By Bob BakkenMaxPreps.com
Football: Class 4-A Down to Final Four
In Monday's quarterfinal round among Iowa's largest schools, Bettendorf defeated Davenport Assumption 35-14, Ankeny pummeled Southeast Polk 52-14, Cedar Falls knocked off Cedar Rapids Washington 35-13, and West Des Moines Valley shutout Newton 16-0.
Bettendorf rebounded after a 20-play drive ended short of a score at the one-yard to end the first half. The Bulldog defense forced two turnovers and two other possessions ended in three-and-out punts that resulted in three short scoring drives in the quarter.
Cedar Falls' advancement came Monday at the Dome against Cedar Rapids Washington, as running back Andrew Tindall carried for 165 yards on 32 carries. Washington aired out its offense, as two quarterbacks combined for 470 yards passing. However, the Warriors could only muster three yards running offense in nine carries.
The Ankeny victory snapped a three-game losing streak to the Southeast Polk Rams, and they'll be hoping to snap another streak when they play WDM Valley in the semifinals. Between 2002 and 2004, the two teams met in the semifinals each year, with Valley winning all three times by a combined score of 126-38.
Valley advanced to the showdown of Central Iowa Metropolitan League squads with the help of running back Zach Cutkomp, who ran for 198 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 16-0 whitewashing of Newton. It was Valley's second straight shutout in the playoffs, after handling Sioux City North 24-0 in the first round the previous Wednesday.
Their battle with Ankeny this weekend will be Valley's sixth straight visit to the state semifinals.
Football: Heelan Ousts Top-Ranked Harlan
Second-ranked Sioux City Heelan prevailed over top-ranked Harlan 21-17 Tuesday night in a game some considered the Class 3-A championship game, but only in the quarterfinals.
In a struggle on Harlan's field where the teams traded leads, the Crusaders prevailed with Brandon Wegher's eight yard touchdown run with 7:53 remaining in the game.
Wegher finished the game with 112 yards on 27 carries. He scored two touchdowns (one running and one pass catch), kicked three extra points and made key defensive plays.
It was the first time in 27 years that Harlan has not gone to the semifinals in two straight seasons. It's also the first home loss on Harlan's field in seven years and the Cyclones' first playoff home loss in eight years.
Harlan has gone five straight seasons without a loss in the regular season.
The teams met earlier in the season in Sioux City, with Harlan winning a 38-34 contest that featured five lead changes.
The Crusaders will meet Carlisle in the semifinals on Monday afternoon. The Wildcats' Jordan Gonzalez ran for 214 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-17 quarterfinal win over Pella Tuesday night. Gonzalez, who moved to Carlisle from New Jersey last season, is only 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds, but Pella failed to find a way to stop him.
At 10-1, Carlisle avenged its only regular season loss while Pella finished the year at 8-3. The Dutch had won the past four meetings between the teams.
Chip Phillips led Pella's running attack with 157 yards and two touchdowns.
The other 3-A semifinal will have Keokuk against South Tama. Keokuk defeated Central DeWitt 42-7, while South Tama handled Waverly-Shell Rock 49-28.
Football: Lions Continue Defending 2-A Title
Central Lyon/George-Little Rock continued on its way toward defense of its state championship after Tuesday evening's 20-14 overtime victory in the quarterfinals over Estherville-Lincoln Central.
Scott Eben scored all three touchdowns for CL/G-LR, including the game winner from one year out in overtime.
CL/G-LR will meet Carroll Kuemper in the semi-finals, after Kuemper defeated Hampton-Dumont 21-14.
Quarterback Steve Badding led the Kuemper offense in their victory with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Dillon Bupiper. Badding also ran for another touchdown.
The other half of the bracket will have Solon against North Fayette. Solon ousted Tipton 42-14 and North Fayette dispatched of Collins-Maxwell-Baxter 28-14.
Tyler Hemry led North Fayette with three running scores and 148 yards running in 24 carries.
James Morris led Solon with four rushing touchdowns and 121 yards in their victory over Tipton.
Football: Class 1-A Semifinals Set
Top-ranked and unbeaten Council Bluffs St. Albert will meet Southern Cal in one of the Class 1-A semifinal football games set for the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls this Saturday. It'll be a re-match of a semifinal game played last year in the Dome, won by St. Albert 21-14, who went on to win the state championship.
Southern Cal prevailed in Monday's quarterfinals with a 27-14 victory over South Hamilton; just 10 days after Southern Cal had beaten the same team 21-6 in the regular season finale. The Mustangs put together 294 yards of total offense, while holding the Hawks to just 182 yards.
St. Albert met seventh-ranked West Lyon on Monday night on a neutral field in Sergeant Bluff and claimed a back-and-forth 19-12 victory. Tony Knotek scored the winning touchdown on a fourth-and-one play in the third quarter, on his way to leading the Falcon running attack with 75 yards on 11 carries. St. Albert never trailed on its way to its 21st straight victory.
St. Albert (11-0) will be seeking its third state title in the last four years.
In the other quarterfinals on Monday night, Iowa City Regina defeated Northeast-Goose Lake 16-6 and Mason City Newman stopped Starmont 27-8.
Marcus Kloos ran for 115 yards on 15 carries in the Regina victory.
Newman (11-0) moved on with a strong second-half against the team from Strawberry Point in a game played at the UNI-Dome Monday evening. Adam Buffington ran for 185 yards and three TDs as the Knights garnered 258 rushing yards in 52 attempts.
The victory gets Newman into somewhat uncharted waters; it's only the second time in school history they've been in the state football semifinals.