Grundy Center opens 2025 by winning 40th straight

Dana Becker

Grundy Center opens 2025 by winning 40th straight image

With a dominating 35-13 victory over Aplington-Parkersburg in Week 1 of the Iowa high school football season, Grundy Center pushed its current win streak to 40 in a row.

The Spartans have captured three straight state championships in two classifications overall. They are currently tied for the fifth-longest win streak in the country, sitting well behind No. 1 Marion Local out of Ohio.

MORE: Marion Local with the longest win streak in high school football

While Aplington-Parkersburg has fallen off in recent years, the Falcons are one of the more storied programs within the state of Iowa. Under the late Ed Thomas, Aplington-Parkersburg claimed multiple state titles and sent numerous players to the NFL.

Grundy Center scored in all four quarters, holding a 21-7 lead at the half. Judd Jirovsky threw for 122 yards and two touchdowns while adding a third score on the ground. 

Pete Lebo ran for 59 yards with a touchdown as both Brayden Davie and Devin Hinders caught TD passes from Jirovsky. Hinders had a 62-yard reception, finishing with 75 yards receiving.

On defense, Aiden Betts had a quarterback sack while both Aiden Hook and Hayden Geerdes recorded 7.5 tackles each. Eli Wegmann recovered a fumble for a score and Cooper Keller picked off a pass.

The Spartans can make it 41 in a row when they travel to Waterloo Columbus this Friday night. The last loss by Grundy Center came in the 2021 Class A state championship to West Hancock while the last regular season defeat was to Dike-New Hartford earlier this year.

In Week 3, Grundy Center and Dike-New Hartford will square off in a rematch of the 2024 championship in 1A.

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Dana Becker

Dana Becker is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has been a sports writer since 2000, covering high school sports, the Big 12 and more for On SI, The Fort Dodge Messenger, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others.