Balance between pessimism, optimism for HS football

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity while an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

The coronavirus threat wiped out the spring slate of sports and shortened the summer baseball and softball seasons. The football season was scheduled as normal until the end of July when the Iowa High School Athletic Association shortened the season from nine to seven games. There was a caveat however. Every team would make the playoffs so optimism will last throughout the season.

While some pessimists decried that would cheapen the playoffs or make for bad first-round games, it is something every other high school sport in the state does.

'That's a great thing if you've had some trials and tribulations or some problems with the virus,” Fairfield head coach Nate Weaton said.

The schedule change took some great possible matchups away. Fairfield had Ottumwa on its slate, renewing an old rivalry, Centerville was also axed.

'We were really excited to have Ottumwa on the schedule because that was a big rivalry with Fairfield for years and years,” Weaton said.

The home opener is Knoxville Friday.

Mid-Prairie had secured a tough slate of non-district games in Sigourney-Keota, Iowa City Regina, Mediapolis and Mount Vernon. Mediapolis and Regina were both playoff teams in 2019 and Sigourney-Keota was the only 8-1 team in the state not to make the playoffs.

'I am excited about our schedule,” Mid-Prairie head coach Pete Cavanagh said at the time the original schedules came out. 'We play a lot of great teams and should be great games.”

With the schedule contraction, the Golden Hawks lost Mount Vernon and Mediapolis, but Cavanagh is optmistic about the shortened season.

'It looks like a good plan, cutting back your chances of exposure is good,” Cavanagh said. 'I like the idea that if schools possibly have to miss a few games due to COVID, they are not penalized.”

With the change in schedules, the Golden Hawks will play at home for the first four games, before having two road games, then close with another home contest.

Everybody in the playoffs is not something Cavanagh would like in a normal situation. These day, things are not normal.

'This would be the only circumstance that I like all teams making the postseason,” Cavanagh said. 'Let's hope it all works.”

Mid-Prairie's district games are the same as last year, except West Burlington/Notre Dame replaces Albia.

'Williamsburg is the team to beat in the district,” Cavanagh said. 'They made it to the state semifinals last year.”

Mid-Prairie hosts Sigourney-Keota Friday in the opener for both teams.

SK head coach Jared Jensen said that game is 'key, right out of the gate. It will show us what our strengths and weaknesses are. Mid-Prairie will be an extremely talented team.”

The last four meetings between the Cobras and Hawks were all in the Mid-Prairie's favor.

The Cobras lost West Branch, a 10-1 team last season and Wapello from their schedule. The district is most of the same teams from last season. Mediapolis will again be a 'top contender with us, in my opinion,” Jensen said.

Van Buren County's season really got shortened. They had Highland on the road to open, then at Central Lee before West Burlington/Notre Dame came to visit and a trip to Columbus Junction for their last non-district game. VBC lost three of the four and did not get a second non-district game. The season opens Sept. 4 when Central Lee visits.

A pessimist would be disappointed in losing non-district games. 'We thought those games would be very competitive and give our team a chance to grow, but it is what it is at this point,” VBC head coach Brian Johnson said.

An optimist sees that teams are playing and not sitting at home.

'I'm really glad to see we will still have a football season,” Johnson said.

Columbus has dropped down a class from 1A to A. It has a new football head coach in Dave Lekwa and a completely new and revamped coaching staff. So with everything else being new this season for the Wildcats, the safety protocol regarding the pandemic will be another new part of Year One for the Wildcats program. But again, optimism prevails.

'I do like what the IHSAA has laid out for the season, keeping our district games and giving some options for Week 1 and Week 2,” Lekwa said. 'We are all sailing in uncharted waters right now. We're certainly taking the current situation seriously, as I'm sure all programs are.”

A pessimist sees the situation as dire while an optimist sees a chance to grow.

'As far as every team qualifying for the post season, I can't imagine there is a head coach out there that wouldn't appreciate that opportunity,” Lekwa said. 'It guarantees us at least one extra game, which will be great for us.”

The Wildcats played 10 games last season and have already played a game this year, but have an open date Sept. 4.

Louisa-Muscatine remained a nondistrict opponent, but Alburnett, North Mahaska and Van Buren County were lost. Cardinal was added as a nondistrict game and that was played Friday at Cardinal with Columbus losing 62-26.

It will be interesting to see how optimism and pessimism reign in Iowa high school football this season.