Iowa high school football roundup: Week 5 scores, stats and more (Sept. 27, 2024)

The Gazette’s Week 5 Iowa high school football roundup with Friday night’s statewide scores and complete coverage of area games.

5A No. 9 Linn-Mar 28, 5A No. 10 Cedar Falls 27

It has been a week filled with emotion for the Linn-Mar football team.

The death of former teammate Devin Woods, a 2024 graduate, on Tuesday left the team numb as it began preparation for Friday's Homecoming game with Cedar Falls.

“Tonight was bigger than a football game,” said Lions senior running back Dylan Muszynski. “This one was for Devin Woods. We know he was looking over us tonight. We miss him so much and we pray for his family.”

And with Muszynski leading the way, the Lions honored Woods’ memory with one of the most exciting victories in the 14-year history of Linn-Mar Stadium.

Muszynski’s fourth touchdown of the night, a 1-yard run with 16 seconds remaining, tied the score. Bradley Duncan-Porter’s PAT kick provided the winning margin as the No. 9 Lions rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to win, 28-27.

“We've learned a lot of resilience over the years,” said Muszynski, who carried the ball 32 times for 206 yards. “We have a lot of guys who are two- and three-year starters. We've been in this position before.”

The Tigers led 14-7 at the break and increased the lead to two scores when Davarrion Clark, who had 226 rushing yards on 30 carries, broke loose for a 62-yard score on the first play of the second half.

No. 10 Cedar Falls (2-3) then appeared to be on the verge of taking total control of the game. The Tigers were driving inside the Lion 10 when Clark was rocked by Tyree Alons and fumbled. Tate McEowen recovered and the Lions had new life.

Linn-Mar took it 91 yards with Muszynski finishing the drive with a 7-yard run. A two-point run attempt failed, leaving the Lions down 21-14 entering the fourth quarter. After the Lion defense stopped the Tigers, Muszynski scored again and his two-point run tied the game at 21 with 11:01 remaining.

The Tigers then mounted a long drive of their own. Wolf capped it off with a QB sneak with 3:03 remaining. However, Maverick Stapley broke through to block the extra point, leaving the score at 27-21.

The Lions (4-1) drove the ball down the field, but a personal foul penalty had them looking at a third-and-15 from 37 with under 30 seconds remaining. Quarterback Austin Waller dropped back and hit Landon Sorg with a throw down to the Tiger 4.

Two plays later Muszynski scored the game-winner.

» Read the game story from Gazette correspondent Mike Condon

5A No. 7 Iowa City Liberty 26, Cedar Rapids Prairie 21

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Through the first four games of the season, the Lightning had allowed more than 37 points per game. Thanks to an offensive attack that had scored at least 49 points in three contests, the defensive struggles were not showing up much in the win-loss column.

On this night, it was the Liberty defense that picked up the offense. The Lightning defenders recovered two fumbles, intercepted a pass and registered a couple of crucial stops on fourth down.

“Very satisfying,” Liberty senior Sutton Koller said. “We have been stressing after each week, our defense has just got to keep getting better. And it feels like that actually paid off tonight. It feels remarkable.”

On offense, Owen Drapeaux ran for a pair of first-quarter touchdowns to stake Liberty to an early 14-0 lead that took some pressure off the defense. Liberty junior quarterback Reese Rettig threw for 155 yards and touchdowns of 30 and 39 yards to Koller, the second of which put the game out of reach at 26-7 with 6:15 to go.

“The quarterback kind of fumbled the ball, the snap was a little off,” said Koller, who finished with four receptions for 99 yards. “Pitched it a little late. It was a really wide pitch. It was the widest pitch I have ever received. So I am kind of like, ‘Well, hopefully I don’t get killed here.’ I look up and there is a lot of room. I see a little crease on the outside. … I took it and I ran.”

Prairie (2-3) scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes to provide the close outcome.

» Read the game story from Gazette correspondent Douglas Miles

Cedar Rapids Washington 30, Cedar Rapids Jefferson 27

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Sophomore kicker Logan Barton’s 25-yard field goal with 3.5 seconds left gave Washington a 30-27 win Friday night at Kingston Stadium

The teams combined for 38 points in the fourth quarter, continually one-upping each other offensively. L.J. Nyenow Jr.’s 47-yard catch and run for touchdown with 1:46 left and Lilli Ulrich’s ensuing extra point brought Jefferson (4-1) into a 27-all tie.

Nyenow was phenomenal: six catches for 206 yards and a pair of long touchdowns from quarterback Vernon Benda.

