Iowa high school football rankings: Valley takes over as No. 1 in Class 4A

West Des Moines Valley has slain a giant. And with it, a lofty reward.

Valley is the new Class 4A No. 1 in the Gazette/KGYM high-school football rankings after dumping five-time defending state champion (and previous No. 1) West Des Moines Dowling, 20-6, Friday.

The Tigers (2-0) climbed to the top from No. 3.

It's the most notable change in a week that saw widespread movement in the poll. Fourteen new teams are ranked, including five in Class 2A.

The other five top-rated teams remain the same — Cedar Rapids Xavier (3A), Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (2A), Dike-New Hartford (1A), Hudson (Class A) and Don Bosco (8-Player).

Xavier and Don Bosco are unanimous No. 1 picks. Both are defending state champions in their respective classes.

Valley and Dowling traded places after the Tigers' triumph Friday. Johnston is wedged between them at No. 2. Bettendorf and Cedar Falls round out the top five. No. 9 Cedar Rapids Kennedy visits Valley this week.

Xavier picked up its second straight lopsided win, spotting Decorah a 3-0 lead and scoring the final 45 points. The Saints are followed by Lewis Central, Pella, West Delaware and North Scott.

The top three teams (Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Monroe PCM and Union Community) remain intact in 2A, then there are massive changes. Spirit Lake is up five spots to No. 4, and Benton Community enters the rankings at No. 5.

Class 1A is a tight race again this week, with Dike-New Hartford (53 points) edging West Branch (52) and West Sioux (49). Last year's champion, Van Meter jumps into the poll at No. 4 after beating former No. 4 Pella Christian, then West Lyon is fifth.

Hudson garnered five first-place votes and stays atop the Class A rankings. The Pirates are followed by Algona Garrigan, Avoca AHSTW, Belmond-Klemme and East Buchanan.

Don Bosco has outscored its first two foes by a 134-12 margin. The Dons' closest challengers in 8-Player are Exira-EHK, Ar-We-Va, New London and Iowa Valley.

Class 4A

1.

West Des Moines Valley

2-0, 58 points (4 first-place votes)

2-0, 58 points (4 first-place votes)

Last week: No. 3 | Beat No. 1 West Des Moines Dowling, 20-6

This week: vs. No. 9 Cedar Rapids Kennedy

 

2.

Johnston

2-0, 49 points (1 first-place vote)

2-0, 49 points (1 first-place vote)

Last week: No. 2 | Beat Ankeny, 14-9

This week: vs. No. 3 West Des Moines Dowling

 

3.

West Des Moines Dowling

1-1, 47 points

1-1, 47 points

Last week: No. 1 | Lost to No. 3 West Des Moines Valley, 20-6

This week: at No. 2 Johnston

 

4.

Bettendorf

2-0, 41 points

2-0, 41 points

Last week: No. 4 | Beat No. 6 Iowa City West, 10-7

This week: at Dubuque Hempstead

 

5.

Cedar Falls

2-0, 39 points (1 first-place vote)

2-0, 39 points (1 first-place vote)

Last week: No. 5 | Beat Iowa City High, 47-0

This week: at Ankeny

 

6.

Cedar Rapids Prairie

2-0, 29 points

2-0, 29 points

Last week: No. 6 | Beat Pleasant Valley, 49-42

This week: vs. Waukee

 

7.

Ankeny Centennial

2-0, 22 points

2-0, 22 points

Last week: No. 8 | Beat Urbandale, 41-0

This week: at Waterloo West

 

7.

Iowa City West

1-1, 22 points

1-1, 22 points

Last week: No. 6 | Lost to No. 4 Bettendorf, 10-7

This week: vs. Southeast Polk

 

9.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy

2-0, 11 points

2-0, 11 points

Last week: No. 9 | Beat Linn-Mar, 33-7

This week: at No. 1 West Des Moines Valley

 

10.

Fort Dodge

2-0, 5 points

2-0, 5 points

Last week: NR | Beat Ames, 52-24

This week: at Indianola

 

Dropped out: Southeast Polk (10)

Others receiving votes: Indianola 4, Waukee 3

Class 3A

1.

Cedar Rapids Xavier

2-0, 60 points (6 first-place votes)

2-0, 60 points (6 first-place votes)

Last week: No. 1 | Beat Decorah, 45-3

This week: vs. Davenport Assumption

 

2.

Lewis Central

2-0, 51 points

2-0, 51 points

Last week: No. 2 | Beat Carlisle, 42-7

This week: at Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln

 

3.

Pella

2-0, 43 points

2-0, 43 points

Last week: No. 3 | Beat Mount Pleasant, 35-6

This week: at Norwalk

 

4.

West Delaware

2-0, 33 points

2-0, 33 points

Last week: No. 5 | Beat Marion 25-21

This week: at Mount Vernon

 

5.

