RECAP: Southeast Polk completes perfect season, wins third straight state title

The 2023 Iowa high school football season ended the same way the previous two campaigns did: with Southeast Polk claiming a Class 5A state championship.

This year they toppled Ankeny to get the job done and finish off their perfect season. It was punctuated by a five-touchdown night by CJ Phillip and three forced turnovers by Trey Lust.

Check out the highlights and play-by-play of the Rams' state championship game win over the Hawks on Friday.

More: Iowa high school football state championship game schedule, scores from the UNI-Dome

FINAL: Southeast Polk 49, Ankeny 21

CJ Phillip scores five touchdowns and Trey Lust forces three turnovers as the Rams complete their perfect season and claim their third straight Class 5A state title

4Q/2:55 CJ Phillip strikes again

It’s five scores for Phillip on the night. He’s just one score off the state title game record of six, which was set last year by Southeast Polk’s Abu Sama.

Rams up 49-21.

4Q/5:02 Trey Lust, have yourself a day

Trey Lust nabs his second pick of the evening for the Rams. Southeast Polk takes over inside the red zone.

4Q/5:59 Number four for CJ Phillip

The Southeast Polk running back finds the end zone for the fourth time tonight, this time from four yards out.

Southeast Polk up 42-21 now. That might just end this one. Rams very close to picking up their third straight state title.

4Q/6:01 Disaster for Ankeny

The Hawks can’t get a drive going and are forced to punt. On the punt try the snap went over the head of the punter. The Hawks recover but can’t get any yards. Southeast Polk starts this drive from the Ankeny 4 yard line.

4Q/7:44 Ankeny gets the ball right back

Following the unfortunate bounce on the punt, the Hawks force a three-and-out again and the Rams punt it away. Ankeny takes over from their own 14 after the punt.

Southeast Polk up 35-21

4Q/9:58 Tough break for Ankeny

After the Hawks forced a three-and-out, Southeast Polk punted the ball back to Ankeny. But on the play, the ball hit off the arm of an Ankeny player and Southeast Polk recovered.

Rams will have the ball at the Ankeny 34 now.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Southeast Polk 35, Ankeny 21

Rams will have the ball facing a first-and-10 from their own 24 when the final quarter begins.

3Q/0:13 Ankeny fighting back

The Hawks got back on the board after an 8-yard rush by Caden Henkes. That marked the end of a nine play, 90-yard drive.

Hawks down 35-21 to Southeast Polk.

3Q/2:57 CJ Phillip finds the end zone again

The Southeast Polk running back hits paydirt for the third time tonight, this time from seven yards out.

Rams up 35-14 now. Ankeny needs to answer fast.

3Q/7:14 Another turnover caused by Southeast Polk

On third-and-6 Ankeny took a shot down deep, but it was overthrown and falls into the hands of SEP’s Trey Lust. It’s Lust’s second turnover of the day after recovering a fumble.

Rams will take over at the Hawks’ 44. Southeast Polk up 28-14.

3Q/8:43 Southeast Polk capitalizes on good field position

The Rams go 37 yards on six plays to find the end zone. The drive was capped off by a Connor Moberly 21-yard pass to Sam Zelenovich on third-and-20.

Big-time play for the Iowa State commit.

Southeast Polk up 28-14. Ankney needs to answer here.

3Q/11:49 Back underway from Cedar Falls

We’ve entered the final two quarters of the Iowa high school football season. Southeast Polk starts from the Ankeny 40 after a big return by Sam Zelenovich. Rams hold a 21-14 lead over Ankeny.

HALFTIME: Southeast Polk 21, Ankeny 14

Rams will get the ball to start the second half.

Q2/1:11 Rams force another turnover

The Hawks seemed to be poised to hang points on the board before the end of the half, but the Ankeny QB took a shot down the middle of the field and Caleb Chebuhar picked the ball off at the SEP 4 yard line.

Southeast Polk up 21-14. Rams have one timeout left.

2Q/3:50 Huge conversion for Ankeny

The Hawks were facing a third-and-29 from deep in their own territory, but Luke Anderson found Devon Akres for 33 yards to keep the drive alive.

2Q/5:17 Ankeny forces a punt

The Hawks don't give up a single yard after the turnover and Ankeny will get the ball back at their own 6 after a punt.

