Metro Sports Report

Vincent twins look to tackle Dowling

Sam Vincent and his twin brother, Connor, have gone through life side-by-side ever since Sam joined the world a scant 30 minutes before his "younger" brother arrived on the scene.

They've been partners in life and partners on the Cedar Rapids Washington football team, which will be gunning for the first state title in school history when it faces Dowling in the Class 4A finals Friday night at 7:06 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

The top-ranked Warriors have a perfect 13-0 record and the fourth-ranked Maroons are 12-1, but Dowling is the defending champion and features all-state quarterback Ryan Boyle.

Washington needs to prevent Boyle from stealing the show, which is where the Vincent twins prominently enter the picture. Connor is an all-state linebacker who leads the Warriors in tackles, while Sam also plays linebacker and ranks third in stops.

No. 1 Warriors have new role for state finals

The Washington Warriors are ranked No. 1 in the state and have a perfect 13-0 record, but they'll have a new role Friday night when they face Dowling Catholic in the championship game of the Class 4A football playoffs.

Underdogs.

"Right. Definitely," Washington Coach Paul James agreed after practice Monday. "Dowling is the defending champ.

"They've got size and they've got skill people that are excellent. They're a very good team."

The fourth-ranked Maroons (12-1) lost to West Des Moines Valley, 24-21, earlier in the season, but they have a powerful club and a tradition-rich program. Dowling has won four state titles, including two titles in the past four years.

In fact, teams from the CIML have captured the last four Class 4A state football crowns with Dowling (2010), West Des Moines Valley (2011), Ankeny (2012) and Dowling again (2013).

Connor Vincent, Washington's star linebacker, thinks most people probably see Dowling as the favorite.

"Yeah, I would say so," he remarked. "I think a lot of people are rooting for Dowling. It's definitely motivation."

Warriors yearn to finish perfect year

Washington Coach Paul James was in a playful mood after the Warriors topped Bettendorf in the semifinals of the Class 4A football playoffs Friday night in the UNI-Dome.

James will never boast or brag, especially about himself, but he momentarily stumped a couple of reporters when he mentioned this will be his second trip to the state finals with the Warriors in five years.

James led Washington to the championship game in 2003 during his first stint as head coach and is returning again in 2014, which makes two trips to the finals in 12 seasons.

Two trips in five years did not make sense, until James slyly explained: He coached Washington in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and coached again in 2013 and 2014, so that's two trips in five years. He conveniently left out the seven-year span from 2006 through 2012 when he was Washington's athletic director but not the coach.

Reid Snitker wins Metro Spotlight Award

Cedar Rapids Washington senior Reid Snitker is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school boys this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Snitker is one of the leading players on the top-ranked Washington football team that will face West Des Moines Dowling in the Class 4A championship game Friday night in the UNI-Dome.

Snitker played a superb game in a 28-17 victory over second-ranked Bettendorf in the semifinals Friday night. He hit 7 of 10 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns for his best passing game of the year, just when the Warriors needed him the most.