KJ Pilcher of Source Media Group talks to Solon football coach Kevin Miller and Xavier coach Duane Schulte for this season’s first prep football Webcast.
Coach Miller and Coach Schulte talk about their outlook for the 2010 season and the state of prep football in Eastern Iowa as football season hits full stride this Friday.

Here is the composite 2010 week-by-week football schedule for the Mississippi Valley Conference:
WEEK 1
Friday, Aug. 27
Cedar Rapids Jefferson at Linn-Mar
Cedar Rapids Kennedy at Cedar Rapids Xavier
Cedar Rapids Prairie at Cedar Rapids Washington (Kingston)
Dubuque Hempstead at Cedar Falls
Dubuque Wahlert at Waterloo West
Iowa City High at Dubuque Senior
Waterloo East at Iowa City West
WEEK 2
Thursday, Sept. 2
Linn-Mar at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (Kingston)
Friday, Sept. 3
Cedar Falls at Waterloo East
Cedar Rapids Washington at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (Kingston)
Cedar Rapids Xavier at Cedar Rapids Prairie
Dubuque Senior at Dubuque Wahlert
Iowa City West at Dubuque Hempstead
Waterloo West at Iowa City …

By Marc Morehouse, originally published at his blog, “On Iowa”
Austin Blythe’s dance with the University of Iowa began about a year ago, when he received an offer to play football for the Hawkeyes.
Yes, Blythe, 6-foot-3, 280 pounds, grew up in Williamsburg, about a half hour west of Iowa City. His parents, Curt and Mary, took him to Hawkeye football games and wrestling meets pretty much all of his life.
But no, it wasn’t as easy as you’d think to say yes to the Hawkeyes. It’s a life decision, and Blythe wanted …

DES MOINES — Christian French isn’t going to rush.
His number of football offers rising constantly, French said Friday that “I just want to take my time” in making a decision.
“I’m going to investigate each school so I make the right decision,” he said. “I am not going to be rushed.”
Among French’s offers: Iowa State, Iowa, Missouri, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Louisville and Kansas State.
French said that Notre Dame wants him to play outside linebacker; the other have him tabbed as a receiver or tight end.
The junior from Cedar Rapids Kennedy advanced …

Aplington-Parkersburg made it official late Thursday night, announcing the hiring of 2002 A-P graduate Alex Pollock as the school’s new head football coach.
The hiring still must be approved by the district’s school board. Sportswriter Jeff Linder first posted news of the hiring Thursday afternoon.
Pollock will follow the team’s co-coaches from the 2009 season — Al Kerns, who has retired from coaching, and John Wiegmann, who will return to his former role as defensive coordinator. Kerns and Wiegmann served as co-coaches last season, after legendary coach Ed Thomas was killed …

 
Alex Pollock would not confirm Thursday that he’s about to be hired as the next football coach at Aplington-Parkersburg.
His older brother did.
Pollock is likely to be officially announced the permanent coach at A-P on Friday, according to Andy Pollock, via a Twitter message at 10 p.m.
The 26-year-old Alex Pollock was the defensive coordinator at Augsburg (Minn.) College.
KCRG-TV reported late Thursday night that Pollock has “verbally agreed to take the job and they are working on finalizing the details.”

Aaron Thomas, the school’s athletics director, said early in the day that a new football …

MARION — One more year at Armstrong Field.
Scott Mahmens, athletics director at Linn-Mar High School, said Tuesday that construction on the school’s new stadium is on schedule and should be completed in December.
“Unless we have another spring and summer with excessive rain, that’s the target,” Mahmens said. “I think we’re going to see a lot more done now that the weather is dry.”
Mahmens said that the Lions will play a final football season at what he called “historic Armstrong” Field. Linn-Mar enjoyed a football renaissance last season, going 9-2, winning …

A new challenge awaits Kevin Miller and his football juggernaut at Solon High School.
The Iowa High School Athletic Association released its district assignments for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, and the Spartans will compete in Class 3A.
“We knew we’d be right on the (2A/3A) bubble. We figured we’d either move to 3A now, or in two more years,” Miller said.
Solon has won the last three 2A state championships and carries a 41-game winning streak.
“It’s a challenge, but with challenge comes opportunities,” Miller said. “We’re going to need more depth, and …

MARION — David Parry lives here. Most of his family is out there.
So his decision to attend Stanford University of somewhat of a homecoming.
An all-state lineman at Linn-Mar High School, Parry orally committed to play football as a preferred walk-on at Stanford. He visited the campus last weekend.
“Both of my parents were born and raised in San Francisco, and all of my cousins, aunts and uncles are out there,” said Parry, who stands 6-foot-2 and 295 pounds.
Oh, and the academics program doesn’t hurt, either.
“David is a very goal-oriented kid. He …

Linn-Mar lineman David Parry visited the University of Iowa last weekend, but did not make an oral commitment.
“He had a really good visit. We’ll just wait and see,” said Linn-Mar Coach Bob Forsyth.
Parry has a visit lined up this weekend at Stanford, may visit the Naval Academy, and has several Ivy League schools on his list.
“Dave is an extremely gifted kid academically,” Forsyth said.