Linn-Mar Football

J-Hawks look to take next big step

The Jefferson J-Hawks snapped a couple of serious losing streaks last week when they defeated Kennedy in overtime at friendly Kingston Stadium, but now comes an even bigger challenge for the J-Hawks.

Jefferson will try to beat the Cedar Falls Tigers in the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls Thursday night, giving the J-Hawks a tougher opponent in an environment that can be imposing for visiting teams.

The late kickoff is scheduled for 7:45 p.m.

In other Metro games Thursday night, Linn-Mar visits Kennedy at Kingston Stadium and Prairie plays winless Iowa City High at Bates Field in Iowa City.

Jefferson is 3-2 overall and 1-0 in Class 4A District 5. Cedar Falls is 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the same district.

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Lions pop back into football rankings

The Linn-Mar Lions climbed back into the Class 4A football rankings Sunday after a one-week absence.

The Lions (4-1) blanked Waterloo East, 45-0, Friday night and are ranked 10th by the Des Moines Register. Linn-Mar visits Kennedy at Kingston Stadium Thursday night.

The Washington Warriors (5-0) kept their No.1 ranking in the Class 4A poll with a 42-21 conquest of Muscatine. The Warriors host Ottumwa Friday night.

The Xavier Saints (4-1) remained No. 1 in Class 3A with a 49-6 cakewalk by Maquoketa. The Saints host Western Dubuque Friday night.

The other top-ranked teams are Clear Lake in Class 2A, Iowa City Regina in Class 1A, Maquoketa Valley in Class A and Fremont-Mills in Eight-Player.

CLASS 4A

1. Washington (5-0), 2. Bettendorf (5-0), 3. West Des Moines Valley (4-1), 4. Dowling (4-1), 5. Waukee (4-1), 6. Sioux City East (5-0), 7. Johnston (4-1) 8. Hempstead (4-1), 9. North Scott (4-1), 10. Linn-Mar (4-1).

CLASS 3A

1. Xavier (4-1), 2. Pella (5-0), 3. West Delaware (5-0), 4. Solon (4-1), 5. Waverly-Shell Rock (4-1), 6. Sioux City Heelan (4-1), 7. Carroll (5-0), 8. Gilbert (4-1), 9. Carlisle (4-1), 10. Newton (4-1).

Lions roll slowly past Waterloo East

The final score was an impressive 45-0.

Linn-Mar's Class 4A District 5 opener Friday night with Waterloo East went as expected, but the Lion players and coaches looked far from satisfied as they headed back to the locker room at Linn-Mar Stadium.

"We just had to figure out why we started out slow," said senior quarterback Ryan Schmidt. "We know we have to come back harder next week. We had a good week of practice and we're going to get it figured out for next week."

The atmosphere was nowhere near as electric as it was last Friday prior to a 43-3 loss to then-No. 2 Washington. Linn-Mar Coach Bob Forsyth admitted it took his team longer than he would have liked to get things going against the Trojans.

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No. 2 Warriors belt No. 9 Lions, 43-3

O'Rien Vance had a block party Friday night at Linn-Mar Stadium.

The rangy Cedar Rapids Washington linebacker may have been unknown before the No. 2 Warriors' showdown with No. 9 Linn-Mar. On a team loaded with NCAA Division I-caliber players, Vance showed the overflow crowd he is a star in the making.

Vance blocked a pair of punts that were both scooped up by teammates for touchdowns and the Warriors kept the Linn-Mar offense in check en route to an impressive 43-3 non-district victory.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder was also all over the field on defense, making life miserable for Lions quarterback Ryan Schmidt.

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