116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Iowa high school football playoffs 2021: Schedule, matchups, format, updated scores and more
Stay updated on every round of the playoffs, all 7 classes
The Iowa high school football playoffs started in 1972 with four teams qualifying in each of four classes. Fifty years later, the state has a total of 176 playoff teams competing for seven championships.
From the first round to the state championships at the UNI-Dome, we’ll be following every score and storyline.
Bookmark this page to find playoff information, matchups and updated scores and coverage throughout the postseason.
Rankings listed are via The Gazette poll.
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Class 5A
FORMAT
All 16 qualifiers will be determined via the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). There will be four brackets of four teams each for the first two rounds.
First-round host sites were determined by RPI. Teams will be reseeded in the semifinals by RPI.
SCHEDULE
First round: Friday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals: Friday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m.
Semifinals (UNI-Dome): Friday, Nov. 12, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Championship (UNI-Dome): Friday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m.
FIRST ROUND GAMES
Pod 1
No. 2 Southeast Polk 57, Johnston 7
No. 5 West Des Moines Dowling 38, No. 10 Linn-Mar 13
Pod 2
No. 1 Cedar Rapids Kennedy 23, Dubuque Senior 9
No. 7 Iowa City High 47, No. 9 Urbandale 21
Pod 3
No. 6 West Des Moines Valley 35, Ankeny Centennial 21
No. 8 Pleasant Valley 42, Cedar Falls 14
Pod 4
No. 4 Cedar Rapids Prairie 24, Bettendorf 6
No. 3 Ankeny 42, Waukee Northwest 3
QUARTERFINAL GAMES
No. 2 Southeast Polk 38, No. 5 West Des Moines Dowling 28
No. 6 West Des Moines Valley 40, No. 8 Pleasant Valley 14
No. 7 Iowa City High 32, No. 1 Cedar Rapids Kennedy 13
No. 3 Ankeny 37, No. 4 Cedar Rapids Prairie 7
SEMIFINAL GAMES
No. 3 Ankeny 35, No. 6 West Des Moines Valley 13
No. 2 Southeast Polk 33, No. 7 Iowa City High 7
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 3 Ankeny (10-2) vs. No. 2 Southeast Polk (11-1)
Class 4A
The 16-team field consists of the champion and runner-up of each of the six districts, plus four at-large teams based on RPI. There will be four brackets of four teams each for the first two rounds.
First-round host sites were determined by district finish and RPI. Teams will be reseeded in the semifinals by RPI.
SCHEDULE
First round: Friday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals: Friday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m.
Semifinals (UNI-Dome): Thursday, Nov. 11, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Championship (UNI-Dome): Thursday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m.
FIRST ROUND GAMES
Pod 1
No. 10 Decorah 14, No. 1 North Scott 10
No. 7 Winterset 24, Clear Creek Amana 17
Pod 2
No. 2 Cedar Rapids Xavier 45, Burlington 8
No. 8 Webster City 57, No. 10 Norwalk 20
Pod 3
No. 5 Waverly-Shell Rock 42, Cedar Rapids Washington 14
No. 6 Bondurant-Farrar 36, Fort Dodge 9
Pod 4
No. 3 Indianola 41, Carlisle 0
No. 3 Lewis Central 46, No. 9 Spencer 14
QUARTERFINAL GAMES
No. 5 Waverly-Shell Rock 36, No. 6 Bondurant-Farrar 25
No. 3 Lewis Central 35, No. 3 Indianola 21
No. 7 Winterset 28, No. 10 Decorah 19
No. 2 Cedar Rapids Xavier 24, No. 8 Webster City 13
SEMIFINAL GAMES
No. 3 Lewis Central 35, No. 5 Waverly-Shell Rock 10
No. 2 Cedar Rapids Xavier 40, No. 7 Winterset 14
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 3 Lewis Central (10-2) vs. No. 2 Cedar Rapids Xavier (11-1)
Class 3A
FORMAT
The 16-team field consists of the champion and runner-up of each of the six districts, plus four at-large teams based on RPI. There will be four brackets of four teams each for the first two rounds. Postseason pairings will be released Saturday morning.
