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Big openers on tap for Metro gridders

There was no grand design. Nobody sat down and tried to fill the opening night of the 2014 high school football season with intriguing matchups, but that's how it turned out.

No matter where you look, all of the eight Metro teams will have an interesting battle on their hands when they open the campaign Friday night.

You've got the ancient rivalry of Washington vs. Jefferson at Kingston Stadium, with the Warriors looking to build on last year's momentum and the improved J-Hawks looking to accomplish big things this year with newcomer Jesse Furrow at quarterback.

You've got Linn-Mar at Prairie, where the Lions are hoping to rebound from a couple of sub-par campaigns and the Hawks are looking to improve upon a .500 season behind 300-pound lineman Bryce Meeker, a future Iowa State Cyclone.

There's Kennedy at Iowa City West, where both teams have new head coaches who were promoted from within the program.

There's Marion at Mount Vernon, where the Indians will be tackling the start of a demanding schedule.

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Waukee nips Kennedy at Hunters Ridge

The Waukee Warriors spoiled the day for the Kennedy Cougars and everyone else at the Linn-Mar Invitational golf tournament Monday at Hunters Ridge.

Tripp Kinney of Waukee fired a 3-under-par 69 to claim medalist honors and lead the Warriors to the team championship.

Waukee nipped Kennedy, 305-306, for the title.

Cole Murdock of Kennedy finished second in the individual standings with a2-over 74. The Cougars got a 75 from Conner Koberg and a 76 from Davis Sutton, but all their other golfers shot in the 80's.

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Meeker, Beckman give Prairie big boost

Bryce Meeker has been a big boy for a long time.

He weighed 260 pounds when he began playing varsity football at Cedar Rapids Prairie as a precocious freshman in 2011, battling older guys and more than holding his own.

He's gained 10 or 15 pounds every year and is now an imposing physical specimen at 300 pounds, ready for his final campaign with the Hawks and a spot with the Iowa State Cyclones next year.

"I'm feeling good. I'm feeling really good," he said this week at practice.

"I'm just taking everything in. Going out and proving something," he said. "Not taking any reps off, not trying to be a kid who commits and then takes a season off.

"I want to go out and prove something. We're still a family and a team out here. Just trying to do everything I can."

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Sutton fires 65 as Cougars win MVC title

WATERLOO - Davis Sutton and the Kennedy Cougars collected a resounding victory at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Golf Meet at Gates Park in Waterloo Thursday.

Sutton fired a 7-under-65 to grab medalist honors and the Cougars won the conference title by 18 shots over Xavier.

Kennedy claimed four spots in the top-10 standings. Ross Grekoff was fifth with an even-par 72, Cole Murdock finished sixth at 73 and Conner Koberg was eighth with a 74.

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