Iowa High School Athletic Association

When the Iowa High School Athletic Association, expanded the field of the football playoffs for each class from 16 to 32 teams in 2008, the idea was to give more teams a chance.
And Mississippi Valley Conference teams have made the most of the increased opportunities.
After squaring off against teams from the neighboring Mississippi Athletic Conference 14 times the previous eight seasons, the MVC has gone head-to-head with the MAC 16 times the past two postseasons. Comparing the two leagues hasn't taken much discussion, as the MVC has won 81 percent of those meetings.
This year's opening round, which begins tonight, offers five opportunities for the MAC to prove its worth. Monday's second round could present as many as four more cross-conference clashes.
With the east-west bracket split in Class 4A, this particular interleague setup isn't going anywhere.
It has been a rough couple of years, but the MAC has quality players and teams. Now's the time to showcase both.
On Page D5: Iowa football postseason preview capsules
Recent heartbreakers
2008: Behind quarterback Eric May's (above) 404 yards of offense, Dubuque Wahlert (4-5) stunned MAC runner-up North Scott (8-1) in a 37-14 road victory.
2009: With its offense struggling and defense overtaxed, MAC runner-up Bettendorf lost 17-14 to 14th-seeded Cedar Rapids Kennedy.
2009: Averaging 43 points entering its quarterfinal, Clinton fell behind Cedar Rapids Xavier 28-0 before scoring in the final 2 minutes.
Did you know?
In the past 10 years, Bettendorf, Assumption and Clinton are the only MAC teams with wins against MVC opponents. Five other MAC teams are a combined 0-10.

Head-to-head since '08
MAC MVC
Wins 3 13
Upset wins 0 5
Points a game 14.4 28.9
State titles 0 1
Records against MVC teams since 2001
Bettendorf 8-5
Clinton 2-1
Assumption 1-3
Davenport Central 0-1
Burlington 0-2
Muscatine 0-2
Pleasant Valley 0-2
North Scott 0-3
Sideline chatter from MAC and MVC coaches
"I think our league is better than it was last year. I look at the positions on our team, and I think we're overall a lot better since last year. I don't think that's any secret. And we've had some tough games. But there's some good teams over (in the MVC)."
- Aaron Wiley, Bettendorf coach
"The MAC will have their years, and the MVC will have theirs. They've gotten the better of us the past couple years, but I believe the MAC will have a better showing this year. We've got four, five, six strong teams going into the playoffs, all with a shot to pull one out and advance."
- Mark Roering, Davenport Central coach
"Right now, the MVC competitively plays a tougher schedule day in and day out than the MAC. I think there are more quality teams in the MVC. If you go 4-5 in the MVC, your five losses are generally going to be against high-quality teams."
- Scott Mahmens, Linn-Mar AD and former Clinton AD/football coach
(courtesy of Cedar Rapids Gazette)