2Q/5:44 Southeast Polk creates first turnover of the game

Luke Anderson hits a wideout to convert on a third down, but Trey Lust strips the ball and recovers it for the Rams. Southeast Polk will start this drive from the Ankeny 38.

2Q/8:07 Ankeny drive starts after a touchback

Hawks will look to tie the game up. They'll start this possession at their own 20.

2Q/8:07 Southeast Polk strikes again

The Rams re-take the lead on a 13-yard scamper from CJ Phillip to put Southeast Polk up 21-14.

The key play of the drive came early. On the second play of the possession, Connor Moberly hit Carson Robbins on a slant, who took it 49 yards to get just outside the red zone. That tandem also hooked up for a conversion on fourth-and-3 right before the score.

2Q/11:06 Southeast Polk starts from own 20

The Rams offense comes out onto the field after a touchback.

2Q/11:06 Ankeny ties it up

The Hawks scored just two plays into the second quarter. Luke Anderson found Caden Henkes, who got loose behind the Southeast Polk defense and was wide open. Henkes went 63 yards for the score.

All tied up at 14 in this one.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Southeast Polk 14, Ankeny 7

Hawks have the ball with a first-and-10 at their own 33 when the second quarter begins.

1Q/1:27 Southeast Polk takes the lead

CJ Phillip pounds the rock in from a couple of yards out to make the game 14-7 in favor of the Rams.

SEP had to convert on a fourth-and-short on that drive. They brought a tight formation to the line, with Ankeny expecting a QB sneak or dive play. But the Rams pitched it out to Phillip, who gained nine yards.

Overall, that drive was seven plays for 30 yards.

1Q/4:26 Southeast Polk defense forces a punt, gets good field position

Ankeny gets a first down but not much more. Rams take over at the Ankeny 30 after a nice return from Carson Robbins

1Q/6:19 Ankeny pushed back

The Hawks got a holding call against them on the kickoff return. Ankeny's offense takes the field for the first time tonight from their own 14.

1Q/6:26 Southeast Polk answers right back

The Rams go 93 yards in 10 plays to answer with a touchdown of their own. It was a lot of short gains, either on the ground or in the quick passing game. But that all changed on the final play of the drive.

Connor Moberly reared back and fired a 43-yard dot to Carson Robbins, who strolled into the end zone shortly after.

Rams tie it up, 7-7.

1Q/11:30 Long way to go for Southeast Polk

After a short return and a penality, Southeast Polk's offense will take the field for the first time from its own 7-yard-line.

1Q/11:44 Well that was fast

Ankeny wastes no time getting things started. Evan Irlmeier took the opening kickoff 91 yards to the end zone. Ankeny up 7-0 very very early.

Tough to ask for a better start than that for the Hawks.

1Q/12:00 We are underway

Southeast Polk will kick it deep and Ankeny will have the ball to start this Class 5A title game.

7:01 a bit of a delay

Our reporters on site tell us we're looking at a 7:05 kickoff from the UNI-Dome.

7:00 It's a rematch from earlier this season

Southeast Polk and Ankeny met during the regular season, back in Week 2. The Rams cruised to a 58-21 win, but Ankeny is a much different team now than they were then.

It's anybody's game tonight. But our Alyssa Hertel is predicting a Southeast Polk win, 35-14.

6:45 Almost time for Southeast Polk vs. Ankeny from the UNI-Dome

The stage is set

6:20 How to watch the Iowa high school football finals

As the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa High School Sports Network battle in court over whether the IHSSN can and should charge to watch Iowa high school sporting events, the news remains disappointing for fans wanting a free livestream.

The IHSSN is charging $9.99 plus tax to watch each individual game, or you can purchase a state football tournament pass for $18.99 plus tax. The latter option gives you access to all seven championship games while allowing two concurrent livestreams and 30 days of unlimited viewing.

Locally, the viewing options are a little better. All championship games will be aired across the state on broadcast television networks. Click the map here to see which network is zoned for your location and how to get it. Here are the six local stations showing the title games.

• KDSM 17.1 (Des Moines)

• NPTM 42.2 (Omaha/Council Bluffs)

• NPTH 44.2 (Sioux City)

• KXLT 47.1 and 47.2 (Rochester/Mason City)

• KFXA 28.1 (Cedar Rapids)

• WQAD 8.3 (Moline/Quad Cities)

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Recap: Southeast Polk football beats Ankeny in Iowa state title game