These past two weeks I have been doing 5A Football games with our friends at Midwest Sports Plus and getting to watch tape of the excellent replays they have on their network.
The DSM area again is loaded with state title contenders in 5A or course, and on the Eastern Side of the State who will rise up this fall for a possible trip to the UN-Dome.
Iowa City Liberty Lighting are ready to strike in 2026 again
Last year Iowa City Liberty made their first ever State playoff visit to the UNI-Dome for the semi-finals, and then took down Waukee Northwest. They came back the next week to Cedar Falls for the finals, before falling to Dowling Catholic, finishing a stellar campaign with the State Runner-up trophy.
The Lighting started the Season with a big win on the road at always tough Cedar Falls with a 21-7 win over the Tigers.
So, I was stoked to watch the tape of their next game. The were only playing the Southeast Polk Rams who if you remember, had won 5 straight 5A titles in a row until last fall. The Rams are a state title or bust program, and not winning the state title last year for a 6-pack is something that drives them. They are state title contenders once again in 2026.
In watching this Friday’s game on replay on MS+ which SE Polk won 21-14 it is apparent that Iowa City Liberty is a state title contender this fall once again.
If you can run with the SE Polk Rams in Iowa you can run with anyone.
The City High Little Hawks that Iowa High School Football Fans Remember appear to be back
When you list all-time great Largest Class High School Football programs – City High has to be very high on the list. After a lull the past few years the Little Hawks appear to be back with vengeance.
Frank Bates Field Photo – 18 Former Little Hawks have played in the NFL.
I had a chance to watch the City High Little Hawks very close loss to Iowa City West on MS+ replay (more on that below) in week one by a point, and then was on call in the booth this Friday Night at Frank Bates Field on a very hot Friday Night.
The headliner for the Little Hawks is 3 Star Savon Miller (State Champion at Iowa City Regina in 2025) with 372 total yards of offense in two games already.
He is joined by transfer QB Jackson Grabinski (in from Chicago and his dad was a state title winning QB for the Little Hawks in the Tim Dwight era) who is a multi-threat QB. Chris Kabaiza Jr. QB gets reps and is player. Their QB room has to be the deepest in 5A.
On the outside Chase Newton has 243 yards receiving and is joined by Braden Bickford with 161 yards receiving.
The O line is an excellent group of road graders. When the weather gets cold this is a team that can pound the ball…and get to the UNI-Dome.
Oh…they can play D too, and were dominant against Bettendorf on Friday.
If you haven’t watched tape of Savion Miller, you need to get on it. Squares his should runs very hard, top level burst, you can see why Big Ten-level teams are in the Mix for his services next year.
Iowa City West Trojans are loaded and off to a 2-0 start
I could write all day about West and how good they are. It starts with Iowa Hawkeye Commit James Barnett (3 Star) and son of George Barnett (Iowa Hawkeye Offensive Line Coach) and watching James on tape is a clinic. If you are
West is loaded with size, speed, and skill. Reece Wheeler 542 yards passing and 97 rushing. Amari Brown 222 on the ground, and Neil “Big Play” James with 316 yards receiving and 4 TDs.
They play Friday night against Pleasant Valley on MS+ and I will be watching.
Who else will rise in the East? It’s too early to say for sure but I expect if all three Iowa City teams get to the playoffs each of them can make a run to the UNI Dome this fall.
As always, we appreciate your comments and suggestions.
