Class 1A - District 1[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District One did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
Akron-Westfield
0-7
0-10
Battle Creek-IG (2A)
4-3
6-3
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn (2A)
3-4
4-5
Hinton
3-4
4-5
Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids *
6-1
8-1
South O'Brien
5-2
7-2
West Lyon (2A) *
6-1
6-3
West Sioux
2-5
4-5
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 1 do in the playoffs?
Sioux Central
Lost to Pocahontas Area in the first round (18-7)
West Lyon
Lost to Sheldon in the first round (16-0)
Thoughts on District 1 for 2006:
When previewing this district, this first thing to standout is West Lyon.
After making the playoffs last year in Class 2A, they will be dropping back down
to 1A and could be ready to do some serious damage. Although they lost a
number of talented seniors from last fall's team, the football tradition at this
school is very deep. Returning for the team are All District athletes Caleb Blauwet
and Chris Tracy. This duo will be looking to improve this season but need
to make sure the team does not struggle early in the year. Last year, the
Wildcats started the season a dismal 1-3. Even though they bounced back,
that will need to be avoided this time around. Sioux Central was the other
team to make the postseason last year. Although they fell early to
Pocahontas Area in the playoffs, they still were able to surprise a lot of
people on their run to the postseason. They are definitely a team to keep
an eye on because they return a lot of their core from last year. Running
back Justin Shideler will be looking to improve on the numbers he put up last
year. He has some serious talent and his leadership will be needed this
year. Battle Creek-Ida Grove had to play against the big
boys of Emmetsburg and Fort Dodge St. Edmond last year and still finished at 6-3
overall. They will have to adjust to Class 1A football but returning All
District quarterback Eric Hanson makes that job much easier.
This standout will need to find a new go-to target now that Casey Harriman has
moved on to Creighton for hoops. Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn is one school that is known for producing talented
athletes. The Hawks will be facing off against smaller 1A competition and
have three All District players back in the fold. They are not the type of
team to forget about this season. H-M-S did lose five games this season
but three of those were by a combined three points. How would you feel
ending the season with back-to-back 7-6 losses? That would have keep those
players motivated for this season and will have them chomping at the bit to get
the year going. Keep an eye on senior Mike Finch. South O'Brien just
missed out on the postseason last fall and will be hoping to change things this
year. They beat up on the teams below them in district play but was unable
to take down the top two squads during the season. Leading wide receiver
Ross Fernstrum is back for the fall but he will need someone to throw him the
ball. The Blackhawks of Hinton were only able to pull off three wins
during district play. They will need to pick up their play and become more
consistent during the year. Eli Kroll and Brennen Landenberger will be
looking for another big year on the ground for this team. Defensive lineman
Brandon Robinson was a tough player to block as the year went on. West
Sioux was 2-0 outside of district play but could not use that success to propel
them to a winning year. The Falcons will rely heavily on their running
game and considering that their top three rushers are back, this could be a
tough team to control. Akron-Westfield was a surprise last year
considering that they could not win any games. They tied for the worst
record in the state at 0-10 and will be hoping to break that streak this fall.
Preseason District MVP: Justin Shideler
Shideler is a talented running back who will need to put up huge numbers all
year long if they can take down West Lyon in this district.
Sleeper Team: H-M-S
They are predicted third but I expect last year to be a down season for them.
Now that they are in 1A, look for them to make a playoff run.
Sleeper Player: Mike Finch
Talented athlete will make a huge impact on the defensive side of things.
District Champion: Sioux Central
This was a tough pick and could go either way between the top three teams.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 1 in
2006
Team
Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids *
West Lyon *
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn
Battle Creek-IG
Hinton
South O'Brien
West Sioux
Akron-Westfield
*Denotes playoff predictions
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 1A - District 2[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District Two did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
AGWSR *
7-0
8-1
Pocahontas Area *
7-0
7-2
Prairie Valley
5-2
6-3
Southern Cal (A)
6-3
6-3
South Hamilton
4-3
5-4
Fort Dodge St.
Edmond *
7-0
10-0
West Marshall
2-5
2-7
Woodward-Granger
1-6
2-7
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 2 do in the playoffs?
AGWSR
Lost to Algona Garrigan in the first round (22-14)
Pocahontas Area
Defeated Sioux Central in the first round (18-7)
Lost to Algona Garrigan in the quarterfinals (21-6)
Fort Dodge St. Edmond
Defeated Emmetsburg in the first round (28-16)
Lost to Sheldon in the quarterfinals (14-7)
Thoughts on District 2 for 2006:
What do you get when you throw three district champions from the previous
year into the same district? I can't answer that question now but the Iowa
High School Association certainly wants to know the answer. The best way
to say it is that this district is loaded. There are so many good teams
with solid traditions that many squads will be having an early end to the year.
Starting with Fort Dodge St. Edmond, the Gaels had an outstanding year in sports
and that was obvious during the football season. The scary thing is that
they will be making the journey down to Class 1A. But the good thing for
their opponents is that they lost eight All District performers and will have a
lot of fresh faces in the lineup. They may be inexperienced but they have
continued to prove time and time again that they can compete with anyone.
Two players to keep an eye on are running back Jeff Nemmers and lineman Josh
McNeil. Nemmers was second on the team in rushing and will get a chance to
really showcase his skills this fall. AGWSR was winning in the first
round of the playoffs but just didn't have what it took to knock off Algona
Garrigan. Like the Gaels, AGWSR was a senior dominated team that will have
a lot of players to replace. But when looking at the season, the Cougars
had a strange run. They lost their first two and their last game by narrow
margins. When considering the amount of talent they had on their roster,
they should have been able to do more. Pocahontas Area was a big shocker
when they turned things around from a 0-2 start to a 7-0 district record.
This year the competition will be tougher and that will make the feat that much
harder. But the positive thing is that they now have a winning mentality
and could start to build a football power if they can win over the long run. The
Indians will need to replace their top two graduated running backs from last
fall. Southern Cal is loaded with outstanding athletes and was primed to be one of the
best Class A schools next year. But when they moved up to 1A, things will
be much different. I expect these athletes to flourish but they must
adjust quickly to the change in class. Quarterback Gavin Crandall, wide
receiver Keaton Hildreth, and lineman John Blessington have a chance to make a
run at All State honors this season. Prairie Valley boasted a two-time
All Stater in Shane Allen but he has already graduated. He
nearly led them to a playoff berth but fell short in the end. Without him,
they could be in-trouble unless someone can step up in his place. This
team was used a pass-first offense last year but with their top two receivers
and quarterback now gone, there are a lot of holes to fill. South Hamilton
returns one of the top linemen in Iowa with Brent Johnson. This junior was
named All State and has the size to play major college football. But with
the rest of the team, the Hawks lose their top three rushers as well as a host
of other skill players. Johnson will be tough to stop but who else will be
around him? West Marshall and Woodward-Granger were the only two teams in
this district to finish last year under .500. They combined to win four
games and will need to pick up their play if they want to hang with these teams
come fall. Outside of their two wins, Woodward-Granger only managed to
score twenty one points. That must be improved greatly this year.
West Marshall has a solid nucleus returning so they could surprise some people.
Preseason District MVP: Jeff Nemmers
If the Gaels want a serious shot at another district title, Nemmers needs to
have a breakout year.
Sleeper Team: West Marshall
They return a lot of talent from a team that struggled last year.
Sleeper Player: Keaton Hildreth
His teammates may get a lot of the attention but Hildreth but up some solid
stats last year.
District Champion: Fort Dodge St. Edmond
I see this coming down to a two team race with the tradition of St. Edmond
being too much in the end.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 2 in
2006
Team
Fort Dodge St.
Edmond *
Southern Cal *
Pocahontas Area
AGWSR
West Marshall
South Hamilton
Prairie Valley
Woodward-Granger
*Denotes playoff predictions
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 1A - District 3[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District Three did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
Lake Mills
4-3
6-3
Nashua-Plainfield
6-1
8-1
Newman Catholic
2-5
4-6
North Butler
2-5
3-6
North Iowa (A)
3-5
3-6
Rockford
0-7
1-8
St. Ansgar
5-2
6-3
Turkey Valley
3-4
4-5
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 3 do in the playoffs?
No Teams Qualified for the postseason
Thoughts on District 3 for 2006:
District 2 has three teams that won district titles last year while this
district boasts three teams with overall winning records. I really
wouldn't consider that fair but these teams should not be complaining. The
team that came the closest to the postseason last year was Nashua-Plainfield.
