Class 1A Top 10 - CR Gazette

[MepoDawg#]

https://www.thegazette.com/football/iowa-high-school-football-preseason-rankings-2021-class-1a/

1. Van Meter​

Poll points: 49 (4 first-place votes)

2020 record: 11-1

2020 postseason: Class 1A runner-up

Key returners: RB/LB Dalten Van Pelt (2,000 rushing yards, 21 TDs, 10 receptions for 170 yards, 2 TDs, 1st-team all-state), OL/DE Lincoln Olsen (46 tackles, 1st-team all-state), QB/LB Jack Pettit (1,241 passing yards, 20 TDs, 976 rushing yards, 16 TDs, 1st-team all-state), OL/DE Casey Trudo (55.5 tackles, 17 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 1st-team all-state)

Key games: At Williamsburg, Sept. 3; at Winterset, Sept. 10; Nodaway Valley, Oct. 1; Guthrie Center ACGC, Oct. 15

2. Underwood​

Poll points: 39

2020 record: 9-2

2020 postseason: Class 1A quarterfinalist

Key returners: OL/DL Easton Eledge, sr. (27 tackles, 1st-team all-state), QB/DB Alex Ravlin, jr. (1,856 passing yards, 20 TDs, 466 rushing yards, 7 TDs, 39.5 tackles, 3 INTs, 3rd-team all-state), WR/LB Scott Pearson, sr. (13 receptions, 120 yards, 2 TDs, 57 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 INTs, 3rd-team all-state), RB/LB Joey Anderson, sr. (761 rushing yards, 9 TDs, 23.5 tackles)

Key games: Tri-Center, Aug. 27; at Council Bluffs St. Albert, Sept. 10; West Monona, Oct. 8

3. West Sioux​

Poll points: 34

2020 record: 7-3

2020 postseason: Class 1A quarterfinalist

Key returners: QB/LB Dylan Wiggins, jr. (2,083 passing yards, 22 TDs, 257 rushing yards), RB/LB Carter Bultman, jr. (375 rushing yards, 4 TDs, 24.5 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries), RB/LB Brady Lynott, jr. (34 catches, 408 yards, 6 TDs, 51.5 tackles), WR/CB Aaden Schwiesow, sr. (22 catches, 359 yards, 6 TDs, 23 tackles)

Key games: At Hartley HMS, Aug. 27; Sioux Center, Sept. 3; Central Lyon-GLR, Sept. 10; Western Christian, Sept. 24

4. Iowa City Regina​

Poll points: 27 (1 first-place vote)

2020 record: 11-1

2020 postseason: Class A champion

Key returners: OT/DT Josh Gaffey, sr. (36.5 tackles, 1 INT, 3rd-team all-state), OG/LB Aiden Udell, sr. (63.5 tackles, 3rd-team all-state), WR/DB Sam Aitchison, sr. (17 catches, 197 yards, 1 TD, 47 tackles)

Key games: Williamsburg, Aug. 27; at West Liberty, Sept. 3; Mediapolis, Sept. 17; West Branch, Oct. 8

5. Waterloo Columbus​

Poll points: 26

2020 record: 8-2

2020 postseason: Class 1A quarterfinalist

Key returners: RB/LB Dallas Westhoff, sr. (106.5 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 3rd-team all-state), QB/CB Carter Gallagher, sr. (1,381 passing yards, 595 rushing yards, 26 offensive TDs), RB/CB Josh Heine (541 rushing yards, 5 TDs), WR/CB Caden Holtz, sr. (28 catches, 619 yards, 6 TDs, 5 INTs)

Key games: At West Branch, Sept. 3; MFL MarMac, Sept. 17; at Cascade, Sept. 24

6. MFL MarMac​

Poll points: 24

2020 record: 9-2

2020 postseason: Class A quarterfinalist

Key returners: RB/DE Cullen McShane, sr. (1,477 rushing yards, 20 TDs, 13 catches, 196 yards, 2 TDs, 82.5 tackles, 5 fumble recoveries, 2 INTs, 1st-team all-state), QB/CB Kaden Stocker, sr. (20.5 tackles, 6 INTs, 2nd-team all-state), FB/LB Gabe McGeough, sr. (1,100 rushing yards, 10 TDs, 65 tackles, 3rd-team all-state), RB/S Karter Decker, jr. (56.5 tackles, 13 TDs — 5 rushing, 5 receiving, 3 returns, 3rd-team all-state)

