as well.” Taylor rushed for

COURIER FILE PHOTO St. Mary’s Kenny Bohnenkamp, left, and Canaan Cox, right, thank the fans and show the trophy after losing 52-14 to Don Bosco in the 8-player state title game in 2017. In a one-time format, all schools in all classes will qualify for the state playoffs in 2020.

Playoffs

From C1

collaboration among conferences.

The “Everybody Qualifies” plan marks the first time that every Iowa high school will qualify for the playoffs.

When the IHSAA initiated its first playoff system in 1972 there were four qualifiers in four classes. The playoff field expanded to eight qualifiers per class in 1975.

In 1984, Classes 3A, 2A, 1A and A grew to 16. Class 4A followed suit in 1986. When eightplayer football was introduced, four teams initially qualified in that division, with the field moving to eight in 2002 and 16 in 2006. From 2008 to 2015 the playoff field was increased to 32 teams before the IHSAA reversed course and reduced the fields back to 16 in 2016.

“I don’t like the idea of losing a couple of games,” Dike-New Hartford head coach Don Betts said. “But, I love the idea of everybody gets a chance to be in the playoffs. I’m a big fan of the more teams in the better for the sport and the kids, because at the end of the day we are doing this for the kids.

“The more kids experiencing being in the playoffs … I’m excited about that part of it.”

While regular-season success will help determine playoff seeding, the coaches aren’t sure exactly how the new playoff field will look.

“I don’t think the association knows how it is going to look either,” said Betts, when asked what will happen if some teams don’t finish their seasons because of COVID-19 stoppages.

“That is OK,” continued Betts. “They will figure it out and we all will give it a run. It is going to be an interesting year in how it plays out.”

“We will see what happens at the end,” adds Zajac. “Hopefully we have a full field. Hopefully all teams take care of themselves to allow us to get to that point. There are so many unknowns, but again, we just appreciate the opportunity to come outside and practice.”

With a guaranteed playoff spot already in hand, it poses another question to area coaches. Do you rest some players late so they are fresh for the postseason?

Waterloo West head coach Lonnie Moore wants to make sure he isn’t pushing his team too hard during the middle of the season.

“The last couple of years injures have hurt us, so we as a coaching staff decided to make sure we scale back a little bit around weeks four, five and six and try to keep guys healthy,” Moore said. “We’re excited about the opportunity. The last time we were in the playoffs we didn’t do too well in the first round. One of our goals this year is to be in the playoffs, but also to win a firstround game.”

At Independence, Putz said his mantra to the Mustangs is to attack every opportunity presented in front of them.

“Whether it is the offseason, seven-on-seven, install night, preseason practice to prepare to play nine games, we tell them not to take anything for granted,” Putz said. “You’ve always gotten nine guaranteed opportunities. This season, you can’t look at it and say any opportunities are guaranteed.”

Betts’ message is similar.

“I don’t think you ever back off,” said Betts, who is enter ing his 14th season, in response to whether he might rest a key player late in the season. “I’m not a believer in that. I think you are doing a disservice to your kids if you’re doing that.

“We only have a limited amount of time, even in a ninegame season, that is not many games for the kids who put the time in year-round to play football. I don’t think you want to take any of those opportunities away from them.”

Iowa playoff history

1972—The IHSAA began its first playoff system with four qualifiers in four classes. 1975—Playoff field expands to eight qualifiers per class. 1984—Class 3A, 2A, 1A and A grow to 16 teams. 1986—Class 4A expands to 16 qualifiers. 1998—Eight-player football begins with a four-team playoff. 2002—Eight-player expands to an eight-team playoff. 2006—Eight-player expands to 16 qualifiers. 2008—All classes move to 32 qualifiers. 2016—Playoff field is reduced back to 16 qualifiers per class. 2020—Every team in the state qualifies for the playoffs.

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