Class 5A Recap from Week 6:

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The battle for Class 5A Iowa is beginning to tighten up, with 14 teams sitting with winning records and only 1 undefeated team remaining, the top contenders in the conference are distancing themselves from the pack as we near the playoffs, meaning that the margin for error is extremely low for any fringe team left battling for a spot. We take a look at how the standings changed following week 6 of the 2025 season across Class 5A Iowa!</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"><strong>Johnston </strong>vs. Ankeny: <strong>30-21</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>One of the most anticipated matchups in the state between two top teams in the conference, the matchup between Johnston and Ankeny was a back-and-forth affair for the most part. Both teams played well, but ultimately, it was Johnston who showed more explosiveness, overcoming 2 turnovers to finish with 423 yards of total offense, ultimately being able to claim a 24-21 lead with just under 2 minutes to go. Ankeny's final drive ended with a 4th and 2 attempt getting stuffed short of the line to gain, and Ankeny ultimately ran the clock out, with the final play being a heave to the back of the end zone, in which WR Tino Daye was able to secure in bounds, adding insult to injury as the Dragons secured their second-straight win in this historic rivalry with an exclamation point. </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='1241378' first='Tino' last='Daye Jr']. (SR) - </strong>Daye had a big day against a tough Ankeny defense. Daye ended up catching 12 of the team's 18 completions on the night, finishing with 138 yards and 2 TDs, including a walk-off TD as time expired in the back of the end zone with the outcome of the game being irrelevant. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Council Bluffs Lincoln vs. <strong>Ames: 28-21</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sitting winless through 5 games, Ames' homecoming night was against a Lynx team whom they have beaten in each of their previous 6 matchups, but they were very much the underdogs going against this 3-2 unit. The Lynx quickly built a 21-7 lead at halftime with the game getting out of hand for the Little Cyclones. However, in the second half, they pulled off a remarkable rally, scoring 21 unanswered in the 3rd quarter and holding the Lynx scoreless in the second half. A strong run-game, which compiled 263 rushing yards and an average of 9.4 YPC helped move the ball for the Little Cyclones, while their defense stood up big time with 4 turnovers enforced that proved critical in the comeback. The loss for the Lynx is a crusher; one which might spell their hopes of making the playoffs this season while Ames snaps a 10-game losing streak dating back to last 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='1811136' first='Braxtyn' last='Brown'] (SR) - </strong>Brown made the most of limited touches on the ground, taking his 10 carries for a team-high 127 yards and 2 rushing TDs. Defensively, he also stood out with 9 tackles (5 solo), 1 TFL, 2 INTs, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery, proving to be the difference-maker in Ames' rally. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Dallas Center-Grimes vs. <strong>Waterloo West: 20-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Coming off a hot 4-2 start, Dallas Center-Grimes seemed favored to continue building their status as a dark horse in 5A as they took on an inconsistent Wahawks' unit. The game started off hot, with both teams finding the endzone several times, in which all 34 combined points were scored in the first half. In the second half, both teams were shutout. The Mustangs were able to compile up 420 yards over the air, but they weren't able to convert that massive production into points as they were spurred with 4 turnovers while the Wahawks racked up 335 yards of offense relying on quick, concise passes and a steady run game. The Wahawks snap a 3-game losing streak to put their destiny back into their hands as they enter the final 3 games of the regular 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='1938509' first='Felix' last='Annan'] (SR) - </strong>Annan accounted for nearly all of the Wahawks' production on the ground, finishing with 217 rushing yards on 21 carries (10.3 YPC) and a 76 yard rushing TD at the end of the first half, which ultimately gave the Wahawks the lead that they would not give up for the remainder of the night. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Notable Results from Week 6:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ottumwa vs. <strong>Waukee Northwest: 70-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Muscatine vs. <strong>Iowa City West: 69-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Des Moines East vs. <strong>Norwalk: 63-18</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dubuque Hempstead vs. <strong>Prairie: 63-20</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Des Moines Lincoln vs. <strong>Indianola: 56-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southeast Polk</strong> vs. Iowa City High: <strong>56-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sioux City North vs. <strong>Urbandale: 56-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marshalltown vs. <strong>Waukee: 55-13</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davenport Central vs.<strong> Iowa City Liberty: 54-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Des Moines Roosevelt vs. <strong>Sioux City East: 47-6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedar Falls</strong> vs. Bettendorf: <strong>35-11</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dowling Catholic</strong> vs. Cedar Rapids Kennedy: <strong>34-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pleasant Valley vs. <strong>Linn-Mar: 29-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ankeny Centennial vs. <strong>Valley: 24-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cedar Rapids Jefferson vs. <strong>Dubuque Senior: 21-10</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Top 10 Standouts from Week 6:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1240560' first='Beckett' last='Bakker'] (SR) - Waukee: 17/22, 353 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT, 7 rushing yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1619680' first='James' last='Hatlevig'] (SR) - Norwalk: 10/14, 247 yards, 4 TDs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1204436' first='Mack' last='Heitland'] (JR) - Waukee Northwest: 11/16, 274 yards, 3 TDs, 10 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1238521' first='Cal' last='Jepsen'] (SR) - Sioux City East: 14/17, 257 yards, 3 TDs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1938509' first='Felix' last='Annan'] (SR) - Waterloo West: 217 rushing yards on 21 carries (10.3 YPC), 1 rushing TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH [player_tooltip player_id='283943' first='Eli' last='Robbins'] (SR) - Norwalk: 4 receptions, 154 yards (38.5 YPC), 2 receiving TDs, 3 tackles (All Solo), 141 return yards, 2 punt return TDs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='856405' first='Jack' last='Ohman'] (SR) - Sioux City East: 9 tackles (All Solo), 6 TFLs, 2 sacks, </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1700970' first='Brandon' last='Johnson'] (SR) - Ames: 13 tackles (10 solo), 4 TFLs, 1 forced fumble, 5 receptions, 40 yards, 1 receiving TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB Jaidyn Perry (SR) - Southeast Polk: 6 tackles (3 solo), 0.5 TFLs, 3 INTs, 1 INT returned for TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB/RB [player_tooltip player_id='1811136' first='Braxtyn' last='Brown'] (SR) - Ames: 9 tackles (5 solo), 1 TFL, 2 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 127 rushing yards on 10 carries, 2 rushing TDs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->