Recap: See scores, highlights and analysis from Iowa high school football Week 6

Will Kennedy, Des Moines Register
·22 min read

Well, Week 6 has come and gone and what a week it was.

We saw upsets, with No. 8 Ankeny Centennial topping No. 6 Urbandale, blowouts, with No. 1 Pleasant Valley topping Bettendorf 44-7 and a shocker as Cedar Falls topped No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy, knocking Kennedy out of the ranks of the unbeaten in Iowa's largest class.

Des Moines North and Des Moines Roosevelt played an absolute barn burner, with scores happening faster than you can blink. The Roughriders ended up taking the win thanks to a score in the final 10 seconds of the game. North was hoping to secure a winning record for the first time since 1976, but there's still plenty of season left to accomplish that goal for the Polar Bears.

There's a ton we didn't get to above, but our reporters were out at the games and have full analysis from several contests throughout Iowa.

Catch up on Week 6 action

10:15 p.m. Cedar Falls upsets Kennedy

Despite scoring no points in the second half, Cedar Falls was able to hold off No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy 23-16. That's Kennedy's first loss on the season.

10:12 p.m. Drew Kingery makes a grown man play to ice it

Indianola QB Bennett Brueck found WR Drew Kingery on a short route on third and long, he shed a tackle, hugged the sideline, stiff-armed a defender and ran 83-yards to the house. That's Kingery's third score of the night.

That gives the Indians a 45-33 lead with 2:11 left to play in the game against Norwalk.

10:10 p.m. Indianola leads Norwalk late

Norwalk just scored with under four minutes to play in the game, but the Indians stopped the 2-point conversion attempt and lead 33-38 and will get the ball back.

10:00 p.m. Heartbreak for North, jubilation for Roosevelt.

With history in its grasp, the shot to break a streak that's lasted since 1976, Des Moines North couldn't get it done. Roosevelt scored with nine seconds left in the game on a Peter Phanthoudeth touchdown catch to take a 40-36 lead.

That's just gone final. Roughriders move to 3-3 while the Polar Bears drop to 4-2.

9:50 p.m. North takes the lead late

Gabe Gunn notches his fourth touchdown of the night for Des Moines North to take a 36-34 lead over Roosevelt with just over three minutes to play in the game.

A win tonight would be the first time the Polar Bears (4-1) have secured a winning record in the last 46 years. It would also clinch the outright DMPS title for North. Their last winning season came in 1976 when they went 5-4.

9: 45 p.m. Kennedy trying to claw back

No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy, one of just three undefeated teams in 5A, is still on the ropes against Cedar Falls tonight. They trail 23-9 late in the third. But the good news for them is that they've held Falls scoreless so far in the second half.

Still lots of football left to play, though.

9:40 p.m. No. 2 Dowling runs away from Johnston in the second half

The Maroons led the Dragons by just two points at one time in the third quarter, but No. 2 Dowling ended up running away 42-19 after scoring 21 unanswered points over the final quarter and a half.

Maroons move to 5-1 on the season and Johnston is now at 3-3.

9:35 p.m. Another top-10 team falls

No. 9 Sioux City East dropped their game to Waukee Northwest 17-7. The Wolves improved to 3-3 after rattling off three straight victories. Wolves are getting hot at the right time.

Black Knights drop two in a row and are now 4-2 on the year.

9:30 p.m. Roosevelt takes the lead... again

If you're not following Alyssa Hertel, you should probably do that now. She's at a crazy game for us. Roosevelt just took the lead back from North thanks to a pass from Dominic Wade to Danny Diggins. They're up by four,. 34-30, after the Polar Bears stopped the 2-point conversion attempt.

9:25 Pleasant Valley showing why they're No. 1

I mean, need we say more? The Spartans have been dominant all night long.

9:20 p.m. Back and forth we go in Des Moines

The Polar Bears took the lead again over the Roosevelt Roughriders. Gabe Gunn gets his third score of the night and Aron Gonkaryon adds a 2-point conversion to take a 30-28 lead late in the third quarter.

9:15 p.m. No. 8 Ankeny Centennial upsets No. 6 Urbandale

The Jags went on the road and got a 28-23 win over the J-Hawks. Trenton Smith, Centennial's QB tossed for four scores in the win. Jags move to 4-2 and Urbandale drops to 4-2.

