The start of district play means the playoff chase is on and two districts in class 1A are loaded. There are as many as six playoff caliber teams in district four. One of those is top ranked Aplington-Parkersburg which visits Conrad BCLUW.
A-P coach Ed Thomas says every game is like a playoff and you have to focus on winning each game. Thomas is concerned with BCLUW’s speed, as he says they have tremendous big play capability. He says they want to try and eliminate that big play and try to make them drive the length of the field.
Also in district four, sixth ranked Gladbrook-Reinbeck plays host to Grundy Center. Rebels coach John Olson. Olson says two years ago they played in a tough district and lost their second district game, but went on to make it to the state championship. So, he says you can lose one game and go on to the playoffs if you stay away from injuries.
Olson says if you can make it out of the district you will be prepared for the playoffs. He says they play A-P and Starmont and the tough competition prepares you to play good teams.
There are four teams ranked in the Radio Iowa Poll in district two and a pair meet this evening as tenth ranked West Marshall visits number four Southern Cal. West Marshall coach Ken Winkler says it’s pretty competitive and says there will be big games every week.
Winkler says it’s not know if there’ll be one dominant team or several teams that will knock each other off. Winkler says this is a big game in part because it is only the first week of the district race. He says if you start with a loss, then you figure you have to win out. If you start with a win Winkler says that gives you confidence you can win the district.
The class 3A district one race opens with a rated matchup as fifth ranked LeMars hosts number-six Sioux City Heelan. LeMars coach Jim Boyd who says this feels more like a playoff game even though the season is still young.
Boyd says even though the Bulldogs are 2-0 there are areas that need to improve.