Published: October 14, 2008 10:53 am            

Being in not enough for Rebels, Sabers

By Jon Gremmels

Herald Sports Editor

CLINTON — Jeremy Mosier and Kurt Kreiter already know that their high school football teams will get at least one additional week of work this fall. Neither team can finish worse than fourth in their respective districts. Knowing they’ve made the postseason field in the expanded Iowa playoffs isn’t enough, however.

“We talked to the guys today about, yes, we’re in but not the way we want to be. We want to be in as district champions,” said Mosier, whose ninth-ranked Northeast Rebels (6-1, 5-0 in the district) are tied with Maquoketa Valley for first place in Class 1A District 4. The two teams square off in the regular-season finale, Friday, Oct. 24, in Delhi.

“If all goes as planned, it will come down to the final week,” Mosier said.

Four teams from each district will qualify for the postseason “sub-state” round this fall in every class but 4A, and Northeast and Kreiter’s Central DeWitt teams are guaranteed spots with unbeaten district records with two regular-season games remaining for each.

“The only thing that changes is I can start selling playoff T-shirts early,” Kreiter joked Monday night. “We’re looking at this as a must win, even though we don’t have to win.”

Kreiter’s Sabers (7-0, 5-0), ranked No. 3 in the state, can clinch at least a share of the Class 3A District 4 championship Friday when they travel to LaPorte City Union. That game lost a little luster when Marion handed Union its first loss last Friday, but it still has meaning since Union still has a chance at the district crown.

“As far as the game itself, the kids want to win the district title,” Kreiter said. “The only way we’re going to do that is if we win on Friday.”

Kreiter said there were implications beyond winning the title, too.

“We want the highest seed possible,” he said. “If there is a three-way tie (like Union, Marion is 6-1, 4-1), we could wind up with the third seed based on points.”

There are some advantages with wrapping things up early, though. Kreiter admitted that a win Friday might persuade him to cut back on some players’ field time the following week against Vinton-Shellsburg (1-6) to get them some rest before the postseason.

While Mosier also is stressing the importance of winning the district title, he has another objective in the final two games. He needs to get Jed Rogis and Mitchell Hasebier — and perhaps even wide receiver Ryan Krogmann — some snaps at quarterback after losing two-year starter Jordan Howe (broken collarbone) last Friday.

He admitted, though, that that was a bit easier heading into the final two weeks with a postseason berth wrapped up.

“I think it is a little more relaxing,” he said. “In years past, these would be must-win games, and that puts all kinds of pressure on you.”

Kevin Behr no doubt feels some of that pressure at Preston. Even though the Trojans are in second place in Eight-player District 4, their 4-1 district record is only one game ahead of three 3-2 teams — Lansing Kee, Maynard West Central and Dunkerton — so they need at least one more win to sew up a spot in the postseason.

“It definitely makes things exciting,” said Behr, whose team travels to Kee on Friday. “We feel we are in control of our own destiny. We’re definitely not letting down at all.”

The Trojans were one team that probably benefited from the expanded format. They lost two of their first three games but have won four in a row since then.

“The expanded format gives you that opportunity, where before two early losses might take you out,” Behr said.

        

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