In Waterloo, the excitement for high school football is building as teams prepare for the first round of the postseason. The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced the pairings on Saturday morning for the playoffs in Class 2A, 1A, A, and 8-Player, with games scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 25.
Each class features 32 teams, with the top four finishing in the district standings qualifying for the playoffs in Classes 2A, 1A, and A. For the 8-Player class, the top three teams in each district earned spots, while Exira-EHK and Tripoli grabbed the last at-large spots based on a scoring margin system, which is capped at 17 points per district game.
Currently, there are no brackets for the playoffs. The first round winners will be grouped into brackets of four next Saturday, and the winners will advance to the coveted state semifinals at the UNI-Dome. Meanwhile, Class 5A, 4A, and 3A teams still have another week of regular-season play before their postseason brackets are revealed next weekend.
Football fans can expect thrilling matchups as teams gear up for the first round. Notable pairings include:
- Waukon (3-5) at Anamosa (7-1)
- Chariton (4-4) at Carroll Kuemper (7-1)
- Greene County (4-4) at Clarinda (6-2)
- Ogden (2-6) at Dike-New Hartford (7-1)
- Tripoli (3-5) at Algona Garrigan (8-0)
As the playoffs approach, the pressure is on for every team. Many players and fans are eager to see how their teams perform in the postseason, which is known for its intense competition and memorable moments. Keep your eyes on the field this Friday night!
