Class 3A - 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
Sioux City Heelan
(4A) *
5-0
6-3
LeMars *
6-1
8-1
Denison-Schleswig
4-3
6-3
Sergeant Bluff-Lutton
(2A)
2-6
3-6
Spencer
2-5
2-7
MOC-Floyd Valley
5-2
6-4
Spirit Lake
0-7
1-8
Storm Lake
3-4
4-5
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 1 do in the playoffs?
Sioux City Heelan
Defeated Sioux City East in the first round (37-0)
Lost to West Des Moines Valley in the quarterfinals (30-7)
LeMars
Defeated Humboldt in the first round (31-7)
Defeated Clear Lake in the quarterfinals (7-3)
Lost to Harlan in the semifinals (35-21)
Thoughts on District 1 for 2006:
Although the season is a long ways away, the first thing you notice about
this district is the presence of Sioux City Heelan. The Crusaders have
dominated the MRC conference and now will be playing Class 3A football.
Will that give them a huge advantage over their opponents or will their new
district foes give them fits? Heelan brings back four All Conference
performers from last year. Obviously there will be some holes to fill but
the team is young and has a chance to make an impact. The youth was on
full display early in the year when Heelan lost three of their first four.
But when conference play started, the team started gaining confidence and ran
the table against Missouri River Conference opponents. Losing one of their
top players to the Des Moines area for soccer will hurt but the talent base is
always strong at Heelan. LeMars loses four
All District players from their outstanding finish but has a strong nucleus
returning. Running back Chris Campbell, wide receiver Caleb Van Otterloo,
lineman Corey Hoffman, and athlete Justin Phelan all return. That is four
players who were named All District that are back for the team. These
players will be the core of this Bulldog team and their success will play a
major role in how the team does this fall. Denison-Schleswig
was a tough team to beat last year but they are glad they won't have to see
Harlan during the district season. The problem this year is that the team
was hit hard by graduation and will have a lot of positions to replace.
Running back Tyler Dudding went over the 1,000 yard mark on the ground and has
since graduated. Brandon Hargens will likely take over and saw varsity
experience last year as a junior but will really need to improve to replace what
Dudding did. This senior also led the team in tackles last season and will
be the focal point of the defense again. Sergeant Bluff-Lutton
is making the move up from Class 2A and didn't finish so well there. My
initial guess is that does not bode well for the team but anything can happen
once the season gets underway. Quarterback Colt Getzemeyer split time with
others but showed a solid arm and the ability to run as well. He will get
a better chance to showcase his skills this season along with running back Dan
Kincade. Spencer will be bringing back two very good
athletes in Chris Lensing and Preston Black but the rest of the team must step
up. The Tigers are familiar with many of these District 1 opponents so
that could help them. And considering that they lost their first seven
games of the 2005 season, the momentum of winning their last two contests could
come in handy this year. As far as the running game goes, keep an eye on
Eric Norgaard. He led the team in rushing as a sophomore. MOC-Floyd Valley brings back some very talented
players along the line but they need skilled athletes to step up. Two
players to keep an eye on are Paul Lundgren and Andy Boonstra. They are
both talented and large. Watch for that duo to dominate both sides of the
line but they need players to fill in around him who can produce. Spirit Lake returns one All District performer in
athlete Mike Sandy but the team was unable to win
any games in district play. They have to make a great deal of improvement
to win more than the one game they won last fall. Storm Lake will
have one of the best quarterbacks in this district with Mitch McCabe but will
need players to step up so he has someone to throw the ball to. Likely
targets are Chom Thammavongsa and Tyson Brandt. Both caught a decent
amount of balls last fall but with Logan Masters graduated, they will need to
make big catches all season long.
Quotes:
"We have a tough district with Heelan and Denison coming in. I think we can be
good if we put our minds to it."
-Paul Lundgren, MOC-Floyd Valley lineman, on district #1.
Preseason District MVP: Clint Sargent
As quarterback of one of the top teams in Class 3A, Sargent will have to be the
MVP if this team can take home the district title.
Sleeper Team: MOC-Floyd Valley
With two of the best linemen on their team, all they need is some solid skill
players around them.
Sleeper Player: Brandon Hargens
Athlete who did it all for Denison.
District Champion: Sioux City Heelan
The Crusaders will be trying to show district opponents how much their Class
4A experience helps.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 1 in
2006
Team
Sioux City Heelan
*
LeMars *
MOC-Floyd Valley
Denison-Schleswig
Storm Lake
Spencer
Sergeant Bluff-Lutton
Spirit Lake
*Denotes playoff prediction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 3A - 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
Ballard-Huxley
5-2
6-3
Algona
1-6
1-8
Boone *
7-0
7-2
Dallas
Center-Grimes
4-3
6-3
Humboldt *
6-1
8-1
Nevada
4-3
4-5
Saydel
2-5
2-7
Webster City
1-6
1-8
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 2 do in the playoffs?
Humboldt
Lost to LeMars in the first round (31-7)
Boone
Lost to Clear Lake in the first round (17-0)
Thoughts on District 2 for 2006:
When talking about this district, I feel that it is fitting to talk about
the two teams that made the postseason last year. Both Humboldt and Boone
won their district but eventually saw a district team that they had beaten
earlier in the season avenge the loss in the first round of the postseason.
Humboldt on the other hand brings back a lot
of their firepower, including Tyler Nielsen and Cody Hundertmark. After
earning multiple scholarships in the spring, both ended the recruiting process
by committing to the University of Iowa. The Wildcats also bring back
three other players who were named All District as well. And now that they
are a year older, this team is definitely one of the top in Class 3A.
Humboldt has been thinking about that playoff loss all off-season and that has
helped them put in the extra work needed to make a serious run at the UNI-Dome.
Their defense was very dominant and I would expect that to be the case again
this fall. Boone had a great year last fall but will be missing a lot of their top players.
The team said goodbye to one of the best running backs in the State, J.D. Wonderly,
but return a very talented quarterback in Bret Houston. The Toreadors had
an impressive run last year after starting the season 0-2. Those losses
were two good teams in Grinnell and Carroll but they followed that up by running
the table in district play. But with Humboldt and other talented teams, it
will be tough to repeat that feat. Ballard-Huxley has been very close to making
the postseason in the last few years but has yet to been able to break through
and make it. They were also a senior dominated team but have a great
athlete in Patrick Truby returning. But to finally make the postseason,
the Bombers must have others step up around. And considering that they have
fifteen starters returning, this team may finally be the one who can get into
the playoffs. Algona struggled mightily in District
1 last season and may have the same trouble again this year. If they hope
to turn things around, the younger players must step up their game. The
Bulldogs had a stingy defense last year but they had major problems putting the
ball in the end zone. One
team that may be able to surprise some people is Dallas Center-Grimes.
They had a much different schedule in District 7 and only faced off against Saydel
in district play. The Mustangs graduated all three of their All District
performers so they will be inexperienced. They were able to six of their
first seven games last fall but were handily defeated in the last two games
against Waukee and Winterset. If they had won either, the Mustangs could
have been postseason bound. Jake Aberg leads a solid group of players
coming back but they must be able to compete against the big dogs if they want
to make a run at the playoffs. Nevada could be a team
that can surprise some people next fall. Punter Eric Guthrie is among the
best in Iowa as he put up some great numbers kicking the ball last year.
Also don't forget about Tyson Handsaker and Andrew Young. Handsaker is a
great athlete but will need to reduce the amount of interceptions he threw last
year. Someone will need to step up in the running and passing game to
replace Todd Sampson but this team has solid nice players returning. Saydel
had a lot of ups and downs this past year as they fought their way to a 2-5
district record. They are another team who will need their younger
athletes to step forward. And with a huge question mark at quarterback,
this team has to figure things out early in camp. The only win of Webster
City's season was against Iowa Falls, who ended their campaign winless. So
with that being said, it may be a tough fall for the Lynx.
Quotes:
"We switched districts as you know and we will be going to District 2. Going in,
I don't really know that much about it. I know Boone last year was good and
Dallas Center-Grimes was pretty good."
-Cody Hundertmark, Humboldt lineman, on moving districts.
"Obviously Humboldt is the favorite. They have a
couple of Division I prospects so they are the favorite right now. Also Boone
should be tough and there are a lot of good teams."
-Eric Guthrie, Nevada punter, on district play.
Preseason District MVP: Cody Hundertmark
Hundertmark is one of the best in-state defensive linemen in recent memory.
Sleeper Team: Boone
It appears that a lot of the talent has graduated but they are a better football
program than people give them credit.
Sleeper Player: Patrick Truby
This senior wide receiver made some impressive plays last fall.
District Champion: Humboldt
If they can stay focused, Humboldt has what it takes to make a run at the
State title.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 2 in
2006
Team
Humboldt *
Ballard-Huxley *
Boone
Dallas
Center-Grimes
Nevada
Algona
Saydel
Webster City
*Denotes playoff prediction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 3A - 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
Charles City
5-2
6-3
Clear Lake *
6-1
8-1
Cresco-Crestwood
4-3
5-4
Decorah *
6-1
8-1
Forest City
2-5
4-5
New Hampton *
6-1
7-2
Waukon
4-3
5-4
Waverly-Shell Rock
1-6
2-7
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 3 do in the playoffs?
Clear Lake
Defeated Boone in the first round (17-0)
Lost to LeMars in the quarterfinals (7-0)
New Hampton
Lost to West Delaware in the first round (31-18)
Decorah
Defeated Mount Vernon in the first round (34-7)
Lost to West Delaware in the quarterfinals (29-27)
Thoughts on District 3 for 2006:
I can tell you right now this is going to be a tough district. With
three tradition powers as well as some up and coming teams, every Friday night
is going to be a war. Charles City fell one game short of the postseason
but they were the only team to beat Decorah in the regular season. The
Comets were somewhat inexperienced last year but should be even better this time
around. They have two huge questions marks with one at quarterback and one
at running back. Who will step up at these spots? That question will
be answered this fall but there are a lot of players to keep an eye on.
