Iowa high school football rankings: Dowling climbs to No. 1 in Gazette/KGYM 4A poll

Well, that didn't take long.

Four-time defending state champion West Des Moines Dowling needed only one week to climb to the top of the Class 4A Gazette/KGYM football poll, released Monday afternoon. The Maroons replaced preseason No. 1 Ankeny Centennial, which suffered a season-opening loss to Johnston, 13-8.

Dowling, meanwhile, handled Ankeny, 42-18. The Maroons received five of six first-place votes.

West Des Moines Valley, Iowa City West, Waukee and Johnston complete the big-school top five. Valley hosts Waukee on Friday.

The other No. 1 teams remain the same — Pella in 3A, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley in 2A, Iowa City Regina in 1A, Council Bluffs St. Albert in Class A and Harris-Lake Park in 8-Player.

Regina retained the top spot despite suffering a 23-6 loss to Cedar Rapids Xavier on Friday. Xavier climbed to No. 2 behind Pella in the 3A rankings.

Pella has won the last three 3A titles and opened with a convincing 35-7 triumph over Oskaloosa. The Dutch will be challenged this week by No. 4 Dallas Center-Grimes. Sioux City Heelan is third, West Delaware fifth.

The picture became much more clear at the top of 2A. The preseason poll had six different teams receiving No. 1 fanfare, but BHRV got four top votes after whipping town rival Western Christian, the defending 1A champion, 49-14. Co-No. 2s Mount Vernon and Monroe PCM both were defeated.

Waukon jumps four spots to No. 2 after trouncing MFL MarMac, 56-0. Carroll Kuemper, Williamsburg and Mount Vernon complete the top five.

Van Meter and West Lyon share the second slot in 1A behind Regina, then it's Denver and Pella Christian.

St. Albert maintains a slim lead over two-time defending champion Gladbrook-Reinbeck in Class A. West Sioux, Lynnville-Sully and Algona Garrigan hold their spots from third through fifth.

The top six are unchanged in 8-Player, with Harris-Lake Park holding a two-point edge on defending champ Don Bosco. Audubon is third, followed by Fremont-Mills and Ruthven GTRA.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy is tied for eighth in 4A after rolling Muscatine, 50-6. Cedar Rapids Prairie edged then-No. 6 Cedar Rapids Washington, 21-20, and is 10th.

Class 4A

1.

West Des Moines Dowling

1-0, 57 points (5 first-place votes)

1-0, 57 points (5 first-place votes)

Last week: No. 2. Beat No. 8 Ankeny, 42-18

This week: at Urbandale

 

2.

West Des Moines Valley

1-0, 53 points

1-0, 53 points

Last week: No. 3. Beat No. 9 Bettendorf, 23-16

This week: vs. No. 4 Waukee

 

3.

Iowa City West

1-0, 47 points

1-0, 47 points

Last week: No. 4. Beat Southeast Polk, 37-27

This week: vs. Muscatine

 

4.

Waukee

1-0, 45 points (1 first-place vote)

1-0, 45 points (1 first-place vote)

Last week: No. 5. Beat Urbandale, 29-7

This week: at No. 2 West Des Moines Valley

 

5.

Johnston

1-0, 31 points

1-0, 31 points

Last week: NR. Beat No. 1 Ankeny Centennial, 13-8

This week: vs. Southeast Polk

 

6.

Ankeny Centennial

0-1, 29 points

0-1, 29 points

Last week: No. 1. Lost to Johnston, 13-8

This week: vs. Ankeny

 

7.

Lewis Central

1-0, 14 points

1-0, 14 points

Last week: No. 7. Beat 3A No. 10 Harlan, 31-21.

This week: vs. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln

 

8.

Bettendorf

0-1, 13 points

0-1, 13 points

Last week: No. 9. Lost to No. 3 West Des Moines Valley, 23-16

This week: at 3A No. 9 Davenport Assumption

 

8.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy

1-0, 13 points

1-0, 13 points

Last week: NR. Beat Muscatine, 50-6.

This week: vs. Cedar Rapids Washington

 

10.

Cedar Rapids Prairie

1-0, 12 points

1-0, 12 points

Last week: No. 9. Beat No. 6 Cedar Rapids Washington, 21-20.

This week: at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (Thursday)

 

Dropped out: Cedar Rapids Washington (6), Ankeny (8).

Others receiving votes: Ames 6, Ankeny 4, Cedar Falls 3, Pleasant Valley 3.

Class 3A

1.

Pella

1-0, 59 points (5 first-place votes)

1-0, 59 points (5 first-place votes)

Last week: No. 1. Beat Oskaloosa, 35-7.

This week: at No. 4 Dallas Center-Grimes

 

2.

Cedar Rapids Xavier

1-0, 46 points

1-0, 46 points

Last week: No. 3. Beat 1A No. 1 Iowa City Regina, 23-6

This week: vs. Linn-Mar

 

3.

Sioux City Heelan

1-0, 34 points (1 first-place vote)

1-0, 34 points (1 first-place vote)

Last week: No. 4. Beat Sioux City East, 41-14.

This week: vs. No. 10 Carroll

 

4.

