The calm before the storm has arrived, as just three weeks remain in the prep football regular season.

A loss now could ultimately cost teams a spot in the limited playoff field. Conversely, an upset may eventually lead to a postsesaon reward.

Several key games around the area on Friday will help decide those races. In Carroll, ninth-ranked (Class 2A) Kuemper meets South Central Calhoun in a 2A, District 7 meeting of co-league leaders.

Also, unbeaten and fourth-ranked (A) Bishop Garrigan tackles fellow district unbeaten South O’Brien at home, with a second potential meeting against a perfect district team waiting in the wings for the Golden Bears next week at Ridge View.

Matchups featuring Southeast Valley, Manson Northwest Webster and Webster City could potentially be playoff eliminators as well this evening.

Here is a look at the full slate of the Messengerland’s Week 6 games:

South Central Calhoun

(4-1, 3-0) at No. 9 (2A)

Carroll Kuemper (4-1, 3-0)

After three rounds of district play, only the Titans and Knights are unbeaten in Class 2A, District 7. Both are also 4-1 on the year.

Since a loss in Week 1 to sixth-rated (3A) Carroll, South Central Calhoun has four straight, including three by at least 34 points. They are averaging 44.5 points per game over that stretch.

Senior Kody Case continues to find an array of ways to score, racking up 13 combined TDs on the year. Seven of those have been catches from Hunter Muhlbauer, who has stepped into the void left by Derrick Henkenius.

In his first full season under center, Muhlbauer, a junior, is completing 54 percent of his passes for 781 yards and 11 touchdowns to just two interceptions.

Case leads the ground attack with 334 yards, while Tanner Campbell, Jonathon Frantz and Ashten Halvorsen have 504 yards with seven scores between them. Case, who is fielding offers from a handful of FCS programs, has 17 catches for 360 yards.

Kuemper’s only loss was an eight-point setback to No. 3 (A) Council Bluffs St. Albert, as the Knights have won each of their last three by at least 15 points.

Gage Gunnerson leads the offense with 662 yards passing, 404 of which has gone to Jacob Schaefer. Miles Rupiper, a junior, has 432 yards rushing and seven TDs, while Von Kraus has 271 and Gunnerson 203 from his QB position.

Last year, the Titans picked up a 40-14 win as Case had 212 total yards on just six touches, including four touchdowns. South Central Calhoun racked up 430 yards of total offense in that contest, while Gunnerson had 299 himself, including 225 passing.

Much is left to be decided in this district, as SCC still plays Underwood and Kuemper has a meeting with Southeast Valley in Week 9. The winner here will have a huge leg up on the rest of the field, though.

South O’Brien (3-2, 3-0) at No. 4 (A) Bishop Garrigan (5-0, 3-0)

Along with Ridge View, both the Wolverines and Golden Bears sit atop the A, District 2 race with 3-0 marks. This is a key stretch for Garrigan, as they travel to face the Raptors next Friday.

Bishop Garrigan has found its calling on defense, pitching three consecutive shutouts over district foes. During that time, they have outscored the opposition 123-0.

Grant Buscherfeld, Chase Winkel and Max Patkins anchor the defensive unit.

On the offensive side of the ball sits senior Gibson Behr, one of the top rushers in the state. Behr has over 700 yards, and Brad Capesius has stepped in at quarterback to offer a dual threat.

After starting the season 0-2, South O’Brien has reeled off three consecutive district wins, including a 34-27 triumph last week against Sioux Central. Senior Sam Nelson continued his strong campaign, rushing for 247 yards and two scores in the win.

Two weeks ago against St. Edmond, Nelson had 212 yards and two scores on 43 carries. For the season, he sits at 825 yards and seven TDs, while also being the leading tackler for the Wolves.

Underwood (3-2, 2-1) at Southeast Valley (3-2, 2-1)

With league unbeatens South Central Calhoun and Carroll Kuemper squaring off tonight, one-loss Underwood and Southeast Valley are fighting to stay in playoff contention.

For the first time this year, the Jaguars are on a win streak, having scored 70 combined points in wins over Red Oak and East Sac County.

