IHSAA releases state quarterfinal schedule after round of 16 games

Toe met leather across the Hawkeye State on October 30, 2026, launching the high-stakes Round of 16 slate for the Iowa high school football playoffs, desmoinesregister.com reported. Across seven classifications, teams fought under the Friday night lights to survive and advance toward the state quarterfinals.

The Battlegrounds of West Des Moines and Beyond

Prep sports reporter Alyssa Hertel and intern Ashley Howard posted up in West Des Moines to watch Valley take on Dallas Center-Grimes. Tommy Birch traveled just south of Des Moines to follow Indianola against Iowa City Liberty.

Ankeny ultimately fended off Waukee in a high-scoring thriller, securing a 43-37 victory to punch their ticket to the next round. The Hawks had to weather a fierce comeback attempt before finally slamming the door. Down in the trenches, Southeast Polk controlled the tempo against Urbandale. Stanley Cooper ripped off a massive run deep into the red zone, allowing his brother, Adrian Cooper, to punch it in on the ground for the game’s opening score.

Defensive Stands and Tight Finishes

Not every contest was an offensive showcase.

Friday Night Hype: Highlights from Week 9 games — Photo: kcci.com

Further down the bracket, Newton topped North Polk, Carlisle cruised past ADM, and Prairie handled Sioux City East.

The Road to the State Quarterfinals

With the dust settling on a frantic night of playoff football, desmoinesregister.com confirmed that the IHSAA released the official state quarterfinal schedule late Thursday evening. Teams that survived the Round of 16 must quickly pivot their focus as the field narrows down to the state’s elite programs.