Pairings announced for football playoffs
Five area football teams got their marching orders Saturday morning as the Iowa High School Athletic Association announced the Round of 16 pairings for the 2026 playoffs.
Four teams will be home Friday night at 7:00 pm:
- The top-ranked Xavier Saints (9-0) will play host to No. 13 Davenport North (7-2) in a 4A first round game at Saints field. The winner will take on the winner of North Polk at Newton.
- In 3A, No. 8 Wahlert Catholic (7-2) will travel to No. 9 Mount Vernon (7-2), with the winner facing either Iowa Falls-Alden or Clear Lake.
- In 2A No. 2 Alburnett (8-1) will meet Crestwood (6-3) at Carver Field with the winner taking on the winner of Wilton at Waukon.
- And in Class A, North Linn (7-2) will take on Mason City Newman in their first round battle with the winner of Wapsie Valley and Saint Ansgar looming ahead.
No. 11 Prairie (7-2) is the lone area road team, and it is quite the road, as the Hawks visit No. 6 Sioux City East (7-2). The winner of that game will battle the winner of Urbandale and Southeast Polk.
Quarterfinal games will be played November 6.
