#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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College Football '09: Let's break down the Conference USA and it's opportunities

Does the Conference USA any BCS noise with a surprise candidate in '09. How does the conference breakdown in '09 for C-USA?

• C-USA is ranked #9 by Jeff Sagarin as a conference in FBS
• The WAC at least has Boise State to carry the torch
• Unlike the C-USA, even the MAC had Ball State last year up to the bowls
• Will a program emerge as a strong Top 25 candidate for C-USA in '09?

Ranked teams in the AP and Coaches' preseason polls:

none

Some magazines do like these C-USA in the Top 25 preseason:

• East Carolina
• Houston

Teams rebuilding in the C-USA in '09

• Tulsa
• Rice

Teams rated below the FBS mark of #120 in 2009?

• Tulane
• SMU

Will the C-USA East Division finish this way in 2009??

1. East Carolina * (6-2 in '08) (5-5 in bowls)
2. Southern Miss (4-4) (9-8)
3. Central Florida (3-5)
4. Memphis (4-4) (3-3)
5. Marshall (3-5) (5-2)
6. UAB (3-5) (0-2)

Will the C-USA West Division finish this way in 2009?

1. Houston (6-2) (8-10-1)
2. Tulsa * (7-1) (7-9)
3. UTEP (4-4) (5-7)
4. Rice (7-1) (5-4)
5. SMU (0-8) (4-6-1)
6. Tulane (1-7) (4-6)

* denotes 2008 C-USA division champs (source for above list)

Last BCS title winner

No C-USA team has ever participated in a BCS bowl.

Kickoff Game of the Season

Friday, Sept 4
Tulsa at Tulane

New Orleans, La. 7:00 PM CT
GameTracker
TV: ESPN

Final Look at the C-USA teams, using the preseason Jeff Sagarin NCAA football ratings:

1. Tulsa (#53 in Sagarin ratings) - Coach Todd Graham is entering his 3rd season and the Golden Hurricane are coming off a 45-13 win in GMAC over Ball State of the MAC (back to back wins in this bowl over the MAC)... 39 letterwinners with 5 OFF and 8 DEF plus punter returing from last year's team that finished 11-3. OOC tests @ New Mexico, @ OU, Sam Houston State and vs. Boise State., so a couple big opportunities OOC for Tulsa.


2. Southern Miss (#65) - Coach Larry Fedora is entering his 2nd season at the helm for the Golden Eagles, who won 30-27 over in the New Orleans over Troy of the Sun Belt. The Golden Eagles (7-6) return 41 letterwinners, with 10 OFF and 9 DEF, but must replace PK/PT Britt Barefoot, but a PK returns with experience. Southern Miss plays Alcorn State, Virginia, @ Kansas and @ Louisville in the OOC. Big home date with UVA in Week 3.


3. Houston (#66) - Coach Kevin Sumlin also is entering his 2nd season at the helm for the Cougars. The Cougars defeated Air Force 34-28 in Armed Forces to finish 8-5. The Cougars return 41 letterwinners, with 8 OFF and 4 DEF plus both kickers for '09. In the OOC, the Cougars face Northwestern State, @ Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and @ Mississippi State. C-USA teams will have some opportunities to pick up some quality wins.


4. East Carolina (#73) - Coach Skip Holtz enters his 5Th season, after making the Top 25 for 3 weeks last year after wins over Virginia Tech, West Virginia, @ Tulane and @ North Carolina State. OOC opponents for '09 are Appalachian State, @ West Virginia, @ North Carolina and vs. Virginia Tech for four very challenging OOC opponents for ECU, who return 51 letterwinners, with 9 OFF and 7 DEF plus both kickers. ECU lost 19-25 in Liberty vs. Kentucky to finish 9-5 last year.


5. Rice (#91) - Coach David Biliff enters his 3rd season at the helm for the Owls, who are coming off a 38-14 win over Western Michigan the Texas to finish 10-3. The Owls return 49 letterwinners, including 4 OFF and 9 DEF plus both kickers. The OOC slate includes @ Texas Tech, @ Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt and Navy for the Owls in '09.


6. Central Florida (#93) - Coach George O'Leary enters his 6Th season leading the Knights. The Knights finished 4-8 last year... 44 letterwinners return, with 9 OFF and 6 DEF plus punter. The OOC schedule begins with Samford, Buffalo, Miami-FL and @ Texas intermixed with C-USA play.


