In class 3A, The Knights of LaPorte City Union are in the playoffs for the fourth straight season, but have failed to make it as far as the quarterfinals in that stretch. The Knights were upset by Clear Creek-Amana in their playoff opener a year ago, and Union coach Joe Hadachek says that loss has reinforced the importance of the first round game to his squad.
He says they’ve talked about it, but they still have the same expectations of making it to the UNI-Dome, and they can’t do that if they don’t win the first game.
After dropping two of three in the mid-point of the season, Union has run off three straight wins heading into the playoffs and finally have All-State running back Wes Burnside up to full strength after he’d been limited by a hamstring injury. He says Burnside is looking like he did last year and is physically able to play four quarters.
The 7-2 Knights host 5-4 Washington tonight, and Hadachek says that Washington’s record is far from indicative of how good the Demons are.
By Jesse Gavin, KCNZ, Cedar Falls