CEDAR FALLS, IOWA – Championship Rewind presents game coverage of each final at the 2024 IHSAA State Football Playoffs presented by Iowa Farm Bureau. Championships at the UNI-Dome run on Thursday, Nov. 21 and Friday, Nov. 22.
Friday’s finals are in: Class 2A (10 a.m.), Class 3A (1 p.m.), and Class 5A (7 p.m.).
Full event details are available through the IHSAA’s State Playoff Central. Video coverage is provided via television and free stream by the Iowa High School Sports Network.
Coverage staff: Shae Bernhardt, Colby Burt, Dylan Coldsmith, Zander White, Dante Zuniga.
CLASS 5A
Southeast Polk 38, Valley 35
The 2024 IHSAA State Football Finals saved its best matchup for last.
Three-time defending Class 5A champion Southeast Polk led Valley by 17, gave up 28 straight points to trail by 11, and then scored two improbable touchdowns in the final 90 seconds to clinch a fourth straight crown in dramatic fashion.
“This is the craziest thing that I’ve ever been a part of,” said Southeast Polk’s Kaden Hills. “We were counted out, people doubted us, but we like that. It’s just an amazing feeling to overcome it all.”
The Rams (9-4) mounted their late comeback at the UNI-Dome after Valley (10-3) had seemed to shift the final’s momentum at 35-24, and needed a 41-yard touchdown strike from Holden Hansen to Hills with 1:24 left just to have a chance at 35-30. Their opportunity came on the ensuing onside kick, which bounced off a Valley returner and back into Southeast Polk possession.
Coach Brad Zelenovich’s squad made their final drive count: Eight plays, 50 yards, and a Hansen rushing score that was pushed in by his blockers, leaving Valley just 21 seconds on the clock and a 38-35 deficit that left a massive crowd stunned.
GAME SUMMARY
| SEP | VAL | |
| First Downs | 18 | 16 |
| Rush Att. | 37 | 22 |
| Rush Yards | 121 | 69 |
| Pass C-A-I | 24-38-1 | 17-26-1 |
| Pass Yards | 332 | 279 |
| Total Yards | 453 | 348 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 7-17 | 4-9 |
| 4th Down Conv. | 4-4 | 0-1 |
| TOP | 29:54 | 18:06 |
“We knew what had to be done, and we went out and did it,” Hansen said. “We have some of the best coaches in the state, and they believed in us.”
Southeast Polk becomes the fourth program in IHSAA football playoff history to win four straight championships, joining Dowling Catholic, Regina Catholic, and Solon.
Valley scored the opening points on a 64-yard pass from Drake DeGroote to Jayden Brown, but allowed the Rams two scoring drives and carried a 10-7 deficit into half. The third quarter was all about the champs, with two touchdown drives going 80 and 85 yards to take control at 24-7.
Then Valley unfurled its wild response with 39 seconds left in the third. Four straight touchdown drives, with the first two on passes to Zay Robinson, followed by an Andrew Price pick-six, then a King Coleman run after a short Southeast Polk drive. The 35-24 lead entering the game’s final moments felt decisive until the Rams had their turn.
“Remember this feeling,” Valley receiver Zay Robinson told his teammates. “Keep it with you, and power through into next season.”
Hansen led Southeast Polk with 332 yards passing and three touchdowns, plus 19 carries for 97 yards and two more scores. DeGroote had a huge night in the comeback as well, guiding Valley going 17-25 passing for 279 yards and three scores.
In the end, the championship hats wound up on the Ram sideline in Class 5A yet again.
“Looking back at all of the moments, this is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Hansen continued. “Being on the field and a part of the action was special.”
CLASS 3A
Wahlert Catholic 49 , Humboldt 14
Wahlert Catholic dominated the Class 3A championship Thursday with a 49-14 win over Humboldt for its first football title in school history.
Coach Jamie Marshall’s Golden Eagles (13-0) capitalized on early mistakes by Humboldt, recovering two early fumbles and roaring out to a 35-7 lead by halftime.
“The last six years of hard work hit me,” Walhert Catholic head coach Jamie Marshall said. “I said that we were going to win a state championship, and here we are. Without any of the support, this wouldn’t have been possible.”
In a showdown of two blue and gold squads, Wahlert had 349 yards of offense in the first two quarters and held the Wildcats (12-1) in check outside of a Cash McIntire 80-yard run that tied the game 7-7.
