Metro Sports Report

Kennedy defeats winless Waterloo West

WATERLOO - It was the same old song and dance for the Waterloo West football team Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

The winless Wahawks (0-8) hung tough early before falling to Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 42-19.

Kennedy (4-4) clinched a berth in the Class 4A playoffs.

West's Dequayvious Marion rushed for 230 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries.

Harper return a good one for Prairie

Prairie junior Demetrius Harper, playing his first game after breaking his collarbone Sept. 2, returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown with less than two minutes left in a tie game and lifted the Hawks past Dubuque Hempstead, 35-28, Friday night in a Mississippi Valley Conference football game at John Wall Field.

“We just got him (Harper) back this week from a collarbone injury, he has been itching all week to get out there,” Prairie Coach Mike Morrissey said. “He took advantage of what his 10 teammates on the field did. They really set him up well.”

Prairie (2-4, 2-6) posted its second win in as many weeks and all but ended Hempstead's playoff hopes. The Hawks still entertain an outside chance of making the playoffs, but need to beat No. 3 Iowa City High in their finale next Friday at Iowa City.

Saints have a Ball against J-Hawks, 37-10

Xavier lost its Valentine but still had a Ball Friday night at Kingston Stadium.

Senior Nick Ball replaced fellow senior Carter Valentine in the Xavier backfield midway through the second quarter and ran for 129 yards to help Xavier to a 37-10 win over Jefferson in a Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division football game.

Junior Reggie Schulte threw two touchdown passes and ran for another for the Saints (4-2 Valley, 5-3 overall). Xavier clinched a Class 4A playoff berth with the win.

"I don't keep track of the points I just try to win every game," Xavier Coach Duane Schulte said. "But this gets us a winning season and that's important."

The Saints close out the regular season at home against No. 3 Linn-Mar next Friday.

Jefferson (0-5, 0-8) lost its 21st straight game in its final regular-season home game.

Marion tumbles at Union, 45-14

LA PORTE CITY - The up-and-down Marion Indians saw their Class 3A playoff dreams go up in smoke Friday night by falling on the road to District 5 qualifier Union, 45-14.

"It's the same thing it's been all year," said Marion Coach Tony Perkins. "We find ways to beat ourselves.

"We do silly things like miss blocks or miss tackles. We fumble the ball at a bad time or have an interception. Or we have a costly penalty. We seem to always do things to hurt ourselves."

With one game left against district leader Maquoketa, the Indians are now out of the postseason picture at 4-4 overall and 2-4 in district play. The Union Knights, meanwhile, improved to 6-2 and 4-2.