Iowa high school football 2023 rankings: The Gazette’s final poll (5A, 4A and 3A)

There was no dispute, no debate and no detractors.

The No. 1 teams in The Gazette’s final football poll for Class 5A, Class 4A and Class 3A — Southeast Polk, Western Dubuque and Creston — all were chosen unanimously.

Southeast Polk and Creston are the lone unbeatens in their respective classes. Western Dubuque is the only team in 4A to have suffered only one defeat.

The wire-to-wire No. 1 team in 5A, Southeast Polk solidified its standing with a triple-overtime win over West Des Moines Dowling in Week 8, then wrapped up the regular season with a 55-0 trampling of Des Moines Lincoln last week.

The Rams have won 18 straight games and are owners of the last two 5A state championships.

Dowling rebounded with a 43-9 win over Sioux City North. The Maroons have been ranked No. 2 all season.

Waukee Northwest, Pleasant Valley and Waukee round out the 5A top five. Cedar Rapids Kennedy closes at No. 8.

Class 4A has seen a wealth of change at the top all season. Western Dubuque has held or shared the top spot since Week 4, and will go into the postseason at No. 1 after a 35-21 Week 9 win over Mason City.

The lone team to beat the Bobcats (22-20, Week 3), Cedar Rapids Xavier is a close pick over Lewis Central for the final No. 2 slot. North Polk is fourth, North Scott fifth.

Creston began the season at No. 9 in the 3A preseason balloting, then climbed steadily throughout the season. The Panthers claimed the top spot after Week 7, when Williamsburg was knocked off by Solon.

The next three teams — Solon, Williamsburg and Mount Vernon, all 8-1 — are from The Gazette’s area. Solon has won eight consecutive games after an opening-week loss to Davenport Assumption, including victories over Mount Vernon and Williamsburg.

Sioux Center is No. 5.

The Round of 16 of the Iowa high school playoffs are Friday. Each of the No. 1 teams in the smaller four classes — Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, Grundy Center, Saint Ansgar and Winfield-Mount Union — advanced with first-round wins Friday.

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

(First-place votes in parentheses)

CLASS 5A (Final) W-L Pts Pvs

1. Southeast Polk (6) 9-0 60 1

2. West Des Moines Dowling 8-1 54 2

3. Waukee Northwest 7-2 47 3

4. Pleasant Valley 8-1 43 4

5. Waukee 7-2 29 6

6. Ankeny 6-3 23 8

7. Ankeny Centennial 5-4 22 7

8. Cedar Rapids Kennedy 6-3 21 9

9. Cedar Falls 6-3 18 9

10. Bettendorf 7-2 5 5

Others receiving votes: Iowa City High 4, Johnston 3.

CLASS 4A (Final) W-L Pts Pvs

1. Western Dubuque (6) 8-1 60 1

2. Cedar Rapids Xavier 7-2 49 2

3. Lewis Central 7-2 48 3

4. North Polk 7-2 37 4

5. North Scott 7-2 36 5

6. Bondurant-Farrar 7-2 31 6

T-7. Glenwood 7-2 18 8

T-7. Indianola 6-3 18 8

9. Pella 6-3 13 10

10. Adel ADM 6-3 12 6

Others receiving votes: Newton 3, Denison-Schleswig 2, Ballard 1.

CLASS 3A (Final) W-L Pts Pvs

1. Creston (6) 9-0 60 1

2. Solon 8-1 51 2

3. Williamsburg 8-1 44 3

4. Mount Vernon 8-1 43 4

5. Sioux Center 8-1 36 5

6. Davenport Assumption 7-2 27 6

7. Clear Lake 8-1 20 7

T-8. Nevada 7-2 15 8

T-8. Sioux City Heelan 8-1 15 9

10. Harlan 6-3 12 10

Others receiving votes: Webster City 4, West Delaware 2, Independence 1.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com