Cyclone playoff opener features two tough defenses
GRIMES (Nov. 1) -- When it comes to the 2019 Dallas Center-Grimes football team, scores and statistics don’t jump off the page in bold type.
One might argue that the same could be said for Harlan Community.
What does appear in store for the first round of the Class 3A playoffs Friday night is a matchup between two solid, quality programs when the Cyclones venture to Grimes for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff vs. the Mustangs.
HCHS (7-2) moved into the Associated Press rankings in a tie for ninth this week and has the No. 8 RPI in 3A. DC-G (8-1) received the 11th-most votes in the AP poll and is listed No. 10 in RPI.
The Cyclones’ signature win this fall came in Week 7 when they held off unbeaten Lewis Central 14-6. The Mustangs, who have bounced back nicely from last year’s 1-8 record, boast a pair of quality non-district road wins over playoff qualifiers Norwalk (27-21) and Glenwood (28-9). They have won eight straight games since a season-opening 14-0 loss at Pella, capped by last week’s 14-7 win over Carroll to earn the District 2 title.
Defense appears to be a strength for the Mustangs, who have allowed just one of their last seven opponents (Webster City) to score more than 12 points. Linebacker Blake Willey (53 solo tackles, 35 assists, 4 sacks) is a player that stands out on film study to HCHS coach Todd Bladt and must be accounted for at all times. DC-G’s secondary, meanwhile, has come up with 14 interceptions.
The Mustang offense is balanced overall with 1,215 rushing yards and 1,211 passing yards. By comparison, HCHS has run for 2,064 yards and passed for 1,182.
HCHS finished the regular season with a 39-18 victory over Winterset last week that was far from flawless. The most concerning points of emphasis from the game were 13 Cyclone penalties for 155 yards, four turnovers by the offense and a success ratio of 1-for-4 on PAT kicks.
Some quick fixes will be necessary Friday if the Cyclones hope to advance to the quarterfinal round against Lewis Central (8-1) or Oskaloosa (6-3) next Friday.
HCHS (7-2) at Dallas Center-Grimes (8-1) • 3A First Round Playoff Game • Friday, Nov. 1
Series History
2003: HCHS 35, Dallas Center-Grimes 14 (First Round Playoff Game in Harlan)
2014: Dallas Center-Grimes 34, HCHS 0 (Regular Season Game in Grimes)
2015: Dallas Center-Grimes 28, HCHS 21 (Regular Season Game in Harlan)
CLASS 3A FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF GAMES
Bracket A:
#15 Iowa City Liberty (7-2) at #1 Solon (9-0)
#11 Independence (9-0) at #7 Pella (7-2)
Bracket B:
#13 Washington (7-2) at #2 Epworth, Western Dubuque (9-0)
#6 Cedar Rapids Xavier (8-1) at #9 North Scott (8-1)
Bracket C:
#14 Carlisle (7-2) at #4 Sergeant Bluff-Luton (8-1)
#12 Glenwood (7-2) at #5 Norwalk (8-1)
Bracket D:
#16 Oskaloosa (6-3) at #3 Lewis Central (8-1)
#8 Harlan Community (7-2) at #10 Dallas Center-Grimes (8-1)