IA Class 3A Recap From Week 5

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we move up conferences in our recap of this pervious week, we see the size of competing teams decrease, and with that, a much thinner group at the top of the leaderboards. In Class 3A, only 15 of the 36 teams sit with a record of above .500 right now, including 5 teams that hold undefeated records through week 5. This skew in the level of competition in the conference may give an indication of what we could expect over the 2nd half of the regular season, but there is still room for improvement for the teams that are battling on the fringe right now. We take a look at the top results and standouts from Class 3A Iowa across week 5!</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>Mount Pleasant</strong> vs. Washington: <strong>29-28 (OT)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>After a close victory over Central DeWitt last week, Mount Pleasant was determined to hold on to their undefeated record so far on the road against Washington, who was riding a 3 game winning streak. The Demons were determined to reclaim their throne in this largely one-sided rivalry, building a 21-7 lead early in the 4th quarter. The Panthers persevered, and were able to tie the game with time to spare. The Panthers then got a big opportunity late when the Demons botched a punt over a high snap, setting up the Panthers in field goal range within the final minute, but despite receiving 2 attempts thanks to a roughing the kicker penalty, the Panthers missed both, sending the game to OT. The Demons struck first with a TD and extra point. The Panthers responded with a TD before deciding to gamble for the winning 2PT conversion, which they converted off a designed RB pass, giving the Panthers the win in a thriller to stay undefeated. </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='2201874' first='Ryan' last='Helling'] (JR) - </strong>While the Panthers struggled to generate much production offensively throughout the night, Helling became the go-to guy as he delivered a gritty performance to help Mount Pleasant win. Helling finished with 70 rushing yards on 23 carries and 3 rushing TDs while adding 3 tackles on defense. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Sioux Center</strong> vs. Bishop Heelan: <strong>32-30</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sioux Center entered week 5 looking to snap a 4 game losing streak to the Crusaders in order to maintain their undefeated record so far, while the Crusaders looked to garner a pivotal win to put them back into contention. The game was very competitive on both sides, and aided with a pair of interceptions that helped turn the tides, the Crusaders were able to take a 30-29 lead late in the 4th quarter. In the end, the Warriors were able to drive down the field to get into scoring range, and in the closing seconds nailed a 33 yard field goal to edge out the Crusaders, giving the Warriors their first 5-0 start since 2017. </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='1848693' first='Ezra' last='Hibma'] (SR) - </strong>Hibma overcame his 2 critical interceptions by delivering when it mattered the most to finally overcome Bishop Heelan. Hibma finished 6 of 13 for 203 yards and 2 TDs while rushing for 93 yards on 20 carries (4.7 YPC) and 2 rushing TDs, and in the end, engineered a brilliant 4th-quarter drive to set up the winning field goal in the closing seconds. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Carroll</strong> vs. Harlan Community: <strong>21-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>After earning their 1st win of the 2026 season last week, Harlan Community hoped to build off their offensive momentum after dropping 48 points over Denison-Schleswig to upset Carroll at home. The game started off hot, with the two teams tied 14-14 at halftime. However, the defenses took over in the 2nd half, and the Tigers' defense prevailed, limiting the Cyclones to just 158 yards of total offense and forcing 2 turnovers as they struggled to find any momentum in the 2nd half. Carroll took the lead with 5 minutes remaining, and the defense stood strong to hold off any comeback hopes to secure the road victory to move up to 4-1. </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='1656855' first='Adam' last='Malik'] (SR) - </strong>Malik was a steady work-horse all night, proving able to keep the motor running well for the offense for all 4 quarters. Malik ran for 136 yards on 24 carries (5.7 YPC) and 2 TDs, a 61 yarder to open the game, and a 1 yarder in the 4th quarter that ultimately won it for Carroll. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Notable Results from Week 5</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saydel vs. <strong>Knoxville: 62-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Independence vs. <strong>Clear Lake: 56-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maquoketa vs. <strong>Mount Vernon: 56-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keokuk vs. <strong>Fort Madison: 55-36</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fairfield vs. <strong>Solon: 47-8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central DeWitt vs. <strong>Assumption: 42-13</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Benton</strong> vs. Charles City: <strong>41-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa Falls-Alden vs. <strong>West Delaware: 39-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wahlert Catholic</strong> vs. Center Point-Urbana: <strong>38-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MOC-Floyd Valley vs. <strong>Algona: 38-21</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perry vs. <strong>Greene County: 34-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Creston vs. <strong>Atlantic: 28-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Des Moines Christian</strong> vs. Williamsburg: <strong>24-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nevada</strong> vs. Winterset: <strong>21-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Humboldt vs. <strong>Webster City: 21-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Top 10 Standouts from Week 5:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1204540' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'] (SR) - Clear Lake: 16/21, 281 yards, 3 TDs, 6 carries, 22 rushing yards, 1.5 tackles, 1 TFL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB Trycen Groendyke (SR) - MOC-Floyd Valley: 20/28, 327 yards, 2 TDs, 6 carries, 7 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 3 punts, 29.7 yards per punt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1847565' first='Luke' last='Jobgen'] (SR) - Assumption: 2/2, 29 yards, 21 carries, 201 rushing yards (9.6 YPC), 3 rushing TDs, 6 tackles (All solo)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB [player_tooltip player_id='2199350' first='Moses' last='Thacher'] (JR) - Fort Madison: 45 carries, 304 rushing yards (6.8 YPC), 3 rushing TDs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB Emmitt Hyatt (JR) - Knoxville: 13 carries, 213 rushing yards (16.4 YPC), 3 rushing TDs, 1 2PT conversion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1699602' first='Albear' last='Van Zee'] (SR) - MOC-Floyd Valley: 5 receptions, 210 yards (42 YPC), 2 receiving TDs, 1 tackle, 70 return yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL Sterling Smith (JR) - Nevada: 5 tackles (3 solo), 3.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 1 FF, 3/3 extra points</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='2201858' first='Clayton' last='Evans'] (JR) - Washington: 15 tackles (11 solo), 8.5 TFLs, 3 sacks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB/RB [player_tooltip player_id='2090133' first='Cale' last='Shovlain'] (JR) - Assumption: 8 tackles (All solo), 1 FF, 1 PBU, 1 INT, 4 carries, 23 rushing yards (5.8 YPC), 2 receptions, 29 yards, 60 return yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1850280' first='Kurt' last='Joy'] (JR) - Keokuk: 7 receptions, 90 yards, 2 TDs, 11.5 tackles (9 solo), 1.5 TFLs, 165 total return yards (55 yards per return), 1 kick return TD, 1 2PT conversion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->