North Scott

1-1, 27 points

1-1, 27 points

Last week: No. 6 | Beat Davenport Central, 54-0

This week: at Pleasant Valley

 

6.

Waverly-Shell Rock

2-0, 25 points

2-0, 25 points

Last week: No. 9 | Beat 2A No. 4 Clear Lake, 35-7

This week: at Crestwood

 

7.

Sergeant Bluff-Luton

1-1, 23 points

1-1, 23 points

Last week: No. 8 | Beat No. 7 Harlan, 34-32

This week: vs. Sioux City East

 

8.

Solon

2-0, 22 points

2-0, 22 points

Last week: No. 4 | Beat West Liberty, 7-0 (OT)

This week: vs. Marion

 

9.

Sioux City Heelan

2-0, 20 points

2-0, 20 points

Last week: No. 10 | Beat Glenwood, 21-7

This week: vs. Western Christian

 

10.

Western Dubuque

2-0, 19 points

2-0, 19 points

Last week: NR | Beat 2A No. 8 Williamsburg, 53-13

This week: vs. Decorah

 

Dropped out: Harlan (7)

Others receiving votes: Harlan 7

Class 2A

1.

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley

2-0, 59 points (5 first-place votes)

2-0, 59 points (5 first-place votes)

Last week: No. 1 | Beat Western Christian, 40-7

This week: vs. 1A No. 5 West Lyon

 

2.

Monroe PCM

2-0, 51 points (1 first-place vote)

2-0, 51 points (1 first-place vote)

Last week: No. 2 | Beat West Marshall, 29-6

This week: vs. Roland-Story

 

3.

Union Community

2-0, 40 points

2-0, 40 points

Last week: No. 3 | Beat North Fayette Valley, 22-15

This week: vs. Charles City

 

4.

Spirit Lake

2-0, 40 points

2-0, 40 points

Last week: No. 9 | Beat Forest City, 42-0

This week: at Central Lyon/George-Little Rock

 

5.

Benton Community

2-0, 28 points

2-0, 28 points

Last week: NR | Beat 1A No. 5 Cascade, 30-12

This week: vs. Center Point-Urbana

 

6.

Southeast Valley

2-0, 26 points

2-0, 26 points

Last week: NR | Beat Pocahontas Area, 48-14

This week: at A No. 4 Belmond-Klemme

 

7.

Algona

2-0, 14 points

2-0, 14 points

Last week: NR | Beat Hampton-Dumont, 35-7

This week: at Emmetsburg

 

7.

Centerville

2-0, 14 points

2-0, 14 points

Last week: NR | Beat Davis County, 33-25

This week: at Knoxville

 

7.

West Marshall

1-1, 14 points

1-1, 14 points

Last week: No. 6 | Lost to No. 2 Monroe PCM, 29-6

This week: at Denver

 

10.

Clear Lake

1-1, 12 points

1-1, 12 points

Last week: No. 4 | Lost to 3A No. 9 Waverly-Shell Rock, 35-7

This week: vs. Garner GHV

 

10.

Sheldon

2-0, 12 points

2-0, 12 points

Last week: NR | Beat South O'Brien, 27-14

This week: at Le Mars

 

Dropped out: Sioux Center (5), Mount Vernon (7), Williamsburg (8), Carroll Kuemper (10)

Others receiving votes: Waukon 5, Des Moines Christian 3, Greene County 3, Chariton 2, Roland-Story 1

Class 1A

1.

Dike-New Hartford

2-0, 53 points (4 first-place votes)

2-0, 53 points (4 first-place votes)

Last week: No. 1 | Beat No. 10 Aplington-Parkersburg, 40-6

This week: at North Butler

 

2.

West Branch

2-0, 52 points

2-0, 52 points

Last week: No. 2 | Beat Wapello, 49-14

This week: vs. Williamsburg

 

3.

West Sioux

1-1, 49 points

1-1, 49 points

Last week: No. 3 | Beat Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, 42-14

This week: at Sioux Center

 

4.

Van Meter

2-0, 31 points (1 first-place vote)

2-0, 31 points (1 first-place vote)

Last week: NR | Beat No. 4 Pella Christian, 27-7

This week: at Madrid

 

5.

West Lyon

2-0, 30 points (1 first-place vote)

2-0, 30 points (1 first-place vote)

Last week: No. 8 | Beat 2A No. 5 Sioux Center, 26-7

This week: at 2A No. 1 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley

 

6.

Iowa City Regina

1-1, 28 points

1-1, 28 points

Last week: No. 6 | Beat Anamosa, 34-15

This week: vs. Pella Christian

 

7.

Wilton

2-0, 25 points

2-0, 25 points

Last week: No. 9 | Beat Northeast, 50-8

This week: at Mid-Prairie

 

8.

South Central Calhoun

2-0, 22 points

2-0, 22 points

Last week: NR | Beat 2A No. 10 Carroll Kuemper, 36-6

This week at IKM-Manning

 

9.

