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As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Iowa Yellow Jackets could finally celebrate their first-ever state football championship after a tough, tense battle with North DeSoto at the Caesars Superdome on Friday.

“It doesn’t feel real,” Iowa head coach Tommy Johns said. “It really doesn’t.

“But like I said, these guys are more than deserving. They’ve earned it. And I guess people kind of know where Iowa is now. They don’t have to ask.”

No. 2 Iowa (14-0) beat No. 1 North DeSoto (13-1) 50-43 to win the Non-select Division II state championship. They are the first Calcasieu parish school to win a football state championship since W.O. Boston won the Class 2A title in 1972.

“I am just proud to be from Southwest Louisiana, represent us, and get another state title over here,” Johns said. “I don’t know how long it has been. It has been 50 years or something like that in Calcasieu Parish. I am glad to be the one to do it.”

Senior wide receiver Jeremiah Bushnell, a University of Houston signee, was named the game MVP. He scored three times, ran for 44 yards on three carries, and made four catches for 112 yards.

The Yellow Jackets’ magical championship season comes 25 years after the program’s first playoff game in 2000. Prior to that they played 47 seasons without making the playoffs.

“We’ve made a lot of progress since then,” Johns said. “Going back to all the coaches who even came before me have had a little part of this as well. We’ve just been climbing for a long time.”

Johns said some of the fuel for Iowa’s undefeated season was its 35-28 loss to Franklinton in the semifinals last season.

“Last year we came up short,” Johns said. “I don’t know, a minute to go in the game, something like that.

“We came up short, and they felt that pain pretty bad. I think we all did. We also had to figure out why we got ourselves in that situation. That’s something that we’ve said really for the last four or five weeks. We got to the playoffs, and we can’t dig ourselves a hole. The last three weeks or four weeks, we haven’t done that. We got off to a fast start.”

Faced with keeping up with a juggernaut offense that averaged more than 50 points a game, Iowa used its strong offensive pile up 405 yards on the ground and finished with 588 yards of total offense. Junior Kaston Lewis ran for 172 yards and two scores, plus three two-point conversions. Senior J’vien Adams added 158 yards and a touchdown.

“Our guys up front, those poor babies don’t get a lick of credit,” Johns said. “They are what we’re built around.

“They’re the hardest working guys in the room, every day. I wish you could see the work that these guys put in. Twice a day in the offseason. I always tell them, they’re just built different. They are. We put it on their back, and they took us. They’ve done that all year long.”

Iowa opened the scoring on a 19-yard reception by Bushnell with 7:11 left in the first quarter. They took their biggest lead, 28-15, on a 12-yard run by Adams with 7:22 left in the second quarter.

Iowa never trailed by more than a point, once in the first quarter, and again in the third and fourth quarters. Down 29-28 in the third quarter, Bushnell hauled in a 49-yard touchdown, and quarterback Lawston Broussard scored on an 11-yard run with 8:38 left in the game to put Iowa up for good. Broussard completed 11 of 15 passes for 183 yards and two scores.

Iowa’s defense forced a pair of turnovers. Landon Joseph recovered a fumble in the second quarter. Jordan Bushnell intercepted a pass by Luke Delafield with 5:23 left in the third quarter, which led to Bushnell’s second touchdown reception and a 34-29 lead. The defense came up with a big stop in the red zone with 6:45 left in the game to hold on to their seven-point lead. Bryceson Fontenot and Zachariah Guillory led Iowa with nine tackles each.

by William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor

NEW ORLEANS – The state championship proved to be quite a backdrop for No. 1 North DeSoto and No. 2 Iowa to stage a memorable Division II non-select state championship.

Both teams were undefeated and would be able to bring back their school’s first state championship to their respective communities situated on opposite ends of the state.

The script that ensued was fitting with the two best teams in their divisions combining for more eight lead changes, 1,007 total yards and a dramatic finish.

Quarterback Lawston Broussard’s 11-yard keeper with 8:38 remaining gave Iowa a 50-43 lead on Friday, and the Yellow Jackets made it stand up with one defensive stand and a favorable call, in the last two minutes of play to stave off North DeSoto in the Caesers Superdome.

“We know we’ve to do our job and that job is to score and defense’s job is to stop them,” Broussard said. “At the end of the day, the job is to win.”

Iowa (14-0) won its first state title in the 72nd year of the existence of school. The Yellow Jackets also became the first team from Calcasieu Parish to win a state crown since 1972.

