**************2024 All Class High School Football Thread***************

[Hawkfan_08]

Okay, so you’re a Liberty guy.

I have a kid at Ankeny, and I need you to explain something to me. We just played Wash…how, in the hell, did the Liberty v Wash game end with the score that it did?

Did you play incredibly bad? Did you play flawless against Ankeny? Both?

I missed a majority of that game. To make matters worse Wash had an onside kick attempt to possibly get the ball back and score. Liberty obviously has a plethora of ball carriers but the most dynamic was out this game. Kids were walking around saying it would be 55-0, get everyone in, get rest, etc... that's exactly how they played.

Most defenses struggle to stop Liberty and Liberty rarely turns the ball over. That was not the case against Wash. I think it was a case of not respecting the opponent, putting the defense in bad spots and turnovers. Wash played a tempo that slowed the game down.

Needless to say, the boys all made sure that didn't happen again.

 

[Birky]

If you want to get technical, it's essentially multiple 4 team playoffs to decide who advances to the semifinals/UNI-Dome. Geography is still a factor, but does not take up nearly as much of the pie as it used to.

For example, Iowa City Regina has to drive a little over 2 hrs to go play Woodward-Granger when there were closer options. Sumner-Fredericksburg has to drive 2.5 hrs to play Manson-Northwest Webster when there were closer options.

He was talking about 5A. 5A is set up like this. Unlike the other classes, they take the top sixteen teams, so they can set it up like a traditional tournament. It is just a 16 team tournament.

1 v 16
8 v 9

winners play each other

2 v 15
7 v 10

winners play each other

3 v 14
6 v 11

winners play each other.

4 v 13
5 v 12

winners play each other

The only difference between this and a regular sixteen tournament is, when they get to the dome, the highest seeded team will play the lowest seeded team.

 

[Birky]

Hmm. Then what's up with this? Is MaxPreps assuming the result Friday?

Schedule - Johnston Dragons (Johnston, IA) Varsity Football 24-25

View the 24-25 Johnston varsity football team schedule.

www.maxpreps.com

Yes.

If SC East wins, they will be wrong. I assume they are planning to play the game?

 

[Birky]

I missed a majority of that game. To make matters worse Wash had an onside kick attempt to possibly get the ball back and score. Liberty obviously has a plethora of ball carriers but the most dynamic was out this game. Kids were walking around saying it would be 55-0, get everyone in, get rest, etc... that's exactly how they played.

Most defenses struggle to stop Liberty and Liberty rarely turns the ball over. That was not the case against Wash. I think it was a case of not respecting the opponent, putting the defense in bad spots and turnovers. Wash played a tempo that slowed the game down.

Needless to say, the boys all made sure that didn't happen again.

I suppose that makes sense. It still boggles the mind it could be close without something like 6 turnovers.

I think Ankeny could play Wash 1,000 times, and it would never be within 4 TDs. They were trying not to score in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t possible, barring kids just falling down.

Speaking of onside kicks, that is probably what won Liberty the Ankeny game. That and a bad snap on a FG. Since you missed a lot of game, this is what happened.

Ankeny scored on every drive of the game except a fumble at the Liberty 30, and a blocked bad snap on a FG(they also essentially ran out of time with the ball.)

Liberty took their first lead of the game at the end of the 3rd, then recovered an onside and scored again. It was a great call. It didn’t seem they were ever going to stop Ankeny. To be fair, at that point in the game, it didn’t seem Ankeny was going to stop Liberty either.

Then Ankeny fumble followed those two Liberty scores.

Liberty didn’t have the best offensive players I’ve seen, but that was the most diversified offense I have seen. Great deception, and always an exit strategy for the QB, no matter what the play call. I’m not sure the kid made a mistake?

