Southeast Polk 38, West Des Moines Valley 35
Just typing that out months later still seems a bit surreal. I have driven past the SE Polk school in Altoona often the past few years on our way back to Atlanta. When we see the school sign, I always say “Roll Tide”. It’s a Kayden Proctor shout-out, and it pretty much made the family in the car laugh every time. Now that we are back in Iowa it’s probably time to retire the “Roll Tide”, but SE Polk has been the powerhouse 5A Program in the State for the past four years
Coming into the game as Three-time defending Class 5A champion Southeast Polk Rams they led West Des Moines Valley by 17, gave up 28 straight points to trail by 11, and then mounted a crazy comeback.
The Rams (9-4) mounted their late comeback at the UNI-Dome and upended the favored West Des Moines Valley Tigers (10-3). In a wild final 90 seconds Southeast Polk scored two touchdowns
GAME SUMMARY
| SEP | VAL | |
| First Downs | 18 | 16 |
| Rush Att. | 37 | 22 |
| Rush Yards | 121 | 69 |
| Pass C-A-I | 24-38-1 | 17-26-1 |
| Pass Yards | 332 | 279 |
| Total Yards | 453 | 348 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 7-17 | 4-9 |
| 4th Down Conv. | 4-4 | 0-1 |
| TOP | 29:54 | 18:06 |
Source: IAHSAA Game Summary – Published on November 22, 2024
That makes 15 straight Large Class Football titles for CIML football teams since 2009 (The largest class was 4A until 2021 when the 5A Class was established).
In the past 15 years the CIML title count has been impressive:
West Des Moines Valley 1 – (2011)
Ankeny 2 – (2012, 2020)
Southeast Polk 4 – (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Dowling Catholic WDM 8 – (2010, 2013 – 2019)
What will 2025 bring in the largest class of Iowa High School football? Will SE Polk continue their run? Valley has top D1 talent and tradition after coming so close in 2024. Ankeny? others?
It will be interesting to follow this fall, and we can’t wait to write our team and conference previews later this summer.
As always, we appreciate your comments and support.
