Iowa high school football rankings: Showdowns abound this week in Class 4A

With three Class 4A top-10 showdowns upcoming, minor movement is inevitable in next week's Class 4A Gazette/KGYM football rankings.

As for now, it's all West Des Moines at the top.

West Des Moines Valley maintained its hold at No. 1, and West Des Moines Dowling climbed to No. 2 with a convincing 27-0 victory over previous No. 2 Johnston.

Both of them face challenges Friday: Valley is at No. 8 Waukee, and Dowling hosts No. 5 Ankeny Centennial. Also, Bettendorf and Cedar Falls, which share the No. 3 slot, face off in the UNI-Dome.

Like Valley, the other No. 1 teams — Cedar Rapids Xavier (3A), Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (2A), Dike-New Hartford (1A), Hudson (Class A), and Don Bosco (8-Player) were victorious last week and extend their stay at the top.

Xavier and Don Bosco remain unanimous, while Dike-New Hartford remains in a power struggle at the top of 1A with West Branch and West Sioux.

Xavier's win streak reached 16 games with a 48-0 plastering of Davenport Assumption last week. The Saints have been methodical, with victory margins of 44-7, 45-3 and 48-0. The Saints visit West Delaware this week, and are followed in the 3A rankings by Lewis Central, Pella, Solon and North Scott.

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley received five of six first-place votes after controlling a strong 1A West Lyon outfit, 41-7. Monroe PCM is ranked No. 2, then it's Spirit Lake, Benton Community and Algona.

DNH (55 points), West Branch (53) and West Sioux (51) all had convincing wins last week. West Branch's 31-7 verdict over Williamsburg was the 299th career win for Butch Pedersen, who pursues No. 300 Friday at home against Tipton.

Hudson moved to 3-0 with a 35-0 blanking of Garwin GMG. The Pirates' closest challengers in Class A are Algona Garrigan, Avoca AHSTW and Belmond-Klemme. Hudson faces No. 7 North Tama on Friday at Traer.

As for Don Bosco, it's more domination. The Dons rolled at Rockford, 80-6, last week and have outscored their first three opponents by a count of 214-18. Exira-EHK is second in 8-Player, followed by Ar-We-Va and New London.

Class 4A

1.

West Des Moines Valley

3-0, 59 points (5 No. 1 votes)

3-0, 59 points (5 No. 1 votes)

Last week: No. 1 | Beat No. 9 Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 42-0

This week: at No. 8 Waukee

 

2.

West Des Moines Dowling

2-1, 52 points

2-1, 52 points

Last week: No. 3 | Beat No. 2 Johnston, 27-0

This week: vs. No. 5 Ankeny Centennial

 

3.

Bettendorf

3-0, 46 points

3-0, 46 points

Last week: No. 4 | Beat Dubuque Hempstead, 29-21

This week: at No. 3 Cedar Falls

 

3.

Cedar Falls

3-0, 46 points (1 No. 1 vote)

3-0, 46 points (1 No. 1 vote)

Last week: No. 5 | Beat Ankeny, 28-7

This week: vs. No. 3 Bettendorf

 

5.

Ankeny Centennial

3-0, 32 points

3-0, 32 points

Last week: No. 7 | Beat Waterloo West, 49-7

This week: at No. 2 West Des Moines Dowling

 

6.

Iowa City West

2-1, 29 points

2-1, 29 points

Last week: No. 7 | Beat Southeast Polk, 31-17

This week: at Dubuque Senior

 

7.

Johnston

2-1, 27 points

2-1, 27 points

Last week: No. 2 | Lost to No. 3 West Des Moines Dowling, 27-0

This week: at Muscatine

 

8.

Waukee

2-1, 18 points

2-1, 18 points

Last week: NR | Beat No. 6 Cedar Rapids Prairie, 33-6

This week: vs. No. 1 West Des Moines Valley

 

9.

Indianola

3-0, 14 points

3-0, 14 points

Last week: NR | Beat No. 10 Fort Dodge, 27-21

This week: at Des Moines Lincoln

 

10.

Cedar Rapids Prairie

2-1, 5 points

2-1, 5 points

Last week: No. 6 | Lost to Waukee, 33-6

This week: at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (Thursday)

 

Dropped out: Cedar Rapids Kennedy (9), Fort Dodge (10)

Others receiving votes: Fort Dodge 1, Marshalltown 1

Class 3A

1.

Cedar Rapids Xavier

3-0, 60 points (6 No. 1 votes)

3-0, 60 points (6 No. 1 votes)

Last week: No. 1 | Beat Davenport Assumption, 48-0

This week: at West Delaware

 

2.

Lewis Central

3-0, 52 points

3-0, 52 points

Last week: No. 2 | Beat Council Bluffs Lincoln, 59-7

This week: vs. Council Bluffs Jefferson

 

3.

Pella

3-0, 45 points

3-0, 45 points

Last week: No. 3 | Beat Norwalk, 31-17

This week: vs. Carlisle

 

4.