7. Memphis (#100) - Coach Tommy West is entering his 9Th season for the Tigers. The Tigers finished 6-7 last year, but lost 14-41 to USF in the St. Petersburg. The Tigers return 49 letterwinners, with 5 OFF and 7 DEF plus their placekicker. The '09 OOC slate opens with Mississippi as usual, with @ Middle Tennessee, UT-Martin and a later season game at Tennessee after 5/8Ths of C-USA play.


8. UTEP (#101) - Coach Mike Price enters his 6Th season at the helm for the Miners who were 5-7 last year. The Miners return 55 letterwinners, including 8 OFF and 7 DEF plus their punter. The OOC schedule includes Buffalo, Kansas, @ New Mexico State and @ Texas in '09, before opening C-USA play vs. Houston.



9. Marshall (#103) - Coach Mark Snyder is entering his 5Th year at the helm for the Thundering Herd that finished 4-8 last season. The Herd return 46 letterwinners, with 8 OFF and 8 DEF plus both kickers. The OOC slate begins with Southern Illinois, @ Virginia Tech, Bowling Green, then a later game in the middle of C-USA play @ West Virginia.


10. UAB (#118) - Coach Neil Callaway enters his 3Rd season at the helm for the Blazers. The Blazers return 51 letterwinners, with 11 OFF and 7 DEF from a 4-8 team in '08. The Blazers open the '09 season vs. Rice and vs. SMU in C-USA, then play @ Troy and @ Texas A&M and later OOC games @Mississippi and vs. Florida Atlantic.
    
11. Tulane (#134) - Coach Bob Toledo is entering his 3rd season and finished 2-10 last year. The Green Wave return 53 letterwinners, including 7 OFF and 6 DEF plus punter. The Green Wave picked up wins over ULM and SMU in '08. The OOC slate for '09 includes BYU, McNeese State, @ Army and @ LSU.


12. SMU (#135) - Coach June Jones enters his 2Nd season at the helm for the Mustangs, after leaving Hawaii. His first season finished 1-11, with only win against FCS Texas State. The Mustangs return 51 letterwinners, including 8 OFF and 8 DEF but will have to see an newcomer emerge as PK/PT. OOC schedule for Mustangs in '09 is Stephen F. Austin, @ Washington State, @ TCU and Navy.

A look back at last year's statistics in the Conference USA.

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Here's cidsports final Top 25 preseason College Football rankings for '09

Well, it's time to get formal and release our final preseason Top 25 rankings for '09

1. Florida Gators (13-1) - the nation's consensus #1 for '09
2. Texas Longhorns (12-1)
3. USC Trojans (12-1)
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (12-2)
5. Oklahoma Sooners (12-2)
6. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-3)
7. Virginia Tech Hokies (10-4)
8. LSU Tigers (8-5)
9. Penn State Nittany Lions (11-2)
10. Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-4)
11. Boise State Broncos (12-1)
12. California Golden Bears (9-4)
13. Georgia Bulldogs (10-3)
14. Mississippi Rebels (9-4)
15. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-4)
16. Oregon Ducks (10-3)
17. TCU Horned Frogs (11-2)
18. Florida State Seminales (9-4)
19. Utah Utes (13-0)
20. Iowa Hawkeyes (9-4)
21. Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-4)
22. BYU Cougars (10-3)
23. Oregon State Beavers (9-4)
24. West Virginia Moutaineers (9-4)
25. Clemson Tigers (7-6)

Ranked in the AP and/or Coaches' preseason polls: North Carolina (8-5) , Notre Dame (7-6) and Kansas (8-5).

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Breaking down the The Big East in '09: Is it a five team race for the conference title?

Does the Big East Conference get more pressure from the non-BCS teams in '09 or will it return to the BCS with a representative program. How does the conference breakdown in '09?

• Cincinnati won the Big East last year, but only finished #17 nationally
• No Big East teams are in the AP or Coaches' preseason polls
• Could five teams compete for the Big East title in '09?
• Will the Big East avoid comparisons to the MWC in BCS talk?

Ranked teams in the AP and Coaches' preseason polls:

• None

Some magazines do like these ACC teams in the Top 25 preseason:

• West Virginia
• Cincinnati
• Pittsburgh
• South Florida
• Rutgers

Teams rebuilding in the Big East in '09

• Connecticut

Teams not quite ready for prime time in 2009?

