IA Class 1A Recap From Week 4

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nearing the halfway point of the 2026 high school football regular season, we check back on Class 1A Iowa, where much of the focus now has shifted away from out-of-conference, to now the teams battling from within, with the rankings and leaderboard for the conference expecting to change drastically going forward as teams take turns taking out one another as they compete for spots in the 1A playoff race with the state title up for grabs once again. For now, nearly every team remains in the race, though after this week, some teams may see their chances dwindle heavily depending on how they've started through the first 4 games of the season. We take a look at the top results and standouts from Class 1A Iowa through week 4 of the 2026 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"><strong>Interstate 35</strong> vs. Pleasantville: <strong>21-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The Roadrunners have been steadily climbing over the last 2 seasons within the 1A conference, and they secure a huge upset on the road on Friday night against the undefeated Trojans. With QB [player_tooltip player_id='1197483' first='Braylon' last='Bingham'] out, the Trojans' offense was a shell of their former self, and the Roadrunners took full advantage, forcing 3 turnovers through the night, making up for the lack of production they had offensively. The Roadrunners dashed to a 21-7 lead through the 3rd quarter. The Trojans scored once in the 4th, but the Roadrunners held them off for the remainder of the game, securing their 3rd straight victory over the Trojans in this rivalry, as well as a 3-1 start, their best since 2020. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top Performer: Gauge Gaskill (SO) - </strong>The sophomore QB didn't have to do too much over the air, but Gaskill delivered a strong performance under Center in a huge game on the road to spoil the Trojans' homecoming night. Gaskill finished 5 of 8 for 58 yards and 2 TDs while rushing for 90 yards on 21 carries and a rushing TD, while also making a 2PT conversion. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Sigourney Keota vs. <strong>Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont: 21-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The Cobras have had more success in this rivalry over the past few years, having won their previous 2 matchups against the Rockets entering this game. However, the Rockets continued to build off their hot start to this season with a fast start in the 1st half, emerging to a 21-7 lead through 24 minutes. The Rockets were silenced in the second half, but the defense stood strong, rendering the Cobras' passing game almost completely silent, leaving them as a one-note unit that was slowed down as the night went along. The Cobras were able to make one last push, driving inside the Rockets' 10 yard line in the final minute, but their 4th down pass went incomplete, securing the win for the Rockets, their first win over Sigourney Keota since 2023, and for the first time since 2018 have amassed 4 wins in a 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='1941007' first='Zane' last='Mullenix'] (SR) - </strong>The star of the Rockets had another big performance as the unquestioned leader of the Rockets' football team. Mullenix ran for 163 yards (5.8 YPC) and 2 rushing TDs while adding a 15 yard TD reception. He also led the defense with 13 tackles (7 solo). </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Manson-NW Webster vs. <strong>East Sac County: 14-6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>After giving up 34 points in week 1, the Raiders' defense has taken over and shut down their opponents, allowing a combined 36 points over the last 3 games. Friday night was another showcase performance for that unit, with the score finalized by halftime, the defense was able to keep the Cougars away from the endzone for the remainder of the night. Despite the Cougars outgaining the Raiders (303-212), they were just unable to find the endzone with the Raiders coming through with several critical stops. The Raiders pulled off the win, their first against the Cougars since 2010. After winning 3 games in each of the last 2 seasons, the Raiders are sitting at 4-0 with their destiny in their hands. </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='1506387' first='Carson' last='Schmitt'] (SR) - </strong>Schmitt excelled on both sides of the ball as the singular force in taking down the Cougars. In the backfield, Schmitt ran for 125 yards (5.7 YPC) and a rushing TD while adding a 16 yard reception. Defensively, he led the group with 10 tackles (9 solo), 1 TFL, and an INT. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Notable Results from Week 4:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cardinal vs. <strong>Regina Catholic: 69-6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jesup vs. <strong>Columbus Catholic: 59-27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alta-Aurelia vs. <strong>West Lyon: 56-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MFL MarMac vs. <strong>Beckman Catholic: 56-15</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Union Community vs. <strong>Aplington-Parkersburg: 50-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Panorama vs. <strong>West Central Valley: 48-6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central Springs vs. <strong>Clarion-Goldfield-Dows: 48-25</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grundy Center</strong> vs. Garner Hayfield Ventura: <strong>42-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Hardin</strong> vs. Eagle Grove: <strong>42-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Camanche vs. <strong>Northeast: 42-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lawton-Bronson</strong> vs. MVAOCOU: <strong>41-30</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Red Oak vs. <strong>Missouri Valley: 37-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Hamilton vs. <strong>South Central Calhoun: 36-15</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Louisa Muscatine vs. <strong>Durant: 35-22</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Underwood</strong> vs. Tri-Center: <strong>35-25</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ogden vs. <strong>West Marshall: 28-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cascade</strong> vs. Lisbon: <strong>24-6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emmetsburg</strong> vs. Pocahontas Area: <strong>22-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Treynor</strong> vs. Shenandoah: <strong>21-6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hinton vs. <strong>Ridge View: 20-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hudson</strong> vs. Sumner-Fredericksburg: <strong>19-15</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Top 10 Standouts from Week 4:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1844225' first='Braden' last='Weig'] (JR) - South Hardin: 20/28, 264 yards, 5 TDs, 3 carries, 9 rushing yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='2158649' first='Noah' last='Drew'] (SR) - Lawton-Bronson: 18/31, 307 yards, 4 TDs, 12 carries, 54 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 4 tackles (All solo), 1 FF, 1 fumble recovery</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB Caden Schmidt (SR) - MVAOCOU: 25/34, 345 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 5 carries, 5 rushing yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB Maxzen Eskildsen (JR) - Northeast: 10/13, 160 yards, 3 TDs, 14 carries, 157 rushing yards (11.2 YPC), 2 rushing TDs, 2 tackles</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB/DB Isaac Sitzmann (SR) - Columbus Catholic: 14 carries, 239 rushing yards (17.1 YPC), 4 rushing TDs, 5.5 tackles (4 solo), 1 INT</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='1941007' first='Zane' last='Mullenix'] (SR) - Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont: 28 carries, 163 rushing yards (5.8 YPC), 2 rushing TDs, 1 reception, 15 yards, 1 receiving TD, 13 tackles (7 solo)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH Jackson Green (SR) - Cascade: 24 carries, 192 rushing yards (8 YPC), 1 rushing TD, 4.5 tackles (4 solo), 2 fumble recoveries</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB Kobe Current (SR) - Ogden: 10 tackles (9 solo), 5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB/RB Joe Fischer (SR) - Emmetsburg: 1 tackle, 2 INTs, 22 carries, 138 rushing yards (6.3 YPC), 1 rushing TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB/WR Owen Becerra (SR) - Missouri Valley: 2 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 defensive TD, 4 receptions, 77 yards, 1 receiving TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->