High School Football Rankings- In a cross-classification matchup between two top teams, we saw #2 Williamsburg of Class 3A squeak by #1 Xavier of Class 4A, 21-20. The result was a mix-up of both classifications’ top teams in The Gazette’s rankings.
Nevertheless, Class 5A remained relatively unchanged with Southeast Polk and Dowling Catholic staying on top of the rankings at #1 and #2, respectively. Prairie may have been unranked to start the season, but the Hawks are now ranked 3rd and staring down a matchup with #1 Southeast Polk this Friday. Cedar Falls reenter the rankings at #6 after a week one loss. Waukee Northwest is ranked 7th after being unranked last week. Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Waukee both fell out of the rankings.
Adel ADM is now the new king in Class 4A after Xavier’s loss to Williamsburg forced the Saints down to #5 in the rankings. North Scott is ranked 2nd followed by Western Dubuque. Indianola’s 21-14 loss to Norwalk knocked them out of the top 10 with Gilbert taking over the final position.
Williamsburg’s triumphant victory caused Mount Vernon to be leapfrogged in the rankings with Williamsburg taking the top spot. With Assumption being ranked 7th that puts two teams in Mt. Pleasant’s district in the top 10 for Class 3A. Fort Madison is 2-0 on the season, winning in typical Bloodhound fashion: low-scoring defensive battles. However, the Bloodhounds remain unranked but receiving votes.
In Class 2A, Van Meter is the top team followed by Central Lyon-GLR and Western Christian. Cherokee and Clarinda hopped into the rankings, both sporting a 2-0 record. Mediapolis was dropped after their shutout loss to Sigourney Keota. Carroll Kuemper was also knocked out of the rankings. West Burlington-Notre Dame is receiving attention after going 2-0 for the first time since the 2016-17 season. Their dynamic offense led by Caden Schwenker has the Nikes receiving votes.
Grundy Center, MFL MarMac, and Underwood are ranked at the top of list, respectively, for Class 1A. Underwood is the only team with a loss in the rankings for Class 1A. Aplington-Parkersburg and Ida Grove OABCIG were knocked out of the top 10 with Sumner-Fredericksburg and Denver being ranked at the bottom of the list.
In Class A, West Hancock and Lynnville-Sully are the favorites and rank #1 and #2, respectively. South Central Calhoun took over Southwest Valley’s spot in the rankings at #6. Columbus Community jumped back into the rankings after dismantling Wapello last Friday 49-6. The Wildcats now rank 10th.
Lastly, 8-Man football with have an intriguing matchup in Southeast Iowa this Friday. Gladbrook-Reinbeck still holds the top spot. However, there will be serious implications when #2 Winfield-Mt. Union, right off the heels of a lopsided victory over New London last Friday, hosts #5 WACO, who knocked #10 Iowa Valley out of the rankings with a 46-22 victory in front of the Warriors home crowd. Montezuma was also knocked out of the top 10 after the Braves 57-55 loss to Moravia. Don Bosco and Lansing Kee take over the empty spots at the end of the rankings.