Final (Class 5A): No. 1 Southeast Polk 49, No. 6 Ankeny 21

C.J. Phillip ran for 148 yards and five touchdowns, Connor Moberly passed for 173 yards and two scores and top-ranked Southeast Polk (13-0) won its third straight Class 5A state title.

This is the first of those titles that featured an unbeaten season.

The Rams pulled away with a 28-7 second half after leading by a touchdown at the break.

Carson Robbins had 111 yards and a touchdown receiving.

Southeast Polk picked off Ankeny quarterback Luke Anderson three times; Trey Lust was responsible for two. Anderson completed 21 of 30 passes for 302 yards and a TD. Devon Akers had 118 yards receiving.

End 3rd: Southeast Polk 35, Ankeny 21

Southeast Polk scored 14 straight points to begin the second half. Ankeny answered with a 90-yard drive, capped by Caden Henkes' 8-yard touchdown run with 14 seconds left in the third quarter to stay in the game.

Half: Southeast Polk 21, Ankeny 14

A back-and-forth first half in the Class 5A final. Caleb Chebuhar's interception in the red zone with 1:11 left prevented the Hawks from tying it up.

Southeast Polk's C.J. Phillip ran for 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Connor Moberly was 10-of-14 passing for 139 yards and a score. Ankeny's Luke Anderson completed 10 of 13 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown.

End 1st: Southeast Polk 14, Ankeny 7

Ankeny's Evan Irlmeier returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown. Southeast Polk responded with a 43-yard touchdown pass from Connor Moberly to Carson Robbins on its opening drive, then C.J. Phillip scored on a 2-yard run. That was only a 30-yard drive after Robbins' 26-yard punt return.

Finally a state football championship for Williamsburg

Williamsburg has one of the best football programs in the state, has been to the playoffs 24 times and finished state runner-up three times. Friday afternoon provided the school’s first championship, a 20-0 win over Sioux City Heelan securing the Class 3A title.

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Final (Class 3A): No. 3 Williamsburg 20, No. 8 Sioux City Heelan 0

It's the first state football title for Williamsburg in 24 playoff appearances.

The Raiders were runners-up in 2002, 2017 and 2022.

Quarterback Derek Weisskopf threw a pair of first-quarter touchdown passes to Braylon Wetjen, and that was more than enough for the Williamsburg (12-1) defense on this day. Heelan (11-2) had just 154 total yards and turned it over four times.

» Game story | Box score

Williamsburg 20, Sioux City Heelan 0 (6:48 3rd)

Good punt return by Clayten Steckly set Williamsburg up in Sioux City Heelan territory. On fourth-and-goal from the 5, Rayce Heitman took the snap in wildcat and swept left for the touchdown.

Williamsburg 13, Sioux City Heelan 0 (1:30 1st)

Derek Weisskopf with a 57-yard touchdown bomb down the right side to Braylon Wetjen. Pretty ball, nice catch. Wetjen has five catches for 122 yards.

Williamsburg 6, Sioux City Heelan 0 (4:17 1st)

QB Derek Weisskopf rolls right and hits Braylon Wetjen with 6-yard touchdown pass. A 37-yard WR screen play from Weisskopf to Wetjen set up the TD. Extra point no good.

Final (Class 2A): No. 2 Van Meter 24, No. 1 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 21

Van Meter (13-0) scored 14 unanswered fourth-quarter points to win a battle of defending state champions and claim its third straight title. The Bulldogs, the 2021 and 2022 Class 1A champions, won their 24th straight game while ending the 25-game winning streak of the reigning 2A champion Lions (12-1).

Caleb Moore's 9-yard touchdown run on third-and-3 gave the Bulldogs the lead with 4:49 remaining. Austin Baumhover's 7-yard TD pass to Porter Doggett on the second play of the fourth quarter got Van Meter within one score after trailing 21-10 entering the final period.

Searching to retake the lead, CL-GLR converted three third downs as it drove 77 yards to the Van Meter 3 on 16 plays. But a bad snap on fourth-and-goal resulted in a turnover on downs in the final seconds.

Ben Gordon ran for 107 yards for the Bulldogs. Baumhover passed for 137.

CL-GLR's Reece Vander Zee was 12-of-15 passing for 116 yards and two first-half touchdowns. Graham Eben rushed for 138 yards and a score.

