Class 4A Recap from Week 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continuing our recap of what went down in week 1, Class 4A Iowa saw quite a shakeup in their standings, with several prominent losses through the week from some of the top teams in the conference, which could set a precedent of making 2025 as the year of the unexpected for this group. We recap what went down in week 1 and the top standouts from Class 4A Iowa to kick off the season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Top Games: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Carlisle vs. <strong>Newton: 49-42</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Despite facing a 28-14 deficit at halftime, Newton roared to life in the second half with a monstrous comeback, tying the game at 35 and remaining competitive to the finish. In the end, Newton engineered a perfect drive, capped off with a game-winning touchdown pass from [player_tooltip player_id='1619687' first='Caden' last='Klein'] to [player_tooltip player_id='1818833' first='Qhjuan' last='Coley'] with 13 seconds left in the game, capping off arguably the most exciting game across high school football in Iowa to start the season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top Performer: [player_tooltip player_id='1619687' first='Caden' last='Klein'] (SR) - </strong>Responsible for engineering the comeback win, Klein had a record-breaking night in week 1, setting school records with 399 passing yards on just 11 completions and 5 touchdowns, with a whopping 36.3 yards per completion. He also ran for 21 yards and a rushing TD. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>North Polk </strong>vs. Lewis Central: <strong>27-24</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"16px"}}} --> <li style="font-size:16px">Pitting the reigning Class-4A champions against one of the top contending teams in the conference to start off the year, the battle between North Polk and Lewis Central was an engaging one. After a 7-0 start for Lewis Central after the first quarter, North Polk dominated the midsection of the game, thanks to an offense that finished with 400 total yards from scrimmage, North Polk led 27-17 heading into the 4th quarter. The Titans cut the lead to 3 with just over 5 minutes left, but their final drive was spurred by several late-game mistakes, culminating with a missed 52 yard field goal that allowed North Polk to hold on to the win. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top Performer: James Armstrong (SR) - </strong>Armstrong led a near-perfect performance for the offense on Friday night, finishing 16 of 23 for 279 yards and 2 touchdowns while rushing for a team-lead 67 yards on 12 carries and a rushing TD. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Mason City vs. <strong>Fort Dodge: 20-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>In a classic rivalry showdown, the game started off quiet for the first 35 minutes of the game, with both offenses struggling to find their groove throughout much of the game. Fort Dodge began to gain leverage, taking a 20-8 lead with 7 minutes remaining, but the Riverhawks responded quickly with a touchdown within a minute, keeping them in the game. The Riverhawks got the ball back following a fumble with under 3 minutes remaining from their own 14 yard line, but facing a 4th and inches play, the Riverhawks attempted a QB sneak, which was stuffed short of the down marker, allowing the Dodgers to dodge a bullet to start the 2025 season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top Performer: [player_tooltip player_id='856075' first='DreShaun' last='Ross'] (SR) - </strong>Making his return to the gridiron after a shoulder injury, Ross immediately returned to form as a dominant leader on the gridiron, recording 5 tackles (All solo), 4 TFLs, 3 sacks, and a forced fumble, while rushing for 59 yards on just 9 carries and a rushing TD. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Carroll vs. <strong>Gilbert: 20-15</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>In a tough rivalry matchup of the two Tiger teams, Gilbert once again prevailed over Carroll, but not as easily in comparison to their previous matchup. Carroll was able to gain leverage following a dismal first half, taking a 15-14 lead heading into the 4th quarter. However, Gilbertwore down Carroll's defense with 275 total rushing yards, averaging 6.5 yards per carry on their defense, doing so before breaking through with another score in the 4th. Unable to find any rhythm in the passing game, Gilbert's defense was able to spur Carroll's final efforts to secure their 4th straight win over Carroll.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top Performer: [player_tooltip player_id='1238506' first='Cameron' last='Cantonwine'] (SR) - </strong>Transferring from being the starting QB at Ames to becoming the lead back for Gilbert, Cantonwine immediately found his groove for the Tigers' offense, rushing for 186 yards on 24 carries and a TD, averaging 7.8 yards per carry. He also recorded a team-high 6.5 tackles (4 solo) and a TFL on defense. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Cedar Rapids Washington </strong>vs. Cedar Rapids Jefferson: <strong>35-21</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>With the way things started off, the J-Hawks were on pace to crush their long-standing rival. However, the J-Hawks completely fell off a cliff following the first quarter, with an array of mistakes taking place that cost opportunities and gave the Warriors' great field position to capitalize. The J-Hawks never scored again after the first quarter, and the Warriors came back from being down 14, to winning by 14 points to start the season. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top Performer: [player_tooltip player_id='1238171' first='Grady' last='McGuire'] (SR) - </strong>McGuire had a bit of an inconsistent day on the air, finishing 6 of 13 for 89 yards and a touchdown, but he flashed on the ground, rushing for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 14 carries, averaging 11 yards per carry as he paved the comeback win for the Warriors. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other Notable Results from Week 1:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Muscatine vs. <strong>Davenport North: 27-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Glenwood </strong>vs. Atlantic: <strong>32-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Council Bluffs Jefferson</strong> vs. Sioux City West: <strong>50-6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Le Mars</strong> vs. Council Bluffs Lincoln:<strong> 35-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ballard vs. <strong>Pella: 26-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Denison-Schleswig vs. <strong>Storm Lake: 39-13</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bondurant-Farrar vs. <strong>Waverly-Shell Rock: 45-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Madison vs. <strong>Burlington: 62-19</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davenport West vs. <strong>Clear Creek Amana: 63-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Xavier</strong> vs. North Scott: <strong>31-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Decorah </strong>vs. Waukon: <strong>42-16</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ADM</strong> vs. Winterset: <strong>45-20</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Top 10 Standouts from Week 1:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1619687' first='Caden' last='Klein'] (SR) - Newton: 11/18, 399 yards, 5 touchdowns, 21 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB Cameron Boyd (SR) - Storm Lake: 14/23, 230 yards, 5 touchdowns, 1 INT, 73 rushing yards on 11 carries</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1240466' first='Jami' last='Sitzmann'] (SR) - Le Mars: 16/20, 253 yards, 4 touchdowns, 50 rushing yards on 10 carries</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1619461' first='Keshawn' last='Wyldon'] (SR) - Burlington: 141 rushing yards on 8 carries (17.6 YPC), 3 rushing TDs, 3.5 tackles (3 solo), 1 TFL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1619913' first='Finn' last='Martin'] (SR) - Newton: 6 catches, 213 yards, 3 touchdowns (35.5 YPC)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR Hayden Schulte (JR) - Carlisle: 8 catches, 156 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 tackles</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1620003' first='Paxton' last='Blanchard'] (SR) - Lewis Central: 14.5 tackles (12 solo), 5.5 TFLs, 1 sack</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1532913' first='Nick' last='Milburn'] (SR) - Newton: 18.5 tackles (17 solo)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='856075' first='DreShaun' last='Ross'] (SR) - Fort Dodge: 5 tackles (All solo), 4 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 FF, 59 rushing yards on 9 carries, 1 rushing TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1703792' first='Nichaud' last='Lewis-Walker'] (SR) - Des Moines North: 8.5 tackles (7 solo), 1 TFL, 3 PDs, 1 INT</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->