IHSAA Football Playoffs: Second Round

Tonight featured another match-up between Linn-Mar and City High at Bates Field. However, this time there was added suspense: it was season-over for the team with the fewest points.

Having never played high school sports (regrettably), I never had to endure a season and high school career ending playoff loss. However, I am an empathetic guy who always tries to imagine and understand life in another person’s shoes. So as I sat bundled in the stands for another perfect night of prep football, I was aware of the stakes for both sets of seniors on the field: tonight was one group’s curtain call, the last football game most of them would ever play, and whatever happened on the field would live with them for the rest of their lives.

Just like in their first match-up, Linn-Mar’s zone read killed the Little Hawks. The defense had no clue who the QB handed the ball to, or if he kept it himself. By the time they figured it out the runner was breaking free 10 yards down the field. After City High’s initial possession stalled, the Lions pushed the ball down the field and took a 7-0 lead. The Little Hawks countered with a long drive of their own to tie the game.

I can’t remember who scored next, but both teams traded TDs. City High, though, converted a 2-point conversion and was ahead 15-14. The Little Hawks tacked on another six before half but their 2-point conversion failed. The CHS coaching staff had no confidence in their sporadic place kicker, so they went to the locker room with a 21-14 lead.

After stopping Linn-Mar on the first drive of the second half, City High added another TD and 2-pointer to make it 29-14. (On that one drive, CHS converted two fourth-downs. It helps a lot when your QB is also your punter.) Each possession was eating up a ton of clock, and by now it was the fourth quarter. Linn-Mar marched down the field and scored a TD but could not get any extra points after the snap for the PAT was too low and the place holder could not connect with a receiver in the end zone.

Linn-Mar stopped City High’s ensuring drive and took it down the field for another seven points, making the score 29-27. Things were getting very interesting, and with less than five minutes left the Little Hawks needed to put the game out of reach. CHS was in Linn-Mar territory thanks to a long run from their back, who almost took it to the house. I was in the bathroom taking a piss when City High’s next play was flagged for intentional grounding. Not only was the ball moved back 10 yards, but the Little Hawks lost a down to make it 2nd-and-20. A stuffed run up the gut brought up 3rd-and 20, and both sets of fans were standing for the next play. City would be unlikely to go for it on 4th-and-long, so with a stop Linn-Mar could get the ball back and try to take the lead with little time left. However, the Little Hawks made sure that scenario did not play out. City’s QB hooked up with one of his receivers up the middle. With a few steps on his marker, the Little Hawk receiver took it to the house for six. With the PAT, the score was 36-20.

To salt the Lions’ fresh wound, the Little Hawk’s kick-off specialist booted a perfect squib toward the sidelines. The ball stayed in bounds, and after being muffed by a Linn-Mar player, City High recovered inside the Lions’ 15. The fans across the field were dead silent, much like the Michigan State contingent was all day at Kinnick on Saturday. A few plays later the Little Hawks pushed the score to 43-20.

And that’s how it ended. Bates Field is a tough place for opponents; City High rarely loses at home. More than once during this season I have thought about all the visiting fans and parents who have watched their team either get blown out or have their hearts broken at the end, much like Cedar Rapids Xavier did this year. I especially feel for Linn-Mar. Coming to Bates Field once is tough, but trying to beat City High on its home turf a second time in one season is a taller order.

City High now faces undefeated Cedar Falls Friday night at Bates.