A trip to the UNI-Dome is on the line for 48 Iowa high school football teams Friday night as the playoffs reach the quarterfinal stage.
Here’s everything you need to know.
» Brackets: Updated pairings and schedules for all 6 classes
4A: No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy 27, Urbandale 13
The temperatures dipped and the wind whipped.
While coaches and fans were bundled up, Cedar Rapids Kennedy players were bare-armed and loving every minute of it, as the elements helped their ground-and-pound, hard-nosed defense brand of football.
“We’re a cold-weather team,” Kennedy Coach Brian White said with a laugh. “That’s what you do. You run the ball.
Max White scored three rushing touchdowns and the fifth-ranked Cougars defeated Urbandale, 27-13, in a Class 4A state football quarterfinal game Friday night at Kingston Stadium.
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3A: No. 1 Western Dubuque 29, No. 4 North Scott 7
North Scott came to Epworth seeking revenge.
What the Lancers got was decisive and dominant.
It was another Western Dubuque beatdown.
Calvin Harris threw for a touchdown and ran for two more, Ben Bryant ran for 115 yards and a touchdown and the Class 3A No. 1-ranked Bobcats limited No. 4-ranked North Scott to just 212 yards of offense in a 29-7 victory in a Class 3A state quarterfinal at Buchman Field.
“We just had to avoid complacency,” said Western Dubuque linebacker Jake Hosch, who returned from a three-game injury absence to help a Bobcats defense that surrendered just seven first downs to a high-powered North Scott offense. “We knew this was going to be a battle. We couldn’t let the fact that we beat them last time get in our heads. We knew that we had to grind all week.
“We just had to prove that our process is better than theirs.”
Proof delivered.
Western Dubuque (11-0) advanced to Thursday’s state semifinal against Lewis Central (10-1) at either 5 or 8:30 p.m.
“They’re a tough team, no doubt about that,” WD defensive end Dusty Wille said. “We’re just going to grind it out this week, have good practices, compete during the week and build an edge.”
Western Dubuque’s seniors completed a perfect run on their home field as the Bobcats won their 12th consecutive home game — a streak that dates to 2017.
“It’s really special to us. It’s something I’ll never forget,” Bryant said.
— Tim O’Neill, Dubuque Telegraph Herald
3A: No. 3 Solon 24, Pella 0
On paper, Friday’s night’s Class 3A quarterfinal contest between Pella and No. 3 Solon was supposed to be a shootout.
Solon’s defense had other plans.
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The Spartans (11-0) held Pella (8-3) to just 194 yards of total offense (160 yards below Pella’s season per game average) and forced four turnovers en route to a 24-0 victory and a date at the UNI-Dome next Thursday.
» Read more from Ryan Pleggenkuhle
2A: No. 1 Waukon 32, West Liberty 12
Top-ranked Waukon took advantage of five second-half takeaways and pulled away from West Liberty, 32-12, in a Class 2A football quarterfinal Friday night at the Richard Hermeier Sports Complex.
“Circumstances weren’t great out here, but you just have to hold onto the ball,” said Waukon's Dawson Baures, who ran for a pair of touchdowns and made a spectacular one-handed interception. “We were able to capitalize.”
The Indians (11-0) advance to the UNI-Dome for the third consecutive year (they were 2A champions in 2017, semifinalists last year).
2A: No. 9 Williamsburg 35, No. 2 Clear Lake 21
The Raiders just keep on winning.
Kaden Wetjen rushed for 228 yards on 37 carries as Williamsburg stunned No. 2 Clear Lake on the road, notching its seventh straight win to earn a trip to the UNI-Dome for the Class 2A semifinals.
The Raiders started the season 1-3 and now will play No. 1 Waukon for a berth in the championship game.
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1A: Iowa City Regina 30, No. 3 West Branch 20
Just a blip. That’s all last season turned out to be for this Iowa City Regina football juggernaut.
The Regals are headed back to their home away from home, the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, after Friday night’s 30-20 upset of third-ranked West Branch in a Class 1A playoff quarterfinal at ice-cold Oliphant Street Stadium.
Regina had a string of 14 consecutive playoff appearances come to an end a year ago. It lost twice this regular season, too, which is uncharacteristic.
But quarterback Ashton Cook’s 6-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter provided the winning points as Regina (9-2) advanced to the semifinals for the ninth time in the last 10 years.
A: No. 7 Woodbury Central 34, No. 3 North Tama 23
The three-hour bus ride for the Wildcats was a very satisfying journey.
The Redhawks (10-1) pounded at the Wildcats for three quarters and built a 23-6 lead, but then the wheels blew off.
The Wildcats scored four unanswered touchdowns in the final 13 minutes of the game and held the Redhawks to just one first down to secure their spot in the semifinals next week.
— Roddy Payne, Waterloo Courier
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A: No. 5 Grundy Center 35, No. 4 MFL MarMac 20
Logan Knaak threw for three touchdowns and had a key interception as Grundy Center (10-1) ended the most memorable season in Bulldogs history in Monona.
Nick Ascher caught two TD pass from Knaak — from 21 and 7 yards — and Zach Opheim caught an 18-yard touchdown pass and ran for a 23-yard touchdown.
Gabe McGeough led the Bulldogs (10-1) with 106 yards rushing.
— Adam Simon
8P: No. 3 Turkey Valley 64, HLV 14
Dylan Elsbernd scored three rushing touchdowns as Turkey Valley earned its first trip to the state semifinals.
Turkey Valley (11-0) controlled the game from the opening kickoff and led 26-0 at halftime.
Elsbernd scored on runs of 1, 9 and 30 yards.
The play of the game for Turkey Valley was an electrifying 43-yard interception return for a touchdown by Eli Nymeyer.
— Randy Iverson
Class 4A scores
No. 1 West Des Moines Valley 26, No. 9 Waukee 10
No. 7 Bettendorf 24, No. 2 Cedar Falls 14
No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy 27, Urbandale 13
No. 2 West Des Moines Dowling 42, No. 8 Ankeny 14
Class 3A scores
No. 3 Solon 24, Pella 0
No. 1 Western Dubuque 29, No. 4 North Scott 7
No. 6 Sergeant Bluff-Luton 54, No. 9 Norwalk 28
No. 7 Lewis Central 12, No. 8 Dallas Center-Grimes 0
Class 2A scores
No. 1 Waukon 32, West Liberty 12
No. 9 Williamsburg 35, No. 2 Clear Lake 21
No. 3 Algona 48, No. 7 Greene County 15
No. 4 Ida Grove OABCIG 48, No. 10 Monroe PCM 20
Class 1A scores
No. 2 Van Meter 10, No. 4 South Central Calhoun 6
Iowa City Regina 30, No. 3 West Branch 20
No. 6 West Lyon 36, No. 1 Dike-New Hartford 14
No. 5 West Sioux 41, No. 6 Treynor 24
Class A scores
No. 1 West Hancock 43, No. 8 South O'Brien 0
No. 5 Grundy Center 35, No. 4 MFL MarMac 20
No. 7 Woodbury Central 34, No. 3 North Tama 23
No. 2 Saint Ansgar 36, No. 5 Earlham 0
8-Player scores
No. 4 Audubon 40, No. 9 Anita CAM 32
No. 3 Turkey Valley 64, HLV 14
No. 2 Remsen St. Mary's 34, No. 6 Fremont-Mills 20
No. 1 Don Bosco 67, No. 8 Easton Valley 28