Week 11 Rankings Update
Some key losses were suffered by top 1A and 2A teams in the final week of their regular season, and the final rankings of the season for those two classes reflect such results. Class 3A and 4A were relatively untouched this week, as they enter their regular season finales.
Despite suffering their first loss of the season, Grand View Christian (18-1) remains at the top of the Class 1A rankings. The Thunder lost to a good 2A team, Kuemper Catholic, on the road by a point, and the overall body of their work throughout the season (wins over Ankeny Christian, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura, PCM, Lynnville-Sully, etc.) keep them above a North Linn (22-0) team that is blasting teams by an average of 93-36. Remsen, St. Mary’s (21-0) concluded their undefeated regular season and remain in the No. 3 spot, followed by Lynnville-Sully (18-3) and George-Little Rock (15-6). There are no newcomers, and New London (17-4) is the biggest riser, going from No. 10 to No. 7.
In a loaded Class 2A, Western Christian (19-2) rises to the top despite a loss to Sioux Falls Christian (SD). The top three teams in the class all took a loss last week, but the Wolfpack haven’t lost to an in-state team this season, and like Grand View Christian in 1A, their resume is the strongest in the class. Previous No. 1 Van Meter (20-1) falls a spot to No. 2, followed by Cascade (20-1), East Marshall (20-0) and South Hamilton (21-0). Sioux Center (17-4) and Garner-Hayfield-Ventura (18-4) flip spots at the bottom, with Sioux Center moving up to No. 9 after G-H-V’s loss to Clear Lake. There are no newcomers, but a handful of teams are knocking on the door in the final rankings of the regular season.
The top five teams remain solid in Class 3A, where two-time defending champion Cedar Rapids Xavier (14-5) leads the way, followed by Mount Pleasant (16-3), Oskaloosa (17-2), Norwalk (17-2) and Glenwood (17-2). A pair of hot newcomers enter, with West Delaware (15-5) entering at No. 8 and Clear Lake (16-4) at No. 9. West Delaware has lost just once since the holiday break, while Clear Lake is riding a ten-game winning streak.
It was a very quiet week in Class 4A, as the teams that were ranked last week went a combined 17-1, with the lone loss coming by Dubuque Hempstead (14-5) at the hands of No. 1 Dubuque Senior (15-4). The Mustangs fall a spot to No. 10 as a result, with North Scott (16-3) moving up to No. 9. All the other spots remain the same as they were last week.