No. 2 Van Meter beat No. 4 Monticello 35-21 in a Class 2A Iowa high school football state semifinal game Saturday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

Van Meter's Ben Gordon (26) tries to spin away from Monticello's Conner Jordan (6) during the second half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Van Meter's Cole Moore (10) flexes after sacking Monticello quarterback Preston Ries (5) during the second half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Van Meter's Austin Baumhover (12) looks for a receiver down field as he scrambles from Monticello's Easton Prull (32) during the second half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Peyton Schilling (2) reacts to hhis long run for a touchdown during the second half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game against the Van Meter Bulldogs at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello Panthers head coach Wes Wilson calls a play during the second half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game against the Van Meter Bulldogs at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Easton Prull (left), Dylan Monk (lower, center) and Preston Ries (right) take down Van Meter's Austin Baumhover (12) during the second half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Peyton Schilling (left) tries to break up a pass intended for Van Meter's Ben Gordon (26) during the second half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Van Meter's Caleb Moore (2) picking off a pass intended for Monticello's Ty Tallman (4) during the first half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Preston Ries (5) passes during the first half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game against the Van Meter Bulldogs at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Ty Tallman (4) hauls in a pass near the sideline during the first half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game against the Van Meter Bulldogs at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Preston Ries (5) looks for a gap between Van Meter's Caleb Moore (2) and Teddy Sieck (51) on hhis way to the end zone and a touchdown during the first half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Preston Ries (5) runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game against the Van Meter Bulldogs at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Van Meter's Ben Gordon (26) runs for the end zone and a touchdown during the first half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game against the Monticello Panthers at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Van Meter's Ben Gordon (26) is lifted into the air by Nathan Becker (59) after scoring a touchdown during the first half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game against the Monticello Panthers at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Van Meter's Caleb Moore (2) reaches for an interception intended for Monticello's Ty Tallman (4) during the first half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Van Meter's Caleb Moore (2) comes down with an interception intended for Monticello's Ty Tallman (4) during the first half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Preston Ries (5) tries to break a tackle by Van Meter's Cael Trudo (right) during the first half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Preston Ries (5) reacts to scoring a touchdown during the first half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game against the Van Meter Bulldogs at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello holder Cael Sampson (left) slaps kicker AJ Phelps on the helmet after a successful point after touchdown during the first half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game against the Van Meter Bulldogs at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Van Meter's Austin Baumhover (right) takes the snap before handing off to Ben Gordon (26) during the first half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game against the Monticello Panthers at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Peyton Schilling (2) and Conner Jordan (6) stand with teammates after their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal loss to the Van Meter Bulldogs at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Gatlin Wright (9) hugs Adrian Graves (65) after their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal loss to the Van Meter Bulldogs at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Peyton Schilling (2) sits on the bench during the closing moments of the Monticello Panthers’ Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game against the Van Meter Bulldogs at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Conner Jordan (left) runs for a long gain as he is trailed by Van Meter Bulldogs defenders during the first half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Preston Ries (center) stands with teammates after their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal loss to the Van Meter Bulldogs at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello's Preston Ries (left) tries to break away from Van Meter's Cole Moore (10) during the second half of their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Monticello Panthers players hold the state participant trophy after their Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association’s 2023 state football tournament 2A semifinal loss to Van Meter Bulldogs at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

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