Class 4A

No. 4 Marshalltown (13-0)

vs. No.1 Iowa City High (13-0)

Time: 7:05 p.m., Friday

Location: UNI-Dome

Postseason history: Iowa City High is finishing its 21st trip to the playoffs. The Little Hawks have won three state titles, the last coming in 1996, and appeared in five previous championship games. Marshalltown is making its first appearance in the championship game. The Bobcats have made postseason play five times overall.

Signature wins: In the postseason, City High swept aside Iowa City West, Dubuque Hempstead, Cedar Rapids Washington and Cedar Rapids Xavier, all by double-digit margins. Marshalltown beat Indianola, Waukee, Ankeny and West Des Moines Dowling en route to the finals.

Quick slants: Both teams feature high-profile, Division I caliber athletes at quarterback. City High's A.J. Derby, who has committed to Iowa, has thrown for 1,515 yards and 20 touchdowns. Chanse Creekmur of the Bobcats is being courted for basketball, but he's connected for 30 TD strikes despite missing the opening game.. . Marshalltown completed its first unbeaten regular season since 1947. ... The Bobcats head coach is Dave Holdiman, a Waterloo Columbus and Northern Iowa graduate.

- Compiled by Courier Sports Writer Jim Sullivan

Class A

No. 3 Southern Cal (12-1)

vs. No. 8 M.C. Newman (12-1)

Time: 2:05 p.m., Friday

Location: UNI-Dome

Postseason history: Southern Cal is looking to repeat as champions and captured its fourth state title overall. The Mustangs are in their ninth playoff and own a 22-5 playoff record. Newman is also in its ninth playoff, but is making its first trip to the finals. The Knights are 9-8 all-time in the playoffs.

Signature wins: Southern Cal has not lost since losing to 1A semifinalist Prairie Valley of Gowrie in its season opener (23-13). The Mustangs have own by a combined 11 points in wins over Le Mars Gehlen and Madrid in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Newman avenged its only loss to NU High (35-7) in the quarterfinals, before beating 2008 state runner-up North Tama (28-26) in the semifinals.

Quick slants: Each team features three runners who have accumulated nearly 700 rushing yards. Newman is paced by workhorse Ben Buffington who has 1,466 yards on 356 carries. Andrew Burgmeier has rushed for 938 yards, while Robert Quintero has 667 on 85 attempts. Quarterback Josh Luecht threw three touchdown passes in the semifinal victory. The Mustangs are paced by Matt Schleisman's 1,032 yards, but Chase Willett and Austin Blair have 971 and 875 rushing, respectively. Southern Cal's defense has forced 27 turnovers this year, 14 fumble recoveries and 13 interceptions.

Eight-man

No. 1 Lenox (13-0) vs. No. 5 Armstrong-Ringstead (12-1)

Time: 10:35 a.m., Friday

Location: UNI-Dome

Postseason history: Lenox is the defending champion and is 65-6 dating back to the start of the 2004 season. This is the Tigers eighth trip to the playoffs and third time in the championship game. Lenox lost to Glidden-Ralston in the 2005 title game. This is Armstrong-Ringstead's third straight trip to the state finals. It lost to Stanton two years ago, 32-24, and lost last year's title to Lenox, 34-32.

Signature wins: Lenox advanced to the finals by turning aside Moravia, Grandview Park Baptist, Tri-County of Thornburg and Preston. Armstrong-Ringstead has defeated its four playoff opponents (Ar-We-Va, West Bend-Mallard, Graettinger-Terril and Adair-Casey) by a combined score of 257-61.

Quick slants: Both teams average over 50 points a game - Lenox (52.2) and Armstrong-Ringstead (58.6). This is a rematch of last year's eight-man title game won by the Tigers, 34-32. Lenox has produced 3,449 rushing yards, led by senior Eric Hensley's 1,318 yards and 25 touchdowns. Armstrong-Ringstead has rushed for 4,016 yards and 83 touchdowns. Senior Tyler Tonderum has rushed for 2,173 yards and 53 touchdowns. He has 6,248 career rushing yards, 140 touchdowns and 842 points, which rank fourth, third and second respectively on national lists.

- Compiled by Courier Sports Writer Jim Nelson