Kingston twinbill? Don't rule it out

CEDAR RAPIDS -- The possibility is there, and it's pretty much in the hands of the Kennedy Cougars and the Washington Warriors.

And, of course, the Iowa High School Athletic Association.

If Cedar Rapids Kennedy wins at least one of its next two games, and if Cedar Rapids Washington concludes its late-season rush with two more victories, there's a chance both could be top-eight seeds for the Class 4A football playoffs.

The top eight seeds earn home-field advantage, and Kingston Stadium is the home field for both the Cougars and the Warriors.

So who would host? How about both?

Iowa High School Athletic Association staffer Todd Tharp said Thursday morning that the IHSAA "would definitely consider" the possibility of a Kingston playoff first-round double-header Wednesday, Oct. 30, if all the stars align.

"Two things would normally prevent us considering a double-header," Tharp said. "First, a grass field, we wouldn't want the second game of a double-header to be played in bad conditions."

Kingston has an artificial, FieldTurf surface.

"Second, how would we split up the gate money-wise between two schools?"

Kennedy and Washington, of course, are both members of the Cedar Rapids Community school system, and that's where the money would go, instead of the individual schools.

At 5-2, Kennedy has clinched a playoff berth. The Cougars definitely will earn a top-eight seed if they finish 7-2, and would be sitting pretty good at 6-3. They close with the regular season at Dubuque Hempstead (Friday) and at home against Iowa City High (Oct. 25).

Washington (4-3) has more work to do; two wins are necessary to have a shot at a top-eight seed, and even that is no guarantee. The Warriors have a tough game Friday at Cedar Rapids Prairie, then hosts Dubuque Wahlert next Thursday. The Warriors would be divisional champions if they win out, but that's irrelevant to playoff points and seeding.

Tharp said if a playoff double-header happens, times Oct. 30 would probably be 5:30 and 8 p.m. The first game would be the one with the opposition that must travel farther.

Or the IHSAA might force the lower seed between Kennedy and Washington (probably Washington) to find an alternative site, such as Linn-Mar Stadium.

"We understand that both teams would want to play at Kingston, if both are top-eight," Tharp said. "I can't guarantee we would allow a double-header, but we would definitely put it under strong consideration."

Another possibility is a Washington-Kennedy first-round matchup, if they are seeded 8 and 9, 7 and 10, or another corresponding matchup. That would certainly be at Kingston.