Top 25 Iowa high school football rankings (10/3/2023)

SE Polk, Dowling survive stiff tests; CR Kennedy hands Bettendorf first loss

Here are SBLive’s Iowa high school football rankings for the week of Oct. 1: 

1, Southeast Polk (6-0) 

Rams withstood another challenge from a talented opponent in a 38-35 victory over Johnston.

2. West Des Moines Dowling (6-0)

Kenyi James’ 99-yard pick-6 in the final moments gave the Maroons a hard-fought 30-17 win over Ankeny Centenial in which it trailed early by 14.

3. Ankeny (4-2)

Hawks made a goal-line stand in the final moments to hold off Cedar Rapids Prairie 17-14. Caden Henkes rushed for 100 yards for the winners.

4. Williamsburg (6-0)

Nile Sinn carried 11 times for 143 yards and a touchdown in a 56-14 win over Fairfield.

5. Western Dubuque (5-1)

Tanner Anderson completed 10 of 11 for 184 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in a 35-7 win over Marion.

6. Van Meter (6-0)

Austin Baumhover threw seven passes and four went for touchdowns in a 70-0 win over Chariton.

7. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (6-0)

The Lions are averaging nearly 50 points per game and no one has scored more than 14 on them.

8. Creston (6-0)

Cael Turner completed 19 of 25 for 285 yards and five scores in a 39-0 win over Atlantic.

9. Ankeny Centennial (3-3)

Centennial trailed Dowling 24-17 and had fourth-and-goal at the Maroon 2 when it surrendered the back-breaking pick-six.

10. Pleasant Valley (5-1)

Despite leading 24-7 at the half, Spartans needed a late Harrison Fierce interception to hold off Cedar Falls, 31-28.

11. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (4-2)

Jacob Doyle rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown, and Trevor Scott added 105 yards and three more scores in an impressive 34-14 win over previously unbeaten Bettendorf.

12. Bondurant-Farrar (5-1)

Bluejays are averaging nearly 44 points per game to rank second in 4A, and haven’t scored fewer than 36 in any contest.

13. Lewis Central (4-2)

For the first time this season, the Titans didn’t face a state-rated opponent, and they walloped Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson, 63-13.

14. Cedar Rapids Xavier (4-2)

Saints registered one of the week’s most impressive wins, rallying from 20-7 down to North Scott to win 26-20 on two late Ronan Thomas touchdowns.

15. ADM (5-1)

Quarterback Aiden Flora has rushed 91 times for 1,185 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging a whopping 13.0 yards per carry.

16. North Scott (4-2)

Lancers scored on their first three possessions in their 26-20 loss to Cedar Rapids Xavier, but never found the scoreboard again.

17. Harlan Community (4-2)

Cyclones bounced back from their three-point loss to Creston with a 49-7 victory over Perry.

18. Underwood (5-1)

Garrett Luett completed 11 of 20 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-0 rout of previously unbeaten Treynor.

19. Waukee (5-1)

Henrick Nimley had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a 58-0 win over Des Moines Lincoln.

20. Waukee Northwest (4-2)

Maverick Inman caught six passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-28 win over West Des Moines Valley.

21. Bettendorf (5-1)

Bulldogs managed only 234 total yards in their 34-14 loss to Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

22. West Lyon (6-0)

Wildcats’ showdown with Central Lyon/George-Little Rock in Week 8 is shaping up to be a dandy.

23. Solon (5-1)

Spartans survived five turnovers by making a goal-line stand in a 16-13 double-overtime win over Benton Community.

24. Mount Vernon (5-1)

Jackson Hird rushed 22 times for 125 yards in the Mustangs’ most impressive win of the year, a 24-7 triumph over Davenport Assumption.

25. Grundy Center (6-0)

Colin Gordon completed 8 of 10 passes for 215 yards and five TDs in a 42-14 win over South Hardin.