9:10 p.m. Jazan Williams ices it for No. 3 Ankeny

Running back Jazan Williams hit paydirt from 4-yards out to give the Hawks a 34-24 lead over WDM Valley with just over one minute remaining in the game.

The score was set up by a deep ball from QB JJ Kohl to wideout Jamison Patton, both ISU commits. Check that bomb out here.

9:05 p.m. That didn't last long either

The North lead lasted less than 10 minutes of real-time. Max Masucci got a short rushing score for the Roughriders to take a 28-22 lead about halfway through the third quarter.

It's been a battle, just like we expected it to be.

9:03 p.m. North takes the lead

The Polar Bears take just their second lead of the night thanks to an Aron Gonkaryon 2-yard score. The Polar Bears can't convert on the 2-point try, but they're still up 22-20 over Roosevelt early in the second half.

9:00 p.m. Johnston's Will Nuss has a cannon

Dragons sophomore quarterback Will Nuss unleashed a bomb from 72-yards out and dropped it directly in the hands of his receiver for a touchdown. The ball traveled over 50-yards in the air and cut the No. 2 Dowling lead to 21-19 halfway through the third quarter.

Take a look at this cannon

8:55 p.m. Potential shocker in 5A

Cedar Rapids Kennedy, one of just three unbeaten teams remaining in 5A this season, is down 23-3 to Cedar Falls. They're still in the first half, so tons of time to go. But that scoreline is still a bit shocking.

8:50 p.m. Sioux City East finally scores

The No.9 Black Knights finally get on the board thanks to a 12-play, 80-yard drive to start the second half. Cole Ritchie found Preston Dobbs for a 3-yard touchdown strike.

Sioux City East still down 17-7 to Waukee Northwest.

8:46 p.m. That didn't last long

On the first play of the fourth quarter, No. 8 Ankeny Centennial landed a haymaker on No. 6 Urbandale. Trenton Smith hit Max Snyder for a 77-yard score. Jags up 28-16. It's Snyder's second score of the night.

Still plenty of time for the J-Hawks, though

8:45 p.m. No. 6 Urbandale clawing back

After a largely forgettable third quarter, the Urbandale defense forced a fumble and recovered it deep in No. 8 Ankeny Centennial territory. On the following possession quarterback Peyton Rottinghaus tossed his second score of the day, this time to Kaden Arntt from 2-yards out.

The 2-point try failed, but they're within five points as they head to the final frame.

8:40 p.m. Roland Story strikes at the gun

The Norsemen take a 21-17 lead at the half over winless Iowa Falls-Alden after a touchdown run from Hesston Johnson and a 2-point conversion.

8:35 No. 3 Ankeny retakes the lead

The Hawks had a solid drive going, but it stalled out in the red zone. But kicker Keeghan Warner hits a 30-yard field goal to give his team a 24-21 lead over WDM Valley halfway through the third quarter.

8:30 p.m. No. 8 Centennial isn't messing around

The No. 8 Ankeny Centennial Jaguars are really outplaying No. 6 Urbandale tonight. They just went up 21-10 over the J-Hawks on a strike from Trenton Smith to Nick Severson from 29-yards out. That's Severson's first score of the season.

Each of the Jags scores have gone to different pass-catchers, so Smith is doing a great job of spreading the ball around so far.

8:25 p.m. Things getting ugly out in Solon

The Spartans just drilled a 21-yard field goal to take a 37-0 lead in the first half. They're using a running clock now in that one.

8:20 p.m. Abu Sama doing Abu Sama things

The Southeast Polk running back, who's an Iowa State commit, just scored his third touchdown of the night to put the Rams up 28-13 over Lin Mar late in the first half. That's his 10th score of the season.

8:16 p.m. Graham Beckman is pretty good

Iowa City Liberty's quarterback is dealing right now. He's got five touchdowns so far on the night so far and his Lightning are up 33-0 over Mt. Plesant. Not sure how much we'll see of him for the rest of the night with that big a lead.

8:15 p.m. Jaxon Cherry is an animal

The running back from Webster City has helped put his team up 21-0 over LeMars in the second quarter. So far on the night he unofficially has 233 yards and all three scores for his squad.

