Prairie High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

No.6 Lions pounce on Prairie, 44-14

Linn-Mar Coach Bob Forsyth preached all week in practice that he wanted his team to come out strong in its upcoming game against Prairie.

Come Friday night, the word "strong" proved to be a bit of an understatement.

Led by senior gunslinger Mark Atwater, the sixth-ranked Lions ran out to a 37-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 44-14 victory over Prairie at John Wall Field.

“Our coaches and our kids did a great job of getting ready this week,” Forsyth said. “We wanted to come out and explode and get at it right away.

"We knew this was a big rivalry with Prairie and we wanted to just get going and the kids were able to do that," he said. "We were able to get our jayvee team in there in the second half so it really worked out well.”

Atwater was stellar despite playing only two quarters. He hit 13 of 19 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 33 yards and another score.

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Prairie golfers win MVC quad in Dubuque

DUBUQUE - Mitch Wagner and Colyn Snyder shot 4-over-par 39s Monday to help Cedar Rapids Prairie win a Mississippi Valley Conference quadrangular meet at the Dubuque Country Club.

Prairie finished with a four-man score of 164, nipping Dubuque Senior and Dubuque Wahlert by a single shot.

Quinn Dawson of Dubuque Senior was the medalist with a 3-over 38.

PRAIRIE (164): Mitch Wagner 39, Colyn Snyder 39, Matt Edl 42, Drew Digman  44, Jared Wagner 45, Ian Graham 53.

DUBUQUE SENIOR (165): Quinn Dawson 38, Ryan Jantsch 41, Justin Wagner 42, Connor Grant 44, Ben Zillig 44, Josh Weeber 45.

DUBUQUE WAHLERT (165): Christian Rapp 39, Connor Kruger 41, Greg Lange 42, Jack Hoy 43, Charlie Smith 44, Jerry Lange 47.

WATERLOO EAST (202): Clay Wilkinson 42, Ryan Plummer 47, Tyler Kirchman 55, Nathan Bryant 58, Cody Parker 63, Bryce Frost 67.

Prairie drubbed by Iowa City West, 50-8

IOWA CITY - Sixty-seven.

No, that was not the temperature Friday night when the Iowa City West football team faced Cedar Rapids Prairie. It was much more brisk than that.

The number 67 refers to Prairie's total yards from scrimmage.

In a football game where the Iowa City West defense held Prairie to its fewest yards of the season, the Trojans steamrolled the Hawks 50-8 on a chilly September night at the Iowa City West field.

The opening snap that Prairie took on offense was a fumbled quarterback/center exchange, and it looked like something was amiss for the Hawks all night.

“We just came out really flat today,” said Prairie receiver Jason Vizzini. “They took full advantage.”

West’s defense blanketed Prairie receivers but didn’t really need to, as quarterback Jace Hanna was sacked seven times and was constantly under pressure. The Trojan defense allowed only two Prairie first downs in the first half.

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Prairie gains confidence after scaring Cedar Falls

Things didn't look good for the Cedar Rapids Prairie football team last week.

Demetrius Harper, their top weapon, broke his collarbone Sept. 2 and was lost for the rest of the regular season, and the Hawks had to face top-ranked Cedar Falls after being shut out by Xavier.

If you follow Prairie football, you know what happened next. The Hawks gave Cedar Falls a tough game before falling, 41-28, and their confidence has soared despite an 0-3 start.

"It makes us feel like we can play with anybody in the state now and that we can beat anybody," Prairie quarterback Jace Hanna said Thursday after practice.

The Hawks visit Iowa City West (2-1) Friday night, continuing their meatgrinder schedule that's featured Washington (2-1), Xavier (3-0), Cedar Falls (3-0) and now West.

"I think we've made progress from Week 1 until now," new head coach Mike Morrissey said. "It might not show it in the standings, but I feel like our kids are getting better.

"They're gaining confidence with what we're doing on both sides of the ball, and believing in themselves a little bit more. You see that in these guys even walking the hallway.

"Even though our record might not show it, these guys are winners. They've given a total effort, they understand what it means now. And eventually it will pay off."

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