Key games: At Clayton Ridge, Sept. 3; at Waterloo Columbus, Sept. 17; Cascade, Oct. 8

7. South Central Calhoun​

Poll points: 21

2020 record: 9-2

2020 postseason: Class 1A semifinalist

Key returners: RB/LB Blake McAllister, sr. (1,107 rushing yards, 13 TDs, 18 receptions, 236 yards, 2 TDs, 58 tackles, 2 INTs, 40.6 yards per punt, 2nd-team all-state), C/LB Jayden Soard, sr. (61 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 3rd-team all-state), QB/S Kevin King, sr. (37.5 tackles, 3 INTs)

Key games: Emmetsburg, Sept. 10; South Hamilton, Oct. 1; at Woodward-Granger, Oct. 8

8. Sigourney-Keota​

Poll points: 14

2020 record: 10-1

2020 postseason: Class 1A semifinalist

Key returners: OG/DT Zach Smithart, sr. (1st-team all-state), RB/LB Cade Molyneux, sr. (478 passing yards, 729 rushing yards, 17 offensive TDs, 53.5 tackles), RB/LB Jack Clarahan, jr. (50 tackles)

Key games: At Centerville, Sept. 10; at Pella Christian, Sept. 24; Cardinal, Oct. 1

9. Pella Christian​

Poll points: 11

2020 record: 6-4

2020 postseason: Class 1A Round of 16

Key returners: QB/LB Isaac Kacmarynski, jr. (1,311 passing yards, 14 TDs, 623 rushing yards, 7 TDs, 51.5 tackles, 1 INT), WR/CB Eric Mulder, sr. (32 receptions, 461 yards, 6 TDs, 42.5 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries)

Key games: At Monroe PCM, Sept. 10; Sigourney-Keota, Sept. 24; at Cardinal, Oct. 8

10. Cascade​

Poll points: 8

2020 record: 6-3

2020 postseason: Class 1A Round of 32

Key returners: RB/LB Jack Menster, jr. (1,673 rushing yards, 23 TDs, 2nd-team all-state), QB/CB Justin Roling, sr. (1,121 passing yards, 13 TDs), TE/LB Luke Ruggeberg, jr. (31.1 yards per catch, 5 receiving TDs, 44 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 INTs), RB/CB Tanner Simon, sr. (22 catches, 357 yards, 3 TDs, 4 INTs)

Key games: At Monticello, Aug. 27; Waterloo Columbus, Sept. 24; at MFL MarMac, Oct. 8

Others receiving votes​

West Branch 7, Guthrie Center ACGC 6, Dyersville Beckman 3, Nodaway Valley 3, Cardinal 2, Mediapolis 2.

 

[takedown27]

Cascade, MFL, Beckman and Columbus: all in the same district.

 

[PNation]

I feel sorry for Postville, they are the smallest school in 1A, and they are in that district, and honestly Sumner Fredricksburg isn't that bad of a program either.

 

[EIHCGuy]

I feel sorry for Postville, they are the smallest school in 1A, and they are in that district, and honestly Sumner Fredricksburg isn't that bad of a program either.

Postville is NOT the smallest enrollment of 1A for 2021.

West Branch, Pleasantville, and West Monona were tied for the smallest and stay in 1A due to the alphabet tiebreaker. Hinton was moved down. All 4 of them are at 169 enrollment.

Postville is 170.

 

[rc1963]

Postville is NOT the smallest enrollment of 1A for 2021.

West Branch, Pleasantville, and West Monona were tied for the smallest and stay in 1A due to the alphabet tiebreaker. Hinton was moved down. All 4 of them are at 169 enrollment.

Postville is 170.

Yeah, I Don't feel sorry for anyone. The difference between 1A and A are not that tangible, plenty of schools have had success moving up classes over that last few years. Good Teams are good teams.

@PNation Do you also feel sorry for West Branch being in the same district with Regina, Mediapolis and Durant (all in the Pre-season polls depending on which you're watching)? You still have to win the games and there are plenty of playoff spots so you don't have to win your district, or necessarily even take second.

