Postseason football begins Friday night

Iowa high school playoff football begins Friday night, Oct. 16, featuring a matchup of two Class A District 1 teams at Peterson Field in Hartley.

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn will take on MMCRU for the second time this fall, having won the district contest, 62-0, at Marcus on Sept. 25.

While every team qualifies for the playoffs this year, H-M-S is not taking for granted the program’s first postseason appearance since 2013.

“We will show up and practice like we always practice,” Horkey said. “Our kids understand they have a job to do.”

The Iowa High School Athletic Association assigned Class A teams to one of 16 pods for the first two playoff rounds. H-M-S and MMCRU are in Pod #2 as are Gehlen Catholic and Alta-Aurelia, who will play Friday night at Alta.

First-round winners in each pod will play each other on Oct. 23. According to the IHSAA, final season district placement will determine site assignments for the second round. Pod assignments for the third round and quarterfinals will be announced Oct. 24.

CLASS A DISTRICT 1 PLAYOFF MATCHUPS

(All Games Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.)

• Pod #1

Westwood (2-4) at South O’Brien (4-3)

Akron-Westfield (2-5) at Ridge View (4-2)

• Pod #2

MMCRU (1-6) at H-M-S (5-2)

Gehlen Catholic (3-3) at Alta-Aurelia (4-3)

• Pod #15

Tri-Center, Neola (2-4) at Lawton-Bronson (4-2)