Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

NORTH LIBERTY – Some would see a title game matchup with a top-ranked, 10-time state champ like West Des Moines Dowling as an obstacle.

An astronomical one at that.

Not Liberty High senior quarterback Reece Rettig.

Rettig views Friday’s Class 5A state title game against perennial power West Des Moines Dowling as an opportunity.

The exact opportunity Rettig and his Liberty High teammates want.

We don’t want any questions marks left, we don’t want any asterisks on the season,” Rettig said. “We want to say we were the best team and there is no question and in order to say that you have to beat the best team and that’s what we have an opportunity to do.”

Liberty High (11-1) earned that opportunity with a 31-15 semifinal win over second-ranked Waukee Northwest last Friday in just its second ever semifinal appearance.

It has been a quick ascension to prominence for Liberty High which will make its state championship debut on Friday at 7 p.m. at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls in just its eighth season of varsity football.

Standing in the way of the first state title for Liberty High is perhaps the premier program in the state in West Des Moines Dowling.

The Maroons have won 10 state titles, second most in state history, including seven straight from 2013 to 2019 and have won at least nine games in 17 of the last 19 seasons.

“We want the biggest, baddest teams every game,” Rettig said. “That’s why we scheduled (2024 state champion) Southeast Polk in the regular season, we wanted them. We want the best. We want to prove we are the best.”

Friday’s title game will feature a battle of best on best in the Liberty High offense and the West Des Moines Dowling defense.

Led by Rettig Liberty High has been among the best in 5A this season averaging 37.1 points and 401 total yards per game while producing 6.5 yards per play.

Rettig has thrown for 2,326 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 942 yards and 14 touchdowns.

“I feel like I have yet to play my best game,” Rettig said. “I’m sure everybody else feels they are yet to play their best game and I feel like that is what keeps driving us forward.”

The Dowling defense has been dominant.

The Maroons are allowing just 7.6 points and 189 total yards per game while limiting teams to 3.8 yards per play.

West Des Moines Dowling hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in a game during its current 11-game winning streak.

“It starts with their defensive line,” Liberty High coach Scott Chandler said.  “They’ve got four war daddies but there who play with an extremely high motor, high effort guys, their linebacker crew is athletic and they understand their scheme well.”

West Des Moines Dowling has been plenty impressive offensively as well averaging 33.6 points and 388 total yards per game.

The Maroons lean on a big and talented offensive line that averages 256 pounds per play and has paved the way for senior tailback Ian Middleton to rush for 1,561 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Senior quarterback Joey Nahas has passed for 2,165 yards and 24 touchdowns with senior receivers Sam Drexler and Iowa State commit Jeffrey Roberts combining for 98 receptions for 1,640 yards and 19 touchdowns.

“Like any of the CIML teams we play they have size, they have athletes,” Chandler said. “I think that their offensive line is probably as good as any, there running back is as good as any, his style is a little different than a lot but he’s patient and he’s tough to bring down and then they have two guys on the outside that we have to be really cognizant of and aware of.”

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