3A District Champion Thread

[PNation]

1. Heelan, I really don't see anyone really even challenging them
2. Webster City, Humboldt and Carroll are serious challengers, but I think the Lynx get it done
3. West Delaware, again 2 serious challenger in Decorah and WSR
4. Xavier, Solon is tough but the Saints are too tough
5. Assumption, but a good 4A school into a weak 3A district they get it done
6. Grinnell, tossup district for me, I think good coaching and tradition get it done with talent they have
7. Norwalk, Pella is very good as well but I think the Warriors take next step and win district title
8. DCG, good young team last year only gets better, a lot of good teams here as well.

 

[Kurt Whiton]

Perry gets 2nd or 3rd over Webster City.

 

[Vroom_C14]

Originally posted by PNation:
1. Heelan, I really don't see anyone really even challenging them
2. Webster City, Humboldt and Carroll are serious challengers, but I think the Lynx get it done
3. West Delaware, again 2 serious challenger in Decorah and WSR
4. Xavier, Solon is tough but the Saints are too tough
5. Assumption, but a good 4A school into a weak 3A district they get it done
6. Grinnell, tossup district for me, I think good coaching and tradition get it done with talent they have
7. Norwalk, Pella is very good as well but I think the Warriors take next step and win district title
8. DCG, good young team last year only gets better, a lot of good teams here as well.

2014 Championship game: Heelan vs Xavier\Assumption
2015 " "
2016 " "
2017 State reviews classifications
.......

District 4 is brutal. Xavier comes out on top.

District 5 - Assumption will have a tough time finding competition. Washington will be the only one from that district that could and they lost a bit from last year's runner-up team.

 

[oonfoofoo]

Man I want what you're smoking.

 

[cruhawk]

Originally posted by Vroom_C14:

Originally posted by PNation:
1. Heelan, I really don't see anyone really even challenging them
2. Webster City, Humboldt and Carroll are serious challengers, but I think the Lynx get it done
3. West Delaware, again 2 serious challenger in Decorah and WSR
4. Xavier, Solon is tough but the Saints are too tough
5. Assumption, but a good 4A school into a weak 3A district they get it done
6. Grinnell, tossup district for me, I think good coaching and tradition get it done with talent they have
7. Norwalk, Pella is very good as well but I think the Warriors take next step and win district title
8. DCG, good young team last year only gets better, a lot of good teams here as well.

2014 Championship game: Heelan vs Xavier\Assumption
2015 " "
2016 " "
2017 State reviews classifications
.......

District 4 is brutal. Xavier comes out on top.

District 5 - Assumption will have a tough time finding competition. Washington will be the only one from that district that could and they lost a bit from last year's runner-up team.

Heelan has some wood to chop in overcoming graduation losses. Lots of talent, particularly in the junior class (with or without Jack Wegher), but they have to learn quickly. And find a QB.

 

[tm3308]

Originally posted by cruhawk:

Originally posted by Vroom_C14:

Originally posted by PNation:
1. Heelan, I really don't see anyone really even challenging them
2. Webster City, Humboldt and Carroll are serious challengers, but I think the Lynx get it done
3. West Delaware, again 2 serious challenger in Decorah and WSR
4. Xavier, Solon is tough but the Saints are too tough
5. Assumption, but a good 4A school into a weak 3A district they get it done
6. Grinnell, tossup district for me, I think good coaching and tradition get it done with talent they have
7. Norwalk, Pella is very good as well but I think the Warriors take next step and win district title
8. DCG, good young team last year only gets better, a lot of good teams here as well.

2014 Championship game: Heelan vs Xavier\Assumption
2015 " "
2016 " "
2017 State reviews classifications
.......

District 4 is brutal. Xavier comes out on top.

District 5 - Assumption will have a tough time finding competition. Washington will be the only one from that district that could and they lost a bit from last year's runner-up team.

Heelan has some wood to chop in overcoming graduation losses. Lots of talent, particularly in the junior class (with or without Jack Wegher), but they have to learn quickly. And find a QB.

Heelan won't be as good as they have been, but do they really have to be? The west half of the state in 3A is very weak. Heelan doesn't have to play at an absurdly high level to get back to the Dome, or even the title game.

 

[Vroom_C14]

 

[fmclonefan]

I agree, for the most part, with PNation.

1. Heelan, till proven otherwise. Will be interesting to see how BH/RV does now that they are up to 3A again.

2. Humboldt. Should be a good district race as Webster City, Carroll and Boone all will have quality teams. Perry also finished strong last year and have some good athletes.

3. West Delaware. Good nucleus coming back. Will be a tough out. Is always hard to pick against Decorah, but they have to really reload this year.

4. Xavier. Tough district, but Xavier will be a clear favorite. Should be a great Solon-Xavier game this year.

5. Assumption. Washington is only other potential team and they lost a lot in graduation from last year and have a new coach. Fairfield has a very good young quarterback and should be fun to watch.

