Iowa high school football roundup: State playoff quarterfinal scores, stats and more
Here’s our state playoff quarterfinal roundup with Iowa high school football scores, stats and complete Gazette-area coverage from Friday night’s games.
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Solon prevails in wild, back-and-forth quarterfinal game against West Delaware
With a trip to the UNI-Dome on the line, second-ranked Solon and West Delaware emptied their playbooks and delivered a classic Class 3A quarterfinal. For the third year running, the second-ranked Spartans ended West Delaware’s season, booking their 17th trip to the state semifinals with a wild 36-35 victory Friday night at Solon.
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North Polk stops defending state champion Xavier in quarterfinals
Cedar Rapids Xavier saw a seven-game win streak snapped and played from behind the entire game. North Polk advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals with a 17-14 win over the defending champion Saints.
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Williamsburg tops Mount Vernon in a 3A quarterfinal classic, 38-35
In a game dominated by the offenses, interceptions by Rayce Heitman and Simeon Armbrecht loom large. No. 3 Williamsburg tops No. 4 Mount Vernon, 38-35, in a 3A state football quarterfinal classic.
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MFL MarMac’s football team lost in the state playoff quarterfinals the previous four years, but the fifth time was the charm, as the Bulldogs beat Iowa City Regina, 22-7, to make it to the Class 1A semifinals next week.
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Here are the state semifinal matchups
Twenty-eight teams are headed to the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls as the 2023 Iowa high school football playoffs reach the state semifinal round in all seven classes.
The Iowa High School Athletic Association reseeded the teams after this week’s quarterfinal round. Seeds are determined via the IHSAA’s final regular-season rankings for Class 2A, 1A, A and 8-Player. Final regular-season RPI standings are used to seed the Class 5A, 4A and 3A teams.
Rankings listed below are via The Gazette’s poll.
Class 5A semifinals — Friday, Nov. 10
West Des Moines Valley (6-5) vs. No. 1 Southeast Polk (11-0), 4 p.m.
No. 7 Ankeny Centennial (7-4) vs. No. 6 Ankeny (8-3), 7 p.m.
Class 4A semifinals — Thursday, Nov. 9
No. 4 North Polk (9-2) vs. No. 3 Council Bluffs Lewis Central (9-2), 4 p.m.
No. 6 Bondurant-Farrar (9-2) vs. No. 1 Western Dubuque (10-1), 7 p.m.
Class 3A semifinals — Saturday, Nov. 11
No. 8 Sioux City Heelan (10-1) vs. No. 1 Creston (11-0), 4 p.m.
No. 3 Williamsburg (10-1) vs. No. 2 Solon (10-1), 7 p.m.
Class 2A semifinals — Saturday, Nov. 11
No. 4 Monticello (10-1) vs. No. 2 Van Meter (11-0), 10 a.m.
No. 5 Spirit Lake (10-1) vs. No. 1 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (11-0), 1 p.m.
Class 1A semifinals — Friday, Nov. 10
Waterloo Columbus (9-2) vs. No. 1 Grundy Center (11-0), 10 a.m.
No. 4 MFL MarMac (10-1) vs. No. 2 Underwood (10-1), 1 p.m.
Class A semifinals — Thursday, Nov. 9
No. 4 Madrid (11-0) vs. No. 3 West Hancock (10-1), 10 a.m.
East Buchanan (9-2) vs. No. 2 Woodbury Central (11-0), 1 p.m.
8-Player semifinals — Wednesday, Nov. 8
Algona Garrigan (10-1) vs. No. 1 Winfield-Mount Union (11-0), 10 a.m.
No. 7 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (10-1) vs. No. 3 Bedford (11-0), 1 p.m.
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Final: Monticello 34, Mediapolis 28
In the end, it was just too much Preston Ries for host Mediapolis, as the Panthers (10-1) earned their first trip to the UNI-Dome.
The University of Iowa recruit rushed 39 times for 232 yards and four touchdowns, and passed for 319 yards and another score. Ty Tallman was the main recipient, catching eight passes for 235 yards.
Mediapolis (8-3) rallied from a 21-7 halftime deficit to tie the game twice, but an 8-yard pass from Ries to Peyton Schilling with 6:20 to play was the difference.
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Final: North Polk 17, Cedar Rapids Xavier 14
Cedar Rapids Xavier fell behind, 10-0, early after a pair of special teams snafus and couldn’t come back to win in Friday’s Class 4A football playoff quarterfinal at Alleman.
Saints quarterback Ronan Thomas threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Carter Hoffman to make the score 10-7 and running back Adam Cook added a 3-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to cut a 17-7 deficit to 17-14.
North Polk eventually ran out all but 5.4 seconds in the final seven minutes of the game to secure the win.
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FINAL: Williamsburg 38, Mount Vernon 35.
Raiders (10-1) vs. Solon (10-1), next Saturday 7 p.m. UNI-Dome
Mount Vernon finishes 9-2.
