In Ankeny, Iowa, high school football fans have witnessed quite a shake-up in the Class 5A rankings. Ankeny Centennial has earned the top spot for the first time this season, following a thrilling week of games. With a record of 3-0, Centennial narrowly edged out Waukee, also 3-0, in the rankings, finishing with a total of 57 poll points compared to Waukee’s 56. This week marks the third consecutive time that a new team has taken over the No. 1 position.
The previous No. 1 team, West Des Moines Dowling, suffered a setback last Friday when they lost 23-16 to Ankeny. This pattern of top-ranked teams falling has created a sense of unpredictability as both Ankeny and Waukee prepare for tough matchups this week. Ankeny will be facing Southeast Polk at home, while Waukee heads to West Des Moines Valley, currently ranked third. If they can maintain their positions, they will certainly have earned their ranks through hard-fought games.
Besides the top two, the rest of the top five includes West Des Moines Valley and West Des Moines Dowling, with Bettendorf rounding out the list. Additionally, Linn-Mar moved up two spots to No. 6 after a commanding 21-7 victory over Cedar Rapids Kennedy. Cedar Rapids Prairie joins the rankings for the first time this season at No. 10 after defeating Southeast Polk 30-20.
In other classes, the top teams remain stable with Lewis Central (4A), Solon (3A), West Lyon (2A), Grundy Center (1A), Woodbury Central (Class A), and Remsen St. Mary’s (8-Player) all holding their positions. Lewis Central continues to be the unanimous favorite in 4A, recently escaping with a close 30-27 win against Adel ADM.
As the season progresses, fans can expect more exciting games and potential shifts in the rankings across all classes. The upcoming matches are crucial for the teams aiming to solidify their standings as the playoff picture begins to unfold.