 

[EastIowaHawk]

The pod system is basically a way to balance strength between the eastern part of the state with the western, to cut down on travel. I follow 3A and above, so I put in my predicted final 16 in 3A after the eighth game, and it was remarkably close to what eventually happened. Would have been a lot closer if Williamsburg and SC Heelan hadn't lost (and if District 4 were a little tougher)! The pod double pairings are one way to balance the state for the final games at the UniDome. The RPI/power ratings are the best way to rank the teams., along with record and geography. A person can't just look at records or schedule. Some of the top 3A teams play schedules with a composite losing record. When you look closer at those schedule, that's because those teams played the greatest number of highly-ranked teams during the seasonl Davenport Assumption (4-5 record) squeaked into the #16 slot in 3A because they were in a weak district with only one other decent team-- Mount Vernon in D4. Assumption was second in their district.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

I suppose that makes sense. It still boggles the mind it could be close without something like 6 turnovers.

I think Ankeny could play Wash 1,000 times, and it would never be within 4 TDs. They were trying not to score in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t possible, barring kids just falling down.

Speaking of onside kicks, that is probably what won Liberty the Ankeny game. That and a bad snap on a FG. Since you missed a lot of game, this is what happened.

Ankeny scored on every drive of the game except a fumble at the Liberty 30, and a blocked bad snap on a FG(they also essentially ran out of time with the ball.)

Liberty took their first lead of the game at the end of the 3rd, then recovered an onside and scored again. It was a great call. It didn’t seem they were ever going to stop Ankeny. To be fair, at that point in the game, it didn’t seem Ankeny was going to stop Liberty either.

Then Ankeny fumble followed those two Liberty scores.

Liberty didn’t have the best offensive players I’ve seen, but that was the most diversified offense I have seen. Great deception, and always an exit strategy for the QB, no matter what the play call. I’m not sure the kid made a mistake?

No I got ya. It was by far their worst game. I was meaning I didn't get to watch a ton of the Wash game either. I got to the Ankeny game at the start of the 4th.

The offense is really good and the QB is really smart and reads the game well. His only mistake I can think of came against PV when the game was close... then PV capitalized and it was a downhill slide from there. I do think that one of our rbs (the one who missed the Wash game) would be D1 if he were bigger. Has speed, vision and agility.

 

[Birky]

No I got ya. It was by far their worst game. I was meaning I didn't get to watch a ton of the Wash game either. I got to the Ankeny game at the start of the 4th.

The offense is really good and the QB is really smart and reads the game well. His only mistake I can think of came against PV when the game was close... then PV capitalized and it was a downhill slide from there. I do think that one of our rbs (the one who missed the Wash game) would be D1 if he were bigger. Has speed, vision and agility.

Back was indeed good.

 

[Dauminator]

We had a kid transfer in for 8th grade, moved to another for 9th, and then back to his original 7th grade school for 10th.

I have to wonder how much of it is his idea or his Dad.

We had another dad move his son in middle school because they wouldn't let him coach. He posts all his kids workouts online and goes on and on how amazing his son is. I feel bad for the kid; while he's not a bad athlete he's clearly not a D1 athlete and daddy has been filling his head that he'll be playing in Kinnick some day.

I love being a HS football dad.
I hate the Dad's who ruin it.

It's sickening what youth sports has become.

I'd love to give my kids a chance to try some different sports and get the experience. But the barriers to entry are significant. Why not have programs that are about learning the basics and having some fun? Why does everything have to be ten practices a week, traveling, pay for play nonsense?

Getting a bit off topic there, but I agree: our society in general puts far too much stock in trying to make Timmy and Janie into a meal ticket.

 

[Birky]

It's sickening what youth sports has become.

I'd love to give my kids a chance to try some different sports and get the experience. But the barriers to entry are significant. Why not have programs that are about learning the basics and having some fun? Why does everything have to be ten practices a week, traveling, pay for play nonsense?

Getting a bit off topic there, but I agree: our society in general puts far too much stock in trying to make Timmy and Janie into a meal ticket.

It does indeed suck, but you don’t have to take that route. It’s just what people do, and obviously feel pressured to do.

