Iowa High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams – Sept. 16
The Iowa On3 Massey Ratings top 25 list for Sept. 16 shows no movement as the top teams retained their positions. The earliest movement is a swap between Grundy Center (31st) and Algona (32nd).
However, the stagnant rankings do not highlight the competitiveness of Iowa high school football, as only four of the top ten teams have remained undefeated. After some top-notch teams competed against each other last week, here’s how the state’s best football teams rank.
The On3 Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.
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1. Ankeny Centennial
Previous: No. 1
The Jaguars improve to 3-0 after a 31-14 victory over Cedar Falls. Scoring 14 unanswered points in the third quarter helped Ankeny Centennial pull away from the Tigers and secure the win. Likewise, this victory means the Jaguars will only need four more wins to match last season’s total. Ankeny Centennial could secure win number four versus Southeast Polk on the 20th using their second-best offense and third-best defense among Iowa high school football teams.
2. Valley
Previous: No. 2
After losing to Dowling Catholic on Sept. 6, the Tigers returned to the win column by defeating the Johnston Dragons 34-24. Valley scored 22 fourth-quarter points to turn a 17-12 deficit into victory. Quarterback Drake DeGroote guided the Tigers with 22 completions for 262 yards and four touchdown passes. Jahkari Clark had 24 carries for 140 yards, while Zach Schemper tallied seven catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. After reclaiming a winning record, Valley will face another formidable challenge against sixth-ranked Waukee on the 20th.
3. Dowling Catholic
Previous: No. 3
The Maroons take the third spot after suffering their first loss this season. Dowling Catholic had the chance to win after being down by three points in the third quarter. Unfortunately, they generated only three fourth-quarter points to preserve Ankeny’s victory. Despite the defeat, running back Ra’Shawd Davis became a spark for the Maroons by tallying 125 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Dowling Catholic can revert to the win column if they defeat Waukee Northwest on Sept. 20.
4. Lewis Central
Previous: No. 4
The Titans have won their last 12 games, dating back to last year. They extended their streak after a hard-fought overtime victory against ADM 30-27. Brody Patlan willed Lewis Central to a win, collecting 158 rushing yards and a touchdown. Leonardo Tatum caught Brady Hetzel’s lone touchdown pass. On defense, Cameron Moore disrupted ADM’s offense with 12.5 tackles (two for negative yardage). Lewis Central advances from this victory to their schedule against Bondurant-Farrar in four days.
5. Ankeny
Previous: No. 5
The Hawks scored their first victory of the 2024-25 Iowa high school football season after edging Dowling Catholic 23-16. Quarterback Luke Anderson had 216 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Andrew Brandhorst had 101 receiving yards and a touchdown. Daniel Larmie facilitated the ground attack, collecting 26 carries for 135 yards. Ankeny could earn their second consecutive victory versus Johnston on the 20th.
6. Waukee
Previous: No. 6
In addition to their 3-0 record, the Warriors extended their average margin of victory to 33.3 points per game after dominating Sioux City North 52-8. It would have been a shutout win for Waukee if not for the eight points scored by the Stars in the fourth quarter. Beckett Bakker was Waukee’s best player, navigating the offense with 221 passing yards and four touchdowns. Maverick Inman received two touchdown throws while running back Grant Gammell had 124 rushing yards and a touchdown from eight carries. However, a more formidable opponent awaits in second-ranked Valley on the 20th.
7. Cedar Falls
Previous: No. 7
The Tigers came up short against top-ranked Ankeny Centennial. Despite the losing effort, running back Davarrion Clark had a commendable effort for Cedar Falls with 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns. After losing two of their last four games dating back to last year, the Tigers can rediscover their winning way versus 20th-ranked Liberty in four days.
8. Southeast Polk
Previous: No. 8
It’s been a roller coaster ride for the Rams to start their 2024 campaign. After scoring a massive victory against Ankeny on Sept. 6, they chalked up another defeat against Prairie a week later. With the score tied at 14 apiece by halftime, the Hawks’s offense went on another notch in the second half to hand Southeast Polk’s second loss in three matches. Despite the defeat, quarterback Holden Hansen delivered a solid game with 261 passing yards and two touchdowns. Sam Zelenovic had ten receptions for 202 yards and two touchdowns. However, the Rams must do better in their next game because they will face top-ranked Ankeny Centennial on the 20th.
9. Bettendorf
Previous: No. 9
The Bulldogs improved to 3-0 after limiting the Urbandale J-Hawks to seven points in their Sept. 13 encounter. Conversely, Bettendorf scored 20 points in that win, thanks mainly to running back Jacob Whipple. The senior player was all over the field, finishing with 64 rushing yards, 25 receiving yards, and a touchdown. A 4-0 record awaits if the Bulldogs defeat Linn-Mar in their next game.
10. Johnston
Previous: No. 10
The Dragons are only one of two teams in the top 25 that have played four games this season. Despite that distinction, they are coming off a 34-24 loss to Valley. Will Nuss put up a great fight, tallying 235 passing yards and two touchdowns. D’Angelo Barkue had 107 receiving yards, while Max Mincks powered Johnston’s defense with 12 tackles. The Dragons can bounce back and avoid a losing record if they defeat fifth-ranked Ankeny on the 20th.
Teams 11-25 in the latest Iowa High School Football Rankings
11. North Polk Junior-Senior
12. Pleasant Valley
13. Linn-Mar
14. Prairie
15. West Lyon
16. Xavier
17. Humboldt
18. Pella
19. North Scott
20. Liberty
21. Mount Vernon
22. Solon
23. ADM
24. Williamsburg
25. Waukee Northwest