Athlete Erich Feller earned All District honors as an athlete and so did lineman
Cutter Sanvig. Clear Lake is a team that many expected to be down last
fall but some of the younger players really stepped up their game. They
did not win the district title but they were able to avenge their only loss to Boone
before falling in a tight game to LeMars. What makes this team scary is
that they bring back four All District selections on the defensive side of the
ball. Thomas Gruis is one of the top linebackers in Iowa and has already
earned an early offer from South Dakota. He will be a force on both sides
of the ball and is just a tough player to prepare against. This Comet team
will be among the best in Class 3A and will play some serious smash mouth
football. The senior class that graduated at Cresco-Crestwood was a very talented
bunch and will be missed next fall. I expected this group to break through
and get into the postseason but that obviously was not the case. The
Cadets will need their younger players to step up if they hope to make some
noise in this district. Decorah has been dominant over the past two years
but will be hurting with Jordan Kraayenbrink, Taylor Mansfield, and a number of
other seniors graduated. One advantage that they do have is the football
tradition at Decorah but that will take time to develop with inexperience.
They lost a very tough game to end the 2005 season against West Delaware
otherwise they could have been fighting for a State title for the second
straight year. Jason Olsgard is one of the top returners and will likely
be the featured back this time around. Forest City also will be a much different team this time around. They were
only able to garner two wins in a tough district but could struggle to get that
if they don't come to play every week. Aaron Friederich accounted for
nearly 2,500 yards last season throwing and running but has since graduated.
The Indians had a talented senior class graduate so unless underclassmen can
step up, this could be a rough year. New Hampton is another squad with a
strong football tradition and they return a very talented lineman in Blake Rasing. But the Chickasaws will need more than a dominant lineman. I
do expect them to have what it takes to compete for a playoff spot in this
district. When you lose seven All District players to graduation that
include your quarterback and running back, it is a tough road to make a run at
the playoffs. Waukon was up and down last year and will need to be more
consistent this fall if they hope to stay with the elite teams in this district.
They do return two All District players in Tony Drew and Nic Llyod. Also
quarterback Vaughn Gesing and leading receiver Ryan Jones are back for another
year so this could be the darkhorse in district 3. Waverly-Shell Rock was
only able to win one district game last year but they were able to play some
teams surprisingly tough. But without a winning mentality, it may be tough
to get out of the basement in the standings. The one thing that the
Go-Hawks do have going for them is a stable of talented athletes coming through
their school.
Preseason District MVP: Thomas Gruis
This hard hitting linebacker will be a force as a senior this fall.
Sleeper Team: Waukon
If they can play consistent all year, Waukon may make a serious playoff run.
The amount of returning starters is enough for a serious playoff run.
Sleeper Player: Erich Feller
His ability to do a number of things for Charles City often gets overlooked.
District Champion: Clear Lake
With the tradition and talent that Clear Lake, they are definitely going to
be a tough team to beat during the regular season.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 3 in
2006
Team
Clear Lake *
Waukon *
Charles City
Decorah
New Hampton
Cresco-Crestwood
Forest City
Waverly-Shell Rock
*Denotes playoff prediction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 3A - 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
Benton Van Horne
4-3
4-5
Grinnell *
7-0
9-0
Independence
1-6
2-7
Oelwein
1-6
2-7
South Tama
1-6
1-8
Vinton-Shellsburg
4-3
6-3
West Delaware *
7-0
9-0
Williamsburg *
6-1
6-1
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 4 do in the playoffs?
Grinnell
Defeated Washington in the first round (28-20)
Lost to Williamsburg in the quarterfinals (24-14)
West Delaware
Defeated New Hampton in the first round (31-18)
Defeated Decorah in the quarterfinals (29-27)
Defeated West Delaware in the semifinals (34-27)
Lost to Harlan in the championship game (34-13)
Williamsburg
Defeated Oskaloosa in the first round (33-27, Overtime)
Defeated Grinnell in the quarterfinals (24-14)
Lost to West Delaware in the semifinals (34-27)
Thoughts on District 4 for 2006:
Just by looking at their playoff experience from last year, it is obvious
that there is going to be a great battle for the two playoffs spots. But
another thing I noticed at first look is that this district seems extremely top
heavy. The top three teams combined for a 20-1 district record and the
bottom three teams combined for a 3-18 district record. And unless those
teams improve, there is a chance for some ugly games in this district. Starting with West Delaware, the Hawks were hit very hard by graduation and have
a lot of holes to fill. But they do return B.J. Hermsen. This
sophomore may be the best overall athlete in that class and is among the top
football, baseball, and basketball players in his class. Lineman Nathan
King is also one player primed for a big year. He has the size to play
major football if he continues working hard. Athlete Zach McCool may not
have the size to play major college football but his heart and work ethic have
helped him excel in a number of sports. If he stays healthy and continues
to improve, don't be shocked if this senior makes a run at All State honors.
Alex Boom and Tony Brown must be replaced both for their production on the field
as well as their leadership. Grinnell is loaded again with athletes after
finishing last regular season undefeated. Tight end/defensive Will Eilert
was one of the most sought after football players in the Class of 2007 but has
already committed to Iowa State. He had an offer from Wyoming and interest
from Iowa but felt comfortable with the Cyclones. Their only loss was a
stunner against Williamsburg in the postseason. That loss has not been
forgotten in Grinnell and that rematch game will have a playoff intensity type
atmosphere. The biggest question mark that the Tigers will have to answer
will be in their running game. Cody Jensen is now graduated after rushing
for nearly 1,700 yards. And in order for the offense to keep clicking,
someone must be able to fill in early in the year. To start off the year,
Grinnell will have a tough game against Tyler Sash and Oskaloosa in a non
district contest. Williamsburg was the only team to knock off Grinnell last year and
they did it in revenge fashion during the postseason. Their season
eventually ended against West Delaware but they have experience and talent.
Many were surprised when the Raiders started the year 0-2 against Class 2A
competition but bounced back and eventually made it all the way to the Class 3A
semifinals. It was obvious that this young team was blossoming at the
right time. Like Grinnell, the running back spot is a huge question mark
with Cody Baethke now playing college football. This version of
Williamsburg however will have a number of playmakers back on both sides of the
ball. Benton fell off after graduating a lot of seniors the year before but still did
finish 4-3 in district play. Their problem is that they lose five All
District players, but keep an eye on Matt Rammelsberg and Zach Samson. Vinton-Shellsburg
was one of the biggest surprises early but they couldn't remain in-contention as
the year wore on. They will really miss two-time All Stater Ross
Timmermans on both sides of the ball. Oelwein will have said goodbye to
another All State wide receiver, Michael Harper. Over the past few years
they have struggled but there were a number of years that they consistently
produced Division I talent. South Tama and Independence need to change
their entire focus but could surprise some people if they are overlooked.
Quotes:
"Of course the favorites will be Williamsburg and Grinnell because they are
big football powerhouses. It is a good thing that we are in that district to get
the competition before the playoffs. I think we got the shaft to leave the
district Marion was in. But I think it is a good thing to see tough competition
to get ready for the playoffs and State."
-Zach McCool, West Delaware athlete, on the toughest tests in district play.
"We have three teams that finished in the top
eight from last year in our district. It will be awful tough but it is good
competition to look forward to."
-Nate King, West Delaware lineman, on district play this fall.
"Grinnell and West Delaware will be our two
toughest teams. Everyone else in the district will be good so if you don't come
to play, I don't know if we will win."
-Trent Henderson, Williamsburg quarterback, on the toughest tests in District
4.
"Grinnell and Williamsburg are going to be really
tough this year. We have to travel pretty far for our district games instead of
going through towns like Marion and Mount Vernon. It will be a tough district."
-BJ Hermsen, West Delaware quarterback, on district play this year.
Preseason District MVP: Will Eilert
This Grinnell standout will be looking to follow his All State season from a
year ago.
Sleeper Team: West Delaware
The Hawks have a real complaint to whoever paired the districts.
Sleeper Player: Zach McCool
McCool has worked hard to turn himself into a player and it will really show
this fall.
District Champion: Grinnell
Grinnell, Williamsburg, and West Delaware all will deserve to be in the
playoffs by the end of the season.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 4 in
2006
Team
Grinnell *
Williamsburg *
West Delaware
Benton Van Horne
Vinton-Shellsburg
Independence
Oelwein
South Tama
*Denotes playoff prediction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 3A - 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
Anamosa
0-7
0-9
Dewitt Central
1-6
2-7
Clear Creek-Amana
1-6
1-8
Western Dubuque
2-5
2-7
Maquoketa
4-3
4-5
Marion
5-2
7-2
Mount Vernon *
5-2
5-4
West Liberty (2A)
5-2
6-3
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 5 do in the playoffs?
Mount Vernon
Lost to Decorah in the quarterfinals (34-7)
Thoughts on District 5 for 2006:
When looking first hand at how loaded District 4 is, it makes you question
how they balance the teams out in these districts. But instead of focusing
on that, both districts will need to play hard and hope for the best.
Mount Vernon is the only team who has playoff experience from last year and
snuck in on the last night. The Mustangs needed a narrow win over Marion
to make the postseason. And on a cold night, they were able to win a tight
game, 8-6. However, that postseason was short lived as they were routed by
Decorah. They do have a lot of talent coming back, led by soon to be
senior Jacob Ryan. He is one of the best athletes in the Class of 2007.
