Metro Sports Report

Waterloo East rallies past Prairie, 22-14

WATERLOO - After struggling offensively in the first half of their Mississippi Valley Conference tilt with Cedar Rapids Prairie Friday night, host Waterloo East decided to show its guest a little Love.

Actually, the Trojans gave the Hawks plenty of Love.

Senior halfback Corshundous Love ran wild in the second half, leading the Trojans to their first four-win season in more than a decade with a come-from-behind, 22-14 victory.

"I wasn't gonna hold back tonight," Love said of his team-leading 117 yards. "Sometimes I really don't show up, but tonight I showed up. I wasn't holding nothing back."

Love had key carries throughout the second half to keep drives alive, including two first-down runs rolled up in a 9-minute, 70-yard drive to start the second half.

After trailing 14-8 at intermission, the Trojans (4-2) used a hard-nosed running attack that produced 343 net yards to wear down the Hawks (0-6).

Griffin cleared to play football for Warriors

Cedar Rapids Washington tailback Will Griffin has not played football all season due to ankle surgery in August, but he's still being recruited by Drake, South Dakota State, Winona State, Eastern Illinois and possibly the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Just think what might happen if he ever carries the ball.

Griffin was supposed to be Washington's featured tailback this year, but he injured his right ankle during the first week of training camp and has been reduced to a cheerleader and informal coach ever since. That could change soon.

Griffin has been cleared to play in Friday night's game at No. 2 Iowa City High, but Washington Coach Tony Lombardi said Griffin is not ready to carry the load.

"He is not at full speed. Not even close," Lombardi said after practice Thursday.

Lombardi wants to give Griffin a few snaps, if possible, to get him back in the swing of things after missing the first five games of the season. He thinks Griffin needs to play in a game to accelerate his recovery, as long as he doesn't overdo it.

Sam Wagner ranked 2nd in state in diving

Linn-Mar senior Sam Wagner is ranked as one of the top divers in Iowa this season.

Wagner is ranked No. 2 in the six-dive competition with 262.8 points and is listed No. 4 in the 11-dive competition with 384.3 points, according to the IGHSAU website.

Linn-Mar senior Emilie Berg is ranked third in the state in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.93). The Lions are ranked third in the 200 freestyle relay (1:42.58) and fourth in the 200 medley relay (1:54.56).

Cedar Rapids Washington sophomore Jackie Hughes is ranked fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.63) and sixth in the 200 individual medley (2:13.27).

Cedar Rapids Kennedy senior Lexi Scharmer is ranked 10th in the 100 butterfly (1:01.11). The Cougars are ranked fifth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:43.68), eighth in the 200 medley relay (1:55.96) and ninth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:49.01).

Linn-Mar is ranked seventh in the team standings. Kennedy is ninth, Washington 15th and Jefferson 28th.

The top 10 teams in the state are Ames, Cedar Falls, West Des Moines Valley, Iowa City West, Johnston, Dowling Catholic, Linn-Mar, Pleasant Valley, Kennedy and Waukee.

Washington's Heald leads MVC in receiving

Washington senior Flynn Heald is the leading receiver in the Mississippi Valley Conference with 41 receptions, according to statistics supplied to the Iowa High School Athletic Association.

Xavier's Carter Valentine is No. 3 in rushing with 573 yards, just ahead of Linn-Mar's Mitch Wantock, who has 537 yards. Washington's Mitch Bredeson is ninth with 433 yards.

Cedar Falls' Barkley Hill leads the conference in rushing with 1,135 yards. Iowa City High's Ronald Thompson is second with 1,068. Hill has scored 21 touchdowns, Thompson 14.

Linn-Mar's Mark Atwater is second ranked in passing with a quarterback rating of 192.8 that is less than a point behind Dubuque Wahlert's Riley McCarron. Atwater is third in passing yards with 872 and is tied with McCarron for first in touchdown passes with 12.

Xavier's Reggie Schulte is seventh in passing with a 133.4 rating, Washington's Braedon Tovey eighth (126.9) and Kennedy's Chico Lizarraga 10th (123.8).

Five Metro preps are among the top 10 in receiving, led by Heald. Linn-Mar's Andy Henry is fourth with 22, Xavier's Corbin Woods fifth (19), Jefferson's Christian Knox tied for sixth (18), and  Kennedy's Trevor Heitland tied for 10th (14).  Henry and Dubuque Wahlert's Brady Williams lead the MVC with seven touchdown catches.

Heald's 689 receiving yards also lead the MVC. Kennedy's Josh Jahlas leads in yards per catch with a 25.6 average.