First-round host sites were determined by district finish and RPI. Teams will be reseeded in the semifinals by RPI.
SCHEDULE
First round: Friday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals: Friday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m.
Semifinals (UNI-Dome): Saturday, Nov. 13, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Championship (UNI-Dome): Friday, Nov. 19, 1 p.m.
FIRST ROUND GAMES
Pod 1
No. 2 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 49, Sioux Center 7
No. 9 Sergeant Bluff-Luton 44, Algona 14
Pod 2
No. 5 Humboldt 47, Hampton-Dumont/CAL 6
No. 7 Independence 26, No. 6 Benton Community 6
Pod 3
No. 1 Harlan 45, Ballard 0
No. 8 Nevada 34, No. 10 Adel ADM 26
Pod 4
No. 3 West Delaware 48, Grinnell 0
No. 3 Solon 24, Davenport Assumption 17
QUARTERFINAL GAMES
No. 2 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 50, No. 9 Sergeant Bluff-Luton 14
No. 1 Harlan 38, No. 8 Nevada 0
No. 3 Solon 23, No. 3 West Delaware 19
No. 5 Humboldt 42, No. 7 Independence 21
SEMIFINAL GAMES
No. 2 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 42, No. 3 Solon 0
No. 1 Harlan 45, No. 5 Humboldt 19
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 2 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (12-0) vs. No. 1 Harlan (12-0)
Class 2A
FORMAT
The top four teams from each of eight districts comprise a 32-team field. First-round games pair fourth-place teams against first-place teams from other districts and third-place teams against second-place teams against other districts. Starting with the second round, teams will be placed in four brackets of four teams each.
Second-round host sites were determined by district finish, then district record, then the alphabet if necessary. Teams will be reseeded in the semifinals based on a vote of the coaches before the quarterfinals.
SCHEDULE
First round: Friday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m.
Second round: Friday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals: Friday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m.
Semifinals (UNI-Dome): Saturday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Championship (UNI-Dome): Friday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m.
FIRST ROUND GAMES
No. 6 West Lyon 42, Garner GHV 8
No. 3 Southeast Valley 46, Sheldon 7
No. 5 Spirit Lake 46, Osage 20
No. 3 Waukon 38, West Liberty 24
Monticello 41, Union Community 35
Williamsburg 40, Clarke 0
No. 1 West Marshall 42, Centerville 0
No. 7 Greene County 55, Roland-Story 14
No. 8 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 38, No. 8 Estherville-Lincoln Central 23
No. 2 Ida Grove OABCIG 56, Red Oak 0
Clear Lake 41, Unity Christian 28
No. 10 North Fayette Valley 29, New Hampton 28
Camanche 35, Dubuque Wahlert 20
Mid-Prairie 35, Northeast 28
Iowa Falls-Alden 35, Davis County 25
Monroe PCM 14, Clarinda 13
SECOND-ROUND GAMES
Pod 1
No. 6 West Lyon 35, No. 5 Spirit Lake 7
No. 8 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 42, Clear Lake 7
Pod 2
No. 3 Southeast Valley 50, Iowa Falls-Alden 13
No. 2 Ida Grove OABCIG 34, No. 7 Greene County 14
Pod 3
Williamsburg 35, Monroe PCM 0
No. 1 West Marshall 26, Mid-Prairie 14
Pod 4
No. 3 Waukon 40, Camanche 0
No. 10 North Fayette Valley 27, Monticello 14
QUARTERFINAL GAMES
No. 6 West Lyon 24, No. 8 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 7
No. 3 Southeast Valley 34, No. 2 Ida Grove OABCIG 28
Williamsburg 32, No. 1 West Marshall 6
No. 3 Waukon 28, No. 10 North Fayette Valley 14
SEMIFINAL GAMES
No. 3 Southeast Valley 50, No. 3 Waukon 14
No. 6 West Lyon 20, Williamsburg 14 (OT)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 3 Southeast Valley (11-1) vs. No. 6 West Lyon (10-2)
Class 1A
FORMAT
The top four teams from each of eight districts comprise a 32-team field. First-round games pair fourth-place teams against first-place teams from other districts and third-place teams against second-place teams against other districts. Starting with the second round, teams will be placed in four brackets of four teams each.
