Second Round Playoff Matchups - Get your Predictions in NOW!

[LukeFeddersen]

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley @ Webster City
Carroll @ Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Creston @ Pella
Dallas Center-Grimes @ Ballard
Decorah @ Xavier, Cedar Rapids
Maquoketa @ Assumption, Davenport
Norwalk @ Gilbert
Solon @ West Delaware, Manchester

 

[KidSilverhair]

My first-round predictions were awful, so I'm not even going there.

As far as looking ahead to possible quarterfinal pairings - I can hardly see any way Pella doesn't get grouped with the eastern teams, assuming they win. Should Creston pull the upset, then one of the Gilbert/Ballard/Norwalk/DCG group would have to be with the east siders.

The winners of SBL/Carroll and BHRV/Webster City will almost assuredly play each other. The only other possibility is if both Webster City and Carroll win, then they might get paired with the Gilbert/Ballard/Norwalk/DCG winners.

The east side could get matched up any number of ways. Assuming wins by the home teams, I think the most likely scenario is Xavier/Pella and West Del/Assumption, but that could get switched up in just about any combination. Should Decorah win, we've got serious travel issues. They'd probably play the Maquoketa/Assumption winner, with West Del getting matched with Pella, maybe? I guess West Del could play Webster City, especially if SBL also loses, but if SBL wins that's a long haul between there and central Iowa.

So many things to consider ...

 

[fmclonefan]

That was a fantastic slate of first round match-ups! Many great games and several games that made me look pretty stupid in that round. I missed the Carlisle -- DCG game badly. DCG just hammered em. Those rematches are tough wins though as Creston, Decorah, Solon, and BH/RV showed us. But, that's what makes this fun! Let's try it again, shall we?

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley @ Webster City - That WC run game is a force. Leads 3A in rushing as a team by 400 yards. BH/RV had a great win over Heelan, but I think it will stop here.

Carroll @ Sergeant Bluff-Luton - Nice wins by both teams last night, but Carroll's was definitely more impressive. Manhandled a very good Glenwood team. Carroll showed a passing game last night and burned the Rams many times for TD's. SBL has a very good running game and will get their yards, but SBL hasn't been the most stout on D either. I'll pick Carroll in a high scoring, close game.

Creston @ Pella - How 'bout Creston? Looked like they dominated Harlan last night after really struggling with them a few weeks ago. Creston's line is massive. Not sure how they lost the games that they did and lost some of them big. Meanwhile, Pella continues to roll. I think Creston will run more effectively on Pella then anyone has this year, but I don't think they can win a shootout with Pella. I like Pella to win comfortably as Creston's horses will watch Clayberg run by them.

Dallas Center-Grimes @ Ballard - Ballard had a nice win last night in taking a close one. DCG has had a very nice year and showed last night that they are still a force to be reckoned with, even without the stud QB. DCG has a great supporting cast. I don't think this game will be close enough for Ballard to pull this one out. DCG wins comfortably.

Decorah @ Xavier, Cedar Rapids - Interesting game. If you would have asked me last week about a matchup between these teams, I would've thought Xavier would win comfortably. Not so sure now. I still think Xavier will win, but Decorah really showed some grit and toughness last night. Probably will be a close game, but Xavier just knows how to win.

Maquoketa @ Assumption, Davenport - Nice matchup. Maquoketa has had a very good year, but has struggled against better competition (West Delaware, Xavier, Indee). Assumption just keep rolling along. Argo has been throwing the ball well. Expect Assumption to win by at least 2 TD's.

Norwalk @ Gilbert - I think the rest of the state may be sleeping on Norwalk some. They are a really good team that is going to be a very difficult out. That is not a team that I would want to face. They have a great passing attack and a defense that is big, fast, and tough. Gilbert can run the ball well, but I think they will struggle against Norwalk on both sides of the ball. Norwalk walks out of Gilbert with the W.

Solon @ West Delaware, Manchester - Solon with some redemption last night! Great win over a tough Washington team on the road. The WD train continues to roll though. They appear to be healthy (unlike last year) and are rolling towards the dome. I think Solon will have difficulties containing the WD offense. WD pulls away the second half.

So, if this actually goes as I predict (which we all know it won't). This is what I would predict for quarterfinal games. Remember, the tie breaker for home field is:
1. Higher respective district finish
2. Better respective district record
3. Head-to-head
4. Alphabetical- this year the school listed first will host

Carroll @ Webster City
Norwalk @ Dallas Center-Grimes
Pella @ Assumption
Xavier @ West Delaware

But these could be paired up several different ways, so just a guess.