6. Grinnell. I think this district is the biggest toss-up of them all. Has 3 new schools from 2A that have moved up. Gilbert and Bond-Farrar were pretty good last year in 2A. Newton may have more of a breakout year. I could see them having a very nice year.

7. Pella. Norwalk hasn't beaten Pella in a long time and this is the first time Pella hasn't had to have quite a reload in the last few years. Pella has crazy team speed and will be a tough out this year also.

8. DCG. Again, hard to pick against Harlan, but DCG will continue to get better and better. They had a very stingy defense last year and have lots of good athletes.


I also see a Heelan/Xavier game in the finals. It might be awhile before anybody but the Catholic schools see the champion's trophy.

 

[DogBoyRy]

Input from CR especially CRX who I have a couple friends close to the program (sons play/played)).

Basic thinking is CRX is 20-25 points worse then last year but that might get them to the finals. Lost 4 D1 players,etc,etc. Will be breaking in soph QB who they are not sure they can keep upright the first few games due to oline vs tough opponents.

Season - Possible continous clock against them vs Dowling (Dowling is pretty classy so I'm sure they'll play nice), slugfest vs Assumption, work it out for a few weeks until Solon and Regina then they'll be pretty tough come playoffs if healthy. I was also told their coachs loved the new schedule except Dowling for a opener.

 

[loco60]

CRX will reload with lots of kids coming out. Two returning offensive lineman, and lots of big bodies with speed who got plenty of playing time. Senior QB, Junior QB and Sophomore QB all available. Speed at TB, power at FB, lots of catches at flanker. Experience at TE too.

Defense has horses on the d-line, studs at linebacker, some experience needed in the defensive backfield.

Kicking will likely drop a bit in FG and Kickoffs, not so much on punts...but kids keep growing so don't count them out.

Coaching staff remains pretty savvy and hard-working. Biggest challenge of past five years was 2011 and they had plenty of talent. QB challenge in 2009 and he set records and went to state semi-finals. QB challenge in 2010 and Saints bowed out of playoffs in upset ice bowl. 2012 State finalists, 2013 State finalists.

Dowling is a tough opener,especially if their QB plays like he played his last game. On the road. Assumption on the road too, but the Knights have to reload too.

That's why they play the game! CRX would have a quarterfinal team in 4A, maybe better, not much chance of worse, if they remained in 4A, but who knows.

CRK and CRW will be tough teams in Cedar Rapids (but 4A).

 

[KidSilverhair]

Originally posted by DogBoyRy:

Season - Possible continous clock against them vs Dowling (Dowling is pretty classy so I'm sure they'll play nice), slugfest vs Assumption, work it out for a few weeks until Solon and Regina then they'll be pretty tough come playoffs if healthy. I was also told their coachs loved the new schedule except Dowling for a opener.

I'm sure they'd love to have a few weeks to work things out before facing Solon, but that's Xavier's Week 3 game. They start the year at Dowling, at Assumption (on a short week Thursday game) and then Solon at home. That's a brutal way to start the season.

They do have to replace a lot of starters - only one starter is back from one of the state's best defenses last year, and the offense returns just two linemen and the fullback - but a lot of this year's seniors got to see the field last year. Plus it was another strong sophomore squad in 2013, although not quite as dominant as the couple of years before.

Even though Tursi got to play quarterback some as a junior last year, I think the job is most likely Schulte's for the next three years (he is just a sophomore). Eklund, the returning linebacker, was the top tackler last year, so that's helpful on the D side. I agree the lines are going to tell the tale, on both sides of the ball. How quick can these new starters step up, especially when they're facing Dowling right out of the gate?

It it will be fun to see how they match up vs. Solon, but Xavier has to be the clear favorite in D4.

 

[Vroom_C14]

Originally posted by DogBoyRy:

Input from CR especially CRX who I have a couple friends close to the program (sons play/played)).

Basic thinking is CRX is 20-25 points worse then last year but that might get them to the finals. Lost 4 D1 players,etc,etc. Will be breaking in soph QB who they are not sure they can keep upright the first few games due to oline vs tough opponents.

Season - Possible continous clock against them vs Dowling (Dowling is pretty classy so I'm sure they'll play nice), slugfest vs Assumption, work it out for a few weeks until Solon and Regina then they'll be pretty tough come playoffs if healthy. I was also told their coachs loved the new schedule except Dowling for a opener.

How could they not love the schedule - they are one of the better 4A schools that were allowed to play at the highest level for as long as they wanted and then suddenly had an epiphany that they should play at their "class size".

Again - Xavier\Assumption will rep the East and Heelan reps the West for the next few years and then the State feels the heat and mulls over a multiplier or something similar. Just my opinion.

 

[Boone dad]

FYI, Boone is definitely in a rebuilding year. Heavy graduation losses with only a few proven returners. I think as the season progresses they will be competing, but it looks like a very young Toreador squad to start the season.