Solon

3-0, 32 points

3-0, 32 points

Last week: No. 8 | Beat Marion, 47-10

This week: at Davenport Assumption (Thursday)

 

5.

North Scott

2-1, 31 points

2-1, 31 points

Last week: No. 5 | Beat Pleasant Valley, 21-14

This week: vs. No. 8 Western Dubuque

 

6.

Waverly-Shell Rock

3-0, 28 points

3-0, 28 points

Last week: No. 6 | Beat Crestwood, 7-0

This week: vs. New Hampton

 

7.

Sergeant Bluff-Luton

2-1, 26 points

2-1, 26 points

Last week: No. 7 | Beat Sioux City East, 33-0

This week: vs. 2A No. 1 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley

 

8.

Western Dubuque

3-0, 23 points

3-0, 23 points

Last week: No. 10 | Beat Decorah, 19-3

This week: at No. 5 North Scott

 

9.

Sioux City Heelan

3-0, 21 points

3-0, 21 points

Last week: No. 9 | Beat Western Christian, 19-0

This week: at Sioux City West

 

10.

Harlan

2-1, 10 points

2-1, 10 points

Last week: NR | Beat Carroll, 35-6

This week: vs. Atlantic

 

Dropped out: West Delaware (4)

Others receiving votes: Clear Creek Amana 2, West Delaware 2

Class 2A

1.

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley

3-0, 59 points (5 No. 1 votes)

3-0, 59 points (5 No. 1 votes)

Last week: No. 1 | Beat 1A No. 5 West Lyon, 41-7

This week: at 3A No. 7 Sergeant Bluff-Luton

 

2.

Monroe PCM

3-0, 55 points (1 No. 1 vote)

3-0, 55 points (1 No. 1 vote)

Last week: No. 2 | Beat Roland Story, 54-14

This week: at 1A No. 8 Pella Christian

 

3.

Spirit Lake

3-0, 47 points

3-0, 47 points

Last week: No. 4 | Beat Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, 35-14

This week: vs. Sioux Center

 

4.

Benton Community

3-0, 41 points

3-0, 41 points

Last week: No. 5 | Beat Center Point-Urbana, 33-14

This week: at 1A No. 5 Wilton

 

5.

Algona

3-0, 29 points

3-0, 29 points

Last week: No. 7 | Beat Emmetsburg, 34-14

This week: vs. Webster City

 

6.

Clear Lake

2-1, 23 points

2-1, 23 points

Last week: No. 10 | Beat Garner GHV, 55-14

This week: at Mason City

 

7.

Union Community

2-1, 18 points

2-1, 18 points

Last week: No. 3 | Lost to Charles City, 21-20

This week: at 1A No. 1 Dike-New Hartford

 

8.

Waukon

2-1, 17 points

2-1, 17 points

Last week: NR | Beat New Hampton, 46-21

This week: at Cascade

 

9.

West Marshall

2-1, 16 points

2-1, 16 points

Last week: No. 7 | Beat Denver, 34-20

This week: vs. Aplington-Parkersburg

 

10.

Greene County

3-0, 9 points

3-0, 9 points

Last week: NR | Beat Saydel, 68-0

This week: at Gilbert

 

Dropped out: Southeast Valley (6), Centerville (7), Sheldon (10)

Others receiving votes: Centerville 5, Chariton 4, Southeast Valley 3, Tipton 2, Sheldon 1

Class 1A

1.

Dike-New Hartford

3-0, 55 points (4 No. 1 votes)

3-0, 55 points (4 No. 1 votes)

Last week: No. 1 | Beat North Butler, 56-0

This week: vs. 2A No. 7 Union Community

 

2.

West Branch

3-0, 53 points (1 No. 1 vote)

3-0, 53 points (1 No. 1 vote)

Last week: No. 2 | Beat Williamsburg, 31-7

This week: vs. Tipton

 

3.

West Sioux

2-1, 51 points

2-1, 51 points

Last week: No. 3 | Beat Sioux Center, 42-21

This week: at LeMars Gehlen

 

4.

Van Meter

3-0, 40 points (1 No. 1 vote)

3-0, 40 points (1 No. 1 vote)

Last week: No. 4 | Beat Madrid, 53-0

This week: vs. Woodward-Granger

 

5.

Wilton

3-0, 27 points

3-0, 27 points

Last week: No. 7 | Beat Mid-Prairie, 22-6

This week: vs. 2A No. 4 Benton Community

 

6.

South Central Calhoun

3-0, 24 points

3-0, 24 points

Last week: No. 8 | Beat IKM-Manning, 38-0

This week: vs. Southeast Valley

 

7.

Bellevue

3-0, 21 points

3-0, 21 points

Last week: No. 9 | Beat Monticello, 36-7

This week: vs. Maquoketa Valley

 

8.