 

[Vroom_C14]

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley @ Webster City
Carroll @ Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Creston @ Pella
Dallas Center-Grimes @ Ballard
Decorah @ Xavier, Cedar Rapids
Maquoketa @ Assumption, Davenport
Norwalk @ Gilbert
Solon @ West Delaware, Manchester

 

[tbrownsln]

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley @ Webster City
Carroll @ Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Creston @ Pella
Dallas Center-Grimes @ Ballard
Decorah @ Xavier, Cedar Rapids
Maquoketa @ Assumption, Davenport
Norwalk @ Gilbert
Solon @ West Delaware, Manchester

 

[El_Doce]

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley @ Webster City
Carroll @ Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Creston @ Pella
Dallas Center-Grimes @ Ballard
Decorah @ Xavier, Cedar Rapids
Maquoketa @ Assumption, Davenport
Norwalk @ Gilbert
Solon @ West Delaware, Manchester

 

[Ford26]

That was a fantastic slate of first round match-ups! Many great games and several games that made me look pretty stupid in that round. I missed the Carlisle -- DCG game badly. DCG just hammered em. Those rematches are tough wins though as Creston, Decorah, Solon, and BH/RV showed us. But, that's what makes this fun! Let's try it again, shall we?

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley @ Webster City - That WC run game is a force. Leads 3A in rushing as a team by 400 yards. BH/RV had a great win over Heelan, but I think it will stop here.

Carroll @ Sergeant Bluff-Luton - Nice wins by both teams last night, but Carroll's was definitely more impressive. Manhandled a very good Glenwood team. Carroll showed a passing game last night and burned the Rams many times for TD's. SBL has a very good running game and will get their yards, but SBL hasn't been the most stout on D either. I'll pick Carroll in a high scoring, close game.

Creston @ Pella - How 'bout Creston? Looked like they dominated Harlan last night after really struggling with them a few weeks ago. Creston's line is massive. Not sure how they lost the games that they did and lost some of them big. Meanwhile, Pella continues to roll. I think Creston will run more effectively on Pella then anyone has this year, but I don't think they can win a shootout with Pella. I like Pella to win comfortably as Creston's horses will watch Clayberg run by them.

Dallas Center-Grimes @ Ballard - Ballard had a nice win last night in taking a close one. DCG has had a very nice year and showed last night that they are still a force to be reckoned with, even without the stud QB. DCG has a great supporting cast. I don't think this game will be close enough for Ballard to pull this one out. DCG wins comfortably.

Decorah @ Xavier, Cedar Rapids - Interesting game. If you would have asked me last week about a matchup between these teams, I would've thought Xavier would win comfortably. Not so sure now. I still think Xavier will win, but Decorah really showed some grit and toughness last night. Probably will be a close game, but Xavier just knows how to win.

Maquoketa @ Assumption, Davenport - Nice matchup. Maquoketa has had a very good year, but has struggled against better competition (West Delaware, Xavier, Indee). Assumption just keep rolling along. Argo has been throwing the ball well. Expect Assumption to win by at least 2 TD's.

Norwalk @ Gilbert - I think the rest of the state may be sleeping on Norwalk some. They are a really good team that is going to be a very difficult out. That is not a team that I would want to face. They have a great passing attack and a defense that is big, fast, and tough. Gilbert can run the ball well, but I think they will struggle against Norwalk on both sides of the ball. Norwalk walks out of Gilbert with the W.

Solon @ West Delaware, Manchester - Solon with some redemption last night! Great win over a tough Washington team on the road. The WD train continues to roll though. They appear to be healthy (unlike last year) and are rolling towards the dome. I think Solon will have difficulties containing the WD offense. WD pulls away the second half.

So, if this actually goes as I predict (which we all know it won't). This is what I would predict for quarterfinal games. Remember, the tie breaker for home field is:
1. Higher respective district finish
2. Better respective district record
3. Head-to-head
4. Alphabetical- this year the school listed first will host

Carroll @ Webster City
Norwalk @ Dallas Center-Grimes
Pella @ Assumption
Xavier @ West Delaware

But these could be paired up several different ways, so just a guess.

It would seem odd to me to pair up two teams who did not finish as district champions, ensuring a non-district winner the opportunity to go to the dome. Meanwhile, other district champions will be pitted against each other.

I would argue that the success in district play should still be a primary factor in match-ups, as opposed to ensuring a non-district champion would make the dome.

Thoughts?

