Metro Sports Report

Lions up to No. 2 in 4A football poll

Linn-Mar's football team moved up one spot to No. 2 in the Associated Press Class 4A poll released Monday.

The Lions (9-0) completed the regular season last Friday with a 28-7 win over Xavier. They moved up after previous No. 2 Cedar Falls was upset by Iowa City West, 21-10.

Linn-Mar opens the playoffs Wednesday against unranked Clinton (3-6) at Linn-Mar.

West Des Moines Valley (9-0) remained the top-ranked team in 4A. Southeast Polk (8-1), Bettendorf (8-1) and Ankeny (8-1) complete the top five.

Cedar Falls (8-1) fell to No. 6, followed by West Des Moines Dowling (7-2), North Scott (8-1), Iowa City High (7-2) and Des Moines Lincoln (8-1) round out the top 10.

Kennedy (5-4) plays at Iowa City High in Wednesday's first round.

Clear Lake (9-0), Iowa City Regina (9-0) and Armstrong-Ringsted (9-0) remain the top ranked teams in 3A, 2A and 8-Man. Emmetsburg (9-0) replaced Council Bluffs St. Albert (9-0) atop the 1A poll, and Lisbon (9-0) is No. 1 in Class A.

Lions spike J-Hawks in regional opener

Linn-Mar volleyball coach Rob Justis knows when to call an important timeout.

The Lions fell behind Jefferson, 16-8, in the first game of the Class 4A regional quarterfinals at Linn-Mar Monday night when Justis decided it was time for a chat.

Justis told his players to take a deep breath, relax and have fun. They were words of wisdom.

Linn-Mar rallied and defeated Jefferson, 21-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-11 to advance to the regional semifinals.

The Lions (10-25) will play Dubuque Hempstead in the semifinals Thursday night at 7 at Linn-Mar.

Justis convinced his players to calm down.

"We've been to the state tournament the last two years, but there's really only two girls on this team that have been through that," he said.

Megan Allmandinger and Meghan Holdgrafer are experienced veterans, but the Lions also have four inexperienced sophomores on the floor.

"They were a little too excited, maybe," he said. "Things were maybe going a little too fast for them. They just needed to slow down and relax and play volleyball."

Where are they now? Vying for starting jobs

Only a few months ago, they were donning caps and gowns, teenagers graduating from high school. Now they’re off on their own, the memories of prep glory behind them. They have arrived in such places as Iowa City and Cedar Falls, Madison and Knoxville, soaking in college life and enduring the rigors of major college athletics.

Last winter was regarded by many as one of the best collections of boys’ basketball talent ever in the Metro area. First-team all-staters included a senior crop of Jarrod Uthoff of Jefferson, Josh Oglesby and Wes Washpun of Washington, and Matt Bohannon of Linn-Mar. A junior sensation, guard Marcus Paige of Linn-Mar, also made the first team.

College basketball practices began last week and already we’re getting a glimmer of how last year’s stars may contribute very quickly at the next level.

Heitland is only member of 700/500 Club

Kennedy senior Trevor Heitland has joined an exclusive club this season.

In fact, he's the only member.

Heitland is the only Class 4A football player in the state who's rushed for more than 700 yards and caught passes for more than 500 yards this season.

That makes him the only 700/500 man among all the big-school players in those two departments.

Basketball has players who get double-doubles in points and rebounds. Baseball has 20/20 players who hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases. And Class 4A football has Heitland.