Week 2 of the Iowa high school football season brought the kind of ranked-on-ranked action that can reshape the early season picture fast, and the headline result came at the top. No. 1 Dowling Catholic, the reigning Class 5A state champions, held off fourth-ranked Johnston in a 41-35 thriller.
Another Top 25 showdown produced a statement rebound for No. 6 West Des Moines Valley.
After falling to Dowling Catholic in Week 1, Valley got back on track with a 56-42 win over No. 13 Waukee Northwest, handing the Wolves a second straight loss.
Here’s how the High School On SI Iowa Top 25 fared in Week 2:
No. 1 Dowling Catholic beat No. 4 Johnston, 41-35.
No. 2 Cedar Rapids Kennedy has its next game at Clear Creek-Amana on Friday, September 11.
No. 3 Sioux City East has its next game at No. 17 Sioux City Bishop Heelan on Friday, September 11.
No. 4 Johnston’s next game is vs. Pleasant Valley on Friday, September 11.
No. 5 Ames’ last game was a 14-13 loss to Central Lyon/George-Little Rock.
No. 6 West Des Moines Valley beat No. 13 Waukee Northwest, 56-42.
No. 7 Bettendorf’s next game is at Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson on Friday, September 11.
No. 8 Waukee Northwest lost to No. 6 West Des Moines Valley, 56-42.
No. 9 Iowa City Liberty’s next game is vs.
No. 25 Iowa City High on Friday, September 11.
No. 10 Sioux City Bishop Heelan’s next game is at No. 3 Sioux City East on Friday, September 11.
No. 11 Dowling Catholic’s next game is at No. 1 Dowling Catholic on Friday, September 11.
No. 12 Sergeant Bluff-Luton’s last game was a 33-28 loss to No. 12 Sergeant Bluff-Luton.
No. 13 Waukee Northwest’s next game is vs. Harlan Community on Friday, September 11.
No. 14 Western Dubuque’s next game is vs. Western Dubuque on Friday, September 11.
No. 15 West Des Moines Valley’s next game is at No. 13 Waukee Northwest on Friday, September 11.
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Brown is still expected to share the stage, though, with third-year quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski also slated to play multiple series. For Iowa, the opener is less about naming a long-term winner than getting an early read on both quarterbacks in live action, and the way Ferentz structures those snaps should tell plenty about where the battle stands once the first weekend is in the books. [Read more 🡒]
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Moulton backed up that growth with a career night in a recent game, piling up 132 rushing yards in the first quarter alone and giving Iowa a burst of production it badly needed. Kirk Ferentz has noticed the difference too, praising both Moultons attitude and Norvells influence on the room, which makes this feel like more than a hot stretch - it may be the beginning of something the Hawkeyes can build around. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa's Quarterback Battle Still Feels Wide Open After Opening Rout
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Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski both got turns under center, which is the bigger takeaway than the final margin for anyone tracking the depth chart. Brown handled the early sequence and was productive, while Hecklinski also found the end zone but mixed in an interception, leaving Iowa with performance notes to sort through even after a dominant start to the season. [Read more 🡒]
