Iowa high school football 2024: The Gazette’s 5A preseason rankings

Central Iowa’s stranglehold on Class 5A football seems to keep getting stronger.

Des Moines suburban teams have won 14 consecutive big-school titles; the last team east of Polk County to rule was Iowa City High, in 2009.

Eastern Iowa hasn’t had a finalist since 2019. In both of the last two postseasons, all four semifinalists hailed from the middle of the state.

Southeast Polk has been the glossiest of the mid-state gems lately, claiming the last three 5A championships.

Gazette panelists forecast more of the same in 2024. Each of the top five teams are Central Iowa Metro League contestants.

The 2023 runner-up, Ankeny (9-4) starts on top. The Hawks drew three first-place votes and 52 poll points.

West Des Moines Valley (6-6 and a semifinalist) is No. 2, with West Des Moines Dowling (9-2) and Waukee (8-3) sharing the third spot. Southeast Polk (13-0) is No. 5.

No. 6 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (6-4) has an opportunity to make a dent in the CIML armor right away; the Cougars travel to Valley Stadium on Friday for an encounter with Dowling.

Capsules on the Class 5A contenders:

1. Ankeny

Poll points: 52 (3 first-place votes)

2023 record: 9-4 overall, RPI of 7

2023 postseason: Class 5A runner-up

Returning all-staters: None

Key games: Ankeny Centennial, Aug. 30; at Southeast Polk, Sept. 6; West Des Moines Dowling, Sept. 13; West Des Moines Valley, Oct. 18

2. West Des Moines Valley

Poll points: 48 (1 first-place vote)

2023 record: 6-6, RPI of 14

2023 postseason: Class 5A semifinalist

Returning all-staters: OL Derek Ellens, sr. (1st team)

Key games: At Southeast Polk, Aug. 30; at West Des Moines Dowling, Sept. 6; Waukee, Sept. 20; at Ankeny, Oct. 18

T-3. Waukee

Poll points: 43 (1 first-place vote)

2023 record: 8-3, RPI of 6

2023 postseason: Class 5A quarterfinalist

Returning all-staters: None

Key games: Waukee Northwest, Sept. 6; at West Des Moines Valley, Sept. 20; Johnston, Sept. 27; at Southeast Polk, Oct. 11

T-3. West Des Moines Dowling

Poll points: 43

2023 record: 9-2, RPI of 2

2023 postseason: Class 5A quarterfinalist

Returning all-staters: RB Ra’Shawd Davis, sr. (1st team), LB Dylan Manning, sr. (2nd team)

Key games: Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Aug. 30; West Des Moines Valley, Sept. 6; at Ankeny, Sept. 13; Southeast Polk, Oct. 18

5. Southeast Polk

Poll points: 41 (1 first-place vote)

2023 record: 13-0 overall, RPI of 1

2023 postseason: Class 5A player champion

Returning all-staters: WR Sam Zelenovich, sr. (1st team), DL Cooper Martinson, sr. (2nd team)

Key games: West Des Moines Valley, Aug. 30; Ankeny, Sept. 6; Waukee, Oct. 11; at West Des Moines Dowling, Oct. 18

6. Cedar Rapids Kennedy

Poll points: 26

2023 record: 6-4, RPI of 9

2023 postseason: Class 5A quarterfinalist

Returning all-staters: None

Key games: At West Des Moines Dowling, Aug. 30; Linn-Mar, Sept. 13; Iowa City High, Sept. 26; at Bettendorf, Oct. 4

7. Bettendorf

Poll points: 15

2023 record: 8-3, RPI of 5

2023 postseason: Class 5A quarterfinalist

Returning all-staters: PK Caden Buhr, sr. (1st team), D-UT Jackson Laver, sr. (1st team)

Key games: At Pleasant Valley, Aug. 30; Linn-Mar, Sept. 20; Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Oct. 4; at Iowa City High, Oct. 25

T-8. Iowa City High

Poll points: 12

2023 record: 6-4, RPI of 12

2023 postseason: Class 5A first round

Returning all-staters: None

Key games: Iowa City Liberty, Sept. 6; at Iowa City West, Sept. 20; at Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Sept. 26; Bettendorf, Oct. 25

T-8. Johnston

Poll points: 12

2023 record: 5-5, RPI of 10

2023 postseason: Class 5A first round

Returning all-staters: None

Key games: At West Des Moines Valley, Sept. 13; Ankeny, Sept. 20; at Waukee, Sept. 27; Southeast Polk, Oct. 4

10. Waukee Northwest

Poll points: 11

2023 record: 7-3, RPI of 4

2023 postseason: Class 5A first round

Returning all-staters: None

Key games: Johnston, Aug. 30; at Waukee, Sept. 6; West Des Moines Dowling, Sept. 20; West Des Moines Valley, Oct. 4

Others receiving votes

Ankeny Centennial 9, Linn-Mar 8, Sioux City East 5, Iowa City West 3, Cedar Falls 1, Pleasant Valley 1.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com