Photo by Rick Thompson: Humboldt co-captains (left to right) Lance Coon, Carson Arndt, Gaige Allen and Carson Sleiter get ready for the pregame coin toss earlier this year.

Football teams in Class 4A and 3A begin their playoff push on Friday as they kick off district play.

In the ultra competitive Class 3A, District 2, the rollercoaster ride gets under way. Both third-rated Hampton-Dumont/CAL and No. 5 Clear Lake are currently unbeaten, while Algona, Charles City and Webster City are all 3-1. Humboldt, who was ranked fourth to begin the season, is 2-2.

The Comets and Bulldogs face off in Algona, while the Wildcats square off with H-D/C. Algona and Humboldt are hosting their Homecoming contests.

The Lions travel to meet the Lynx, who looks to bounce back after their first loss.

In area-on-area action, Manson Northwest Webster looks for its second straight win, while Eagle Grove looks for its first.

South Central Calhoun, which dropped out of the rankings this week after its first loss, travels to IKM-Manning.

No. 5 Clear Lake (4-0, 0-0) at Webster City (3-1, 0-0)

A week after a tough loss at West Delaware, the Lynx will have another stern test versus the unbeaten Lions.

Clear Lake is coming off a 28-25 victory over Waverly-Shell Rock. The Lions have two shutouts out of four victories this year.

The Lions have outscored their opponents thus far, 173-31.

Last week against the Go-Hawks, Titan Schmitt ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Sam Dodge and Cael Steophany added rushing scores.

On the season Steophany has thrown for 527 yards and six TDs.

Schmitt is the groundhog for the Lions at 598 rushing yards with nine scores.

Senior Jaxon Cherry became Webster City’s career rushing leader last Friday with his 104-yard, one-touchdown performance. Cael Nixon also hit paydirt.

Cherry now has 3,720 yards and 62 career touchdowns. He is the career leader in both categories.

On the year Cherry has run for 852 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is averaging 8.4 yards per carry.

Charles City (3-1, 0-0) at Algona (3-1, 0-0)

After suffering a loss in their season opener, the Bulldogs have reeled off three straight victories. They are coming off an impressive 53-20 win over Boyden-Hull Rock Valley last week.

In that contest, quarterback Alex Manske accounted for five touchdowns. He threw for 171 yards on 12 of 17 passing with four scores.

Manske connected with Tate Slagle for a 44- and 2-yard yard score, while also hooking up with Jayden Erpelding (30 yards) and Porter Reffer (54).

Evan Allie ran for a 129 yards and 60-yard TD, while Erpelding had a 63-yard touchdown. Manske reached paydirt from six yards out.

Manske has thrown for 905 yards and 10 TDs, while rushing for 378. Allie has 367 on the ground.

For the Comets, quarterback Jordan Foster has 504 yards passing and nine touchdowns. Keenan WIlley is the leading receiver with 19 catches, 335 yards and seven scores.

This is Algona’s Homecoming, and its first home game since the recent death of beloved community police officer Kevin Cram. The emotions are bound to be running high.

No. 3 Hampton-Dumont/CAL (4-0, 0-0) at Humboldt (2-2, 0-0)

The Wildcats suffered their second straight defeat last Friday, falling to North Polk (34-7). The Bulldogs are coming off a 24-21 upset of then-No. 2 Nevada.

In that triumph, H-D/C quarterback Gavin Meader threw for 95 yards and connected with Scott Harr for a four-yard touchdown.

Meader also ran for 100 yards and 14-yard TD. Karter Janssen cashed in from 16 yards out.

On the season, Meader has thrown for 408 yards and six touchdowns. He has also ran for 350 and nine scores.

Brody Walton has 474 yards on the ground.

Tucker Heeren is the leading receiver with 13 grabs for 230 yards and three touchdowns. The Wildcats’ lone score in Week 3 was a 50-yard interception return by Keegan Groat.

Wildcat junior Coen Matson has thrown for 466 yards and three TDs.

South Central Calhoun (3-1, 2-1) at IKM-Manning (3-1, 2-1)

After three straight wins to open 2023, the formerly-ranked Titans were pitted against No. 3 ACGC. SCC fell, 35-21, after being deadlocked with ACGC heading into the final period.

Gavin Batta threw for 314 yards and touchdown passes to Keegan Soard (59) and Charlie Nattress (34) for the Titans. Zach Trott added a rushing touchdown.

Batta has thrown for 920 yards and eight TDs, while running for three scores. Trott has four rushing touchdowns.

In a tight 38-37 win over Riverside in Week 3, IKM-Manning’s Ben Langel ran for 96 yards on 22 carries. Langel had five touchdowns, with a long of 26 yards.

Quarterback Ben Ramsey has thrown for 557 yards and five TD strikes.

Langel has 367 yards on the ground and nine trips to the end zone. Davis Rasmussen has three scores.

Eagle Grove (0-4, 0-1) at Manson Northwest Webster (1-3, 1-0)

Manson Northwest Webster broke into the win column last week, knocking off Pocahontas Area by a final of 24-20.

Junior quarterback Logan Moline threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with Matt Condon (three yards) and Tatuem Hanson (45 yards).

Moline also had a one-yard TD plunge. MNW’s Kamden Birkey scored from two yards out.

On the year, Moline has 699 yards passing and seven scoring connections. Birkey has 226 rushing yards.

Caydin Anderson (281) is the main air threat with 281 yards and two scores. Condon has 273 and three.

Last week, Eagle Grove lost to Sioux Central by a final of 44-26 after giving up a 22-point fourth quarter.

Senior Drake Canavan ran for 116 yards and scored twice. Connor Christopher had 112 yards and a touchdown of 64 yards, while Levi Langfit scored from 25 yards.

Canavan is the Eagles’ workhorse, rushing for 486 yards and five TDs.

Other area games: Clarion-Goldfield/Dows (2-2, 1-0) at Estherville-LC (2-2, 1-0); Roland-Story (2-2, 0-1) at Southeast Valley (3-1, 0-1); Carroll Kuemper (2-2, 1-0) at Greene County (3-1, 1-0); Pocahontas Area (1-3, 0-1) at East Sac County (2-2, 0-1); Emmetsburg (2-2, 1-0) at Sioux Central (2-2, 1-0); No. 9 Lake Mills (4-0, 2-0) at North Union (2-2, 1-2); No. 5 Remsen St. Mary’s (4-0, 2-0) at Newell-Fonda (2-2, 2-1); Harris-Lake Park (3-1, 3-0) at West Bend-Mallard (2-2, 1-1).