Mount Vernon does still have a legendary coach in Jim Bellamy and having him at
the helm means that the team will always be competitive. Marion is the
team that was rated among the top in Iowa but ended up losing two narrow
district games that cost them a chance to avenge their loss against West
Delaware. Through week seven, they were 7-0 and on the road at West
Delaware for a district title. Fast forward two weeks and after two losses
by a combined three points, the team was sent home earlier than many expected.
There was a lot of potential for that team to make some noise in the postseason.
The Indians will have said goodbye to a loaded senior class and have a lot of
holes to replace. But with a group of younger athletes ready to play, they
may have a chance to reload rather than rebuild. One athlete who has
really seen his stock rise is linebacker Allen Reisner. He really put on a
show for college coaches this summer at camps and has a chance to earn a
scholarship if he has a strong fall. West Liberty will be making the jump
up from Class 2A. Although the Comets have finished strong in their
district over the past two years, they will have to adjust quickly to Class 3A
opponents. But with their quarterback, leading running back, and leading
receiver now graduated, it could be a tough year to adjust. Maquoketa has
a strong nucleus of returning players as well as a new coach. But what the
Cardinals must do is prove that this potential is more than just preseason hype.
Curtis Roeder has a chance to be a special player for the team. Over the
past few years many have expected them to accomplish a lot on the field and they
have not come through. But with a new coach and a new attitude, could this
finally be the year?
Western Dubuque was only able to win two games all
season and both were during district player. They must become more
consistent if they are to improve this fall.
Anamosa, Dewitt, and Clear Creek-Amana combined to
win three games between them all of last year in-district. They have a
long way to go but could make some serious progress with a good off-season.
Preseason District MVP: Allen Reisner
If the Indians can get into the playoffs, Reisner will need a huge senior year.
Sleeper Team: Maquoketa
Can they finally live up to the preseason hype?
Sleeper Player: Jacob Ryan
Ryan was named All State last year but is still under the radar.
District Champion: Marion
Considering that they have thought about that 8-6 loss to Mount Vernon all
off-season, the Indians should be improved.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 5 in
2006
Team
Marion *
Mount Vernon *
Maquoketa
West Liberty
Dewitt Central
Clear Creek-Amana
Western Dubuque
Anamosa
*Denotes playoff prediction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 3A - 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
Centerville
0-7
1-8
Davis County (2A)
4-3
5-4
Fairfield
3-4
5-4
Fort Madison
3-4
3-6
Keokuk
2-5
3-6
Mount Pleasant
4-3
6-3
Oskaloosa *
7-0
8-1
Washington *
6-1
7-2
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 6 do in the playoffs?
Oskaloosa
Lost to Williamsburg in the quarterfinals (33-27, Overtime)
Washington
Lost to Grinnell in the quarterfinals (28-20)
Quotes:
“I would probably say Oskaloosa. They really have a good program and they
are tough. They beat us last year for (The district title) so we will be going
after them hard.”
-Jacob Garrett, Washington lineman, on the toughest in-district competition.
"I think that it will be one of the toughest in
the state with Fairfield, Mt. Pleasant, and Washington. A lot of those teams
have good athletes."
-Steven Staggs, Oskaloosa wide receiver, on district play.
Thoughts on District 6 for 2006:
After a great regular season, it was sad to see the two playoff teams from
this district fade out so quickly in the first game of the postseason.
Oskaloosa lost when Williamsburg used a miracle of sorts in the first round and
Washington just couldn't get past Grinnell. The Indians return one of the
top players in the Iowa with Tyler Sash. This standout is the only player
in Iowa to be ranked by this site among the top five football and basketball
players in the Class of 2007. That alone says something about his
athleticism. Sash will line up at a number of positions and has shown his
versatility on both sides of the ball. Oskaloosa must find a suitable
replacement for quarterback Ryan Van Dalen if they want to compete for the
district title again. Considering Van Dalen threw to Sash for over 1,000
yards, this is a very vital position to replace. The team that gave them the most problems,
Washington, also has their top player back. Defensive back/quarterback Zach
Davis is a standout in both football and basketball. He will be looking to
get the Demons back to the postseason. Washington also brings back Alex Klophenstein, Jacob Garrett, Dan Tweeton, and a number of other talented
athletes. Garrett is an undersized lineman but he works hard and has the
ability to get to the quarterback. Running back Justin Greiner is now
walking on at the University of Iowa and he will need to be replaced early in
the fall. Before fading down the stretch, Mount Pleasant proved how
talented they were. Nick Burden showed all year that he was one of the top
wide receivers in Iowa but he will need to find a quarterback to throw him the
ball. And with running back Jacob Rohde and some young talent making its
way to varsity, this team will be better than many expect. Fairfield may have been one of the most disappointing teams this
past year. After losing a tight game to Mount Pleasant early in the year, this team became
unhinged and lost a number of games that they didn't the previous year.
That showed in their 5-4 overall record. The Trojans return Dirk Kool,
Woody Orne, Scott Gleason, and a host of talented athletes. If they can remain focused,
Fairfield might be making it back to the playoffs. They lost four games in
a row during the middle of the season so consistently is the key all year. Fort Madison was up and
down all year but wasn't able to knock off one of the top dogs in their
district. Court Menke is a talented athlete who will be back for his
senior season but there are a lot of players that made an impact last year who
are now graduated. Keokuk on the other hand did just that as they took Mount
Pleasant out of the district race. This ended up being a crushing blow for
them and sent them home early. Running back Ryan Helenthal returns from
that team but the team must bring their A game every night out. Also watch
out for junior quarterback James Vandenberg. He spent time behind center
and has really improved this off-season. Centerville only won one game all
year but does have one All District player in Mike Humphrey returning.
They have a ways to go before competing. Davis County had a very solid
year last season but making the move up a class is not easy for anyone.
Quotes:
"Right now, Fairfield, Washington, Oskaloosa, and even Keokuk sound like they
all can be good. We will have to see how it plays out but it sounds like a tough
district."
Nick Burden, Mount Pleasant wide receiver, on district play.
"I would say Washington and Osky are going to be
(our toughest competition). Washington more than Osky because when you talk
about Osky, everyone just says Tyler Sash. They are a good team though. We have
Washington in our first district game."
-Dirk Kool, Fairfield athlete, on who will be their biggest competition this
fall.
Preseason District MVP: Tyler Sash
Even if his team doesn't win the district, Sash will put on a show all season
long.
Sleeper Team: Fairfield/Mount Pleasant
Both teams have the talent and experience to compete for a playoff spot.
Sleeper Player: Ryan Helenthal
Keokuk is overlooked but this All District running back should be primed for a
big year.
District Champion: Washington
This was a tough pick but until Oskaloosa finds someone to throw Sash the
ball, I am leaning towards the Demons.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 6 in
2006
Team
Washington *
Oskaloosa *
Fairfield
Mount Pleasant
Keokuk
Fort Madison
Davis County
Centerville
*Denotes playoff prediction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 3A - 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
ADM-Adel
5-2
5-4
Carlisle
1-6
3-6
Chariton
3-4
4-5
Clarke
0-7
0-9
Knoxville
5-2
6-3
Pella
3-4
4-5
Norwalk
3-4
3-6
Winterset *
6-1
7-2
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 7 do in the playoffs?
Winterset
Lost to Harlan in the quarterfinals (23-13)
Thoughts on District 7 for 2006:
With only one playoff team from the previous year, it means some new teams
will have to step up this fall. Winterset had an outstanding campaign and
actually gave Harlan their toughest test of the postseason during the first
round. This team will have a lot of holes to fill on the offensive side of
the ball but defensively they should be strong once again. The offense
lost their starting quarterback, top running back, and top receiver.
Returning for the team is two very talented players in Taylor Stroud and Sean
O'Conner. Stroud has a big body along the line and O'Conner picked off
five passes last fall. ADM-Adel was
really able to surprise some people during the course of the year and nearly
made the postseason. Although they fell short, the Tigers played above
what many expected out of them. With defensive lineman Shadoe Spieker
returning, ADM-Adel may have what it takes to finally break through and get to
the postseason. Plus with the momentum of winning four straight games to
end the season the Tigers could be a nice surprise this fall. Another team that was a surprise was Knoxville. The
only two games they lost in district play were to the eventual playoff teams but
that didn't stop them from winning against their other opponents. They
return three All District players in Jordon Ammons, Tyler Pearson, and Jesse
Swanson so they are a team who has a chance to improve. With the injuries
Chariton faced last year, it might be time for luck to finally be on there side.
The Chargers lost their two top players for the majority of the season.
With both players back in a uniform next fall, Chariton may have what it takes
to step up their game and get back into the postseason. It really is tough
to hold a good program like that down for multiple years. Leon Drake and
Michael Lahart would like nothing else than to finish their career back in the
playoffs. They both will fight for All State honors if they stay healthy. Pella and
Chariton had quite the rivalry a few years back and that will return with these
two teams being in the same district. The question remains if the Dutch
can improve on their 4-5 record and make it to the top of the district.
Lineman Reid Lanser is a big boy who has the potential to earn All State honors. Norwalk has lineman Skyler Knickerbocker
back in the fold for this year. He was an All District selection last fall
but who else will be able to play around him? The Warriors must prove
early in the season that they can compete because they had trouble with that in
2005. Can Carlisle win more games during district play? Clarke flat
out struggled all year and will need to make some major changes to win a game
this fall.
Quotes:
“Winterset had a good team last year but I know they lost a lot of kids. Other
than that, I haven’t heard a lot.”
-Leon Drake, lineman from Chariton, on the toughest in-district competition.
"It is weird because I am not used to seeing teams
like Ballard and Chariton. I am kind of excited because it is going to be a big
surprise."
-Shadoe Spieker, ADM-Adel lineman, on changing districts.
