Des Moines witnessed a thrilling night of high school football as teams competed fiercely for a spot in the state semifinals at the UNI-Dome. After an intense series of quarterfinal playoff games, four teams from each class secured their tickets for the next round of the tournament.
In what was described as a nail-biter, Valley overcame Johnston with a close score of 38-35, while Lewis Central clinched a narrow victory against ADM, finishing 30-25.
In other matches, Wilton pulled off a stunning comeback against Regina, scoring a late touchdown and converting a two-point attempt to take the lead 21-14 with just under a minute to play. This victory sent Wilton to the UNI-Dome for the first time in school history. Southeast Polk also demonstrated their dominance with a striking 42-15 win over Iowa City West, proving they are just two wins away from potentially achieving a four-peat in Class 5A.
The Maroons triumphed over Ankeny Centennial with a tight score of 14-10, and the Dutch defense played exceptionally well, holding off Gilbert for a 19-14 win. All games showed drama, with several lead changes and last-minute plays that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Fans can look forward to the state semifinal pairings being announced soon, as the exciting high school football season continues. Each team that advanced will prepare for the challenge ahead, hoping to bring home a championship. For now, the players and their communities are celebrating their hard-fought victories.
