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
Friday, Nov. 14
CLASS 1A
10:00–#2 Grundy Center (11-0) vs. #3 Regina (11-0)
1:00–#1 West Lyon (11-0) vs. #4 South Hardin (10-1)
CLASS 5A
4:00–#1 Dowling Catholic (10-1) vs #6 Valley (9-2)
7:00–#2 Waukee Northwest (10-1) vs. #4 Iowa City Liberty (10-1)
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)
Wednesday’s 8-Player Semi-final Scores:
Bishop Garrigan 60, Audubon 36
Woodbine 38 Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 30