That's pretty good!

8:10 p.m. Solid battle in 1A between top-10 teams

No. 4 in the Des Moines Register's rankings, Dike-New Hartford is up 21-12 over No. 6 Aplington Parkersburg at the half.

8:05 p.m. Things getting tight in Des Moines

After looking like Roosevelt was starting to run away with the game, North battled back. The Roughriders were up 20-8, but Gabe Gunn got his second score on the night and Aron Gonkaryon found the endzone on the 2-point attempt to cut the Roughriders' lead to four points.

Almost halftime in that one.

8:00 p.m. West Branch dominating undefeated Durant

The Bears have been asserting their will over Durant in the first half. At the break, they're up 27-0. Andy Henson has two scores and 124 yards on the ground, so safe to say he's pretty pleased with his performance.

7:55 p.m. Iowa State duo connects for 6

The Ankeny Hawks boast a quarterback and WR paring in JJ Kohl and Jameison Patton that most 5A schools should be envious of. The two hooked up for another score to tie WDM Valley at 14. Kohl rolled right on fourth-and-1 and found Patton wide open in the end zone.

The two teams have since traded more scores, so they're knotted up at 21 with under a minute to play in the half.

7: 50 p.m. No. 6 Urbandale not fading away

The J-Hawks got down 14-3 on No. 8 Ankeny Centennial, but they're fighting back now. QB Peyton Rottinghaus rolled to his left and dropped an absolute dime on the move to Beau Carenza in the corner of the end zone. He made an NFL-worth catch, tapping both feet in bounds for the score.

J-Hawks still down to the Jags 14-10 as halftime approaches.

7:46 p.m. Waukee Northwest is rolling

The Wolves, who are taking on No. 9 Sioux City East, are looking to pull a major upset tonight. NW is up 17-0 at the end of the first quarter, capped off by a 3-yard pass from Sam Johnston to Isaiah Moody to make it a three-score game.

7:45 p.m. No. 2 Dowling gets back on top

After giving up nine unanswered points to Johnston, the Maroons fired back. Ra'Shawd Davis found paydirt on about a 15-yard run to reclaim the lead. Dowling up 14-9 with just under 6 minutes to go in the half.

7: 40 p.m. Solon wastes no time

The Spartans needed just two plays to get into the end zone against Washington. Blake Simmons and running back Sean Stahle connected for two passes for 56 yards and a score on the opening drive. After both teams went 3-and-out, Solon pinned Washington back deep in their own territory, Solon linebacker Brett White caused a fumble, which Ryse Ware scooped up and returned to the endzone for the score.

Spartans up 14-0 early in the opening frame.

7:35 p.m. Johnston on top of No. 2 Dowling

Remember that safety? That might've been a momentum shifter for a Johnston team that couldn't get much going beforehand. After the free kick, the Dragons marched right down the field and scored. Will Nuss found Sean Strand wide open in the middle of the field from about 20-yards out for Strand's first score of the season.

Johnston up 9-7 after the PAT early in the second quarter.

7:32 p.m. North takes back the lead on Roosevelt

The Polar Bears are playing their best ball in years and they just took an 8-7 lead over Roosevelt. Gabe Gunn found the endzone on a short carry and then ran in the 2-point conversion attempt.

It's late in the first quarter there still, so lots of football left to play between the Roughriders and Polar Bears.

7: 30 p.m. Johnston claws back with a safety

The Dragons got No. 2 Dowling Catholic pinned back deep in their own territory and forced a three-and-out with their backs to their end zone. Then a high snap forced the Maroons' punter to jump for the ball, but couldn't land on his feet and fell in the endzone for a safety

Dowling still up 7-2, but the Dragons getting the ball back right now to start the second quarter.

7:26 p.m. No. 8 Centennial on top of Urbandale

The Jags hit on a deep shot, this one from 38-yards out. Trenton Smith hit Chase Schutty in stride for Schutt's second score of the season.

PAT is good and the Jags take a 7-3 lead over the No. 6 J-Hawks late in the first quarter.

