoff game.

Preston Ries, Monticello

The senior quarterback and Iowa commit had a hand in all six touchdowns as the Panthers opened Class 2A playoff action with a 42-13 win over North Fayette Valley. Ries rushed for 204 yards and four touchdowns and completed 14 of 19 passes for 208 yards and two scores.

Mitchell Smith, West Hancock

The senior rushed for 235 yards on 13 carries, scoring three touchdowns for the 8-1 Eagles in a 38-22 Class A first-round playoff win over Le Mars Gehlen Catholic. West Hancock rushed for 394 yards.

Chase Spieker, CAM

The junior quarterback accounted for seven touchdowns as the unbeaten Cougars exploded for a 75-12 win over Southeast Warren in an 8-player first-round playoff game. Spieker completed 10 of 13 passes for 209 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 91 yards on just four carries, with three scores.

Tanner Thurn, East Buchanan

The senior rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns, caught a touchdown pass and had 6.5 tackles for the 7-2 Buccaneers in a 46-3 Class A first-round playoff victory over South Winneshiek. Hunter Bowers had 202 rushing yards and two touchdowns for East Buchanan.

Cael Turner, Creston

The senior passed for three touchdowns and rushed for two as the Pamnthers closed out an unbeaten regular season with a 49-7 victory over Perry. Turner was 12-for-18 for 218 passing yards and carried three times for 71 yards.

Reece Vander Zee, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock

The senior quarterback and Iowa recruit rushed for 94 yards and three touchdowns and completed 13 of 18 passes for 170 yards and a score. The top-ranked Lions beat Okoboji 42-7 in a first-round Class 2A playoff game.