D4 Preview

[PNation]

This is a district I really don't know what to do with, not a lot of returning talent for anyone so if there is a toss up district it is this one. Here is my best educated guess.

West Delaware
Assumption
Clear Creek Amana
Maquoketa
Wahlert
CPU
Central DeWitt
Marion

I go with West Delaware and Assumption at the top because they are always there and they are the safest bets to finish at the top. I went with CCA next as I think they are a consistent program with some returning talent. Maquoketa had a nice season last year but I don't think they have quite enough back to put them quite back there. Wahlert next and this is kinda a dark horse they were competitive in most of their games, just couldn't quite figure it out. CPU seems to have some athletes but I don't see them finishing higher then this, and I think that Central DeWitt and Marion will be better, but I don't know if they will be that much better.

 

[Vroom_C14]

West Del and then a toss up...

 

[makelovenotwar]

I think that ranking is a pretty good guess. West Delaware is the clear favorite with a host of teams playing for 2nd place. Assumption, Clear Creek Amana and Wahlert are the best bets for second place with odds being something like 50%, 30% and 20% for each of the teams to get second place. Maquoketa lost a great deal of its talent. Marion had no talent and as far as I could see, no talent in the system.

 

[EastIowaHawk]

I think Wahlert might surprise a few people this year. They have two veteran quarterbacks, and a bigger squad, numberwise. Last year's playoff team featured five sophomore starters. And every year the schedule gets more manageable. Just six or so years ago they played four top ten 4A schools. Last year they played CR Xavier, Solon and 4A Dubuque Hempstead, all of which are off the schedule this year. If they can stay healthy (which has been a big problem) they can have their first winning season in five or six years, even though they open against two 4A opponents.

 

[FBisLife5309]

I think the district will finish this way...

West Delaware
Center Point-Urbana
Assumption
Maquoketa
Wahlert
Marion
Clear Creek-Amana
Central Dewitt

West Delaware lucked out with this district but they have lost a lot of talent but have tremendous coaches and will reload not rebuild. I believe their sophomore team last year was quite successful.

Assumption could be a wild card, don't know much about them but I think they lost a lot of starters off of last years team.

Wahlert has the pieces it will be interesting if they can stay healthy to make a run, they could be a shocker in the district, but I think they might be a year or two away still.

I think Marion will shock people and win anywhere from 3-5 games, I would not want to be playing them later in the year as I think they will be a team that gains momentum and could be a tough game for late season opponents.

CPU has a lot of talent it seems and people could make the argument that they are playing in a weaker district at #A than they would of been in 2A, plus I've heard that they have two new coordinators there and there seems to be a lot of excitement with that. Not to mention the X factor of Jo Jo Frost, pretty dynamic athlete.

CCA seemed to underachieve even though they have had some success the past couple of seasons and considering who they have as a coaching staff ( a lot of ex iowa players) you would think they would be able to get more out of their athletes.

 

[o2bahawk]

CCA returns a lot including a 1000 yard rusher. They return a lot on defense as well. Don't know a lot about W.Del but they did graduate a lot of talent but am guessing they will reload. Assumption lost a lot too but they too have returning talent at skill positions plus some big lineman. Wahlert might be the dark horse. Should be a tough District - my guess is one of the wild card teams will come from this District.

 

[makelovenotwar]

I tend to think Wahlert is a year away. EastIowaHawk (above) makes very good points about their scheduale getting more manageable but they suffer from a really low participation in their senior class so the overall varsity depth is lacking.

I would argue that of the 3 big 3A parochial schools (Xavier. Assumuption. and Wahlert) Wahlert suffered the most from the refusal to move to 3A. Parents got tired of watching their kids get killed and participation plummeted. The Senior class is the last of the really low participation grades. Watch out next few years. Some talent in the system.

 

[EastIowaHawk]

This district is pretty balanced, but I see West Delaware or Dav. Assumption being the top two, although neither will be as strong as last year. The Knights lost Argo who was literally over half their offense. I'm not sure if any of the rest in D4 will have the record to qualify as a wild card. Will probably depend on who stays healthy.