IOWA — With the District 3-3A title alway in hand, the Iowa Yellow Jackets tuned up for the playoffs with a quality nondistrict win, beating Cecilia 17-7 Thursday night to close the regular season.

The Yellow Jackets (9-1) will wait to see if they finish high enough in the power ratings to earn a first-round playoff bye.

Iowa entered the week third in the nonselect Division I power ratings. The top four receive a first-round bye and play at home in the regional round.

Pairings will be announced Sunday by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.

Iowa’s Matthew Vest opened the scoring with a 24-yard field goal on the first play of the scoring drive.

Makel Montgomery set up the Jackets at the Cecilia 23-yard line with a 40-yard punt return later in the quarter. The Yellow Jackets drove to the 1-yard line before losing a fumbled snap.

Iowa extended the lead to 10-0 with six seconds left in the half. At the 1-yard line, a shotgun snap sailed over Ronald Young’s head. Young recovered the ball at the 20, circled back to the left sideline and weaved his way into the end zone for a touchdown.

Cecilia (7-3) struggled to move the ball, gaining only one offensive first down in the first half, when they ran only 14 plays. The Bulldogs squandered their only scoring chance, coming up short on a fourth-and-three attempt from the Iowa 21-yard line on their first drive of the game.

Young burst through the middle for a 64-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to put the Jackets up 17-0.

Cecilia scored on final play of the game on a 5-yard run by Ridge Collins.

Young finished with 134 yards on 22 carries. The defense held Cecilia to 42 yards rushing.

Colin Dore threw for 89 yards for Cecilia. Germonie Davis had 105 yards of offense.

Cecilia entered the week 11th in the power ratings and should get a first-round home game.