“I’m glad we’re the one able to be the one to do it,” Iowa coach Tommy Johns said, who has been the head coach in nine of his 12 years at the school.

The two teams each scored three touchdowns over a 16-minute stretch that bridged the third and fourth quarters.

North DeSoto (13-1) erased a 13-point deficit behind quarterback Luke Delafield, a Northwestern State signee, who was named his team’s Outstanding Player.

The Griffins, the 2022 state runner-up, scored on three of four second-half possessions for a 43-42 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter when Delafield connected with Colton Lacour on a 41-yard touchdown pass and Dakota Denney added his fifth extra point.

“It was a state championship football game,” Delafield said. “That’s what you expect. You expect a good one-score game like that. I wish it wouldn’t have ended the way it did.”

Iowa’s game-winning drive of seven plays and 80 yards was spent on the ground, with four different players getting touches.

On first-and-10 from 11, Broussard literally walked into the end zone after a terrific fake, finding wide open space around the left side of North DeSoto’s defense. Kaston Lewis, the team’s leading rusher with 172 yards and two TDs on 15 carries, added his third two-point conversion.

“That’s what is so different about this team than anyone we’ve had,” Johns said. “They don’t get too up or too down. No one panics. We’ve been in that situation before the last two weeks. They’re resilient and just kind ways to win, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Iowa got the ball back after its defense held on downs, forcing Delafield into four straight incompletions with 6:45 left in the game. The Yellow Jackets took more than four minutes off the clock before having to punt the ball back in the last two minutes.

Punter Christian Williams retreated to his own 28 when the ball was snapped over his head, settled himself, and punted before colliding with a North DeSoto player, drawing a 15-yard roughing-the-punter penalty.

Both coaches had differing views on the call.

“To end the game in that way was unfortunate,” North DeSoto coach Dennis Dunn said. “Not that had anything to do with the game. To end it like that. … They (officials) had done such a good job all game, and to end the game on that call was disappointing in my opinion.”

Dunn said the referee explained Washington had gathered himself and wasn’t subject to being hit during his punting motion.

“That was a live ball once it hit the ground,” said Dunn, who won nine state titles at Evangel Christian Academy. “He’s a runner, and he’s no longer protected according to the rules. It is what it is. You don’t end that game on that call. I’m sorry.”

Johns had the same situation happen in last week’s semifinal victory over Belle Chasse.

“No God, not again,” he said of his initial response. “When they threw the flag, I was like, ‘This should do it.”

Dunn acknowledged the job Iowa’s offensive line did in creating running lanes Iowa, which scored a season-high points against his defense, to rush 56 times for 405 of their 588 total yards. J’Vien Adams added 15 carries for 158 yards and a touchdown, increasing his school-record total to 3,131 yards and 35 touchdowns.

“They didn’t do anything that surprised us,” said Dunn, whose team defeated Iowa in the 2022 semifinals and 2023 quarterfinals. “We didn’t have an answer for what they were doing in the box. They’re very good up front.

“We didn’t have an answer for their physicality up front defensively for most of the day,” Dunn said. “However, I thought our kids battled offensively. I don’t think either one of us stopped each other. It just came down to who had the ball last in this game, and unfortunately, they did.”

Two of Iowa’s final three touchdowns were on the ground with Lewis’ 42-yard score and two-point run leading to a 42-26 edge with 18 seconds left in the third quarter, and Broussard added what proved to be the game-winner in the fourth quarter.

“Our guys up front don’t get a lick of credit, and they’re what we’re built around,” Johns said. “They’re the hardest working guys every day. We put it on their backs, and they take us. They’ve done that all year long. What a special group.”

Wide receiver Jeremiah Bushnell combined for 156 total yards (112 receiving, 44 rushing) and three touchdowns to earn his team’s Outstanding Player honor. He made up for his lapse, not crossing the goal with the ball for what would have been a 49-yard TD pass, and recovered his fumble for the score.

North DeSoto, which had 419 total yards, closed with touchdowns from Louisiana Tech signee Kenny Thomas (21-90) and Delafield’s TD to pass Lacour, who topped the Griffins with six catches for 113 yards.

Delafield combined for 312 yards (233 passing, 79 rushing) and three touchdowns.

“I believe if we get the football right there (NDHS 30), we go down and win the football game,” Delafield said. “That’s just me as a competitor.”

Iowa scored on its first four possessions and piled up 309 total yards through the first 12 minutes of the game for a 28-22 lead into halftime.

