Friday, Nov 21
Class 2A
#1 Kuemper Catholic 28, #6 Van Meter 7
The Knights take their first state title in 12 years by dominating the Bulldogs. After a scoreless first quarter, Kuemper (13-0) took advantage of a Brayton Alford interception and Brock Badding hit Charles Mayhall on a 3rd and 10 for a 14 yard TD pass to end the goose eggs. After a Van Meter punt, the Knights got moving again — Badding converted a 3rd and 7 with a 15 yard pass to Ryan Lucas and Jarin Hoffman took it in the end zone for a 3 yard run to make it 14-0 KC at the half. On the second half kickoff, the Bulldogs fumbled it near midfield and the Knights took over at the 50. Badding found Braxton Vonnahme for three passes on the drive and Badding finished it with a 1 yard TD run. Van Meter (10-3) got their only score midway through the 4th quarter on a 50 yard TD pass from Henry Lounsbury to Andon Watson to make it 21-7. Van Meter actually recovered the onside kick but on 3rd and 20, Lounsbury was intercepted again this time by Theodore Perkins. Moments later, Hoffman broke a 52 yard run and then put the game away with a 2 yard TD run with 2:24 left.
Jarin Hoffman had 28 carries for 156 yards and 2 TD. Brock Badding was 17 of 30 passing for 153 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. Braxton Vonnahme had 7 catches for 48 yards. Lucas Diehl had 11 tackles and 2 sacks. Jack Badding had 9 tackles and 2 sacks.
Box Score, Click HERE
CLASS 3A
#7 Nevada 27, #4 Bishop Heelan 6
The Cubs are the Cinderella story of 2025 Iowa High School football playoffs. Nevada (11-2) upsets Clear Lake, Solon and Heelan in three straight games to win their first ever football state title. Austin Waldera had 34 carries for 173 yards and 1 TD to lead the Cubs. Heelan had minus 6 rushing yards but had to play without their leading rusher Kasen Thomas who got hurt in the semifinals. Nevada sacked Heelan QB Noah Conley 5 times — the Cubs also got 7 pass break ups, 4 QB hurries, an interception and a forced fumble. Heelan finishes their season at 10-3.
Box Score, Click HERE
CLASS 5A
#1 Dowling Catholic 27, #4 Iowa City Liberty 10
The Maroons are back on the top of Iowa’s biggest class for the first time since 2019. Ian Middleton had 34 carries for 206 yards and 2 TD. Joey Nahas was only 3 of 5 passing for 81 yards but threw a 67 yard TD pass to Jeffrey Roberts. Dowling (12-1) kept the chains moving by converting 6 of 12 3rd downs. Ryan Bobo had 2.5 QB sacks, a forced fumble and 2 QB hurries. It was the 12th career football state title for Dowling — they had won 7 in a row from 2013 to 2019. The Lightning finish their season at 11-2.
Box Score, Click HERE
Thursday, Nov. 20
EIGHT-PLAYER
#1 Bishop Garrigan 44, #2 Woodbine 42
The Golden Bears rallied from a 33 point deficit as Ethan Marso scored a 2 yard TD run and Tate Foertsch got a 2 point conversion with 33 seconds left to win the state title. Garrigan (13-0) trailed 36-14 late in the 3rd quarter when they scored on a Marso TD. Marso then intercepted a Brodyn Pryor pass and Foertsch finished the drive with an 8 yard TD. Woodbine went 3 and out and Foertsch found Madden Miller on a 22 yard pass to set up a Foertsch 9 yard TD run to tie the game at 36-36 with 2:32 left. The Tigers went to the air — Pryor hit Landon Blum for 12, he hit Kenner Sullivan for 13, Micah Moores ran for 15 and Pryor hit Brenden Wagner for 14 down to the 1. Moores got in the end zone with 1:09 left but the two point conversion failed to make it 42-36 Woodbine. The Bears had enough time to go the other way — Foertsch found CJ McGregor for a 36 yard pass down to the 4 yard line. Marso took it from there and Foertsch went untouched into the end zone for the go ahead two pointer.
Foertsch ran for 157 yards and 3 TD; Marso ran for 103 yards and 2 TD. The Bears win their 2nd state title in 3 years. Woodbine (11-1) was led by Pryor who was 13-21 passing for 214 yards, 3 TD and 1 INT; Moores ran for 106 yards and 3 TD; Landon Blum had 8 catches for 116 yards and 2 TD.
Box Score, Click HERE
CLASS A
#1 MMCRU 30, #2 Saint Ansgar 17
The Royals win their first ever title as a united team with Marcus, Meriden, Cleghorn and Remsen-Union. MMCRU (13-0) built a 17-0 lead when Korben Michels returned a kickoff 78 yards for a TD to get the Saints on the board. Saint Ansgar (12-1) got a field goal early in the third quarter. The Royals answered with a 6 yard TD run from Brayson Mulder to take a 23-10 lead. The Saints came back as Porter Schwiesow connected with Connor Mullenbach on a 66 yard TD pass to make it 23-17. MMCRU faced a 3rd down and 8 late in the 4th quarter and Eli Harpenau threw one up for grabs but Mulder caught it for a gain of 21. Moments later, the Royals converted another 3rd down and were able to put the game away with a Mulder 13 yard TD run.
Mulder had 58 yards rushing and 2 TD plus 36 receiving yards and on defense had 8 tackles, 2.5 TFL and a fumble recovery.
Box Score, Click HERE
CLASS 1A
#1 West Lyon 34, #3 Regina 27 (OT)
The Wildcats rallied from a 14 point deficit in the 4th quarter to win their 7th career state title and 2nd in a row. Kyle Tracy threw a 36 yard TD pass to Tate Wallace to give the Regals a 27-13 lead. On the kickoff, West Lyon (13-0) threw a lateral to River Kramer and ran it 97 yards for a TD to make it 27-20. The Wildcats were able to get the ball back and Jacob Snyder tied it up with a 1 yard TD run. The game ended after 4 quarters tied at 27-27 — West Lyon scored on the first possession in overtime on a Evan Hildring 10 yard TD run. Regina (12-1) faced a 4th and Goal needing a TD run but a bad snap went over the head of Wallace and the Wildcats completed an incredible goal line stand to go back to back.
Evan Hilldring ran for 112 yards and 2 TD. River Kramer had 10 tackles on defense, 1 TFL, 1 forced fumble and the kickoff return a TD.
Box Score, Click HERE
CLASS 4A
#1 Xavier 31, #4 Pella 6
The Saints cruised to their 6th ever state championship. Carter Hoffmann dominated on the ground for Xavier (13-0) with 34 carries for 207 yards and 3 TD. Cash Parks was an efficient 11 of 16 passing for 143 yards and 1 TD. Pella (11-2) was led by Emmanuel Diers with 107 yards on the ground.
Box Score, Click HERE