Washington took over on its next possession at its 20 and worked its way downfield. It caught almost an immediate break when Brock Davis hauled in a slant pass from quarterback Grady McGuire for a 20-yard gain, fumbling, only to have teammate Kobe Sindt dig into a pile of players and get the Warriors back the football.

An 18-yard fade pass to Davis took it into Jefferson territory, then a 2-yard QB sneak and personal foul penalty on Jefferson took the ball to the J-Hawks 7. A timeout was called, and on trotted Barton, who already had successful field goals of 48 and 30 yards earlier in the game.

“Just go where the kick is going to be (coming from),” said Barton, who is considered one of the top kickers in his class in the country. “Memorize it, think about it going in. Don’t overthink it at all. Just visualize it. Then once the timeout was over, I was just ready to kick it. I was just filled with excitement to kick that. I believe in our snap and hold, I believe in myself. We have a great team. Just amazing.”

Washington topped its season win total of a year ago with this thriller. McGuire had a pair of touchdown passes for the Warriors: one to Davis, the other to Terriyon Montgomery.

Alex Taylor had a short TD run and Davis the ensuing two-point conversion run. This game was 7-3 Jeff at halftime and 12-7 Washington after three quarters.

Jefferson took a 13-12 lead early in the fourth, Washington responded to go up 20-13, only to have Jeff come right back to tie it at 20s with 7:49 left.

Montgomery’s touchdown made it 27-20 Warriors with 3:28 to go, but Nyenow caught a 10-yard pass near the sideline, broke and tackle and was off to the races for his 47-yard TD that tied it.

“It was just crazy. No words,” Davis said. “I knew we were going to come out on top. They had a great play, we missed a couple of tackles. But we were positive. I knew we were going to go get it. I knew Logan to hit the game winner.”

» Read the game story from The Gazette’s Jeff Johnson

4A No. 10 Cedar Rapids Xavier 56, Clinton 0

Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Sam Schimberg stepped in and stepped up.

The sophomore quarterback saw action when backup Cohen Honkomp went down to injury. Schimberg passed for three touchdowns in a 28-point second quarter and the Class 4A No. 10-ranked Saints pulled away for a 56-0 victory over Clinton Friday night at Saints Field.

Xavier grabbed a quick advantage, forcing a three-and-out on the opening possession of the game and going 40 yards on three Carter Hoffmann runs for a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. Hoffmann scored from 12 yards out for the first of two first-half TDs that bracketed Schimberg’s scoring strikes.

Hoffmann rushed for 110 yards on 11 carries, all in the first half.

Schimberg helped Xavier capitalize on short fields with TD passes of 26 yards to Will Forman, 24 to Ryan Kelly and 10 to Aiden Miller in a 2:17 stretch. Xavier led 28-0 with 9:34 left before halftime.

Forman added a 48-yard TD run on the second play of the third to make it 42-0. Sam Lueck added a 21-yard rushing score in the fourth.

Xavier’s defense shut down the River Kings. The Saints didn’t allow a single first down until the third. They also produced some points when Andrew Renner pounced on a Clinton fumble in the end zone, making it 49-0 with 3:01 left in the third.

» Read the game story from The Gazette’s K.J. Pilcher

Marion 31, Waterloo East 7

Things were clicking in all three phases for the Wolves.

Offensively, quarterback Andrew Ahmann threw two touchdowns, both to Matthew Danninger.

Marion’s defense forced two interceptions and a safety.

The special teams unit also forced a safety and kicker Landon Tilkes drilled both of his field goal attempts.

“We were able to take advantage of the things we saw and I’m really proud of our guys for executing,” Marion Coach Michael Joyner said.

» Read the game story from Gazette correspondent Ryan Pleggenkuhle

A No. 5 Lisbon 28, Pekin 15

Tiernan Boots got most of his 164 yards on tough runs up the middle, and fifth-ranked Lisbon outfought Pekin, 28-15, in a Class A District 5 football showdown Friday night at Walmer Field.

“Our offensive line opened things up,” said Boots, who carried the ball 28 times, scored three touchdowns and upped his season rushing total to 986 yards (10.2 per carry). “Between Dakota (Clark) and me, we’re able to keep them guessing.”

Clark added 102 yards on 16 carries, and the Lions (5-0 overall, 4-0 district) were the superior squad in the trenches on both sides.

Pekin (4-1, 3-1) entered the game averaging 58 points and 269 rushing yards per game. But the Lions held the Panthers to 46 ground yards, and 12 of Pekin’s 30 rushing plays went for negative yardage.

Lisbon was brilliant through most of the first half, and led 21-0 at intermission.

Pekin’s Alijah Brock caught three passes for 118 yards, including a late 63-yard touchdown.