Dallas Center-Grimes

1-0, 26 points

1-0, 26 points

Last week: No. 6. Beat Adel ADM, 35-0.

This week: vs. No. 1 Pella

 

5.

West Delaware

1-0, 24 points

1-0, 24 points

Last week: No. 4. Beat Independence, 37-0

This week: at 2A No. 5 Mount Vernon

 

6.

Webster City

1-0, 21 points

1-0, 21 points

Last week: No. 9. Beat Humboldt, 28-7

This week: vs. Clear Lake

 

7.

Storm Lake

1-0, 19 points

1-0, 19 points

Last week: No. 8. Beat Cherokeee, 49-7

This week: vs. Pocahontas Area/L-M

 

8.

Washington

1-0, 15 points

1-0, 15 points

Last week: NR. Beat Albia, 64-7

This week: at Mid-Prairie

 

9.

Davenport Assumption

1-0, 14 points

1-0, 14 points

Last week: NR. Beat North Scott, 17-10

This week: vs. 4A No. 8 Bettendorf

 

10.

Carroll

1-0, 13 points

1-0, 13 points

Last week: NR. Beat South Central Calhoun, 34-24

This week: at No. 3 Sioux City Heelan

 

10.

Solon

1-0, 13 points

1-0, 13 points

Last week: NR. Beat 2A No. 2 Mount Vernon, 19-0

This week: vs. 1A No. 1 Iowa City Regina

 

Dropped out: Norwalk (2), Creston/Orient-Macksburg (6), Harlan (10).

Others receiving votes: Sergeant Bluff-Luton 10, Carlisle 8, Marion 8, Harlan 6, Norwalk 6, Glenwood 5, Spencer 3.

Class 2A

1.

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley

1-0, 58 points (4 first-place votes)

1-0, 58 points (4 first-place votes)

Last week: No. 1. Beat 1A No. 3 Western Christian, 49-14

This week: at 1A No. 2 West Lyon

 

2.

Waukon

1-0, 46 points

1-0, 46 points

Last week: No. 6. Beat MFL MarMac, 56-0

This week: at New Hampton

 

3.

Carroll Kuemper

1-0, 41 points (1 first-place vote)

1-0, 41 points (1 first-place vote)

Last week: No. 4. Beat Greene County, 21-14

This week: vs. A No. 1 Council Bluffs St. Albert

 

4.

Williamsburg

1-0, 37 points (1 first-place vote)

1-0, 37 points (1 first-place vote)

Last week: No. 7. Beat Fairfield, 55-7

This week: vs. South Tama

 

5.

Mount Vernon

0-1, 22 points

0-1, 22 points

Last week: No. 2. Lost to Solon, 19-0

This week: vs. 3A No. 5 West Delaware

 

6.

Monroe PCM

0-1, 19 points

0-1, 19 points

Last week: No. 2. Lost to 1A No. 7 Pella Christian, 24-22

This week: vs. Montezuma

 

7.

Sheldon

1-0, 18 points

1-0, 18 points

Last week: No. 10. Beat Sibley-Ocheyedan, 55-0

This week: vs. South O'Brien

 

8.

Sioux Center

1-0, 14 points

1-0, 14 points

Last week: NR. Beat LeMars, 27-9

This week: at Unity Christian

 

9.

Central Lee

1-0, 12 points

1-0, 12 points

Last week: NR. Beat Keokuk, 21-14

This week: at Fort Madison

 

10.

Garner GHV

1-0, 11 points

1-0, 11 points

Last week: NR. Beat A No. 5 West Hancock, 40-0

This week: at Algona

 

Dropped out: Union Community (5), South Central Calhoun (8), Dike-New Hartford (9).

Others receiving votes: Cascade 10, Dyersville Beckman 10, Aplington-Parkersburg 9, New Hampton 7, Saydel 6, Union Community 5, Clear Lake 4, South Central Calhoun 1.

Class 1A

1.

Iowa City Regina

0-1, 55 points (4 first-place votes)

0-1, 55 points (4 first-place votes)

Last week: No. 1. Lost to 3A No. 3 Cedar Rapids Xavier, 23-6

This week: at 3A No. 10 Solon

 

2.

Van Meter

1-0, 48 points (1 first-place vote)

1-0, 48 points (1 first-place vote)

Last week: No. 2. Beat Earlham, 21-20

This week: vs. Woodward-Granger

 

2.

West Lyon

1-0, 48 points (1 first-place vote)

1-0, 48 points (1 first-place vote)

Last week: No. 4. Beat Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, 41-0

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

 

4.

Denver

1-0, 43 points

1-0, 43 points

Last week: No. 5. Beat 2A No. 9 Dike-New Hartford, 39-6

This week: vs. A No. 10 Wapsie Valley

 

5.

Pella Christian

1-0, 31 points

1-0, 31 points

Last week: No. 7. Beat 2A No. 2 Monroe PCM, 24-22

This week: at Albia

 

6.

Western Christian

0-1, 23 points

0-1, 23 points

Last week: No. 3. Lost to 2A No. 1 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, 49-14

This week: vs. Akron-Westfield

 

7.