Second-round host sites were determined by district finish, then district record, then the alphabet if necessary. Teams will be reseeded in the semifinals based on a vote of the coaches before the quarterfinals.
SCHEDULE
First round: Friday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m.
Second round: Friday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals: Friday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m.
Semifinals (UNI-Dome): Friday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Championship (UNI-Dome): Thursday, Nov. 18, 4 p.m.
FIRST ROUND GAMES
No. 7 West Sioux 57, West Monona 7
South Central Calhoun 34, Emmetsburg 13
No. 4 Dike-New Hartford 49, Eagle Grove 0
No. 6 Dyersville Beckman 42, South Hardin 6
No. 3 Iowa City Regina 41, Cascade 19
No. 5 Sigourney-Keota 34, Durant 8
No. 1 Van Meter 77, Pleasantville 14
No. 2 Underwood 49, Nodaway Valley 3
Western Christian 21, Carroll Kuemper 7
Woodward-Granger 7, Interstate 35 0
MFL MarMac 18, Denver 13
No. 10 Waterloo Columbus 27, Aplington-Parkersburg 13
West Branch 35, Cardinal 6
No. 8 Pella Christian 42, Mediapolis 21
No. 9 Guthrie Center ACGC 40, South Hamilton 22
Ridge View 14, Treynor 0
SECOND ROUND GAMES
Pod 1
No. 2 Underwood 35, Western Christian 0
No. 7 West Sioux 45, Ridge View 20
Pod 2
No. 9 Guthrie Center ACGC 34, South Central Calhoun 13
No. 1 Van Meter 42, Woodward-Granger 0
Pod 3
No. 4 Dike-New Hartford 35, No. 8 Pella Christian 14
No. 5 Sigourney-Keota 18, No. 10 Waterloo Columbus 7
Pod 4
No. 6 Dyersville Beckman 24, West Branch 7
MFL MarMac 21, No. 3 Iowa City Regina 7
QUARTERFINAL GAMES
No. 7 West Sioux 31, No. 2 Underwood 14
No. 1 Van Meter 31, No. 9 Guthrie Center ACGC 13
No. 4 Dike-New Hartford 38, No. 5 Sigourney-Keota 14
No. 6 Dyersville Beckman 35, MFL MarMac 6
SEMIFINAL GAMES
No. 1 Van Meter 28, No. 6 Dyersville Beckman 7
No. 7 West Sioux 24, No. 4 Dike-New Hartford 21 (2OT)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 1 Van Meter (12-0) vs. No. 7 West Sioux (11-1)
Class A
FORMAT
The top four teams from each of eight districts comprise a 32-team field. First-round games pair fourth-place teams against first-place teams from other districts and third-place teams against second-place teams against other districts. Starting with the second round, teams will be placed in four brackets of four teams each.
Second-round host sites were determined by district finish, then district record, then the alphabet if necessary. Teams will be reseeded in the semifinals based on a vote of the coaches before the quarterfinals.
SCHEDULE
First round: Friday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m.
Second round: Friday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals: Friday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m.
Semifinals (UNI-Dome): Thursday, Nov. 11, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Championship (UNI-Dome): Thursday, Nov. 18, 1 p.m.