7:25 p.m. Valley ties it up against No. 3 Ankeny

Tigers quarterback Michael Provenza told JJ Kohl anything you can do I can do better. He matches Kohl's 9-yard scoring scamper, but broke some ankles in the process for a nifty score for Valley.

All tied up at 7 late in the opening frame.

7:20 No. 2 Dowling leads over Johnston

The second-ranked Maroons score first over the hot-and-cold Dragons. Penn State commit Jaxon Smolik hit Cooper Nicholson from five-yards out to take the lead in the first quarter.

7:16 DMR Roosevelt takes control

The Roughriders broke the deadlock against their city rivals, the North Polar Bears. Jayden Davison broke free from 5-yards out to give Roosevelt a 7-0 lead over the 4-1 Polar Bears, who are seeking the DMPS title tonight.

7:15 p.m. West Branch scores first in unbeaten battle

West Branch found the endzone first in a battle with Durant, two 5-0 squads. Andy Henson got the ball and ran it in from 18-yards out to give the Bears the lead.

7:10 p.m. JJ Kohl hits paydirt for No.3 Ankeny

The Iowa State commit and Ankeny quarterback evades pressure from WDM Valley and scampers 9-yards to get into the endzone. An extra point puts Ankeny up 7-0 early in the game.

7:05 Points for No. 6 Urbandale over No. 8 Ankeny Centennial

The J-Hawks strike first in the long top-10 matchup in Iowa's largest class. Peyton Rottinghaus hit Kai Black for 38-yards to get into Jags territory. Then kicker Rockne Carver drilled a 41-yard field goal to score first. J-Hawks up 3-0 early in the first quarter

7:00 We have kickoff

The early slate of games just kicked off around the state. No scoring action to report just yet, at least that we've heard about, but you better believe the scores will start rolling in here in the next few moments.

6:30 p.m. Alyssa Hertel in place for a DMPS battle

Our recruiting and HS sports reporter Alyssa Hertel has arrived to watch Des Moines North try and secure its first winning season in 46 years and win the outright DMPS football title for the first time in 46 years. The Polar Bears are already 4-1, but a Des Moines Roosevelt squad stands in their way tonight and is the toughest challenge they've had all season.

6:22 p.m. Bondurant-Farrar emulating the Hawkeyes

At the end of the first quarter of their homecoming game against Perry, the Bluejays will stop everything and wave toward the east, in the direction of the Stead Family Children's Hospital in Iowa City. It's a tradition that the Iowa Hawkeyes do each week to remind the patients there that they're not alone in their fight.

The Bluejays will be collecting donations for the Stead Family Children's hospital throughout the night as a way to put a cap on September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Getting you set for Week 6

On top of this blog to keep you updated on happenings across the state, we'll have reporters throughout Iowa keeping you up to date too. Recruiting /high school sports reporter Alyssa Hertel (@AlyssaHertel) is at Des Moines North where the Polar Bears could make history. They're taking on Roosevelt for a shot at the outright DMPS title. Veteran high school reporter Cody Goodwin (@CodyGoodwin) will be out watching Waukee Northwest as they welcome in Sioux City East. The Wolves got their first win of the season in an upset over Johnston two weeks ago and had a bye week to prepare for the 4-1 Black Raiders.

Joe Randleman (@JoeRandleman) is just north of the metro area in Ames to watch the Little Cyclones, who boast one of the most well-rounded offenses in the entire state. They're averaging close to 40 points per game and have scored more than 50 in two straight weeks. Council Bluffs Lincoln will try and slow them down tonight. Raven Moore (@Raven_xreport) is checking out Solon's homecoming game when they take on Washington. The Spartans have won two straight by a combined score of 71-10. Meanwhile, the Demons have lost three in a row.

Finally, Matt Levins will be in the southeast corner of the state to see if West Burlington Notre Dame can bounce back from a 36-0 loss to Solon last week. They've won just one game all year and are taking on a Fairfield squad that's on a two-game winning streak, though those wins came by a combined two points.

On top of the reporters out and about tonight, we'll also have staff photographers capturing the best images from the action all across the state and posting galleries to this site throughout the night.

As for me, I'll be mining information from our reporters out in the field and from social media to bring you everything you need to know that's happening in Iowa high school football tonight.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa high school football scores, highlights from Week 6 games