Great, great game.
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MOUNT VERNON TOUCHDOWN.
Brase 8 yards from Rhomberg (Harp kick).
17 plays, 90 yards, 2:49.
2:47 4th: Williamsburg 38, Mount Vernon 35.
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Some wild games around the state
What a night it's been. Just a few highlights here ...
Southeast Polk 21, Cedar Falls 20 — The Tigers rallied from 21 down, scoring a TD on a throw to the quarterback with 39 seconds left. But the 2-point conversion failed.
Spirit Lake 20, West Lyon 19 — This one was 7-7 entering the fourth. West Lyon went up 13-7 on a pick-6. Spirit Lake took the lead with 1:17 left, only for the Wildcats to return the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown. And then Ethan Stecker came down with a jump ball for a 75-yard, go-ahead Spirit Lake touchdown with 37 seconds left. West Lyon's 40-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds fell just short.
Sioux City Heelan 27, Sioux Center 26 (3OT) — It was 0-0 through three quarters and Heelan scored on a fourth-down pass late to force OT at 7-7. Both teams missed PATs in the second OT and both scored touchdowns on fourth down in the third OT. Heelan stopped Sioux Center's 2-point conversion attempt to end it.
Creston 50, Webster City 27 — The final score wasn't exactly noteworthy, but how it happened was. Webster City took a 19-0 lead midway through the first quarter, but Creston was up 28-19 by halftime and scored 43 unanswered at one point.
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Final: Solon 36, West Delaware 35
West Delaware's Brent Yonkovic has been a monster all night. Hurt on a scramble and must sit out fourth-and-12 from their own 20 with the game on the line.
Hook and lateral play nearly works, but Solon takes over in victory formation, leading 36-35.
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Final in a Class 1A quarterfinal: No. 4 MFL MarMac 22, No. 5 Iowa City Regina 7
Bulldogs (10-1) to the semifinals for the first time in school history. Regina done at 9-2.
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Final: East Buchanan 30, Class A No. 1 Saint Ansgar 16
Buccaneers (9-2) advance to the state semifinals for the fourth time and second time in three seasons. Saints end the season at 10-1.
Tanner Thurn with three TDs and Hunter Bowers with a 78-yard interception return.
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End-3: Williamsburg 38, Mount Vernon 28.
Mustangs have 1st and 10 from the W15 when we return.
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WILLIAMSBURG TOUCHDOWN.
Heitman 1 run (Rethwisch kick).
6 plays, 20 yards, 1:41.
2:19 3rd: Williamsburg 38, Mount Vernon 28.
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Solon 36, West Delaware 35 (6:45 4th)
First turnover of the night. Kyler Jensen forces a West Delaware fumble on a kickoff return. Solon picks up a fourth-and-6 from the West Delaware 10.
Conlan Poynton scores from a yard out. Conversion failed.
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WILLIAMSBURG TOUCHDOWN.
Rayce Heitman 55 pass from Weisskopf (Rethwisch kick)
3 plays, 48 yards, 1:39.
4:16 3rd: Williamsburg 31, Mount Vernon 28.
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North Polk 17, Cedar Rapids Xavier 14 (10:47 4th)
Here comes Xavier. Adam Cook caps an impressive drive with a 3-yard TD run. Extra point gets the Saints within 3.
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West Delaware 35, Solon 30 (9:50 4th)
Solon drive stalls at the West Delaware 3. Grant Knipper boots a 20-yard field goal.
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MOUNT VERNON TOUCHDOWN.
Jackson Hird 6 run (Harp kick)
12 plays, 87 yards, 6:05.
5:55 3rd: Mount Vernon 28, Williamsburg 24.
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West Delaware 35, Solon 27 (2:07 3rd)
West Delaware's Seth Jackson and Solon's Austin Knight jostle for Yonkovic's deep pass, both get a hold on it. Knight comes away with it on the ground but the reception is granted. Yonkovic scores from 10 yards out to give the Hawks the lead.
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HALF: Williamsburg 24, Mount Vernon 21.
Rushing: MV 14-40, Wmsbg 21-180
Passing: MV 7-12-1-169, Wmsbg 8-12-0-89
Total plays-yards: MV 26-209, Wmsbg 33-269
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West Delaware 27, Solon 27 (9:28 3rd)
On third-and-10, Brent Yonkovic buys time and finds Cash Hauser for a 53-yard West Delaware TD. Now the Hawks have missed a PAT.
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WILLIAMSBURG TOUCHDOWN.
On 4th and 6 ... John Eichhorn 16 pass from Weisskopf (Rethwisch kick)
9 plays, 86 yards, 2:07.
0:20 2nd: Williamsburg 24, Mount Vernon 21.
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Half: East Buchanan 16, No. 1 Saint Ansgar 0
Two big drives and two TDs by Tanner Thurn. Unofficially had Thurn for 84 yards rushing in the second quarter alone.