The Huskies bring back one of the top quarterbacks in the State with junior Matt
Vohsmann. This talented athlete put up some huge numbers on the way to All
District honors. He will need to reduce his interceptions but that is
definitely possible this fall. Chris Demro will have to step up for the
ground attack to be successful. And with Brad Theilen graduated, the
Huskies need a go-to threat. St. Ansgar saw six seniors graduate who were
named All District and will be missed. The Saints have a solid football
tradition and may be able to reload this year. This would be the district
to do it in but there are a lot of holes that need to be filled early in the
year. One of the top players in Class 1A was Justin Kester of Lake Mills.
This two time All State linebacker will be at college by the time the 2006
season rolls around. His presence and leadership on the defensive side of
the ball will need to be replaced immediately. Athlete Peter Brekken had a
good season last fall but will need to step up his game this season as his role
grows in the offense. Turkey Valley lost a very
talented running back in Nate Mracek but brings back two All District players on
the defensive side of the ball in Phill Eichenberger and Chris Sullivan.
Andy Wurzer is the early favorite to replace Mracek as the team's top rusher but
must improve his totals. North Butler graduated one of the top receiving threats in Iowa in Luke Brocka.
He was one of the most talented athletes in the Class of 2006 and also stood out
on the basketball court. One positive for the Bearcats is that they will
not be in the same district as rival Aplington-Parkersburg. Also gone is
quarterback Jordan Eberline. North Iowa will have their hands full trying
to make the jump up from Class A. They will need to adjust as quickly as
possible. Quarterback Aaron Olson has experience from last season but he
needs to drastically reduce his interceptions.Newman Catholic started the 2-0
but could only win two more games the rest of the season once district play
started. Although that is not great, it is better than the one win
Rockford was able to compile last fall. Keep an eye on Newman athlete
Tyler Moorehead. He will likely be the focal point of the offense.
Preseason District MVP: Matt Vohsmann
Vohsmann is now finally a senior and will get a chance to show that he is one of
the best quarterbacks in the state.
Sleeper Team: Lake Mills
Justin Kester might be gone but the team had some solid contributors around him.
Sleeper Player: Tyler Moorehead
This All District junior will get a lot more touches this season.
District Champion: Nashua-Plainfield
This appears on paper to be another two team race between the Huskies and
St. Ansgar.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 3 in
2006
Team
Nashua-Plainfield
*
St. Ansgar *
Turkey Valley
Lake Mills
North Butler
Newman Catholic
North Iowa
Rockford
*Denotes playoff predictions
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 1A - District 4[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District Four did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
Aplington-Parkersburg *
7-0
9-0
BCLUW (A)
6-3
6-3
Denver
3-4
4-5
Dike-New Hartford
*
6-1
6-3
Gladbrook-Reinbeck
*
6-1
8-1
Grundy Center (2A)
4-3
5-4
Jesup
1-6
1-8
Starmont *
7-0
9-0
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 4 do in the playoffs?
Aplington-Parkersburg
Lost to Gladbrook-Reinbeck in the first round (34-21)
Dike-New Hartford
Defeated Eldora-New Providence in the first round (30-6)
Defeated Gladbrook-Reinbeck in the quarterfinals (21-0)
Lost to Iowa City Regina in the semifinals (10-7)
Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Defeated Aplington-Parkersburg in the first round (34-21)
Lost to Dike-New Hartford in the quarterfinals (21-0)
Starmont
Lost to Iowa City Regina in the first round (14-0)
Thoughts on District 4 for 2006:
I don't know if it was a joke or what but when you have four playoff teams
in one district, you have to wonder about competitively balancing out the
districts. However, my job is to write about the districts, not complain
about them. The best place to start is with Aplington-Parkersburg.
Although the Falcons were shocked at home in the first round of the playoffs,
they return a load of talent that will be more focused for next fall. Evan
Capper and Jesse Nitcher are among the top players in the Class of 2007 and have
a chance to play college football afterwards. But before they do that, the
duo would want nothing more than to raise the Class 1A State trophy.
Tom Koenen will be an important player to replace both on offense and defensie. Gladbrook-Reinbeck was the team that was able to pull off that huge upset in the
first round and they will be tough again this fall. Lineman Thomas Reese
is back after an All State year and running back Nick Peterson has a chance for
a monster year if he can avoid the injury bug. Quarterback Tyson Dirks
also is back and must cut down on throwing interceptions. One question
mark is the new coach for the Rebels but he has been in the program so he won't
be completely new to the team. Dike-New Hartford nearly had an appearance
wrapped up in the State title game before a thrilling last minute touchdown by
the eventual champions from Iowa City Regina. If you want to talk about
motivation, the memory of that for the Wolverine players will have them working
as hard as anyone this off-season. They started the year 0-2 but bounced
back quickly and played their best football at the end of the year. Ben
Wenzel is the only returning player who made All District and he will need to
step up his leadership on the defensive side of things. And don't forget Starmont,
who finished the regular season 9-0. The problem is that many questioned
their district opponents and the lack of playoff success. The Stars have
been hit hard by graduation and saying they were senior dominated last fall
might be an understatement. Because of the lack of numbers in the program
recently and the graduated seniors, it will be tough for Stamont to continue
playing football at a very high level. Grundy
Center is a team who has a chance to improve on their 5-4 record from last year.
They are making the move down to Class 1A and may have what it takes to surprise
some people. Quarterback Forrest Winburn comes back for the year but has
few other returning skill players. So with that in-mind, the success of
the team will likely depend on who steps up around Winburn. BCLUW will be
trying to move up a class and this is not the district that will give them much
chance to perform well. The Comets normally have talented athletes but
will need to take their game to another level if they can sneak into the
postseason in this district. Beau Dielschneider has made a name for
himself at the varsity level and will hope to continue that as the team make the
push up to Class 1A. Denver saw one of their most talented seniors
last year give up football to focus on basketball but still were able to manage
four wins. The Cyclones played their best football late in the year and
hope that momentum can carry over into the 2006 season. And considering
that a number of juniors saw time this year, don't be shocked to see Denver
improve on their win total. Quarterback Cody Hougen is now a senior and is
a dual-threat quarterback. Jesup had a very good
season in 2004 but lost to much to graduation. Can they improve on that
one win? The J-Hawks did win their last game of the season and would like
to build on that.
Preseason District MVP: Jesse Nitcher
Nitcher was one of the best running backs in Iowa last year and will only be
better for this year.
Sleeper Team: Denver
A young team that struggled early last year could break out this fall.
Sleeper Player: Beau Dielschneider
It seems like a long time ago but Dielschneider was All State as a sophomore.
District Champion: Aplington-Parkersburg
The Falcons will have revenge on their mind when they face off against
Gladbrook-Reinbeck.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 4 in
2006
Team
Aplington-Parkersburg *
Gladbrook-Reinbeck
*
Dike-New Hartford
Denver
Grundy Center
Starmont
BCLUW
Jesup
*Denotes playoff predictions
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 1A - District 5[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District Five did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
Alburnett (A)
3-5
3-7
Bellevue
5-2
7-2
Central Elkader
(A)
3-4
4-4
Clayton Ridge
2-5
2-7
Edgewood-Colesburg
(A) *
7-1
8-1
Northeast
Gooselake
4-3
5-4
North-Linn
1-6
1-8
Preston (A)
6-2
6-3
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 5 do in the playoffs?
Edgewood-Colesburg
Lost to Lisbon in the first round (46-25)
Thoughts on District 5 for 2006:
District four is loaded with four playoff teams from last year while this
district boasts one as well as four teams making the move up from A. That
transition alone will not be easy for any of the four teams.
Edgewood-Colesburg had an outstanding season on
last fall and only lost one game during the regular season. Although they
were unable to get past the first round of the postseason, that does not take
anything away from what they accomplished. Like all of the other Class A
teams, they will need to play consistent football and get used to the difference
in Class 1A football. Ryan Putz is back at quarterback and is a very
talented athlete. He is also a standout in other sports as well and uses
that athleticism to his advantage on the football field. Preston will have to
prove they belong after winning six games last year. But the Trojans were
unable to win the really big game against two teams that made the postseason.
They also must find a consistent quarterback this year. Preston went
through a number of options but it appears senior Joe Wenzel was the most
consistent and may be their best bet for this year. Bellevue was one of the 1A teams that was one game away from the playoffs.
Although they couldn't take down Tipton when the postseason was on the line, the
Comets were able to surprise a lot of people with their success on the field.
Can they shock people for the second straight year? The Comets have a lot
of returning pieces that will likely allow them to do some damage to their
opponents. Northeast Gooselake has
been loaded with athletes over the past few years and that will be no different
this time around. The Rebels must prove that they can win football games
if they want a chance at making it to the postseason. Dylan Diedrich
should be back behind center after seeing playing time at quarterback over the
last two years. He is an outstanding athlete and one of the top basketball
players in Iowa. Running back Lance Adrian was second on the team in
rushing but will get a chance for more carries this time around. Alburnett
and Central Elkader round out the four Class A teams in this district.
