Friday, Nov. 14
CLASS 1A
#3 Regina Catholic 31, #2 Grundy Center 12
A 50 game winning streak came to an end as the Regals stopped the Spartans. Kyle Tracy threw a 37 yard TD pass to Drew Greve and Tracy scored on a 12 yard TD run to lead 14-10 at the half. Regina added two more touchdowns in the 4th quarter to put the game away. Regina (12-0) was led by two 100 yard rushers — Savion Miller with 167 yards and 1 TD and Tracy with 121 yards and 2 TD. Grundy Center (11-1) had won three straight championships and their last loss was in the 2021 finals 19-14 to West Hancock. Regina will play in their first championship game since winning the title in 2020.
Box Score, Click HERE
#1 West Lyon 21, #4 South Hardin 7
The Wildcats (12-0) will go for back to back state titles by holding off the Tigers. The West Lyon defense held South Hardin to just 79 yards on the ground while the Wildcats pounded out 245 rushing yards. Evan Hildring led the way with 174 yards and 2 TD including a 62 yarder to tie the game at 7-7 in the 2nd quarter; the two way starter also has 2 QB sacks. Jared Ciesielski had two interceptions for West Lyon while South Hardin finishes their season at 10-2.
Box Score, Click HERE
CLASS 5A
#1 Dowling 14, #6 Valley 10
The Maroons lost the regular season meeting 20-19 but get revenge in the semifinals. Joey Nahas threw a 69 yard TD pass to Jeffrey Roberts for the go ahead score. Dowling (11-1) was led by Ian Middleton with 29 carries for 125 yards. Nahas threw for 151 yards and 2 TD as the Maroons go to the finals for the first time since they won in 2019. The Tigers end their season at 9-3.
Box Score, Click HERE
#4 Iowa City Liberty 31, #2 Waukee Northwest 15
The Lightning put up 387 yards of total offense and will go to the 5A state title game for the first time in school history. Liberty (11-1) was led by QB Reece Rettig going 26 of 31 passing for 210 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT plus ran for 66 yards and another score. Brody Beaver added 93 yards rushing and a TD plus 4 catches for 25 yards. The Wolves (10-2) were held to just 52 yards rushing.
Box Score, Click HERE
Saturday, Nov. 15
CLASS 2A
10:00–#4 Osage (11-0) vs. #6 Van Meter (9-2)
1:00–#1 Kuemper Catholic (11-0) vs. #10 Wilton (9-2)
CLASS 3A
4:00–#4 Bishop Heelan (9-2) vs #6 Wahlert Catholic (9-2)
7:00–#2 Solon (11-0) vs. #7 Nevada (9-2)
Thursday’s Scores
Class A Semifinals
#2 Saint Ansgar 31, #4 Wapsie Valley 7
The Saints scored 31 unanswered points to advance to the championship game for the first time since 2011. QB Peter Schwiesow threw for 2 TD and ran for 2 TD. Korben Michels caught two passes for 95 yards and 2 TD including a 90 yarder. Saint Ansgar (12-0) also had three turnovers to none for the Warriors. Hunter Curley for Wapsie Valley (11-1) had 81 yards rushing and 2 catches for 52 yards.
Box score, Click HERE
#1 MMCRU 28, #5 West Sioux 0
Eli Harpenau connected with Michael Schmillen for three TD passes as MMCRU advances to the state finals for the first time as a combined team. The Royals lost in the 2nd round the last two seasons — Marcus Meriden Cleghorn won state titles in 2012 and 2015 while Remsen Union never won a championship. Schmillen caught TD passes from 47, 60 and 40 yards in the game — those were the only 3 catches of the game for the senior wideout for 147 yards. Harpenau threw for 212 yards for MMCRU (12-0) and 4 TD plus 1 INT. West Sioux (10-2) was held to 49 yards rushing — star Braylon Lopez had just 14 carries for 13 yards.
Box Score, Click HERE
CLASS 4A
#4 Pella 35, #3 Sgt. Bluff Luton 14
The Dutch will play in the championship game for the second year in a row by rolling past the Warriors. Pella (11-1) was led by Emmanuel Diers with 33 carries for 197 yards and 3 TD. Michael Manning was 14 of 18 passing for 157 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. SB-L (10-2) had a big game from Beckett Verros with 16 carries for 131 yards and 2 TD. The Dutch lost to North Polk in last year’s 4A finals — the Dutch did win three straight titles in 2014, 15, and 16.
Box Score, Click HERE
#1 Xavier 31, #7 Newton 24
The Saints survived an upset scare as Cash Parks scored the go ahead TD on a 1 yard run with 3:26 to go. Xavier (12-0) had trailed 17-3 but scored three straight touchdowns to take a 24-17 lead. The Cardinals tied it when Caden Klein connected with Finn Martin on a long pass to set up Klein’s 1 yard TD run. On Xavier’s next drive, Carter Hoffmann broke a long run on a fullback trap play to set up Parks TD. Parks threw for 131 yards and 1 TD plus ran for two scores. Hoffmann had 130 yards rushing. Newton (10-2) was led by Klein with 171 yards and 2 TD. Xavier won the state title in 2023 but lost in the 2nd round last year to the eventual champion North Polk.
Box Score, Click HERE
Wednesday’s 8-Player Semi-final Scores:
Bishop Garrigan 60, Audubon 36
Woodbine 38 Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 30
