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This week marks the halfway point of the Iowa high school football season for teams in the state's four smallest classes.

With district races starting to take shape, the competition for playoff berths in the 8-player, A, 1A and 2A classes intensifies. Combined, those four classes feature 224 teams playing an eight-game regular season schedule. The remaining 108 teams -- 36 each competing in 3A, 4A and 5A -- are playing a nine-game schedule, which passes the halfway mark next week.

This week in eastern Iowa, there are four games that pit rated teams (Associated Press poll) against each other.

One of the marquee match-ups is at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, where the Tigers (2-1) host Ankeny Centennial (2-1). No. 7 Cedar Falls moved into the Class 5A rankings following last week's thrilling, last-second victory at Cedar Rapids Prairie. The Tigers lateraled four times on a 62-yard play that set up a 12-yard game-winning touchdown pass in the final seconds (watch video here).

Ankeny Centennial co-Head Coach Jerry Pezzetti last week reached a personal milestone with the Jaguars' 42-7 win over Waukee. Pezzetti recorded his 432nd victory, which moved him pass Dick Tighe for the most coaching wins in Iowa history.

Just north of Cedar Falls, Waverly-Shell Rock (3-0) is hosting a non-district game against West Delaware (2-1). The Go-Hawks are ranked fourth in Class 4A, while the Hawks are rated at No. 5 in Class 3A.

In Waukon, the Class 2A District opener between the No. 7 Indians (2-1) and No. 6 North Fayette Valley (3-0) could go a long way in determining the group champion. In Cedar Rapids, Xavier hosts North Scott of Eldridge in a match-up of potential Class 4A playoff teams from different district. Xavier (3-0) is ranked No. 3, one spot behind the No. 2 Lancers.

Here is the full schedule of this week's eastern Iowa games:

AGWSR, Ackley at Wapsie Valley, Fairbank -7 PM
Alburnett at East Buchanan, Winthrop - 7 PM
Anamosa at Northeast, Goose Lake - 7 PM
Aplington-Parkersburg at (#8-1A) Denver - 7 PM
Belle Plaine vs. Colfax-Mingo at Pella (Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium, Central College) - 7 PM
Clarksville at West Central, Maynard - 7 PM
Colo-Nesco at Don Bosco, Gilbertville - 7 PM
(#6-1A) Dike-New Hartford at South Hardin, Eldora - 7 PM
Dunkerton at Collins-Maxwell - 7 PM
Edgewood-Colesburg at Central, Elkader - PM
Gladbrook-Reinbeck at Tripoli - 7 PM
Hudson at (#7-A) Grundy Center - 7 PM
Iowa Valley, Marengo at WACO, Wayland - 7 PM
(#7-8P) Janesville at Rockford - 7 PM
Kee, Lansing vs. Calamus-Wheatland at Midland, Wyoming - 7 PM
Louisa-Muscatine at West Branch - 7 PM
Maquoketa Valley, Delhi at Bellevue - 7 PM
Mediapolis at (#3-1A) Iowa City Regina Catholic - 7 PM
(#10-1A) MFL-Mar-Mac at Waterloo Columbus Catholic (McLaughlin Field) - 7 PM
Midland, Wyoming at Central City - 7 PM
Nashua-Plainfield at (#5-A) North Tama, Traer - 7 PM
North Butler, Greene at BCLUW, Conrad - 7 PM
(#2-A) North Linn, Troy Mills at Clayton Ridge, Guttenberg - 7 PM
Postville at Sumner-Fredericksburg - 7 PM
Riceville at Turkey Valley, Jackson Junction - 7 PM
Starmont at South Winneshiek, Calmar - 7 PM

(#9-5A) Ankeny Centennial at (#7-5A) Cedar Falls (UNI-Dome) - 7:15 PM
Bettendorf at Cedar Rapids Prairie - 7:15 PM
(#2-5A) Cedar Rapids Kennedy at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (Kingston Stadium) - **CANCELED**
Cedar Rapids Washington at Linn-Mar, Marion - 7:15 PM
Central DeWitt at Marion - 7:15 PM
Center Point-Urbana at Mount Vernon - 7:15 PM
Davenport North at Iowa City West - 7:15 PM
Waterloo West at Dubuque Senior (Dalzell Field) - 7:15 PM
West Des Moines Dowling Catholic at (#4-5A) Iowa City High (Bates Field) - 7:15 PM

Benton Community, Van Horne at South Tama - 7:30 PM
Clear Creek-Amana at Iowa City Liberty - 7:30 PM
Decorah at Charles City - 7:30 PM
Des Moines North @ Waterloo East - 7:30 PM
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont at Mid-Prairie, Wellman - 7:30 PM
(#7-4A) Fort Dodge at Marshalltown - 7:30 PM
(#6-3A) Independence at Vinton-Shellsburg - 7:30 PM
New Hampton at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura - 7:30 PM
(#6-2A) North Fayette Valley, West Union at (#7-2A) Waukon - 7:30 PM
(#2-4A) North Scott, Eldridge at (#3-4A) Cedar Rapids Xavier - 7:30 PM
Oelwein at Jesup - 7:30 PM
Prairie City-Monroe at Iowa Falls-Alden - 7:30 PM
Union Community, La Porte City at Dubuque Wahlert Catholic (Rock Bowl, Loras College) - 7:30 PM
(#5-3A) West Delaware, Manchester at (#4-4A) Waverly-Shell Rock - 7:30 PM

Iowa Born Sports Stars

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