Previewing Class 5A Semifinals, Players to Watch

WDM Valley (9-2) vs. Dowling Catholic (10-1)   Series: You may have heard that these two West Des Moines programs share a history of disliking each other while respecting the rivalry and producing fun games. Going back to just 2010, there are 22 meetings. The Maroons own a 15-7 advantage in those contests, including a 26-23 overtime victory on Sept. 6. Valley took the previous postseason matchup, 22-21, during the '22 state semifinals.   Program History: Simply put, these are two of the most historically successful programs in state history, regardless of Class.   Dowling's 47 postseason appearances are more than any other school, while the Tigers rank fourth (40).   Dowling has 10 champions, and the Tigers have five. Their active streak of 33 consecutive postseason berths is an all-time best.   Players to Watch   –Valley: [player_tooltip player_id='401870' first='Drake' last='DeGroote']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/drake-degroote/"></a> , QB; [player_tooltip player_id='847993' first='Darius' last='Mason']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/darius-mason/"></a> , RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1524941' first='King' last='Coleman']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/king-coleman/"></a> , RB; [player_tooltip player_id='847795' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/xzavion-robinson/"></a> , WR; [player_tooltip player_id='283945' first='Jayden' last='Brown']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jayden-brown-3/"></a> , WR ; [player_tooltip player_id='1589904' first='Andrew' last='Price'], S; [player_tooltip player_id='283946' first='Jayden' last='McGregory']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jayden-mcgregory/"></a> , ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='533051' first='Gage' last='Olsen'], CB; [player_tooltip player_id='1280032' first='Cam' last='Cribari']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cam-cribari/"></a> , S; Dane Christiansen, S; Jarome Horn, DL; Colin Straker Seay, DL   -Dowling: Parker DePhillips, QB; [player_tooltip player_id='401674' first='Joey' last='Nahas']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/joey-nahas/"></a> , QB; [player_tooltip player_id='847998' first='Rashawd' last='Davis']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/rashawd-davis/"></a> , RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1279933' first='Jakob' last='Skau']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jakob-skau/"></a> , WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1619623' first='Sam' last='Drexler'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1279753' first='Trey' last='Wilson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/trey-wilson-2/"></a> , WR; Aidan Ducharme, LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1240478' first='Joel' last='Sankoh']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/joel-sankoh/"></a> , LB; [player_tooltip player_id='856072' first='Ian' last='Middleton']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/ian-middleton/"></a> , DL; [player_tooltip player_id='245539' first='Parker' last='Pearson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/parker-pearson/"></a> , CB; [player_tooltip player_id='1619297' first='Ryan' last='Bobo'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1278782' first='Dylan' last='Manning']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/dylan-manning-2/"></a> , LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1320139' first='Will' last='Barreto'], S; Marty Blount, PK   Breakdown: As per usual, these programs have faced challenging schedules. Valley has the 23rd most difficult slate in the state, according to Bound, while the Maroons are at 33.   Dowling is averaging 355.9 yards per game (174.7 passing, 181.2 rushing), and the Tigers are posting 341.7 per outing (144.2 passing, 197.5 rushing). The sledding could be slow against two of the state's top defenses. Valley has produced 51.0 tackles for loss and eight interceptions, while the Maroons have 45.0 TFL and nine picks. They each have 17.0 sacks.   The Tigers rank 10th in 5A scoring at 34.2 points per game, and Dowling's 31.8 PPG rank 15th. The Maroons are third in scoring defense (18.7 PPG), and Valley checks in fifth at 19.2 PPG.   Dowling kicker Marty Blount has converted 9 of 10 field goal attempts with a long distance of 42 yards. Valley has used three different kickers that have combined to go 7 of 11 on three-point tries with Conley Harne hitting a 34-yard, game-winner in Round 1.   Howe I See It: The team that best handles its emotions will have an advantage. If guys get caught up in the pregame rivalry smack talk, focus is lost.   