Prairie High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Prairie's furious rally falls short

DUBUQUE – Cedar Rapids Prairie sent up a Hail Mary Friday night and Trey Beckman's almost-answered prayer was the only thing separating the Hawks from an improbable road victory over an undefeated Dubuque Senior team at Dalzell Field.

“It was bang-bang. They were just as close to catching the ball as us knocking it down,” Senior Coach John Osweiler said.

A squadron of Rams defenders swarmed the ball in the end zone, knocking down Beckman's game-winning prayer at the horn to seal Senior's breathless 34-28 victory over a relentless Prairie team that never quit despite playing from behind for nearly four quarters in chilly 37-degree temperatures.

“Tonight was a little ugly, but we pulled it out in the end,” Rams quarterback Lee Bonifas said.

Down 34-7 with 8:37 left, a slow starting but poised Beckman fired three touchdown passes in the game's final minutes.

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No.1 Saints brace for No.3 Solon

The Xavier Saints reached the Class 4A championship game in 2012 and 2013, so some people have anointed them the favorite to win the 3A title this year after dropping down a class despite heavy graduation losses.

The Saints will find out where they really stand Friday night after hosting the third-ranked Solon Spartans.

Xavier whipped then-No.5 Davenport Assumption, 30-6, last Friday. Another convincing victory over Solon might prove the point.

Solon reached the semifinals of the Class 3A playoffs last year and snapped Iowa City Regina's 56-game winning streak this season, 29-28.

All eyes will be on Saints Field in the Class 3A District 4 opener for both clubs.

All eight Metro football teams will be in action Friday night. The Washington Warriors, ranked No.3 in Class 4A, will be hosting Iowa City West at Kingston Stadium. All of the other Metro teams are on the road.

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Mitch Lorenz shoots 36 for Prairie

Mitch Lorenz shot an even-par 36 Thursday to help the Prairie Hawks place second in a Mississippi Valley Conference triangular meet at Twin Pines.

Andrew Kehl fired a 2-under 34 for Dubuque Senior as the Rams won the title.

Nile Happel and Kellen Brown shot 3-over 39's for Jefferson.

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Dubuque Senior 143, 2. Prairie 149, 3. Jefferson 167.

PRAIRIE: Mitch Lorenz 36, Cal Clark 37, Cooper Reittinger 38, Blake Seda 38.

JEFFERSON: Nile Happel 39, Kellen Brown 39, Adam Van Oort 43, Reid Griffith 46, Connor Hammons 46.

Hempstead sweeps Prairie in volleyball

DUBUQUE - The Cedar Rapids Prairie volleyball team lost to Dubuque Hempstead, 3-0, in a Mississippi Valley Conference match in Dubuque Tuesday.

Hempstead rolled 25-22, 25-15, 25-23.

Mallory Jones collected 20 assists for Prairie. Kate Busswitz had 17 digs and Jenni Lockhart had 12.