The Iowa high school football postseason kicked off on Oct. 30 with a slate of decisive victories and a handful of overtime thrillers.
Key points
- Top‑seeded teams generally advanced, underscoring the accuracy of the Radio Iowa Football Poll rankings.
- Overtime games in both the 8‑player and upper‑class divisions indicate tightly contested matchups early in the postseason.
- The IHSAA’s comprehensive score release provides a clear snapshot of the state’s high school football landscape as the playoffs progress.
The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) released the first‑round playoff scores for all divisions on Oct. 31, covering games played the previous day. The results span the 8‑player format through Class 5A and include regular‑season scores for Classes 2A‑4A that were added for week 9.
In the 8‑player bracket, top‑seed Audubon lived up to its ranking with a 72‑30 win over Clarksville, while #2 Iowa Valley edged #10 Kee 54‑6. Other notable outcomes included #3 Woodbine defeating Lenox 34‑26 and #5 Gladbrook‑Reinbeck routing Montezuma 66‑0. The only overtime game in this division saw #8 North Union win 68‑? (score listed as 68, opponent not specified).
8‑Man and Class A Highlights
Class A saw #1 Woodbury Central dominate West Hancock 50‑8, and #2 West Sioux beat West Monona 42‑18. Close contests emerged in the middle of the pack, with Saint Ansgar falling 15‑14 to Wapsie Valley and East Buchanan losing 6‑? (score listed as 6). In Class 1A, #1 Regina Catholic posted a 49‑13 victory over Sigourney Keota, while #2 Aplington‑Parkersburg beat Pleasantville 42‑7.
Among the larger schools, Class 2A featured a 49‑0 shutout by Central Lyon/George‑Little Rock over Clarinda, and Alburnett matching that score against Crestwood. In Class 3A, top seed Solon defeated Fairfield 38‑16, and Clear Lake beat Iowa Falls‑Alden 20‑0. Class 4A opened with Cedar Rapids Xavier posting a 52‑0 win over Davenport North, and Cedar Rapids Xavier’s opponent was the only team held scoreless in that division. The upper‑class bracket also produced overtime drama, with Cedar Rapids Prairie falling 31‑? in OT to an unspecified opponent and North Polk losing 34‑? in OT to Newton.
Classes 1A‑2A Overview
All rankings used to seed the playoff matchups come from the Radio Iowa Football Poll, with the 8‑player through 2A polls dated Oct. 19, 2026, and the 3A‑5A polls dated Oct. 26, 2026. Schools from the KIOW coverage area are highlighted in the original release, though the specific list of bolded teams is not reproduced here.
Source: kiow.com
