Honestly, if you were sitting in the stands at the UNI-Dome this past November, you know the vibe was just... different. The iowa high school football playoffs bracket 2024 wasn't just a series of games; it was a total gauntlet that ended with some of the most "no way that just happened" moments we've seen in years. Everyone expected the heavyweights to flex, but nobody predicted the way the Class 5A final would flip on its head in the final 90 seconds.
It's football in Iowa. It's cold, it's loud, and the bracket usually gets shredded by the time the semifinals roll around. This year was no exception. From Southeast Polk’s "miracle" comeback to Tri-Center finally grabbing that elusive first title, the 2024 postseason was a wild ride for anyone following the scores.
The Class 5A Chaos: Southeast Polk’s Four-Peat
Let’s talk about the big one. Most people thought West Des Moines Valley had it. They really did. With about a minute and a half left on the clock, Valley was sitting pretty with a 35-24 lead. You could almost feel the Valley fans starting to celebrate.
Then Holden Hansen happened.
The Southeast Polk quarterback went absolutely nuclear. First, he connects with Kaden Hills for a 41-yard bomb to trim it to 35-30. Okay, fine, Valley's still up. But then the Rams recover an onside kick—basically the sports equivalent of finding a $100 bill on the sidewalk—and march right back down. Hansen eventually punched it in on a rushing score with just 21 seconds left.
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Final score: 38-35. Southeast Polk became only the fourth program in Iowa history to win four straight titles. They join the ranks of Dowling Catholic, Regina, and Solon. It was a heartbreaker for Valley, especially after they’d rallied for 28 straight points to take that late lead.
Breaking Down the 2024 Bracket Results
If you weren't tracking every single class, the sheer volume of games in the iowa high school football playoffs bracket 2024 can get kinda overwhelming. Basically, the IHSAA splits things into seven different classes. Here is how the trophy cases ended up looking after that final weekend in Cedar Falls:
Class 4A: North Polk’s Ground Game
North Polk decided that passing was optional. They beat Pella 24-14 in a game where they only had 32 passing yards. Seriously. Nathan Feldmann and B.J. Tate just hammered the ball on the ground until Pella’s defense couldn't take it anymore. Feldmann had three touchdowns, and Tate put up 152 yards. It was a masterclass in "three yards and a cloud of dust" football that actually worked in the modern era.
Class 3A: Dubuque Wahlert’s First Title
The Golden Eagles from Wahlert Catholic had never won a football state title before. They didn't just win it this time; they demolished Humboldt 49-14. By halftime, it was 35-7. Michael Bormann and J.P. Elbert were just too much. Humboldt had a great run—finishing 12-1—but Wahlert was a buzzsaw that night.
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Class 2A: West Lyon’s Statement
West Lyon vs. Spirit Lake was supposed to be a heavyweight fight. Instead, it was a one-sided clinic. West Lyon walked away with a 42-7 win, and their defense was the story. They sacked Spirit Lake’s QB seven times. That’s just mean. Coach Jay Rozeboom picked up his sixth championship, putting him in a very elite club of Iowa coaches.
Small School Magic: Classes 1A, A, and 8-Player
The smaller schools usually provide the most drama because the communities are so tight-knit. In Class 1A, Grundy Center secured a "three-peat" by beating Dike-New Hartford 28-7. They’ve now won 39 games in a row. That’s nearly three full seasons without a loss. It's honestly hard to wrap your head around that kind of consistency.
Then you have Class A. Tri-Center (Neola) pulled off a massive upset against the defending champs, West Hancock. It was a gritty, 14-10 defensive battle. Tri-Center hadn't won a team state title in any sport since 2001 (track), so that win was huge for the Neola community.
Over in the 8-Player ranks, Remsen St. Mary’s showed why they are a perennial powerhouse. They handled Gladbrook-Reinbeck 51-12. Landon Waldschmitt was a human highlight reel, accounting for seven total touchdowns. If you haven't watched 8-player football, you're missing out—it's fast, high-scoring, and Remsen makes it look like an art form.
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Why the 2024 Bracket Felt Different
Kinda interesting to note—this year felt like a changing of the guard in some ways, but a reinforcement of dynasties in others. You had brand new winners like North Polk and Wahlert Catholic, but then you had the "regulars" like Southeast Polk and Grundy Center proving they aren't going anywhere.
The IHSAA used a "POD" system for the earlier rounds, which basically grouped teams to minimize travel before things got serious. It leads to some weird matchups early on, but it usually ensures the best teams are the ones surviving until the UNI-Dome.
Key takeaways from the 2024 postseason:
- Defense still wins in November: Look at West Lyon and Tri-Center. When the weather gets weird, your ability to stop the run is everything.
- The UNI-Dome is a different beast: Teams that play on grass all year often struggle with the speed of the turf in Cedar Falls.
- Dynasties are alive and well: Southeast Polk (5A) and Grundy Center (1A) are operating on a different level right now.
What’s Next for Iowa Prep Football?
Now that the dust has settled on the iowa high school football playoffs bracket 2024, coaches are already looking at the 2025 schedules. The IHSAA typically does re-classification every two years, so we might see some teams moving up or down based on enrollment numbers.
If you're a fan, the move now is to keep an eye on the junior classes. A lot of the stars in the 2024 finals—like AJ Harder at Tri-Center or some of the young defensive talent at North Polk—will be back next year.
For those wanting to dive deeper into the stats or see the full play-by-play for these games, the IHSAA and Bound (the official stats partner) keep those archives open. You can go back and see exactly how those final drives unfolded. It’s worth a look, if only to see how Southeast Polk pulled off that 5A miracle one more time.
To stay ahead of the curve for the upcoming season, you should start tracking the off-season coaching changes and district realignments which usually drop in late winter. This is also the time to look at the "returning starters" lists for the top-tier teams like Southeast Polk and West Lyon to see if they have the depth for another run.