Iowa high school football rankings: The Gazette’s 2024 post-Week 9 poll

The Gazette’s final football poll features unanimous No. 1 teams in two classes and a split decision in the other.

West Des Moines Dowling claimed all five first-place votes in Class 5A; same story for North Polk in 4A.

Meanwhile, Dubuque Wahlert and Sergeant Bluff-Luton are co-No. 1 teams in 3A.

Dowling takes an 8-1 record and a six-game winning streak into its first-round 5A playoff game against Cedar Falls.

Bettendorf’s first loss of the season — 42-23 to Iowa City High — allowed Ankeny Centennial, West Des Moines Valley, Johnston and Iowa City Liberty each to move up one slot in the 5A top five. Bettendorf dropped to No. 6.

Liberty (8-1) is the top team in 5A RPI. The Lightning take the top big-school scoring offense (44.0 points per game) into their first-round playoff game at home against Waukee.

City High and Linn-Mar are part of a three-way tie for ninth.

North Polk and Decorah are the last two unbeatens in 4A. The Comets gained the top spot after Gilbert knocked off former No. 1 Pella, 14-7, in Week 9.

North Polk hosts Fort Dodge in the Round of 16; Decorah welcomes Newton.

Gilbert jumps three spots to No. 3. Lewis Central and Pella round out the top five. Cedar Rapids Xavier and Western Dubuque share the No. 9 slot.

Benton Community’s 21-0 victory over former No. 1 Williamsburg caused some major shifting throughout the 3A top 10.

Wahlert and Sergeant Bluff-Luton (both 9-0) recorded 47 poll points apiece, with Wahlert owning a 3-2 advantage in first-place votes.

Humboldt is No. 3, with Mount Vernon and Benton Community completing the top five.

Williamsburg, Independence and Solon are 7-8-9.

Solon is at Benton in the first round of the playoffs; Williamsburg travels to Independence.

The Gazette’s post-Week 9 football poll

(First-place votes in parentheses)

CLASS 5A W-L Pts. Pvs

1. West Des Moines Dowling (5) 8-1 50 1

2. Ankeny Centennial 7-2 41 3

3. West Des Moines Valley 7-2 40 4

4. Johnston 7-2 33 5

5. Iowa City Liberty 8-1 28 6

6. Bettendorf 8-1 25 2

7. Pleasant Valley 7-2 20 8

8. Ankeny 5-4 10 10

T-9. Iowa City High 6-3 9 —

T-9. Linn-Mar 7-2 9 7

T-9. Southeast Polk 5-4 9 —

Dropped out: Sioux City East (9).

Others receiving votes: Waukee 1.

CLASS 4A (Final) W-L Pts. Pvs

1. North Polk (5) 9-0 50 2

2. Decorah 9-0 44 3

3. Gilbert 8-1 37 6

4. Lewis Central 8-1 35 5

5. Pella 8-1 32 1

6. Adel ADM 7-2 25 4

7. North Scott 7-2 19 6

8. Norwalk 6-3 11 8

T-9. Cedar Rapids Xavier 6-3 8 10

T-9. Western Dubuque 7-2 8 9

Others receiving votes: Newton 3, Waverly-Shell Rock 2, Clear Creek Amana 1.

CLASS 3A (Final) W-L Pts. Pvs

T-1. Dubuque Wahlert (3) 9-0 47 3

T-1. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (2) 9-0 47 2

3. Humboldt 8-1 38 5

4. Mount Vernon 8-1 32 4

5. Benton Community 7-2 27 9

6. Algona 8-1 26 6

7. Williamsburg 7-2 22 1

8. Independence 7-2 21 8

9. Solon 7-2 10 10

10. Nevada 7-2 4 —

Dropped out: Sioux City Heelan (9).

Others receiving votes: Carroll 1.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com