The fourth week of the prep football season could best be described as survival of the fittest.

While there are still five weeks to be played, this Friday sits as the second game in district play.

Teams that were able to score a victory last week can take a big step toward postseason contention with another win. Those that fell are almost in a desperate situation.

In Algona, the Bulldogs welcome North Central Conference rival Humboldt. While the Wildcats were able to start league play with a victory, Algona dropped a tough 35-34 decision to No. 8 Storm Lake.

Webster City, ranked sixth in the latest poll, heads to Greene County behind one of the top running backs in the state in Zane Williams. The Lynx have won 22 of their last 23 regular season games overall.

Two northcentral Iowa rivals collide in Eagle Grove, as the unbeaten Eagles host Manson Northwest Webster. And in the incredibly stacked District 1 of 8-man football, No. 4 Newell-Fonda faces its second straight ranked foe in eighth-ranked Kingsley-Pierson.

Here’s a look at those games, along with the rest of the slate of action:

Manson NW (1-2, 0-1) at Eagle Grove (3-0, 1-0)

For the second straight week, Jeff Anliker and MNW hit the road, traveling to Eagle Grove following a 46-24 setback at South Hamilton.

This marks the third game away from home in four weeks for the Cougars, who also play on the road in two weeks at No. 2 Van Meter.

Derek Girard and Keegan Pritchard have formed a connection in the passing game, as Girard completed 10 of his 15 passes last Friday to Pritchard for 113 yards and two scores. That comes a week after a 7-catch, 125-yard, 2-TD performance by Pritchard — all from Girard — in a win over St. Edmond.

Girard, a junior, is 29 of 53 for 390 yards with four TDs and zero interceptions. Pritchard, a senior, has 18 receptions for 265 yards to rank second in 1A in catches and third in yards.

The Eagles, meanwhile, have already tied their win total from the past five years combined under first-year head coach Paul Hansch.

After opening with a four-point win over Southeast Valley and a one-point victory vs. Clarion-Goldfield/Dows/CAL, Eagle Grove throttled West Central Valley last week, 41-20.

Brayden Lyman, Evan Anderson and Niko Padilla all went over 100 yards rushing and scored five touchdowns. Lyman also passed for 68 yards and a score to John Mosley.

Anderson leads the Eagles with 221 yards on the year, with Lyman sitting at 205 on the ground and 294 in the air. Padilla has 183 and is also the leading receiver with 119.

Ryan Smith is tied for second in the state with five interceptions.

Humboldt (2-1, 1-0) at Algona (2-1, 0-1)

Since a loss to sixth-ranked Webster City, Greg Thomas and the Wildcats have reeled off back-to-back wins over Hampton-Dumont and Spencer.

Junior Joey Busse, who missed the game vs. the Lynx, is 27 of 50 for 443 yards and six touchdowns during the win streak. Sophomore Jamison Heinz has 10 catches covering 206 yards, with Eli Sande adding 152 yards through the air.

But vs. Spencer, Humboldt received a boost from Tyler Vitzthum. The junior rushed for 128 yards on 25 carries, adding to Busse’s 72 yards. Busse was also 11 of 21 for 162 yards passing.

Lucas Volf, who made both of his extra points, connected on a 22-yard game-winning field goal. The Wildcats also picked off three passes.

Algona went for the win last week vs. No. 8 Storm Lake, coming up just short on the road. They opened with wins over Forest City and Garner-Hayfield/Ventura.

Junior Nick Stein has stepped right in at quarterback, completing 54 percent of his passes for 514 yards and five scores. Classmate Spencer Holmes is his favorite target, collecting seven catches for 205 yards and three TDs.

Stein had his best came vs. the Tornadoes, completing 11 of 19 for 229 yards and two touchdowns.

Wyatt Wegener, Jacob Durant and Skyler Groen all have over 100 yards rushing on the ground, led by Wegener’s 171. Wegener also had five catches for 125 yards last Friday.

No. 6 (Class 3A) Webster City (3-0, 1-0) at Greene County (0-3, 0-1)

Typically, a team struggles early on after losing someone like Robert Frederiksen, But at Webster City, they just continue to produce.

Senior Zane Williams has rushed for 598 yards on 63 carries with nine touchdowns, ranking fifth in the entire state. Dylan Steen has another 326 on the ground and 209 more through the air on just nine completions.

As a team, Bob Howard’s unit is already over 1,000 yards rushing this year.

The Lynx reached the 3A title game last year and are 25-3 in their last 28 games overall.

First-year Greene County head coach Mitch Moore has had quite the eye-opening experience, facing Carroll Kuemper, Harlan and second-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes.

The Rams put up a fight with DC-G last week before falling 31-12. Clint Dennhardt has thrown for 326 yards, as both Trey Hinote and Jordan Patterson have over 100 yards receiving.

Jake Berns, Brock Wuebker and Clayton Smith will be put to the test on the defensive side of the ball against the vaunted Webster City offense.

No. 4 (8-man) Newell-Fonda (3-0, 1-0) at No. 8 (8-man) Kingsley-Pierson (3-0, 1-0)

Last week, the Mustangs stopped Graettinger-Terril/R-A in the final moments to claim a 25-22 victory in a meeting of ranked teams.

Now, they’ll try to make it 2-for-2 vs. the Top-10 when they face eighth-ranked Kingsley-Pierson.

Jesse Haack had a big game on both sides of the ball, rushing for 219 yards and four touchdowns. He also made the game-ending tackle on Jacob Conlon, who had rushed for 228 yards and two scores.

Haack has 367 yards and seven TDs on the year, with Austin Gerdes adding 193 and Bryce Coppock 132.

Much like with Conlon, K-P features a dual-threat in Camden Bainbridge. The senior is 20 of 39 passing f or 320 yards and is also the leading rusher with 283.

The district currently boasts half of the Top-10. Along with Newell-Fonda and Kingsley-Pierson, Remsen St. Mary’s is No. 2, Harris-Lake Park is ranked seventh and Graettinger-Terril/R-A is 10th.

Next week, the Mustangs welcome Remsen St. Mary’s to Newell.

Other area games: Pocahontas Area (0-3, 0-1) at MOC-Floyd Valley (0-3, 0-1); Clarion-Goldfield/Dows/CAL (0-3, 0-1) at Crestwood (1-2, 1-0); East Sac County (1-2, 1-0) at Underwood (1-2, 0-1); Shenandoah (0-3, 0-1) at No. 10 (2A) South Central Calhoun (2-1, 1-0); Southeast Valley (0-3, 0-1) at Red Oak (0-3, 0-1); Emmetsburg (1-2, 1-0) at No. 5 (1A) Hull Western Christian (2-1, 1-0); No. 4 (A) Bishop Garrigan (3-0, 1-0) at North Union (1-2, 0-1); West Bend-Mallard (2-1, 0-1) at No. 2 (8-man) Remsen St. Mary’s (3-0, 1-0).