Class 5A Cedar Rapids and Iowa City qualifiers hit the road in first round of high school football playoffs

The playoff pods are set. Iowa high school football teams now know their postseason paths.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association released the round of 16 pairings for all seven classes Saturday. Each class is split into four four-team pods with the pod winner advancing to the state semifinals held at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

In Class 5A, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Iowa City High and Linn-Mar made the field and will play on the road for the first round.

Kennedy and City High will have recent rematches. The Cougars head to Cedar Falls for the second time in three weeks. The Tigers won 17-14 in Week 8.

“We knew if we took care of business and (Cedar Falls) took care of business we would play them again,” Kennedy Coach Brian White said. “I told the kids that in our Monday team meeting. It’s not often you get a do-over so quickly. They kids are very motivated to hit the reset button. We felt we had opportunities to win the game and didn’t execute well in the fourth quarter.”

The Tigers (6-3) snapped Kennedy’s five-game win streak. Cedar Falls’ defensive scheme exposed some weaknesses in the Cougars’ high-powered offense. Kennedy (6-3) learned from that first meeting and will look to make adjustments when the Tigers try to take away the initial play options.

“The ultimate goal is to win a championship,” White said. “We are excited to play Cedar Falls again. I thought Cedar Falls was a top-two or top-three team going into this season. They are a good football team. I think this team will be ready to go whoever we play.”

City High closed the regular season by walloping No. 5 Bettendorf, 42-21. The Little Hawks (6-3) will make a return trip to face the Bulldogs (7-2) in consecutive weeks.

“Certainly, it provides a little confidence for our team, knowing that we played well in Bettendorf last night,” City High Coach Mitch Moore said. “I think the most confidence we have gained has really been from our weekly preparation.”

City High has been on a roll lately, winning four straight games and scoring 30 or more points in each. The Little Hawks have won six of their last seven after an 0-2 start to the season. They have potential for a deep playoff run.

“I think number one would be experience,” Moore said about the key to postseason success. “We have a lot of guys that have played a lot of games. And we have continued to get better and better every week. I like where our culture is right now.”

Kyle Knock was named Prairie head coach in late May. He was able to implement his style of play and has a playoff berth to show for it. The Hawks (5-4) defeated Iowa City West, 45-38, in Week 9 and open the postseason at No. 6 Waukee (7-2).

“We are excited to be in the tournament,” said Knock, who coached and played in the playoffs for Kennedy and was an assistant for Cedar Rapids Washington playoff teams. “Once you are in anything can happen. (Waukee) head coach Gabe Bakker was my teammate at Iowa State. They are well coached and have some talented skill players. We do feel like we match up well.”

Knock said the Hawks faced a tough schedule and overcame the transition to new coaches and schemes. He is proud of the team to get to this point. Now, Prairie is focused on the necessities to advance beyond the first round.

“Ultimately, it is execution,” Knock said. “We must play mistake free football and execute at a high level. We continue to get better each week and we need to make sure our best players get opportunities to make plays.”

Linn-Mar seized the 16th and final playoff spot in 5A. The Lions fell to No. 4 Pleasant Valley, 28-14, Friday night at home. The Lions’ resume was enough to qualify, despite numerous injuries to key players in the season.

“Anytime you make the postseason, that is exciting,” Linn-Mar Coach Tim Lovell said. “It’s a separator from the rest of 5A. It’s one more guaranteed week with a group of young men who have given everything they have for this program. I love the opportunity to be with these players and coaches for at least another week.

“I’m very proud of each and every one of them for their commitment and contributions to help make this program better.”

Linn-Mar (5-4) gets No. 1 Southeast Polk (9-0) for its effort. The Lions have dealt with trial head-on this season. Friday won’t be any different and it’s a test they will embrace.

“This challenge is one that we are excited about,” Lovell said. “That’s a program that everyone in the state is trying to be like. What better way to get a feel for how they do things than to play them?”

Class 4A second-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier trounced Burlington, 52-7, Friday night. The defending state champion Saints (7-2) will host No. 8 Indianola (6-3) in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs. Top-ranked Western Dubuque (8-1) hosts Newton (6-3).

In Class 3A, a highly-competitive pod consists of No. 3 Williamsburg (8-1), No. 4 Mount Vernon (8-1), previously ranked Independence (7-2) and Humboldt (5-4). The Raiders host Humboldt, while Independence heads to Mount Vernon. The winners will face off for a spot in the semifinals.

Williamsburg was the Class 2A state runner-up last season.

“We are just thankful to get a home game after that Solon loss,” Williamsburg Coach Curt Ritchie said. “We found out in the past that the seed doesn’t mean much in the playoffs. You will see teams like Humboldt and Independence rise up and play well. One thing for sure, the team that comes out of this pod will be deserving of a dome trip.”

Lisbon remains unbeaten

Fifth-ranked Lisbon hosted North Linn in one of the more anticipated first-round playoff matchups in Class A. The district champion Lions scored in each of the final two quarters and shut out the Lynx in the second half for a 14-6 win Friday night at home. Lisbon is now 9-0 and hosts East Buchanan (7-2) for a shot at the quarterfinals.

Quarterback Dakota Clark hit Reid Fridley for a 4-yard touchdown pass in the third to cap a possession set up by a blocked punt. He added a 2-yard TD run in the fourth for the Lions.

“Honestly, I think we got the toughest No. 4-seed,” Clark said told The Gazette after the game. “They were a few scores away from being a No. 1 seed over there in their district. They had a tough district. We knew it was going to be a dog fight.

“Our seniors really wanted it. One of our linemen went down (in the second half), but he came back because he really wanted it. He didn’t want to be done.”

Union upsets Waukon

Union Community qualified for the playoffs with just a 2-6 record as the fourth-place finisher in Class 2A District 6. The Knights traveled to 2A-3 champion Waukon and returned home with one of the notable upsets in the first round of the playoffs.

Union defeated the Indians, 21-7, to notch its third straight victory and a spot in the round of 16. The Knights scored first for a 6-0 lead but Waukon answered with a 6-yard scoring pass from Jaxon Brinkman to Owen Grimstad for a 7-6 lead.

Union scored late in the first for a 14-7 lead after one and added a TD in the final seconds to ice the win. Union’s defense tallied four interceptions, holding the Indians to their second-lowest point total of the season.

The Knights travel to No. 2 Van Meter (9-0) Friday. Waukon finished the season at 5-4.

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