Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The 2025 football season came to a close last month with state championship games at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

It was another historic season for Your Prep Sports area teams with five area teams qualifying for the playoffs and Regina, Liberty High and Solon all advancing to the state semifinals.

Liberty High made the first state title game appearance in program history while Regina reached the state championship game for the first time since 2020.

With the season official over Your Prep Sports takes a look back at some of the best plays, performances, games and moments from an unforgettable season for area teams.

Best individual offensive performance: Keaton Gates against Tipton. Gates had several big games during a breakthrough junior season but none were better than the West Branch junior’s 214-yard, five-touchdown outing in a 43-16 win at Cedar Country rival Tipton.

Best individual offensive performance part 2: Chris Kabaiza against Des Moines East. Kabaiza came on strong down the stretch in his first season leading the City High offense and that late-season surge started with a near-flawless performance against the Scarlets. The sophomore signal caller completed 29-of-33 passes for 323 yards and a school-record tying five touchdowns in a 59-14 City High win.

Best individual defensive performance: Jackson Law against Bettendorf. Law was almost unblockable in a 31-14 road win at Bettendorf. The senior defensive end broke a 30-year old school record for sacks in a single game with five breaking the previous school record of 4.5 sacks set by Shane Baumgart in the 1995 state title game. The five sacks for Law were among a game-high 9.5 tackles that included eight solo stops and he forced three fumbles.

Best individual defensive performance part 2: Blaine Heick against Ottumwa. Heick saved his best for last as he came up huge in his final game in a City High uniform. The senior linebacker had 15 tackles including 13 solo stops and two tackles for loss, recovered a fumble and intercepted two passes returning one for a touchdown in a 60-14 win over the Bulldogs.

Best individual overall performance: Maddox Kelley against Winterset. Kelley put together one of the season’s best box scores in the Solon’s 21-6 quarterfinal win over Winterset. The junior two-way standout had six tackles, including five solo stops and a sack and picked off three passes on defense returning one 50 yards for a touchdown. On offense Kelley had six receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown, rushed 10 times for 41 yards and completed a pass for 13 yards. The dynamic Kelley also returned a punt 16 yards and punted once for 16 yards.

Best individual overall performance part 2: Tate Wallace against Pleasantville. Wallace was unstoppable on both sides of the ball as Regina returned to the state semifinals with a 49-7 quarterfinal win over Pleasantville. The two-way junior star caught four passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns on offense and had four tackles for loss and three sacks among his five tackles on defense.

Best individual clutch performance: Savion Miller against Grundy Center. The numbers aren’t staggering but the 167 rushing yards and a touchdown don’t tell the whole story of how the junior tailback came up clutch in a 31-12 Regina semifinal win over the three-time defending champion Spartans. When the Regals needed to put the game away late they turned to their standout running back and Miller produced in a big-way hammering out 114 yards on 15 second-half carries.

Best individual breakthrough performance: Kaden Hoeper against Davenport Assumption. Hoeper didn’t waste any time getting a breakthrough season starter announcing himself as one of the top pass catchers in 3A as the Solon junior had five receptions for 174 yards and two interceptions to go with an interception in a 36-13 season-opening win over the Knights.

Best backup performance: Emerson Berner against West Des Moines Dowling. Thrust into action under the lights of the state’s biggest stage after an injury to starter Reece Rettig, Berner delivered when called up. The junior quarterback completed 8-of-12 first-half passes for 54 yards to keep Liberty High afloat against the powerhouse Maroons.

Best individual offensive play: Texton Bollers against Marion. On the first play after starting quarterback Conlan Poynton left the game with an injury Bollers came up big. On fourth-and-15 the sophomore quarterback threw a perfect strike to Tay Seals for a 35-yard touchdown pass that sparked the Clippers in a 35-13 come-from-behind win over Marion.

Best individual special teams play: Tay Seals against Marion. Clear Creek Amana executed some special teams trickery to perfection in 35-13 win over the Wolves. After Marion took a 14-13 lead with 5:28 left in the first half Seals took a handoff from Ethan Vice on a reverse on the ensuing kickoff and the junior track star raced 83 yards untouched for a touchdown.