The Yellow Jackets rallied from a 15-14 deficit with consecutive touchdowns near the end of the first quarter and beginning of the second, for a 28-15 edge. Lewis took a direct snap on third-and-four, broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage, and sped untouched for a 59-yard score.

Iowa twice converted on fourth down to maintain its fourth scoring series. Lewis’ 18-yard gain on fourth-and-one sparked the drive, and Broussard connected with Maydon Smith for an eight-yard gain on fourth-and-five. That set up Adams’ 12-yard run on a direct snap to complete the 11-play, 82-play drive that took more than four minutes off the clock.

Clement Bellow added the team’s two-point conversion for their biggest lead of the half.

North DeSoto overcame a fumble by Delafield to put together one final scoring drive before halftime.

A 30-yard scramble from Delafield on third-and-six was the catalyst on the 10-play, 81-yard drive that also featured two completions from Delafield to Iowa’s 3.

Braelyn Latin scored the first of his two touchdowns from three yards out on first down, and Denney added the extra point with 2:45 before halftime, setting the stage for a dramatic second half.

“We’re built for these moments like coach Johns says all the time,” Broussard said. “We do things other programs won’t. It’s been a long road for us to get here. We pulled together, and we win as a team.”

A pair of undefeated programs take the field in the first matchup of Friday's slate of LHSAA state football championship games at Caesars Superdome.

Top-seeded North DeSoto (13-0) and No. 2 Iowa (13-0) are both seeking their first football crown. Iowa is playing in its first championship, although the Yellow Jackets reached the semifinals in 2024. Check out our preview and prediction here.

Follow this post, refreshing frequently to receive the latest live update from the game at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, with real-time reporting on scores and key plays.

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PREGAME

-Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. Updates will appear here.

First Quarter

-CJ Bellow, listed as a tight end, burst up the middle for a 20-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage for Iowa.

-Iowa sharp on its first drive. Lawston Broussard throws for a first down to Maydon Simon. J'Vien Adams takes a toss around the left side for another first down. Versatile Kaston Lewis takes a Wildcat snap, and the Yellow Jackets are inside the Griffins 15 with a fresh set of downs.

-TOUCHDOWN, IOWA! Broussard play-action fake, then gets it in the flat to top receiver Jeremiah Bushnell, who sheds tacklers. Iowa always goes for two points instead of a PAT. 19 yards on the score. Penalty on the point after moves it half the distance. Lewis scores the two-pointer. Iowa 8, North DeSoto 0

-North DeSoto QB Luke Delafield runs it up the middle for nine yards. Griffins' offense operates at a breakneck pace. Delafield scrambles and completes a pass to RB Kenny Thomas, who carries inside the Iowa 20 on the next play. TOUCHDOWN, GRIFFINS! Delafield pass to junior Colton Lacour. Griffins get two points on a pass to Miller Warren. Iowa 8, Griffins 8 5:10 1st

-Broussard to Bushnell again. The Houston signee gets a first down on a reception, then takes a a handoff and breaks free for a 45-yard score on a reverse. TOUCHDOWN, IOWA! Two-point try fails. YELLOW JACKETS 14, GRIFFINS 8 3:35 1st

-We have a wild one on our hands. Kenny Thomas returns the ensuing kickoff to the Iowa 28. BIG PLAY!

-TOUCHDOWN, GRIFFINS! Quarterback Luke Delafield carries up the middle for his third gain of at least 9 yards. 1:48, 1st Quarter. PAT good. North DeSoto 15, Iowa 14.

-TOUCHDOWN, IOWA! Kaston Lewis answers for the Yellow Jackets from over 60 yards. Lewis tries for the 2-pointer and is stopped short. Iowa 20, North DeSoto 15 less than a minute left in the quarter. The failed conversion is under review.

-We're on pace for 1,300 yards of offense between both teams.

Second Quarter

-Defensive stop for Iowa. Delafield evades the pass rush but is tackled. He punts it on fourth down. Iowa takes over at its own 18.

-On 4th-and-1 inside its own 30, Iowa goes for it. Kaston Lewis takes the direct snap and gains big yardage out to the 45. Broussard keeps it for 15 yards on the next play.

-Adams exploits the Griffins' defense for another 15 yards around the right side. 9:32, 2nd Quarter.

-4th and 5 at the North DeSoto 20. Iowa goes for it again. Broussard throws it to Simon on an out route. 7:47, 2nd. 1st down at the 12.

