Hawkeyes fall short in 2025 HOA conference championship; lose to Cyclones 34-19
November 15, 2025
by Peter Heimer
“A disappointing end to an otherwise fantastic season. Couldn’t be prouder of these young men.” Iowa head coach Tyler Dailey
Two dominant Heart of America (HOA) conference heavyweights. A rematch of last year’s title game in Des Moines. A rematch of this season’s down-to-the-wire conference opener.
Undefeated and nationally ranked #2 Iowa faced #3 ranked Iowa State in the HOA conference championship match, Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the University of Kansas Westwick Rugby Fields outside Lawrence, KS. Under blue skies and warm temperatures, in an all-North Division final, the Cyclones repeated their 2024 victory over the Hawkeyes while avenging their earlier last-second loss to Iowa to start this season. Final score: Iowa State 34, Iowa 19.
Coming into the day, Iowa was undefeated, 6–0, in north division conference play. In the HOA conference semifinals the week prior, both Iowa and Iowa State defeated south division teams to advance to the finals. The showdown was the marquee match of the day; other HOA teams gathered at the KU Jayhawks home field for games throughout the day. For Iowa and Iowa State, at stake were major in-state bragging rights and a ticket to the CRAA national tournament next spring.
From the start, the Cyclones maintained ball possession, forcing the Hawkeyes to play long stretches of defense. Soon enough, Iowa State scored two tries to take a 12–0 lead. Iowa fought back, and when wing Austin Stanley perfectly read an interception and raced 70 meters for the score, the Hawkeyes were back in it, 12–7.
Not long later, the Hawkeye forwards found themselves pounding at the Cyclone tryline. The Iowa State defense held and scrumhalf Michael Johnson passed the ball out to flyhalf Ren Heimer who, from the 10-meter line, worked a bit of magic. Heimer pop kicked the ball over the defense, ran ahead and timed his leap to snatch the ball from the outstretched hands of a Cyclone defender before pirouetting midair and downing the ball for a game-tying try, 12–12. The Hawkeye fans were enthused.
Iowa State scored another try just before the whistle to make it 17–12 going into halftime. This put a dent into the Iowa momentum.
In the second half, the Cyclones scored an unconverted try and a penalty to stretch the lead to 27–12. A late try in the corner by wing AJ Douglas, converted by Heimer, narrowed the lead to 27–19, but time was running out and Iowa State added a final try to seal the victory, 34–19.
After the match, Coach Tyler Dailey commented, “Of course, we are disappointed in the loss. But the boys have nothing to hang their heads about. We had a great, great season and have much to feel good about. Credit to the Cyclones and Coach Ant on a well deserved win.”
Coach Alistair Miller’s post-match message to the team was “to focus on the positive growth you’ve made this season both as players and as men.” Indeed.
Many parents and fans made the trip to Lawrence, including Iowa Rugby Foundation President Brian Edeker, who had the foundation tent set up and even put his emergency medical skills to use. Thank you, Brian and all fans.
