High school football rankings: Xavier finishes No. 1 in final Iowa MaxPreps Top 25

The high school football season in Iowa came to a close over the weekend with champions crowned at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Xavier (Cedar Rapids) was among the winners, beating Lewis Central (Council Bluffs) in the Class 4A state championship game. That victory helped propel the Saints to the No. 1 ranking in the final state MaxPreps Top 25.

Xavier is one of four Iowa high school football programs to finish the 2022 season with a clean 13-0 record. Head coach Duane Schulte's Saints also won state championships in 2017 and 2018, giving Xavier three state football titles over the past six seasons. The Saints are 66-5 during that span.

Led by 2022 Iowa MaxPreps Player of the Year Kadyn Proctor, Southeast Polk (Pleasant Hill) won the 5A state title to earn the No. 2 spot in the rankings. During the 49-14 win over Valley (West Des Moines), Proctor ran interference as Ram running back Abu Sama ran for an IHSAA state championship record 372 yards and six touchdowns on 24 carries.

Other state champions that finished in the final MaxPreps Top 25 include No. 6 Harlan, No. 3 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (Rock Rapids), No. 5 Van Meter and No. 8 Grundy Center.

Xavier snapped Lewis Central's 21-game winning streak in the Class 4A state championship while West Hancock (Britt) had its 25-game win streak halted 27-0 at the hands of Grundy Center in the Class A championship.

Class 5A – Southeast Polk (Pleasant Hill)

Class 4A – Xavier (Cedar Rapids)

Class 3A – Harlan

Class 2A – Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (Rock Rapids)

Class 1A – Van Meter

Class A – Grundy Center

8-player – St. Mary's (Remsen)