CEDAR RAPIDS — They had to figure they’d already have had a spot in the prep football postseason secured by Week 7. But it’s really about if you get there, not when you clinch getting there.
The Cedar Rapids Kennedy Cougars might have finally gotten there last night.
Kennedy won what appears to be the magic third game, dominating Waterloo West from start to finish in a 28-0 victory at Kingston Stadium.
The way it’s playing out, four victories will for sure get you into the Class 4A substate round. Three? That might …

IOWA CITY — Nobody could put a precise number on the missing.
“Lots,” according to Rebecca Rethwisch.
An influenza outbreak is going through City High School. For many athletics programs, it would be crippling.
Not for the City High girls’ cross country team, which still managed to grab the Mississippi Valley Conference championship Thursday at the Ashton Cross Country Course.
“We did?” Rethwisch said when she heard the outcome — City High outdueled Iowa City West, 33-42.
“Woo, hoo!”
According to Coach Tom Mittman, “more than 20″ of City High’s 70 girls’ runners stayed home from …

CEDAR FALLS at LINN-MAR
Time & place: 7:15 p.m., at Armstrong Field.
Radio: KGYM-AM (1600).
Records: Cedar Falls is 4-2; Linn-Mar is 6-0.
Notable: If 4A No. 4 Linn-Mar wins, it is the champion of the MVC Valley Division, and a perfect regular season becomes a distinct possibility. Jer Garman’s touchdown count stands at 21 (18 rushing, three receiving), and the junior has rushed for 1,092 yards, which ranks second in 4A.
MARION at UNION
Time & place: 7:30 p.m., at La Porte City.
Radio: WMT-AM (600).
Records: Both teams are 6-0 overall, 4-0 3A-4.
Notable: The 3A-4 title …

CALMAR — South Winneshiek is surrendering home-field advantage, gaining an opportunity.
“You can’t pass up something like this,” said Coach Jason Ohrt.
Class 1A fifth-ranked South Winn faces No. 6 Denver in a 1A District 3 showdown at 8:30 tonight at the UNI-Dome. Both teams are 6-0 overall, 4-0 in the district.
“We set this up last spring,” Ohrt said. “This game was supposed to be at our place, but I figured this would be a great experience. I didn’t realize at the time how big a game this would be.”
The Warriors are …