The Iowa Yellow Jackets know what to expect this time.

Two years ago, Iowa played in the semifinals for the first time in program history and it ended with a difficult 38-9 loss to North DeSoto. The second time around they hope for a different outcome.

“I think the experience helps you and unfortunately sometimes a way to learn is to get beat,” Iowa head coach Tommy Johns said. “But you gotta be in these situations, too, to know how to handle them.

“At least we know what to expect, what comes with this week that’s different from every other week and the distractions that can come about if you’re not careful. And I just think, uh, we have a better idea of how we want to handle this than we did two years ago.”

No. 5 Iowa (12-1) travels to No. 4 Franklinton (11-1) today in the Non-select Division II semifinals at 7 p.m.

Johns looks to the experience gained in 2022 and many seniors you played on that team as sophomores, including two-way players Cohen Charles and Jonathan Walker Jr. and linebacker Hayden Lebleu.

“I think now that we’ve had that a lot of these guys were still here,” Johns said. “Our seniors were sophomores and quite a few of those guys actually had to play for us that year.

“We’ve been through it. Our staff has been through it. I’m hoping it is an advantage for us in that department.”

Since their only loss to Little Cypress-Mauriceville in Week 2, Iowa has won 11 consecutive games buoyed by a defense that continues to improve. During the streak, Iowa has held opponents to 14 or fewer points six times and held Franklin Parish to six points in the second half of last week’s come-from-behind 42-28 win.

“Coming into the season, that was the most inexperienced part of our team, our defense,” Johns said. “And we had to replace quite a few players from last year.

“And it took some time for us to get going, which we knew that was going to happen. They stayed the course and have gotten better and better as the year’s gone on.”

The defense will be challenged by the Demons who average 38.3 points a game led by quarterback Jacob Crain (1,943 yards, 21 TDs, 3 INT) and running back Sy Austin (1,849 yards, 26 TDs).

“They’ve got a really good team too, man,” Johns said. “They’re here for a reason.

“They remind me a lot of a lot of us, same style of ball, same type of kids it looks like, you know, on film, and our size is about the same.”

Franklinton has won 10 consecutive games and is playing in the semifinals for the first time since 2015. They won their only state championship in 2010.

Iowa has scored 40 or more points in 10 of their last 12 games led by backs Walker (912 yards, 12 TDs, Charles (727 yards, 17 TDs) and J’vien Adams (1,174 yards, 12 TDs).