Preseason District MVP: Michael Lahart
If Lahart can stay healthy, he will have a huge year on both sides of the ball.
Sleeper Team: Knoxville/ADM-Adel
Both teams have a lot coming back and could fight for the postseason.
Sleeper Player: Skyler Knickerbocker
Knickerbocker is a talented player on both sides of the ball.
District Champion: Chariton
The biggest obstacle for the Chargers is to stay healthy.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 7 in
2006
Team
Chariton *
Winterset *
Knoxville
ADM-Adel
Pella
Norwalk
Carlisle
Clarke
*Denotes playoff prediction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 3A - 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
Atlantic
5-2
6-3
Carroll
3-4
5-4
Clarinda (2A) *
6-1
7-2
Creston *
5-2
6-3
Glenwood
1-6
3-6
Harlan
7-0
9-0
Lewis Central
3-4
5-4
Perry
1-6
1-8
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 8 do in the playoffs?
Clarinda
Defeated Kuemper Catholic in the quarterfinals (17-16)
Lost to PCM-Monroe in the semifinals (35-18)
Creston
Lost to Waukee in the quarterfinals (28-24)
Harlan
Defeated Winterset in the quarterfinals (23-13)
Defeated Waukee in the semifinals (48-17)
Defeated LeMars in the semifinals (35-21)
Defeated West Delaware in the championship game (34-13)
Thoughts on District 8 for 2006:
District 8 boasts three playoff teams from last year, although one should
have an asterisk because they are making the move up from Class 2A. And on
top of that, they have the Class 3A champions from Harlan. Rumor has it
this Cyclones team is pretty good and may be going for their fourth straight
championship. That alone will be difficult but the word out of Harlan is
that one of their younger teams actually lost games this year. What will
that mean for the varsity? I guess we will see. But if there is one
thing that I learned, I am not picking against the Cyclones in anything.
It doesn't matter the sport or the venue, I won't pick against them. I
have learned my lesson too many times. Wide receiver Neil Gross had an
outstanding run towards the title and lineman Dan Hoch is one to watch.
Hoch is only a junior but started for the Cyclones last year and has the size to
play major college football. Creston made the playoffs last year but
calling them senior-dominated wouldn't properly describe them. They will
have holes to fill everywhere and need a lot of underclassmen to step up their
games. They will need to work some magic to avoid rebuilding this season.
Clarinda on the other hand has won a lot of ball games over the past few years
but will need to adjust to playing at the Class 3A level. The Cardinals
have had a ton of athletes go through their program recently that could they now
be in for a dry spell? Time will tell. Standout Brent McKinnon
pulled in six interceptions last year at defensive back. Atlantic is a
team who won the State title four years ago but has not been able to break
through ever since. They have been very close to the postseason but
normally end up falling short in the end. This time it might be different
as the Trojans have a loaded junior class who want nothing more than to break
Harlan's win streak. Quarterback will be a big question but running back
Ryan Mueller is back for another season. Mueller rushed for over 1,200
yards as a junior and will lead the offense along with All State wide receiver
Jake Knudsen. Also keep an eye on Rakeem Hedrington. Lewis Central
returns All State running back Jimmy Waters but the team needs other options
offensively. This standout will only be able to do so much. And with
Waters making the move to quarterback, the offense will look much different. Carroll
normally has a handful of talented athletes but they haven't been as successful
on the football field as of late. The defense of the Tigers will have to
lead the team early because only three offensive starters are back.
Glenwood has struggled mightily against the number of talented teams in their
district. Unless something changes, expect that to happen again.
Perry was only able to win one game last year and will have their hands full
against some of the teams in this district.
Quotes:
"Of course Harlan will always be tough and they are always the team State
wide that everyone wants to beat. I know they'll be tough. They have a lot of
question marks with people coming back but in past years they always seem to
reload. I see Atlantic will be tough and Creston puts a solid team on the field.
I see those three being right up there. I don't know what Carroll has coming
back but they have been tough."
-Jimmy Waters, Lewis Central athlete, on who will be the toughest test this
fall.
Preseason District MVP: Jimmy Waters
Harlan may win it all but Waters will put up big numbers.
Sleeper Team: Carroll
With the defense leading the way, the Tigers could shock some people.
Sleeper Player: Neil Gross
Gross is one of the best athletes in the Class of 2007 and will be looking for
an even better year this fall.
District Champion: Harlan
Did you really expect me to pick someone else?
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 8 in
2006
Team
Harlan *
Atlantic *
Carroll
Lewis Central
Clarinda
Creston
Glenwood
Perry
*Denotes playoff prediction
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 3A as well as coming out with our pre-pre-season
rankings, it is now time to bring premium users our preseason Class 3A All State
Offense.
A few notes on this team. As you will see,
there are a lot more players on this list than I had hoped. As seen with
the quarterbacks, all of the players were so similar in stats and winning, it
was too hard to keep any of these athletes from this list.
QB
Zach Davis
Washington
Davis led the Demons to the playoffs last year
and will be better this time around.
QB
BJ
Hermsen
West Delaware
Hermsen started last season as a sophomore and
he rapidly improved from beginning to the end of the season.
QB
Trent Henderson
Williamsburg
Henderson helped Williamsburg pull off a
number of dramatic wins that ended with them playing in the UNI-Dome.
QB
Scotty Roth
Grinnell
Roth stepped in nicely behind center for
Grinnell and propelled them to an undefeated regular season,
QB
Clint Sargent
Sioux City Heelan
Sargent will get a chance to showcase his arm
more this year but he was a major part of the Crusaders MRC conference
title.
RB
Chris Campbell
LeMars
Campbell was the second leading rusher for
LeMars and also started at linebacker.
RB
Jordan Smith
Humboldt
Humboldt will be one of the top teams in Iowa
and a part of that is Smith.
RB
Jimmy Waters
Lewis Central
Waters is expected to make the move to
quarterback but he made a name for himself in the past at running back.
WR
Nick Burden
Mount Pleasant
Burden will have to adjust to a new
quarterback but he is always dangerous for breaking one deep.
WR
Neil Gross
Harlan
Gross is one of the few returners from
Harlan's State title last fall after shining on their run to State.
WR
Jake Knudsen
Atlantic
Knudsen may not get the pub he deserves but he
did earn All State last fall as a junior.
WR
Tyler Sash
Oskaloosa
Sash surprised few when he committed to the
University of Iowa but will focus on his senior year before playing for the
Hawkeyes.
WR
Patrick Truby
Ballard
Truby will try to help Ballard finally break
through and make it into the postseason this fall.
TE
Curtis Roeder
Maquoketa
Roeder is a tough player to stop on both sides
of the ball and has a nice frame for college football.
TE
Woody Orne
Fairfield
Orne earned All District honors last fall and
will be even better after switching his attention to football.
OL
Leon Drake
Chariton
So maybe he didn't get a chance to really play
much as a junior. But when considering what he accomplished by earning
All State honors as a sophomore, there is no doubt Drake belongs.
OL
Tony Drew
Waukon
Many expect Waukon to be one of the toughest
teams in Class 3A and Drew will have to play a major role in that.
OL
Dan Hoch
Harlan
Not many sophomores start for Harlan but Hoch
pulled off the feat last year on the way to a State title.
OL
Travis Smith
Grinnell
Smith helped pave the way for a powerful
Grinnell offense all season.
OL
Taylor Stroud
Winterset
Many may be overlooking Winterset but Stroud
is a big reason why they will not be down this fall.
ATH
Zach McCool
West Delaware
McCool did just about everything for the Hawks
and that versatility helped him make this list.
K
Eric Guthrie
Nevada
Guthrie may have the most powerful leg in the
State, regardless of class.
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 3A as well as coming out with our pre-pre-season
rankings, it is now time to bring premium users our preseason Class 3A All State
Defense.
DL
Will Eilert
Grinnell
This future Iowa State Cyclone is a man on
both sides of the ball and will be even harder to block this fall.
DL
Cody Hundertmark
Humboldt
Hundertmark turned down the Cyclones to become
a Hawkeye and could be the most talented defensive lineman to come out in
Iowa in the past few years.
DL
Paul Lundgren
MOC-Floyd Valley
Lundgren will be hoping to help MOC-Floyd
Valley over the hump and finally into the playoffs this fall.
DL
Shadoe Spieker
ADM-Adel
Spieker played a major role on ADM's
surprising year last fall but will need to be even better this season.
LB
Thomas Gruis
Clear Lake
Gruis continues a tradition of talented
linebackers at Clear Lake and will be looking to get his team to the UNI-Dome.
LB
Dirk Kool
Fairfield
Kool has played a variety of positions for
Fairfield and will play quarterback and linebacker this year.
LB
Tyler Nielsen
Humboldt
Nielsen has been the top rated linebacker in
the Class of 2007 and has already committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes.
LB
David Rashid
Fort Madison
Fort Madison be flying under the radar but
Rashid made a name for himself last fall at linebacker and along the
offensive line.
LB
Allen Reisner
Marion
Reisner finished up his junior year with All
District honors but his stock rose a great deal with a number of outstanding
showings at summer camps.
DB
Jacob Ryan
Mount Vernon
Ryan some how helped the Mustangs to a 7-6 win
over Marion in the last game of the year and denied them a chance to make
the playoffs.
DB
Miles Matheson
Clear Lake
Matheson may be small in size but he has
proven that he can make some great plays on the football field.
DB
Caleb Van Otterloo
LeMars
Van Otterloo did a variety of things for
LeMars while starting at defensive back and wide receiver.
DB
Tyler Alexander
Oskaloosa
Alexander proved last fall that he was one of
the biggest hitters in the State. He is one to keep an eye out for.
ATH
Erich Feller
Charles City
Feller stepped up in his season of varsity
football and eventually was named All District because of his play.
