Preview, Prediction: Valley-SE Polk 5A Championship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday's 5A championship game is filled with interesting angles. Southeast Polk is the three-time defending champ that clawed its way into this game. West Des Moines Valley is in the postseason for the 33rd season in a row, an all-time record. The Tigers are a win away from their first title since 2005.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeTKp8MjxeY","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeTKp8MjxeY </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>–Valley:</strong>&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='401870' first='Drake' last='DeGroote']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/drake-degroote/"></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/drake-degroote/"></a>&nbsp;, QB;&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='847993' first='Darius' last='Mason']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/darius-mason/"></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/darius-mason/"></a>&nbsp;, RB;&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1524941' first='King' last='Coleman']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/king-coleman/"></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/king-coleman/"></a>&nbsp;, RB;&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='847795' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/xzavion-robinson/"></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/xzavion-robinson/"></a>&nbsp;, WR;&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='283945' first='Jayden' last='Brown']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jayden-brown-3/"></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jayden-brown-3/"></a>&nbsp;, WR ; [player_tooltip player_id='1589904' first='Andrew' last='Price'], S;&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='283946' first='Jayden' last='McGregory']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jayden-mcgregory/"></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jayden-mcgregory/"></a>&nbsp;, ATH;&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='533051' first='Gage' last='Olsen']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/gage-olsen/"></a>&nbsp;, CB;&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1280032' first='Cam' last='Cribari']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cam-cribari/"></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cam-cribari/"></a>&nbsp;, S; Dane Christiansen, S; Jarome Horn, DL; Colin Straker Seay, DL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>–SE Polk:</strong>[player_tooltip player_id='254611' first='Holden' last='Hansen']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/holden-hansen/"></a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/holden-hansen/"></a>&nbsp;, QB; Landon Vander Werff, RB;&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='401671' first='Drew' last='Thompson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/drew-thompson/"></a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/drew-thompson/"></a>&nbsp;, RB;&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1278273' first='Sam' last='Zelenovich']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/sam-zelenovich/"></a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/sam-zelenovich/"></a>&nbsp;, WR;&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1279618' first='Kaden' last='Hills']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kaden-hills/"></a>&nbsp;, WR;&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1279607' first='Emmanuel' last='Gaye']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/emmanuel-gaye/"></a>&nbsp;, CB; Kane Brockman, DL; Charles Goode, LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1619426' first='Brayden' last='Lewis'], DB ; Noah Trexel, LB ; Cael Winget, LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1619443' first='Jack' last='Hope'], LB; Cristian Scalco, LB; Kaeon Ward-Taylor, DL;&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='640854' first='Cooper' last='Martinson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cooper-martinson/"></a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cooper-martinson/"></a>&nbsp;, DL; Samer Arafa, PK</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakdown: </strong>Valley slipped by the Rams, 20-17, in the season-opener. Both teams have improved since then. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers avenged a regular-season setback to Dowling with a semifinal victory against their main rival last week. A talented roster delivered big plays during the victory. Their other loss came against Ankeny, which also beat Dowling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valley's balanced offense is averaging 339.8 yards per game (146.2 passing, 193.6 rushing). The Rams are averaging 339.3 (198.0 passing, 141.3 rushing). You could say that's close. The defenses have combined for 124.0 tackles for loss, 38.5 sacks and 14 interceptions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It could end up being a defensive battle with both units being ranked among the top 10 in 5A scoring defense. The Tigers are 10th in scoring offense, and Southeast Polk is 18th.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The game features a pair of playmakers behind center. Valley's [player_tooltip player_id='401870' first='Drake' last='DeGroote'] keeps getting better in his second season as a starter. First-year starter, [player_tooltip player_id='254611' first='Holden' last='Hansen'], is a huge reason why the Rams reached the championship, shining as a replacement for the talented Connor Moberly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each team has a wounded star receiver. Valley's [player_tooltip player_id='847795' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson'] hobbled through the semifinal round, and [player_tooltip player_id='1278273' first='Sam' last='Zelenovich'] didn't play at all. Both seniors are committed to Iowa State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When they met on Aug. 30, Robinson caught nine passes for 132 yards and a touchdown, DeGroote threw for three scores and [player_tooltip player_id='1589904' first='Andrew' last='Price'] led a strong defensive effort with 8.0 tackles (2.0 TFL). Zelenovich hauled in nine passes for 109&nbsp;yards and a TD, Hansen tossed two touchdowns and Cael Winget delivered a team-high 7.5 tackles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You could say that these squads have been tested. Southeast Polk has the second hardest schedule, according to Bound. The Tigers' slate is 14th.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Howe I See It: </strong>I scouted Southeast Polk in person twice this season. Last week was my first live look at the Tigers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's going to be one heck of a game Friday night. Both teams are talented but they also bring a ton of fight and grit. Tough schedules make them look unfazed by in-game adversity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After seeing the Rams lose at Cedar Rapids Prairie early in the season, I prematurely dismissed them as a title contender. I figured the graduation losses finally caught up with them. They kept grinding, refusing to be denied a chance at the four-peat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Similarly, I thought Valley was cooked last week when it fell behind 14-0 to Dowling. The Tigers kept after it and then hit the gas. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valley was my No. 1 team in the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/prep-redzone-iowa-preseason-class-5a-rankings/">preseason rankings</a>. The Rams were fourth. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll stick with the Tigers but see this as a toss-up game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Valley 24, Southeast Polk 20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjGeaLiLkGs","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjGeaLiLkGs </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->