Best teams in 2015

[fbfan05]

I wanted to see what people think about teams to watch in 2015. Just looking at quick stats it looks like most of the top teams in Class 1A are senior dominated.

I know Regina loses a lot of key players, but has been able to reload every year and it sounds like their jv team is loaded with a win over the Solon jv and a close 49-42 loss to the Xavier jv.

Pella Christian looks like they had a lot of sophs playing on their district 6 runner-up team this fall.

 

[DarkThunder#61]

There are a ton of teams that return a good core group of starters (for example, 8-3 A-H-S-T-W loses 5 seniors from a near-50 man roster), so competition next year is gonna be just as tough as ever.

But for now, here's what the semifinalists are expected to return at the skill positions and on defense:

Iowa City Regina- Return 2nd and 3rd QB (a combined 10/19 for 70 yds, 2 TDs, 2 INTs), 3rd and 4th rusher (Philips, Stenger)..and 10 others that attempted at least one carry, top 2 receivers (Stenger, Phillips)...and 5 others who caught at least one pass, 8 of top 17 (5 of top 12), including top leading tackler (Hunter) and 6th-leading tackler (Suchomel).

South Winneshiek- Return 1st and 3rd QB (Schweinefus), 2nd and 3rd rusher, 2nd-4th receiver, 7 of top 12 on defense, including 4th leading tackler (Kuboushek- 11.5 sacks)

St. Edmond- Return 20 of 33 on listed roster. Back-up QB (Flattery), 1st and 5th RB/FB among others (O'Tool, Fear), Flattery 2nd-leading receiver, also Woodruff caught a pass. 2 of top 12 on defense, including 2nd leading tackler (O'Tool).

West Lyon- Return 21 of 37 on listed roster. 3rd leading rusher (soph), 2 players who caught a pass, including Huyser (3rd in rushing), 4 of top 11 on defense, including top tackler (Rozeboom). Whalen (senior) the only one to attempt a pass this year. Brown will return to anchor the lines, lose Newborg, Van Roekel, Van Beek, among others.

 

[Makeweight35]

SE will be down a little bit. They will still be solid due to their coaching and a few key players, especially O'Tool. But I think they basically lose their entire line plus their QB and Peed, who is their best overall athlete. SE will definitely be a good team still, but probably not the level they have been the past 2 years.

I would look for SCC to make some noise next year and probably win District 7. They bring back a ton of experience all over the field and made it to the quarterfinals this year.
This post was edited on 11/16 3:22 PM by Makeweight35

 

[DarkThunder#61]

Originally posted by Makeweight35:
SE will be down a little bit. They will still be solid due to their coaching and a few key players, especially O'Tool. But I think they basically lose their entire line plus their QB and Peed, who is their best overall athlete. SE will definitely be a good team still, but probably not the level they have been the past 2 years.

I would look for SCC to make some noise next year and probably win District 7. They bring back a ton of experience all over the field and made it to the quarterfinals this year.
This post was edited on 11/16 3:22 PM by Makeweight35

SCC will probably be the favorite. Madrid returns a good group and South Hamilton and Ogden also have some good players back although I wonder if Hill will be back out for football. He was already on several colleges' radars for basketball before his leg injury, which will cause him to miss most if not all of this upcoming season.

The Gaels do lose a lot of great seniors, and they'll be in a bit of a transition this next year just because of low numbers in a couple grades, but over the next several seasons they should be right back in the thick of things as their numbers are expected to increase by then as long as the kids they've had out in these lower classes, stay out through their careers.

SE has always been a program with anywhere from the mid 20s to upper 30s on their varsity roster, but they've learned how to deal with it and it really all comes down to what those next group of kids are prepared to do when their time comes.

I look for next year's SE team to struggle a little early (they're gonna have a tough road schedule), but to come together strong down the stretch as the newer faces gain experience. Flattery showed he can make plays with his feet yesterday and made some nice throws as well. He'll continue to get better and does have a bit more experience with the JV receivers that will move up. SE will have a few good-sized kids moving up on the lines to try and help O'Tool replicate this year's success, but it's gonna come down to how they progress, most importantly in the off-season, and going forward after that. Fear is a little undersized, but he's been expected to be the incumbent for the FB spot even before this year. He came on towards the end of the year and filled in nicely at linebacker. He and O'Tool will look to anchor the defense next year.

 

[wlguys]

A year ago WL lost 20+ seniors from their 2013 championship team and were able to reload. This year it looks like they will lose 16 to graduation. The soph class this year shows alot of talent. Who knows, maybe there is another reloading in their future.

 

[CP84]

How does SE only have 3 sophomores on their roster? That's shameful and will hurt their chances the next 2 seasons.

 

[BlameIt]

Originally posted by wlguys:
A year ago WL lost 20+ seniors from their 2013 championship team and were able to reload. This year it looks like they will lose 16 to graduation. The soph class this year shows alot of talent. Who knows, maybe there is another reloading in their future.

cry me a river.

happens every year at most every school (re: graduation)

the best teams deal with it.

WL has always done well.

 

[maxstabs13]

I was told the Regina Sophomore and Freshman class have drop off from recent years talent wise, but until I see a drop off at Varsity they have to be regarded as a Top 3 team.

West Branch, FDSE, DNH, Madrid, Pella Christian, Western Christian, Hinton, IKM-Manning, Ogden, AHST, SCC, and Regina all instantly have to be considered.

The first three because they were good/great this year and have stud RB's returning. They also have traditionally good football.
PC, WC, Hinton, IKM-M, and Regina are returning important offensive weapons in the passing game and for the ones who lost a great QB we could see those weapons move to RB if it is more advantageous for the team.
Madrid, Ogden, AHST, and SCC have important players returning in the backfield and if they can get better defense they could be up with the likes of WB, FDSE, and DNH.

Personally, I think Hinton and SCC will be better next season and may compete better with WB, DNH, FDSE, and Regina. This is dependent on how much better, worse, or stagnant those top tier teams get.