#5 Warriors beat #3 Tigers at Kingston (nicely improved Kingston at that)!

The Cedar Rapids Warriors (1-0), ranked #5, defeated the #3 Cedar Falls Tigers (0-1) 28-10 at Kingston Stadium, Friday night. The game was closer in the first half. The game nearly saw a huge momentum shift in the first half, only to see the Warriors take a 14-10 halftime lead, after the Tigers last second drive ended with a turnover in the Warrior redzone.

Time of possession was all in favor of the Warriors, lead by the Warrior running game. Turnovers were another key, with the Tigers losing two interceptions inside the Warriors redzone and also gave up a fumble inside the Warriors 30 yard line.

Cedar Falls didn't have the penalties that Washington had: 4 to 10, but the turnovers really turned out to be the difference in the ball game. Early on, it looked like Cedar Falls was going to cause the Warriors trouble, especially after the Tigers responded to the first Warriors touchdown, with a touchdown drive on their own.

The Warriors need to clean up on many aspects of their game. Penalties hurt the offense and placed the Warriors in long down situations. The pass defense was exposed, though the Warriors did get the Cedar Falls offense to rush some things with their pass rush. Special teams coverage, especially on kickoffs, needs to get better.

The Warriors don't have much time to get ready. Washington travels to Iowa City to face the City High Little Hawks in Week 2, Friday, September 3, 2009. City High got off to a great start in Week 1 defeating Dubuque Wahlert on the road.

Here is a look at the 2009 Warrior football team:

2009 Warrior Varsity Football Team Roster

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Kingston Stadium: #5 Washington High School hosts Cedar Falls tonight

Cedar Falls at Cedar Rapids Washington at Kingston Stadium at 7:30 PM, August 28, 2009.

Double Rematch from 2008, where Warriors beat Cedar Falls in the opener at the Dome, while Cedar Falls won the rematch in the Dome, during the State semi-final game. Here's to another exciting season of Iowa High School football.

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Washington Warriors ranked #5 among all high schools preseason prep football in Iowa

5. Washington The Warriors should have the most explosive offense in the
state this year with seven starters back on that side of the line including the
state’s best player, senior running back Andre Dawson. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound
senior was second team all-state last year after rushing for 1,485 yards and
scoring 28 touchdowns. Dawson will also have a huge blocker in front of him in
6-7, 250-pound lineman Matt Huffer. The team’s top wide receiver returns in Shay
Gutman, however he may also spend some time behind center. The Tigers were 11-2 last year including a win over Cedar Falls. Washington also lost to Cedar Falls
in the playoffs and fell to Iowa City during the regular season. - MaxPreps

Iowa Football Top 5 -MaxPreps
As football kickoff inches closer around the country, maxpreps forecasts the top five teams in the state of Iowa for the 2009 season. ...

1. Valley, West Des Moines


2. Solon


3. Cedar Falls


4. Bishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux City


5. Washington, Cedar Rapids

The Washington Warriors and Cedar Falls will open the 2009 Iowa high school football season in Cedar Rapids on August 28, 2009. Washington's 2009 football schedule includes five home games and six total games at Kingston Stadium. MaxPreps preview of the Warriors for 2009.

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Last Friday night, I attended Cedar Falls vs. Cedar Rapids Washington in the semi-finals

West Des Moines Valley beats Cedar Falls on November 21, 2008 to win the Class 4A Iowa State Football Championship. I didn't attend the finals, since I live in Cedar Rapids and have no loyalty to either school. But, it apparently was "no contest" as Wesley Vaclav points out.

http://twigger.com/cidsports

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Cedar Falls takes out revenge on CR Washington in the Dome

Cedar Falls (12-1) will advance to play West Des Moines Valley (13-0) in the State Football Final, after a 27-19 win over Cedar Rapids Washington (11-2) Friday night in the UNI-Dome. The Tigers outplayed the Warriors on the line of scrimmage most of the night. Mistakes and Momentum were by products that the Tigers benefited from, as well.

The Warriors had a fine season, but playing Cedar Falls twice in the UNI-Dome proved too much. Coach Tony Lombardi advanced the Warriors farther into the playoffs in his fourth season, but experience at Cedar Falls was shown in the semi-final match up.

Valley beat Ankeny (11-2) 21-14 to advance to the finals, where they will meet Cedar Falls, next weekend.

