Recap: Iowa high school football Week 9 scores, highlights and analysis
Week 9 of the Iowa high school football season is in the books and it was a fun one.
We had reporters out throughout the state on Friday night to bring you the best action from top games everywhere in Iowa. But we couldn’t staff every single game, unfortunately.
Luckily, we have this live blog to bring you action from the games were aren’t able to be at in-person.
Here’s a look at all the incredible highlights and big moments from throughout Friday night’s games.
More: Here's how to stream, listen to Week 9 of central Iowa high school football
10:15 Check out all our photos from Week 9
10:10 Prairie takes down Iowa City West
In a game with major playoff implications, it lived up to the hype. Iowa City West battled all night, but they came up just short. Hawks win 45-38 and pretty much clinch a spot in the playoffs.
Maurice Turner recovers the onside for Prairie.
FINAL:
C.R. Prairie 45
Iowa City West 38
Prairie (5-4) will be in the 5A playoffs next week. Looks like West will close at 4-5. #iahsfb— Matt Coss (@mattcoss78) October 21, 2023
10:00 Iowa high school football final scores starting to roll in
Obviously, we couldn’t be at every single game in Iowa tonight. But we do have a list of all of the final scores from games across the state. It’s updating as new scores come in. Check that out here.
More: Iowa high school football scores, results from Week 9, Oct. 19-20 of the 2023 season
9:55 Dowling rolls in second half
The Maroons outscored Sioux City North 21-0 in the second half to cruise to a 43-9 win to put a cap on the regular season.
9:50 Pella claws back to top Gilbert
The Dutch were down by 16 at one point but earned a big 33-23 comeback win over Gilbert on Friday night.
9:47 We got drama between Iowa City West and Prairie
A long touchdown pass from the Trojans makes it a one-score game. Hawks up 38-30 early in the fourth quarter.
9:45 Roland-Story moves on
The Norsemen cruised over Clarke, 42-7, to advance to the second round of the playoffs.
9:40 Bettendorf getting worked by Iowa City High
The Bulldogs, who came into this week ranked third in Class 5A, are getting dominated tonight.
City High just scored again to go up 42-14 as the teams entered the final frame.
.@DaxJudge 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕯𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖞𝖊𝖗
Q3
𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝟒𝟐
𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗳 𝟏𝟒 #iahsfb x #L23D pic.twitter.com/jEIu6uBoao— City High Football (@CityHighFB) October 21, 2023
9:35 It’s getting tight in Iowa City
Jack Wallace scrambles to his left and finds Damari Lacy open in the endzone for a 15-yard score. Wallace then throws to Zion Shaw for the 2-point conversion. It's Prairie 35, West 23. About a minute left in the 3rd. #iahsfb
— Ryan Pleggenkuhle (@ryno_plegge) October 21, 2023
9:32 Benton fighting for their lives against Williamsburg
Benton is down 21-7 to Williamsburg in the fourth quarter. A win for the Bobcats gives them a huge boost in their playoff hopes. A loss pretty much confirms they’ll be out of the postseason.
9:30 Johnston rolls over Sioux City East
The Dragons end the regular season with a 48-13 win on the road. That’s a good momentum builder for the playoffs.
9:25 Big game in 5A
A win by Pleasant Valley helps West Des Moines Valley’s playoff chances quite a bit.
4th
Pleasant Valley 28
Linn-Mar 14#iahsfb— Scott Unash (@ScottUnash) October 21, 2023
9:20 Top-ranked North Polk downs ADM
COMETS FLY ON!
North Polk starts fast and takes down ADM on the road!
📸 Jack Whitmore #iahsfb #ihsaa pic.twitter.com/D8rC5cYnwa— Bound Iowa (@Bound_IA) October 21, 2023
9:17 Pella on top of Gilbert
(QB) Hardman keeps it, runs off left tackle for the 4yd TD. XP is good.
🏈Pella 27 Gilbert 23 Q4 11:11#godutch#iahsfb #kcciscores #local5blitz @kniakrls @DMRsports @Local5Blitz @SteveWoodhouse9— Pella Dutch Football (@PellaDutchFB) October 21, 2023
9:15 Valley keeps playoff hopes alive
The Tigers earned a 42-18 win over Marshalltown on Friday night to help keep their playoff hopes on life support.
More: Valley ready from kickoff, keeps playoff hopes alive with 42-18 win over Marshalltown
9:10 Waukee Northwest cruises over Ames
The Wolves wrap up the regular season at 7-2 with a 49-7 victory over Ames.
The playoffs start next week at home, and we're waiting to see who we will play. Stay tuned.....#GoWolves #iahsfb #FridayNightLights pic.twitter.com/3uEzJjqMeA— Waukee Northwest Wolves Football (@WaukeeNWFB) October 21, 2023
9:05 Gilbert re-takes the lead
Connor Rash on the keeper up the middle, breaks to the outside and he’s gone — 48-yard TOUCHDOWN!
PAT good.
Gilbert 23, Pella 20 — 1:19 to go 3Q.