Our son played every sport imaginable other than soccer. The only one he played in the sense you are describing was baseball.

Once he got to high school, none of that meant shit. He played four sports at Ankeny until an injury caused him to cut back to three this year and last.

At the end of the day, they are doing it for fun, and only a handful are going to receive a scholarship of any consequence. If the kid is the one that wants to practice every day, then great. Mine is like that with baseball.

Excited for this Friday. We don’t play until 8:30ish.😮

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

There needs to be a wrestleback round for the football playoffs too. Being done after the 1st Rd is boring.

 

[squeezebox]

There needs to be a wrestleback round for the football playoffs too. Being done after the 1st Rd is boring.

nothing better than watching 2-7 teams getting a second chance

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

nothing better than watching 2-7 teams getting a second chance

Not all teams were 2-7......

 

[Birky]

Not all teams were 2-7......

Didn’t a 2-6 team win first round? Maybe against S-K?

 

[Birky]

nothing better than watching 2-7 teams getting a second chance

Much like the worst bowl game ever concocted. I’m watching the fvck out of it.

 

[squeezebox]

Didn’t a 2-6 team win first round? Maybe against S-K?

West Branch, yup, but I said 2-7.

 

[Birky]

West Branch, yup, but I said 2-7.

You did. I was just trying to confirm it was true. I thought it happened.

That’s why we have to have double elim!!!!! The Savage Cobras must have another chance or I blow up the offices in Boone.

I am in no way being serious. Just playing along with the bit.

 

[Dauminator]

East is horrible and has been for awhile. The vote to consolidate with west is coming up soon. Any players east had that are worth a shit get plucked away by other schools like CF. The system is broken imo.

Having read up a bit more on the history to date, I'm really put off by how this is all being pushed through by the board without a public vote. It sounds a lot like the EMS situation in Guthrie County. A group of entitled yahoos deciding for an entire population - how often does that work out?

 

[jellyfish10]

Having read up a bit more on the history to date, I'm really put off by how this is all being pushed through by the board without a public vote. It sounds a lot like the EMS situation in Guthrie County. A group of entitled yahoos deciding for an entire population - how often does that work out?

I really can’t speak to it specifically. I can tell you that a friend of mine that is a professor at UNI and has kids in the Waterloo school system feels the same. She is very involved in the situation and feels like a select few are looking to make a name for themselves.

 

[Iron Doc]

I really can’t speak to it specifically. I can tell you that a friend of mine that is a professor at UNI and has kids in the Waterloo school system feels the same. She is very involved in the situation and feels like a select few are looking to make a name for themselves.

Has she said where they might put the new consolidated Waterloo HS?

 

[Dauminator]

It's proposed to go here: https://www.google.com/maps/place/W...try=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAyNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

Which is basically Cedar Falls. Even worse.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

It's proposed to go here: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Waterloo+Career+Center/@42.5087104,-92.4466601,12.25z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x87e555b86647d935:0x26bf08e984274dc2!8m2!3d42.4947662!4d-92.399147!16s/g/11j32bj7tq?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAyNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

Which is basically Cedar Falls. Even worse.

I have said this since the start... you have Waterloo East which struggles to get kids to come and stay in school combining to a school that is about as far away as it could be.

I went to CF. Many kids at my elementary lived less than a few blocks or had houses physically touching the park behind that school. We used to play tons of games around Central and Sleepy Hollow? Park. As you pointed out, it is basically CF.

 

[Iron Doc]

It's proposed to go here: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Waterloo+Career+Center/@42.5087104,-92.4466601,12.25z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x87e555b86647d935:0x26bf08e984274dc2!8m2!3d42.4947662!4d-92.399147!16s/g/11j32bj7tq?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAyNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

Which is basically Cedar Falls. Even worse.