 

[wdmsportsguy]

If you're talking about the potential Norwalk/DCG matchup that fmclonefan predicted above...remember-DCG was a district champion. They were SEEDED 2nd because of the points tiebreaker. I realize it's a technicality, but it is what it is. Also--any chance the state takes it easy on Norwalk next round (if they win) because they're giving them the screw-job of making them play 4A football next year??

 

[Ford26]

If you're talking about the potential Norwalk/DCG matchup that fmclonefan predicted above...remember-DCG was a district champion. They were SEEDED 2nd because of the points tiebreaker. I realize it's a technicality, but it is what it is. Also--any chance the state takes it easy on Norwalk next round (if they win) because they're giving them the screw-job of making them play 4A football next year??

I understand the technicality. However, because of the tie-breaker, THEY ARE NOT the number one seed. Somebody else beat them in criteria. That makes them, for purposes of seedings, less than a district champion.

Regarding the screw-job, that's a numbers thing, too. 4A is a tough bracket because of the disparity between largest and smallest populations. Probably 1/2 the field can make the same claim.

 

[fmclonefan]

It would seem odd to me to pair up two teams who did not finish as district champions, ensuring a non-district winner the opportunity to go to the dome. Meanwhile, other district champions will be pitted against each other.

I would argue that the success in district play should still be a primary factor in match-ups, as opposed to ensuring a non-district champion would make the dome.

Thoughts?

I certainly see your point. I just went with it based more on geography as I don't know if the state will make Norwalk or DCG travel past Pella to get to Xavier or Assumption. They sure might do that because of what you pointed out. I certainly don't think they would send DCG there as they are considered SW Iowa due to the district that they are in. Norwalk is clearly central Iowa, so maybe they would be sent east and Pella would have DCG. Doesn't make geographical sense, but could happen!

 

[Ford26]

I certainly see your point. I just went with it based more on geography as I don't know if the state will make Norwalk or DCG travel past Pella to get to Xavier or Assumption. They sure might do that because of what you pointed out. I certainly don't think they would send DCG there as they are considered SW Iowa due to the district that they are in. Norwalk is clearly central Iowa, so maybe they would be sent east and Pella would have DCG. Doesn't make geographical sense, but could happen!

Who's to know. They sent Carlisle to Washington two years in a row. Boone tends to be a fickle bunch. Most recent head-scratcher is the large number of intra-district battles 1st round they scheduled.

 

[Boltup]

When #1 seeds don't play like #1 seeds and get beat, what do you expect? Harlan, a 1 seed gets beat in the first round, leads to these 2nd round match-ups. In the above scenario, 2 seed Norwalk goes on to beat a 1 seed Gilbert a 2 seed Carroll beats a 1 seed SBL and a 2 seed DCG beats a 2 seed Ballard. Third round is the final eight teams and when three 1 seeds get beat you can't have all final 8 team match-ups be 1 vs 1 games, especially if it is based on geography.

 

[KidSilverhair]

Who's to know. They sent Carlisle to Washington two years in a row. Boone tends to be a fickle bunch. Most recent head-scratcher is the large number of intra-district battles 1st round they scheduled.

Nothing head-scratching about it. There's a hard 125-mile travel limit for the first round. Those district rematches were out of necessity - there were no other possibilities within that limit.

 

[KidSilverhair]

So, if this actually goes as I predict (which we all know it won't). This is what I would predict for quarterfinal games. Remember, the tie breaker for home field is:
1. Higher respective district finish
2. Better respective district record
3. Head-to-head
4. Alphabetical- this year the school listed first will host

Carroll @ Webster City
Norwalk @ Dallas Center-Grimes
Pella @ Assumption
Xavier @ West Delaware

But these could be paired up several different ways, so just a guess.

Pretty good guesses here. I think if either Ballard or Gilbert can win, and both Webster City and Carroll win, the state might - might - set up the Ames-area teams with Webster City and Carroll. If either BHRV or SBL win, that's probably off the table. If both Norwalk and DCG win, it'll probably look like you have it here.

If the district champs east of I-35 all win, I could see any combination as possible - Xavier at West Delaware and Pella at Assumption (it's almost a straight shot on I-80 for the Dutch); or West Del at Assumption and Xavier at Pella; or even West Del at Pella and Xavier at Assumption. None of those are all that crazy. We do know if Assumption wins they'll be home; if Xavier wins they'll be on the road unless Solon or Maquoketa or maybe Creston pulls an upset, and even then the chances of a Xavier home game are teeny-tiny (and how 'bout that District 4, with 3 teams still alive?).

 

[o2bahawk]

Assumption can win and still play on the road in the quarters if they are playing Xavier. Xavier wins the head to head tie breaker.

