Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Last Friday the field was set and the brackets were announced as the playoff teams across the state got their first look at their road to the UNI-Dome.

The journey officially begins on Friday night.

Postseason play begins across the state on Friday in all six classes and by Nov. 3 each class will be down to four semifinalists.

Here are five things to watch on Friday as postseason play begins for area teams.

Familiar Foe

There are two playoff rematches from last season in the Class 4A opening round on Friday.

Top-ranked West High (9-0) drew one of them with a matchup with Mississippi Valley Conference rival Cedar Rapids Washington (5-4).

West High secured its first trip to the state title game since 1999 with a 35-7 win over the Warriors in the 4A semifinals last season.

Evan Flitz completed 19-of-26 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns in the Trojans’ 35-7 semifinal win over Washington last season.

Flitz isn’t overlooking a four-loss Warrior team that comes to Trojan Field on Friday.

“Washington is a very good team, they have talent up and down the board and they have guys that can make plays so for us it’s about being sharp,” Flitz said. “They’ve been up and down this year a little bit but when they are on they are a tough team to beat so we are going to have to come and be prepared to beat a really good Washington team.”

What You See Is What You Get

A pair of perennial 3A contenders meet in the opening round when top-ranked Solon (9-0) hosts Decorah (7-2).

It has been four years since the two traditionally powerful programs met.

With that type of time between meetings there probably isn’t much that can be gained from watching the film of that 2013 quarterfinal matchup right?

Solon coach Kevin Miller says otherwise.

While the rosters have changed the way Decorah plays hasn’t changed much since Solon’s 28-20 win over the Vikings in 2013.

“They haven’t changed much,” Miller said. “What you see is what you get they are going to be true to what they do.”

That is high praise considering the success the Vikings have had the past decade.

Decorah is 90-25 over the past 10 seasons with a pair of runner-up finishes and a state title in 2012.

The Vikings defeated Solon 35-10 on its way to a 14-0 season and 3A state title in 2012.

A Decorah senior named Josey Jewell rushed for 156 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries and had 8.5 tackles and sack in that 2012 second-round win.

Regals Ready to Roll

For the last decade the postseason is when Regina has played its best football.

It appears the Regals are once again ramping up for a playoff run.

Class 1A fourth-ranked Regina (7-2) has put up season-high yardage numbers in back-to-back games entering its opening-round contest with South Winneshiek (6-3).

Regina put up 543 yards in a week eight win over Columbus and followed it up with a 613-yard outburst in its regular season finale against Louisa-Muscatine.

The Regals are clicking on all cylinders.

Regina rushed for a season-high 304 yards against Columbus and a week later passed for a season-best 417 yards against Louisa-Muscatine.

“I think we are definitely improving across the board,” Regina senior Jake Phillips said. “I think we are building depth in our young guys and the competition is going to increase and we just need to take it to the next level to make sure we are ready for this playoff run.”

The Battle Up Front

It’s no secret controlling the line of scrimmage is a major focus for almost every team. When the playoffs roll around winning up front is often synonymous with winning games.

In Friday’s 1A opening-round matchup between No. 5 West Branch (9-0) and Pleasantville (7-2) the battle for the line of scrimmage will be a key factor in who wins the war.

Pleasantville enters postseason play averaging 233 yards per game on the ground and 5.9 yards per attempt.

West Branch has allowed more than 150 yards rushing just twice this season and is holding opponents to 122 rushing yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry.

“They are a team that is going to give 100 percent and be aggressive,” West Branch senior linebacker Andrew Black said. “They come right at you and they are going to be physical and that’s the type of style we like to play so it’s going to be fun.”

Weather Watchers

With the exception for a thunderstorm here or there the weather was perfect for most of the nine-week regular season.

That is expected to change on Friday.

Forecasts are calling for temperatures hovering around freezing at 7 p.m. with winds between 20 and 30 miles per hour and snow flurries.

Pack the parkas.