I would be appalled if I were a Waterloo resident.
Cedar Falls does not need another (in effect) HS.
Is there some compelling geographical reason for that location?
I do have to admit I couldn't see much other open space.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

I would be appalled if I were a Waterloo resident.
Cedar Falls does not need another (in effect) HS.
Is there some compelling geographical reason for that location?
I do have to admit I couldn't see much other open space.

That used to be a high school in Waterloo a long time ago. While it is close to CF and kids in that neighborhood go to CF, I still wouldn't consider it CF...

 

[Iron Doc]

That used to be a high school in Waterloo a long time ago. While it is close to CF and kids in that neighborhood go to CF, I still wouldn't consider it CF...

Must be old Central HS, then Central MS.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

Must be old Central HS, then Central MS.

Correct.

 

[ChiPackHawk]

It's sickening what youth sports has become.

I'd love to give my kids a chance to try some different sports and get the experience. But the barriers to entry are significant. Why not have programs that are about learning the basics and having some fun? Why does everything have to be ten practices a week, traveling, pay for play nonsense?

Getting a bit off topic there, but I agree: our society in general puts far too much stock in trying to make Timmy and Janie into a meal ticket.

You can have all that you want - It's called House League. Travel League sports will always exist to meet the needs of advanced athletes and over zealous parents. Take this advice - you will learn all you need to know about Travel Sports when it no longer does you any good.

 

[Dauminator]

I have said this since the start... you have Waterloo East which struggles to get kids to come and stay in school combining to a school that is about as far away as it could be.

I went to CF. Many kids at my elementary lived less than a few blocks or had houses physically touching the park behind that school. We used to play tons of games around Central and Sleepy Hollow? Park. As you pointed out, it is basically CF.

The excuse is that it will be by this "Career Advantage Center" or whatever they call it. But yeah, it's a bussing nightmare in a community with an absenteeism problem. We'll see how the vote goes Tuesday. At least it got to a vote. Should not have required a petition to be so.

You can have all that you want - It's called House League. Travel League sports will always exist to meet the needs of advanced athletes and over zealous parents. Take this advice - you will learn all you need to know about Travel Sports when it no longer does you any good.

Maybe it's my location. I can't see anything of that kind near me. Glad to hear it exists in some places, at least.

 

[Dauminator]

Johnston kicking tail tonight, and Valley in trouble!

 

[Iron Doc]

Good job Fearsome Eagle Beasts!
MMCRU was for real.

 

[gojojo]

What happened to Williamsburg?

They looked unstoppable on their way to a second straight title only to lose their last two games.

 

[Dauminator]

The Waterloo measure passed.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Last night's 8-Player State Quarterfinals results-

Bishop Garrigan 51, Edgewood-Colesburg 36
Remsen-St. Mary's 61, Audubon 20
Lenox 62, Montezuma 20
Gladbrook-Reinbeck 34, Don Bosco, Gilbertville 33 (minor upset of the night)

State Semifinals, at the UNI-Dome (Wed, 11/13):

Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears (11-0) vs Remsen-St. Mary's Hawks (11-0), 10 am

Lenox Tigers (11-0) vs Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebels (10-1), 1 pm

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Tonight's State Quarterfinal schedule for all classes:

Class A-
Woodbury Central (8-2) at Britt, West Hancock (10-0)
Tri-Center, Neola (9-1) at AC/GC (10-0)
Maquoketa Valley (9-1) at Saint Ansgar (9-1)
Madrid (8-2) at Lisbon (10-0)

Class 1A-
Sumner-Fredericksburg (7-3) at Grundy Center (10-0)
South Hardin (9-1) at Dike-New Hartford (9-1)
Underwood (6-4) at Hinton (9-1)
Wilton (9-1) at Iowa City Regina (9-1)

Class 2A-
Kuemper, Carroll (9-1) at West Lyon (10-0)
Mid-Prairie, Wellman (7-3) at PCM, Monroe (10-0)
North Fayette Valley (9-1) at Spirit Lake (9-1)
Anamosa (9-1) at Van Meter (9-1)

