Previewing Class 5A Quarterfinal Round
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One could argue that Friday’s football games are the most pressure-packed of the season. Win, and you go to The Dome. Lose, and you’re done for 2023. The matchups in Class 5A bring with them intrigue and a whole lot…
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Continue ReadingOne could argue that Friday’s football games are the most pressure-packed of the season. Win, and you go to The Dome. Lose, and you’re done for 2023.
The matchups in Class 5A bring with them intrigue and a whole lot of on-field talent. Let’s take a closer look at them:
POD A
CEDAR FALLS (7-3) AT SOUTHEAST POLK (10-0)
Two-time defending state champion Southeast Polk rides a 19-game winning streak into this contest and are a heavy favorite. The Rams boast some of the state’s top talent on both sides of the ball.
A program with a proud tradition, Cedar Falls slipped by Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 30-26, in last week’s opening round of the playoffs in the UNI-Dome. All three of their losses (Cedar Rapids Prairie, Ankeny Centennial, Pleasant Valley) happened on the road, two of them being decided by three points.
Cedar Falls must find away to “shorten” the game by possessing the ball offensively and keeping Southeast Polk’s high-powered attack on the sideline. The Rams are averaging a 5A-best 41.3 points per game with Iowa State quarterback Connor Moberly Connor Moberly 6'4" | 200 lbs | QB Southeast Polk | 2024 State IA at the controls. He completing 67.4 percent of his passes for 1832 yards and 21 touchdowns against just two interceptions with six more scores on the ground.
Moberly plays behind a dominant offensive line led by Carson Campisi Carson Campisi 6'5" | 300 lbs | OL Southeast Polk | 2024 State IA and is surrounded by playmakers in CJ Phillip CJ Phillip 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Dowling Catholic | 2024 IA , Landon Vander Werff, Carson Robbins and Sam Zelenovich. A defense allowing only 15.9 points per game is led by Draven Woods Draven Woods 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Southeast Polk | 2024 State IA , Cooper Martinson Cooper Martinson 6'4" | 280 lbs | DL Southeast Polk | 2025 State IA , Carter Pesek, Caleb Chebuhar Caleb Chebuhar 6'0" | 215 lbs | LB Southeast Polk | 2024 State IA and Kaden Hills.
The Tigers are averaging 29.7 points per game and allowing 22.9. Senior running back Drake Gelhaus is a workhorse, and classmate, Tate Hermansen, stresses defenses with his arm and legs at quarterback. Logan Wroe is his top receiver. Iowa defensive line commitment Drew Campbell Drew Campbell 6'4" | 225 lbs | DL Cedar Falls | 2024 State IA leads a defense that also includes playmakers in Drew Gerdes, Colin Coonradt, Andrew Lageschulte and Nolan Plagge.
These teams last played in ’18 in the state semifinal. Cedar Falls won a 26-12 decision at the UNI-Dome. Dowling won that championship game, 22-16.
POD B
ANKENY (7-3) vs. WEST DES MOINES DOWLING CATHOLIC (9-1) AT WILLIAMS STADIUM
These teams met on Sept. 8 with Dowling rolling to a 35-14 victory at Valley Stadium. The Maroons also took last year’s meeting, 17-10, with Ankeny winning a 27-13 decision in ’21. Dowling has won 15 of 17 meetings in this series since ’08, according to records on Bound.
The Maroons’ lone setback this season came against Southeast Polk, 37-34, on Oct. 13 in Pleasant Hill. They bounced back with a pair of victories by a combined score of 88-9. They’ve outscored their 10 opponents this season by an average score of 34.9-11.5.
Junior running back Ra’Shawd Davis stands out with 228 carries for 1,301 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground. Senior quarterback Dante Cataldo has thrown 1,214 and eight scores with two TDS on the ground working behind a strong front led by Kansas State commitment Kyle Rakers Kyle Rakers 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Dowling Catholic | 2024 State IA . Senior Curtis Horras Curtis Horras 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Dowling Catholic | 2024 State IA has 32 receptions for 390 yards and three touchdowns, while Hank Brown has hauled in 34 balls for 322 yards and a pair of TDs. On defense, Matthew Hanten, Dylan Manning, Zach Smid Zach Smid 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Dallas Center Grimes | 2024 IA , Aiden Ducharme and Isaac Beaver Isaac Beaver 6'2" | 250 lbs | DL Dowling Catholic | 2026 State IA are among a group of guys shining on a stingy unit.