Half: Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 14, Van Meter 10

Reece Vander Zee completed 7 of 8 passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns in the first half for the top-ranked Lions

Versatile Rayce Heitman leads Williamsburg into Friday’s Class 3A football championship game

Versatile Rayce Heitman has scored 18 touchdowns — rushing, receiving, defensively and on special teams. Williamsburg takes on Sioux City Heelan in Friday’s Class 3A state football championship game.

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Lewis Central too much for Western Dubuque in Class 4A state championship game

Junior quarterback Brady Hetzel threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns to lead Council Bluffs Lewis Central to a 40-21 win over Western Dubuque in Thursday night’s Class 4A state championship football game.

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Final (Class 4A): No. 3 Council Bluffs Lewis Central 40, No. 1 Western Dubuque 21

It's the second state title in three years for Lewis Central (10-2). Western Dubuque also ends 10-2.

Western Dubuque running back Grant Glausser set a 4A title game record with 263 yards rushing.

Four touchdown passes for Lewis Central's Brady Hetzel ties the 4A title game record.

» Game story | Photo gallery | Box score

Lewis Central 40, Western Dubuque 21 (0:47 4th)

Brady Hetzel to Curtis Witte for 30 yards and a touchdown to cap this Class 4A state championship for Lewis Central.

Hetzel has completed 19 of 24 passes for 325 yards and four TDs. The latter state ties the 4A title game record.

Lewis Central 33, Western Dubuque 21 (7:45 4th)

Another big break for Lewis Central. Western Dubuque gets a third-down stop but is called for encroachment on the fourth-and-2 punt.

Then Brady Hetzel with perhaps the dagger, a 55-yard TD pass over the middle to Curtis Witte on third-and-9. Took a shot from a rusher just as he released it. Kid has thrown some BIG TIME passes in this game.

Two-point conversion no good.

Lewis Central 27, Western Dubuque 21 (11:56 4th)

Grant Glausser up the middle and into the end zone from 4 yards out. Western Dubuque cuts the Lewis Central lead to six. Glausser has 29 carries for 256 yards and three TDs.

Lewis Central 27, Western Dubuque 14 (2:56 3rd)

Another dime by Lewis Central QB Brady Hetzel, this one 39 yards on a fade to Lual Maker. Another big third-down conversion for the Titans. Maker is 6-foot-7, the guy defending him 5-9. That's a mismatch physically. Hetzel is 13 of 16 for 221 yards and two TDs.

Daniel Espinoza with a 31-yard field goal to extend the Lewis Central lead.

It was big for the Bobcats not to give up a TD there.

Lewis Central 24, Western Dubuque 14 (6:13 3rd)

Grant Glausser takes a pitch right, gets some big blocks and houses it 62 yards for a much-needed Western Dubuque touchdown.

Glausser has 186 yards rushing and two TDs on 22 carries.

Lewis Central 24, Western Dubuque 7 (7:01 3rd)

Brady Hetzel with the 1-yard QB sneak touchdown. A 12-play, 80-yard drive for Lewis Central. Bobcats in some trouble.

Half: Lewis Central 17, Western Dubuque 7

Daniel Espinoza's 23-yard field goal ends the first half.

Lewis Central 14, Western Dubuque 7 (4:48 2nd)

Lewis Central catches a humongous break. Dome-scraping punt by Western Dubuque's Caden Abresch goes through arms of the Lewis Central punt returner, recovered by Western Dubuque inside the Lewis Central 25. BUT officials say it was fair catch interference. Replay showed it wasn't; the defender was more than yard away.

And Lewis Central takes full advantage of the break. A 51-yard TD bomb from Brady Hetzel to Lual Maker

Western Dubuque 7, Lewis Central 7 (9:01 2nd)

Western Dubuque comes right back. Nine plays, 80 yards, Grant Glausser 2-yard touchdown run out of the wildcat formation.

End 1st: Lewis Central 7, Western Dubuque 0

Lewis Central strikes first with 27 seconds left in the opening quarter on a 6-yard TD pass from QB Brady Hetzel to Curtis Witte.

Rolled right, Witte got his feet down in the corner. Score set up on a 34-yard flea flicker pass from Hetzel to Lual Maker.

Good coverage but the ball was underthrown and Maker adjusted.

Grundy Center rolls to Class 1A state football title over MFL MarMac

Fourth-ranked MFL MarMac played for a state football title for the first time in school history. No. 1 Grundy Center dominated its way to a second straight crown with a 42-0 victory over the Bulldogs for the Class 1A crown Thursday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

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Final (Class 1A): No. 1 Grundy Center 42, No. 4 MFL MarMac 0

Colin Gordon was called on to do a lot for top-ranked Grundy Center.