Beyond that it comes down to the creativity in game planning against such a familiar foe, and then how that plan is executed. It's a coin-flip game based on their earlier meeting. It's hard beating most teams twice in a season, and the degree of difficulty is ratcheted up against a rival.   Prediction: Valley 20, Dowling 17   Southeast Polk (7-4) vs. IC Liberty (10-1)   Series: In complete contrast to the other semifinal, this will be the first meeting between Liberty and Southeast Polk. The Lightning makes its first-ever appearance in the Dome, and the Rams are chasing a four-peat.   Program History: Southeast Polk, winners of the last three 5A titles, is enjoying a historic run. The Rams have reached this stage of the postseason every year this decade, and their 12 consecutive playoff wins since '21 are tied for the eighth most ever in Iowa. It's their 22nd postseason appearance overall.   Since Liberty opened 2017, it advanced to the playoffs twice before this season. The Lighting fell to Solon in the 3A first-round in '19, and Carlisle eliminated it in the '22 quarterfinals.   Players to Watch   –SE Polk: [player_tooltip player_id='254611' first='Holden' last='Hansen']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/holden-hansen/"></a> , QB; Landon Vander Werff, RB; [player_tooltip player_id='401671' first='Drew' last='Thompson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/drew-thompson/"></a> , RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1278273' first='Sam' last='Zelenovich']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/sam-zelenovich/"></a> , WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1279618' first='Kaden' last='Hills'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1279607' first='Emmanuel' last='Gaye'], 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; [player_tooltip player_id='640854' first='Cooper' last='Martinson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cooper-martinson/"></a> , DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1825794' first='Samer' last='Arafa'], PK   -Liberty: [player_tooltip player_id='1552779' first='Reece' last='Rettig'], QB; [player_tooltip player_id='1278898' first='Owen' last='Drapeaux']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/owen-drapeaux/"></a> , RB; [player_tooltip player_id='988861' first='Sutton' last='Koller']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/sutton-koller/"></a> , RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1196514' first='Collin' last='Decker']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/collin-decker/"></a> , WR ; [player_tooltip player_id='1129677' first='Dallas' last='Miller'], WR; Ethan Barber, DL; Mason Waterbury, LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1617593' first='Pryor' last='Reiners'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1552812' first='Landon' last='Bell'], LB; Korbin Howard, DL; Quayshon Harrington Johnson, DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1548918' first='Logan' last='Laubenthal'], DB/WR   Breakdown: Liberty entered this tournament as the top seed after putting together a 9-1 regular season, and a strength of schedule that ranks 10th in the state, according to Bound. It twice defeated an Ankeny team that knocked off Dowling and Valley this season.   The Rams faced Iowa's second-hardest schedule (Ankeny) in '24. Their only loss in the last five games was a 35-34 setback against Dowling. Southeast Polk owns wins against Ankeny, Centennial and Pleasant Valley, and lost to Valley, 20-17, in the season-opener.   Liberty tops 5A playoff qualifiers in scoring offense (40.7 PPG), and the Rams rank 18th (27.9). Southeast Polk is the sixth-ranked scoring defense (19.3 PPG), and the Lightning check in 17th (25.5).   The Rams are averaging 336.7 yards of offense per game (192.7 passing, 144.0 rushing), and Liberty sits at 430.4 (227.9 passing, 202.5 rushing). The Lightning hold a 64.0-51.0 advantage in tackles for loss, and a 17.5-14.5 edge in sacks. Southeast Polk has intercepted 13 passes to the Lightning's five.   [player_tooltip player_id='1825794' first='Samer' last='Arafa'] is 3 of 4 on field-goal attempts with a long make from 29 yards for the Rams. Liberty has one field goal in four tries this season but is 59 of 63 on extra points.   Howe I See It: Liberty will be attempting to end Eastern Iowa's 14-year drought without a big-school state title. Its offense is championship level, and its defense is improving.   I scouted the Rams during a 30-20 loss at Cedar Rapids Prairie on Sept. 13. After losing a lot of talent to graduation during their current run, they found solid footing leaning on defense and balancing the offense.   Picking against the champs is a dicey proposition, but I'm going with the team that's been more consistent in 2024.   Prediction: Liberty 28, Southeast Polk 20

WDM Valley (9-2) vs. Dowling Catholic (10-1)