Metro schools Prairie, Kennedy, Jefferson and Marion fell by the wayside in either the substate or first round of the state football playoffs, but Washington and Xavier are still playing. They are two of eight teams statewide alive in the Class 4A quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
Washington (10-1) hosts defending state champion Bettendorf (11-0) at Kingston Stadium Friday night. Xavier (8-3) has to travel 60 miles north to face Cedar Falls (10-1) in the comfort of the UNI-Dome. Folks, these promise to be two outstanding big-school football games with most “experts” thinking the eventual 4A state champion will come from the east side of the state. West Des Moines Valley (or Ankeny, Ames or Dowling) will have something to say about that, of course.
But the east side’s final four is a formidable lot. The weather is suppose to be crappy Friday night, but try to make it out to Kingston for the Bettendorf-Washington game, unless you’re heading to the 72-degree UNI-Dome to watch the Saints. It should be state championship-caliber football.
I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to seeing what stadium manager Matt Dunbar has for a pre-game spread in the pressbox. No pressure here, Matt. Cookies and bottled water will be just fine. It will be the final game played at Kingston on its grass field. FieldTurf comes in ‘09. This is going to be fun.