Pleasantville

1-0, 18 points

1-0, 18 points

Last week: No. 6. Beat Eddyville EBF, 35-8

This week: at Centerville

 

8.

Bellevue

1-0, 14 points

1-0, 14 points

Last week: No. 8. Beat Camanche, 33-6

This week: at Northeast

 

9.

Panorama

1-0, 13 points

1-0, 13 points

Last week: No. 10. Beat Des Moines Christian, 49-0

This week: at Woodward Academy

 

10.

West Branch

1-0, 10 points

1-0, 10 points

Last week: NR. Beat West Liberty, 35-20

This week: at West Burlington/Notre Dame

 

Dropped out: South Winneshiek (8), Logan-Magnolia (10).

Others receiving votes: Avoca AHSTW 9, Interstate 35 6, Mount Ayr 6, Wilton 3, Logan-Magnolia 1, Missouri Valley 1, Woodward-Granger 1.

Class A

1.

Council Bluffs St. Albert

1-0, 56 points (4 first-place votes)

1-0, 56 points (4 first-place votes)

Last week: No. 1. Beat 1A No. 10 Logan-Magnolia, 35-0

This week: at 2A No. 3 Carroll Kuemper

 

2.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck

1-0, 54 points (2 first-place votes)

1-0, 54 points (2 first-place votes)

Last week: No. 2. Beat Grundy Center, 28-7

This week: vs. Dike-New Hartford

 

3.

West Sioux

1-0, 39 points

1-0, 39 points

Last week: No. 3. Beat Unity Christian, 54-14

This week: at Hartley HMS

 

4.

Lynnville-Sully

1-0, 31 points

1-0, 31 points

Last week: No. 4. Beat Colfax-Mingo, 49-17

This week: vs. BGM

 

5.

Algona Garrigan

1-0, 28 points

1-0, 28 points

Last week: No. 5. Beat Pocahontas Area/L-M, 26-12

This week: at Southeast Valley

 

6.

Lisbon

1-0, 27 points

1-0, 27 points

Last week: No. 7. Beat Winfield-Mount Union, 42-0

This week: at North Cedar

 

7.

Hudson

1-0, 24 points

1-0, 24 points

Last week: No. 8. Beat East Marshall, 48-6

This week: at Nashua-Plainfield

 

8.

Saint Ansgar

1-0, 19 points

1-0, 19 points

Last week: No. 9. Beat Osage, 41-35

This week: at South Winneshiek

 

9.

LeMars Gehlen

1-0, 15 points

1-0, 15 points

Last week: No. 10. Beat Marcus MMCRU, 69-20

This week: at Sibley-Ocheyedan

 

10.

Wapsie Valley

1-0, 12 points

1-0, 12 points

Last week: NR. Beat 1A No. 8 South Winneshiek, 27-8

This week: at 1A No. 4 Denver

 

Dropped out: West Hancock (5).

Others receiving votes: Southwest Valley 5, Earlham 4, North Linn 4, East Buchanan 3, Pekin 3, Belle Plaine 2, Nashua-Plainfield 2, Ridge View 1, West Hancock 1.

8-Player

1.

Harris-Lake Park

1-0, 56 points (2 first-place votes)

1-0, 56 points (2 first-place votes)

Last week: No. 1. Beat North Iowa, 63-0

This week: vs. River Valley

 

2.

Don Bosco

1-0, 54 points (3 first-place votes)

1-0, 54 points (3 first-place votes)

Last week: No. 2. Beat Midland, 60-26.

This week: at Iowa Valley

 

3.

Audubon

1-0, 44 points (1 first-place vote)

1-0, 44 points (1 first-place vote)

Last week: No. 3. Beat Exira-EHK, 55-14

This week: at Anita CAM

 

4.

Fremont-Mills

1-0, 37 points

1-0, 37 points

Last week: Beat Lenox, 47-34

This week: at Stanton

 

5.

Ruthven GTRA

1-0, 34 points

1-0, 34 points

Last week: No. 5. Beat Glidden-Ralston, 42-0

This week: vs. Northwood-Kensett

 

6.

Newell-Fonda

1-0, 27 points

1-0, 27 points

Last week: No. 6. Beat Coon Rapids-Bayard, 49-8

This week: vs. Glidden-Ralston

 

7.

Remsen St. Mary's

1-0, 17 points

1-0, 17 points

Last week: No. 8. Beat Ar-We-Va, 54-14

This week: vs. Baxter

 

8.

Turkey Valley

1-0, 12 points

1-0, 12 points

Last week: No. 9. Beat Lansing Kee, 48-36

This week: vs. West Central

 

9.

Lone Tree

2-0, 11 points

2-0, 11 points

Last week: No. 10. Beat Tri-County, 67-0

This week: vs. HLV

 

9.

Twin Cedars

1-0, 11 points

1-0, 11 points

Last week: No. 7. Beat WACO, 60-56

This week: at English Valleys

 

Dropped out: HLV (10), West Bend-Mallard (10).

Others receiving votes: Iowa Valley 9, West Bend-Mallard 5, Elkader Central 4, Anita CAM 3, Ackley AGWSR 2, Lamoni 2, Lenox 1, Moravia 1.

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