Picking Friday’s Class 5A State Championship Game

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Picking who wins and why ahead of the state championship games in Cedar Falls on Thursday and Friday. On Friday, Class 5A rounds things out from a football-packed week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/picking-thursdays-8-man-and-class-a-state-championship-games/">Picking Thursday's 8-Man and Class A State Championship Games</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/picking-thursdays-class-1a-and-4a-state-championship-games/">Picking Thursday's Class 1A and 4A State Championship Games</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/picking-fridays-class-2a-and-3a-state-championship-games/">Picking Friday's Class 2A and 3A State Championship Games</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/five-standouts-from-the-iowa-class-5a-semifinals/">Five Standouts from the Iowa Class 5A Semifinals</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7:00–#1 Dowling Catholic (11-1) vs. #4 Iowa City Liberty (11-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The battle for the state title in Class 5A features a perennial power, Dowling Catholic and newly established high school, plus the first eastern Iowa-based team to reach the state championship in the state's biggest class since Cedar Falls in 2018, Iowa City Liberty. That, and plenty -- <em>plenty </em>-- of star power.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dowling comes to the table with one of the top receiving corps in the state with Iowa State commit, [player_tooltip player_id='1241492' first='Jeffrey' last='Roberts'] -- who scored one of the Maroons' two touchdowns against Valley in the semis on a 69-yard bomb -- and Northern Iowa commit, [player_tooltip player_id='1619623' first='Sam' last='Drexler']. Then there's [player_tooltip player_id='856072' first='Ian' last='Middleton'], one of the most productive running backs in 5A, and the offensive line that features [player_tooltip player_id='1583613' first='Carter' last='Barrett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1286887' first='Evan' last='Mitchell'], two of the top prospects in 2028. All of that, and the man running the show, [player_tooltip player_id='401674' first='Joey' last='Nahas'], who has popped up on D1 radar's in his first season as the starter for the Maroons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Move to the defensive side of the ball and leading-tackler [player_tooltip player_id='513361' first='Carlos' last='Blount Jr']. immediately comes to mind, plus breakout star in the semis, Anthony Bonanno and South Dakota State commit, [player_tooltip player_id='1240478' first='Joel' last='Sankoh'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The conversation surrounding Liberty the last two seasons has surrounded quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='1552779' first='Reece' last='Rettig']. One of the most prolific passers in the state the last two season for the Lightning, Rettig has shown that, despite his size at 5-foot-10, he can orchestrate an offense to be one of the most dangerous in the state -- both with his arm and his legs. By the end of Friday night's game, chances are the senior gunslinger will finish his senior season with over 240 completions, 2,500 yards and 23 touchdowns through the air, not to mention his he has the chance to surpass 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rettig's weapons showed up big time in the semifinal vs. Waukee Northwest, as running back [player_tooltip player_id='1617592' first='Brody' last='Beaver'] ran for 93 yards and a score on just ten carries, averaging 9.3 yards per carry. He added four receptions for 25 yards, as well. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/five-standouts-from-the-iowa-class-5a-semifinals/">As written here following the 5A semis</a>, "[Beaver's] playmaking ability really popped on a 53-yard run in the fourth quarter, where he showed patience and burst, weaving in and around blockers and would-be tacklers for the near score." Junior wideout Pyror Reiners broke onto the seen this season as well, having posted 52 catches for 613 yards and seven scores to lead the Lightning in all receiving statistical categories.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Known as a team that can put up a ton of points, Liberty has also done a solid job on the defensive side of the ball, allowing fewer than 20 points per game this season (18.8 ppg). They've got a few dudes in the middle of the defense, too. Senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1552812' first='Landon' last='Bell'] has led the way, posting 65 tackles (44 solo), 17.5 tackles-for-loss (TFLs) and 4.5 sacks, while [player_tooltip player_id='1548918' first='Logan' last='Laubenthal'] has had a monstrous season on the backend, putting up three interceptions and 13 PBU for the Lightning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Pick: </strong>Dowling</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why: </strong>Dowling just has too much talent all over its roster. From the trenches, to quarterback, receiver, running back and defense, the Maroons have been on an absolute tear since dropping its week one 20-19 loss to Valley (and avenging that loss in the semis). Seemingly poised for the title and throttling opponents with the top average margin of victory in 5A (26 points), Dowling seems to be on track to win its 11th state football championship since the turn of the century. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->