» Read the game story from The Gazette’s Jeff Linder

1A No. 6 Iowa City Regina 21, Cascade 7

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Quarterback Kyle Tracy powered the Regal offense with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score for a homecoming win.

Will Aitchison and Tate Wallace both caught touchdown passes.

Tracy dominated the ground game along with Regal running back Savion Miller. Tracy and Miller combined for seven plays of 20-plus yards.

— Joel Kellar

4A No. 6 Decorah 41, Mason City 7

The Vikings scored 24 second-half points to pull away for the lopsided victory.

Quarterback Louis Bucksa and Noah Milburn connected for touchdowns twice — both from 18 yards out — and Brayden Wemark kicked a pair of field goals. Gavin Groux scored two rushing TDs.

— Randy Iverson

3A No. 1 Solon 26, 3A No. 7 Grinnell 7

The Spartins overpowered the Tigers behind senior running back and defensive end Eddie Johnson.

Johnson recovered a fumble on the Tiger 5-yard line, resulting in his 3-yard TD run. Quarterback Tyler Bell also recorded two passing touchdowns, finding Owen Einwalter from 10 yards out in the first quarter and Maddox Kelley from 5 yards out in the second.

— Kyle Prondzinki

West Delaware 63, Maquoketa 3

Jack Cantwell scored three touchdowns, one on a pick-6, as the Hawks rolled.

Cantwell also scored on runs of 6 and 34 yards. Brent Yankovic passed for one TD and passed for another and backup QB Austin Schneiders scored two rushing TDs as West Delaware totaled 364 rushing yards.

Macoy Roling rushed for 102 and one TD.

— Bill Logan

West Liberty 28, 2A No. 8 Anamosa 14

Ryker Dengler threw touchdown passes to Seth Axsom and Owen Daufeldt and then sealed the upset with a late interception.

Dengler also scored on a rushing TD.

Jacob King and Adam Brophy scored touchdowns on passes from quarterback Vince Diers for the host Raiders.

— Daryl Schepanski

3A No. 8 Independence 39, Central DeWitt 3

EJ Miller completed 13 of 18 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns as the Mustangs rolled at home.

Brady Kurt caught eight passes for 136 yards and two TDs and Zeke Symonds added five catches for 139 yards and two TDs. AJ Kitner joined in with 90 rushing yards and a TD.

Dyersville Beckman 41, West Branch 13

BECKMAN 41, WEST BRANCH 13 — Isaac Burlage rushed for 250 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Blazers.

Beckman had the ball for 37 minutes and 30 seconds, the Bears 10:30.

— Jason Miller

A No. 10 North Linn 32, East Buchanan 0

Will Sommerfelt rushed for 91 yards and a touhdown, Cole Griffith returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score and Cael Benesh had an 82-yard interception return and a 51-yard TD reception for the Lynx.

Springville 55, Mildand 15

Luke Lansing scored two touchdowns to lead the Orioles.

Springville quarterback Braden Jordan completed two passes, both to Connor Williams for touchdowns.

— Daryl Schepanksi

Montezuma 46, BGM 27

Blake Boulton, Brett Plants and Broox Stockman all scored multiple touchdowns for the Braves.

Boulton totaled three touchdowns, two rushing and one passing.

BGM’s Beau Burns had two rushing touchdowns and two passing TDs.

— Ben Lamparek

2A No. 7 Northeast 48, Monticello 7

Northeast scored on its first five possessions to build a 34-0 halftime lead at Goose Lake.

Grant Gray rushed 16 times for 199 yards and three touchdowns for the Rebels (5-0, 2-0). Quarterback Gavin Kramer passed for 154 yards and two scores, and ran for 128 yards and two more TDs. The Northeast defense had seven sacks.

— Pete Temple

Elkader Central 44, Waterloo Christian 0

The Warriors (2-3) brought a bag of tricks to the UNI-Dome backed up by a stifling defense.

They opened the game with a double pass that resulted in a defensive pass interference call. Central also mixed in a number of reverses and plenty of other misdirection in the first half as the Warriors built a 22-0 lead.

The Warriors intercepted Waterloo Christian quarterback Gavin DeFord twice and blocked two punts.

Owen Hammersland rushed for 58 yards and two scores for Central and Braxton Bormann added four carries for 64 yards and a score.

— Chad Harberts

Clarksville 60, Turkey Valley 24

Nathan Moon rushed for 353 yards and six touchdowns for the Indians.

Clarksville scored all but one possession.

Logan Busta had 116 rushing yards and one TD for the Trojans and passed for 154 yards and a TD.

