IA Class 4A Recap From Week 3

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moving up through each conference, there were less games that took place over the previous week, and not particularly many that were close battles that may have always left fans consistently engaged through all 4 quarters, but as we reach closer toward the halfway point of the 2026 high school football regular season, we get a better idea of who is starting to emerge as primary contenders, as well as some dark horse candidates for the 4A title this season. We recap the top results and standouts from Class 4A Iowa to recap week 3 of the 2026 high school football 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>Western Dubuque</strong> vs. Waverly-Shell Rock: <strong>32-31 (OT)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The last few matchups between these two foes have been split record-wise, but each matchup ended up usually as a one-sided affair. On Friday night, neither team let down and gave each other everything they could handle. Both teams played with a very well-rounded performance offensively, and neither unit had an answer to stop the other, with the score ultimately ending up tied 24-24 by the end of regulation. The Go-Hawks scored first in OT, putting 7 on the board to take the lead right away. The Bobcats responded with a score on their own, and ultimately gambled for 2, which they ended up converting, escaping with a huge road win as they improve to 2-1. </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='1741922' first='Brady' last='Rissman'] (JR) - </strong>Rissman had a near-perfect performance as he picked apart the Go-Hawks' defense effortlessly both over the air and on the ground. Rissman finished 16 of 19 for 149 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT while rushing for 56 yards on 8 carries. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Bondurant-Farrar vs. <strong>Newton: 21-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>It was a must-win situation for both teams, and for Newton, this matchup was a definitive one to get back on track toward contention in the 4A conference, and while they emerged victorious, it wasn't spectacular. The Cardinals won each of their last 2 matchups against the Bluejays by a combined margin of 56 points, but here, the Bluejays kept it close. Despite several mistakes offensively, including 3 turnovers by the Cardinals, they were able to almost completely shut down the Bluejays' offense, limiting them to an impressively low 80 yards of total offense, which proved vital in preventing any 2nd half comeback, allowing the Cardinals to earn their first win of the season on homecoming night. </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='1532913' first='Nick' last='Milburn'] (SR) - </strong>Milburn's leadership on the defense helped keep the Bluejays at bay, aiding an offense which struggled to find a consistent groove on Friday night. Milburn led the team with 8 tackles (All solo) to go with a TFL and a key fumble recovery returned 59 yards to the end zone which proved to be the difference in this victory. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Sioux City West</strong> vs. Sioux City North: <strong>7-6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Despite their 2-0 start, the Wolverines entered week 3 with one of their most difficult matchups yet, taking on the North Stars, whom they had lost to in their previous 5 matchups dating back to 2018, with each of the their last 3 games losing by margins of at least 21 points. The Wolverines finally snapped that streak on Friday night, in the ugliest way possible. The Stars dominated offensively, finishing with 290 yards of total offense compared to the Wolverines' 126 yards. However, they just couldn't capitalize when they needed to, and they were held out of the end zone for much of the game until the 4th quarter when they finally scored. The Stars took the chance for the lead and the win by going for 2, but their attempt was snuffed, allowing the Wolverines to hold on to victory, snapping their losing streak to the Stars, and earning their first 3-0 start since 1997. </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='2196321' first='Max' last='Hoyos'] (JR) - </strong>Hoyos was a game-wrecker on defense, and he proved to be a problem for the Stars' offense all night on Friday. Hoyos finished with 3 tackles (All solo), 3 TFLs, and 3 sacks in the win. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Notable Results from Week 3: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Glenwood</strong> vs. Creston: <strong>70-42</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harlan Community vs. <strong>Lewis Central: 55-9</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sergeant Bluff-Luton</strong> vs. Council Bluffs Jefferson: <strong>49-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedar Rapids Washington</strong> vs. Clinton: <strong>49-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Dodge</strong> vs. Waterloo East: <strong>43-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carlisle </strong>vs. Grinnell: <strong>40-13</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Polk</strong> vs. ADM: <strong>40-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marion vs. <strong>Davenport North: 38-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Xavier</strong> vs. Clear Creek Amana: <strong>28-17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Scott vs. <strong>Pella: 27-10</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marshalltown vs. <strong>Mason City: 22-13</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ballard </strong>vs. Nevada: <strong>20-10</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gilbert </strong>vs. Boone: <strong>16-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Top 10 Standouts from Week 3:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='2119989' first='Jett' last='Sheedy'] (SO) - Davenporth North: 13/22, 182 yards, 4 TDs, 4 carries, 34 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1644900' first='Tru' last='McBride'] (SR) - Fort Dodge: 19/25, 209 yards, 3 TDs, 5 carries, 26 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 1 2PT conversion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='2159690' first='Justin' last='Ehlers'] (JR) - Sergeant Bluff-Luton: 6/7, 158 yards, 4 TDs, 3 carries, 13 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB [player_tooltip player_id='617066' first='Uweza' last='Kalolero'] (SR) - Cedar Rapids Washington: 20 carries, 205 rushing yards (10.3 YPC), 3 rushing TDs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1596610' first='Jayden' last='Stephens'] (JR) - Waverly Shell-Rock: 6 receptions, 145 yards (24.2 YPC), 2 receiving TDs, 5.5 tackles (4 solo), 1 INT</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR Logan VanDenBroek (SR) - Pella: 5 receptions, 95 yards, 4 TDs, 30 punt return yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB Aiden Spomer (JR) - Des Moines North: 10 tackles (9 solo), 6 TFLs, 2 sacks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='2055839' first='Gage' last='Branderhorst'] (SR) - Pella: 9 tackles (All solo), 4 TFLs, 2 sacks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB [player_tooltip player_id='2196417' first='Andrew' last='Butikofer'] (JR) - Cedar Rapids Washington: 4.5 tackles (3 solo), 4.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB Benn Christiansen (JR) - Glenwood: 3 tackles, 0.5 TFLs, 2 INTs, 1 defensive TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->