Dare to dream about a Kingston Stadium playoff triple-header

CEDAR RAPIDS - So everyone thought that playoff football double-header a couple of years ago at Kingston Stadium was really cool.

How about a playoff triple-header at Kingston this year?

A lot of stuff needs to happen, with emphasis on A LOT, but it's not impossible that Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Cedar Rapids Washington could play separate Class 4A first-round games at Kingston in a couple of weeks.

Wednesday, Oct. 28, would be the date of MetroMania.

'What a cool environment that would be,” said Jefferson Athletics Director Chris Deam. 'It would give us all a chance to root for our school and then the other two schools, too.”

The top two teams in each district are assured home games in the first round of the playoffs. With two weeks remaining in the regular season, Kennedy and Washington each need just one win to clinch the honor.

Kennedy is 7-0 overall, 3-0 in District 5. The Cougars win that district if they beat Cedar Falls at home Friday night.

Washington is 6-1 overall and 3-0 in District 6, and can wrap a district championship with a win Friday night at Iowa City High. That won't be easy since City High is 5-2, 3-0.

Jefferson is 4-3 overall, 1-2 in District 5 and needs help to get home field. The J-Hawks are behind CF and Linn-Mar (2-1 each) in district play, but if Kennedy beats Cedar Falls and Linn-Mar beats Waterloo West on Friday night (both expected), the Jeff/Linn-Mar regular-season finale next week becomes ultra important.

That puts a three-way tie for second place into play, the only way Jefferson could gain a first-round home game. Yeah, it's probably improbable, but not out of the question, either.

'We have looked at the possibility of a double-header at Kingston Stadium,” said IHSAA Assistant Executive Director Todd Tharp. 'But we have not looked at if all three schools host. I don't want to speculate on what would happen if that were to occur.”

Deam called Tharp on Monday afternoon to discuss the situation. He said if Kennedy and Washington both win district titles, they would get first dibs on Kingston.

That doesn't necessarily mean Jefferson would be shut out.

'What it would come down to is who our opponent might be,” Deam said. 'A triple-header would depend on the other school. Our other option would then be to play elsewhere, like a Coe (College) or someplace.”

Deam mentioned the possibility of Kingston games at 3 p.m., 5:30 and 8 p.m., which isn't outrageous. Tharp said playing a mid-afternoon game would likely require the OK of both schools involved before the IHSAA would give its blessing.

Bottom line is a lot of football has to be played, yet, but it's fun to think about the possibilities. The triple-header possibilities.

'Man, if it comes down to it, I don't want to move our game just from a business standpoint,” Deam said. 'A triple-header, I would love that.”

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com