Senior quarterback Nolan Brand ranks in the Top-15 for the state in yards passing (1,052) and passing touchdowns (14), and is second among QBs with at least 90 attempts in terms of yards per completion (21).

Brand has found a favorite target in Dakota Jaeschke, who ranks seventh in the state with 507 yards on just 18 receptions. The senior is averaging 28.2 yards per catch, which is first among the top receivers, and has 10 scores – tied for third-most.

Junior Kaleb Jondle paces the ground attack with 365 yards on just 60 carries, while Aaron Swieter has 213 on 57. Sophomore Kyler Jondle is the top tackler with 43 stops, followed by Ryan Gustafson and Alex Pliner.

For Underwood, Jared Martin has thrown for 748 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging just over 17 yards per completion. Isaiah Humphrey and Conner Fink are his top targets with 15 and 11 receptions, respectively. Humphrey has 241 yards and Fink 192.

The Jaguars still have a meeting with Kuemper left this season to conclude the year.

Dallas Center-Grimes (4-1, 3-0) at Webster City (4-1, 2-1)

An argument could be made that 3A, District 2 is the best league not only in the class but the state. The Fillies are perfect alongside Boone, while Gilbert sports a 2-1 mark with the Lynx.

Webster City’s offense just continues to overpower foes, scoring 49 and 35 points since a loss to Gilbert. They started the season with 53- and 44-point outbursts.

Despite playing in just four games, Lynx senior Robert Frederiksen is 12th in the state in rushing with 892 yards. As a collective unit, Webster City stands 12th with 2,148 total yards – and is second to Madrid with 1,966 rushing yards.

Frederiksen’s first game of the season was a 213-yard performance vs. Clear Lake and he’s only gotten better since. He posted 268 yards vs. Gilbert, 209 vs. Greene County on just 13 carries and 202 vs. Ballard last Friday.

Nathan Brown paces the DC-G attack with 642 yards rushing and eight TDs, while Damon Clapper has thrown for 356 and has 98 yards rushing.

The only loss on the resume of the Fillies came to No. 2 (3A) Pella, 35-13. Brown has topped the 100-yard mark in all four wins.

No. 5 (1A) Van Meter (5-0, 3-0) at Manson Northwest Webster (3-2, 2-1)

The race to earn the runner-up playoff berth in 1A, District 6 heats up with the Bulldogs and Cougars. MNW also has meetings with Panorama and Madrid in the next two weeks.

The Cougars have posted two straight wins by matching 20-8 finals. This is the first of two home dates with ranked opponents for head coach Jeff Anliker, as his squad also welcomes sixth-rated (1A) Madrid in two weeks.

The task tonight, though, will be the ultimate one. Van Meter is the only unbeaten, unscored upon team in the state. The Bulldogs have racked up 40-plus in each game, including two with at least 50 points.

Keaton Wood and Reid Steinberg have ran for 931 yards and scored 10 times for MNW, while Van Meter’s Carson Rhodes has 691 yards and 16 TDs. Junior classmate Blake Fryar is completing 67 percent of his passes for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Other area games tonight: Humboldt (2-3, 1-2) at Spirit Lake (4-1, 2-1); Algona (0-5, 0-3) at Sergeant Bluff-Luton (4-1, 2-1); Greene County (0-5, 0-3) at Boone (4-1, 3-0); Pocahontas Area (0-5, 0-3) at No. 8 (2A) Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (4-1, 3-0); Clarion-Goldfield/Dows/CAL (3-2, 1-2) at No. 5 (2A) Garner-Hayfield/Ventura (5-0, 3-0); East Sac County (1-4, 1-2) at Shenandoah (2-3, 1-2); Emmetsburg (1-4, 1-2) at Unity Christian (0-5, 0-3); Panorama (4-1, 2-1) at Eagle Grove (1-4, 1-2); MMCRU (1-4, 1-2) at North Union (1-4, 0-3); Clay Central-Everly (2-3, 1-2) at Newell-Fonda (4-1, 3-0); Whiting (0-5, 0-3) at West Bend-Mallard (4-1, 2-1).