They combined to win seven games last fall and will have to come to play every
Friday if they hope to improve on that win total. Cody Young returns
for Alburnett and will be a vital cog for the offense. Clayton Ridge and
North Linn struggled together last year and need a complete turnaround to get
any better. But the positive is that in this district, anything can
happen. Ben Dolan, the leading rusher for North Linn, will be back as a
senior.
Preseason District MVP: Dillon Budde
Only a junior, Budde earned some valuable experience last fall and will be
important to the offense.
Sleeper Team: Preston
The Trojans are better than people are giving them credit for.
Sleeper Player: Lance Adrian
If Northeast Gooselake can make a run at the playoffs, Adrian will need a big
year.
District Champion: Bellevue
I will tell you right now that anything, and I mean anything could happen in
this district.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 5 in
2006
Team
Bellevue *
Northeast
Gooselake *
Edgewood-Colesburg
Preston
Alburnett
Clayton Ridge
North-Linn
Central Elkader
*Denotes playoff predictions
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 1A - District 6[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District Six did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
Belle Plaine
3-4
4-5
B-G-M
1-6
1-8
Montezuma
5-2
7-2
Pekin
4-3
6-3
Iowa City Regina *
6-1
8-1
Van Buren (2A)
1-6
2-7
Wapello
2-5
3-6
West Branch *
7-0
9-0
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 6 do in the playoffs?
Iowa City Regina
Defeated Starmont in the first round (14-0)
Defeated West Branch in the quarterfinals (21-0)
Defeated Dike-New Hartford in the semifinals (10-7)
Defeated Algona Garrigan in the championship game (19-8)
West Branch
Defeated Tipton in the first round (28-0)
Lost to Iowa City Regina in the quarterfinals (21-0)
Thoughts on District 6 for 2006:
After finishing the 2005 season as my top two teams in Class 1A, Iowa City
Regina and West Branch are pitted against one another in the same district.
Obviously this is growing into quite a rivalry I would expect nothing less.
Iowa City Regina took home the State title last year while avenging their only
loss to West Branch in the playoffs. Their senior class was looking
forward to that rematch for sometime and didn't letdown. The Regals will
bring back All State linebacker Adam Martensen but have a ton of holes to fill.
But with the football tradition that the Regals have been building, expect them
to take another serious run at the playoffs. West Branch saw their season end for the second consecutive year to Iowa City
Regina after beating them during the regular season. All State quarterback
Caleb Walter is one of the top athletes in Iowa and will lead the Bears for the
third straight year behind center. Tyler Bailey is also back and will be a
force along the lines. He made it tough for opposing teams to do much
against him with his speed and ability. And when considering the football
tradition that West Branch has, don't be surprised if this is finally the year
they make it to the UNI-Dome. That would be a fitting to Walter's prep
career. Montezuma surprised a lot of people
last year by only losing to Regina and West Branch. They bring back All
State lineman Lee Scroeder and could be a surprise team next fall. They
must stay consistent against the top teams if they want to make a serious
postseason run. Pekin
also boasts a returning All State in linebacker
Justin Chambers and will be well coached as they usually are. Can they
finally break through and get into the postseason? The Panthers had their
chances last year but did not make the most of it. This could be the year
that Pekin finally knocks down Regina. Belle Plaine had a number of
talented athletes on the field and gave teams some close games but couldn't
break through and pull off any huge upsets. They must come to play every
Friday night and upset some of the big boys this year if they want to prove they
are for real. Wapello struggled through a three win season and will have
trouble with some of the elite teams in this district. Van Buren is making
the jump down from 2A and will have their own struggles. But with
quarterback Spenser Huffman returning, anything could happen considering so many
question marks surround this district. B-G-M has quarterback Ethan Neitzel
back in the fold but his main receivers are now graduated.
Preseason District MVP: Caleb Walter
Walter is a top ten player in the state of Iowa and already has two scholarship
offers. The kid is just flat out good.
Sleeper Team: Iowa City Regina
The defending champions were hit hard by graduation but should make a run at the
playoffs.
Sleeper Player: Tyler Bailey
Walter may get all the pub but Bailey does a lot of dirty work that goes
unnoticed.
District Champion: West Branch
The Bears will be taking home their third straight district title with Caleb
Walter at quarterback. The question now is will it mean anything come
playoff time?
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 6 in
2006
Team
West Branch *
Iowa City Regina *
Pekin
Van Buren
Montezuma
Belle Plaine
Wapello
B-G-M
*Denotes playoff predictions
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 1A - District 7[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District Seven did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
Central Decatur
4-3
5-4
Pella Christian
N/A
N/A
Interstate 35
4-3
6-3
Mount Ayr *
5-2
7-2
Nodaway Valley
(2A)
3-4
4-6
North Polk (2A) *
6-1
7-2
Pleasantville *
7-0
8-1
Wayne, Corydon
0-7
1-8
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 7 do in the playoffs?
Mount Ayr
Lost to Pleasantville in the first round (23-6)
North Polk
Lost to PCM-Monroe in the first round (26-22)
Pleasantville
Defeated Mount Ayr in the first round (23-6)
Lost to Council Bluffs St. Albert in the quarterfinals (28-20)
Thoughts on District 7 for 2006:
Early on, this district appears as if there are a lot of question marks that
will be answered once the season starts. The first is where does North
Polk go this year? They have dropped down from Class 2A and after making
the playoffs, could be primed for a much deeper playoff run. And after
almost beating PCM-Monroe in the first round (That same PCM-Monroe team that
went to the semifinals), there is a lot for this team to build on. But
they still have key positions that need to be filled before the team starts
having their way with these teams. Starting quarterback Jonathan Sukut is
gone but backup Eric Hall saw a lot of time last season. Look for that to
pay off for the Comets this year. Pleasantville may have been the biggest
surprise in Class 1A and will be wanting to prove that they were not a fluke
last year. If not for a tough loss in the quarterfinals, the Trojans would
have had a chance to showcase their skills at the UNI-Dome. Quarterback
Matt Stubbs threw for over 1,200 yards last fall as a sophomore and should be
primed for a breakout year this fall. The only problem is that all of the
top running backs and wide receivers are now graduated. And it will be
tough to put up better numbers unless inexperienced players step up their game. Mount Ayr
was not as big a surprise as Pleasantville but few outside of the community
expected them to be playoff bound. They played above expectations all year
and that helped them perform on Friday nights. There will be some holes to
fill on the defensive side of the ball but the offense is ready for a great
year. Quarterback Brian Inloes combined to throw and run for over 1,200
yards. And with top athletes Tyler Hosfield, Kyle Beaman, and Ben Graham
back, this team will be tough to slow down. Central Decatur struggled at
times last season to finish 5-4 but the pieces are there for a complete turn
around. Quarterback Brad Grooms threw for over 1,000 yards last year and
over 600 of those went to All State wide receiver Joe Audlehelm. And with
running back Billy Whitham back, the Cardinals have a quick strike offense.
Interstate 35 had a down season from what they are normally used to. And
because they fell short of the postseason, they will be motivated to make a run
at the postseason. They run the ball a lot and with leading rusher Shane
Stanley and quarterback Colton Calvert returning, they may turn things around.
One team to keep an eye on because they always seem to have athletes in Nodaway
Valley. And after moving down from Class 2A, there is no doubt that they
will get a chance to win more than four games this season. Quarterback
Chris Kerber, lineman Levi Morris, and running back Derek Laughery all made a
name for themselves last fall and will be looking for more as seniors.
Wayne and Pella Christian have a number of question marks around their programs.
Can Wayne win and can Pella Christian develop a football tradition? Time
will tell.
Preseason District MVP: Brian Inloes
If he can quarterback his team to the district title, he deserves this award.
Sleeper Team: Nodaway Valley
They are a team that will likely figure into the playoff picture.
Sleeper Player: Chris Kerber
Kerber was an All State quarterback last season in 2A who is not receiving much
pub.
District Champion: Mount Ayr
This is a tough pick because there are so many quality teams in this
district.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 7 in
2006
Team
Mount Ayr *
Interstate 35 *
North Polk
Nodaway Valley
Pleasantville
Central Decatur
Wayne, Corydon
Pella Christian
*Denotes playoff predictions
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 1A - District 8[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District Eight did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
Audubon
1-6
1-8
Corning
3-4
3-6
Griswold
5-2
6-3
Logan-Magnolia *
6-1
7-2
Panorama
4-3
5-4
Riverside, Oakland
3-4
4-5
Council Bluffs St.