 

[rc1963]

For comparison purposes, here's the Register Poll side by side - Most interesting is who is unique to each list:

Introducing the Des Moines Register's 2021 preseason high school football class rankings

The Des Moines Register's annual preseason rankings for the 2021 football season.

www.amestrib.com

Gazette	Register
1 Van Meter	Van Meter
2 Underwood	Western Christian
3 West Sioux	W’loo Columbus
4 Regina	West Sioux
5 W’loo Columbus	South Central Calhoun
6 MFL MArMac	Regina
7 South Central Calhoun	Durant
8 Sigourney Keota	Underwood
9 Pella Christian	Sigourney – Keota
10 Cascade	Dyersville Beckman
Others: West Branch, Guthrie CenterACGC. Dyersville Beckman. Nodaway Valley, Cardinal, Mediapolis

 

[MepoDawg#]

For comparison purposes, here's the Register Poll side by side - Most interesting is who is unique to each list:

Introducing the Des Moines Register's 2021 preseason high school football class rankings

The Des Moines Register's annual preseason rankings for the 2021 football season.

www.amestrib.com

Gazette	Register
1 Van Meter	Van Meter
2 Underwood	Western Christian
3 West Sioux	W’loo Columbus
4 Regina	West Sioux
5 W’loo Columbus	South Central Calhoun
6 MFL MArMac	Regina
7 South Central Calhoun	Durant
8 Sigourney Keota	Underwood
9 Pella Christian	Sigourney – Keota
10 Cascade	Dyersville Beckman
Others: West Branch, Guthrie CenterACGC. Dyersville Beckman. Nodaway Valley, Cardinal, Mediapolis

No love for Mepo. Oh well, hopefully we’ll surprise then.

 

[rc1963]

No love for Mepo. Oh well, hopefully we’ll surprise then.

Interesting that the put Durant in and not Mepo....I don't know where that came from. Not disparaging Durant - everyone is undefeated until the end of week 1 - but I haven't been hearing any buzz about Durant. What's the hot button there?

 

[MepoDawg#]

Interesting that the put Durant in and not Mepo....I don't know where that came from. Not disparaging Durant - everyone is undefeated until the end of week 1 - but I haven't been hearing any buzz about Durant. What's the hot button there?

I assume Nolan DeLong.

 

[GoEagles23]

DeLong is pretty solid. He only had 1 subpar game in 2020 (WB held him to 13 carries for 20 yards per VarsityBound) Mostly, he was 200+ yards each night out. Stud LB when I watched him play against DBeck the 2nd time

 

[rc1963]

Here's a third Poll - You don't always hear about the Radio Iowa Poll but here it is: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/08/23/radio-iowa-high-school-poll-8-23-21/

Tracks a little closer to the Gazette Poll.

Class 1A
1. Van Meter vs Earlham
2. West Sioux @ A #9 HMS (Hartley)
3. Iowa City Regina vs 2A #3 Williamsburg
4. Underwood vs Tri-Center
5. Waterloo Columbus vs Dike-New Hartford
6. South Central Calhoun @ East Sac County
7. MFL MarMac vs New Hampton
8. Pella Christian @ DSM Christian
9. Western Christian @ 2A #4 West Lyon
10.Cascade @ Monticello

 

[rc1963]

Week 2 1A Poll from the Gazette:

1. Van Meter (5) 1-0 59 1

2. Underwood 1-0 48 2

3. West Sioux 1-0 47 3

4. Iowa City Regina (1) 1-0 38 4

5. MFL MarMac 1-0 31 6

6. South Central Calhoun 1-0 24 7

7. Sigourney-Keota 1-0 19 8

8. Pella Christian 1-0 16 9

T-9. Dike-New Hartford 1-0 11 —

T-9. Dyersville Beckman 1-0 11 —

Dropped out: Waterloo Columbus (5), Cascade (10).

Others receiving votes: Guthrie Center ACGC 9, West Branch 9, Cardinal 3, Nodaway Valley 2, Denver 1, Mediapolis 1, Waterloo Columbus 1.


It's still early and a lot to shake out - Kind of rough that W'loo Columbus dropped from 5, all the way out, but I guess at this point in the season it's hard to justify keeping an 0-1 team in the ranking even if it was a "quality" loss. Keeps the interest high for Columbus at WB for the Bear's first regular season home game in a while. So many quality teams in 1A. It really seems like there's more parity than in either A or 2A. Can that possibly be? Or, is it just the perspective since I'm "in it"? And, I acknowledge that there's still a big divide between the top 10-20 and the bottom 10-20. I'm just saying that, at this point of the season, getting pre-season ranks, seeing week 1 action, it looks like any of the top 10 (or so) could be legitimate dome contenders. (or are my glasses a little too "Rose-colored?")