St. Albert Falls 35-0 to West Sioux in Quarterfinal
St. Albert's 2026 season ends in the Class A state quarterfinal against No. 2 West Sioux in Hawarden.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
St. Albert lost 35-0 to Class A No. 2 West Sioux on Friday, November 6, 2026, in a state quarterfinal game in Hawarden. The defeat ended a season in which St. Albert improved to 9-2 after going 1-8 in 2023.
Why it matters
St. Albert was one win away from the UNI-Dome and the state semifinals, so the shutout closed a path to state's final four. The season marks a sharp turnaround for a program that won a single game three years earlier.
St. Albert finished the 2026 season at 9-2, up from 1-8 in 2023, while West Sioux, ranked No. 2 in Class A, won 35-0 in the quarterfinal.
The players
St. Albert High School
St. Albert is a high school football program in Iowa that reached the Class A state quarterfinals in 2026.
West Sioux High School
West Sioux is a high school football program in Iowa ranked No. 2 in Class A that advanced to the state semifinals.
The details
St. Albert's seniors, who played four seasons in the program, helped drive a turnaround from a 1-8 record in 2023. Sophomore quarterback Bryce Nelson, sophomore Mike linebacker Thomas Coughlin, and freshman running back Wade Beck are among the young players who gained valuable experience and will return next year.
Timeline
2023: St. Albert finished the season 1-8.
Friday, November 6, 2026: St. Albert lost 35-0 to West Sioux, ending the season.
Season Trajectory
St. Albert's 9-2 finish caps a rapid rebuild from 1-8 three seasons earlier and leaves a young core for the next Class A cycle. The team's exit in the quarterfinal shows how close the program came to the state semifinals in the UNI-Dome.
St. Albert's playoff exit ends its 2026 season and removes its quarterback and running back from the state playoff picture. Returning sophomores and freshmen with playoff experience will shape the program's depth heading into the next season.
The takeaway
St. Albert's rise from 1-8 to a state quarterfinal shows how a four-year senior class can change a program's trajectory. The returning young players will carry that experience into next season.
Further reading
Follow more Iowa high school results in our Football coverage.