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
This post was edited on 8/29 1:30 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
Sioux City Heelan
(4A) *
5-0
6-3
LeMars *
6-1
8-1
Denison-Schleswig
4-3
6-3
Sergeant Bluff-Lutton
(2A)
2-6
3-6
Spencer
2-5
2-7
MOC-Floyd Valley
5-2
6-4
Spirit Lake
0-7
1-8
Storm Lake
3-4
4-5
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 1 do in the playoffs?
Sioux City Heelan
Defeated Sioux City East in the first round (37-0)
Lost to West Des Moines Valley in the quarterfinals (30-7)
LeMars
Defeated Humboldt in the first round (31-7)
Defeated Clear Lake in the quarterfinals (7-3)
Lost to Harlan in the semifinals (35-21)
Although the season is a long ways away, the first thing you notice about
this district is the presence of Sioux City Heelan. The Crusaders have
dominated the MRC conference and now will be playing Class 3A football.
Will that give them a huge advantage over their opponents or will their new
district foes give them fits? Heelan brings back four All Conference
performers from last year. Obviously there will be some holes to fill but
the team is young and has a chance to make an impact. The youth was on
full display early in the year when Heelan lost three of their first four.
But when conference play started, the team started gaining confidence and ran
the table against Missouri River Conference opponents. Losing one of their
top players to the Des Moines area for soccer will hurt but the talent base is
always strong at Heelan. LeMars loses four
All District players from their outstanding finish but has a strong nucleus
returning. Running back Chris Campbell, wide receiver Caleb Van Otterloo,
lineman Corey Hoffman, and athlete Justin Phelan all return. That is four
players who were named All District that are back for the team. These
players will be the core of this Bulldog team and their success will play a
major role in how the team does this fall. Denison-Schleswig
was a tough team to beat last year but they are glad they won't have to see
Harlan during the district season. The problem this year is that the team
was hit hard by graduation and will have a lot of positions to replace.
Running back Tyler Dudding went over the 1,000 yard mark on the ground and has
since graduated. Brandon Hargens will likely take over and saw varsity
experience last year as a junior but will really need to improve to replace what
Dudding did. This senior also led the team in tackles last season and will
be the focal point of the defense again. Sergeant Bluff-Lutton
is making the move up from Class 2A and didn't finish so well there. My
initial guess is that does not bode well for the team but anything can happen
once the season gets underway. Quarterback Colt Getzemeyer split time with
others but showed a solid arm and the ability to run as well. He will get
a better chance to showcase his skills this season along with running back Dan
Kincade. Spencer will be bringing back two very good
athletes in Chris Lensing and Preston Black but the rest of the team must step
up. The Tigers are familiar with many of these District 1 opponents so
that could help them. And considering that they lost their first seven
games of the 2005 season, the momentum of winning their last two contests could
come in handy this year. As far as the running game goes, keep an eye on
Eric Norgaard. He led the team in rushing as a sophomore. MOC-Floyd Valley brings back some very talented
players along the line but they need skilled athletes to step up. Two
players to keep an eye on are Paul Lundgren and Andy Boonstra. They are
both talented and large. Watch for that duo to dominate both sides of the
line but they need players to fill in around him who can produce. Spirit Lake returns one All District performer in
athlete Mike Sandy but the team was unable to win
any games in district play. They have to make a great deal of improvement
to win more than the one game they won last fall. Storm Lake will
have one of the best quarterbacks in this district with Mitch McCabe but will
need players to step up so he has someone to throw the ball to. Likely
targets are Chom Thammavongsa and Tyson Brandt. Both caught a decent
amount of balls last fall but with Logan Masters graduated, they will need to
make big catches all season long.
Quotes:
"We have a tough district with Heelan and Denison coming in. I think we can be
good if we put our minds to it."
-Paul Lundgren, MOC-Floyd Valley lineman, on district #1.
Preseason District MVP: Clint Sargent
As quarterback of one of the top teams in Class 3A, Sargent will have to be the
MVP if this team can take home the district title.
Sleeper Team: MOC-Floyd Valley
With two of the best linemen on their team, all they need is some solid skill
players around them.
Sleeper Player: Brandon Hargens
Athlete who did it all for Denison.
District Champion: Sioux City Heelan
The Crusaders will be trying to show district opponents how much their Class
4A experience helps.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 1 in
2006
Team
Sioux City Heelan
*
LeMars *
MOC-Floyd Valley
Denison-Schleswig
Storm Lake
Spencer
Sergeant Bluff-Lutton
Spirit Lake
*Denotes playoff prediction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 3A - 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
Ballard-Huxley
5-2
6-3
Algona
1-6
1-8
Boone *
7-0
7-2
Dallas
Center-Grimes
4-3
6-3
Humboldt *
6-1
8-1
Nevada
4-3
4-5
Saydel
2-5
2-7
Webster City
1-6
1-8
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 2 do in the playoffs?
Humboldt
Lost to LeMars in the first round (31-7)
Boone
Lost to Clear Lake in the first round (17-0)
When talking about this district, I feel that it is fitting to talk about
the two teams that made the postseason last year. Both Humboldt and Boone
won their district but eventually saw a district team that they had beaten
earlier in the season avenge the loss in the first round of the postseason.
Humboldt on the other hand brings back a lot
of their firepower, including Tyler Nielsen and Cody Hundertmark. After
earning multiple scholarships in the spring, both ended the recruiting process
by committing to the University of Iowa. The Wildcats also bring back
three other players who were named All District as well. And now that they
are a year older, this team is definitely one of the top in Class 3A.
Humboldt has been thinking about that playoff loss all off-season and that has
helped them put in the extra work needed to make a serious run at the UNI-Dome.
Their defense was very dominant and I would expect that to be the case again
this fall. Boone had a great year last fall but will be missing a lot of their top players.
The team said goodbye to one of the best running backs in the State, J.D. Wonderly,
but return a very talented quarterback in Bret Houston. The Toreadors had
an impressive run last year after starting the season 0-2. Those losses
were two good teams in Grinnell and Carroll but they followed that up by running
the table in district play. But with Humboldt and other talented teams, it
will be tough to repeat that feat. Ballard-Huxley has been very close to making
the postseason in the last few years but has yet to been able to break through
and make it. They were also a senior dominated team but have a great
athlete in Patrick Truby returning. But to finally make the postseason,
the Bombers must have others step up around. And considering that they have
fifteen starters returning, this team may finally be the one who can get into
the playoffs. Algona struggled mightily in District
1 last season and may have the same trouble again this year. If they hope
to turn things around, the younger players must step up their game. The
Bulldogs had a stingy defense last year but they had major problems putting the
ball in the end zone. One
team that may be able to surprise some people is Dallas Center-Grimes.
They had a much different schedule in District 7 and only faced off against Saydel
in district play. The Mustangs graduated all three of their All District
performers so they will be inexperienced. They were able to six of their
first seven games last fall but were handily defeated in the last two games
against Waukee and Winterset. If they had won either, the Mustangs could
have been postseason bound. Jake Aberg leads a solid group of players
coming back but they must be able to compete against the big dogs if they want
to make a run at the playoffs. Nevada could be a team
that can surprise some people next fall. Punter Eric Guthrie is among the
best in Iowa as he put up some great numbers kicking the ball last year.
Also don't forget about Tyson Handsaker and Andrew Young. Handsaker is a
great athlete but will need to reduce the amount of interceptions he threw last
year. Someone will need to step up in the running and passing game to
replace Todd Sampson but this team has solid nice players returning. Saydel
had a lot of ups and downs this past year as they fought their way to a 2-5
district record. They are another team who will need their younger
athletes to step forward. And with a huge question mark at quarterback,
this team has to figure things out early in camp. The only win of Webster
City's season was against Iowa Falls, who ended their campaign winless. So
with that being said, it may be a tough fall for the Lynx.
Quotes:
"We switched districts as you know and we will be going to District 2. Going in,
I don't really know that much about it. I know Boone last year was good and
Dallas Center-Grimes was pretty good."
-Cody Hundertmark, Humboldt lineman, on moving districts.
"Obviously Humboldt is the favorite. They have a
couple of Division I prospects so they are the favorite right now. Also Boone
should be tough and there are a lot of good teams."
-Eric Guthrie, Nevada punter, on district play.
Preseason District MVP: Cody Hundertmark
Hundertmark is one of the best in-state defensive linemen in recent memory.
Sleeper Team: Boone
It appears that a lot of the talent has graduated but they are a better football
program than people give them credit.
Sleeper Player: Patrick Truby
This senior wide receiver made some impressive plays last fall.
District Champion: Humboldt
If they can stay focused, Humboldt has what it takes to make a run at the
State title.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 2 in
2006
Team
Humboldt *
Ballard-Huxley *
Boone
Dallas
Center-Grimes
Nevada
Algona
Saydel
Webster City
*Denotes playoff prediction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 3A - 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
Charles City
5-2
6-3
Clear Lake *
6-1
8-1
Cresco-Crestwood
4-3
5-4
Decorah *
6-1
8-1
Forest City
2-5
4-5
New Hampton *
6-1
7-2
Waukon
4-3
5-4
Waverly-Shell Rock
1-6
2-7
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 3 do in the playoffs?
Clear Lake
Defeated Boone in the first round (17-0)
Lost to LeMars in the quarterfinals (7-0)
New Hampton
Lost to West Delaware in the first round (31-18)
Decorah
Defeated Mount Vernon in the first round (34-7)
Lost to West Delaware in the quarterfinals (29-27)
I can tell you right now this is going to be a tough district. With
three tradition powers as well as some up and coming teams, every Friday night
is going to be a war. Charles City fell one game short of the postseason
but they were the only team to beat Decorah in the regular season. The
Comets were somewhat inexperienced last year but should be even better this time
around. They have two huge questions marks with one at quarterback and one
at running back. Who will step up at these spots? That question will
be answered this fall but there are a lot of players to keep an eye on.