The Hawks are scoring 28.8 points per game and yielding 24.9. In addition to Dowling, they have losses against Southeast Polk, 58-21, and Valley, 24-23. They two wins against Johnston and another versus Ankeny Centennial, both playoff teams.
Junior quarterback Luke Anderson has 1731 yards and 16 touchdowns passing for Ankeny. His classmate, Caden Henkes, leads the rushing attack with 1036 yards and 12 scores on the ground. Devon Akers is the top receiver with 39 catches for 804 yards and eight TDs, while Evan Irlmeier has 41 receptions for 571 yards and four touchdowns. Dylan Dougherty and Connor Kayser have 71.0 and 70.0 tackles, respectively. Lio Aguirre, Jacob Mohrfeld and Angelo Wernau also play important roles defensively for Ankeny.
POD C
WEST DES MOINES VALLEY (5-5) AT WAUKEE (8-2)
It’s a rematch of a Sept. 15 game that Waukee won, 37-15, at home. Valley had defeated the Warriors the last two seasons and in 14 of the previous 19 meetings.
Waukee gets the Tigers back at its place, where it also has a win against Johnston. The Warriors have one home loss against Southeast Polk and a road loss at Waukee Northwest.
Sophomore quarterback Beckett Bakker Beckett Bakker 5'11" | 185 lbs | QB Waukee | 2026 State IA comes into the game with 1,307 yards and 13 touchdowns passing with 537 yards and four more scores rushing. Grant Gammell has 861 yards and 13 TDs on the ground, and he paces the squad in receptions and yards receiving. Defensively, Orson Harrop, Ian Samples, Mason Brooks Mason Brooks 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB Waukee | 2024 IA , Carter Johnson and Malachi Curvey Malachi Curvey 6'3" | 215 lbs | WR Ankeny Centennial | 2025 State IA lead a unit allowing a 5A-low 11.4 points per game.
Valley is the biggest surprise of the remaining teams after the Tigers went on the road and knocked off the top-ranked team in the pod, Pleasant Valley. They are winners of five of their last six games with the only loss being against Northwest.
Drake DeGroote Drake DeGroote 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Valley WDM | 2026 State IA , a sophomore, has 884 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air with Noah Cracraft being his favorite target. The offense runs through Damon Head, who has 1,099 yards and 10 scores on the ground, while Darius Mason Darius Mason 5'11" | 230 lbs | RB Des Moines Valley | 2025 State IA is a threat carrying the ball or catching it. Isaiah Pinks Isaiah Pinks 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB West Des Moines Valley | 2024 IA , Theron Castle, Nic VanArkel and Andrew Price Andrew Price 6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH West Des Moines Valley | 2025 IA stand out on a defense that’s gained 13 turnovers.
POD D
ANKENY CENTENNIAL (6-4) AT BETTENDORF (8-2)
According to Bound, these teams will be meeting for the first time. Bettendorf is a storied program with seven state championships. Centennial is in the playoffs for the 11th year in a row.
Bettendorf lost to Iowa City High two weeks ago and then beat the Little Hawks in the first round of the playoffs last week. The Bulldogs won their first five games, including the ’23 season-opener against rival Pleasant Valley.
Quarterback Charlie Zimmerman has 10 touchdowns passing and seven more on the ground for the Bettendorf. Running backs Jacob Whipple and Gavin Barta Gavin Barta 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Bettendorf | 2024 IA each has 613 yards rushing, while Jake Schulz leads receivers with 25 catches for 564 yards and seven TDs. On defense, Sam Beecher, Ronan Numkena, Cooper Agosta, Jackson Laver, Aiden Lee and Isaiah Dunn all make plays.
Centennial surprised some folks with a 35-7 victory at Waukee Northwest in the first round of the playoffs last week. It happened two weeks after losing, 17-7, to the Wolves.
Senior Trenton Smith Trenton Smith 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Ankeny Centennial | 2024 State IA has thrown for 1,509 yards and 19 touchdowns for Centennial. Max Snyder, Braeden Jackson and Chase Schutty Chase Schutty 6'5" | 210 lbs | TE Ankeny Centennial | 2024 State IA have been his favorite targets. Elijah Porter, a Northern Illinois commitment, has rushed for 1,092 yards and 13 touchdowns. A Centennial defense allowing just 14.6 points per game is led by a group that includes Zechariah Howe, Isaiah Bassett, Drake Dittmar, Reed Anderson, Chase Kluver and Jack Cahill.