LA PORTE CITY - Both teams are unbeaten and ranked in the Top 10.

Both teams possess potent running games.

Both teams have stout defenses that are surrendering fewer than eight points per game.

When No. 4 North Fayette (3-0) travels to eighth-ranked Union (3-0) for Friday night's pivotal Class 2A, District 3 football tussle, something will have to give.

"We've got a pretty good football team, but so does La Porte (Union)," said North Fayette coach Ron Wymer. "Both teams deserve to be in the Top 10, but now we're going to find out what the pecking order should be."

North Fayette, which has wins over Waverly-Shell Rock, New Hampton and South Winneshiek, is averaging nearly 300 rushing yards a game. Sophomore Mike Moser, 15th in the state in rushing, has 528 yards, seven touchdowns and is averaging an eye-popping 7.8 yards per carry.

Defensively, the Hawks have yielded just 22 points in three games, 19 of those against New Hampton.

Those numbers are eerily similar to those of the Knights, who have outscored their first three opponents, 82-16.

Tailback Brett Hakeman, 10th in the state in rushing, has 556 yards, seven touchdowns and averages 7 yards per rush. Union has pitched two shutouts, including a 10-0 district win at Osage last Friday.

"Their quarterback can throw the ball with some success, but it's no secret that both teams want to run the ball and rely on their defense," said Union coach Mark Hubbard. "I think people look at what both of these offenses have done, but they forget the defense is the one that gives the ball back and puts the offense in a good opportunity."

While both programs have been perfect in the win-loss column, both coaches believe there are several areas where they need improvement.

For North Fayette, it's limiting penalties. For Union, it's cutting down on turnovers.

"I can't fault how hard our kids are playing because they're not lazy, but we need to get more mentally in tune with that's going on," said Wymer, whose club had a 47-yard touchdown pass called back last week against South Winneshiek due to a holding penalty.

Meanwhile, Union had four turnovers in its win over Osage.

"We didn't give ourselves a lot of help, but our defense played lights out," said Hubbard. "Sometimes with a young team, when you leave town with a 'W', you just count your blessings."

There is one significant difference between the two schools.

North Fayette, a perennial state power, is aiming for its eighth playoff trip, while Union has only been to postseason play once in school history.

"These seniors who have been in our system for three years are starting to develop some confidence in what they do," said Hubbard. "That hard work is starting to pay off, and they are having a ton of fun playing football."

Tiger power

When it comes to ratings, Cedar Falls' and West Des Moines Valley's athletic programs stand in a league of their own for the fall season.

In the latest state ratings, the two schools, both nicknamed Tigers, are ranked in the Top 15 in girls' swimming, girls' and boys' cross country, football and volleyball. No other school in the state can lay claim to that. Cedar Falls is ranked first in swimming, third in girls' and boys' cross country, fourth in football and 15th in volleyball.

Eighty-one unbeatens remain

Going into the fourth full week of the high school football season, there are 81 unbeaten teams in the state. Fifteen of those teams reign from Northeast Iowa, including Cedar Falls and Waterloo Columbus.

Metro schools headed for The Meadows

The Iowa High School Athletic Association released its sites for the Class 4A boys' district golf meet. Cedar Falls, Waterloo West and East will be among the 13 schools competing in Dubuque at The Meadows Golf Course Oct. 5. The top three teams and four individuals from each of the four sites will advance to the state meet Oct. 8-9 at Hunter's Ridge Golf Course in Marion.

Volleyball pairings

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released its district and regional pairings for tournament play, which starts next month. Class 2A powers Aplington-Parkersburg, Grundy Center, Dike-New Hartford and Waterloo Columbus were all put in separate districts. However, Dike-NH and Columbus would have to meet in a regional final for the right to advance to state.

The state tournament is Nov. 10-13 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids.

Matt Coss can be contacted at (319) 291-1468 or matt.coss@wcfcourier.com