IA Class 5A Recap From Week 3 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rounding out the recap this week, and for the first time this season, we take a look at the 5A conference, which included the fewest games between each other, and with the out-of-conference games out of the way, for some teams, the start they had competing and often excelling against lower-level teams may see their success dissipate quickly as they turn toward their inter-conference foes, which should quickly distinguish who will rise to the top this season in the conference. We take a look today at the top results and standouts from week 3 of the 2026 high school football season across Class 5A IA!</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>Valley</strong> vs. Urbandale: <strong>31-27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Valley dominated in the previous matchup 41-3, but the J-Hawks were determined to duel it out on Friday night, which they did to great effect. Urbandale made things difficult for the Tigers, and aided with 2 forced turnovers were able to gain leverage during the 3rd quarter, entering the 4th with a 27-24 lead. Ultimately, Valley proved to be a better well-rounded unit, with Urbandale struggling on the ground all night, they were forced to stick to the pass, which got stale over time, allowing Valley to capitalize, take the lead, and ultimately seal off the J-Hawks to earn the win, cementing a 2-1 start for the Tigers. </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='2004458' first='Blake' last='Dorenkamp'] (SR) - </strong>Dorenkamp rocked the J-Hawks' defense all night with his strongly effective performance on the ground. Dorenkamp ran for 215 yards (8.6 YPC) and 2 rushing TDs while adding 2 receptions for 14 yards. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Council Bluffs Lincoln</strong> vs. Denison-Schleswig: <strong>20-13 (OT)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The Lynx entered this week looking to build off a huge performance over Sioux City North, and they took on a close foe in Denison-Schleswig. The game started out rough for the Lynx, trailing 10-0 at the half, before finally gaining some leverage in the 2nd half, clawing their way back up, and ultimately finishing regulation with the score tied 13-13. The Lynx got the ball first in OT, where they punched it in and scored 7 right away. The Monarchs got swamped on their attempt, and their final desperate pass attempt on 4th and Goal got swatted, giving the Lynx a key road win as they move forward looking for leverage in a very competitive 5A conference. </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='1895319' first='Braylin' last='De Jager'] (SR) - </strong>There weren't too many particularly outstanding single performances in what was a solid team effort, but De Jager stood out for his effectiveness as a two-way standout. De Jager led the team with 5 catches for 40 yards while added 5 tackles (5 solo) on defense. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Ottumwa</strong> vs. Des Moines East: <strong>20-13</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ottumwa has excelled in this rivalry, and entering this matchup, they had won each of their last 4 matchups, with their last 3 coming by margins of at least 29 points. This time around, the Scarlets' defense stepped up and made things competitive, preventing the game from ending up as another blowout, and keeping the Bulldogs at bay. However, the Bulldogs' defense did just as well in shutting down the Scarlets, forcing 2 key turnovers to overcome their own mistakes, which ended up proving costly for the Scarlets as they ultimately struggled to get on the board, allowing Ottumwa to clinch their 5th straight victory over the Scarlets and move up 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='2112454' first='Spencer' last='Dalbey'] (JR) - </strong>Certainly an uneven performance given by Dalbey, but he overcame his 2 picks that he threw and delivered a solidly effective performance over the air. Dalbey finished 12 of 22 for 193 yards and 3 TDs while rushing for 16 yards on 7 carries. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Notable Results from Week 3:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Norwalk vs. <strong>Southeast Polk: 49-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Des Moines Lincoln vs. <strong>Ankeny Centennial: 45-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Indianola</strong> vs. Cedar Rapids Jefferson: <strong>44-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ankeny</strong> vs. Des Moines Roosevelt: <strong>43-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dubuque Senior vs. <strong>Cedar Falls: 42-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pleasant Valley</strong> vs. Iowa City West: <strong>41-20</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cedar Rapids Kennedy vs. <strong>Waukee: 39-6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ames vs. <strong>Johnston: 38-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davenport West vs. <strong>Davenport Central: 36-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop Heelan vs. <strong>Sioux City East: 35-10</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa City High vs. <strong>Waukee Northwest: 35-21</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waterloo West</strong> vs. Dubuque Hempstead: <strong>31-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dallas Center-Grimes vs. <strong>Dowling Catholic: 30-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa City Liberty</strong> vs. Linn-Mar: <strong>27-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prairie vs. <strong>Bettendorf: 26-14</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='2085086' first='Emerson' last='Berner'] (SR) - Iowa City Liberty: 24/28, 252 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB TJ Sleiter (SR) - Waukee: 17/22, 270 yards, 2 TDs, 7 carries, 5 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='2372589' first='Nolan' last='Freeman'] (SO) - Indianola: 10/11, 142 yards, 3 TDs, 6 carries, 17 rushing yards, </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB [player_tooltip player_id='2004458' first='Blake' last='Dorenkamp'] (SR) - Valley: 25 carries, 215 rushing yards (8.6 YPC), 2 rushing TDs, 2 receptions, 14 receiving yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1617589' first='Stanley' last='Cooper'] (SR) - Southeast Polk: 12 carries, 123 rushing yards (10.3 YPC), 5 rushing TDs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1616459' first='Drew' last='Bennis'] (SR) - Prairie: 9 receptions, 180 yards, 2 TDs, 1 tackle, 94 return yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='2167979' first='Jimmy' last='Bark'] (SR) - Bettendorf: 4.5 tackles (3 solo), 3 TFLs, 3 sacks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL Hank Thompson (SR) - Iowa City Liberty: 6 tackles (4 solo), 4 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 FF</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB John Schoenfelder (SR) - Marshalltown: 23 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 FF</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB Charlie Martin (SO) - Bettendorf: 1 tackle, 2 INTs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->