Biggest individual offensive play: Carter Slager against West Lyon. Regina was teetering early in the Class 1A title game against defending state champion West Lyon when Slager got loose for a momentum-changing 58-yard touchdown. Slager broke open down the middle of the field and hauled in a perfectly thrown ball from senior quarterback Kyle Tracy for a touchdown that sparked a string of 27 unanswered points for Regina.

Biggest individual defensive play: Luke Hamilton against Pleasantville. The Regina defense swung the moment late in the opening quarter of its quarterfinal win over Pleasantville with a goal line stand and it was junior linebacker Hamilton that came up with the big play. The Trojans had the ball at the Regina 2-yard line and on the 19^th play of the drive Hamilton pounced on a fumble to stop the march and swing the momentum to the Regina side in what ended a 49-7 Regal win.

Biggest individual special teams play: Brandon Pedersen against Denver. Pedersen gave West Branch an early jolt with an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown in a 22-15 playoff win over the Cyclones. The senior speedster fielded a bouncing ball at the 20, broke left and made a defender miss before cutting back across the field right and outracing the coverage team to the end zone.

Best team offensive performance: West Branch against Bellevue. The Bears had several strong offensive performances but came up with their best with the district title on the line. West Brach rushed for a season-high 330 yards and averaged 7.8 yards per play in a 43-20 win at previously unbeaten Bellevue.

Best team defensive performance: Liberty High against Waukee Northwest. The Liberty High defense came up with its best performance in recent history on the state’s biggest stage, shutting down a high-powered Waukee Northwest offense in a 31-15 win in the 5A state semifinals. Liberty High limited a Waukee Northwest offense that entered averaging 42.1 points and 427 total yards per game to a season-low 15 points and 202 yards of total offense while allowing just 52 rushing yards and a single offensive touchdown.

Biggest win: Liberty High against Waukee Northwest. A week after taking down four-time defending state champion Southeast Polk in the quarterfinals to make the second semifinal appearance in program history the Bolts got the biggest win in program history with a 31-15 victory over second-ranked Waukee Northwest in the 5A semifinals to reach the state title game for the first time.

Best game: West Branch against Denver. The first-round 22-15 win for the Bears came down to the final play. West Branch scored the go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute to play on a 10-yard run by Keaton Gates and Cooper Gates clinched the win with a sack on the game’s final play as West Branch advanced to the second round of the 2A playoffs.

Best finish: Liberty High against Southeast Polk. How could it no be this game? Liberty High had the final say in a back-and-forth contest taking the lead for good when Pryor Reiners hauled in a 14-yard pass from Reece Rettig with 1:30 to play in a 31-28 win over Southeast Polk. The game was decided until Southeast Polk missed a 51-yard field goal on the final play of the game.

Best drive: Liberty High against Southeast Polk. Liberty High marched 66 yards in less than a minute for a game-winning touchdown drive in a 31-28 quarterfinal win over the Rams and it wasn’t even the most impressive drive of the game for the Lightning. The best drive of the game, and the season, was a 15-play march, nearly five-minute drive in which the Lightning converted three fourth downs, including a pair of fourth-and-10s to take a 24-21 lead with 5:41 remaining.

Breakthrough offensive performer: West High senior Ethan Headings. An Iowa recruit, Headings went from a solid complimentary option in the West High pass game as a junior to one of the state’s best receivers in a breakthrough senior season. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Headings led Class 5A with 1,202 receiving yards, ranked second in 5A with 13 touchdowns and had a team-high 56 receptions while averaging 21.5 yards per catch on his way to earning first-team all-state honors.

Breakthrough defensive performer: Solon senior Ethan Ulch. After making 1.5 tackles as a junior Ulch emerged as a key member of an opportunistic Solon secondary during a breakout senior season in which he ranked sixth on the team in tackles and second in interceptions from his cornerback spot. Ulch had 30.5 tackles three interceptions and recovered two fumbles helping the Spartans to an 11-1 record and a spot in the 3A semifinals.

Most improved offensive player: West High senior Campbell Janis. Like his teammate Headings, Janis made the most of his expanded role as a senior establishing himself as one of the top running backs in Class 5A. A year after rushing for 261 yards and two touchdowns as a junior Janis ranked third in 5A in rushing yards and fifth in rushing touchdowns, racking up the sixth highest rushing total in West High history running for 1,338 yards and 15 touchdowns to go with five receptions for 68 yards.