-TOUCHDOWN, IOWA! Direct snap to Adams, who scores on a 12-yarder. Yellow Jackets 28, Griffins 15. Bellow converts for two points on a run. 7:22, 2nd

-ANSWER! Kenny Thomas returns the ensuing kickoff to the Iowa 35.

-FUMBLE! Turnover! Iowa gets it back again.

-North DeSoto defense holds, taking advantage of a fumble on an errant snap. Iowa to punt. 5:40, 2nd Quarter

-TOUCHDOWN, GRIFFINS! Delafield scrambles for big yardage, throws a pass to TE Miller Warren to the 1, and Braelyn Latin plunges in for his 27th rushing TD. Iowa 28, North DeSoto 22 2:45, 2nd

-Lewis, who has over 100 yards rushing, moves the chains with less than a minute left n the first half. Timeout, Yellow Jackets

-Broussard completes a pass to Bushnell at the North DeSoto 15, Timeout, three seconds left in the half. The Yellow Jackets don't kick field goals, so look for Broussard to try to find Bushnell again in the end zone.

HALFTIME Broussard ran to the Griffins' four-yard line on the final play of the half. Iowa 28, North DeSoto 22

-Iowa outgained the Griffins in the first half, 359 to 189 yards.

THIRD QUARTER

-Thomas, a Louisiana Tech signee, and Latin were held under a combined 50 yards rushing in the first half.

-Delafield with pinpoint passing on the first drive of the second half. On 4th-and-Goal from the 1, Latin scores. TOUCHDOWNS, GRIFFINS! North DeSoto 29, Iowa 28.

-TURNOVER! Broussard completes a pass to Simon, who fumbles and Hayden Bell is there to recover. 7:30, 3rd. North DeSoto with the ball at its own 39.

-INTERCEPTION! North DeSoto made a first down by moving the chains on fourth (teams are combined 5-for-5) down, but Delafield throws a pick. 5:00, 3rd

-First down! Iowa converts on 4th-and-2. Teams are a combined 6 for 6 on fourth downs. Lewis runs it, and the Yellow Jackets are inside North DeSoto territory. TOUCHDOWN, IOWA! Broussard to Bushnell, who weaves his way past several defenders and can't' be tackled. Iowa 34, North DeSoto 29 2:43, 3rd. Pending two-point try.

--Iowa 34, North DeSoto 29 two-point conversion fails.

-TOUCHDOWN, GRIFFINS! Kenny Thomas scampers in on a jaunt between the tackles. North DeSoto 36, Iowa 34 0:43, 3rd. The 22nd rushing TD for Thomas.

-RAPID RESPONSE! Kaston Lewis scores as the Yellow Jackets' drive to paydirt in just 40 seconds. Iowa 42, North DeSoto 36. Lewis tucks his shoulder and barrels in for two. 18 seconds left in the third quarter.

-North DeSoto already back in Iowa territory with 13 seconds left in the quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

-TOUCHDOWN, GRIFFINS! Delafield to Lacour on a go-route. North DeSoto 43, Iowa 42. 11:42, 4th.

-Lacour, five catches for almost 100 yards with two touchdowns. Griffins with 381 yards of offense. Iowa at 500.

-J'Vien Adams breaks two intermediate length runs for first downs and Iowa is in North DeSoto territory. 10:55, 4th. Broussard chunks it up for Bushnell, who draws a flag in the end zone.

-TOUCHDOWN, IOWA! Broussard keeps it on the option. Iowa 50, North DeSoto 43, Lewis tacks on a two-pointer. 8:38 left

-North DeSoto lines up in a tight formation on 3rd-and-5, and Delafield rolls right to find Lacour, who has over 100 yards receiving. Griffins with a first down inside the Iowa 20 7:22 left.

-4th and eight at the Iowa 17. 6:48 left. Incomplete. Defensive stop.

-North DeSoto got a third down stop, but Iowa gets a first down on a late hit. 5:07, 4th. 1st down at the 39.

-Lewis powers his way for a first down on 3rd and 3. Under four minutes left. Yellow Jackets at the 50.

-Timeout, North DeSoto. Iowa with a 3rd-and-8 and 2:27 left, leading the Griffins 50-43.

-HUGE STOP! Griffins force a punt, should get the ball back trailing by seven. Lewis corralled after a short gain.

-Ball was snapped over the punter's head. He scooped it up, got the punt off, and was hit by a Griffin. Flag on North DeSoto for roughing the punter. Iowa will win its first state title. North DeSoto is out of timeouts.

-Jeremiah Bushnell named Outstanding Player: four catches, three touchdowns.

