North Tama football lost by a combined 42-0 in its last two games, so the Redhawks are on the road for the “first round” of the playoffs. (I will not get used to calling round-of-32 the first round, let alone consider it “going to state”.) Tonight’s opponent, Wapello, will make for the farthest road game in North Tama history. Here’s a list of the longest road trips.
- Wapello, 128 miles (postseason 2021)
- WACO in Wayland and Winfield-Mount Union, 121 miles
- Mason City Newman, 104 miles (postseason 2011)
- St. Ansgar, 103 miles (first-time opponent 2021)
- Riceville and Postville, 100 miles
Farther-flung state playoff opponents, including Central Decatur (158 miles) and Woodbury Central (206 miles) last year, came to either Traer or the UNI-Dome, an easy half-hour away.
It could be worse — GTRA, in northwest Iowa, plays tonight in Gladbrook, 180 miles away.
Kickoff temperature in Wapello (54) will be 9 degrees higher than in Traer (45), according to the National Weather Service.