— Darin Svenson

Statewide Week 5 Iowa high school football scores

CLASS 5A

Ankeny 38, Iowa City West 22

Ankeny Centennial 44, Des Moines East 7

Bettendorf 30, Dubuque Hempstead 12

Cedar Rapids Washington 30, Cedar Rapids Jefferson 27

Council Bluffs Lincoln 41, Des Moines Lincoln 7

Davenport North 39, Davenport Central 0

Iowa City High 43, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 42 (Thursday)

Iowa City Liberty 26, Cedar Rapids Prairie 21

Johnston 21, Waukee 7

Linn-Mar 28, Cedar Falls 27

Muscatine 35, Davenport West 6 (Thursday)

Ottumwa 42, Marshalltown 28

Pleasant Valley 49, Dubuque Senior 6

Southeast Polk 48, Sioux City East 3

Urbandale 42, Sioux City North 7

Waukee Northwest 49, Waterloo West 21

West Des Moines Dowling 37, Des Moines Roosevelt 0

West Des Moines Valley 49, Ames 14

CLASS 4A DISTRICT 1

Fort Dodge 36, Denison-Schleswig 0

Spencer 35, Le Mars 10

Storm Lake 52, Sioux City West 15

CLASS 4A DISTRICT 2

Decorah 41, Mason City 7

Marion 31, Waterloo East 7

Waverly-Shell Rock 25, Western Dubuque 6

CLASS 4A DISTRICT 3

Cedar Rapids Xavier 56, Clinton 0

Clear Creek Amana 32, Oskaloosa 13

North Scott 38, Burlington 0

CLASS 4A DISTRICT 4

Gilbert 56, Des Moines Hoover 0

Newton 49, Bondurant-Farrar 28

Pella 34, Carlisle 21

CLASS 4A DISTRICT 5

Adel ADM 49, Boone 27

Ballard 16, Indianola 14

North Polk 48, Des Moines North 12 (Thursday)

CLASS 4A DISTRICT 6

Dallas Center-Grimes 55, Council Bluffs Jefferson 0

Lewis Central 55, Glenwood 15

Norwalk 17, Winterset 8

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 1

Carroll 41, MOC-Floyd Valley 21

Sergeant Bluff-Luton 42, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 7

Sioux City Heelan 21, Sioux Center 3

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 2

Algona 53, Charles City 25

Clear Lake 49, Webster City 21

Humboldt 28, Hampton-Dumont-CAL 10

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 3

Dubuque Wahlert 43, Center Point-Urbana 0

Independence 39, Central DeWitt 3

West Delaware 63, Maquoketa 3

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 4

Davenport Assumption 42, Fort Madison 19

Mount Vernon 59, Mount Pleasant 0

Washington 35, Keokuk 0

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 5

Benton Community 29, Fairfield 14

Solon 26, Grinnell 7

Williamsburg 54, South Tama 14

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 6

Atlantic 56, Knoxville 21

Creston 43, Harlan 42

Nevada 55, Perry 0

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 1

Cherokee 16, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 13 (OT)