Great answer, Tigers!#iahsfb #GilbertPride #TigersTogether— Gilbert CSD (@gilbert_schools) October 21, 2023
9:00 It’s all Roland-Story
Touchdown Norsemen! @SamKnoll5 to @Riley_Larson11 from a few yards out. PAT is good! 35-0 Roland Story. 11:08 left in the game. #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/frwLCJuSdZ
— Roland Story Sports Scores (@RSNorseScores) October 21, 2023
8:55 Valley rolling over Marshalltown
End of the third, Valley leads 42-13.
— Eli McKown (@Emckown23) October 21, 2023
8:50 Lots of running clocks around the state tonight
A high school football game in Iowa moves to a running clock when one team has a 35 or more point lead. That's happening a lot tonight, including between Centennial and Urbandale.
The Jags just extended their lead to 41-3 in the fourth.
8:45 North Polk extends lead over ADM again
It’s a two-score lead for the top-ranked team in 4A
TOUCHDOWN COMETS!!!
Feldmann (that's 3) in from 4 yards out. PAT by Blomquist is good. Comets lead 28-14 with 2:59 left in the 3rd #GoComets #iahsfb— North Polk Activities (@northpolkcomets) October 21, 2023
8:40 Things look good for Prairie at the break
Halftime:
C.R. Prairie 28
Iowa City West 8 #iahsfb— Matt Coss (@mattcoss78) October 21, 2023
8:35 Dowling up over Sioux City North
The Maroons are looking to bounce back after their first loss of the season last week. They’re doing a good job of it so far, up 22-6 over Sioux City North at halftime.
The Stars got a pick-6 right at the end of the half, so maybe Dowling isn't out of the woods just yet.
8:30 Webster City up on Humboldt
Lynx drive 99 yards and score on Jaxon Cherry 2 yd run. Lynx 19, Humboldt 7. 2:31 3Q @Quinn_Douglas_ @ByEricPratt
— Kevin Bahrenfuss (@kevinb1957) October 21, 2023
8:25 Centennial rolling over Urbandale
We’re just one Jags point away from a running clock. Centennial’s playoff hopes are looking good right now.
Centennial up 34-0 in the second half.
8:20 It’s not a football update, but it’s pretty cool
A Forest City junior, Bethany Warren, competed in two big events Thursday. She took the course in Dike at a cross country state qualifying meet. Then she hopped on a private plane with a family friend, who just happens to be a pilot, to make it to Estherville in time for her volleyball regional quarterfinal match.
Check out the full story here.
More: Forest City athlete flies on private plane to compete in both cross country and volleyball
8:15 It’s all Hawks out east
My goodness, Casey Kelley is lighting fast. From the 9, Kelley takes an inside handoff, bounces it outside and sprints to the house for a 91-yard TD. It's all Prairie right now - Hawks 21, Trojans 0. #iahsfb
— Ryan Pleggenkuhle (@ryno_plegge) October 21, 2023
8:10 Might be an upset brewing
Iowa City High is up 20-0 over No. 3 Bettendorf. They're in the second quarter in that one.
𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗻‼️@j_madlock4 for the TD reception moments before the first quarter draws to a close.
Q2
𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝟐𝟎
𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗳 𝟬#iahsfb x #L23D pic.twitter.com/3DbDDersoI— City High Football (@CityHighFB) October 21, 2023
8:05 Got a tight one between Gilbert and Pella
Pella with the answer — QB Luke Hardman on the keeper for a 22-yard TD.
PAT good.
Gilbert 16, Pella 7 — 8:37 left 2Q. #iahsfb #GilbertPride #TigersTogether— Gilbert CSD (@gilbert_schools) October 21, 2023
8:00 Regina showing no mercy
Iowa City Regina is up big in its Class 1A playoff tilt against Eddyvilly-Blakesburg-Fremont. The Regals are leading 41-0 at the half.
7:55 Prairie up on Iowa City West
It’s a big one out east as Iowa City West takes on Prairie. It’s essentially a 'win and you’re in' situation for both teams. Prairie has the early advantage after a one-yard score from Collin Velky late in the first quarter.
On the following possession, the Hawks pick off Iowa City West and the offense scores on its first play. Hawks up 14-0 on the Trojans.
Max Schwieger picks off a Jack Wallace pass at Prairie's 47. On the next play, Casey Kelley finds a hole and sprints in for a 53-yard TD. 14-0 Prairie. #iahsfb
— Ryan Pleggenkuhle (@ryno_plegge) October 21, 2023
7:50 Williamsburg wastes no time
Derek Weisskopf, one of the best players in the state, hits paydirt from 35 yards out in the first minute of the game.
That’s a 7-0 lead for Williamsburg over Benton
7:45 Top-ranked North Polk extends lead over ADM
TOUCHDOWN COMETS!!!
