Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

When Liberty High makes its Class 5A postseason debut next week the Lightning will do it at home as the top seed in the state’s largest class.

Liberty High (8-1) finished atop the Class 5A Ratings Percentage Index ratings and will host No. 16 Waukee (6-3) in a 5A opening-round contest on Friday at 7 p.m. at Liberty Stadium.

The Lightning learned their playoff opponent when the Iowa High School Athletic Union released postseason pairings for all classes on Saturday morning.

Liberty High is making the fourth postseason appearance in program history and first in Class 5A.

The Lightning bring a six-game winning streak into Friday’s playoff opener after closing the regular season with a 70-33 win at Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Friday.

City High and West High will each hit the road for 5A opening-round contests on Friday.

West High (5-4) travels to Bettendorf (8-1) while City High (6-3) will travel to Ankeny Centennial (7-2) for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff in the first game of a Friday doubleheader at Ankeny Stadium.

In Class 4A Clear Creek Amana (6-3) will travel to Pella (8-1) for an opening-round matchup in Pod C.

The other 4A Pod C matchup has Waverly-Shell Rock (6-3) travelling to Gilbert (8-1).

Solon (7-2) will get an opportunity to avenge one of its regular season losses in its 3A playoff opener.

The Spartans travel to Benton Community (8-1) for an opening-round matchup in 3A Pod A.

Benton Community won five straight games to end the season including a 21-20 win over Solon in Van Horne on October 4.

Clear Lake (6-3) travels to top-seeded Humboldt (8-1) in the other game in 3A Pod A.

West Branch and Regina will both be on the road for a second consecutive week in the Class 1A postseason.

West Branch (3-6) travels to top-ranked and defending state champion Grundy Center (9-0) in Class 1A Pod A.

Sumner-Fredericksburg (6-3) plays at Manson Northwest Webster (8-1) in the other Pod A matchup.

In Class 1A Pod D Regina (8-1) travels to Woodward-Granger (8-1) for a second-round matchup.

The winner will face the winner of MFL MarMac (7-2) and Wilton (8-1) in the quarterfinals.

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