Class 3A-
Solon (8-2) at Humboldt (9-1)........(that's a 2 hr, 54 min drive btw)
Nevada (8-2) at Sergeant Bluff-Luton (10-0)
Independence (8-2) at Dubuque Wahlert (10-0), at Loras College in Dubuque
Mount Vernon (9-1) at Algona (9-1)

Class 4A-
Cedar Rapids Xavier (7-3) at North Polk (10-0)
North Scott (8-2) at Decorah (10-0)
Gilbert (9-1) at Pella (9-1), at Central College in Pella
A-D-M (8-2) at Council Bluffs, Lewis Central (9-1)

Class 5A-
Ankeny (6-4) at Iowa City Liberty (9-1)
Ankeny Centennial (8-2) at WDM, Dowling (9-1)
Iowa City West (6-4) at Southeast Polk (6-4)
Johnston (8-2) at WDM, Valley (8-2)

 

[joelbc1]

How ‘bout them Dutch!?

 

[Hawkfan_08]

BOLTS GOING TO THE DOME!

I couldn't enjoy it much because Iowa football.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Tonight's State Quarterfinal schedule for all classes:

Class A-
Woodbury Central (8-2) at Britt, West Hancock (10-0)
Tri-Center, Neola (9-1) at AC/GC (10-0)
Maquoketa Valley (9-1) at Saint Ansgar (9-1)
Madrid (8-2) at Lisbon (10-0)

Britt, West Hancock 44, Woodbury Central 15
Tri-Center, Neola 47, AC/GC 20
Saint Ansgar 44, Maquoketa Valley 13
Madrid 27, Lisbon 14

Class A State Semifinals, Thurs., 11/14-

Britt, West Hancock (11-0) vs Madrid (9-2), 10 am

Saint Ansgar (10-1) vs Tri-Center, Neola (10-1), 1 pm

Class 1A-
Sumner-Fredericksburg (7-3) at Grundy Center (10-0)
South Hardin (9-1) at Dike-New Hartford (9-1)
Underwood (6-4) at Hinton (9-1)
Wilton (9-1) at Iowa City Regina (9-1)

Grundy Center 35, Sumner-Fredericksburg 6
Dike-New Hartford 36, South Hardin 19
Hinton 37, Underwood 15
Wilton 21, Iowa City Regina 14

Class 1A State Semifinals, Fri., 11/15-

Grundy Center (11-0) vs Wilton (10-1), 10 am

Dike-New Hartford (10-1) vs Hinton (10-1), 1 pm

Class 2A-
Kuemper, Carroll (9-1) at West Lyon (10-0)
Mid-Prairie, Wellman (7-3) at PCM, Monroe (10-0)
North Fayette Valley (9-1) at Spirit Lake (9-1)
Anamosa (9-1) at Van Meter (9-1)

West Lyon 49, Kuemper, Carroll 14
PCM, Monroe 41, Mid-Prairie, Wellman 0
Spirit Lake 42, North Fayette Valley 13
Van Meter 31, Anamosa 0

Class 2A State Semifinals, Sat., 11/16-

West Lyon (11-0) vs Van Meter (10-1), 1 pm

PCM, Monroe (11-0) vs Spirit Lake (10-1), 10 am

Class 3A-
Solon (8-2) at Humboldt (9-1)........(that's a 2 hr, 54 min drive btw)
Nevada (8-2) at Sergeant Bluff-Luton (10-0)
Independence (8-2) at Dubuque Wahlert (10-0), at Loras College in Dubuque
Mount Vernon (9-1) at Algona (9-1)

Humboldt 35, Solon 3
Sergeant Bluff-Luton 53, Nevada 21
Dubuque Wahlert 24, Independence 7
Mount Vernon 31, Algona 28

