State football semifinals recap

The Iowa high school football state playoffs continued late last week with four teams from each of the state’s seven football classes facing off for a chance at a state championship berth.

After 14 state semifinal games, just seven games remain in the 2024 season.

In Class 5A, the two semifinals were both one possession games.

Southeast Polk (8-4), who was the only team to make the semifinals with over two losses, upset top seeded Iowa City Liberty (10-2) 38-35.

The Lightning outscored the Rams 14-0 in the first quarter and led 21-14 at the half, but Southeast Polk went on to take the second half 24-14.

Southeast Polk will take on Des Moines area squad Valley (10-2) for the state title.

The Tigers defeated Dowling Catholic (10-2) 28-21 in the semifinal round.

After a scoreless opening quarter, the Maroons took a 14-7 lead into the half. After knotting the game at 21-21 in the third, the Tigers found seven once in the fourth to take it.

In Class 4A, both higher seeds were victorious.

The undefeated North Polk Comets (12-0) dominated North Scott (9-3) 35-7.

It was a one score game at the half, 14-7, but North Polk put 21 points on the board in the third to pull away.

On the bottom half the bracket, Pella (11-1) downed perennial powerhouse Lewis Central (10-2) 28-16.

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The Dutch held onto a 14-3 advantage after two quarters, before the Titans pulled within four at the end of the third quarter, 14-10.

However, Pella scored twice more in the fourth to extend its lead.

Top seeded Humboldt (11-1) kept its season alive in the 3A semifinals with a comeback 28-25 win over Mount Vernon (10-2).

The Mustangs jumped out to a 11-0 lead through the first quarter, but the Wildcats answered back with 14 unanswered in the second to make it 14-11 at the break.

They would never lose it, despite the Mustangs winning the scoring battle in the fourth 14-7.

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Wahlert Catholic (12-0) kept its undefeated season alive in its 3A semifinal matchup against Sergeant Bluff-Luton (11-1) 17-16.

The Golden Eagles held onto a 10-3 lead at the half and a 17-10 advantage after three.

The Warriors scored six unanswered in the fourth, but couldn’t tie it or take the lead.

Class 2A top seed West Lyon (12-0) stays unbeaten after a thrashing of Van Meter (10-2) 49-24.

Van Meter led West Lyon 10-7 after one quarter of action, but the Wildcats dominated the final three quarters.

West Lyon scored 14 points in each quarter the rest of the way, while giving up just 14 Bulldog points.

The Wildcats will square off with Spirit Lake (11-1) in the championship round.

Spirit Lake put on an offensive onslaught against two seeded PCM (11-1).

The Indians scored 21 unanswered in the first quarter.

PCM put 21 points of its own in the second, but Spirit Lake added another 21 itself to make it 42-21 at halftime.

The Indians went on to outscore the Mustangs 14-7 in the second half.

In Class 1A, Grundy Center (12-0) put together a lopsided victory against Wilton (10-2).

The Spartans downed the Beavers 42-7.

It was a 7-0 ballgame after one, but the Spartans outscored the Beavers 21-7 in the second to extent it to 28-7 at the half.

Grundy Center outscored Wilton 14-0 in the second half.

The Spartans will rematch Dike-New Hartford (11-1) in the finals. The Wolverines only loss is to the Spartans.

Dike-New Hartford held on against Hinton (10-2) in its semifinal bout.

The Wolverines led 14-6 after one half. After a scoreless third, Hinton edged DNH in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough.

West Hancock (12-0) is back in the class A championship after a 50-35 victory over Madrid (9-3).

The Eagles jumped out to a 22-0 lead after one and a 36-7 lead at the break.

Madrid outscored West Hancock 28-14 in the second half, but the deficit was too great to overcome.

West Hancock will take on Tri-Center (11-1) in the title game.

Tri-Center finished strong against a tough Saint Ansgar (10-2) squad.

The Trojans were down after one quarter 8-7, but added six to their total in the second to take a 13-8 advantage into halftime.

The second half was all Tri-Center as it scored 15 in the third and 14 in the fourth all while holding the Saints to just six.

In 8-Player, Gladbrook-Reinbeck (11-1) took down top seeded Lenox (11-1) 43-27.

It was tied at 14-14 after one quarter, but a 15 point second by the Rebels made it 29-14 at the half and that’s all they would need.

Lenox cut it to nine after a 6-0 third quarter, but Gladbrook-Reinbeck won the scoring battle in the final frame 14-7.

Meanwhile, Remsen St. Mary’s (12-0) just edged defending 8-Player state champion Bishop Garrigan (11-1) 22-20.

The Hawks and Bears were tied 8-8 at the half. Remsen just slipped by after outscoring Bishop Garrigan 14-12 in the second half.

The 8-Player, A, 1A and 4A state titles will be played on Thursday, while 2A, 3A, and 5A will take place on Friday.