Liberty chases a 5A state football title, and ‘Dowling’s just another monster in our way’

NORTH LIBERTY — It’s almost as if the dual lightning bolts on their helmets are pointing directly at it.

A white tag, on the center of the front of the helmet.

The message is simple. Three purple numbers:

“3-1-9.”

The area code of North Liberty. And the majority of Eastern Iowa, for that matter.

“It’s a big part of our identity,” said Landon Bell, the leading tackler for the Iowa City Liberty football team. “We’re an Eastern Iowa team, so everybody probably doubts us.

“We’re trying to get Eastern Iowa back on top. It’s been a while.”

He didn’t need to elaborate.

The last time a big-school football championship trophy ventured out of the clutches of suburban Des Moines was 2009, when Iowa City High reigned.

Third-ranked Liberty (11-1) gets its chance Friday night, when it faces No. 1 West Des Moines Dowling (11-1) for the Class 5A championship.

Kickoff is 7 p.m. in the UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls. The game will be televised on Iowa PBS.

“I don’t want to say I expected to be here, but the kids aren’t surprised with where we’re at,” Coach Scott Chandler said before practice Tuesday afternoon.

“We prepared for this with this goal in mind, now we want to go up there and win it.”

Liberty was a 5A semifinalist last year before bowing to Southeast Polk, 38-35. This time, the Lightning crossed a new frontier by handling No. 2 Waukee Northwest, 31-15.

It was the Bolts’ third consecutive postseason win against CIML competition, following a 34-20 first-round victory over Waukee and a 31-28 quarterfinal conquest of Southeast Polk.

And now, in the words of quarterback Reece Rettig: “We’ve worked really hard to get here, but our goal was to get here and win, and Dowling’s just another monster in our way.”

The “monster” term is accurate. While Liberty is in its first state final, Dowling is playing in its 17th, with 10 championships (most recently in 2019).

So, Liberty’s recipe for success Friday is ... what?

“Stop the run and protect the football,” Chandler said. “We’ve got to stop the run first. If we can’t stop the run, nothing else matters. Northwest had good receivers, and we got them off schedule.”

The Lightning are facing a Dowling defensive unit that allows 7.6 points per game.

“We’ve got to stick to the game plan,” Rettig said. “We can’t try to force things. We have to play clean football and do our thing.”

Chandler was a state champion as a player in 2002 at Southlake (Texas) Carroll High School. He played at the University of Iowa, and now as coach, he’s developing something big at Liberty.

“We’re starting to build a little tradition,” he said. “We did a little drive-by with the middle- and elementary schools (before the semifinal game), and we plan to do that again Friday.

“From the time we started five years ago, we’ve been improving, growing. We have smart, skilled kids here. I hope the size will come eventually.”

And while the Lightning carry the Eastern Iowa area code on their helmets, Chandler said his team doesn’t feel like a torch-bearer.

“We’re not focused on that,” he said. “We can definitely use it to motivate our guys.

“But this is just the next team. We don’t care if it’s City (High) or (Iowa City) West, Dowling or Southeast Polk.”

Class 5A championship: Iowa City Liberty vs. West Des Moines Dowling

When and where: 7 p.m. Friday, at Cedar Falls (UNI-Dome)

Records and rankings: Both teams are 11-1. Dowling is ranked No. 1; Liberty is No. 3.

TV: Iowa PBS

Overview: Liberty is making its first appearance in a football championship game, while Dowling has reached the final for the 17th time. The Maroons have won 10 championships, but this is their first time in the finals since winning seven consecutive 4A championships between 2013 and 2019. Central Iowa Metro League teams have won the last 15 big-school titles; Iowa City High was the first non-CIML champion, in 2009. This is the first meeting between the Lightning and the Maroons. Liberty advanced with three straight playoff wins against CIML teams (Waukee, Southeast Polk and Waukee Northwest). Lightning quarterback Reece Rettig has passed for 2,326 yards this season, throwing for 21 touchdowns (against 11 interceptions) and running for 942 yards and 14 TDs. Pryor Reiners is the top target, with 52 catches for 613 yards and seven scores. Landon Bell leads the defensive effort with 65 tackles (17.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks), while Logan Laubenthal has three interceptions. Dowling has won 11 straight since a season-opening 20-19 loss to West Des Moines Valley (avenged, 14-10, in the semifinals). The Maroons are driven by a defense that allows only 7.6 points per game. Joey Nahas has passed for 24 touchdowns (against four INTs), while Ian Middleton has rushed for 1,561 yards and 17 TDs.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com