Class 3A State Semifinals, Sat., 11/16-

Humboldt (10-1) vs Mount Vernon (10-1), 7 pm

Sergeant Bluff-Luton (11-0) vs Dubuque Wahlert (11-0), 4 pm

Class 4A-
Cedar Rapids Xavier (7-3) at North Polk (10-0)
North Scott (8-2) at Decorah (10-0)
Gilbert (9-1) at Pella (9-1), at Central College in Pella
A-D-M (8-2) at Council Bluffs, Lewis Central (9-1)

North Polk 35, Cedar Rapids Xavier 14
North Scott 28, Decorah 24
Pella 19, Gilbert 14
Council Bluffs, Lewis Central 32, A-D-M 25

Class 4A State Semifinals, Thurs., 11/14-

North Polk (11-0) vs North Scott (9-2), 7 pm

Pella (10-1) vs Council Bluffs, Lewis Central (10-1), 4 pm

Class 5A-
Ankeny (6-4) at Iowa City Liberty (9-1)
Ankeny Centennial (8-2) at WDM, Dowling (9-1)
Iowa City West (6-4) at Southeast Polk (6-4)
Johnston (8-2) at WDM, Valley (8-2)

Iowa City Liberty 21, Ankeny 13
WDM, Dowling 14, Ankeny Centennial 10
Southeast Polk 42, Iowa City West 15
WDM, Valley 38, Johnston 35

Class 5A State Semifinals, Fri., 11/15-

Iowa City Liberty (10-1) vs Southeast Polk (7-4), 7 pm

WDM, Dowling (10-1) vs WDM, Valley (9-2), 4 pm

 

[EastIowaHawk]

Are there any free streaming sites for the semi-final games at the Dome? The finals are free on IHSSN, but you pay for the semifinals???

 

[Hawkfan_08]

Are there any free streaming sites for the semi-final games at the Dome? The finals are free on IHSSN, but you pay for the semifinals???

Probably not. It is $12.50 to go to the game itself.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

For those that know the Des Moines teams much better than myself. Help me with 5A.

Obviously Liberty ended up being much better than I thought and have been really creative on offense. Both offensive and defensive lines, I'm assuming, will be undersized against SE Polk like they have against... almost everyone?

All 4 teams are good but what is the read on the other 3 teams here?

Valley has had two close games and almost lost to SC East. Johnston seems solid and did put up 35.

Dowling is rich, recruits and probably has dudes at every position. What were their weaknesses, why did they lose?

SE Polk I'm genuinely confused by their record. They are almost always good and have a track record of great, D1 players. How did they lose so many games?

I'm nervous because Liberty's offense really stalled for the first time against Ankeny last weekend. Lots of tape on them and some of it might be started to be figured out. I'm not sure we have the Jimmy's and Joe's to overpower anyone. We are just smart with the ball and usually keep the chains moving.

 

[joelbc1]

For those that know the Des Moines teams much better than myself. Help me with 5A.

Obviously Liberty ended up being much better than I thought and have been really creative on offense. Both offensive and defensive lines, I'm assuming, will be undersized against SE Polk like they have against... almost everyone?

All 4 teams are good but what is the read on the other 3 teams here?

Valley has had two close games and almost lost to SC East. Johnston seems solid and did put up 35.

Dowling is rich, recruits and probably has dudes at every position. What were their weaknesses, why did they lose?

SE Polk I'm genuinely confused by their record. They are almost always good and have a track record of great, D1 players. How did they lose so many games?

I'm nervous because Liberty's offense really stalled for the first time against Ankeny last weekend. Lots of tape on them and some of it might be started to be figured out. I'm not sure we have the Jimmy's and Joe's to overpower anyone. We are just smart with the ball and usually keep the chains moving.

Liberty will get “rik-rolled” this week. Quit worrying. Dowling lost its games because they got outscored. There are several pretty strong teams in Polk County. IT is kind of like the old Mississippi River conference of the 60’s-70’s and into the early 80’s….SEP has to be a real contender because they have way cool uniforms.
Both schools in Ankeny were very good this year, too….as was one of the Waukee schools. The suburban schools have great coaches and are well financed programs.