The Iowa High School football playoffs resume Friday night (10/29) with games in the round of 16.  In 8-man football, Montezuma—ranked number one by Radio Iowa—hosts Audubon, which is ranked eighth by Radio Iowa. Braves Coach John Beck says his team will have to deal with Audubon quarterback Gavin Smith, who has rushed for 36 touchdowns this season and passed for another 12.

“He’s a great player, a phenomenal player. They build around him and that (offensive) line.   Their o-line’s pretty good.  They run the football well and he’s able to get behind them and run really well behind them.  He’s going to be hard to contain, but I think we’ve got a good game plan to try to contain him the best we can.”

Montezuma has a dynamic quarterback of their own in Eddie Burgess.  The senior has rushed for 25 touchdowns and passed for 27 more this season.

You can hear Montezuma against Audubon on KBOE-FM.  Friday night’s pregame coverage starts at 6:45 with the kickoff at 7:00.

Also Friday in Class 1A, Sigourney-Keota hosts Columbus Catholic of Waterloo in a rematch from last year’s playoffs.  You can hear the Cobras on KMZN AM & FM with pregame coverage at 6:45 and AJ Helgeson’s play-by-play at 7.

Also in Class 1A Friday, Pella Christian is at Dike-New Hartford.  In Class A, Lynnville-Sully hosts North Tama.  In Class 2A, PCM travels to Williamsburg and in Class 3A, Grinnell plays at West Delaware.