Often than not, he answered and produced on offense, defense and special teams.

Gordon recovered a fumble on the Spartans’ first defensive play that set up the first of two first-half rushing touchdowns, passed for another and added extra points, leading Grundy Center to a 42-0 victory over No. 4 MFL MarMac in the Class 1A state football championship Thursday afternoon at the UNI-Dome.

The Spartans (13-0) won their second straight title and fifth in school history, recording their fourth shutout of the season and second of this postseason.

Grundy Center made its fifth straight finals appearance, capturing the Class A title last season. The Spartans moved to 1A and didn’t skip a beat, extending their win streak to 26 games over the last two seasons.

» Game story | Photo gallery | Box score

GRUNDY CENTER 35, MFL MARMAC 0, END OF 3RD

At the end of the third, #1 Grundy Center leads #4 MFL MarMac, 35-0. Bulldogs face 4th and 4 from own 37 when play resumes. #iahsfb

GRUNDY CENTER 35, MFL MARMAC 0, 1:59 3rd

We will have a running clock. Grundy Center goes 46 yards on four plays. Justin Knaack with a 9-yard TD run. Gordon hits Tiernan Vokes for the conversion and Spartans lead MFL MarMac, 35-0, with 1:59 left in the third. #iahsfb

HALFTIME: NO.1 GRUNDY CENTER 27, NO. 4 MFL MARMAC 0

Halftime: #1 Grundy Center 27, #4 MFL MarMac 0. Colin Gordon with two rushing TDs and a passing TD to Tate Jirovsky. Brody Zinkula with a TD run.

GRUNDY CENTER 27, MFL MARMAC 0, 3:31 2nd quarter

Colin Gordon under pressure but still delivers a strike, this time a 26-yard TD to Tate Jirovsky. Grundy Center leads MFL MarMac, 27-0, with 3:31 to go before halftime.

GRUNDY CENTER 20, MFL MARMAC 0, 10:12 2nd Quarter

Gordon completes passes of 16 and 37 to Tanner Laube and Judd Jirovsky, respectively. Latter set up 1st and goal from the 1. Brody Zinkula runs it in for a TD to close a 5-play, 59-yard drive to make it 20-0. 10:12 second quarter.

END OF 1ST QUARTER, GRUNDY CENTER 13, MFL MARMAC 0

At the end of the first quarter, #1 Grundy Center leads #4 MFL MarMac, 13-0. Spartans have 1st and 10 from own 41 when play resumes. Colin Gordon with a big opening quarter: fumble recovery and two TD runs (1 and 3 yards).

GRUNDY CENTER 13, MFL MARMAC 0, 1:53 1st quarter

Grundy Center QB Colin Gordon caps a 9-play, 67-yard drive that last 3:11 with a 3-yard TD run. PAT hit upright and was no good. Spartans lead MFL MarMac, 13-0, with 1:53 to go in the first quarter. Gordon with two TD runs in the opening frame.

GRUNDY CENTER 7, MFL MARMAC 0, 9:01 1st quarter

MFL MarMac forces 3 & out on opening drive. Gets good field position at own 41. First play for Bulldogs, RB fights for extra yards & ball pops out. Colin Gordon picks it up and returns it to Bulldogs' 15. Three plays later, Gordon scores on 1-yard QB sneak. Grundy 7-0. 9:01 in 1Q.

CLASS 1A CHAMPIONSHIP: No. 4 MFL MARMAC (11-1) vs. No. 1 GRUNDY CENTER (12-1)

In place for the Class 1A title game between the Bulldogs and the Spartans. MFL is making its first state finals appearance in school history, while the Spartans have reached the finals for the fifth straight season, winning the Class A championship last season.

Actually, this is MFL's sixth playoffs. Grundy Center has qualified for 16 postseasons.

Final (Class A): No. 3 West Hancock 30, No. 2 Woodbury Central 28

Mitchell Smith threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Brady Bixel with 37 seconds left to give West Hancock its first lead of the game and the Eagles (12-1) claimed their third Class A state title in the last five years.

Woodbury Central missed a 48-yard field goal as time expired. West Hancock outscored the Wildcats 12-0 in the fourth quarter.

BRADY BIXEL.

The junior catches a 10-yard touchdown with 37 seconds left to put West Hancock up 30-28 on Woodbury Central. #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/EgUteGjK0M

— Nate Thomas (@natethomas01) November 16, 2023

Bixel had caught only one other pass this season. His 3-yard run converted a fourth-and-1 at the Woodbury Central 30 earlier in the drive. Smith threw for 80 yards in the game and ran for 103 and a score. Kale Zuehl had two touchdowns on the ground. West Hancock failed all five of its 2-point conversion attempts but scored five touchdowns to Woodbury Central's four and won the turnover battle, 2-0.