 

[KidSilverhair]

Assumption can win and still play on the road in the quarters if they are playing Xavier. Xavier wins the head to head tie breaker.

You are correct! I completely forgot about that vis a vis the tiebreaker - and I was even there that night!

So Assumption at Xavier and West Del at Pella would be in play ... hmmm, interesting. Although with those four left you're going to have two undefeated teams going against each other prior to the semis - what pairing would the state most want in the Dome?

 

[KidSilverhair]

Here are those east-side mileages, by the way:

Xavier-Pella 103 miles
WD-Assumption 104 miles
Total: 207 miles

Pella-Assumption 143 miles
Xavier-WD 47 miles
Total: 190 miles

WD-Pella 149 miles
Assumption-Xavier 86 miles
Total: 235 miles
​

So probably not the Assumption at Xavier rematch. The other two options are pretty close, but I would guess the state might pick the more balanced option (Xavier to Pella, West Del to Assumption). Wouldn't be shocked with the other, though - that's 34 miles worth of round-trip travel money the state could save!

Now those home teams just need to win. I think Assumption will have little trouble with Maquoketa; West Delaware seems like way too much for Solon; and Pella should take Creston. Xavier-Decorah? Xavier should be able to handle the Vikings, but WSR showed a solid ground game can control the clock and get points on the Saints.

If Decorah does win, they'd be at the Assumption/Maquoketa winner, I think. West Del would then go to Pella, assuming they both win.

 

[monte2013]

Can they have these schools play at a neutral site, somewhere in the middle? is this an option or do they have to have a home field team?

 

[o2bahawk]

I'm not sure IHSAA will have W. Delaware and Pella meet in the quarterfinals. According to some polls, that is #1 playing #2. Of course, Xavier is in the mix, so assuming all the favorites win you will have either #1 playing #2, #1 playing #3 or #2 playing #3. What will the State do? Guess we willhave to wait until Monday and see if the favorites all win.

 

[La_Fleur]

I'll be shocked if any team besides the four east side one seeds wins it all. Kind of weird that they could all meet before the dome

 

[IowaHSFootballFan]

I like all of the mileage scenarios planned out, but I can't imagine that all of the favorites will win. It's been difficult to predict anything at all. Two weeks ago West Delaware snuck past an Independence team that has since been eliminated by a Decorah team that, 3 weeks ago lost to a Crestwood team that finished the season 2-7. Xavier was dead to their rights against a Solon team that finished third in District 4. Solon got pounded on 4 weeks ago by a Washington team that is now eliminated after, according to my nephew, was physically hammered (though the score showed OT) by that same Solon team.

The old cliche of starting the playoffs with a clean slate might be in the kids' minds this year. The only team to have seemingly been full stride all along is Pella. Hard to pick against them, even if Creston is solid up front. Just glancing at records, it would appear that Sergeant Bluff/Webster City could be seen in the same way, but they haven't played a hard schedule aside from one or two teams. I gotta think every other game is up in the air. I will say though, Assumption will probably roll Maquoketa. Assumption plays it tight and likes to build off of the inside run up the middle first and foremost. Xavier does the same and they rolled Maquoketa. Shouldn't be much of a game there.

My thinking is that some of these teams are not still standing simply because of an upset victory or a favored team slipping up. They're here because they are very, very strong in tradition and competition. The coaching staffs at these schools have a deep knowledge of kids, motivation and the game of football that would amaze even the most tuned in fan. Solon and Decorah alone (both 3 seeds) have competed in 9 State Championships in the last 10 years with 6 titles. Add Xavier and those 3 have competed for 12 championships in 10 years with 7 titles. I don't want to take the time to add what it would be if I included Pella, Assumption and West Delaware's rich football tradition.

This has been quite the fist post for me, but I'm glad to start. I am worried I may get hooked on this message board thing, which is why I've held off for 10+ years!

Cheers

JB

 

[IowaHSFootballFan]

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley @ Webster City
Carroll @ Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Creston @ Pella
Dallas Center-Grimes @ Ballard
Decorah @ Xavier, Cedar Rapids
Maquoketa @ Assumption, Davenport
Norwalk @ Gilbert
Solon @ West Delaware, Manchester

 

[fmclonefan]

Welcome JB. Excellent post! I would agree with you that probably not all the favorites will win. I would be surprised though if any of the top teams in the east side (WD, Pella, Xavier, and Assumption) go down, but weirder things have happened. I think the west side games are going to be barn burners and are very difficult to predict.

 

[Hawksfolife]

I think Solon pulls the upset off at WD. Solon has athletes. They just took Washington down.