West Des Moines is buzzing with excitement as the Class 5A high school football rankings have seen a significant shift. After four weeks of intense competition and multiple changes at the top, West Des Moines Valley has reclaimed the No. 1 position, narrowly edging out their cross-town rivals Dowling by just one point—56 to 55. This marks the fourth consecutive week where the top spot has changed hands in the big-school category.
Valley was able to regain the top ranking thanks to their recent victory over then-No. 2 Waukee, coupled with the surprising loss of former No. 1 Ankeny Centennial against Southeast Polk. The Tigers received two first-place votes while Dowling had four, indicating how competitive the race has been.
This week, both Valley and Dowling are heavily favored in their upcoming matches, alongside Bettendorf, which remains the only unbeaten team in the top 10, and Pleasant Valley, ranked fourth. Fifth-ranked Waukee is gearing up for a challenging match against Johnston, adding more intrigue to the rankings.
Meanwhile, in the Class A rankings, there’s also a shake-up as Guthrie Center ACGC climbs to the top spot after a thrilling upset win over former No. 1 Woodbury Central. ACGC secured four first-place votes, beating West Hancock in poll points 58 to 56. This comes after ACGC dominated South Central Calhoun last week with a score of 28-14, while West Hancock celebrated a decisive 46-7 victory against North Union.
As teams gear up for this week’s fixtures, fans can expect even more excitement on the gridiron. Stay tuned as the season progresses, since any game can turn the rankings on their head.
