Prairie Football

Mark Bliss named Prairie football coach

Prairie High School Athletic Director Rocky Bennett has announced the hiring of Mark Bliss as head football coach pending board approval.

Bliss comes to Cedar Rapids Prairie from Ozark High School in Ozark, Mo., with 26 years of experience in education and athletics. Bliss succeeds Mike Morrissey, who resigned after four seasons to accept a coaching job in Arizona.

"On behalf of myself and my family I want to thank the College Community School District for giving us this incredible opportunity to be a part of their family," said Bliss. "After thorough research and input from close family friends who live in the Cedar Rapids area, I have no doubt we are moving to a community that prides itself on providing essential resources for all of its students to attain a quality education.

"I look forward to getting started and it will be our mission to build a program that will compete at the highest level and give the Prairie community something to be proud of."

Read more...

JoJo Simpson commits to Upper Iowa

Cedar Rapids Prairie defensive end JoJo Simpson has accepted an offer to play football at Upper Iowa University, Prairie Coach Mike Morrissey confirmed Thursday afternoon.

Simpson was named second team all-state in Class 4A by the Des Moines Register this season. He was a first-team selection on the all-Metro and all-District teams.

Simpson, who is 6 feet and 250 pounds, used his combination of strength and speed to collect 12 sacks and 21 tackles-for-loss during the 2014 season. He made 74 tackles for the Hawks, who made the playoffs and finished 4-6.

Simpson also carried the ball 37 times for 303 yards and four touchdowns, caught two passes for 32 yards and had a 38.4-yard average as the punter.

Morrissey leaving Prairie for Arizona

Mike Morrissey informed his players Monday after school in a team meeting that he was resigning after four years as Prairie's head football coach.

Morrissey is leaving at the end of the 2014-2015 school year for a teaching and head football coach position in Arizona, pending their board's approval.

Under Morrissey in four seasons, his Prairie teams reached the playoffs three times and in 2012 reached the quarterfinals. During his tenure at Prairie, 20 players received All-Conference and All-Metro recognition including eight All-State selections.

Read more...

9 Metro gridders named all-state

Nine football players from the Metro area have been named all-state by the Des Moines Register.

Julian Good-Jones and Connor Vincent of Cedar Rapids Washington were named to the elite all-state squad after helping the Warriors finish 13-1 and reach the Class 4A finals. Good-Jones was selected on the offensive line and Vincent was named at linebacker.

Reid Snitker of Washington made the Class 4A first team as a defensive back. Bryce Meeker of Prairie was named first team in 4A on the offensive line and JoJo Simpson of Prairie was named to the second team in 4A on the defensive line.

Three members of the Xavier Saints were honored as second-team selections in Class 3A. Tim Otting was selected on the offensive line, Jay Kortemeyer was named at running back and Michael Maher was named to the defensive line.

Eric Gustafson of Cedar Valley Christian was named second team all-state on defense in Eight-Player football.