HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Previews and predictions for Iowa state semifinals
There are only two weeks remaining in the Iowa high school football season: Semifinals run Wednesday through Saturday this week, and championship games will be held Nov. 16-17.
We're back with another round of predictions this week. Throughout the season, we made educated guesses about the results of some high school games. Typically, we picked 10 games each week.
For the semifinals, we have predictions for all 14 games.
Through the regular season we went 69-30 in our predictions. In the first two rounds of the playoffs, we went 13-7. That's an 82-37 record overall.
CLASS 5A Southeast Polk vs. Valley, 4 p.m. Friday
These two teams met in the season opener — a rematch of the 2022 Class 5A state title game — and Southeast Polk won that matchup, 24-18. Because of injuries early in the year, Valley looks like a very different team now, but that might not be enough to get past the Rams' defense. Southeast Polk, 35-14
Ankeny vs. Ankeny Centennial, 7 p.m. Friday
There probably isn't a better rematch in the semifinals. Ankeny beat Centennial, 39-38, in double overtime in the regular season, and both teams have grown a lot since that game. Let's go with the Hawks in this one, too, since they've played gritty, defensive football and held their own against some of the top teams. Ankeny, 21-18
CLASS 4A Lewis Central vs. North Polk, 4 p.m. Thursday
North Polk is playing really good football right now, but with Brady Hetzel, Brody Patlan and Curtis Witte on offense and a disrupter on defense like Owen Thomas, Lewis Central just seems to have the edge in this one. Lewis Central, 34-21
Western Dubuque vs. Bondurant-Farrar, 7 p.m. Thursday
The Bluejays were flying high before injury after injury forced this team into a tough spot. Now in the semifinals for the first time in program history, things won't get easier, especially with Grant Glausser and Brock Carpenter in Bondurant-Farrar's way. Bondurant-Farrar, 28-24
CLASS 3A Bishop Heelan vs. Creston, 4 p.m. Saturday Williamsburg vs. Solon, 7 p.m. Saturday
Solon beat Williamsburg, 21-14, on Oct. 6. Expect a defensive matchup full of stars — Brett White from Solon, Rayce Heitman and Derek Weisskopf for the Raiders — and Williamsburg has the revenge narrative on its side. Williamsburg, 17-13
CLASS 2A Van Meter vs. Monticello, 10 a.m. Saturday
It's no secret that Preston Ries does a bit of everything for Monticello, and he does it at a high level. But Van Meter has proven time and again that the Bulldogs know how to win, and it will be tough for one player to get in their way.
Van Meter, 28-20 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock vs. Spirit Lake, 1 p.m. Saturday
It was unclear how good Central Lyon would be without Zach Lutmer. Well, the reigning Class 2A state champs haven't missed a beat with Reece Vander Zee and Graham Eben taking over where Lutmer left off. Central Lyon, 42-28
CLASS 1A Grundy Center vs. Columbus Catholic, 10 a.m. Friday
The Sailors have lost two games this season, and one of those was a 21-14 defeat at the hands of Grundy Center. Statistically, Columbus Catholic packs a bigger punch, but the Spartans are poised to extend their win streak. Grundy Center, 28-20
Underwood vs. MFL MarMac, 1 p.m. Friday
From a standout sophomore quarterback in Garrett Luett and a strong rusher in Maddox Nelson to all the defense from Graham Jensen and Sam Schoening, Underwood has all the pieces to win this semifinal game. Underwood, 24-17
CLASS A Madrid vs. West Hancock, 10 a.m. Thursday
West Hancock beat Madrid the last two times they've played, but the most recent matchup was in 2020. The Mitchell Smith-to-Kellen Smith connection is special for the Eagles, but Preston Wicker is on a roll for the Tigers. Madrid, 20-14
Woodbury Central vs. East Buchanan, 1 p.m. Thursday
The Wildcats beat Logan-Magnolia and one of the top recruits in the state in the quarterfinals. Now, Woodbury Central will face another top prospect on East Buchanan's roster, Cody Fox. But higherranked recruits don't always guarantee wins, especially against Drew Kluender and Eric McGill on the other team's roster. Woodbury Central, 35-28
8-PLAYER Winfield-Mount Union vs. Bishop Garrigan, 10 a.m. Wednesday
Cam Buffington has led WinfieldMount Union in the air, on the ground and on defense. Bishop Garrigan upset Don Bosco in the quarterfinals. This has the makings of a good matchup. Winfield-Mount Union, 36-24
Bedford vs. Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 1 p.m. Wednesday
Unbeaten Bedford will face one of the top teams, historically, in Iowa's smallest class for a spot in the semifinals. It will be Issaac Clark's arm versus Garrison Motsinger's legs, and a battle between two strong defenses. Bedford, 44-36