Iowa high school football rankings: The Gazette’s 2024 post-Week 5 poll

After weeks of severe shakeups, particularly in Class 5A, The Gazette’s post-Week 5 football poll brings stability, almost yawn-inducing.

The top three teams in all seven classes are the same as last week.

West Des Moines Valley maintains a slim lead over West Des Moines Dowling in Class 5A.

Both teams are 4-1, with Dowling recording a 26-23 head-to-head triumph over Valley in Week 2. The Maroons received four of the six first-place votes to the Tigers’ two, but Valley has more poll points (56-55).

Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley remain third and fourth, with Ankeny Centennial rejoining the top five.

A pair of one-loss Corridor teams, Linn-Mar and Iowa City Liberty are seventh and eighth.

This marks the first time all season that a 5A team has stood on top for consecutive weeks.

Unbeatens rule the top five in Class 4A, with Lewis Central a unanimous No. 1.

Pella, North Polk and Gilbert are still 2-3-4, with Decorah climbing a spot to No. 5 heading into a home showdown this week with Waverly-Shell Rock for the 4A District 2 lead.

The top six are unchanged in 3A. Solon remains on top, followed by Algona, Williamsburg and Dubuque Wahlert. Mount Vernon and Sergeant Bluff-Luton continue to share the No. 5 slot.

West Lyon, Monroe PCM, Spirit Lake and Van Meter continue to lead the 2A field. Carroll Kuemper is up a spot to No. 5.

In 1A, the top seven remain the same, led by Grundy Center, Wilton, Dike-New Hartford, Emmetsburg and South Hardin.

Grundy Center goes to Eldora this week for a top-five showdown with South Hardin.

Iowa City Regina is No. 6.

Guthrie Center ACGC continues to hold a slim lead on West Hancock (58-56 in poll points) atop the Class A list. Saint Ansgar stays at No. 3, Lisbon is up a slot to No. 4, Earlham climbs three notches to No. 5.

Each of the top 10 8-Player teams from last week were victorious, and remain in the same order.

Remsen St. Mary’s stays on top, followed by Algona Garrigan, Audubon, Don Bosco and Lenox.

The Gazette’s post-Week 5 football poll

(First-place votes in parentheses)

CLASS 5A W-L Pts. Pvs

1. West Des Moines Valley (2) 4-1 56 1

2. West Des Moines Dowling (4) 4-1 55 2

3. Bettendorf 5-0 47 3

4. Pleasant Valley 4-1 43 4

5. Ankeny Centennial 4-1 36 6

6. Southeast Polk 3-2 29 7

7. Linn-Mar 4-1 22 9

8. Iowa City Liberty 4-1 21 8

9. Johnston 3-2 10 —

10. Sioux City East 3-2 5 —

Dropped out: Waukee (5), Cedar Falls (10).

Others receiving votes: Waukee 3, Ankeny 1, Cedar Falls 1, Iowa City High 1.

CLASS 4A W-L Pts. Pvs

1. Lewis Central (6) 5-0 60 1

2. Pella 5-0 50 2

3. North Polk 5-0 48 3

4. Gilbert 5-0 37 4

5. Decorah 5-0 34 6

6. Adel ADM 4-1 32 9

7. North Scott 4-1 22 8

8. Cedar Rapids Xavier 3-2 18 10

9. Newton 4-1 12 —

10. Ballard 3-2 7 —

Dropped out: Indianola (5), Western Dubuque (7).

Others receiving votes: Waverly-Shell Rock 6, Western Dubuque 3.

CLASS 3A W-L Pts. Pvs

1. Solon (5) 5-0 58 1

2. Algona (1) 5-0 50 2

3. Williamsburg 4-1 48 3

4. Dubuque Wahlert 5-0 38 4

T-5. Mount Vernon 4-1 37 5

T-5. Sergeant Bluff-Luton 5-0 37 5

7. Independence 4-1 22 8

8. Clear Lake 4-1 17 9

9. Humboldt 4-1 11 10

T-10. Nevada 4-1 4 —

T-10. Sioux City Heelan 4-1 4 —

Dropped out: Grinnell (7)

Others receiving votes: Carroll 2, West Delaware 2.

CLASS 2A W-L Pts. Pvs

1. West Lyon (4) 5-0 58 1

2. Monroe PCM (1) 5-0 53 2

3. Spirit Lake (1) 4-1 51 3

4. Van Meter 4-1 39 4

5. Carroll Kuemper 4-1 35 6

6. North Fayette Valley 4-1 23 10

7. Northeast 5-0 21 7

8. Cherokee 4-1 16 —

9. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 3-2 13 5

10. Roland-Story 3-2 8 —

Dropped out: Anamosa (8), Western Christian (8).

Others receiving votes: Western Christian 6, Des Moines Christian 3, West Marshall 3.

CLASS 1A W-L Pts. Pvs

1. Grundy Center (5) 5-0 58 1

2. Wilton (1) 5-0 51 2

3. Dike-New Hartford 4-1 45 3

4. Emmetsburg 5-0 42 4

5. South Hardin 5-0 35 5

6. Iowa City Regina 5-0 33 6

7. Ida Grove OABCIG 4-1 30 7

T-8. Sigourney-Keota 4-1 10 —

T-8. Treynor 4-1 10 —

10. MFL MarMac 4-1 8 —

Dropped out: Avoca AHSTW (8), Hudson (9), Ridge View (10).

Others receiving votes: Hinton 5, Avoca AHSTW 2.

CLASS A W-L Pts. Pvs

1. Guthrie Center ACGC (4) 5-0 58 1

2. West Hancock (2) 5-0 56 2

3. Saint Ansgar 4-1 41 3

4. Lisbon 5-0 35 5

5. Earlham 4-1 34 8

6. Le Mars Gehlen 4-1 26 7

T-7. Tri-Center 4-1 25 8

T-7. Woodbury Central 4-1 25 6

9. North Linn 5-0 18 10

10. Madrid 3-2 8 4

Others receiving votes: Starmont 2, Maquoketa Valley 1, Mount Ayr 1.

8-PLAYER W-L Pts. Pvs

1. Remsen St. Mary’s (5) 5-0 56 1

2. Algona Garrigan (1) 5-0 47 2

3. Audubon 5-0 44 3

4. Don Bosco 5-0 40 4

5. Lenox 5-0 39 5

6. Iowa Valley 5-0 29 6

7. Anita CAM 4-1 20 7

8. Gladbrook-Reinbeck 4-1 19 8

9. Bedford 4-1 18 9

10. Woodbine 5-0 13 10

Others receiving votes: Belle Plaine 4, Southeast Warren 1.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com