“You only get so many minutes to play football,” Humbholdt head coach Derrick Elman said. “We had to find a way to keep it going, and our kids came out looking to score. I was really proud of them.”
The first of Tom Scherr’s two touchdown catches extended Wahlert’s lead to 14-7. Once they recovered another Humboldt fumble, Wahlert took possession at the start of the second quarter and scored touchdowns on their next three drives.
GAME SUMMARY
| WAHL | HUMB | |
| First Downs | 20 | 10 |
| Rush Att. | 45 | 25 |
| Rush Yards | 280 | 112 |
| Pass C-A-I | 11-17-0 | 15-24-1 |
| Pass Yards | 211 | 159 |
| Total Yards | 491 | 271 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 6-13 | 5-12 |
| 4th Down Conv. | 2-4 | 0-0 |
| TOP | 28:15 | 19:45 |
The Wildcats briefly cut the deficit in the third quarter after a touchdown pass from Coen Matson to Valley Davis, but Wahlert used up the clock and added two more scores to punctuate the win in the fourth quarter. Matson finished 15-of-24 passing for 159 yards, with the score to Davis and a late interception.
“I was hugging everybody,” said Wahlert Catholic wide receiver Luke Welbes. “We’ve never had such a strong bond between the junior and senior class, and that helped us get this championship.”
Four different Wahlert rushers scored touchdowns: Michael Bormann (21 carries, 124 yards, one touchdown), Scherr (6-49-1), and Drew Reilly (4-23-2).
Wahlert had never made a title game, and were making their second trip to the UNI-Dome this week after a semifinal run in 2022.
“Being the first team to win a state title is great,” said Welbes. “We’ve wanted it ever since the start of the summer, and to win it feels great.”
CLASS 2A
West Lyon 42, Spirit Lake 7
West Lyon used its tried and true recipe of aggressive defense and physical rushing to run away with its sixth state title in program history in Class 2A of the IHSAA State Football Finals on Friday with a 42-7 win over Spirit Lake.
“Every group that you coach is special,” West Lyon head coach Jay Rozeboom said. “This group works really hard together, and everything came together.”
The top-ranked Wildcats (13-0) forced five turnovers and allowed Spirit Lake (11-2) just eight net rushing yards to shut down the northwest Iowa showdown early. The win earned coach Jay Rozeboom his sixth championship, making him one of just six Iowa prep coaches to hit that mark.
West Lyon scored on their opening drive through a quarterback keeper by Bryson Childress. The Wildcats finished the first half with a 14-0 lead thanks to a Jorden Meyer touchdown catch from Childress just 41 seconds before halftime.
“We’ve had a chip on our shoulder all season,” said Jack Carolan. “We all have the drive to succeed, and we never take our foot off the gas.”
GAME SUMMARY
| SPLK | WL | |
| First Downs | 8 | 16 |
| Rush Att. | 17 | 46 |
| Rush Yards | 8 | 263 |
| Pass C-A-I | 17-27-1 | 5-11-1 |
| Pass Yards | 196 | 89 |
| Total Yards | 204 | 352 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 1 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 1-9 | 6-12 |
| 4th Down Conv. | 1-2 | 1-1 |
| TOP | 21:20 | 26:40 |
Spirit Lake’s explosive offense, which managed 56 points in last week’s semifinal win over PCM, was stifled on big plays and its deep pass attempts. The third-ranked Indians finished just one of nine converting on third down and quarterback Caden Lundt was sacked seven times by West Lyon’s ferocious defense.
Jaxan Huyser and Ridge Kramer each recorded two sacks to lead the Wildcat front.
“Today meant a lot to us,” Kramer said. “Getting the opportunity to play with these guys means a lot, and I’m glad we got it done.”
The second half opened with back-to-back interceptions, first by West Lyon’s Jared Ciesielski, followed by Spirit Lake’s Sam Hendrickson. The Wildcats extended their lead to 20-0 with 4:36 remaining in the third quarter after running back Tate Hawf scored from seven yards out.
A 63-yard touchdown pass from Caden Lundt to Dylan Stecker put Spirit Lake on the board late in the third quarter, putting the game back within three scores. The Indians then fumbled on three of their next four possessions.
Hawf finished the game with 114 yards on 17 rushes with two touchdowns. Stecker paced Spirit Lake’s passing game with five receptions for 158 yards and a score.
“Some things you control, and others you don’t,” said Spirit Lake head coach Joshua Bolluyt. “I’m proud of our guys, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to coach this team.”