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More Louisiana High School Sports News

Seeking the first LHSAA state football championship in school history, the highly decorated North DeSoto football program came up just short of a perfect season Friday afternoon in the Caesars Superdome, falling 50-43 to Iowa in the Non-Select Division II title game.

The Griffins (13-1) had their chances in the closing moments to nab a championship ring before a pair of unfortunate penalties kept Northwestern State signee Luke Delafield and Louisiana Tech signee Kenny Thomas from getting the ball back with under three minutes remaining.

That meant Delafield, who ended his freshman season with a loss in the Superdome, closed out his career in the same fashion. He was the only Griffin senior to start in the 2022 title game.

It also meant coach Dennis Dunn was thwarted in an attempt to capture his 10th state title. He won nine as coach of the Evangel Eagles.

“The four-year run here with Luke Delafield as our leader and these seniors won 46 football games, and that’s pretty amazing,” Dunn said. “Two state championship games in four years, so I’m so proud and so honored to have been able to work with these guys and coach these young men. They will be very successful in life because they learned how to win and battle through adversity. All we needed was a couple more minutes today. Our kids believed to the very end. It just didn’t go our way today.”

Neither the Griffins nor the Yellow Jackets (14-0) had won a state title before Friday.

The inability of the North DeSoto defense to stop the onslaught of the Jackets’ rushing attack proved the ultimate Achilles heel. Iowa rushed for 405 yards behind Kaston Lewis (172 yards and two TDs) and J’Vien Adams (158 yards and a TD).

Meanwhile, Delafield completed 17 of 24 throws for 233 yards and two TDs to Colton LaCour, while Thomas ran for 90 yards and a single TD. The Griffins led briefly three times, but couldn’t close the deal.

“It’s been a blessing to be a part of the train horns and packed houses on Friday nights,” Delafield said. “I can sit here and tell you right now this ain’t gonna be the last time North DeSoto plays on this field. And the next time, they’re gonna win. Iowa was very similar. They always bring a great crowd. It was a great atmosphere, and I wouldn’t have it any other way … except for maybe winning.”

The Griffins have come a long way since Dunn was hired in 2019 to resurrect the football program in DeSoto Parish’s largest school. His first team finished 4-5 but he’s had only winning seasons since. Since Delafield took the quarterback reins in in 2022, the team has gone 46-8 with multiple district titles and four consecutive deep playoff runs.

“Sitting back right here reflecting on what we’ve done as a program in the last four years, I’m extremely blessed,” Delafield said. “God has had his hand over this whole ordeal, and I promised Him that I’d give Him the glory. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and He always will be. I live my life for Him, and I know where I’m going when I die and where I’ll spend eternity. I think Him for the opportunities He’s given me.”

Dunn said his 2026 senior class has modeled the standard and the culture he and his assistants set from day one.

“And they met the standard every day, 365 days a year,” he said. “And they left a legacy that’s unmatched. I’m so proud of the way they modeled on and off the field. The legacy they leave is one that will be remembered forever.”

Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.

Iowa wins first state title in program history. Great job by Tommy Johns and this group. History makers for the Iowa Community pic.twitter.com/bsYDOwPwGz

— Spencer Verret (@spencerverret) December 12, 2025

To open the second day of the 2025 LHSAA Prep Classic, the lone matchup between unbeaten teams treated the crowd at Caesars Superdome to a thrilling, high-scoring affair.

In its first-ever state championship appearance, No. 2 Iowa (14-0) outpaced No. 1 North DeSoto (13-1) to win the Division II non-select state championship, 50-43. The Yellow Jackets outgained the Griffins 588-419. In total, the teams combined for 1,007 yards and nine lead changes.

Of Iowa’s 588 total yards, 405 came on the ground. Kaston Lewis finished with 15 carries for 172 yards — an average of 11.5 yards per rush — and two touchdowns, while J’Vien Adams added 24 carries for 158 yards and a score.

Wide receiver Jeremiah Bushnell was named the game’s most valuable player for Iowa by the working press after recording four catches for 112 yards, three carries for 44 yards and four total touchdowns.

Houston WR signee Jeremiah Bushnell was a deserving MVP for Iowa

4 catches for 112 yards and 3 TD in the win: https://t.co/798CR16hSJ https://t.co/PvGX9Wzd3q pic.twitter.com/6jUSRTi9Ck

— Sam Spiegelman (@samspiegs) December 12, 2025

Quarterback Lawston Broussard completed 11 of 15 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, added 24 rushing yards and scored the game-winning touchdown with 8:38 left.