Athlete Erich Feller earned All District honors as an athlete and so did lineman
Cutter Sanvig. Clear Lake is a team that many expected to be down last
fall but some of the younger players really stepped up their game. They
did not win the district title but they were able to avenge their only loss to Boone
before falling in a tight game to LeMars. What makes this team scary is
that they bring back four All District selections on the defensive side of the
ball. Thomas Gruis is one of the top linebackers in Iowa and has already
earned an early offer from South Dakota. He will be a force on both sides
of the ball and is just a tough player to prepare against. This Comet team
will be among the best in Class 3A and will play some serious smash mouth
football. The senior class that graduated at Cresco-Crestwood was a very talented
bunch and will be missed next fall. I expected this group to break through
and get into the postseason but that obviously was not the case. The
Cadets will need their younger players to step up if they hope to make some
noise in this district. Decorah has been dominant over the past two years
but will be hurting with Jordan Kraayenbrink, Taylor Mansfield, and a number of
other seniors graduated. One advantage that they do have is the football
tradition at Decorah but that will take time to develop with inexperience.
They lost a very tough game to end the 2005 season against West Delaware
otherwise they could have been fighting for a State title for the second
straight year. Jason Olsgard is one of the top returners and will likely
be the featured back this time around. Forest City also will be a much different team this time around. They were
only able to garner two wins in a tough district but could struggle to get that
if they don't come to play every week. Aaron Friederich accounted for
nearly 2,500 yards last season throwing and running but has since graduated.
The Indians had a talented senior class graduate so unless underclassmen can
step up, this could be a rough year. New Hampton is another squad with a
strong football tradition and they return a very talented lineman in Blake Rasing. But the Chickasaws will need more than a dominant lineman. I
do expect them to have what it takes to compete for a playoff spot in this
district. When you lose seven All District players to graduation that
include your quarterback and running back, it is a tough road to make a run at
the playoffs. Waukon was up and down last year and will need to be more
consistent this fall if they hope to stay with the elite teams in this district.
They do return two All District players in Tony Drew and Nic Llyod. Also
quarterback Vaughn Gesing and leading receiver Ryan Jones are back for another
year so this could be the darkhorse in district 3. Waverly-Shell Rock was
only able to win one district game last year but they were able to play some
teams surprisingly tough. But without a winning mentality, it may be tough
to get out of the basement in the standings. The one thing that the
Go-Hawks do have going for them is a stable of talented athletes coming through
their school.
Preseason District MVP: Thomas Gruis
This hard hitting linebacker will be a force as a senior this fall.
Sleeper Team: Waukon
If they can play consistent all year, Waukon may make a serious playoff run.
The amount of returning starters is enough for a serious playoff run.
Sleeper Player: Erich Feller
His ability to do a number of things for Charles City often gets overlooked.
District Champion: Clear Lake
With the tradition and talent that Clear Lake, they are definitely going to
be a tough team to beat during the regular season.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 3 in
2006
Team
Clear Lake *
Waukon *
Charles City
Decorah
New Hampton
Cresco-Crestwood
Forest City
Waverly-Shell Rock
*Denotes playoff prediction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 3A - 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
Benton Van Horne
4-3
4-5
Grinnell *
7-0
9-0
Independence
1-6
2-7
Oelwein
1-6
2-7
South Tama
1-6
1-8
Vinton-Shellsburg
4-3
6-3
West Delaware *
7-0
9-0
Williamsburg *
6-1
6-1
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 4 do in the playoffs?
Grinnell
Defeated Washington in the first round (28-20)
Lost to Williamsburg in the quarterfinals (24-14)
West Delaware
Defeated New Hampton in the first round (31-18)
Defeated Decorah in the quarterfinals (29-27)
Defeated West Delaware in the semifinals (34-27)
Lost to Harlan in the championship game (34-13)
Williamsburg
Defeated Oskaloosa in the first round (33-27, Overtime)
Defeated Grinnell in the quarterfinals (24-14)
Lost to West Delaware in the semifinals (34-27)
Just by looking at their playoff experience from last year, it is obvious
that there is going to be a great battle for the two playoffs spots. But
another thing I noticed at first look is that this district seems extremely top
heavy. The top three teams combined for a 20-1 district record and the
bottom three teams combined for a 3-18 district record. And unless those
teams improve, there is a chance for some ugly games in this district. Starting with West Delaware, the Hawks were hit very hard by graduation and have
a lot of holes to fill. But they do return B.J. Hermsen. This
sophomore may be the best overall athlete in that class and is among the top
football, baseball, and basketball players in his class. Lineman Nathan
King is also one player primed for a big year. He has the size to play
major football if he continues working hard. Athlete Zach McCool may not
have the size to play major college football but his heart and work ethic have
helped him excel in a number of sports. If he stays healthy and continues
to improve, don't be shocked if this senior makes a run at All State honors.
Alex Boom and Tony Brown must be replaced both for their production on the field
as well as their leadership. Grinnell is loaded again with athletes after
finishing last regular season undefeated. Tight end/defensive Will Eilert
was one of the most sought after football players in the Class of 2007 but has
already committed to Iowa State. He had an offer from Wyoming and interest
from Iowa but felt comfortable with the Cyclones. Their only loss was a
stunner against Williamsburg in the postseason. That loss has not been
forgotten in Grinnell and that rematch game will have a playoff intensity type
atmosphere. The biggest question mark that the Tigers will have to answer
will be in their running game. Cody Jensen is now graduated after rushing
for nearly 1,700 yards. And in order for the offense to keep clicking,
someone must be able to fill in early in the year. To start off the year,
Grinnell will have a tough game against Tyler Sash and Oskaloosa in a non
district contest. Williamsburg was the only team to knock off Grinnell last year and
they did it in revenge fashion during the postseason. Their season
eventually ended against West Delaware but they have experience and talent.
Many were surprised when the Raiders started the year 0-2 against Class 2A
competition but bounced back and eventually made it all the way to the Class 3A
semifinals. It was obvious that this young team was blossoming at the
right time. Like Grinnell, the running back spot is a huge question mark
with Cody Baethke now playing college football. This version of
Williamsburg however will have a number of playmakers back on both sides of the
ball. Benton fell off after graduating a lot of seniors the year before but still did
finish 4-3 in district play. Their problem is that they lose five All
District players, but keep an eye on Matt Rammelsberg and Zach Samson. Vinton-Shellsburg
was one of the biggest surprises early but they couldn't remain in-contention as
the year wore on. They will really miss two-time All Stater Ross
Timmermans on both sides of the ball. Oelwein will have said goodbye to
another All State wide receiver, Michael Harper. Over the past few years
they have struggled but there were a number of years that they consistently
produced Division I talent. South Tama and Independence need to change
their entire focus but could surprise some people if they are overlooked.
Quotes:
"Of course the favorites will be Williamsburg and Grinnell because they are
big football powerhouses. It is a good thing that we are in that district to get
the competition before the playoffs. I think we got the shaft to leave the
district Marion was in. But I think it is a good thing to see tough competition
to get ready for the playoffs and State."
-Zach McCool, West Delaware athlete, on the toughest tests in district play.
"We have three teams that finished in the top
eight from last year in our district. It will be awful tough but it is good
competition to look forward to."
-Nate King, West Delaware lineman, on district play this fall.
"Grinnell and West Delaware will be our two
toughest teams. Everyone else in the district will be good so if you don't come
to play, I don't know if we will win."
-Trent Henderson, Williamsburg quarterback, on the toughest tests in District
4.
"Grinnell and Williamsburg are going to be really
tough this year. We have to travel pretty far for our district games instead of
going through towns like Marion and Mount Vernon. It will be a tough district."
-BJ Hermsen, West Delaware quarterback, on district play this year.
Preseason District MVP: Will Eilert
This Grinnell standout will be looking to follow his All State season from a
year ago.
Sleeper Team: West Delaware
The Hawks have a real complaint to whoever paired the districts.
Sleeper Player: Zach McCool
McCool has worked hard to turn himself into a player and it will really show
this fall.
District Champion: Grinnell
Grinnell, Williamsburg, and West Delaware all will deserve to be in the
playoffs by the end of the season.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 4 in
2006
Team
Grinnell *
Williamsburg *
West Delaware
Benton Van Horne
Vinton-Shellsburg
Independence
Oelwein
South Tama
*Denotes playoff prediction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 3A - 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
Anamosa
0-7
0-9
Dewitt Central
1-6
2-7
Clear Creek-Amana
1-6
1-8
Western Dubuque
2-5
2-7
Maquoketa
4-3
4-5
Marion
5-2
7-2
Mount Vernon *
5-2
5-4
West Liberty (2A)
5-2
6-3
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 5 do in the playoffs?
Mount Vernon
Lost to Decorah in the quarterfinals (34-7)
When looking first hand at how loaded District 4 is, it makes you question
how they balance the teams out in these districts. But instead of focusing
on that, both districts will need to play hard and hope for the best.
Mount Vernon is the only team who has playoff experience from last year and
snuck in on the last night. The Mustangs needed a narrow win over Marion
to make the postseason. And on a cold night, they were able to win a tight
game, 8-6. However, that postseason was short lived as they were routed by
Decorah. They do have a lot of talent coming back, led by soon to be
senior Jacob Ryan. He is one of the best athletes in the Class of 2007.
Mount Vernon does still have a legendary coach in Jim Bellamy and having him at
the helm means that the team will always be competitive. Marion is the
team that was rated among the top in Iowa but ended up losing two narrow
district games that cost them a chance to avenge their loss against West
Delaware. Through week seven, they were 7-0 and on the road at West
Delaware for a district title. Fast forward two weeks and after two losses
by a combined three points, the team was sent home earlier than many expected.
