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Iowa High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams - Oct. 30

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby: Lawrence Fernandez10/31/24lawandfern
Ankeny - Iowa High School Football
The Ankeny football team takes the field for a game against Dowling Catholic on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, at Ankeny Stadium. (© Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

The Iowa On3 Massey Ratings top 25 list as of Oct. 30 features some swaps among the top ten teams. Here’s how the best in Iowa high school football is ranked as they’ve wrapped up their games for October, and the playoffs are just days away.

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. Dowling Catholic

The Maroons solidified their spot as Iowa’s best team by dominating Sioux City North on the road 46-6. Dowling Catholic was already up 39-0 by halftime and was on cruise control to gain their eighth victory in nine games. Iowa’s top offensive team will proceed to the Class 5A state tournament, facing Cedar Falls on Nov. 1 at Mediacom Stadium in Des Moines.

2. Valley

The Tigers closed their regular season by defeating Marshalltown 35-8. That victory gave them a 7-2 record entering the state tournament. In addition to being the second-best team in Iowa high school football, Valley is fifth on defense and eighth on offense. The Tigers will face Sioux City East in the first round of the playoffs.

3. Johnston

A 35-14 victory over Sioux City East closed the Dragons’ 2024 regular season at 7-2. They are also on a six-game winning streak after consecutive defeats against Cedar Falls and Des Moines Valley. Despite those setbacks, they will enter the Iowa Class 5A playoffs and face Waterloo West in the opening round.

4. Ankeny Centennial

After their bitter triple overtime loss to top-ranked Dowling Catholic, the Jaguars solidified their playoff position via a three-game winning streak. Ankeny Centennial closed the regular season with a 49-7 domination of Urbandale. The Jaguars have limited three of their last five opponents to single-digit scores. It’s a trend they’d like to continue in the first round of the playoffs against 20th-ranked Iowa City High.

5. Southeast Polk

The Rams ended the 2024 regular season with a winning record (5-4) after a shutout road win over Lincoln. The 49 points they’ve scored against the Railsplitters are the most they’ve scored this season, beating the 48 they tallied against Sioux City East. The second-best offensive team in Iowa high school football hopes to maintain their scoring prowess as they proceed in the Class 5A playoffs against tenth-ranked Pleasant Valley.

6. Ankeny

The Hawks closed the 2024 regular season by winning four of their last five games, including their 56-0 shutout victory over Washington. They will enter the playoffs as the state’s top-ranked defensive team and will face 15th-ranked Linn-Mar in the first round on Nov. 1.

7. West Lyon

The Wildcats completed a 9-0 regular season by defeating Central Lyon 41-7. A week later, they defeated Garner-Hayfield. West Lyon finished the regular season as the seventh-best defensive team.

8. Liberty

The Lightning saved the best for last, scoring a season-high 70 points in a 37-point road victory over Jefferson. While the Hawks were just down by one point after the first quarter, Liberty allowed only 13 points in the last three quarters. The third-best offensive team in Iowa high school football will face 12th-ranked Waukee in the first round of the Class 5A Playoffs.

9. North Polk

The Comets finished with an 8-0 record after a 27-14 over the 22nd-ranked ADM Tigers. Throughout the season, they’ve also defeated 17th-ranked Humboldt 26-17. Their undefeated record brings them to the Class 4A playoffs, wherein they will face Fort Dodge in the first round on Nov. 1.

10. Pleasant Valley

After a road loss to Iowa City West, the Spartans bounced back with a 35-21 victory over Linn-Mar. Pleasant Valley ranks fourth on offense and finishes with a 7-2 record. The Spartans will host fifth-ranked Southeast Polk in round one of the Class 5A state playoffs.

Teams 11-25 in the latest Iowa High School Football Rankings

11. Bettendorf
12. Waukee
13. Lewis Central
14. Cedar Falls
15. Linn-Mar
16. Decorah
17. Humboldt
18. Sergeant Bluff-Luton
19. Wahlert Catholic
20. Iowa City High
21. Waukee Northwest
22. ADM
23. PCM
24. Pella
25. Prairie