Albert *
6-1
6-3
Underwood
5-2
6-3
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 8 do in the playoffs?
Logan-Magnolia
Lost to Council Bluffs St. Albert in the first round (27-20, Overtime)
Council Bluffs St. Albert
Defeated Logan-Magnolia in the first round (27-20, Overtime)
Defeated Pleasantville in the quarterfinals (28-20)
Lost to Algona Garrigan in the semifinals (13-0)
Thoughts on District 8 for 2006:
After making it to two straight appearances at the UNI-Dome, this was
supposed to be the year that Council Bluffs St. Albert rebuilt. They
wouldn't be able to reload after all the successful players have graduated.
Well, they definitely quieted critics like myself as they went on to the final
four in Class 1A. Although they lost to Algona Garrigan, they really had
an outstanding year. Nolan Batten returns and will be the starting
quarterback for the third consecutive season. He has grown and improved a
lot over those years. The defense should be as strong as ever with a
number of returning All District players. Look for a big season out of
senior linebacker Chad Belt. Logan-Magnolia almost ended that dream season
in the first but could not take down St. Albert in overtime. That loss
will leave a bitter taste of the mouths of the returning players and that can
only help motivate them when they meet in the regular season. Offensively,
the Panthers rely heavily on the running game and will need younger talent to
step up rushing the ball. Both Marshall Barney and Martin Gross saw
carries but will have a bigger role this fall. Underwood and Griswold came
up just short of the postseason after finishing 5-2 in district play. Both
teams must come to play every night, especially against the top dogs of their
district. For Underwood, Austin Jager had a monster season and rushed for
over 1,600 yards. And considering that he is only heading into his junior
season, expect those numbers to increase during his last two years of prep
football. Griwold on the other hand lost an outstanding back in Lucas
Mosier and his departure means someone else needs to step up their game.
Panorama played some teams very close but was unable to really shock anyone last
year. They had some talented athletes but there are holes to fill this
off-season. How they fill those holes will determine the success of the
team. Corning started the season 0-2 and was only able to muster three
wins in district play. That must improve if this team hopes for a
successful year. With a good senior class gone, the younger players must
step up. Audubon struggled last year and can start the season with a clean
slate. However they must get better on both sides of the ball. And
with your top four rushers graduated, this team could have some trouble.
Oakland Riverside returns quarterback Jacob Grobe but and some other solid
contributors from a team that won four games last fall.
Preseason District MVP: Nolan Batten
Can he lead his team to the playoffs for three straight years?
Sleeper Team: Underwood
After missing the playoffs last year, expect them to be among the top in
district play.
Sleeper Player: Austin Jager
Jager may be young but he is very talented.
District Champion: Council Bluffs St. Albert
The Falcons are ready for yet another run at the UNI-Dome.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 8 in
2006
Team
Council Bluffs St.
Albert *
Underwood *
Logan-Magnolia
Griswold
Panorama
Corning
*Denotes playoff predictions
Audubon
Riverside, Oakland
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Preseason All State Offense[/URL]
As we
continue our count-down to the start of the 2006 football season, IowaPreps.com
continues breaking down every angle of the upcoming season. After
previewing every district in Class 1A as well as coming out with our pre-pre-season
rankings, it is now time to bring premium users our preseason Class 1A All State
Offense.
QB
Matt
Vohsmann
Nashua-Plainfield
Vohsmann will need to find a new go-to target this season but he put up
impressive last year on the football field. Can he get the Huskies
into the playoffs this fall?
QB
Caleb
Walter
West
Branch
Walter has quarterbacked his team to the past two district titles but he
will be trying to get West Branch to the UNI-Dome for the semifinals.
QB
Gavin
Crandall
Southern
Cal
Crandall is a talented multi-sport athlete who appears to be leaning towards
playing football at the next level.
RB
Austin
Jager
Underwood
Despite only being a junior, Jager quickly made a name for himself at the
varsity level and has two years left to show the State his ability.
RB
Jesse
Nitcher
Aplington-Parkersburg
Nitcher has a bitter taste in his mouth from the last two years. As a
sophomore, the Falcons missed the playoffs and last fall they lost early in
the postseason.
RB
Nick
Peterson
Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Peterson shined on the State wide scene with an impressive sophomore year
but was limited last fall because of injuries. Can he stay healthy
this fall?
RB
Justin
Shideler
Sioux
Central
Shideler and a number of his teammates return and will be hoping to get
Sioux Central into the postseason and possibly beyond.
WR
Joe
Audlehelm
Central
Decatur
As one of the top returning wide receivers in Iowa, Audlehelm was a tough
player to stop with his ability to make catches in traffic.
WR
Keaton
Hildreth
Southern
Cal
With one of the top quarterbacks returning in the class, Hildreth will be
trying his hardest to make sure the Mustangs adjust quickly to Class 1A
football.
TE
John
Blessington
Southern
Cal
Blessington is receiving a number of college looks from major programs
because of his ability to make play at the small school level.
OL
Derrikk
Crawford
Pekin
Crawford made a name for himself on the football field last year and will
only be better with another year of experience under his belt.
OL
Brent
Johnson
South
Hamilton
Johnson has the size that Division I coaches look for in prospects.
Iowa State will be keeping close tabs on this returning All Stater.
OL
Thomas
Reese
Gladbrook-Reinbeck
If he played at a bigger school, Reese could have moved over to tight end
but he does what is in the best interest of the team. And for him,
that is to block.
OL
Lee
Scroeder
Montezuma
Scroeder is a big boy who made a number of plays last year for his
surprising Montezuma team. Can he propel them into the playoffs this
time around?
K
C.J.
Gradoville
Council
Bluffs. St. Albert
Gradoville helped to kick his team to the State title game as a sophomore
and back to the Dome once again last year.
ATH
Brian
Inloes
Mount Ayr
Inloes has the ability to play a number of positions but made a name for
himself last fall while playing behind center.
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Preseason All State Defense[/URL]
As we
continue our count-down to the start of the 2006 football season, IowaPreps.com
continues breaking down every angle of the upcoming season. After
previewing every district in Class 1A as well as coming out with our pre-pre-season
rankings, it is now time to bring premium users our preseason Class 1A All State
Defense.
DL
Tyler
Bailey
West
Branch
Bailey may not have the size to play at a high level in college but he has
the heart and desire to be a great high school lineman.
DL
Evan
Capper
Aplington-Parkersburg
Capper is one of the strongest players ever to go through
Aplington-Parkersburg and that will show once again this fall as he looks
for repeat All State honors.
DL
Daniel
Mikels
Logan-Magnolia
Logan-Magnolia is a team that is flying under the radar and one of the
reasons they may make another playoff run is Mikels' blocking.
DL
Zach
Wentzel
Pocahontas Area
Wentzel flat out knows how to make plays and that shows on the field.
Look for him to have an impressive end to his prep career.
LB
Chad Belt
Council
Bluffs. St. Albert
Belt continues in the impressive tradition of the St. Albert linebacker.
And as shown last fall on their way to the Dome, this senior did not
disappoint.
LB
Justin
Chambers
Pekin
Chambers will be one of the main anchors on a Pekin defensive attack that
will need to take it to another notch if they can get into the playoffs.
LB
Adam
Martensen
Iowa City
Regina
Martensen is one of the few pieces returning off of the Iowa City Regina
State champion last fall. Can he get the Regals back into playoff
contention?
LB
Reed
Schlee
Starmont
Starmont was thrown into one of the toughest districts in Iowa and was hit
hard by graduation. One bright spot to keep an eye out for is the
return of senior Reed Schlee.
LB
Matt
O'Donnell
Tipton
Only a junior, O'Donnell has made a name for himself in a number of sports.
He wrestled at the State tournament and was named All State last fall on the
football field.
LB
Ben
Wenzel
Dike-New
Hartford
Despite being one tipped away from the State championship, Wenzel is back
for Dike-New Hartford. That bitter taste in his mouth will have helped
him work harder this off-season.
LB
Austin
Swanson
Denver
Swanson is a very talented athlete for one team that everyone expects to
make a run at the playoffs. He will need to be even better this
season.
DB
Peter
Brekken
Lake
Mills
Brekken will be another reason that the Lake Mills defense will be tough
this season. Can they break through and make a run at the district
title?
P
Tyler
Rabey
West
Marshall
Rabey is a talented athlete who has one of the best legs in the State for
booting the ball.
