One Week: CR Warriors open with B2B vs. Top 10 opponents

One week from today, the #3 Cedar Rapids Washington team will travel to the Dome to face #7 Cedar Falls. A very challenging first week for the Warriors, who will have plenty of offensive skill, but questions will have to be determined in the trenches, on both sides of the ball.

The Warriors will open the 2008 Iowa high school football season with back to back games vs. Top 10 competition. The Warriors travel to face the #7 Tigers on August 29th. The follow-up game is the Warriors home opener September 4th, a Thursday night game, at Kingston Stadium vs. City High.

Prep Football 2008: Gazette’s state rankings
CLASS 4A 2007 record and Comments from The Gazette

1. West Des Moines Valley 11-1 in '07

Despite loss of four all-staters, Tigers look strong again

2. Bettendorf 13-0

Defending champs and new coach Aaron Wiley eye return trip to finals

3. Cedar Rapids Washington 8-3

Warriors feature loads of speed and an explosive offense

4. Southeast Polk 9-2

Rams return 15 starters, including standout RB Jeff Woody

5. Iowa City High 7-3

A.J. Derby takes over at QB and Little Hawks look ready to make a run

6. Ankeny 11-2

Hawks have holes to fill, but they always seem to find a way to win

7. Cedar Falls 11-1

LB Jeff Hanson leads defense that gave up only 9.1ppg last season

8. Cedar Rapids Xavier 7-3

Seek third straight playoff berth; last two sophomore teams 16-2

9. Johnston 7-2

If Dragons match ‘07 record, they won’t miss the post season this year

10. Davenport Assumption 9-2

Smallest school playing 4A football, Knights always come up big

High school football is getting more and more interesting each season here in the State of Iowa. The new expanded Class 4A playoff system will be new in '08.

What type of defense will the Warriors have in '08? Could we see some new wrinkles as some have talked about?

The skill players should be solid at #1 and #2 QB, Wyatt Suess and Derek Giesking, #1 WR Keenan Davis and #1 RB Andre Dawson, with all three starters back at those key positions. The 2007 season was highlighted by two great late-game victories over Cedar Rapids Kennedy, including a first round playoff win.

peace