Stack-I rebirth; Cougars gain berth

CEDAR RAPIDS — They're in.

Yes, at 2-7, the Kennedy Cougars have wedged their way into the postseason.

And if history is any reference, they might be a difficult out.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy racked up 453 yards of offense, including 323 from a brutalizing running attack, and downed Waterloo West, 48-28, in a Class 4A District 5 football game Friday night at Kingston Stadium.

'I had a feeling we'd be able to run the ball, and we did,' Kennedy Coach Brian White said. 'Now we're 0-0 and we're in the tournament. That's all that matters.'

The victory, coupled with Linn-Mar's win over Cedar Rapids Jefferson, vaulted the Cougars (2-7, 2-3) into the No. 3 spot in the 4A-5 pecking order.

Kennedy, Jefferson and Waterloo West all finished 2-3 within the district, but the Cougars had the best point-spread of the three. Jefferson edged West for the final postseaon berth.

The Cougars will play on the road in the first round of the 4A playoffs Wednesday against an opponent to be determined early Saturday morning.

'We're ready,' said Kennedy's Jay Blank. 'We're going to get back to work.'

They looked playoff-worthy enough on Friday. The stack-I offense, which was the Cougars' bread and butter last season, made a return engagement, and the results were devastating.

'We always had it in the playbook, but we wanted to be more diverse this year,' White said. 'It was always going to be our goal-line offense. But I didn't expect our offensive line to progress like it has this year.'

Blank ran for 120 yards on nine carries, including a 69-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, in which he followed the fullback out of the backfield, split a pair of defenders and was off to the races.

'I made a little cutback and ran downfield as fast as I could,' he said.

Tyler Dralle was the Cougars' workhorse, carrying the ball 24 times for 110 yards. And the passing game was efficient when called upon. Sammy Lizarraga threw for three touchdowns, two to Shaun Beyer.

The knockout blow came at the beginning of the second half.

Leading 28-21 at halftime, Kennedy came out of the locker room with a 15-play, 67-yard touchdown drive, with Logan Wedo capping it with a 1-yard TD run.

The Wahawks (3-6, 2-3) muffed the ensuing kickoff, Kennedy's Nolan Hromdiko landed on the loose ball and the Cougars went back to work.

Lizarraga connected with Drake Brewster for a 23-yard touchdown pass. The Cougars led 41-21, the Wahawks hadn't run a play yet in the half, and the outcome was pretty much sealed.

Tayshaun Cooper and Trey Burt each scored two touchdowns for the Wahawks.

While the Cougars celebrated postgame in the locker room, a fog encircled the stadium. The Cougars came back outside, milled around in the haze and exited.

It was time, as Blank said, to get back to work.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com