This post was edited on 8/17 12:15 PM by LukeFeddersenif(GetAdminCookie() != 0) {document.write(' (Revisions[/URL])');}
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District One did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
Akron-Westfield
0-7
0-10
Battle Creek-IG (2A)
4-3
6-3
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn (2A)
3-4
4-5
Hinton
3-4
4-5
Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids *
6-1
8-1
South O'Brien
5-2
7-2
West Lyon (2A) *
6-1
6-3
West Sioux
2-5
4-5
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 1 do in the playoffs?
Sioux Central
Lost to Pocahontas Area in the first round (18-7)
West Lyon
Lost to Sheldon in the first round (16-0)
Thoughts on District 1 for 2006:
When previewing this district, this first thing to standout is West Lyon.
After making the playoffs last year in Class 2A, they will be dropping back down
to 1A and could be ready to do some serious damage. Although they lost a
number of talented seniors from last fall's team, the football tradition at this
school is very deep. Returning for the team are All District athletes Caleb Blauwet
and Chris Tracy. This duo will be looking to improve this season but need
to make sure the team does not struggle early in the year. Last year, the
Wildcats started the season a dismal 1-3. Even though they bounced back,
that will need to be avoided this time around. Sioux Central was the other
team to make the postseason last year. Although they fell early to
Pocahontas Area in the playoffs, they still were able to surprise a lot of
people on their run to the postseason. They are definitely a team to keep
an eye on because they return a lot of their core from last year. Running
back Justin Shideler will be looking to improve on the numbers he put up last
year. He has some serious talent and his leadership will be needed this
year. Battle Creek-Ida Grove had to play against the big
boys of Emmetsburg and Fort Dodge St. Edmond last year and still finished at 6-3
overall. They will have to adjust to Class 1A football but returning All
District quarterback Eric Hanson makes that job much easier.
This standout will need to find a new go-to target now that Casey Harriman has
moved on to Creighton for hoops. Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn is one school that is known for producing talented
athletes. The Hawks will be facing off against smaller 1A competition and
have three All District players back in the fold. They are not the type of
team to forget about this season. H-M-S did lose five games this season
but three of those were by a combined three points. How would you feel
ending the season with back-to-back 7-6 losses? That would have keep those
players motivated for this season and will have them chomping at the bit to get
the year going. Keep an eye on senior Mike Finch. South O'Brien just
missed out on the postseason last fall and will be hoping to change things this
year. They beat up on the teams below them in district play but was unable
to take down the top two squads during the season. Leading wide receiver
Ross Fernstrum is back for the fall but he will need someone to throw him the
ball. The Blackhawks of Hinton were only able to pull off three wins
during district play. They will need to pick up their play and become more
consistent during the year. Eli Kroll and Brennen Landenberger will be
looking for another big year on the ground for this team. Defensive lineman
Brandon Robinson was a tough player to block as the year went on. West
Sioux was 2-0 outside of district play but could not use that success to propel
them to a winning year. The Falcons will rely heavily on their running
game and considering that their top three rushers are back, this could be a
tough team to control. Akron-Westfield was a surprise last year
considering that they could not win any games. They tied for the worst
record in the state at 0-10 and will be hoping to break that streak this fall.
Preseason District MVP: Justin Shideler
Shideler is a talented running back who will need to put up huge numbers all
year long if they can take down West Lyon in this district.
Sleeper Team: H-M-S
They are predicted third but I expect last year to be a down season for them.
Now that they are in 1A, look for them to make a playoff run.
Sleeper Player: Mike Finch
Talented athlete will make a huge impact on the defensive side of things.
District Champion: Sioux Central
This was a tough pick and could go either way between the top three teams.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 1 in
2006
Team
Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids *
West Lyon *
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn
Battle Creek-IG
Hinton
South O'Brien
West Sioux
Akron-Westfield
*Denotes playoff predictions
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 1A - District 2[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District Two did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
AGWSR *
7-0
8-1
Pocahontas Area *
7-0
7-2
Prairie Valley
5-2
6-3
Southern Cal (A)
6-3
6-3
South Hamilton
4-3
5-4
Fort Dodge St.
Edmond *
7-0
10-0
West Marshall
2-5
2-7
Woodward-Granger
1-6
2-7
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 2 do in the playoffs?
AGWSR
Lost to Algona Garrigan in the first round (22-14)
Pocahontas Area
Defeated Sioux Central in the first round (18-7)
Lost to Algona Garrigan in the quarterfinals (21-6)
Fort Dodge St. Edmond
Defeated Emmetsburg in the first round (28-16)
Lost to Sheldon in the quarterfinals (14-7)
What do you get when you throw three district champions from the previous
year into the same district? I can't answer that question now but the Iowa
High School Association certainly wants to know the answer. The best way
to say it is that this district is loaded. There are so many good teams
with solid traditions that many squads will be having an early end to the year.
Starting with Fort Dodge St. Edmond, the Gaels had an outstanding year in sports
and that was obvious during the football season. The scary thing is that
they will be making the journey down to Class 1A. But the good thing for
their opponents is that they lost eight All District performers and will have a
lot of fresh faces in the lineup. They may be inexperienced but they have
continued to prove time and time again that they can compete with anyone.
Two players to keep an eye on are running back Jeff Nemmers and lineman Josh
McNeil. Nemmers was second on the team in rushing and will get a chance to
really showcase his skills this fall. AGWSR was winning in the first
round of the playoffs but just didn't have what it took to knock off Algona
Garrigan. Like the Gaels, AGWSR was a senior dominated team that will have
a lot of players to replace. But when looking at the season, the Cougars
had a strange run. They lost their first two and their last game by narrow
margins. When considering the amount of talent they had on their roster,
they should have been able to do more. Pocahontas Area was a big shocker
when they turned things around from a 0-2 start to a 7-0 district record.
This year the competition will be tougher and that will make the feat that much
harder. But the positive thing is that they now have a winning mentality
and could start to build a football power if they can win over the long run. The
Indians will need to replace their top two graduated running backs from last
fall. Southern Cal is loaded with outstanding athletes and was primed to be one of the
best Class A schools next year. But when they moved up to 1A, things will
be much different. I expect these athletes to flourish but they must
adjust quickly to the change in class. Quarterback Gavin Crandall, wide
receiver Keaton Hildreth, and lineman John Blessington have a chance to make a
run at All State honors this season. Prairie Valley boasted a two-time
All Stater in Shane Allen but he has already graduated. He
nearly led them to a playoff berth but fell short in the end. Without him,
they could be in-trouble unless someone can step up in his place. This
team was used a pass-first offense last year but with their top two receivers
and quarterback now gone, there are a lot of holes to fill. South Hamilton
returns one of the top linemen in Iowa with Brent Johnson. This junior was
named All State and has the size to play major college football. But with
the rest of the team, the Hawks lose their top three rushers as well as a host
of other skill players. Johnson will be tough to stop but who else will be
around him? West Marshall and Woodward-Granger were the only two teams in
this district to finish last year under .500. They combined to win four
games and will need to pick up their play if they want to hang with these teams
come fall. Outside of their two wins, Woodward-Granger only managed to
score twenty one points. That must be improved greatly this year.
West Marshall has a solid nucleus returning so they could surprise some people.
Preseason District MVP: Jeff Nemmers
If the Gaels want a serious shot at another district title, Nemmers needs to
have a breakout year.
Sleeper Team: West Marshall
They return a lot of talent from a team that struggled last year.
Sleeper Player: Keaton Hildreth
His teammates may get a lot of the attention but Hildreth but up some solid
stats last year.
District Champion: Fort Dodge St. Edmond
I see this coming down to a two team race with the tradition of St. Edmond
being too much in the end.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 2 in
2006
Team
Fort Dodge St.
Edmond *
Southern Cal *
Pocahontas Area
AGWSR
West Marshall
South Hamilton
Prairie Valley
Woodward-Granger
*Denotes playoff predictions
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 1A - District 3[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District Three did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
Lake Mills
4-3
6-3
Nashua-Plainfield
6-1
8-1
Newman Catholic
2-5
4-6
North Butler
2-5
3-6
North Iowa (A)
3-5
3-6
Rockford
0-7
1-8
St. Ansgar
5-2
6-3
Turkey Valley
3-4
4-5
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 3 do in the playoffs?
No Teams Qualified for the postseason
Thoughts on District 3 for 2006:
District 2 has three teams that won district titles last year while this
district boasts three teams with overall winning records. I really
wouldn't consider that fair but these teams should not be complaining. The
team that came the closest to the postseason last year was Nashua-Plainfield.
