Preview from iahsaa.org, by Bud Legg
WEEK 9 SCHEDULE FOR IOWA’S 30 UNDEFEATED PREP TEAMS
Class 4A (5)
Ankeny (6-2) at COUNCIL BLUFFS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (8-0)
Solid and healed Ankeny outfit pose a stern test for the Lynx
BETTENDORF (8-0) at Muscatine (5-3)
Dogs likely too much for improved Muskies
CEDAR FALLS (8-0) at Iowa City West (4-4)
Trojans upset of Cedar Rapids Washington likely noticed by the Tigers
DOWLING CATHOLIC, WDM (9-0) – open
Week off before eliminations begin
IOWA CITY, CITY HIGH (8-0) at Prairie, Cedar Rapids (2-6)
Big offensive line should give defending 4A champs their 23rd straight victory
Class 3A (3)
Boone (4-2, 5-3) at CLEAR LAKE (6-0, 8-0)
A mere seven regular season losses since 2000 for the Lions
PELLA (6-0, 8-0) at Fort Madison (3-3, 5-3)
The Dutch are much to which to be reckoned
Vinton-Shellsburg (3-3, 4-4) at UNION COMMUNITY, LAPORTE CITY (6-0, 8-0)
Wes Burnside had 58 carries last week; may carry 11 V-S players most of this game
Class 2A (4)
Albia (4-2, 6-2) at SIGOURNEY/KEOTA (6-0, 8-0)
Passing optional – Albia has thrown 57; Cobras 18
Monticello (3-3, 5-3) at NORTH FAYETTE, WEST UNION (6-0, 8-0)
Hawks seeking sixth undefeated regular season in last seven
SOUTH CENTRAL CALHOUN (6-0, 8-0) at East Sac County (3-3, 4-4)
Titans on the brink of a perfect initial regular season
West Liberty (4-2, 4-4) at REGINA, IOWA CITY (6-0, 8-0)
They aren’t the Running Regals for nothing
Class 1A (8)
APLINGTON-PARKERBURG (6-0, 8-0) at Lake Mills (2-4, 3-5)
Falcons rush offense averaging 350 ypg
EMMETSBURG (6-0, 8-0) at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn (5-1, 7-1)
Break out the hard hats for this one
LOGAN-MAGNOLIA (6-0, 8-0) at ST. ALBERT, COUNCIL BLUFFS (6-0, 8-0)
SRO crowd at Thrill Hill, a.k.a. Leber Field in Council Bluffs
STARMONT, ARLINGTON (6-0, 8-0) at Wapsie Valley, Fairbank (5-1, 7-1)
Strong offenses may yield to defenses in this epic northeast Iowa clash
WEST BRANCH (5-0, 7-0) at NORTH CEDAR, STANWOOD (5-0, 8-0)
Bears are 85-19 since 2000; North Cedars has outscored opposition 318-7 this fall
WOODWARD-GRANGER (6-0, 8-0) at Ogden (1-5, 2-7)
Hawks’ all around play drawing attention
Class A (4)
Central, Elkader (4-1, 6-2) at NORTH TAMA, TRAER (5-0, 8-0)
2,000 yards total offense for Redhawks’ Brendon Boerm
Postville (5-1, 7-1) at NEWMAN CATHOLIC, MASON CITY (5-0, 8-0)
Non-district Postville’s challenge: 10 Knights have scored TDs so far
Southeast Warren (2-2, 4-4) at MADRID (4-0, 8-0)
Tigers’ 3,607 rushing yards and 10 ypc leads the state
WACO, WAYLAND (5-0, 8-0) at Lisbon (5-0, 7-1)
Top Class A clash in state evenly matched in stats
8-PLAYER (6)
ARMSTRONG-RINGSTED (6-0, 8-0) at West Bend-Mallard (5-1, 7-1)
Big road test for Mustangs who have notched 18 straight wins
East Mills (5-1, 6-2) at FREMONT-MILLS, TABOR (6-0, 8-0)
Game for unofficial SW Iowa 8-player title
LENOX (6-0) at Ankeny Christian Academy (3-3, 4-4)
Lenox is 73-7 since going to 8-player (2004), but must corral total offense leader Tim Olejniczak
MORAVIA (6-0, 8-0) at Tri-County, Thornburg (0-6, 0-8)
Talented Mohawks have shaken off the ills of previous year’s double digit losing streaks
NORTHEAST HAMILTON, BLAIRSBURG (6-0, 9-0) at Janesville (3-3, 5-3)
Last time Trojans were 10-0 was in back-to-back years, 2006 and 2007
PRESTON – open
District champs have the night off, which beats an off night.
PLAYOFF PAIRINGS: All host teams this week have been reminded to call the IHSAA immediately after their game is final. We do know that we need the results of 144 of the 174 games to complete the qualifiers in all classes. As each class is complete the brackets, which are on line, will be completed and posted on the football page of our website. Past experiences tell us that the first completed brackets will start to appear between 11:45 p.m. and midnight. Refresh your screen often to make sure you get the brackets as they appear.
NO AROUND IOWA NOTES: The playoff qualifying is the big news with virtually all outlets. The lateness of the night does not allow my usual my “Around Iowa Gridirons” notes to be written.
STAT BOOKLET: The Football Stat Book is being updated relative to playoff appearances and results for teams and coaches. It will not be printed for sale at the State semifinals or finals. The all-time best archives will be updated throughout the playoffs as we get more information but will not appear in the Stat Book. The book should be re-posted sometime Thursday morning.
CORRECTION: For some unknown reason last week I forgot to update the consecutive district wins for St. Albert and Bishop Heelan. The top three are below
CURRENT LONGEST DISTRICT/CONFERENCE WINS STREAK (post-season not included)
Streak/ Team (Class) Last Loss
54 Harlan (3A) 24-21 (OT) to Atlantic, Nov. 1, 2002
33 Saint Albert, Co. Bluffs (1A) 20-0 to Logan-Magnolia, Sept. 15, 2006
32 Bishop Heelan, Sx City (3A) 28-13 to Spencer, Sept. 22, 2006