Exciting Night in Cedar Falls as Valley and Southeast Polk Advance to Class 5A Title Game
CEDAR FALLS – The Class 5A Iowa high school football playoffs semifinals concluded with two thrilling matchups earlier this evening. Southeast Polk made a stunning comeback to defeat Iowa City Liberty, securing a tight 38-35 victory, while Valley triumphed over Dowling Catholic with a score of 28-21. Both teams will clash for the state title next week.
The evening featured some intense action, especially during the game between Southeast Polk and Liberty. The Rams were initially trailing 21-7, but fought their way back to earn a spot in the championship. Southeast Polk is now aiming for their fourth-straight Class 5A title. In the final two minutes, the Rams, leading 38-35, were managing the clock effectively, forcing Liberty to take their last timeout.
With just over two minutes left, the Rams found themselves in a pivotal moment, needing to maintain possession and run down the clock. On fourth-and-16, Liberty attempted a trick play that caught many off guard. Quarterback Reece Rettig threw a backward pass to Dallas Miller, who then tossed it back to Rettig, who sprinted down the field for a remarkable 49-yard touchdown, shifting the game’s momentum.
Moments later, Southeast Polk responded fiercely. On a key drive, Holden Hansen connected with Kaden Hills on a deep 76-yard touchdown throw, marking Hills’ fourth score of the night. Liberty, down 31-28, had their chance but failed on a crucial fourth-and-8 attempt in the final minutes of the game.
In the first semifinal, Valley showcased their resilience against Dowling. After a tense back-and-forth battle, the Tigers capitalized on a late interception return to set up a scoring opportunity. Drake DeGroote capped off a successful drive with a touchdown pass to Zay Robinson, pushing Valley ahead in the fourth quarter.
Dowling couldn’t catch up, making way for Valley to take a knee and preserve a hard-fought victory. They now look forward to facing Southeast Polk in the championship next Friday.
With both games filled with drama and excitement, the upcoming title matchup promises to be a spectacular showdown under the bright lights.
