ANAMOSA — Derek Roberts faces an uphill climb at Anamosa High School.
A steep uphill climb.
Not only is he taking over a football program that has posted four victories in the past five seasons, he’s doing it while continuing his duties as the school’s athletics director.
“It’s a situation that would be difficult for anyone,” said Harold Roberts, Derek’s 76-year-old father, who had planned to assist his son before the relapse of an optical issue halted that arrangement. “I think he’s going to be stretched a little thin, …

DEWITT – The Solon Spartans won their first ever game as a 3A school last Friday 35-13 over Central Dewitt. That makes 42 straight wins for the football power.
KCRG TV9′s Matt Nelson was on the road with the Spartans and takes our 2nd behind the scenes look at The Program Solon Spartans.
2nd ranked (in class 3A) Solon will have a tougher game this Friday when they host 2A’s Top ranked Iowa City Regina.

The game changed this week for Christian French.
As the Cedar Rapids Kennedy senior’s college stock soared on the football field, he’d been fairly insulated by NCAA rules. Summer contact with schools couldn’t be direct, and coaches had to go through Kennedy head coach Tim Lewis.
But beginning Wednesday, coaches could begin phoning or writing the 6-foot-6, 230-pounder. The only folks calling him before that were recruiting website folks. That part hasn’t been easy, either.
“Yeah, sometimes that’s difficult,” said French, whose Cougars (0-1) host Linn-Mar (1-0) tonight at 7:30 at Kingston Stadium. …

KCRG-TV9’s Scott Saville and The Gazette’s Jeff Linder talk prep football.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is giving teams and conferences the option to play 16-minute halves instead of eight-minute quarters for varsity girls’ basketball games this winter.
“During the 2010-11 varsity basketball season, varsity girls teams may play two 16-minute halves during non-conference games with mutual agreement by both schools.  Conferences may also agree to play two 16-minute halves in all conference games if the conference adopts the policy for the season.  Please note that this experimental rule applies only to VARSITY …

Mark Atwater made a sparkling debut as the Linn-Mar quarterback, rushing for 275 yards and passing for 163 more in the Lions’ 43-15 thumping of Cedar Rapids Jefferson last week.
The Lions scored the first 29 points. Despite the lopsided win, Linn-Mar dropped two spots to No. 9 in the 4A rankings. Kennedy opened with a 35-7 loss at Cedar Rapids Xavier.
The Cougars turned the ball over on their first play from scrimmage, fell behind 14-0 within 4 minutes and never recovered.
Time & place: 7:15 p.m., at Kingston Stadium
Records: Linn-Mar is …

Below are breakdowns of 10 of the top games this week, but we want to hear from you. Vote in our poll for the game you think has the chance to be the best.

What is the best high school football game this week?online surveys

LINN-MAR at CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY
Time & place: 7:15 p.m., Thursday at Kingston Stadium
Records: Linn-Mar is 1-0; Kennedy is 0-1.
Notable: Mark Atwater made a sparkling debut as the Linn-Mar quarterback, rushing for 275 yards and passing for 163 more in the Lions’ 43-15 thumping of Cedar …

Williamsburg coach Curt Ritchie and Marion coach Tony Perkins sit down with Jeff Johnson for the weekly coaches chat.
Part 1 – How special is the first Friday night?

Part 2 – How hard is it to move up a class in prep football?

Part 3 – Division 1 talent at the high school level

The Top Ten teams in the Associated Press Iowa high school football polls of the 2010 season with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right:

Here is Jeff Linder’s football ballot for the Associated Press, submitted Aug. 30:
CLASS 4A
1. West Des Moines Dowling (2-0)
2. Fort Dodge (1-0)
3. Cedar Falls (1-0)
4. Bettendorf (1-0)
5. Ankeny (2-0)
6. Iowa City High (1-0)
7. Cedar Rapids Xavier (1-0)
8. Cedar Rapids Washington (1-0)
9. Linn-Mar (1-0)
10. Urbandale (1-0)
CLASS 3A
1. Harlan (1-0)
2. Solon (1-0)
3. Williamsburg (1-0)
4. Pella (1-0)
5. Clear Lake (1-0)
6. Sioux City Heelan (0-1)
7. Grinnell (1-0)
8. Marion (1-0)
9. Ballard (1-0)
10. Union (1-0)
CLASS 2A
1. New Hampton (1-0)
2. Iowa City Regina (1-0)
3. Carroll Kuemper (1-0)
4. North Fayette (1-0)
5. Pella Christian (1-0)
6. South Central Calhoun (1-0)
7. …