Every game counts on the gridiron, but this week is where the true postseason puzzle starts to take shape.

Eight-player programs have already dipped into district action, and now, the stretch run kicks off for Class 2A, 1A and A.

The three bigger districts will begin their respective championship chases next week.

Both Clarion-Goldfield-Dows and Central Springs picked up two victories to begin the season, and on Friday, they’ll begin the trek toward district contention.

Manson Northwest Webster, a district champion last year, begins defense of its title as the Cougars host East Sac County for their Homecoming contest.

Ninth-ranked Emmetsburg will entertain Pocahontas Area in the other all-Messengerland contest.

Algona tries to make it two in a row with a tilt at home against a strong Waverly-Shell Rock squad.

After a big Friday night a week ago, Southeast Valley (2-1 overall) will look to keep its offense rolling at Estherville-Lincoln Central as district play gets under way for 2A.

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows (2-1, 0-0) at Central Springs (2-1, 0-0)

The Cowboys are one point away from entering Week 4 undefeated. They dropped a 7-6 decision to Hampton-Dumont/CAL.

C-G/D bounced back with a 26-14 victory over Estherville-Lincoln Central last week.

The Cowboys ran for 281 yards and had a pair of 100-yard rushers. Selvin Gonzalez ran for 131 yards on 20 totes. He reached the end zone on a 30-yard run.

Joel Meier had 120 yards on 17 carries and two scores, with a long of 43. Quarterback JD Morrical connected for a 40-yard touchdown strike to Colin Sesker.

After winning two straight to open the season, the Panthers lost last Friday to Nashua-Plainfield, 35-6.

This season, Clarion-Goldfield has already rushed for 948 yards, averaging 316 on the ground. Meier has 388 yards and five touchdowns. Gonzalez has 305 and two scores.

Sesker has two TDs while Charlie Campbell has reached paydirt once.

Panthers quarterback Eddie Pruin has thrown for 340 yards and three touchdown strikes. Jamison Rothmeyer has three rushing scores, while Manny Gregorie and Lincoln Levan have two each. Braydin Crum has two touchdown catches.

Southeast Valley (2-1, 0-0) at Estherville-LC (0-3, 0-0)

A week after a dominant Homecoming performance in a 54-6 win over South Hamilton, Southeast Valley will be back on the road.

Quarterback Mason Bahr was nearly perfect last week, going 6-for-7 with five touchdown passes and 175 yards. He averaged 29.2 yards per completion.

Bryce Harrison was his favorite target, catching three balls for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Alex Burger (21), Logan Jaeschke (64) and Colin Johnson (14) also had touchdown grabs.

Casey Hanson had a big game on the ground for the Jaguars, carrying the ball seven times for 194 yards and three TDs. His biggest jaunt of the evening was from 93 yards.

The Midgets are coming off the 26-14 loss to Clarion-Goldfield/Dows.

The dual threat quarterback has been working for the Jaguars, behind Bahr and Hanson. Bahr has thrown for 411 yards and seven scores, while Hanson has 161 and three TDs.

Hanson has rushed for 234 and five scores. Bahr and Drew Temple have one touchdown each.

Both Harrison and Jaeschke have four TDs each. Harrison has caught 12 balls for 271 yards, and Jaeschke has 12 catches for 218 yards.

E-LC has struggled on the ground, rushing for only 166 yards. James Richard has the lone score from 71 yards.

Quarterback Lake Rezac has 348 yards and three touchdowns. Layton Yager has two TD catches, while Amari Armstrong has reached paydirt once.

East Sac County (1-2, 0-0) at Manson Northwest Webster (1-2, 0-0)

A week after picking their first win of the season, the Cougars will look to get a streak going.

The Cougars handed Ogden their first loss of the season last Friday, 15-0.

MNW’s defense came up big, holding the Bulldogs to 44 yards on the ground and 129 total.

Coy Moline threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Sturgis, and Moline ran for a 6-yard score. He had 159 yards on the ground.

East Sac County lost to MVAOCOU last Friday, 57-13.

Moline has been the groundhog for the Cougars, running for 369 yards and four scores. Jackson McGuire has the other touchdown and Moline has thrown for one score.

For the Raiders, both Carson Schmitt (248 yards) and Weston Julin (214) have over 200 yards rushing. Julin has four scores and Schmitt has two trips to the end zone.

Gabe King has also found the end zone. Ryan Peterson has a touchdown catch from Julin.

Pocahontas Area (1-2, 0-0) at No. 9 Emmetsburg (2-1, 0-0)

The Indians are coming off their first win last week, while Emmetsburg suffered its first loss.

The Indians squeaked out a 7-6 win over Alta-Aurelia, and the E-Hawks lost to third-rated (Class 2A) Okoboji, 42-26.

Blake Bunda had a big night, going 10-for-17 for 154 yards and the lone touchdown on a 62-yard strike to Collin Dreith. The E-Hawks couldn’t get much going against the Pioneers, managing 213 yards on the ground and only 18 through the air.

Tyce Jenness and Bradyen Yates had rushing scores. Yates ran for 95 yards, and Jenness and Brennan Hasbrouck had 53 each.

Hasbrouck threw a TD strike to Krayton Rutledge.

The E-Hawks have run for 823 yards. Yates has been the groundhog, running for 433 yards on 81 carries and four end zone trips.

Jenness has been the scoring machine, running for seven touchdowns and 175 yards.

The Indians have run for 292 yards and thrown for 416. Bunda is 31-for-59 for 408 and three scores. Karson Welander has the lone running score.

Welander has 16 grabs for 179 yards and two TDs, while Dreith has one trip to paydirt.

Waverly-Shell Rock (1-2) at Algona (2-1)

The Go-Hawks are coming off two straight losses, the most recent a 20-7 defeat to Western Dubuque.

The Bulldogs bounced back with a 60-16 win over Forest City after losing to Carroll Kuemper.

Quarterback Nathan Manske had a hand in five of the eight TDs. Manske ran for 132 yards on 11 carries and four scores. He had a long trip to the end zone from 38 yards.

Manske was 10-for-15 throwing for 143 yards and an 11-yard score to Tate Garman. William Weichert had two TDs, and Ethan Shipler had the other one.

In three games Manske is 25-for-38 throwing for 396 yards and five touchdown strikes. He has run for five scores and 223 yards.

Weichert has 349 yards and three TDs. Jacob Burns and Shipler have scores.

Go-Hawk quarterback Caleb Shipper is 31-for-54 throwing for 455 yards and two scores. Tate Lalk has also thrown a touchdown.

Mekyver Hagarty has two rushing TDs and Easton Jorgenson has one.

Brady Bodensteiner has 162 yards receiving and two scores. Thomas Meyer-Lillbridge has 153 yards and one trip to the end zone.

Other area games: No. 6 Gilbert (3-0) at Webster City (1-2); Humboldt (1-2) at Ballard (0-3); South Central Calhoun (1-2, 0-0) at South Hamilton (0-3, 0-0); Eagle Grove (1-2, 0-0) at No. 4 South Hardin (3-0, 0-0); Newell-Fonda (0-4, 0-1) at Harris-Lake Park (1-2, 1-1); West Bend-Mallard (1-1, 1-0) at North Iowa (0-3, 0-3).