Washington Football

3 Metro teams seek playoff berths

It will be interesting to see how many high school football teams with 2-and-7 records make the Class 4A playoffs this year.

The Kennedy Cougars will make the 32-team field with a 2-7 mark if they defeat Waterloo West at Kingston Stadium Friday night, but they're not the only ones who could advance with a 2-7 record.

Iowa City High, Clinton and Mason City also could "earn" spots in the Class 4A tournament with 2-7 marks. That would be an improvement for Mason City, which qualified a few years ago with a 1-8 record.

We can thank - or blame - the district format for all this. The only results that count are district games. The non-district games are simply exhibitions, as far as making the playoffs, so it's a lot easier to make the playoffs now.

You can lose all of your non-district games, finish fourth in your district with a wobbly record and march into the playoffs at 2-7 (and sometimes even 1-8).

Under the old conference format, it normally took at least four victories to make the playoffs, although occasionally a team would slip through with a 3-6 mark. The schools voted for this system, so now everyone has to live with it.

Washington, Linn-Mar and Xavier have clinched playoff berths. The top-ranked Warriors are 8-0 and rolling along. The sixth-ranked Lions are 7-1, with the only loss to Washington. The Saints are 5-3, but have struggled on offense in their losses to Dowling (24-2), Western Dubuque (7-6) and Iowa City Regina (21-7) with only one touchdown on offense.

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Warriors stay No. 1 in football poll

The Washington Warriors remained at the top of the Class 4A football rankings Sunday by the Des Moines Register.

The Warriors and Bettendorf Bulldogs are both 8-0 heading into the final week of the regular season. They are the only undefeated teams in Class 4A.

Washington defeated Iowa City High, 28-7, Thursday night and plays this Friday at Burlington.

The Linn-Mar Lions (7-1) stayed in the No. 6 spot in the Class 4A poll after defeating Waterloo West, 63-28. Linn-Mar's only setback this season was to Washington. The Lions host Jefferson Friday night.

The Xavier Saints (5-3) fell from No. 5 to No. 10 in Class 3A after losing to Iowa City Regina, 21-7, Friday. The Saints host Marion Friday night.

CLASS 4A

1. Washington (8-0), 2. Bettendorf (8-0), 3. West Des Moines Valley (7-1), 4. Dowling (7-1), 5. Waukee (7-1), 6. Linn-Mar (7-1), 7. Ankeny (6-2), 8. Southeast Polk (5-3), 9. Pleasant Valley (5-3), 10. Lewis Central (7-1).

CLASS 3A

1. Pella (8-0), 2. Solon (7-1), 3. Sioux City Heelan (7-1), 4.Waverly-Shell Rock (6-2), 5. Dallas Center-Grimes (7-1), 6. West Delaware (7-1), 7. Clear Creek-Amana (7-1), 8. Carroll (7-1), 9. Humboldt (7-1), 10. Xavier (5-3).

6 Metro teams could make playoffs

Three Metro football teams have clinched spots in the football playoffs and three more Metro clubs are still alive heading into the final week of the regular season.

Washington and Linn-Mar have clinched Class 4A district titles and the Xavier Saints can win their Class 3A district crown with a victory over Marion Friday night.

Jefferson, Prairie and Kennedy are still in contention for Class 4A playoff spots heading into decisive contests.

The top-ranked Washington Warriors and sixth-ranked Linn-Mar Lions will be No. 1 seeds for the playoffs and will face a No. 4 seed in the opening round.

The fifth-ranked Xavier Saints are tied for first place in their district with Solon and Western Dubuque, but the Saints own the tiebreaker and will draw a No. 1 seed by topping Marion.

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Wash tops Little Hawks for district title

Conference champs one year, district champs the next.

The Washington Warriors have a good thing going with their football program these days.

The top-ranked Warriors spanked Iowa City High, 28-7, Thursday night at Kingston Stadium to capture the Class 4A District 6 title a year after claiming the final crown in the Mississippi Valley Conference.

"It feels pretty good," said Washington scatback Tavian Patrick, who scooted for a pair of touchdowns. "Last year we were conference champs, this year we're district champs. I think we've got something good going. We don't need to mess that up.

All of the Class 4A teams in Eastern Iowa switched from conference competition to districts this year. The Warriors surprised folks last season when they captured a league title, but they've been heavy favorites in their district since Day 1 this year.

"We're in a unique situation," said Washington Coach Paul James. "We won the last Valley divisional championship last year in the MVC and we open this year with the first district championship. I think it's a great accomplishment for these kids."

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