• Louisville (no bowls the past two seasons)
• Syracuse (won at Notre Dame 24-23 in '08)

Will the Big East finish this way in 2009?

1. West Virginia (5-2 in '08) (13-15 in bowls)
2. Pittsburgh (5-2) (10-15)
3. Rutgers (5-2) (3-2)
4. Cincinnati * (6-1) (5-5)
5. South Florida (2-5) (2-2)
6. Connecticut (3-4) (2-1)
7. Louisville (1-6) (6-7-1)
8. Syracuse (1-6) (12-9-1)

* denotes Big East champion last season

Last BCS title winner

• 2001, Miami - FL (former members of Big East)

Kickoff Game of the Season

Saturday, September 5

Minnesota @ Syracuse

11:00 AM CT
TV: ESPN2

Final Look at the Big East teams, using the preseason Jeff Sagarin NCAA football ratings:

1. West Virginia (#11 in Sagarin ratings) - The Mountaineers finished #23 in the final AP poll in '08 after winning the Mieneke Car Care 31-30 over North Carolina... coach Bill Stewart enters his 2nd year with 33 letterwinners, 5 OFF and 7 DEF, but must replace award winner at PK/PT in Pat McAfee. They open with Liberty, East Carolina, @ Auburn, bye and vs. Colorado, followed by Big East play.


2. Cincinnati (#37) - Coach Brian Kelly enters third year at helm, with 43 letterwinners, with 8 OFF 1 DEF plus placekicker. The Bearcats are coming off 7-20 loss in Orange to Virginia Tech to finish 11-3 in '08. The defense will be revamped under new DC Bobby Diaco and open with a Big East showdown on Labor Day at Rutgers.


3. Rutgers (#38) - Coach Greg Schiano is now entering his ninth season at Rutgers and the Knights have played in four straight bowl games, after playing in only one prior in 1978. The Knights return 47 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 6 DEF plus both kickers from the team that finished 8-5 in '08, beating North Carolina State 29-23 in Pappajohns.com. As mentioned, the Knights open season with Cincinnati on Labor Day in the Big East.


4. South Florida (#39) - Coach Jim Leavitt is South Florida football entering his 13Th season and four straight bowl games in their history now. The Bulls return 40 letterwinners, with 6 OFF and 6 DEF plus both kickers from a team that finished 8-5 in '08, defeating Memphis 41-14 in St. Petersburgh.


5. Pittsburgh (#40) - Coach Dave Wannstedt enters his fifth year at Pitt, after missing the Top 25 at the close of '08 at 9-4. The Panthers return 49 letterwinners, with 8 OFF and 7 DEF, but must find a new PK and PT for '09. After playing in their first bowl game under Wannstedt, the Panthers came up short 0-3, losing to Oregon State in the Sun. Pitt opens with Youngstown State, at Buffalo, Navy and North Carolina State, before Big East play.


6. Connecticut (#49) - Coach Randy Edsall enters his 11Th year at UConn, where the Huskies have played in two straight bowl games and 3 in 5 seasons. The Huskies return 37 letterwinners, with 6 OFF and 6 DEF plus both kickers from a team that finished 8-5 in '08, including a 38-20 win in International over Buffalo. UConn opens at Ohio U in '09.


7. Louisville (#50) - Entering his third season for the Cardinals, coach Steve Kragthorpe is on the hot seat, after missing in back to back seasons with bowl trips. The Cardinals were in the BCS in '06 and won the Orange, but times have changed. The Cardinals (6-6 in '07 and 5-7 in 08) with 49 letterwinners, 7 OFF and 6 DEF plus both kickers, open the '09 season with Indiana State, bye, @ Kentucky and @ Utah before opening Big East play. The other OOC game is on Halloween vs. Arkansas State.


8. Syracuse (#97) - A new era begins of Orange football with new coach Doug Marrone taking the helm, after the Orange finished '08 at 3-9. Notre Dame is off the schedule in the OOC, but the Orange with 45 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 7 DEF plus punter, will open with Minnesota, @ Penn State, Northwestern and Maine, before opening Big East play with South Florida for Homecoming.

A look back at last year's statistics in the Big East.

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Breaking down the Atlantic Coact Conference in Football for 2009

Where will the Atlantic Coast Conference teams fall in the BCS and as a conference in 2009?