FIRST ROUND GAMES
No. 9 Hartley HMS 70, Tri-Center 54
No. 1 West Hancock 43, Alta-Aurelia 7
No. 2 Grundy Center 35, Saint Ansgar 8
No. 3 North Linn 46, Nashua-Plainfield 16
No. 9 Lynnville-Sully 40, Highland 15
Mount Ayr 34, Madrid 20
No. 6 Woodbury Central 46, Avoca AHSTW 12
South O’Brien 21, IKM-Manning 7
No. 8 North Butler 12, Starmont 0
Wapsie Valley 28, Alburnett 6
No. 7 East Buchanan 44, Mason City Newman 29
North Tama 23, Wapello 22
Earlham 28, Belle Plaine 0
Southwest Valley 53, Ogden 22
No. 4 Logan-Magnolia 42, Le Mars Gehlen 14
SECOND ROUND GAMES
Pod 1
No. 1 West Hancock 31, South O’Brien 7
No. 9 Hartley HMS 26, No. 8 North Butler 7
Pod 2
No. 6 Woodbury Central 35, Southwest Valley 0
No. 4 Logan-Magnolia 34, Mount Ayr 7
Pod 3
No. 2 Grundy Center 6, Earlham 0
North Tama 12, No. 9 Lynnville-Sully 8
Pod 4
Wapsie Valley 7, No. 3 North Linn 6
No. 7 East Buchanan 12, No. 4 Lisbon 8
QUARTERFINAL GAMES
No. 1 West Hancock 27, No. 9 Hartley HMS 0
No. 6 Woodbury Central 26, No. 4 Logan-Magnolia 7
No. 2 Grundy Center 28, North Tama 7
No. 7 East Buchanan 12, Wapsie Valley 0
SEMIFINAL GAMES
No. 1 West Hancock 37, No. 7 East Buchanan 0
No. 2 Grundy Center 28, No. 6 Woodbury Central 7
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 1 West Hancock 19, No. 2 Grundy Center 14
8-Player
FORMAT
The top three teams from each of 10 districts automatically qualify, along with two at-large teams based on the 17-point scoring margin rule. Starting with the second round, teams will be placed in four brackets of four teams each.
Second-round host sites were determined by district finish, then district record, then the alphabet if necessary. Teams will be reseeded in the semifinals based on a vote of the coaches before the quarterfinals.
SCHEDULE
First round: Friday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m.
Second round: Friday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals: Thursday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m.
Semifinals (UNI-Dome): Wednesday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Championship (UNI-Dome): Thursday, Nov. 18, 9:30 a.m.
FIRST ROUND GAMES
No. 6 Turkey Valley 54, Springville 14
No. 1 Anita CAM 66, East Mills 0
No. 3 Remsen St. Mary’s 48, Exira-EHK 12
Kingsley-Pierson 30, Harris-Lake Park 13
No. 10 Don Bosco 54, Tripoli 12
No. 4 Easton Valley 69, Dunkerton 8
No. 7 WACO 39, Edgewood-Colesburg 36
No. 2 Montezuma 36, New London 34
Martensdale-St. Marys 74, BGM 52
No. 8 Lenox 52, Lamoni 8
No. 9 Lansing Kee 50, Northwood-Kensett 45
No. 5 Audubon 55, Stanton-Essex 20
Newell-Fonda 63, Janesville 8
Ruthven GTRA beat Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 58-28
English Valleys 36, Southeast Warren 15
Fremont-Mills 68, Baxter 38
SECOND ROUND GAMES
Pod 1
No. 3 Remsen St. Mary’s 46, Kingsley-Pierson 6
No. 10 Don Bosco 54, Ruthven GTRA 20
Pod 2
No. 4 Easton Valley 60, English Valleys 7
No. 9 Lansing Kee 42, No. 6 Turkey Valley 40
Pod 3
No. 7 WACO 50, Martensdale St. Marys 8
No. 5 Audubon 63, No. 2 Montezuma 14
Pod 4
No. 1 Anita CAM 46, Fremont-Mills 20
Newell-Fonda 39, No. 8 Lenox 14
QUARTERFINAL GAMES
No. 3 Remsen St. Mary’s 64, No. 10 Don Bosco 42
No. 4 Easton Valley 67, No. 9 Lansing Kee 22
No. 5 Audubon 34, No. 7 WACO 30
No. 1 Anita CAM 64, Newell-Fonda 13
SEMIFINAL GAMES
No. 1 Anita CAM 66, No. 5 Audubon 29
No. 4 Easton Valley 42, No. 3 Remsen St. Mary’s 36
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 1 Anita CAM 42, No. 4 Easton Valley 40
Mid-Prairie players huddle together before taking on the Williamsburg Raiders at Williamsburg High School in Williamsburg, Iowa on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
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