The Huskies bring back one of the top quarterbacks in the State with junior Matt
Vohsmann. This talented athlete put up some huge numbers on the way to All
District honors. He will need to reduce his interceptions but that is
definitely possible this fall. Chris Demro will have to step up for the
ground attack to be successful. And with Brad Theilen graduated, the
Huskies need a go-to threat. St. Ansgar saw six seniors graduate who were
named All District and will be missed. The Saints have a solid football
tradition and may be able to reload this year. This would be the district
to do it in but there are a lot of holes that need to be filled early in the
year. One of the top players in Class 1A was Justin Kester of Lake Mills.
This two time All State linebacker will be at college by the time the 2006
season rolls around. His presence and leadership on the defensive side of
the ball will need to be replaced immediately. Athlete Peter Brekken had a
good season last fall but will need to step up his game this season as his role
grows in the offense. Turkey Valley lost a very
talented running back in Nate Mracek but brings back two All District players on
the defensive side of the ball in Phill Eichenberger and Chris Sullivan.
Andy Wurzer is the early favorite to replace Mracek as the team's top rusher but
must improve his totals. North Butler graduated one of the top receiving threats in Iowa in Luke Brocka.
He was one of the most talented athletes in the Class of 2006 and also stood out
on the basketball court. One positive for the Bearcats is that they will
not be in the same district as rival Aplington-Parkersburg. Also gone is
quarterback Jordan Eberline. North Iowa will have their hands full trying
to make the jump up from Class A. They will need to adjust as quickly as
possible. Quarterback Aaron Olson has experience from last season but he
needs to drastically reduce his interceptions.Newman Catholic started the 2-0
but could only win two more games the rest of the season once district play
started. Although that is not great, it is better than the one win
Rockford was able to compile last fall. Keep an eye on Newman athlete
Tyler Moorehead. He will likely be the focal point of the offense.
Preseason District MVP: Matt Vohsmann
Vohsmann is now finally a senior and will get a chance to show that he is one of
the best quarterbacks in the state.
Sleeper Team: Lake Mills
Justin Kester might be gone but the team had some solid contributors around him.
Sleeper Player: Tyler Moorehead
This All District junior will get a lot more touches this season.
District Champion: Nashua-Plainfield
This appears on paper to be another two team race between the Huskies and
St. Ansgar.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 3 in
2006
Team
Nashua-Plainfield
*
St. Ansgar *
Turkey Valley
Lake Mills
North Butler
Newman Catholic
North Iowa
Rockford
*Denotes playoff predictions
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 1A - District 4[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District Four did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
Aplington-Parkersburg *
7-0
9-0
BCLUW (A)
6-3
6-3
Denver
3-4
4-5
Dike-New Hartford
*
6-1
6-3
Gladbrook-Reinbeck
*
6-1
8-1
Grundy Center (2A)
4-3
5-4
Jesup
1-6
1-8
Starmont *
7-0
9-0
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 4 do in the playoffs?
Aplington-Parkersburg
Lost to Gladbrook-Reinbeck in the first round (34-21)
Dike-New Hartford
Defeated Eldora-New Providence in the first round (30-6)
Defeated Gladbrook-Reinbeck in the quarterfinals (21-0)
Lost to Iowa City Regina in the semifinals (10-7)
Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Defeated Aplington-Parkersburg in the first round (34-21)
Lost to Dike-New Hartford in the quarterfinals (21-0)
Starmont
Lost to Iowa City Regina in the first round (14-0)
I don't know if it was a joke or what but when you have four playoff teams
in one district, you have to wonder about competitively balancing out the
districts. However, my job is to write about the districts, not complain
about them. The best place to start is with Aplington-Parkersburg.
Although the Falcons were shocked at home in the first round of the playoffs,
they return a load of talent that will be more focused for next fall. Evan
Capper and Jesse Nitcher are among the top players in the Class of 2007 and have
a chance to play college football afterwards. But before they do that, the
duo would want nothing more than to raise the Class 1A State trophy.
Tom Koenen will be an important player to replace both on offense and defensie. Gladbrook-Reinbeck was the team that was able to pull off that huge upset in the
first round and they will be tough again this fall. Lineman Thomas Reese
is back after an All State year and running back Nick Peterson has a chance for
a monster year if he can avoid the injury bug. Quarterback Tyson Dirks
also is back and must cut down on throwing interceptions. One question
mark is the new coach for the Rebels but he has been in the program so he won't
be completely new to the team. Dike-New Hartford nearly had an appearance
wrapped up in the State title game before a thrilling last minute touchdown by
the eventual champions from Iowa City Regina. If you want to talk about
motivation, the memory of that for the Wolverine players will have them working
as hard as anyone this off-season. They started the year 0-2 but bounced
back quickly and played their best football at the end of the year. Ben
Wenzel is the only returning player who made All District and he will need to
step up his leadership on the defensive side of things. And don't forget Starmont,
who finished the regular season 9-0. The problem is that many questioned
their district opponents and the lack of playoff success. The Stars have
been hit hard by graduation and saying they were senior dominated last fall
might be an understatement. Because of the lack of numbers in the program
recently and the graduated seniors, it will be tough for Stamont to continue
playing football at a very high level. Grundy
Center is a team who has a chance to improve on their 5-4 record from last year.
They are making the move down to Class 1A and may have what it takes to surprise
some people. Quarterback Forrest Winburn comes back for the year but has
few other returning skill players. So with that in-mind, the success of
the team will likely depend on who steps up around Winburn. BCLUW will be
trying to move up a class and this is not the district that will give them much
chance to perform well. The Comets normally have talented athletes but
will need to take their game to another level if they can sneak into the
postseason in this district. Beau Dielschneider has made a name for
himself at the varsity level and will hope to continue that as the team make the
push up to Class 1A. Denver saw one of their most talented seniors
last year give up football to focus on basketball but still were able to manage
four wins. The Cyclones played their best football late in the year and
hope that momentum can carry over into the 2006 season. And considering
that a number of juniors saw time this year, don't be shocked to see Denver
improve on their win total. Quarterback Cody Hougen is now a senior and is
a dual-threat quarterback. Jesup had a very good
season in 2004 but lost to much to graduation. Can they improve on that
one win? The J-Hawks did win their last game of the season and would like
to build on that.
Preseason District MVP: Jesse Nitcher
Nitcher was one of the best running backs in Iowa last year and will only be
better for this year.
Sleeper Team: Denver
A young team that struggled early last year could break out this fall.
Sleeper Player: Beau Dielschneider
It seems like a long time ago but Dielschneider was All State as a sophomore.
District Champion: Aplington-Parkersburg
The Falcons will have revenge on their mind when they face off against
Gladbrook-Reinbeck.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 4 in
2006
Team
Aplington-Parkersburg *
Gladbrook-Reinbeck
*
Dike-New Hartford
Denver
Grundy Center
Starmont
BCLUW
Jesup
*Denotes playoff predictions
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 1A - District 5[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District Five did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
Alburnett (A)
3-5
3-7
Bellevue
5-2
7-2
Central Elkader
(A)
3-4
4-4
Clayton Ridge
2-5
2-7
Edgewood-Colesburg
(A) *
7-1
8-1
Northeast
Gooselake
4-3
5-4
North-Linn
1-6
1-8
Preston (A)
6-2
6-3
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 5 do in the playoffs?
Edgewood-Colesburg
Lost to Lisbon in the first round (46-25)
Thoughts on District 5 for 2006:
District four is loaded with four playoff teams from last year while this
district boasts one as well as four teams making the move up from A. That
transition alone will not be easy for any of the four teams.
Edgewood-Colesburg had an outstanding season on
last fall and only lost one game during the regular season. Although they
were unable to get past the first round of the postseason, that does not take
anything away from what they accomplished. Like all of the other Class A
teams, they will need to play consistent football and get used to the difference
in Class 1A football. Ryan Putz is back at quarterback and is a very
talented athlete. He is also a standout in other sports as well and uses
that athleticism to his advantage on the football field. Preston will have to
prove they belong after winning six games last year. But the Trojans were
unable to win the really big game against two teams that made the postseason.
They also must find a consistent quarterback this year. Preston went
through a number of options but it appears senior Joe Wenzel was the most
consistent and may be their best bet for this year. Bellevue was one of the 1A teams that was one game away from the playoffs.
Although they couldn't take down Tipton when the postseason was on the line, the
Comets were able to surprise a lot of people with their success on the field.
Can they shock people for the second straight year? The Comets have a lot
of returning pieces that will likely allow them to do some damage to their
opponents. Northeast Gooselake has
been loaded with athletes over the past few years and that will be no different
this time around. The Rebels must prove that they can win football games
if they want a chance at making it to the postseason. Dylan Diedrich
should be back behind center after seeing playing time at quarterback over the
last two years. He is an outstanding athlete and one of the top basketball
players in Iowa. Running back Lance Adrian was second on the team in
rushing but will get a chance for more carries this time around. Alburnett
and Central Elkader round out the four Class A teams in this district.