• Less of a consensus in each division in 2009?
• The ACC didn't finish in the Top 13 in either final poll last year
• It's been 10 years, since the last BCS title came from ACC

Ranked teams in the AP and Coaches' preseason polls:

• #7 Virginia Tech
• #15 Georgia Tech
• Florida State at either #18 or #19
• North Carolina at either #21 or #20

Some magazines do like these ACC teams in the Top 25 preseason:

• Miami-FL
• Clemson
• Wake Forest

Teams rebuilding in 2009

• Boston College (at Notre Dame, Oct. 24Th)

Teams not quite ready for prime time in 2009?

• North Carolina State
• Maryland

Will the Atlantic Division finish this way in 2009?

1. Florida State (5-3 in '08) (21-14-2 in bowls)
2. Clemson (4-4) (15-16)
3. North Carolina State (4-4) (12-11-1)
4. Wake Forest (4-4) (6-3)
5. Boston College * (5-3) (13-7)
6. Maryland (4-4) (10-11-2)

Will the Coastal Division finish this way in 2009?

1. Virginia Tech * (5-3 in '08) (8-14)
2. Georgia Tech (5-3) (22-15)
3. North Carolina (4-4) (12-14)
4. Miami-FL (4-4) (18-14)
5. Virginia (3-5) (7-10)
6. Duke (1-7) (3-5)

* denotes 2008 team in ACC title game (source for above list)

Last BCS title winner

• 1999, Florida State

Kickoff Game of the Season

Thursday, Sept 3

South Carolina @ NC State

7:00 PM, Raleigh, N.C.

TV: ESPN

Final Look at the ACC teams, using the preseason Jeff Sagarin NCAA football ratings:

1. Virginia Tech (#9 in Sagarin ratings) - Back to back BCS bowls at Orange... young Hokies beat Cincinnati 20-7 last year and return 40 letterwinners, with 9 OFF and 7 DEF starters plus punter as Hokies enter 23rd season with coach Frank Beamer at helm.


2. Florida State (#20) - Coach Bobby Bowden enters his 34Th season coming off a 42-13 win over Wisconsin in Champ Sports... 53 letterwinners, with 8 OFF and 5 DEF starters, but two new kickers must emerge as Seminoles open with Miami-FL on Labor Day.


3. Clemson (#21) - Interim Dabo Swinney is new head coach and comes in with a 4-3 record, including 21-26 loss in Gator to Nebraska... 53 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 8 DEF starters, but must replace both kickers as Tigers need to rebound from 7-6 in '08.


4. Boston College (#22) - Third new coach for Eagles in four seasons, with Frank Spaziani promoted from DC position. He enters his 13Th season at BC, with 40 letterwinners back, with 7 OFF and 7 DEF plus PK... rare BC lost in Music City in '08 14-16 to Vanderbilt.


5. Wake Forest (#30) - Looking to get back to BCS for first time in three seasons under coach Jim Grobe, entering 9Th season at Wake... 44 letterwinners back, with 9 OFF and 4 DEF plus punter. Demon Deacons are coming off 29-19 win at EagleBank over Navy.


6. Miami - FL (#36) - Unlike the others that joined Miami-FL from the Big East, the Hurricanes have yet to play in an ACC title game... coach Randy Shannon is in year 3 and returns 49 letterwinners, with 8 OFF and 7 DEF plus both kickers. Hurricanes lost 17-24 at Emerald vs. California to close out '08. Open season with at FSU, bye, vs. Georgia Tech, at Virginia Tech and hosting OU.


7. Georgia Tech (#42) - Is it the style of play of a coach Paul Johnson team that makes the Yellow Jackets a tough out and a Top 25 team? Johnson enters year 2 with 51 letterwinners, with 9 OFF and 8 DEF plus their dual PK/PT back. The Yellow Jackets didn't appear too well at Chick-fil-A losing to LSU 3-38 and likely why low on Sagarin.


8. Maryland (#45) - Coach Ralph Friedgen enters his ninth year coming off a bowl win in the Humanitarian 42-35 over Nevada... 38 letterwinners, with 5 OFF and 4 DEF back plus punter... The Terps open the '09 season at California for a solid ACC-Pac Ten match up.