Bellevue

2-0, 15 points

2-0, 15 points

Last week: No. 7 | Beat Camanche, 51-12

This week: at Monticello

 

10.

Interstate 35

2-0, 7 points

2-0, 7 points

Last week: NR | Beat Mount Ayr, 28-13

This week: vs. Panorama

 

Dropped out: Pella Christian (4), Cascade (5), Aplington-Parkersburg (10)

Others receiving votes: Pella Christian 6, Cascade 4, Western Christian 3, Sumner-Fredericksburg 2, Mediapolis 1, North Linn 1, South Hamilton 1

Class A

1.

Hudson

2-0, 58 points (5 first-place votes)

2-0, 58 points (5 first-place votes)

Last week: No. 1 | Beat Waterloo Columbus, 14-0

This week: vs. Garwin GMG

 

2.

Algona Garrigan

2-0, 50 points (1 first-place vote)

2-0, 50 points (1 first-place vote)

Last week: No. 3 | Beat Mason City Newman, 28-21

This week: at Lake Mills

 

3.

Avoca AHSTW

2-0, 45 points

2-0, 45 points

Last week: No. 4 | Beat Shenandoah, 45-0

This week: at Westwood

 

4.

Belmond-Klemme

2-0, 36 points

2-0, 36 points

Last week: No. 7 | Beat Nashua-Plainfield, 55-0

This week: vs. 2A No. 6 Southeast Valley

 

5.

East Buchanan

2-0, 29 points

2-0, 29 points

Last week: No. 8 | Beat Clayton Ridge, 42-6

This week: vs. Edgewood-Colesburg

 

6.

Sioux Central

2-0, 20 points

2-0, 20 points

Last week: No. 9 | Beat Graettinger GTRA, 20-0

This week: at Akron-Westfield

 

7.

Wapsie Valley

2-0, 19 points

2-0, 19 points

Last week: No. 9 | Beat Denver, 31-16

This week: vs. North Tama

 

8.

Saint Ansgar

1-1, 17 points

1-1, 17 points

Last week: No. 2 | Lost to Osage, 36-31

This week: at Starmont

 

9.

Pekin

2-0, 16 points

2-0, 16 points

Last week: NR | Beat Mid-Prairie, 35-7

This week: at Mediapolis

 

10.

Hinton

2-0, 9 points

2-0, 9 points

Last week: NR | Beat Unity Christian, 28-14

This week: at Lawton-Bronson

 

10.

West Hancock

1-1, 9 points

1-1, 9 points

Last week: NR | Beat Emmetsburg, 20-14

This week: at Osage

 

Dropped out: Lynnville-Sully (5), Alburnett (6)

Others receiving votes: Southwest Valley 8, North Tama 6, Highland 3, West Monona 3, Council Bluffs St. Albert 2

8-Player

1.

Don Bosco

2-0, 60 points (6 first-place votes)

2-0, 60 points (6 first-place votes)

Last week: No. 1 | Beat Baxter, 84-6

This week: at Rockford

 

2.

Exira-EHK

2-0, 43 points

2-0, 43 points

Last week: No. 2 | Beat Sidney, 43-8

This week: vs. Audubon

 

3.

Ar-We-Va

2-0, 42 points

2-0, 42 points

Last week: No. 3 | Beat Woodbine, 68-6

This week: vs. West Bend-Mallard

 

4.

New London

2-0, 34 points

2-0, 34 points

Last week: No. 4 | Beat Moravia, 42-0

This week: vs. WACO

 

5.

Iowa Valley

3-0, 33 points

3-0, 33 points

Last week: No. 6 | Beat Lone Tree, 56-17

This week: at Tri-County

 

6.

Newell-Fonda

2-0, 30 points

2-0, 30 points

Last week: No. 7 | Beat Coon Rapids-Bayard, 37-26

This week: at Clay Central-Everly

 

7.

Midland

3-0, 25 points

3-0, 25 points

Last week: No. 7 | Beat Dunkerton, 48-43

This week: vs. Turkey Valley

 

8.

Fremont-Mills

1-1, 19 points

1-1, 19 points

Last week: No. 9 | Beat No. 5 Audubon, 39-21

This week: vs. Clarinda Academy

 

9.

Anita CAM

2-0, 11 points

2-0, 11 points

Last week: NR | Beat Stanton, 54-28

This week: at Glidden-Ralston

 

10.

Southeast Warren

3-0, 11 points

3-0, 11 points

Last week: NR | Beat Clarinda Academy, 57-8

This week: vs. Moravia

 

Dropped out: Audubon (5), Harris-Lake Park (10)

Others receiving votes: Kingsley-Pierson 6, Audubon 5, East Mills 3, Northwood-Kensett 3, Murray 2, Turkey Valley 2, Riceville 1