They combined to win seven games last fall and will have to come to play every
Friday if they hope to improve on that win total. Cody Young returns
for Alburnett and will be a vital cog for the offense. Clayton Ridge and
North Linn struggled together last year and need a complete turnaround to get
any better. But the positive is that in this district, anything can
happen. Ben Dolan, the leading rusher for North Linn, will be back as a
senior.
Preseason District MVP: Dillon Budde
Only a junior, Budde earned some valuable experience last fall and will be
important to the offense.
Sleeper Team: Preston
The Trojans are better than people are giving them credit for.
Sleeper Player: Lance Adrian
If Northeast Gooselake can make a run at the playoffs, Adrian will need a big
year.
District Champion: Bellevue
I will tell you right now that anything, and I mean anything could happen in
this district.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 5 in
2006
Team
Bellevue *
Northeast
Gooselake *
Edgewood-Colesburg
Preston
Alburnett
Clayton Ridge
North-Linn
Central Elkader
*Denotes playoff predictions
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 1A - District 6[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District Six did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
Belle Plaine
3-4
4-5
B-G-M
1-6
1-8
Montezuma
5-2
7-2
Pekin
4-3
6-3
Iowa City Regina *
6-1
8-1
Van Buren (2A)
1-6
2-7
Wapello
2-5
3-6
West Branch *
7-0
9-0
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 6 do in the playoffs?
Iowa City Regina
Defeated Starmont in the first round (14-0)
Defeated West Branch in the quarterfinals (21-0)
Defeated Dike-New Hartford in the semifinals (10-7)
Defeated Algona Garrigan in the championship game (19-8)
West Branch
Defeated Tipton in the first round (28-0)
Lost to Iowa City Regina in the quarterfinals (21-0)
After finishing the 2005 season as my top two teams in Class 1A, Iowa City
Regina and West Branch are pitted against one another in the same district.
Obviously this is growing into quite a rivalry I would expect nothing less.
Iowa City Regina took home the State title last year while avenging their only
loss to West Branch in the playoffs. Their senior class was looking
forward to that rematch for sometime and didn't letdown. The Regals will
bring back All State linebacker Adam Martensen but have a ton of holes to fill.
But with the football tradition that the Regals have been building, expect them
to take another serious run at the playoffs. West Branch saw their season end for the second consecutive year to Iowa City
Regina after beating them during the regular season. All State quarterback
Caleb Walter is one of the top athletes in Iowa and will lead the Bears for the
third straight year behind center. Tyler Bailey is also back and will be a
force along the lines. He made it tough for opposing teams to do much
against him with his speed and ability. And when considering the football
tradition that West Branch has, don't be surprised if this is finally the year
they make it to the UNI-Dome. That would be a fitting to Walter's prep
career. Montezuma surprised a lot of people
last year by only losing to Regina and West Branch. They bring back All
State lineman Lee Scroeder and could be a surprise team next fall. They
must stay consistent against the top teams if they want to make a serious
postseason run. Pekin
also boasts a returning All State in linebacker
Justin Chambers and will be well coached as they usually are. Can they
finally break through and get into the postseason? The Panthers had their
chances last year but did not make the most of it. This could be the year
that Pekin finally knocks down Regina. Belle Plaine had a number of
talented athletes on the field and gave teams some close games but couldn't
break through and pull off any huge upsets. They must come to play every
Friday night and upset some of the big boys this year if they want to prove they
are for real. Wapello struggled through a three win season and will have
trouble with some of the elite teams in this district. Van Buren is making
the jump down from 2A and will have their own struggles. But with
quarterback Spenser Huffman returning, anything could happen considering so many
question marks surround this district. B-G-M has quarterback Ethan Neitzel
back in the fold but his main receivers are now graduated.
Preseason District MVP: Caleb Walter
Walter is a top ten player in the state of Iowa and already has two scholarship
offers. The kid is just flat out good.
Sleeper Team: Iowa City Regina
The defending champions were hit hard by graduation but should make a run at the
playoffs.
Sleeper Player: Tyler Bailey
Walter may get all the pub but Bailey does a lot of dirty work that goes
unnoticed.
District Champion: West Branch
The Bears will be taking home their third straight district title with Caleb
Walter at quarterback. The question now is will it mean anything come
playoff time?
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 6 in
2006
Team
West Branch *
Iowa City Regina *
Pekin
Van Buren
Montezuma
Belle Plaine
Wapello
B-G-M
*Denotes playoff predictions
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 1A - District 7[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District Seven did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
Central Decatur
4-3
5-4
Pella Christian
N/A
N/A
Interstate 35
4-3
6-3
Mount Ayr *
5-2
7-2
Nodaway Valley
(2A)
3-4
4-6
North Polk (2A) *
6-1
7-2
Pleasantville *
7-0
8-1
Wayne, Corydon
0-7
1-8
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 7 do in the playoffs?
Mount Ayr
Lost to Pleasantville in the first round (23-6)
North Polk
Lost to PCM-Monroe in the first round (26-22)
Pleasantville
Defeated Mount Ayr in the first round (23-6)
Lost to Council Bluffs St. Albert in the quarterfinals (28-20)
Thoughts on District 7 for 2006:
Early on, this district appears as if there are a lot of question marks that
will be answered once the season starts. The first is where does North
Polk go this year? They have dropped down from Class 2A and after making
the playoffs, could be primed for a much deeper playoff run. And after
almost beating PCM-Monroe in the first round (That same PCM-Monroe team that
went to the semifinals), there is a lot for this team to build on. But
they still have key positions that need to be filled before the team starts
having their way with these teams. Starting quarterback Jonathan Sukut is
gone but backup Eric Hall saw a lot of time last season. Look for that to
pay off for the Comets this year. Pleasantville may have been the biggest
surprise in Class 1A and will be wanting to prove that they were not a fluke
last year. If not for a tough loss in the quarterfinals, the Trojans would
have had a chance to showcase their skills at the UNI-Dome. Quarterback
Matt Stubbs threw for over 1,200 yards last fall as a sophomore and should be
primed for a breakout year this fall. The only problem is that all of the
top running backs and wide receivers are now graduated. And it will be
tough to put up better numbers unless inexperienced players step up their game. Mount Ayr
was not as big a surprise as Pleasantville but few outside of the community
expected them to be playoff bound. They played above expectations all year
and that helped them perform on Friday nights. There will be some holes to
fill on the defensive side of the ball but the offense is ready for a great
year. Quarterback Brian Inloes combined to throw and run for over 1,200
yards. And with top athletes Tyler Hosfield, Kyle Beaman, and Ben Graham
back, this team will be tough to slow down. Central Decatur struggled at
times last season to finish 5-4 but the pieces are there for a complete turn
around. Quarterback Brad Grooms threw for over 1,000 yards last year and
over 600 of those went to All State wide receiver Joe Audlehelm. And with
running back Billy Whitham back, the Cardinals have a quick strike offense.
Interstate 35 had a down season from what they are normally used to. And
because they fell short of the postseason, they will be motivated to make a run
at the postseason. They run the ball a lot and with leading rusher Shane
Stanley and quarterback Colton Calvert returning, they may turn things around.
One team to keep an eye on because they always seem to have athletes in Nodaway
Valley. And after moving down from Class 2A, there is no doubt that they
will get a chance to win more than four games this season. Quarterback
Chris Kerber, lineman Levi Morris, and running back Derek Laughery all made a
name for themselves last fall and will be looking for more as seniors.
Wayne and Pella Christian have a number of question marks around their programs.
Can Wayne win and can Pella Christian develop a football tradition? Time
will tell.
Preseason District MVP: Brian Inloes
If he can quarterback his team to the district title, he deserves this award.
Sleeper Team: Nodaway Valley
They are a team that will likely figure into the playoff picture.
Sleeper Player: Chris Kerber
Kerber was an All State quarterback last season in 2A who is not receiving much
pub.
District Champion: Mount Ayr
This is a tough pick because there are so many quality teams in this
district.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 7 in
2006
Team
Mount Ayr *
Interstate 35 *
North Polk
Nodaway Valley
Pleasantville
Central Decatur
Wayne, Corydon
Pella Christian
*Denotes playoff predictions
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 1A - District 8[/URL]
Here is a look at how all the current teams in
District Eight did during the 2005 season:
Team
District Record
Regular Season Record
Audubon
1-6
1-8
Corning
3-4
3-6
Griswold
5-2
6-3
Logan-Magnolia *
6-1
7-2
Panorama
4-3
5-4
Riverside, Oakland
3-4
4-5
Council Bluffs St.
