I figured that with less then a month until practice starts I would make some predictions about the upcoming season. There are a lot of variables that could effect these and are just for discussion.
District 1
1. BHRV
2. Sioux Center
3. Central Lyon
4. Sheldon
5. MOC-Floyd Valley
6. Okoboji
I really think that BHRV has separated itself as the powerhouse 2A program in NW Iowa, they always have great participation and one of the best staffs in the state, after that there are a lot of different ways things could go I just think that Sioux Center combines some returning talent with coaching to finish 2nd after that no team really jumps out as going to be having an overly successful season, really it is BHRV then everyone else.
District 2
1. Algona
2. Spirit Lake
3. Southeast Valley
4. Clarion Goldfield Dows
5. GHV
6. Estherville Lincoln Central
I could really see a 3 way tie again amongst the top 3 teams but overall I like what Algona has coming back the best but it is close, they and Spirit Lake both lose their QB where as Southeast Valley returns theirs, however Algona has the best player in the district and I think if Wegener is utilized properly then they should win the district, CGD was young last year so I give them the benefit, GHV returns some pieces but will have a new coach, and I think Estherville will have a lot of new faces.
District 3
1. Clear Lake
2. Crestwood
3. Iowa Falls Alden
4. New Hampton
5. Hampton Dumont CAL
6. Forest City
You have 2 really good teams at the top of this district, I think that Clear Lake felt shafted with the playoff situation last year so that’s why I honestly give them a slight advantage, both teams were very young and I think both could win games in the playoffs, hopefully both teams make the playoffs, Iowa Falls Alden was also very young last year and I think fit nicely into the 3rd spot, the last 3 team I think will have lean years I give the edge to New Hampton because of their quality coaching staff.
District 4
1. Waukon
2. Waterloo Columbus
3. Monticello
4. North Fayette Valley
5. Anamosa
6. Oelwein
Waukon is the real deal, last year was supposed to be a rebuilding year and they made the dome, state title contender for sure, I put Columbus in 2nd but am not overly confident in that pick, I do think they have pieces back to have another strong season though, after that I just think that teams have about the same amount of talent back to keep standings pretty similar I did move Anamosa ahead of Oelwein although it will see what the new coaching staff can do there.
District 5
1. Mount Vernon
2. Tipton
3. Louisa Muscatine
4. West Liberty
5. Camanche
6. West Burlington
I go with Mount Vernon based on tradition and coaching more than anything I think that they are the team that you can trust the most. Tipton returns a bunch of talent, but they got beat bad last year by quality teams so they have a big step to take to get above Mount Vernon. I went with LM next based on young talent. I truly don’t know what to do with West Liberty something tells me they will be better then this but I don’t see enough returning, Camanche and West Burlington both have a long ways to catch up to the rest of the district.
District 6
1. Williamsburg
2. Mid Prairie
3. Albia
4. EBF
5. Davis County
6. Central Lee
Williamsburg gets the nod based upon coaching and tradition more than anything, they are more or less just the best program in the district, I think Mid Prairie and Albia are close, Mid Prairie returns a little more though, EBF is better then Davis County or Central Lee but a ways behind the top 3 and then Davis County and Central Lee are quite a ways behind the rest of the district.
District 7
1. Benton
2. Union
3. West Marshall
4. Nevada
5. Roland Story
6. Vinton Shellsburg
I truly don’t know what to do with this district, I think it’s Benton’s to lose but they have some question marks to answer, they do however return a quality qb, Union I think will have a rebuild after graduating a strong senior class and having a new head coach but they have had success the last decade so I put them here, West Marshall lost a stud and it will be interesting to see how they respond, Nevada returns the most of the bottom 3 Roland Story could surprise but I think they will be young and Vinton Shellsburg is not good and not well coached.
District 8
1. Chariton
2. PCM
3. Des Moines Christian
4. Centerville
5. Clarke
6. Saydel
This Is an interesting district, I think that Chariton returns enough talent from a playoff team to justify picking them to win the title here, PCM loses everybody off of one of the most dominate teams I’ve seen, I guess this is a pick based on extra practice time and traditionally quality athletics. Des Moines Christian does return quite a bit but I don’t know if they are going to jump PCM. Centerville seems the most complete of the bottom 3 teams, but all three have work to do.
District 9
1. Kuemper
2. Greene County
3. Atlantic
4. OABCIG
5. Shenandoah
6. Red Oak
Kuemper’s district to lose I think with what they return they present a challenge that no other team in the district can overcome, Greene County I think will still have a strong team, but with a new coach I think it puts them behind Kuemper, Atlantic has some pieces back, OABCIG loses a really nice QB but does bring back talent in other areas to maybe surprise some teams, finally the two far SW teams will have struggles but I think Shenandoah brings back a little more.
Playoff Teams
District Champs
1. BHRV
2. Algona
3. Clear Lake
4. Waukon
5. Mount Vernon
6. Williamsburg
7. Benton
8. Chariton
9. Kuemper
At Large (difficult to truly predict the RPI)
1. Spirit Lake
2. Crestwood
3. Tipton
4. PCM
5. Greene County
6. Southeast Valley
7. Mid Prairie
Dome Teams
BHRV
Waukon
Clear Lake
Benton
Championship
Waukon over BHRV
I really struggled to find 4 sure dome teams here, I am not sure about pairings and honestly after Waukon I think there is a bunch of teams who could get there.