Pella Christian

2-1, 15 points

2-1, 15 points

Last week: NR | Beat No. 6 Iowa City Regina, 24-21

This week: vs. 2A No. 2 Monroe PCM

 

9.

West Lyon

2-1, 13 points

2-1, 13 points

Last week: No. 5 | Lost to 2A No. 1 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, 41-7

This week: at MOC-Floyd Valley

 

10.

Interstate 35

3-0, 7 points

3-0, 7 points

Last week: No. 10 | Beat Panorama, 34-13

This week: vs. Saydel

 

Dropped out: Iowa City Regina (6)

Others receiving votes: Mediapolis 6, Cascade 5, Iowa City Regina 5, Sumner-Fredericksburg 5, Woodward-Granger 2, North Linn 1

Class A

1.

Hudson

3-0, 58 points (5 No. 1 votes)

3-0, 58 points (5 No. 1 votes)

Last week: No. 1 | Beat Garwin GMG, 35-0

This week: at No. 7 North Tama

 

2.

Algona Garrigan

3-0, 51 points (1 No. 1 vote)

3-0, 51 points (1 No. 1 vote)

Last week: No. 2 | Beat Lake Mills, 48-28

This week: vs. Fort Dodge St. Edmond

 

3.

Avoca AHSTW

3-0, 47 points

3-0, 47 points

Last week: No. 3 | Beat Westwood, 48-27

This week: at Martensdale-St. Marys

 

4.

Belmond-Klemme

3-0, 43 points

3-0, 43 points

Last week: No. 4 | Beat 2A No. 6 Southeast Valley, 43-36 (OT)

This week: vs. North Butler

 

5.

Saint Ansgar

2-1, 26 points

2-1, 26 points

Last week: No. 8 | Beat Starmont, 54-6

This week: at Postville

 

6.

Hinton

3-0, 20 points

3-0, 20 points

Last week: No. 10 | Beat Lawton-Bronson, 42-0

This week: vs. Logan-Magnolia

 

7.

North Tama

3-0, 19 points

3-0, 19 points

Last week: NR | Beat No. 7 Wapsie Valley, 33-26

This week: vs. No. 1 Hudson

 

7.

West Hancock

2-1, 19 points

2-1, 19 points

Last week: No. 10 | Beat Osage, 48-28

This week: at Forest City

 

9.

Southwest Valley

3-0, 13 points

3-0, 13 points

Last week: NR | Beat West Central Valley, 20-18

This week: at Clarinda

 

10.

West Monona

3-0, 9 points

3-0, 9 points

Last week: NR | Beat Mapleton MVAOCOU, 58-32

This week: at Akron-Westfield

 

Dropped out: East Buchanan (5), Sioux Central (6), Wapsie Valley (7), Pekin (9)

Others receiving votes: BGM 5, Akron-Westfield 4, Highland 4, Edgewood-Colesburg 3, Sioux Central 3, Wapsie Valley 3, Pekin 2, Mason City Newman 1

8-Player

1.

Don Bosco

3-0, 60 points (6 No. 1 votes)

3-0, 60 points (6 No. 1 votes)

Last week: No. 1 | Beat Rockford, 80-6

This week: vs. Janesville

 

2.

Exira-EHK

3-0, 45 points

3-0, 45 points

Last week: No. 2 | Beat Audubon, 34-28

This week: vs. Glidden-Ralston

 

3.

Ar-We-Va

3-0, 42 points

3-0, 42 points

Last week: No. 3 | Beat West Bend-Mallard, 38-22

This week: at Harris-Lake Park

 

4.

New London

3-0, 40 points

3-0, 40 points

Last week: No. 4 | Beat WACO, 71-12

This week: at Lone Tree

 

5.

Iowa Valley

4-0, 35 points

4-0, 35 points

Last week: No. 5 | Beat Tri-County, 64-6

This week: vs. Winfield-Mount Union

 

6.

Newell-Fonda

3-0, 32 points

3-0, 32 points

Last week: No. 6 | Beat Clay Central-Everly, 59-13

This week: vs. Kingsley-Pierson

 

7.

Fremont-Mills

2-1, 25 points

2-1, 25 points

Last week: No. 8 | Beat Clarinda Academy, 68-0

This week: at Essex

 

8.

Southeast Warren

4-0, 16 points

4-0, 16 points

Last week: No. 9 | Beat Moravia, 46-8

This week: at Seymour/Moulton-Udell

 

9.

Turkey Valley

3-0, 11 points

3-0, 11 points

Last week: NR | Beat No. 7 Midland, 46-36

This week: vs. Springville

 

10.

Northwood-Kensett

3-0, 8 points

3-0, 8 points

Last week: NR | Beat Dunkerton, 42-8

This week: vs. North Iowa

 

Dropped out: Midland (7), Anita CAM (9)

Others receiving votes: East Mills 5, Glidden-Ralston 4, Audubon 3, Midland 2, Central City 1, Murray 1

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com