There was a lot of potential for that team to make some noise in the postseason.
The Indians will have said goodbye to a loaded senior class and have a lot of
holes to replace. But with a group of younger athletes ready to play, they
may have a chance to reload rather than rebuild. One athlete who has
really seen his stock rise is linebacker Allen Reisner. He really put on a
show for college coaches this summer at camps and has a chance to earn a
scholarship if he has a strong fall. West Liberty will be making the jump
up from Class 2A. Although the Comets have finished strong in their
district over the past two years, they will have to adjust quickly to Class 3A
opponents. But with their quarterback, leading running back, and leading
receiver now graduated, it could be a tough year to adjust. Maquoketa has
a strong nucleus of returning players as well as a new coach. But what the
Cardinals must do is prove that this potential is more than just preseason hype.
Curtis Roeder has a chance to be a special player for the team. Over the
past few years many have expected them to accomplish a lot on the field and they
have not come through. But with a new coach and a new attitude, could this
finally be the year?
Western Dubuque was only able to win two games all
season and both were during district player. They must become more
consistent if they are to improve this fall.
Anamosa, Dewitt, and Clear Creek-Amana combined to
win three games between them all of last year in-district. They have a
long way to go but could make some serious progress with a good off-season.
Preseason District MVP: Allen Reisner
If the Indians can get into the playoffs, Reisner will need a huge senior year.
Sleeper Team: Maquoketa
Can they finally live up to the preseason hype?
Sleeper Player: Jacob Ryan
Ryan was named All State last year but is still under the radar.
District Champion: Marion
Considering that they have thought about that 8-6 loss to Mount Vernon all
off-season, the Indians should be improved.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 5 in
2006
Team
Marion *
Mount Vernon *
Maquoketa
West Liberty
Dewitt Central
Clear Creek-Amana
Western Dubuque
Anamosa
*Denotes playoff prediction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 3A - 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
Centerville
0-7
1-8
Davis County (2A)
4-3
5-4
Fairfield
3-4
5-4
Fort Madison
3-4
3-6
Keokuk
2-5
3-6
Mount Pleasant
4-3
6-3
Oskaloosa *
7-0
8-1
Washington *
6-1
7-2
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 6 do in the playoffs?
Oskaloosa
Lost to Williamsburg in the quarterfinals (33-27, Overtime)
Washington
Lost to Grinnell in the quarterfinals (28-20)
Quotes:
“I would probably say Oskaloosa. They really have a good program and they
are tough. They beat us last year for (The district title) so we will be going
after them hard.”
-Jacob Garrett, Washington lineman, on the toughest in-district competition.
"I think that it will be one of the toughest in
the state with Fairfield, Mt. Pleasant, and Washington. A lot of those teams
have good athletes."
-Steven Staggs, Oskaloosa wide receiver, on district play.
After a great regular season, it was sad to see the two playoff teams from
this district fade out so quickly in the first game of the postseason.
Oskaloosa lost when Williamsburg used a miracle of sorts in the first round and
Washington just couldn't get past Grinnell. The Indians return one of the
top players in the Iowa with Tyler Sash. This standout is the only player
in Iowa to be ranked by this site among the top five football and basketball
players in the Class of 2007. That alone says something about his
athleticism. Sash will line up at a number of positions and has shown his
versatility on both sides of the ball. Oskaloosa must find a suitable
replacement for quarterback Ryan Van Dalen if they want to compete for the
district title again. Considering Van Dalen threw to Sash for over 1,000
yards, this is a very vital position to replace. The team that gave them the most problems,
Washington, also has their top player back. Defensive back/quarterback Zach
Davis is a standout in both football and basketball. He will be looking to
get the Demons back to the postseason. Washington also brings back Alex Klophenstein, Jacob Garrett, Dan Tweeton, and a number of other talented
athletes. Garrett is an undersized lineman but he works hard and has the
ability to get to the quarterback. Running back Justin Greiner is now
walking on at the University of Iowa and he will need to be replaced early in
the fall. Before fading down the stretch, Mount Pleasant proved how
talented they were. Nick Burden showed all year that he was one of the top
wide receivers in Iowa but he will need to find a quarterback to throw him the
ball. And with running back Jacob Rohde and some young talent making its
way to varsity, this team will be better than many expect. Fairfield may have been one of the most disappointing teams this
past year. After losing a tight game to Mount Pleasant early in the year, this team became
unhinged and lost a number of games that they didn't the previous year.
That showed in their 5-4 overall record. The Trojans return Dirk Kool,
Woody Orne, Scott Gleason, and a host of talented athletes. If they can remain focused,
Fairfield might be making it back to the playoffs. They lost four games in
a row during the middle of the season so consistently is the key all year. Fort Madison was up and
down all year but wasn't able to knock off one of the top dogs in their
district. Court Menke is a talented athlete who will be back for his
senior season but there are a lot of players that made an impact last year who
are now graduated. Keokuk on the other hand did just that as they took Mount
Pleasant out of the district race. This ended up being a crushing blow for
them and sent them home early. Running back Ryan Helenthal returns from
that team but the team must bring their A game every night out. Also watch
out for junior quarterback James Vandenberg. He spent time behind center
and has really improved this off-season. Centerville only won one game all
year but does have one All District player in Mike Humphrey returning.
They have a ways to go before competing. Davis County had a very solid
year last season but making the move up a class is not easy for anyone.
Quotes:
"Right now, Fairfield, Washington, Oskaloosa, and even Keokuk sound like they
all can be good. We will have to see how it plays out but it sounds like a tough
district."
Nick Burden, Mount Pleasant wide receiver, on district play.
"I would say Washington and Osky are going to be
(our toughest competition). Washington more than Osky because when you talk
about Osky, everyone just says Tyler Sash. They are a good team though. We have
Washington in our first district game."
-Dirk Kool, Fairfield athlete, on who will be their biggest competition this
fall.
Preseason District MVP: Tyler Sash
Even if his team doesn't win the district, Sash will put on a show all season
long.
Sleeper Team: Fairfield/Mount Pleasant
Both teams have the talent and experience to compete for a playoff spot.
Sleeper Player: Ryan Helenthal
Keokuk is overlooked but this All District running back should be primed for a
big year.
District Champion: Washington
This was a tough pick but until Oskaloosa finds someone to throw Sash the
ball, I am leaning towards the Demons.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 6 in
2006
Team
Washington *
Oskaloosa *
Fairfield
Mount Pleasant
Keokuk
Fort Madison
Davis County
Centerville
*Denotes playoff prediction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 3A - 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
ADM-Adel
5-2
5-4
Carlisle
1-6
3-6
Chariton
3-4
4-5
Clarke
0-7
0-9
Knoxville
5-2
6-3
Pella
3-4
4-5
Norwalk
3-4
3-6
Winterset *
6-1
7-2
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 7 do in the playoffs?
Winterset
Lost to Harlan in the quarterfinals (23-13)
With only one playoff team from the previous year, it means some new teams
will have to step up this fall. Winterset had an outstanding campaign and
actually gave Harlan their toughest test of the postseason during the first
round. This team will have a lot of holes to fill on the offensive side of
the ball but defensively they should be strong once again. The offense
lost their starting quarterback, top running back, and top receiver.
Returning for the team is two very talented players in Taylor Stroud and Sean
O'Conner. Stroud has a big body along the line and O'Conner picked off
five passes last fall. ADM-Adel was
really able to surprise some people during the course of the year and nearly
made the postseason. Although they fell short, the Tigers played above
what many expected out of them. With defensive lineman Shadoe Spieker
returning, ADM-Adel may have what it takes to finally break through and get to
the postseason. Plus with the momentum of winning four straight games to
end the season the Tigers could be a nice surprise this fall. Another team that was a surprise was Knoxville. The
only two games they lost in district play were to the eventual playoff teams but
that didn't stop them from winning against their other opponents. They
return three All District players in Jordon Ammons, Tyler Pearson, and Jesse
Swanson so they are a team who has a chance to improve. With the injuries
Chariton faced last year, it might be time for luck to finally be on there side.
The Chargers lost their two top players for the majority of the season.
With both players back in a uniform next fall, Chariton may have what it takes
to step up their game and get back into the postseason. It really is tough
to hold a good program like that down for multiple years. Leon Drake and
Michael Lahart would like nothing else than to finish their career back in the
playoffs. They both will fight for All State honors if they stay healthy. Pella and
Chariton had quite the rivalry a few years back and that will return with these
two teams being in the same district. The question remains if the Dutch
can improve on their 4-5 record and make it to the top of the district.
Lineman Reid Lanser is a big boy who has the potential to earn All State honors. Norwalk has lineman Skyler Knickerbocker
back in the fold for this year. He was an All District selection last fall
but who else will be able to play around him? The Warriors must prove
early in the season that they can compete because they had trouble with that in
2005. Can Carlisle win more games during district play? Clarke flat
out struggled all year and will need to make some major changes to win a game
this fall.
Quotes:
“Winterset had a good team last year but I know they lost a lot of kids. Other
than that, I haven’t heard a lot.”
-Leon Drake, lineman from Chariton, on the toughest in-district competition.
"It is weird because I am not used to seeing teams
like Ballard and Chariton. I am kind of excited because it is going to be a big
surprise."
-Shadoe Spieker, ADM-Adel lineman, on changing districts.
Preseason District MVP: Michael Lahart
If Lahart can stay healthy, he will have a huge year on both sides of the ball.
Sleeper Team: Knoxville/ADM-Adel
Both teams have a lot coming back and could fight for the postseason.
Sleeper Player: Skyler Knickerbocker
Knickerbocker is a talented player on both sides of the ball.