The Eagles ran for 295 yards, while the Wildcats' Drew Kluender threw for 274, completing 26 of his 42 attempts. Zack Butler scored three rushing touchdowns for Woodbury Central (12-1).

» Box score

Half: Woodbury Central 21, West Hancock 12

Woodbury Central totaled 278 yards of offense in the first half. Drew Kluender was 17-of-28 passing for 175 yards and a touchdown. Zack Butler ran for 80 yards and two scores.

End 1st: Woodbury Central 7, West Hancock 6

Zack Butler's 3-yard touchdown run on third-and-goal capped an opening 13-play, 76-yard drive to give Woodbury Central an early lead. 

West Hancock responded on its four-play second possession, with Mitchell Smith carrying three times for gains of 25, 22 and 25 yards, the last reaching the end zone. The 2-point conversion attempt failed.

The Wildcats are threatening again, having just converted a fourth-and-11 at the West Hancock 21 with Drew Kluender's 14-yard pass to Eric McGill.

Final (8-Player): Algona Garrigan 39, No. 3 Bedford 30

Algona Garrigan (12-1) was never ranked in The Gazette's 2023 poll but ended the season on a 12-game winning streak and knocked off four consecutive unbeaten teams to win its second state championship.

Tate Foertsch completed 7 of 10 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 82 yards and a score. Caden Roethler had 106 yards and a TD rushing. Garrigan led 16-14 at halftime and never trailed in the second half.

The Golden Bears' only previous title came in Class 2A in 1985.

Silas Walston ran for 105 yards and a touchdown for Bedford (12-1).

» Box score

End 3rd: Algona Garrigan 24, Bedford 14

Tate Foertsch's 16-yard touchdown pass to Drew Lappe and Lappe's ensuing 2-point conversion made this a two-score game. The Golden Bears start the fourth at the Bedford 17, looking to add on.

Half: Algona Garrigan 16, Bedford 14

Garrigan took the lead on quarterback Tate Foertsch's 24-yard touchdown run with 8:05 left in the second quarter.

Bedford responded with a 13-play, 63-yard drive that included a pair of fourth-down conversions, including Conner Nally's 1-yard touchdown run with 13 seconds left. The Bulldogs' 2-point conversion attempt failed and the Golden Bears maintain the lead at halftime.

End 1st: Garrigan 8, Bedford 8

A pair of 40-yard touchdowns for both teams in the first quarter.

Silas Walston had a 40-yard touchdown run for Bedford, then Garrigan answered with a TD pass from Tate Foertsch to Justin Bauer a little over two minutes later.

Previewing the Gazette-area finals

Three Iowa high school football state football championship games in the UNI-Dome feature Gazette-area teams. MFL MarMac and Williamsburg look for their first titles. Western Dubuque attempts to win its first crown since 2019.

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Back at QB, Carver Blietz-Bentien has MFL MarMac in its first state title game

Carver Blietz-Bentien was MFL MarMac’s starting quarterback as a sophomore, then got moved to a starting fullback position last year. He was forced back to QB this season and has led the Bulldogs to Thursday’s Class 1A state championship game against Grundy Center.

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This week's schedule

8-Player: Algona Garrigan (11-1) vs. No. 3 Bedford (12-0), 9:30 a.m.

Class A: No. 3 West Hancock (11-1) vs. No. 2 Woodbury Central (12-0), 1 p.m.

Class 1A: No. 4 MFL MarMac (11-1) vs. No. 1 Grundy Center (12-0), 4 p.m.

Class 4A: No. 4 Council Bluffs Lewis Central (10-2) vs. No. 1 Western Dubuque (11-1), 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 17

Class 2A: No. 2 Van Meter (12-0) vs. No. 1 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (12-0), 10 a.m.

Class 3A: No. 8 Sioux City Heelan (11-1) vs. No. 3 Williamsburg (11-1), 1 p.m.

Class 5A: No. 6 Ankeny (9-3) vs. No. 1 Southeast Polk (12-0), 7 p.m.

How to watch state championship games

There are four championship games Thursday and three Friday.

TV: Iowa High School Sports Network affiliates, including KFXA (Cedar Rapids) and KDSM (Des Moines)

Live stream: IHSSN.com or Watch IHSSN mobile app (subscription required)