Previewing the 2025 Iowa Class 5A Semifinals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 5A kicks will kickoff on Friday evening in Cedar Falls, as three Des Moines metro squads take on Iowa City Liberty, who returns to the UNI-Dome for the second year in a row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/previewing-the-2025-iowa-8-man-semifinals/">Previewing the 2025 Iowa 8-Man Semifinals</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/previewing-the-2025-iowa-class-a-semifinals/">Previewing the 2025 Iowa Class A Semifinals</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/previewing-the-2025-iowa-class-1a-semifinals/">Previewing the 2025 Iowa Class 1A Semifinals</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/previewing-the-2025-iowa-class-2a-semifinals/">Previewing the 2025 Iowa Class 2A Semifinals</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/previewing-the-2025-iowa-class-2a-semifinals-2/">Previewing the 2025 Iowa Class 4A Semifinals</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1 Dowling Catholic (10-1) vs #6 Valley (9-2)</strong>, 4 pm Fri. Nov. 14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seeking a return to the state championship game for the first time since 2019 and for the first time since the inception of Iowa's Class 5A, uber-talented Dowling Catholic will face off with longtime rival and a major foe the last several years, West Des Moines Valley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The latest quarterback to emerge as a senior for Dowling, [player_tooltip player_id='401674' first='Joey' last='Nahas'] has completed 127-of-205 passes (62%) for 2,014 yards, 22 touchdowns and four picks this season. With weapons like [player_tooltip player_id='1619623' first='Sam' last='Drexler'] (50 receptions, 725 yards, seven touchdowns), [player_tooltip player_id='1241492' first='Jeffrey' last='Roberts'] (43 receptions, 819 yards, 11 touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id='856072' first='Ian' last='Middleton'] (216 carries, 1,436 yards and 17 touchdowns), Nahas's job is made quite a bit easier. Throw in offensive lineman like sophomore stars, [player_tooltip player_id='1583613' first='Carter' last='Barrett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1286887' first='Evan' last='Mitchell'] up front, and the Maroons are a formidable force on the offensive side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stalwarts defensively, Dowling shut out Iowa City West in the quarterfinals, 35-0 last week. Ankeny Centennial transfer, [player_tooltip player_id='513361' first='Carlos' last='Blount Jr']. and [player_tooltip player_id='1619515' first='Jackson' last='Miller'] have paired for over 100 combined tackles, while [player_tooltip player_id='1619297' first='Ryan' last='Bobo'] leads in tackles-for-loss (TFLs) with 14.5 and sacks with 10.5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don't count out Valley by any means, though.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the more successful athletics programs in the state, the Tigers boast Louisville defensive back commit and the top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2026, [player_tooltip player_id='283946' first='Jayden' last='McGregory']. On the offensive side of the ball, McGregory has grabbed 50 receptions for 705 yards and is tied for the 5A lead in touchdown receptions with 13. He and the Valley offense are captained by senior quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='401870' first='Drake' last='DeGroote'], who has completed 138-of-211 passes (65.4%) for 1,861 yards, 22 touchdowns and five picks. One of my favorite, under-recruited prospects in the state, running back [player_tooltip player_id='2004458' first='Blake' last='Dorenkamp'] gets things going on the ground, has he has taken 174 carries for 893 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A mixed effort on defense, [player_tooltip player_id='212326' first='Hayden' last='Demaray'] leads the way in tackles with 43. Benjamin Booth is tops for the Tigers in TFLs with nine, adding five sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Pick: </strong>Dowling Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2 Waukee Northwest (10-1) vs. #4 Iowa City Liberty (10-1)</strong>, 7 pm Fri. Nov. 14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Number one for much of the season, a late upset by Waukee disrupted an otherwise perfect season for Waukee Northwest, who boast the highest-scoring offense in 5A this season at 42 points per contest. Junior quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='1204436' first='Mack' last='Heitland'] has posted a quarterback rating of 222.0, the best in 5A this season, thanks to completing 183-of-229 passes (79.9%) for 2,812 yards and 27 touchdowns to <em>zero </em>interceptions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Nahas and DeGroote, he has quite a list of weapons, too. Starting with Iowa PWO commit, [player_tooltip player_id='1295632' first='Isaiah' last='Oliver'], the wideout has grabbed 57 passes for 947 yards and nine scores this season. Additionally, junior receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1204437' first='Jordon' last='Green'] has caught 62 passes for 1,140 yards and 13 scores. On the ground, [player_tooltip player_id='1361719' first='Ryan' last='Woodruff'] provides an excellent compliment to the passing attack, as he has taken 173 carries for 901 yards and 15 scores. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1619483' first='Austin' last='Van Horn'] leads the Wolves in tackles by a mile with 88. [player_tooltip player_id='1240481' first='Jackson' last='Davis'] and Bodie Morrison have combined for 20.5 TFLs, as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The lone team from the eastern part of the state, Iowa City Liberty's lone loss of the year came at the hands of Johnston, who Valley downed in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. With one of the top gunslingers in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='1552779' first='Reece' last='Rettig'] does just about everything for the Lightning. Through the air, Rettig has completed 195-of-279 passes (69.9%) for 2,116 yards, 19 touchdowns and ten picks. Only two of those interceptions have come in the last seven games. [player_tooltip player_id='1617593' first='Pryor' last='Reiners'] and Jordan Schroeder are two of Rettig's most productive receivers, coming together for 75 receptions, 965 yards and ten scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the ground, Rettig has taken 144 carries for 869 yards and 13 scores, leading Liberty in all three rushing categories.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Rettig is the guy on the offensive side of the ball, senior [player_tooltip player_id='1552812' first='Landon' last='Bell'] holds it down defensively. He either has sole possession of the team- lead or shares the lead in tackles (61.5), TFLs (17.5) and sacks (4.5).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Pick: </strong>Waukee Northwest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->