Metro Sports Report

Lewis resigns as Kennedy football coach

Tim Lewis, the winningest football coach in school history, has resigned at Kennedy High School after compiling a 78-65 record in 14 years.

Lewis will stay at Kennedy as a physical education teacher and head coach of the Kennedy strength and conditioning program, which he described as his true love and passion.

The Cougars finished 8-4 this season and reached the quarterfinals of the Class 4A playoffs.

Lewis began thinking about stepping aside as the football coach before the season began and informed Kennedy athletic director of his final decision Wednesday.

Saints ready to join 3A football

Xavier High School's days as a powerhouse in Class 4A football are probably over, with the Saints likely headed to Class 3A next year.

That's not all. The Mississippi Valley Conference's days as a football league could be over as well, with district football looming on the horizon for everyone.

The dominoes began to fall Thursday.

Sweeping grid playoff proposals tabled

BOONE - Perhaps the biggest news out of Thursday morning’s Iowa High School Athletic Association board meeting was that its members decided not to vote on a restructuring of the state football playoff system, instead opting to table the discussion until next month.

The IHSAA Football Playoff Committee met Wednesday, Dec. 5, and voted to put four measures in front of the board for vote, one of which dealt with overhauling the state playoff system. However, given that members had little time to evaluate the measures, the board will instead take action in January.

According to the minutes from last week’s meeting released to Metro Sports Report, the proposal would use week nine as the first round of playoffs for teams placing first through fourth in their district and the 4A qualifiers. For first round games in 8-player through Class 3A, district champions would play a fourth-place district team, and a district runner-up would play the third-place team. District champions would not play each other until the quarterfinal round.

Holland set rebound mark at 41*

The number sticks out like a 7-footer.

41.

Tom Holland of Jefferson was credited with 41 rebounds in a boys’ basketball game Feb. 20, 1970, against Clinton in his final home game. Gazette reporter Jack Ogden listed the total in his game story, citing Jefferson statisticians. That total, plus two other 30-plus rebound games by Holland, still are listed in the Jefferson record book.