District Champion: Chariton
The biggest obstacle for the Chargers is to stay healthy.
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 7 in
2006
Team
Chariton *
Winterset *
Knoxville
ADM-Adel
Pella
Norwalk
Carlisle
Clarke
*Denotes playoff prediction
Agree/disagree? Talk about it right now!
Class 3A - 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
Atlantic
5-2
6-3
Carroll
3-4
5-4
Clarinda (2A) *
6-1
7-2
Creston *
5-2
6-3
Glenwood
1-6
3-6
Harlan
7-0
9-0
Lewis Central
3-4
5-4
Perry
1-6
1-8
*Denotes playoff berth
How
did District 8 do in the playoffs?
Clarinda
Defeated Kuemper Catholic in the quarterfinals (17-16)
Lost to PCM-Monroe in the semifinals (35-18)
Creston
Lost to Waukee in the quarterfinals (28-24)
Harlan
Defeated Winterset in the quarterfinals (23-13)
Defeated Waukee in the semifinals (48-17)
Defeated LeMars in the semifinals (35-21)
Defeated West Delaware in the championship game (34-13)
District 8 boasts three playoff teams from last year, although one should
have an asterisk because they are making the move up from Class 2A. And on
top of that, they have the Class 3A champions from Harlan. Rumor has it
this Cyclones team is pretty good and may be going for their fourth straight
championship. That alone will be difficult but the word out of Harlan is
that one of their younger teams actually lost games this year. What will
that mean for the varsity? I guess we will see. But if there is one
thing that I learned, I am not picking against the Cyclones in anything.
It doesn't matter the sport or the venue, I won't pick against them. I
have learned my lesson too many times. Wide receiver Neil Gross had an
outstanding run towards the title and lineman Dan Hoch is one to watch.
Hoch is only a junior but started for the Cyclones last year and has the size to
play major college football. Creston made the playoffs last year but
calling them senior-dominated wouldn't properly describe them. They will
have holes to fill everywhere and need a lot of underclassmen to step up their
games. They will need to work some magic to avoid rebuilding this season.
Clarinda on the other hand has won a lot of ball games over the past few years
but will need to adjust to playing at the Class 3A level. The Cardinals
have had a ton of athletes go through their program recently that could they now
be in for a dry spell? Time will tell. Standout Brent McKinnon
pulled in six interceptions last year at defensive back. Atlantic is a
team who won the State title four years ago but has not been able to break
through ever since. They have been very close to the postseason but
normally end up falling short in the end. This time it might be different
as the Trojans have a loaded junior class who want nothing more than to break
Harlan's win streak. Quarterback will be a big question but running back
Ryan Mueller is back for another season. Mueller rushed for over 1,200
yards as a junior and will lead the offense along with All State wide receiver
Jake Knudsen. Also keep an eye on Rakeem Hedrington. Lewis Central
returns All State running back Jimmy Waters but the team needs other options
offensively. This standout will only be able to do so much. And with
Waters making the move to quarterback, the offense will look much different. Carroll
normally has a handful of talented athletes but they haven't been as successful
on the football field as of late. The defense of the Tigers will have to
lead the team early because only three offensive starters are back.
Glenwood has struggled mightily against the number of talented teams in their
district. Unless something changes, expect that to happen again.
Perry was only able to win one game last year and will have their hands full
against some of the teams in this district.
Quotes:
"Of course Harlan will always be tough and they are always the team State
wide that everyone wants to beat. I know they'll be tough. They have a lot of
question marks with people coming back but in past years they always seem to
reload. I see Atlantic will be tough and Creston puts a solid team on the field.
I see those three being right up there. I don't know what Carroll has coming
back but they have been tough."
-Jimmy Waters, Lewis Central athlete, on who will be the toughest test this
fall.
Preseason District MVP: Jimmy Waters
Harlan may win it all but Waters will put up big numbers.
Sleeper Team: Carroll
With the defense leading the way, the Tigers could shock some people.
Sleeper Player: Neil Gross
Gross is one of the best athletes in the Class of 2007 and will be looking for
an even better year this fall.
District Champion: Harlan
Did you really expect me to pick someone else?
IowaPreps.com Predictions for District 8 in
2006
Team
Harlan *
Atlantic *
Carroll
Lewis Central
Clarinda
Creston
Glenwood
Perry
*Denotes playoff prediction
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 3A as well as coming out with our pre-pre-season
rankings, it is now time to bring premium users our preseason Class 3A All State
Offense.
A few notes on this team. As you will see,
there are a lot more players on this list than I had hoped. As seen with
the quarterbacks, all of the players were so similar in stats and winning, it
was too hard to keep any of these athletes from this list.
QB
Zach Davis
Washington
Davis led the Demons to the playoffs last year
and will be better this time around.
QB
BJ
Hermsen
West Delaware
Hermsen started last season as a sophomore and
he rapidly improved from beginning to the end of the season.
QB
Trent Henderson
Williamsburg
Henderson helped Williamsburg pull off a
number of dramatic wins that ended with them playing in the UNI-Dome.
QB
Scotty Roth
Grinnell
Roth stepped in nicely behind center for
Grinnell and propelled them to an undefeated regular season,
QB
Clint Sargent
Sioux City Heelan
Sargent will get a chance to showcase his arm
more this year but he was a major part of the Crusaders MRC conference
title.
RB
Chris Campbell
LeMars
Campbell was the second leading rusher for
LeMars and also started at linebacker.
RB
Jordan Smith
Humboldt
Humboldt will be one of the top teams in Iowa
and a part of that is Smith.
RB
Jimmy Waters
Lewis Central
Waters is expected to make the move to
quarterback but he made a name for himself in the past at running back.
WR
Nick Burden
Mount Pleasant
Burden will have to adjust to a new
quarterback but he is always dangerous for breaking one deep.
WR
Neil Gross
Harlan
Gross is one of the few returners from
Harlan's State title last fall after shining on their run to State.
WR
Jake Knudsen
Atlantic
Knudsen may not get the pub he deserves but he
did earn All State last fall as a junior.
WR
Tyler Sash
Oskaloosa
Sash surprised few when he committed to the
University of Iowa but will focus on his senior year before playing for the
Hawkeyes.
WR
Patrick Truby
Ballard
Truby will try to help Ballard finally break
through and make it into the postseason this fall.
TE
Curtis Roeder
Maquoketa
Roeder is a tough player to stop on both sides
of the ball and has a nice frame for college football.
TE
Woody Orne
Fairfield
Orne earned All District honors last fall and
will be even better after switching his attention to football.
OL
Leon Drake
Chariton
So maybe he didn't get a chance to really play
much as a junior. But when considering what he accomplished by earning
All State honors as a sophomore, there is no doubt Drake belongs.
OL
Tony Drew
Waukon
Many expect Waukon to be one of the toughest
teams in Class 3A and Drew will have to play a major role in that.
OL
Dan Hoch
Harlan
Not many sophomores start for Harlan but Hoch
pulled off the feat last year on the way to a State title.
OL
Travis Smith
Grinnell
Smith helped pave the way for a powerful
Grinnell offense all season.
OL
Taylor Stroud
Winterset
Many may be overlooking Winterset but Stroud
is a big reason why they will not be down this fall.
ATH
Zach McCool
West Delaware
McCool did just about everything for the Hawks
and that versatility helped him make this list.
K
Eric Guthrie
Nevada
Guthrie may have the most powerful leg in the
State, regardless of class.
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 3A as well as coming out with our pre-pre-season
rankings, it is now time to bring premium users our preseason Class 3A All State
Defense.
DL
Will Eilert
Grinnell
This future Iowa State Cyclone is a man on
both sides of the ball and will be even harder to block this fall.
DL
Cody Hundertmark
Humboldt
Hundertmark turned down the Cyclones to become
a Hawkeye and could be the most talented defensive lineman to come out in
Iowa in the past few years.
DL
Paul Lundgren
MOC-Floyd Valley
Lundgren will be hoping to help MOC-Floyd
Valley over the hump and finally into the playoffs this fall.
DL
Shadoe Spieker
ADM-Adel
Spieker played a major role on ADM's
surprising year last fall but will need to be even better this season.
LB
Thomas Gruis
Clear Lake
Gruis continues a tradition of talented
linebackers at Clear Lake and will be looking to get his team to the UNI-Dome.
LB
Dirk Kool
Fairfield
Kool has played a variety of positions for
Fairfield and will play quarterback and linebacker this year.
LB
Tyler Nielsen
Humboldt
Nielsen has been the top rated linebacker in
the Class of 2007 and has already committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes.
LB
David Rashid
Fort Madison
Fort Madison be flying under the radar but
Rashid made a name for himself last fall at linebacker and along the
offensive line.
LB
Allen Reisner
Marion
Reisner finished up his junior year with All
District honors but his stock rose a great deal with a number of outstanding
showings at summer camps.
DB
Jacob Ryan
Mount Vernon
Ryan some how helped the Mustangs to a 7-6 win
over Marion in the last game of the year and denied them a chance to make
the playoffs.
DB
Miles Matheson
Clear Lake
Matheson may be small in size but he has
proven that he can make some great plays on the football field.
DB
Caleb Van Otterloo
LeMars
Van Otterloo did a variety of things for
LeMars while starting at defensive back and wide receiver.
DB
Tyler Alexander
Oskaloosa
Alexander proved last fall that he was one of
the biggest hitters in the State. He is one to keep an eye out for.
ATH
Erich Feller
Charles City
Feller stepped up in his season of varsity
football and eventually was named All District because of his play.
Agree/disagree? Talk about it now!
This post was edited on 8/29 1:30 PM by LukeFeddersenif(GetAdminCookie() != 0) {document.write(' (Revisions[/URL])');}