Feldmann in from 4 yards out. PAT is good by Blomquist. Comets lead 14-0 with 6:00 left in the 2nd #GoComets #iahsfb— North Polk Activities (@northpolkcomets) October 21, 2023
7:40 Waukee Northwest cruising over Ames
That's the end of the first quarter with the wolves on top 21-0.#FridayNightLights #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/GbwC7lNyzx
— Waukee Northwest Wolves Football (@WaukeeNWFB) October 21, 2023
7:35 Johnston up on Sioux City East
8:34 (2nd)
Johnston — 17-yard TD run by D’Angelo Barkue (PAT good)
17-0 Johnston#iahsfb— Ryan Timmerman (@ryantimmerman3) October 21, 2023
7:30 Roland-Story puts up first points in Story City
The Norsemen, hosting their first playoff game in over a decade, strike first against Clarke. Sam Knoll found Trevor Britten from 26 yards out. Britten made a nice diving snag in the end zone for the score.
Shortly after that, Jonovan Wilkinson ran the ball in from 16-yards out to double the Norse lead.
Touchdown Norsemen! After a fumbled punt by Clarke, @SamKnoll5 connects Trevor Britten for 26 yards. PAT is good. 7-0 RS with 4:52 left in the first quarter. #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/i74g4SdmXx
— Roland Story Sports Scores (@RSNorseScores) October 21, 2023
That’s 14-0 Roland Story early in this Class 2A playoff battle.
7:25 Ankeny Centennial strikes again
It’s 14-0 now that the Jags lead over Urbandale after an Elijah Porter scoring run. That run was from three yards out.
7:20 Valley hits paydirt again
Damon Head finds the end zone for the second time tonight. This one was from 61 yards out, much longer than his short score on the team’s last possession.
Damon Head goes 61 yards for the score, his second of the night. He’s nearing about 90 yards on the ground already.
14-0 Valley pic.twitter.com/7P1e3WYqYr— Eli McKown (@Emckown23) October 21, 2023
That makes it 14-0 Valley in Marshalltown. Things looking good for the Tigers.
7:15 North Polk takes the lead on ADM
Fifth-ranked ADM has been dealing with injuries to key players in recent weeks, but it’s unclear who is hitting the field tonight.
Either way. No. 1 North Polk is up 7-0 early in that matchup. Both teams should make the playoffs, but it's a big game for seeding purposes.
7:11 Valley strikes first against Marshalltown
The Tigers took just five plays to find the end zone, four of which came on the ground. Running back Damon Head punched it in from short range to put the first points of the night on the board.
Valley up 7-0
7:08 Big game in Class 5A
This one pretty much assures a playoff spot for the winning team. The losing team might end their season tonight.
Ankeny Centennial up 7-0 on Urbandale early on in this one.
LIVE FB🏈|
Q1 | 8:28
Centennial scores on a 9-yard rushing touchdown.
Urbandale - 0, Centennial - 7#JHawkNation #iahsfb
🔵🔴— Urbandale J-Hawks (@UrbandaleJHawks) October 21, 2023
7:05 Spirit Lake up over Southeast Valley
That's a playoff matchup in Class 2A. An interception set up that score.
TOUCHDOWN SPIRIT LAKE!
Logan Sandman takes it in on the Indians’ first play. Spirit Lake leads SE Valley! #iahsfb
🏹 - 7
🐆 - 0
10:12 1Q— Matt Heinrichs (@mattheinrix) October 21, 2023
7:03 Well, that was fast for Ankeny
On the first play from scrimmage, Luke Anderson found Devon Akers alone behind the Washington defense and Akers did the rest. That’s an 82-yard scoring strike for the Hawks to go up 7-0.
6:55 Almost that time
Just about five minutes away til the bulk of games kick off across the state.
Let's have some fun.
6:40 Big game tonight for Valley in Marshalltown
With a loss tonight to Marshalltown, the Tigers will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1991. That's three years before I was even born. Valley is a heavy favorite over the Bobcats (2-5), but even a win doesn't confirm they'll make the playoffs in Class 5A.
More: What is RPI in Iowa high school football and how does it bring some drama to the playoff hunt?
Want to get a deeper understanding of the playoff picture heading into the final regular season matchup? Click here.
Drove through miles of beautiful farmland for Marshalltown-Valley this evening.
Valley is currently ranked 18th in the RPI, just outside of the 5A playoff field of 16 teams.
Here’s a breakdown of what they’ll be rooting for @DMRsports #IAHSFB pic.twitter.com/sWtdP3tnN7— Eli McKown (@Emckown23) October 20, 2023
6:20 Watch opening-round playoff matchups
The IHSAA has released a list of the approved video streams from across the state for the first-round playoff matchups in Class 2A, 1A, A and 8-player. Check that out below.
Can't make it out to an #iahsfb game tonight? Make sure to watch a verified stream via @NFHSNetwork or through our approved game list.
🏈 https://t.co/dTu0lf7gxG pic.twitter.com/3JutCWh2ZS— IHSAA (@IHSAA) October 20, 2023
Week 9 preview coverage
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Recap: Iowa high school football scores, highlights from Week 9 games