Metro Sports Report

Decker wins Metro Spotlight Award

Linn-Mar sophomore Amber Decker is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school girls this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Decker is one of the premier cross country runners in the state and is ranked No.5 in Class 4A by the Iowa Track Coaches Association.

She won the state qualifying meet in Marshalltown last Thursday by one second with a strong finishing kick, passing two runners down the stretch. She also won the Valley Division title at the Mississippi Valley Conference meet, was named the Valley Division Athlete of the Year and placed second at the MVC Super Meet.

Class 4A football districts are bad idea

It's been a terrific season for high school football in the Mississippi Valley Conference again this year, filled with high drama and pennant races and great games.

There was a lot riding on all the games, week after week, as teams jockeyed for playoff spots and league titles.

That could all end if a renewed effort to install artificial districts for Class 4A football in Eastern Iowa is not stopped in a hurry.

If Class 4A districts are approved for the 2014 season, it would mean the end of the venerable Mississippi Valley Conference as a football league.

Wash, Kennedy set for Kingston twinbill

The Washington Warriors and Kennedy Cougars have both earned home games in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs and will host a doubleheader at Kingston Stadium Wednesday night.

Washington (6-3) will meet Cedar Falls (6-3) in the first game at 5:30 p.m., and Kennedy (6-3) will face Prairie (5-4) in the nightcap at 8 p.m. in a twinbill that features four teams from the Mississippi Valley Conference.

The Xavier Saints (8-1) will host Clinton (4-5) in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The Marion Indians (4-5) will visit West Delaware (8-1) in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Manchester.

Moa runs wild as Cougars whip City High

It was a Friday evening of jubilation all around on Senior Night for the Kennedy Cougars at Kingston Stadium.

Senior scatback Miles Moa celebrated his 18th birthday by lugging the ball 34 times for an even 300 yards as the Cougars whipped fifth-ranked Iowa City High, 35-14.

Kennedy (6-3) will host Prairie (5-4) in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Kingston Stadium.

Not surprisingly, Moa left the game with leg cramps with eight minutes left to go, but by then had pushed his season rushing mark to 1,125 yards.