District 1
1. BHRV
2. Sioux Center
3. Central Lyon
4. Sheldon
5. MOC-Floyd Valley
6. Okoboji
I really think that BHRV has separated itself as the powerhouse 2A program in NW Iowa, they always have great participation and one of the best staffs in the state, after that there are a lot of different ways things could go I just think that Sioux Center combines some returning talent with coaching to finish 2nd after that no team really jumps out as going to be having an overly successful season, really it is BHRV then everyone else.
District 2
1. Algona
2. Spirit Lake
3. Southeast Valley
4. Clarion Goldfield Dows
5. GHV
6. Estherville Lincoln Central
I could really see a 3 way tie again amongst the top 3 teams but overall I like what Algona has coming back the best but it is close, they and Spirit Lake both lose their QB where as Southeast Valley returns theirs, however Algona has the best player in the district and I think if Wegener is utilized properly then they should win the district, CGD was young last year so I give them the benefit, GHV returns some pieces but will have a new coach, and I think Estherville will have a lot of new faces.
District 3
1. Clear Lake
2. Crestwood
3. Iowa Falls Alden
4. New Hampton
5. Hampton Dumont CAL
6. Forest City
You have 2 really good teams at the top of this district, I think that Clear Lake felt shafted with the playoff situation last year so that’s why I honestly give them a slight advantage, both teams were very young and I think both could win games in the playoffs, hopefully both teams make the playoffs, Iowa Falls Alden was also very young last year and I think fit nicely into the 3rd spot, the last 3 team I think will have lean years I give the edge to New Hampton because of their quality coaching staff.
District 4
1. Waukon
2. Waterloo Columbus
3. Monticello
4. North Fayette Valley
5. Anamosa
6. Oelwein
Waukon is the real deal, last year was supposed to be a rebuilding year and they made the dome, state title contender for sure, I put Columbus in 2nd but am not overly confident in that pick, I do think they have pieces back to have another strong season though, after that I just think that teams have about the same amount of talent back to keep standings pretty similar I did move Anamosa ahead of Oelwein although it will see what the new coaching staff can do there.
District 5
1. Mount Vernon
2. Tipton
3. Louisa Muscatine
4. West Liberty
5. Camanche
6. West Burlington
I go with Mount Vernon based on tradition and coaching more than anything I think that they are the team that you can trust the most. Tipton returns a bunch of talent, but they got beat bad last year by quality teams so they have a big step to take to get above Mount Vernon. I went with LM next based on young talent. I truly don’t know what to do with West Liberty something tells me they will be better then this but I don’t see enough returning, Camanche and West Burlington both have a long ways to catch up to the rest of the district.
District 6
1. Williamsburg
2. Mid Prairie
3. Albia
4. EBF
5. Davis County
6. Central Lee
Williamsburg gets the nod based upon coaching and tradition more than anything, they are more or less just the best program in the district, I think Mid Prairie and Albia are close, Mid Prairie returns a little more though, EBF is better then Davis County or Central Lee but a ways behind the top 3 and then Davis County and Central Lee are quite a ways behind the rest of the district.
District 7
1. Benton
2. Union
3. West Marshall
4. Nevada
5. Roland Story
6. Vinton Shellsburg
I truly don’t know what to do with this district, I think it’s Benton’s to lose but they have some question marks to answer, they do however return a quality qb, Union I think will have a rebuild after graduating a strong senior class and having a new head coach but they have had success the last decade so I put them here, West Marshall lost a stud and it will be interesting to see how they respond, Nevada returns the most of the bottom 3 Roland Story could surprise but I think they will be young and Vinton Shellsburg is not good and not well coached.
District 8
1. Chariton
2. PCM
3. Des Moines Christian
4. Centerville
5. Clarke
6. Saydel
This Is an interesting district, I think that Chariton returns enough talent from a playoff team to justify picking them to win the title here, PCM loses everybody off of one of the most dominate teams I’ve seen, I guess this is a pick based on extra practice time and traditionally quality athletics. Des Moines Christian does return quite a bit but I don’t know if they are going to jump PCM. Centerville seems the most complete of the bottom 3 teams, but all three have work to do.
District 9
1. Kuemper
2. Greene County
3. Atlantic
4. OABCIG
5. Shenandoah
6. Red Oak
Kuemper’s district to lose I think with what they return they present a challenge that no other team in the district can overcome, Greene County I think will still have a strong team, but with a new coach I think it puts them behind Kuemper, Atlantic has some pieces back, OABCIG loses a really nice QB but does bring back talent in other areas to maybe surprise some teams, finally the two far SW teams will have struggles but I think Shenandoah brings back a little more.
Playoff Teams
District Champs
1. BHRV
2. Algona
3. Clear Lake
4. Waukon
5. Mount Vernon
6. Williamsburg
7. Benton
8. Chariton
9. Kuemper
At Large (difficult to truly predict the RPI)
1. Spirit Lake
2. Crestwood
3. Tipton
4. PCM
5. Greene County
6. Southeast Valley
7. Mid Prairie
Dome Teams
BHRV
Waukon
Clear Lake
Benton
Championship
Waukon over BHRV
I really struggled to find 4 sure dome teams here, I am not sure about pairings and honestly after Waukon I think there is a bunch of teams who could get there.