9. Virginia (#46) - Coach Al Groh also enters his ninth year and are looking to get back to a bowl after a 5-7 record last year... 36 letterwinners, with 5 OFF and 6 DEF back plus both kickers. Virginia opens '09 with games vs. William & Mary, TCU and @ Southern Miss. The other OOC game will be after the ACC opener at UNC, when IU comes from the Big Ten.


10. North Carolina (#52) - Are the Tar Heels the most overrated team (polls vs. Sagarin?) in the ACC and nationally, after one takes the Sagarin ratings into account. Butch Davis factor at work? Tar Heels lost Meineke Bowl in '08 30-31 to West Virginia (first bowl since '04).


11. North Carolina State (#58) - Coach Tom O'Brien enters his third year at NC State, after coming over from BC... 31 letterwinners, 7 OFF and 7 DEF back plus PK. The Wolfpack played in their first bowl, since '05, with 23-29 loss to Rutgers in Pappajohns.com.


12. Duke (#89) - Coach David Cutcliffe enters year two, after finishing 4-8 last year. Blue Devils have not gone to a bowl game, since the 1994 season... 33 letterwinners return, with 6 OFF and 5 DEF and both kickers. OOC is Richmond, @ Army, @ Kansas and North Carolina Central for Homecoming to open '09 season.

A look back at last year's statistics in the ACC.

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The two Top 25 preseason polls are out: What should we take from them?

The preseason Top 25 preseason AP Poll and Coaches' Poll are out. What can we take from them entering the 2009 College Football season?

The Top 7 in each poll are the same!

1. Florida - the defending BCS champs
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. Alabama
6. Ohio State
7. Virginia Tech

Some questions on where to rank each between spots #8 through #11 ...

• Mississippi
• Oklahoma State
• Penn State
• LSU

The #12 and #13 teams are the same in each poll.

12. California and 13. Georgia

Both polls like the same #15 and #17 ...

15. Georgia Tech and 17. TCU

The #14 and #16 spots are flipped in each poll.

• Oregon or Boise State

The #18 and #19 spots are flipped in each poll.

• Florida State or Utah

Some questions on where to rank each between spots #20 through #24 ...

• Brigham Young
• North Carolina
• Iowa
• Notre Dame
• Nebraska

The final #25 team is different in each of the two preseason polls.

• Kansas in the AP
• Oregon State in the Coaches'

Others Receiving Votes in the 2009 preseason AP Poll:

Oregon State 122, Illinois 105, Pittsburgh 103, Michigan State 100, Rutgers 83, Texas Tech 76, West Virginia 57, Cincinnati 44, Clemson 42, Miami (FL) 40, East Carolina 30, Tennessee 15, Arizona 13, North Carolina State 10, Boston College 9, CENTRL MICHIGAN 7, Auburn 7, UCLA 7, Northwestern 5, South Florida 3, Southern Miss 3, Vanderbilt 3, Missouri 3, South Carolina 2, Nevada 1, Arkansas 1, Houston 1, TROY 1, Tulsa 1.

Others Receiving Votes in the 2009 preseason Coaches' Poll:

Kansas 138, Michigan State 136, Texas Tech 114, Cincinnati 90, Pittsburgh 64, West Virginia 55, Rutgers 51, Miami (FL) 46, Missouri 44, Illinois 38, Clemson 30, South Carolina 18, UCLA 14, Auburn 12, South Florida 11, Nevada 11, Kentucky 9, North Carolina State 7, Wisconsin 6, Arkansas 6, Northwestern 5, Southern Miss 4, Wake Forest 4, Arizona 3, Boston College 3, CENTRL MICHIGAN 3, East Carolina 3, Colorado 2, Maryland 2, Navy 2, Tennessee 2, TROY 1, Minnesota 1, Michigan 1, Houston 1.

The AP writers are a little more critical of teams that didn't perform as well in 2008 or with key performers that have departed, from my perspective with the Midwest teams. But, they seem to reward some of the East Coast teams for 2008. In the Big Ten, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin received no mention in the AP Poll. In the Big 12, Where's the love for Missouri in the AP Poll vs. the Coaches' Poll? Illinois is considered stronger in the AP Poll as well. Look at East Carolina and Boston College, for example in the AP Poll.

We are approaching Thursday, September 3Rd, which will kickoff the 2009 College Football schedule. Labor Day weekend will have games throughout the weekend.

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