It was a measure of retribution as the Yellow Jackets had been eliminated by North DeSoto in the Division II non-select playoffs in the 2022 semifinals and again in the quarterfinals the following season.

Iowa struck first, orchestrating a 9-play, 81-yard touchdown drive to open the game. The Yellow Jackets scored on a screen pass, as Broussard connected with Bushnell, who weaved through North DeSoto’s defense for a 21-yard touchdown. Kaston Lewis then took a direct snap and ran in the two-point conversion, giving Iowa an 8-0 lead with 7:11 remaining in the first quarter.

North DeSoto answered with a quick touchdown drive, taking just two minutes to cover 71 yards in seven plays. Quarterback Delafield capped the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Colton LaCour. The Griffins tied the game at 8 after converting the two-point attempt with 5:10 remaining in the first quarter.

Iowa continued the back-and-forth battle, answering with a lightning-quick, four-play, 73-yard drive. Bushnell capped the possession with a 45-yard touchdown run on a reverse, breaking through several would-be North DeSoto tacklers before strolling into the end zone. Earlier in the drive, Bushnell hauled in a 26-yard pass from Broussard, who threaded the ball through double coverage for the highlight-reel completion.

Houston signee Jeremiah Bushnell (@JBushnell2026) scores his second touchdown of the game on 45 yard run to give the Yellow Jackets the lead back at 14-8. @iowajacketsFB @LHSAAsports @JaceLejeune pic.twitter.com/Eb097lvWxB

— Gridiron Football® (@GridironFootbal) December 12, 2025

North DeSoto regained the lead as Delafield capped a six-play, 28-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run, putting the Griffins up 15-14. The short drive was sparked by Kenny Thomas’ 49-yard kickoff return to Iowa’s 28-yard line.

Iowa answered quickly when Lewis burst through the middle for a 59-yard touchdown run, giving the Yellow Jackets a 20-15 lead heading into the second quarter.

After Iowa’s defense forced a three-and-out, the Yellow Jackets assembled an 11-play, 82-yard drive capped by a 12-yard touchdown run from Adams. A successful two-point conversion extended Iowa’s lead to 28-15 with just under eight minutes remaining in the half.

J'Vien Adams (@Jvien_adams16) finds the end zone to give the Yellow Jackets a 28-15 lead with 7:22 left in the second quarter. @iowajacketsFB @JaceLejeune @LHSAAsports pic.twitter.com/tn1jkcK5cU

— Gridiron Football® (@GridironFootbal) December 12, 2025

North DeSoto trimmed the deficit to one possession when Braelyn Latin scored on a three-yard run to cap a 10-play, 81-yard drive, cutting Iowa’s lead to 28-22. The touchdown was set up by a successful trick play — a fake reverse flea flicker — as Delafield found Miller Warren for a 17-yard completion. The score remained 28-22 at halftime.

The Griffins took a 29-28 lead early in the third quarter when Latin scored his second rushing touchdown of the game, a one-yard run on fourth down to cap a 10-play, 65-yard drive.

Iowa reclaimed the lead when Jeremiah Bushnell hauled in a 49-yard pass from Broussard for a touchdown, briefly dropping the ball before the goal line but recovering it in the end zone. The Yellow Jackets failed on the two-point conversion, keeping the score at 34-29 with 2:43 remaining in the third quarter.

North DeSoto took a 36-34 lead when Thomas burst through the gap for a 27-yard touchdown run with 43 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Iowa answered immediately, needing just 18 seconds to retake the lead. Adams took the snap in a wildcat formation and sprinted 42 yards for his second rushing touchdown of the night, giving the Yellow Jackets a 42-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

North DeSoto struck back just 20 seconds into the final period, as Delafield connected with LaCour for a 41-yard touchdown pass to put the Griffins back in front, 43-42.

Continuing the game’s back-and-forth theme, Iowa answered again as Broussard kept it himself for an 11-yard touchdown run to cap a seven-play, 80-yard drive. Lewis powered into the end zone on the two-point conversion, giving Iowa a 50-43 lead with 8:38 remaining.

After Iowa forced North DeSoto to turn the ball over on downs on the Yellow Jackets’ side of the field, they were able to run out the clock, aided by two costly personal fouls. North DeSoto was flagged for a late hit out of bounds on third down on the third play of the drive, then committed a critical roughing-the-kicker penalty with just over two minutes remaining as Iowa was preparing to punt the ball back.