By Mark Schafer | The News-Review
CEDAR FALLS – One game stretched into overtime, and nearly all of the seven State championship football games weren’t decided until the final few minutes.
Last weekend the Iowa High School Athletic Association named their seven champions in each class for the 2025 football season.
8-player
For most of the game it looked like Bishop Garrigan was just getting too far behind. Woodbine controlled the pace of the game. Although Bishop Garrigan scored first, Woodbine would score the next three touchdowns, eventually taking a 20-14 lead at halftime.
Woodbine extended their lead 36-14 at the end of the third quarter, but Bishop Garrigan battled back and scored three-straight touchdowns to start the fourth quarter.
The game was tied at 36 with 2:32 to go, but Woodbine scored on a one yard touchdown run to take a 42-36 lead with 1:09 left.
Bishop Garrigan wasn’t bothered as they moved down field in five plays scoring with nine seconds left and getting a two point conversion to take the win 44-42.
Class A
From the start it seemed like MMCRU was the team to beat.
Eventually the MMCRU Royals would claim their first championship as a consolidated school with a 30-17 victory over Saint Ansgar.
The Royals scored the first 17 points of the game to lead 17-7 at halftime. Saint Ansgar made a field goal in the third quarter to pull within 17-10, but that was as close as the game would get. The Royals scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to take the win.
Class 1A
It seems fitting that the only team to repeat as State champions played in the only game that went into overtime.
After winning the class 2A title in 2024, West Lyon was seeking a title in class 1A, as they took on Iowa City Regina.
West Lyon scored first, but a 17-point second quarter gave the Regals a 17-13 lead at halftime. Regina scored a field goal in the third quarter. Regina would extend their lead 27-13 with 11:16 left in the fourth quarter, but back-to-back touchdowns by West Lyon tied the game at 27.
The score remained tied and went into overtime. West Lyon scored off a 10-yard run. Regina was stopped on the goal line on their possession, giving West Lyon a second-straight State championship.
Class 2A
The last time Kuemper Catholic (Carroll) won the State championship, they needed a game-winning field goal. This time the Knights left no doubt.
Kuemper completed a perfect season by winning 28-7 over Van Meter in the championship game. For the Knights the game had to feel like a relief, not only were they able to win their first championship since 2013, they were able to beat a team that had bested Kuemper in numerous other State tournaments.
The last time Kuemper made the State baseball tournament was in 2022, when Van Meter eliminated Kuemper, in Kuemper’s own ballpark, in the quarterfinal round.
Kuemper led 14-0 at half and extended their lead 21-0 by the end of the third quarter. Both teams scored a touchdown in the final frame.
Class 3A
Nevada’s run to the State championship won’t soon be forgotten. The Cubs were considered the underdog in every one of their playoff games, and never saw their home field after the regular season ended.
Last Friday Nevada capped off a perfect post season with a 27-6 State championship game over Bishop Heelan.
Nevada led 13-0 after the first half. Bishop Heelan’s lone score came in the third quarter off a 10-yard touchdown pass. Nevada would score twice in the fourth to take the win, and claim their first ever State championship.
Class 4A
Throughout the championship game it seemed as if Xavier was able to score at-will.
For the Saints they were able to win 31-6 as Pella was held away from scoring through the first 44 minutes of the game.
Xavier started with 31-straight points scored, before Pella scored with 3:42 left in the fourth quarter off a 74-yard pass.
Class 5A
Every time it seemed as if Iowa City Liberty was getting close, Dowling Catholic just extended the lead.
At the end of the day Dowling Catholic was able to win the 2025 class 5A championship with a 27-10 victory over Iowa City Liberty.
The Maroons jumped out to a 10-0 lead, before the Lightning scored a field goal at the end of the first half. Dowling would score two touchdowns in the third quarter to extend their lead 24-3. The Lightning would score at the end of the third quarter, but Dowling added a field goal midway through the fourth to extend the lead, and claim the title.