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Rematch: Cedar Rapids Washington vs. Cedar Falls in one Class 4A Semi-Finals Football Matchup

One team will end the season tonight in the UNI-Dome, as Cedar Rapids Washington (11-1) meets Cedar Falls (11-1) in the 2nd game of the Class 4A Semi-Final Football Playoffs. Ankeny (11-1) and West Des Moines Valley (12-0) meet in the first game.

Washington and Cedar Falls opened the season verses one another in the Dome back in August. Washington won 28-9, taking control of the game in the 2nd half on Cedar Falls home field.

What is the magic number on defense? Is it 25 points, as a friend recently suggested?

Here our my keys to the game:

1. Turnovers (The Gazette had an article today highlighting Washington +16 turnover margin in '08)
2. Momentum (Washington is playing on Cedar Falls' home field)
3. Control of the line of scrimmage (line play is always important in football - especially in the playoffs)

The Gazette highlighted the following in today's edition:

"These teams met in their season-openers in late August with Washington
winning, 28-9, at the UNI-Dome. Cedar Falls has won 11 straight since behind a
defense that posted five shutouts during those 11 wins. LBs Jeff Hanson and Jeff
Conrad, and DB Jake Farley lead that defense. QB Kyle Bernard has passed for
1,328 yards and 17 TDs and RB Jay Brummell has rushed for 1,179 and 17 TDs.
Washington has won 10 straight and boasts the second highest scoring
differential in 4A at 25.2 ppg. Fellow semifinalist W.D.M. Valley leads 4A
at 31.2 ppg. The Warriors’ explosive offense averages 454 yards and 37.8 points
per game. QB Wyatt Suess has passed for 2,886 yards and 23 TDs. WR Keenan
Davis has 45 catches for 740 yards and 6 TDs despite missing all or parts of six
games with an injury. Junior TB Andre Dawson has rushed for 1,422 yards and 25
TDs." - The Gazette

It's hard to pin point any one thing. It's a classic match up of Washington's offensive skill vs. Cedar Falls' and their defense. One real factor that could be interesting to watch is Washington's offense in a weather controlled Dome, as opposed the the mud and rain of several games this fall outdoors.

cidsports' prediction:

Cedar Rapids Washington 42

Cedar Falls 24

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Cedar Rapids Washington Warriors @ Cedar Falls in the Dome tonight

It was a rough start for the Cedar Rapids Washington Warriors at Cedar Falls tonight. Long game tonight highlighted by turnovers, poor execution and penalties for both teams, plus a long sophomore game, which the Warriors won too.

But, the Warriors had enough defense and offense to surprise Cedar Falls in the Dome. Warriors WR/DB Keenan Davis had two very big interceptions, including a pick six to make the game 7-6 Warriors. A big catch after his second interception, lead to a Warrior rushing score, from the 6 yard line by QB Derek Giesking, and a 20-9 lead around the midway part of the second half.

After a quick stop by the Warriors defense, forcing a punt. The Warriors got the football right back. A nice drive by the Warriors was capped off by a 16 yard TD run by junior RB Andre Dawson at the 6:36 mark of the 4th quarter, to give Washington a 28-9 lead.

Warriors forced another out and punt, then it was Dawson grinding out the game with the ground game, on a 26 carry and 135 yard night, unofficially. The Warriors took a knee around the Cedar Falls ten to finish it off.

Final: Cedar Rapids Washington 28

Cedar Falls 9

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The Gazette has story on Keenen Davis and CR Warriors

The Gazette writer Jeff Dahn has a Sunday article on Keenen Davis and the 2008 Washington Warrior football team online. Hopefully, the online version will correct the error on Warrior QB Wyatt Suess, who The Gazette writer called Warren.

Warren is Wyatt's brother who last played in 2003, helping lead the Warriors to the 2003 Class 4A Championship Game. The Warriors finished runner-up. Like Wyatt who has Davis as a #1 receiver this year, Warren in 2003 had WR Adrian Arrington, who went on to become a quality Big Ten receiver. Davis has a season of high school before he becomes a Big Ten receiver.

The Washington Warriors open at #7 Cedar Falls on Friday. The combination of Wyatt Suess to Keenen Davis will be one weapon to watch in 2008, among others for the Warriors. Like his brother, Wyatt and his Warrior teammates will hopefully make their own run at State in 2008.

Go Warriors... as my personal bias exclaims!

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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.

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