Most improved defensive player: Clear Creek Amana senior Aidan Shrock. A year after making 20.5 tackles Schrock was one of the most productive linebackers in Class 4A while leading the Clippers in tackles. Schrock had 61.5 tackles with 39 solo stops, five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, forced a fumble and had an interception.

Most consistent: Regina senior Drew Greve. Overshadowed at times by high-profile players on the Regina roster Greve was a consistent playmaker on both sides of the ball during the Regals 12-1 season that ended with a 1A runner-up finish. As a defensive back Greve had 20.5 tackles, led Regina with five passes defended and eight interceptions and returned a fumble for a touchdown. As a receiver Greve caught 28 passes for 495 yards and five touchdowns.

Coach of the year: Scott Chandler. After leading Liberty High to the best season in program last year in his first season leading the program Chandler directed the Lightning to an even more successful season in year two. Chandler led Liberty High to a school record 11 wins and the first state title game in program history where it finished runner-up to perennial power West Des Moines Dowling.

Offensive newcomer of the year: West High junior Reece Wheeler. In his first season leading the West High offense Wheeler was among the most productive quarterbacks in Class 5A racking up nearly 2,500 yards of total offense and 26 touchdowns. Wheeler completed 61 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,280 yards and 22 touchdowns with five interceptions and rushed for 213 yards and four touchdowns.

Defensive newcomer of the year: Regina junior Will Litton. In his first season of varsity football the 6-foot-6, 215-pound Litton emerged as a disruptive force on the Regal defensive front. Litton ranked sixth on the team with 37.5 tackles from his defensive end spot while ranking second on the team in both tackles for loss (12.5) and sacks (5).

Unsung hero: Liberty High senior Jaryn Setterh. Offensive linemen are often unsung heroes on successful teams and Setterh was the unquestioned leader of a Liberty High group up front that emerged as a strength for the Lightning during the most successful season in program history. Setterh helped pave the way for a Lightning offense that was among the best in 5A averaging 35 points and 388 total yards per game.

Biggest under the radar impact: Solon senior Colby Myers. A key two-way performer Myers played an important role in helping the Spartans reach the 3A semifinals. A starter at center, Myers was an anchor on the Solon offensive line and added 22 tackles with 10.5 tackles for loss and a team-high six sacks from his defensive line spot.

Comeback player of the year: Liberty High junior Brody Beaver. Beaver overcame an early-season injury to bolster the Liberty High backfield as the Lightning advanced to the 5A title game. The junior running back rushed for 648 yards and six touchdowns and also caught 30 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown.

Lineman of the year: West High senior Collin Whitters. The anchor of the best West High offensive front in recent history, Whitters was a man amongst boys this season accumulating a team-best 77 pancake blocks. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Iowa signee helped West High average 192 rushing yards, 405 total yards and 39 points per game as the Trojans went 8-3 and advanced to the 5A quarterfinals.

Offensive MVP: Regina senior quarterback Kyle Tracy. Regina advanced to the UNI-Dome for the first time since 2020 and the play of its senior quarterback was a huge reason for the Regals’ success. A two-year starter, Tracy was among the most efficient quarterbacks in the state completing 73 percent of his passes while accounting for 37 touchdowns and nearly 3,000 yards of total offense. Tracy passed for 2,317 yards and 35 touchdowns with just five interceptions and rushed for 616 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Defensive MVP: Liberty High senior linebacker Landon Bell. Liberty High was drastically improved defensively this season and its senior leader at middle linebacker was a big reason for that jump. The heart and soul of the Lightning defense, Bell had a team-high 75 tackles including a team-high 18.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.

Most Valuable Player: Liberty High senior quarterback Reece Rettig. The leader of the most successful two-year stretch in program history, Rettig went 21-4 as the starting quarterback at Liberty High directing the Lightning to the first semifinal and state title game appearances in school history. Rettig was at his best this season accounting for 3,373 yards of total offense and 36 touchdowns. The senior quarterback passed for 2,465 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 908 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading Liberty High to an 11-2 record and Class 5A runner-up finish.

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