CF v Prairie

[WDM_OVER_ALL]

Looks to be one of the biggest games in the state Friday.... can Prairie knock offf Cedar falls? Predictions?

 

[oldtimefootball]

Agreed, one of the better match-ups in 4a. Think Cedar Falls defense is the difference. CF by 10 plus.

 

[CFTigers68]

Prairie has size, but are probably too reliant on the run against CF. Simmons is a great RB and is likely to get yards, but the CF defense should slow them down. I don't know if you can say the same about Prairie's defense vs CF's offense. It will be a good game.

 

[CF_93]

CF has posted 5 shutouts, and given up 37 points all year (30 by starting D). And CF's size on offense has created mismatches with everyone they've played. OL goes 6'2" 270, 6'4" 285, 6'1" 298, 6'3" 285, and 6'4" 300, plus height and athleticism at the skill positions (6'5" QB Cael Loecher, 6'4" WR Logan Wolf, 6'7" TE Jackson Frericks).

 

[CFTigers68]

Looking back, the numbers from their only close game, Bettendorf, indicate they might not be as dominant against the better teams. However, that was against one of the best QB runners/passers in the state. Containing him was an issue, especially with the passing threat. Porter was a non-factor and Kalar was not effective. I don't think Prairie can offer anything close to the threat Bell presented.

 

[CF_93]

Porter was a factor, in as far as he had to be respected as a downfield threat. So if nothing else, he helped spread the defense, which opened things up for Bell. That said, CF made good halftime adjustments that game, outscoring Bettendorf 15-6 in the second half (and those 6 points are the only 2nd half points scored against the first team defense this season), after being outscored 17-14 in the first half. CF starting RB Sam Gary didn't play in that game either due to injury.

As for Prairie, I could see this game going similarly to the Ankeny and Hempstead games, where CF had some early issues with both, adjusted at half, and pulled away in the 2nd half. CF trailed Ankeny 7-0 at half, only to outscore them 28-0 in the 2nd half. Hempstead runs a Wing-T, which there may be some similar elements to that in what Prairie runs I suspect. If Prairie is unable to at least make CF respect their ability to pass, and are one dimensional, there really is no path to victory there for Prairie. Prairie will have to be able to force turnovers, and hit the occasional deep pass to spread the defense. If not, it's going to be a long night for them

 

[franky1967]

Cedar Falls needs its Runningback or a Runningback to step up and deliver.

 

[CFTigers68]

Cedar Falls needs its Runningback or a Runningback to step up and deliver.

Yes. They need some ball control. It has not been an easy year for them on the ground.

 

[CFTigers68]

Yes. They need some ball control. It has not been an easy year for them on the ground.

And even then, they are #2 in the state. Solid all around

 

[CFTigers68]

That was a good win for Cedar Falls. They had to earn every bit of it. I will say that the Prairie coach leaves a lot to be desired with his complaining to the Gazette. Tacky.

“I love our kids,” Bliss said. “They battled, and that’s all you can ask for, honestly. We competed hard, we just didn’t get any breaks tonight.”

The coach was upset by the untimely holding penalty, saying Cedar Falls held several times during the game but was not called. He also was upset by a 15-yard personal foul penalty on his team for a helmet-to-helmet hit that kept a second-quarter drive alive that CF eventually scored on.

“I’m being honest with you, that crew was absolutely horrible,” Bliss said. “I don’t care if that’s in the paper or not. I don’t know how they worked a state championship game last year. They were going to make sure they got what they wanted.”

 

[CF_93]

Yeah, I don't know what he wanted. CF drew more flags on them than Prairie as it was. And that targetting call is going to get called every single time. Loecher was already going down in the grasp of two other players when the helmet to helmet contact came. That's a pretty obvious player safety issue.