IA Class 5A Recap From Week 4 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rounding out this week in Class 5A Iowa, all the games took place on Friday, and through the end of week 4, only 3 teams sit up top with undefeated records, but 27 of the 36 teams in the 5A conference sit with a record of at least .500. The competition will be very tight in the 5A conference going forward, though that should change rapidly with the teams dueling out against one another over the second half of the regular season. We take a look at the top results and standouts from Class 5A IA to round out week 4 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">Dowling Catholic vs. <strong>Southeast Polk: 31-28</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>One of the most competitive rivalries in the conference over the last few years, and this matchups between the Maroons and the Rams had big implications for the 5A picture. The game was a very competitive affair, with scoring going back and forth between the two all the way to the very end. In the end, the Rams' run game may have proven to be the difference, as they were by far the most effective unit among both teams, finishing with a combined 295 rushing yards (5.9 YPC) and 3 TDs. The Rams got the ball last, driving the ball into scoring range, and through the final seconds, hit a 35 yard field goal to edge out the Maroons, propelling themselves up to 4-0 and very much in control of their destiny.</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='1617589' first='Stanley' last='Cooper'] (SR) - </strong>Cooper was the engine of the Rams' high-motor run offense on Friday night once again, finishing with 196 rushing yards on 29 carries (6.8 YPC) and all 3 rushing TDs for the night. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Waukee</strong> vs. Valley: <strong>35-28</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>In this rivalry, it has been a mostly one-sided affair with Valley well ahead historically against the Warriors, including having won their last 3 matchups in a row. However, Waukee came to win, and they were able to scorch the Tigers' secondary as they piled up 326 yards over the air, being able to stay on pace with the Tigers' offense early on. In the second half, the wheels began to fall off the bus for Waukee's offense as they were pitted by self-inflicted mistakes, committing 4 turnovers, allowing the Warriors to pull ahead in the 4th quarter and hold off Waukee for the road upset as they beat Valley for the first time since 2023. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top Performer: TJ Sleiter (SR) - </strong>Sleiter was on fire for nearly the entire night as the pass could not be stopped. Sleiter finished 20 of 34 for 326 yards and 3 TDs. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Linn-Mar vs. <strong>Cedar Rapids Kennedy: 21-17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>It was a close affair, and for Linn-Mar, who was chasing their first win of the 2026 season, it was a devastating ending. The game was tight knit throughout, but the Lions were able to generate some leverage, overtaking the Cougars with a 17-14 lead in the 4th quarter. The Cougars got the ball back late, and facing a critical 4th and 5 in the redzone, the Cougars' pass attempt went incomplete, but the Lions were hit with a penalty for the late head-to-head hit, giving the Cougars a new set of downs. The Cougars would score with under 2 minutes remaining, and would ultimately hold off the Lions to snap their 2 game losing streak and return back to a record of .500. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top Performer: Tate Welsch (SR) - </strong>Welsch generated much of the production in the passing game for the Cougars. Of the team's 187 total passing yards, 107 were accounted by Welsch on just 4 receptions (26.8 YPC) to pair with 2 TDs. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Des Moines East vs. <strong>Marshalltown: 17-14 (OT)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Despite struggling over the first 3 games of the 2026 season, Marshalltown was poised not to disappoint their fans on homecoming night in search of their first win of the season. They attained that at home against the Scarlets, where they were able to get a hot start offensively, generating a 14-0 lead at the end of the 1st quarter. However, the offense went cold for the remainder of regulation, and the Scarlets slowly clawed their way back to tie the game by the end of the 4th. In Overtime, the Scarlets got the ball first and were forced to kick on 4th down. However, their FG attempt was botched with a high snap over the holder's head, and the Bobcats responded with a FG to close it out, earning a sweet first victory for the 2026 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: John Schoenfelder (SR) - </strong>Schoenfelder was all over the field on Friday night, helping keep the Scarlets at bay with his constant presence around the ball-carrier, racking up a total 20 tackles and 2 TFLs. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Bettendorf</strong> vs. Iowa City West: <strong>31-20</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>After losing their last 2 matchups to the Trojans in a row, Bettendorf came in with a fire to reclaim their standing in this rivalry. The game was competitive through the first 3 quarters, with the Trojans taking the lead 20-17 with 9 and a half minutes remaining in the game. The passing game for Bettendorf was nearly unstoppable all night, accounting for 358 of the team's 427 total yards of offense. The Bulldogs scored with 7 minutes remaining to take the lead, and Trojans were ultimately unable to respond, with 2 costly interceptions proving to be the difference in the game, and Bettendorf added another TD in the final 2 minutes to ultimately seal the victory as they move up to 3-1. </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='980028' first='Cannon' last='Davis'] (JR) - </strong>Davis was a cannon on Friday night, consistently finding open spaces and gashing apart the Trojans' secondary all night. Davis finished 20 of 33 for 358 yards and 3 TDs. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Notable Results from Week 4: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ankeny Centennial vs. <strong>Ankeny: 59-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cedar Rapids Jefferson vs. <strong>Urbandale: 49-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Muscatine vs. <strong>Dubuque Senior: 49-21</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sioux City East </strong>vs. Sioux City West: <strong>48-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prairie vs. <strong>Waukee Northwest: 47-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Johnston</strong> vs. Iowa City Liberty: <strong>42-6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Des Moines Roosevelt vs. <strong>Dallas Center-Grimes: 38-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Council Bluffs Jefferson vs. <strong>Council Bluffs Lincoln: 35-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dubuque Hempstead vs. <strong>Pleasant Valley: 35-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newton vs. <strong>Indianola: 35-21</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ottumwa vs. <strong>Des Moines Lincoln: 29-8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedar Falls</strong> vs. Iowa City High: <strong>26-13</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ames vs. <strong>Norwalk: 17-7</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='1630523' first='Baylor' last='Petrie'] (JR) - Cedar Falls: 16/28, 311 yards, 4 TDs, 2 carries, 14 rushing yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB [player_tooltip player_id='980028' first='Cannon' last='Davis'] (SR) - Bettendorf: 20/33, 358 yards, 2 TDs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB TJ Sleiter (SR) - Waukee: 20/34, 326 yards, 3 TDs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB Dayvon Wesley (SR) - Des Moines Lincoln: 21 carries, 285 rushing yards (13.6 YPC), 3 rushing TDs, 4 tackles (3 solo), 2 TFLs, 1 sack</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1617589' first='Stanley' last='Cooper'] (SR) - Southeast Polk: 29 carries, 196 rushing yards (6.8 YPC), 3 rushing TDs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1811110' first='Trey' last='Henry'] (JR) - Sioux City North: 4 receptions, 154 yards (38.5 YPC), 3 receiving TDs, 4 carries, 33 rushing yards, 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 FF</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1895319' first='Braylin' last='De Jager'] (SR) - Council Bluffs Lincoln: 9 receptions, 183 yards (20.3 YPC), 2 receiving TDs, 3.5 tackles</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1617646' first='Izzah' last='Grandon'] (SR) - Cedar Falls: 12 tackles (9 solo), 4.5 TFLs, 3 sacks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB John Schoenfelder (SR) - Marshalltown: 20 tackles (8 solo), 2 TFLs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB Connor Davis (SO) - Urbandale: 5 tackles (4 solo), 0.5 TFLs, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 defensive TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->