Top-ranked Humboldt will meet a familiar foe in the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs, while Algona will face a perennial power.

The Wildcats (8-1 overall) fought through one of the toughest districts (3A-2), going 5-0. They will meet their district’s third-place team again, Clear Lake (6-3).

The Bulldogs (8-1), who were that district’s runner-ups, will host Harlan (6-3).

In other area contests, defending eight-man champion Bishop Garrigan (9-0) will entertain Riceville (8-1).

Emmetsburg (8-1), the district runner up to Manson Northwest Webster (8-1) in Class 1A, District 2, will travel to South Hardin (8-1).

Greene County (5-4) visits PCM (9-0) in Class 2A.

Clear Lake (6-3) at Humboldt (8-1)

The Wildcats and Lions met in Week 8 of the regular season, with Humboldt earning a 23-13 victory.

Humboldt has won two straight in the series, but Clear Lake owns two postseason victories over the Wildcats all the way back in 1998 and ’99.

In the first meeting, quarterback Coen Matson was 12-for-21 passing for 286 yards and three touchdowns. Keegan Groat was the recipient of four passes for 147 yards and two scores. Chase Flaherty had six grabs for 116 yards and a score.

The Wildcats picked up three turnovers, earning fumble recoveries from Mason Van Pelt and Broedy Hendricks, while Cael Donahe had an interception.

Clear Lake quarterback Jaxson McIntire threw for 272 yards and two trips to the end zone. Alex Kerr had a touchdown, as did Thomas Meyer.

Matson has thrown for 1,810 yards and 20 touchdowns. Groat (635 yards) and Flaherty (592) have been big threats. They have six and nine touchdowns, respectively. Valley Davis has four scores.

On the ground, Cash McIntire has 428 yards and four scores, while Matson has rushed for four touchdowns. Jaxson Kirchoff has two trips to paydirt.

For Clear Lake, McIntire has thrown for 1,626 yards and 24 touchdown passes. He has rushed for two touchdowns.

Kerr has 19 catches for 584 yards and 10 touchdowns. Thomas Meyer has 488 receiving yards and nine scores.

On the ground, Titan Schmitt has 1,035 yards rushing and 12 scores.

Riceville (8-1) at Bishop Garrigan (9-0)

The defending eight-player champions are looking for their 22nd straight victory overall. Bishop Garrigan won their playoff opener a week ago, knocking out Tripoli by a final of 62-15.

Tate Foertsch threw for 170 yards and three touchdowns. Trayton Cink had 103 yards on the ground and a score. Ethan Marso had two rushing TDs, while Carter McGregor and Issac DeLange had one each.

Owen Murphy had two touchdown catches and Cink had one.

In the only meeting between the two schools, Riceville beat the Golden Bears 24-16 in 2021.

The Wildcats are led by quarterback Jack Adams who has run for 1,170 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground. Adams has thrown for 753 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Johnny Adams has 10 touchdown catches.

Foertsch has thrown for 852 yards and 14 touchdowns. Cink is nearing the 1,000-yard mark, with 919 rushing yards. He has 20 TDs, while Marso has 11.

Murphy has six touchdown catches, while Michael Joyce and Wyatt Rosemenyer have four and six, respectively.

Harlan (6-3) at Algona (8-1)

The Bulldogs are coming off a 31-6 victory, their second straight. The Cyclones earned a 42-7 win over Knoxville, which was their fourth consecutive win.

Entering the contest, Cyclone quarterback Gabe Arkfeld has thrown for 1,606 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has two rushing touchdowns.

Receiver Jozef Reisz has caught 44 balls for 910 yards and 10 touchdowns. Dallas McDowell has four receiving touchdowns.

On the ground, Lukas Francis has 808 yards and 1 touchdowns to lead the ground attack.

Since taking over for his brother, quarterback Nathan Manske has thrown for 412 yards. He has connected for five touchdowns and has rushed for two.

Before getting hurt, Iowa State commit Alex Manske had thrown for 1,456 yards and 18 touchdowns and ran for eight.

Junior William Weichart has been the groundhog, rushing for 640 yards on 105 totes. He has eight scores.

Evan Allie (681 yards) and Tate Slagle (428) are the leading receivers with eight scores each.

Harlan has won 14 state championships and has 23 state title appearances overall.

Emmetsburg (8-1) at South Hardin (8-1)

After a convincing first round 57-7 win over Grand View Christian, The E-Hawks will travel to face South Hardin.

The Tigers defeated Pella Christian 40-7 in their opener.

Last Friday in their win, the E-Hawks ran for 389 yards. Bradyen Yates had 118 yards and four scores. Matthew Malm and Gavin Swanson both threw touchdown passes.

The E-Hawks are the Class 1A leader and second in the state with 3,360 yards and 47 touchdowns on the ground this season. Carson Baak (15) and Yates (13) have double-digit trips to paydirt. Baak has 953 yards and Yates has 825. Swanson has nine rushing touchdowns.

For South Hardin, Peyton Welch has thrown for 1,449 yards and Jaxson Drury has run for 1,275 yards. Welch has 18 touchdown passes and Drury has run for 19. Sam Benson has eight receiving scores.

Greene County (5-4) at PCM (9-0)

Greene County advanced to the second round with a 30-6 win over Clarinda, their third straight.

Crew Conner threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Nick Stream had 136 yards on the ground and two scores.

This season, Conner has 823 through the air and six scores. Stream has run for 899 yards and had 10 trips to the endzone. Broc Stream has three touchdown catches.

Gavin VanGrop has thrown for 1,267 yards and 25 scores through the air for PCM.

VanGrop has nine rushing TDs. Adrien Robbins has run for 1,637 yards and 20 touchdowns. Riley Graber and Gavin Steenhoek have 11 and seven touchdown catches, respectively.