News Summary

The Iowa High School Athletic Association has announced the schedules for the 2025 and 2026 high school football seasons. Fans can look forward to thrilling matchups, including the key opening games featuring teams like Dowling and Valley. The new schedules not only highlight classic rivalries but also introduce exciting new matchups for teams across various classes. As the season approaches, high school football enthusiasts in Iowa are gearing up for an action-packed couple of years filled with community spirit and fierce competition.

Exciting Times Ahead for High School Football Fans in Iowa!

Hey there, sports lovers in Iowa! Get ready to circle those calendars because the Iowa High School Athletic Association has just dropped the schedules for the 2025 and 2026 high school football seasons. And let me tell you, these are packed with thrilling matchups that you won’t want to miss!

A Look at the Key Matchups

The schedules detail some major Week 1 games that are already stirring up excitement. Just imagine the crowd at these matchups:

  • Dowling at Valley
  • Iowa City West at Iowa City High
  • Ankeny Centennial at Southeast Polk
  • Waterloo West at Waterloo East
  • Cedar Falls at Iowa City Liberty
  • Sergeant Bluff-Luton at Bishop Heelan
  • Cedar Rapids Xavier at North Scott
  • North Polk at Lewis Central
  • Davenport Assumption at Solon
  • Algona at Spirit Lake
  • OABCIG at Ridge View
  • Aplington-Parkersburg at Grundy Center

These opening games promise to set the stage for a thrilling season. Can you feel the excitement building?

Class and District Breakdown

The IHSAA has set up various groups for the different classes, from Class 5A down to the 8-player districts. Each of these groups includes a number of teams that will battle it out for supremacy:

  • Classes 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, and 1A have six teams per district.
  • Class A and 8-player districts boast seven teams each.

Every team will face all opponents in their respective district or group, and they can select extra opponents based on their preferences for some added variety in the schedule. Teams in Classes 2A, 1A, A, and 8-player can even schedule a ninth game if they happen not to land in the postseason.

Matchup Highlights for Newton

Turning our eyes to Newton, they have a solid lineup ahead. The Trojans kick off the 2025 season against Carlisle on August 29. Their first three weeks are packed with non-district games against Denison Schleswig, Des Moines Christian, and Storm Lake, creating a nail-biting start to the season.

As for their District 4 opener? Mark your calendars for September 26 when they square off against Creston. And here’s something special—the potential Homecoming game could be happening on October 3 when they face Perry, although it’s still in the works!

The home finale for Newton will feature a showdown against Harlan on October 17, setting the stage for a brilliant finish to the season. Plus, they are all set to meet North Polk for the first time ever in a non-district matchup. Now that’s something to talk about!

New Faces and Rivalries

Other local teams are also gearing up for some rivalry excitement. The PCM team, which made a splash in the 2A semifinals, will face off against familiar foes Sigourney/Keota and Nevada. Meanwhile, Colfax-Mingo will see a slew of nine new opponents taking the field against them for the first time in 2025.

Lynnville-Sully continues a beloved yearly tradition by kicking off against Pleasantville on August 29, while Baxter has its sights set on rival Collins-Maxwell for their opener, also on August 29. This season aims to maintain those thrilling rivalries while introducing exciting new matchups.

The 2026 Season

Have you already made your plans? The 2026 schedules are a mirror image of 2025, with home and away locations flipped around. Mark those game dates: August 28, September 4, September 11, September 18, September 25, October 2, October 9, and October 16. It’s going to be a wild ride!

So there you have it! The upcoming seasons promise not just games, but a whole lot of heart-pounding action and community spirit. High school football in Iowa is gearing up for a fantastic two years, and we can’t wait to see how everything unfolds!

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