Iowa high school football Top 25 rankings (11/20/2023)

Champions SE Polk, Lewis Central, Van Meter, Williamsburg lead final rankings

Here are SBLive’s final Iowa high school football rankings of the 2023 season: 

1. Southeast Polk (13-0) 5A state champion.

CJ Phillip carried 29 times for 148 yards and 5 TDs in a 49-21 win over Ankeny for the Rams' third straight 5A crown.

2. Lewis Central (11-2) 4A state champion.

Titans claimed their second 4A title in three years, as Brady Hetzel threw for 325 yards and four TDs in a 40-21 win over Western Dubuque.

3. Van Meter (13-0) 2A state champion.

Bulldogs trailed 21-10 in the fourth quarter, but rallied for a 24-21 win over Central Lyon/George-Little Rock for their third straight state title following two in 1A.

4. Williamsburg (12-1) 3A state champion.

Raiders blanked Sioux City Heelan 20-0, holding them to 154 total yards, to claim their first state championship in school history.

5. West Des Moines Valley (6-6) 5A semifinalist.

Tigers put together another trademark playoff run, falling to eventual champ Southeast Polk 30-27 in overtime after starting the season 0-4.

6. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (12-1) 2A state runner-up.

Heartbreaking finish for the Lions, who lost 24-21 to Van Meter in the 2A final and were seeking their second straight championship.

7. Ankeny (9-4) 5A state runner-up.

Hawks lost the turnover battle 5-0 in their 49-21 championship-game loss to Southeast Polk.

8. West Des Moines Dowling (9-2) 5A quarterfinalist.

Maroons lost to Ankeny 14-7 in the quarterfinal round.

9. Ankeny Centennial (7-5) 5A semifinalist.

Jaguars lost to Ankeny 10-7 in the semifinal round.

10. Western Dubuque (11-2) 4A state runner-up.

Grant Glausser carried 33 times for 263 yards and three TDs, but it wasn't enough as Lewis Central had more team balance in a 40-21 title-game victory.

11. Mount Vernon (9-2) 3A quarterfinalist.

Mustangs lost 38-35 to eventual 3A champion Williamsburg in the quarters.

12. Cedar Falls (7-4) 5A quarterfinalist.

Tigers lost 21-20 to eventual 5A champ Southeast Polk in the quarters when a late two-point play came up short.

13. Sioux City Heelan (11-2) 3A state runner-up.

Crusaders were biggest surprise of the 14 state finalists, after winning five games in the last four years combined.

14. Creston (11-1) 3A semifinalist.

Panthers lost 16-13 to Heelan in the semifinals. They beat Lewis Central and Harlan Community twice.

15. Grundy Center (13-0) 1A state champion.

Colin Gordon threw for 242 yards and two TDs in a 42-0 title-game victory over MFL Mar-Mac, the Spartans' second straight after winning Class A last season.

16. Pleasant Valley (8-2) 5A playoff qualifier.

Spartans lost 31-21 in the first round to West Des Moines Valley.

17. Bondurant-Farrar (9-3) 4A semifinalist.

The Bluejays led runner-up Western Dubuque in the fourth quarter in the semis before falling 28-21.

18. Waukee (8-3) 5A quarterfinalist.

Warriors lost 20-7 to West Des Moines Valley in the quarterfinals.

19. Spirit Lake (10-2) 2A semifinalist.

Indians led Central Lyon/GLR 14-0 early before dropping a 28-14 decision in the semifinals.

20. ADM (7-4) 4A quarterfinalist.

Tigers led eventual champ Lewis Central 21-10 in the third quarter before falling 32-21 in the quarters.

21. North Scott (8-3) 4A quarterfinalist.

Lancers were eliminated 21-7 by Western Dubuque.

22. Johnston (5-5) 5A playoff qualifier.

Dragons lost to runner-up Ankeny 21-9 in the first round.

23. West Lyon (9-2) 2A quarterfinalist.

Wildcats lost 20-19 to Spirit Lake in the 2A quarters.

24. MFL Mar-Mac (11-2) 1A state runner-up.

Bulldogs had never reached the semis or finals in school history. They lost 42-0 to Grundy Center in the 1A championship.

25. West Hancock (12-1) Class A state champion.

Eagles claimed their third state title in five years with a 30-28 win over Woodbury Central.