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Half: Solon 27, West Delaware 21
Solon took over at its own 33 with 1:22 left in the half. It was enough time.
Tyler Bell, who is 14 for 16 for 241 yards, connected with Grant Knipper for 42 yards. Eddie Johnson scored from 2 yards out. Kick failed.
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North Polk 10, Cedar Rapids Xavier 7 (0:38 2nd)
Xavier gets on the board late in the first half on Ronan Thomas’ 7-yard TD pass to Carter Hoffman.
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Solon 21, West Delaware 21 (2:57 2nd)
Wild game in Solon. Solon's Brett White catches a Tyler Bell pass and takes it 65 yards for a score.
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West Delaware 21, Solon 14 (4:02 2nd)
West Delaware picked up a third-and-12, third-and-9 and a third-and-12 again. The last coming on a 44-yardpass to Conrad Smith. Brent Yonkovic scores his third TD from 3 yards out.
21 unanswered for the Hawks.
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MOUNT VERNON TOUCHDOWN.
Rhomberg 1 run (Harp kick)
5 plays, 44 yards, 2:02.
7:50 2nd: Mount Vernon 21, Williamsburg 17.
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WILLIAMSBURG TOUCHDOWN.
Clayten Steckly 29 pass from Weisskopf (Rethwisch kick)
5 plays, 67 yards, 1:57.
9:52 2nd: Williamsburg 17, Mount Vernon 14.
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MOUNT VERNON TOUCHDOWN.
Watson Krob 59 pass from Joey Rhomberg (Harp kick)
3 plays, 66 yards, 0:39.
11:49 2nd: Mount Vernon 14, Williamsburg 10.
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West Delaware 14, Solon 14 (10:42 2nd)
Solon had Yonkovic in the backfield, but he sprints out of it, cuts back, and takes it in from 18 yards out for a TD. West Delaware has roared back from 14 down to tie the score at 14 with 10:42 left in the half.
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End 1st: North Polk 3, Cedar Rapids Xavier 0.
Comets converted on a 34-yard field goal after a Saints muffed punt late in the quarter.
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End-1: Williamsburg 10, Mount Vernon 7.
Mustangs have 2nd and 3 from their 41.
Yards: MV 57, W 98.
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WILLIAMSBURG TOUCHDOWN.
Rayce Heitman 19 pass from Derek Weisskopf (Rethwisch kick)
6 plays, 43 yards, 2:21.
0:28 1st: Williamsburg 10, Mount Vernon 7.
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Solon 14, West Delaware 7 (3:31 1st)
West Delaware strikes back quick. Conrad Smith takes a screen 48 yards. Brent Yonkovic scores on a keeper from 26 yards out.
Onside kick fails.
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Solon 14, West Delaware 0 (4:38 1st)
Solon's second 53-yard drive ends on a 25-yd td pass from Tyler Bell to Eddie Johnson. Bell is 7 for 7 for 89 yards.
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WILLIAMSBURG GETS 3.
FG Logan Rethwisch 25.
3:55 1st: Mount Vernon 7, Williamsburg 3.
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Solon 7, West Delaware 0 (7:56 1st)
Solon goes 53 yards on eight plays on its opening posession. Nash Kotar with a 26-yard catch and run to the 1. Conlan Poynton punches it in.
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MOUNT VERNON TOUCHDOWN.
Evan Brase 10 pass from Joey Rhomberg (Bennett Harp kick)
8 plays, 53 yards, 3:36.
6:26 1st: Mount Vernon 7, Williamsburg 0.
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Howdy from Bob Murphy Stadium.
Class 3A quarterfinal football, and I still maintain that these are two of the very best.
#4 Mount Vernon (9-1) vs. #3 Williamsburg (9-1).
Winner is off to the Dome next week.
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Thursday's 8-Player scores
Algona Garrigan 26, No. 2 Anita CAM 16
No. 3 Bedford 36, No. 8 Lenox 24
No. 7 Gladbrook-Reinbeck 32, No. 5 Clarksville 20
No. 1 Winfield-Mount Union 34, No. 8 Don Bosco 29
8-Player semifinal schedule
Here are the matchups for Wednesday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, released Thursday night by the IHSAA.
Algona Garrigan (10-1) vs. No. 1 Winfield-Mount Union (11-0), 10 a.m.
No. 7 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (10-1) vs. No. 3 Bedford (11-0), 1 p.m.
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Stay up to date with every playoff game around the state via our live scoreboard.
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A closer look at Gazette-area quarterfinals
Preview the quarterfinal round with capsules on the seven games involving Gazette-area teams.
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Solon football seniors have continued program’s tradition of success
Solon’s seniors were entrusted with the football team’s tradition and have continued the longstanding success. They have been inspired to leave an indelible mark on the program and the opportunity to set the example for future Spartan football players.