Recap, Reaction: Dowling Exacts Revenge on Rival Valley

Dowling’s delivers a stiff arm against Valley during the state semifinals on Nov. 14, 2025 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Redzone)

Rob Howe November 14, 2025 @ 07:14 PM

Trailing 7-0 at halftime, Dowling quarterback Joey Nahas Joey Nahas 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Dowling Catholic | 2026 State IA connected with Jimmy Nahas on a 28-yard touchdown to tie the score midway through the third quarter. Valley went back on top with a 43-yard field goal from Conley Harne only to see the Maroons respond with a 69-yard scoring throw from Joey Nahas Joey Nahas 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Dowling Catholic | 2026 State IA to Jeffrey Roberts Jeffrey Roberts 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Dowling Catholic | 2026 State IA .

Both touchdown tosses were important, but being able to hook up with your younger brother to get the offense going is a moment the Nahas family won't soon forget.

"That was special," Joey said. "He made a great catch. He had a little separation, diving catch. It was just a great catch by him."

Dowling took that 14-10 advantage into the fourth quarter. The defenses that dominated the first half, showed up again. Stops and punts chewed up the clock before Valley took over at its own 13-yard line midway through the fourth. The Tigers marched down inside the Dowling 40 with about two minutes to go.

A negative play forced a fourth and 14. Quaterback Drake DeGroote Drake DeGroote 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Valley | 2026 State IA connected with Jayden McGregory Jayden McGregory 6'2" | 195 lbs | DB/ATH Valley | 2026 State IA on a slant route that looked like it might get to the first-down marker. But Dowling defensive back Kyle Schumacher dove for McGregory's legs, knocking him off balance and to the turf a few yards short. Valley only had two timeouts remaining, and the Maroons succesfully ran out the clock.

"It was just a battle," longtime Dowling coach Tom Wilson said of Friday's contest. "Scuffling offensively, I almost just started throwing darts at the play sheet to see what would work. Fortunately, we made enough plays. Jeffrey had the deep ball and our defense played fantastic."

Valley defeated the Maroons in last year's state semifinals then again in August. Dowling hasn't lost since then. Before the Tigers' recent two-game winning streak, their rival had taken two in a row and seven of the previous eight meetings.

Valley took the 7-0 lead into the halftime locker room following a defensive struggle for the opening 24 minutes. Dorenkamp's 29-yard touchdown run capped a seven-play, 61-yard drive that took 3 minutes, 10 seconds off of the clock. After that, the teams remained scoreless for the final 21 minutes of the opening half.

It was a bitter way for the Tigers to end the season. They just couldn't solve the Dowling defense.

"They had a bunch of people in the box to stop the run. That was it," Dorenkamp said. "That was phenomenal defense, for sure."