Unity Christian 52, Sheldon 20

West Lyon 13, Western Christian 0

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 2

Estherville-Lincoln Central 18, Clarion CGD 6

Forest City 24, Garner GHV 14

Spirit Lake 42, Okoboji 7

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 3

Crestwood 32, Waukon 16

New Hampton 41, Oelwein 18

North Fayette Valley 35, Osage 0

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 4

Camanche 24, Tipton 21

Northeast 48, Monticello 7

West Liberty 28, Anamosa 14

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 5

Albia 14, Central Lee 0

Mid-Prairie 48, Davis County 3

West Burlington/Notre Dame 21, Mediapolis 19

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 6

Iowa Falls-Alden 30, Vinton-Shellsburg 0

Monroe PCM 53, Union Community 7

West Marshall 45, Jesup 13

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 7

Centerville 34, Chariton 14

Clarinda 33, Interstate 35 0

Van Meter 56, Clarke 0

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 8

Carroll Kuemper 28, Greene County 0

Des Moines Christian 56, Saydel 0

Roland-Story 42, Southeast Valley 17

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 1

Ida Grove OABCIG 26, Ridge View 0

Hinton 45, Lawton-Bronson 21

West Sioux 20, Mapleton MVAOCOU 14

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 2

East Sac County 27, Pocahontas Area 0

Emmetsburg 50, Sioux Central 6

Manson-Northwest Webster 38, Eagle Grove 0

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 3

Aplington-Parkersburg 42, Denver 26

Dike-New Hartford 48, Central Springs 6

MFL MarMac 28, Sumner-Fredericksburg 15

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 4

Alburnett 47, Hudson 6

Grundy Center 48, Waterloo Columbus 6

South Hardin 48, East Marshall 0

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 5

Dyersville Beckman 41, West Branch 13

Iowa City Regina 21, Cascade 7

Wilton 45, Durant 7

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 6

Colfax-Mingo 39, Eldon Cardinal 0

Pella Christian 57, Eddyville EBF 14

Sigourney-Keota 33, Pleasantville 7

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 7

Grand View Christian 20, West Central Valley 14

South Hamilton 38, Nodaway Valley 0

Woodward-Granger 49, Ogden 20

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 8

Avoca AHSTW 28, Treynor 7

Red Oak 44, Missouri Valley 6

Underwood 28, Shenandoah 7

CLASS A DISTRICT 1

Alta-Aurelia 34, South O’Brien 33 (2OT)

Le Mars Gehlen 49, Akron-Westfield 20

Marcus MMCRU 24, Sibley-Ocheyedan 19

CLASS A DISTRICT 2

Lake Mills 34, North Union 14

Mason City Newman 30, Belmond-Klemme 25

West Hancock 48, West Fork 0

CLASS A DISTRICT 3

North Butler 22, Conrad BCLUW 0

North Tama 22, Wapsie Valley 13

South Winneshiek 42, Ackley AGWSR 7

CLASS A DISTRICT 4

Bellevue 50, Postville 14

Maquoketa Valley 54, Clayton Ridge 0

North Linn 32, East Buchanan 0

Starmont 46, North Cedar 0

CLASS A DISTRICT 5

Columbus Community 48, Highland 14

Danville 42, Wapello 13

Lisbon 28, Pekin 15

Van Buren County 45, Louisa-Muscatine 20

CLASS A DISTRICT 6

Central Decatur 20, Martensdale-St. Marys 15

Lynnville-Sully 37, Wayne 30

Mount Ayr 40, North Mahaska 6

CLASS A DISTRICT 7

Guthrie Center ACGC 50, Oakland Riverside 42

Panorama 14, Southwest Valley 0

South Central Calhoun 16, IKM-Manning 13

CLASS A DISTRICT 8

Tri-Center 37, Logan-Magnolia 0

Westwood 38, West Monona 8

Woodbury Central 35, Council Bluffs St. Albert 27 (OT)

CLASS A NON-DISTRICT

Earlham 21, Madrid 14

Kingsley-Pierson 40, Hartley HMS 12

Saint Ansgar 27, Nashua-Plainfield 7

8-PLAYER DISTRICT 1

Remsen St. Mary’s 50, Newell-Fonda 6

West Harrison/Whiting 46, Siouxland Christian 44 (2OT)

Woodbine 50, Ar-We-Va 20

8-PLAYER DISTRICT 2

Algona Garrigan 17, Rockford 0 (forfeit)

Northwood-Kensett 33, North Iowa 20

West Bend-Mallard 51, Harris-Lake Park 12

8-PLAYER DISTRICT 3

Don Bosco 70, West Central 6

Elkader Central 44, Waterloo Christian 0

Riceville 65, Lansing Kee 44

8-PLAYER DISTRICT 4

Dunkerton 70, Meskwaki Settlement 6

Gladbrook-Reinbeck 49, Janesville 32

Tripoli 58, Garwin GMG 0

8-PLAYER DISTRICT 5

Central City 82, Calamus-Wheatland 27

Edgewood-Colesburg 52, Lone Tree 8

Springville 55, Midland 15

8-PLAYER DISTRICT 6

New London 54, HLV 38

Winfield-Mount Union 60, English Valleys 18

8-PLAYER DISTRICT 7

Montezuma 46, BGM 27

Moravia 49, Twin Cedars 0

8-PLAYER DISTRICT 8

Bedford 76, Mormon Trail 6

Lenox 58, East Union 0

Southeast Warren 58, Murray 18

8-PLAYER DISTRICT 9

Audubon 64, Coon Rapids-Bayard 6

Collins-Maxwell 46, Glidden-Ralston 42

Colo-Nesco 50, Baxter 48

8-PLAYER DISTRICT 10

Anita CAM 32, Exira-EHK 30

Fremont-Mills 44, East Mills 14

Griswold 54, Stanton 44

8-PLAYER NON-DISTRICT

Boyer Valley 48, Sidney 6

Clarksville 60, Turkey Valley 24

Lamoni 67, Melcher-Dallas 22

Ruthven GTRA 54, Fort Dodge St. Edmond 46 (2OT)

WACO 44, Easton Valley 15

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