MVC vs. MAC: Right now, it's no contest

CEDAR RAPIDS -- As preparations began for last year's Class 4A football quarterfinal between Cedar Rapids Xavier and Clinton, several Saints were alerted to a post on the Clinton football website:"Next beatdown victim: Xavier Saints."There have been some "beatdowns" administered when the Mississippi Valley Conference and the Mississippi Athletic Conference have met since the playoff field was expanded in 2008.Precious few have gone the MAC's way.In 2008 and 2009, the MVC holds a 13-3 advantage in postseason head-to-head play. Each year, the MVC had seven of the eight east-side quarterfinalists.Three recent games stand out:* 2008 first round: Dubuque Wahlert, a 4-5 team from the MVC, thumped MAC runner-up North Scott (8-1), 37-14.* 2009 first round: Same story. Cedar Rapids Kennedy, another 4-5 team from the MVC, knocked off MAC runner-up Bettendorf -- long the league's shining light -- by a 17-14 count.* 2009 quarterfinal: The "beatdown" game at Clinton. The River Kings were undefeated. Xavier went east and whipped them, 28-6.Why the disparity?True, There are more schools in the MVC (14) than the MAC (10). But come playoff time, that advantage usually shrinks to 9-7.If enrollment is a factor, it's a minor one. MVC schools have an average enrollment of 1,073 in grades 10-12. Their MAC counterparts have an average enrollment of 928.Scott Mahmens has been the athletics director at Linn-Mar since 2005. Before that, he served as football coach and AD at Clinton. He said the quality of the athletes and the quality of the facilities in the two conferences are similar.At this point, he says, there are simply more good football programs in the MVC."Right now, the MVC competitively plays a tougher schedule day in and day out than the MAC," he said. "I think there are more quality teams in the MVC. If you go 4-5 in the MVC, your five losses are generally going to be against high-quality teams."Playoffs commence Wednesday, and five of the eight 4A east-side battles are MVC-vs.-MAC skirmishes. In three of them (Burlington at Cedar Falls, Pleasant Valley at Linn-Mar, Davenport Central at Iowa City High), the MVC is a clear favorite. In one, (Waterloo East at Bettendorf), the MAC is expected to control.That leaves No. 13 seed Iowa City West at 4-seed North Scott. A 4-5 team from the MVC at the MAC runner-up. Just like Wahlert-North Scott in 2008. Just like Kennedy-Bettendorf in 2009.Certainly it's a big game for both schools. It's win or go home.It's a huge game for the MAC. Put up or pipe down.