Albert *
6-1
6-3
Underwood
5-2
6-3
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 8 do in the playoffs?
Logan-Magnolia
Lost to Council Bluffs St. Albert in the first round (27-20, Overtime)
Council Bluffs St. Albert
Defeated Logan-Magnolia in the first round (27-20, Overtime)
Defeated Pleasantville in the quarterfinals (28-20)
Lost to Algona Garrigan in the semifinals (13-0)
After making it to two straight appearances at the UNI-Dome, this was
supposed to be the year that Council Bluffs St. Albert rebuilt. They
wouldn't be able to reload after all the successful players have graduated.
Well, they definitely quieted critics like myself as they went on to the final
four in Class 1A. Although they lost to Algona Garrigan, they really had
an outstanding year. Nolan Batten returns and will be the starting
quarterback for the third consecutive season. He has grown and improved a
lot over those years. The defense should be as strong as ever with a
number of returning All District players. Look for a big season out of
senior linebacker Chad Belt. Logan-Magnolia almost ended that dream season
in the first but could not take down St. Albert in overtime. That loss
will leave a bitter taste of the mouths of the returning players and that can
only help motivate them when they meet in the regular season. Offensively,
the Panthers rely heavily on the running game and will need younger talent to
step up rushing the ball. Both Marshall Barney and Martin Gross saw
carries but will have a bigger role this fall. Underwood and Griswold came
up just short of the postseason after finishing 5-2 in district play. Both
teams must come to play every night, especially against the top dogs of their
district. For Underwood, Austin Jager had a monster season and rushed for
over 1,600 yards. And considering that he is only heading into his junior
season, expect those numbers to increase during his last two years of prep
football. Griwold on the other hand lost an outstanding back in Lucas
Mosier and his departure means someone else needs to step up their game.
Panorama played some teams very close but was unable to really shock anyone last
year. They had some talented athletes but there are holes to fill this
off-season. How they fill those holes will determine the success of the
team. Corning started the season 0-2 and was only able to muster three
wins in district play. That must improve if this team hopes for a
successful year. With a good senior class gone, the younger players must
step up. Audubon struggled last year and can start the season with a clean
slate. However they must get better on both sides of the ball. And
with your top four rushers graduated, this team could have some trouble.
Oakland Riverside returns quarterback Jacob Grobe but and some other solid
contributors from a team that won four games last fall.
Preseason District MVP: Nolan Batten
Can he lead his team to the playoffs for three straight years?
Sleeper Team: Underwood
After missing the playoffs last year, expect them to be among the top in
district play.
Sleeper Player: Austin Jager
Jager may be young but he is very talented.
District Champion: Council Bluffs St. Albert
The Falcons are ready for yet another run at the UNI-Dome.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 8 in
2006
Team
Council Bluffs St.
Albert *
Underwood *
Logan-Magnolia
Griswold
Panorama
Corning
*Denotes playoff predictions
Audubon
Riverside, Oakland
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Preseason All State Offense[/URL]
As we
continue our count-down to the start of the 2006 football season, IowaPreps.com
continues breaking down every angle of the upcoming season. After
previewing every district in Class 1A as well as coming out with our pre-pre-season
rankings, it is now time to bring premium users our preseason Class 1A All State
Offense.
QB
Matt
Vohsmann
Nashua-Plainfield
Vohsmann will need to find a new go-to target this season but he put up
impressive last year on the football field. Can he get the Huskies
into the playoffs this fall?
QB
Caleb
Walter
West
Branch
Walter has quarterbacked his team to the past two district titles but he
will be trying to get West Branch to the UNI-Dome for the semifinals.
QB
Gavin
Crandall
Southern
Cal
Crandall is a talented multi-sport athlete who appears to be leaning towards
playing football at the next level.
RB
Austin
Jager
Underwood
Despite only being a junior, Jager quickly made a name for himself at the
varsity level and has two years left to show the State his ability.
RB
Jesse
Nitcher
Aplington-Parkersburg
Nitcher has a bitter taste in his mouth from the last two years. As a
sophomore, the Falcons missed the playoffs and last fall they lost early in
the postseason.
RB
Nick
Peterson
Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Peterson shined on the State wide scene with an impressive sophomore year
but was limited last fall because of injuries. Can he stay healthy
this fall?
RB
Justin
Shideler
Sioux
Central
Shideler and a number of his teammates return and will be hoping to get
Sioux Central into the postseason and possibly beyond.
WR
Joe
Audlehelm
Central
Decatur
As one of the top returning wide receivers in Iowa, Audlehelm was a tough
player to stop with his ability to make catches in traffic.
WR
Keaton
Hildreth
Southern
Cal
With one of the top quarterbacks returning in the class, Hildreth will be
trying his hardest to make sure the Mustangs adjust quickly to Class 1A
football.
TE
John
Blessington
Southern
Cal
Blessington is receiving a number of college looks from major programs
because of his ability to make play at the small school level.
OL
Derrikk
Crawford
Pekin
Crawford made a name for himself on the football field last year and will
only be better with another year of experience under his belt.
OL
Brent
Johnson
South
Hamilton
Johnson has the size that Division I coaches look for in prospects.
Iowa State will be keeping close tabs on this returning All Stater.
OL
Thomas
Reese
Gladbrook-Reinbeck
If he played at a bigger school, Reese could have moved over to tight end
but he does what is in the best interest of the team. And for him,
that is to block.
OL
Lee
Scroeder
Montezuma
Scroeder is a big boy who made a number of plays last year for his
surprising Montezuma team. Can he propel them into the playoffs this
time around?
K
C.J.
Gradoville
Council
Bluffs. St. Albert
Gradoville helped to kick his team to the State title game as a sophomore
and back to the Dome once again last year.
ATH
Brian
Inloes
Mount Ayr
Inloes has the ability to play a number of positions but made a name for
himself last fall while playing behind center.
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
Preseason All State Defense[/URL]
As we
continue our count-down to the start of the 2006 football season, IowaPreps.com
continues breaking down every angle of the upcoming season. After
previewing every district in Class 1A as well as coming out with our pre-pre-season
rankings, it is now time to bring premium users our preseason Class 1A All State
Defense.
DL
Tyler
Bailey
West
Branch
Bailey may not have the size to play at a high level in college but he has
the heart and desire to be a great high school lineman.
DL
Evan
Capper
Aplington-Parkersburg
Capper is one of the strongest players ever to go through
Aplington-Parkersburg and that will show once again this fall as he looks
for repeat All State honors.
DL
Daniel
Mikels
Logan-Magnolia
Logan-Magnolia is a team that is flying under the radar and one of the
reasons they may make another playoff run is Mikels' blocking.
DL
Zach
Wentzel
Pocahontas Area
Wentzel flat out knows how to make plays and that shows on the field.
Look for him to have an impressive end to his prep career.
LB
Chad Belt
Council
Bluffs. St. Albert
Belt continues in the impressive tradition of the St. Albert linebacker.
And as shown last fall on their way to the Dome, this senior did not
disappoint.
LB
Justin
Chambers
Pekin
Chambers will be one of the main anchors on a Pekin defensive attack that
will need to take it to another notch if they can get into the playoffs.
LB
Adam
Martensen
Iowa City
Regina
Martensen is one of the few pieces returning off of the Iowa City Regina
State champion last fall. Can he get the Regals back into playoff
contention?
LB
Reed
Schlee
Starmont
Starmont was thrown into one of the toughest districts in Iowa and was hit
hard by graduation. One bright spot to keep an eye out for is the
return of senior Reed Schlee.
LB
Matt
O'Donnell
Tipton
Only a junior, O'Donnell has made a name for himself in a number of sports.
He wrestled at the State tournament and was named All State last fall on the
football field.
LB
Ben
Wenzel
Dike-New
Hartford
Despite being one tipped away from the State championship, Wenzel is back
for Dike-New Hartford. That bitter taste in his mouth will have helped
him work harder this off-season.
LB
Austin
Swanson
Denver
Swanson is a very talented athlete for one team that everyone expects to
make a run at the playoffs. He will need to be even better this
season.
DB
Peter
Brekken
Lake
Mills
Brekken will be another reason that the Lake Mills defense will be tough
this season. Can they break through and make a run at the district
title?
P
Tyler
Rabey
West
Marshall
Rabey is a talented athlete who has one of the best legs in the State for
booting the ball.
This post was edited on 8/17 12:15 PM by LukeFeddersenif(GetAdminCookie() != 0) {document.write(' (Revisions[/URL])');}
