preseason rankings

[fmclonefan]

Quad City Times:
Class 3A
1. Pella (2015: 14-0, state champion)
2. Norwalk (12-2, state runner-up)
3. Cedar Rapids Xavier (9-1, second round)
4. Washington (7-3, first round)
5. Creston/Orient-Macksburg (6-5, second round)
6. Harlan (8-2, first round)
7. Sioux City Heelan (8-2, first round)
8. Spirit Lake (14-0, state champion in 2A)
9. West Delaware (12-1, state semifinalist)
10. Gilbert (9-2, second round)

Cedar Rapids Gazette
Rank School 2015 Points
1 Norwalk (2) 12-2 55
2 Cedar Rapids Xavier (1) 9-1 47
3 Pella (4) 14-0 46
4 Harlan 8-2 35
T-5 Creston/Orient-Macksburg 6-5 25
T-5 Washington 7-3 25
7 Glenwood 8-2 24
8 Sioux City Heelan 8-2 21
9 Carroll 7-4 20
T-10 Dallas Center-Grimes 9-3 18
T-10 Spirit Lake 14-0 18

Des Moines Register:
CLASS 3A
1. WASHINGTON (7-3): Six first-team all-district performers return.
2. C.R. XAVIER (9-1): QB Bryce Schulte is a three-year starter.
3. HARLAN (8-2): Nine starters back, plus an unbeaten sophomore team from last year.
4. PELLA (14-0): Winner of the last two state championships led by defensive talent.
5. SPIRIT LAKE (14-0): Unbeaten 2A champion moves up a class.
6. GLENWOOD (8-2): Strong group of returning starters will help carry the program.
7. NORWALK (12-2): Brady Brandsfield is one of the state's top quarterbacks.
8. WEBSTER CITY (11-1): Payton Kannuan (1,254 yards) is a standout runner.
9. DALLAS CENTER-GRIMES (9-3): Nine starters are back for a solid program.
10. BALLARD (HUXLEY) (7-4): A wealth of returning starters could lead to a strong season.

 

[Cyclone1968]

Radio Iowa:
Class 3A
1. Cedar Rapids Xavier vs 1A #1 Iowa City Regina
2. Washington @ Albia
3. Harlan @ Lewis Central
4. Pella vs Oskaloosa
5. Norwalk @ Indianola
6. Webster City vs Humboldt
7. Spirit Lake @ Estherville-Lincoln Central
8. Sergeant Bluff-Luton @ MOC-Floyd Valley
9. Carroll @ 2A #6 South Central Calhoun
10.West Delaware @ Independence

 

[KidSilverhair]

Cedar Rapids Gazette
Rank School 2015 Points
1 Norwalk (2) 12-2 55
2 Cedar Rapids Xavier (1) 9-1 47
3 Pella (4) 14-0 46
4 Harlan 8-2 35
T-5 Creston/Orient-Macksburg 6-5 25
T-5 Washington 7-3 25
7 Glenwood 8-2 24
8 Sioux City Heelan 8-2 21
9 Carroll 7-4 20
T-10 Dallas Center-Grimes 9-3 18
T-10 Spirit Lake 14-0 18

I thought it was an interesting quirk of The Gazette's rankings ... Pella got 4 first-place votes (out of 7!), but only managed to place third. Those other voting members must have really had them ranked low.

On the other hand, there's 11 points between Pella and fourth place, then another 10 points to fifth, so those top three did get all the attention.

 

[fmclonefan]

Some good games this week. Week #1 is always somewhat of a crap shoot anyway. I think Xavier should be very good this year, will be a great test for them against Regina. I also would like to see the Washington--Albia matchup. Albia is a darn good, extremely physical team that will give Washington all it can handle. I also am very interested to see the Harlan - LC outcome. Again, tough matchup as Harlan is plugging in a lot of new cogs and LC really came on the end of last season.

We could have Xavier, Washington, and Harlan all losing in week 1, although not likely. That would be an interesting way to start the year. I do like the parity that exists this year. Last year had Pella as the #1 and they ran the table. Should be a much more interesting year with lots of teams looking like potential dome dwellers.

 

[cidhawkeye]

Some good games this week. Week #1 is always somewhat of a crap shoot anyway. I think Xavier should be very good this year, will be a great test for them against Regina. I also would like to see the Washington--Albia matchup. Albia is a darn good, extremely physical team that will give Washington all it can handle. I also am very interested to see the Harlan - LC outcome. Again, tough matchup as Harlan is plugging in a lot of new cogs and LC really came on the end of last season.

We could have Xavier, Washington, and Harlan all losing in week 1, although not likely. That would be an interesting way to start the year. I do like the parity that exists this year. Last year had Pella as the #1 and they ran the table. Should be a much more interesting year with lots of teams looking like potential dome dwellers.

Which of the 3, Xavier, Washingotn, Harlan is least/most likely to lose/win week one?

 

[PNation]

I would say that Harlan is the most likely to lose, playing up a class against a good 4A team, and they have more questions than the other two. Xavier and Washington are both playing very good teams as well but should have more depth and to me they have fewer questions coming into the season.

 

[ronsss]

lewis central will tough test for harlan...they have one the best qb,s in the state, even though his is a sophmore...the duggan kid is allready ranked #8 dual threat qb for 2019 class..and he is quick...

http://www.nonpareilonline.com/spor...cle_2eda190c-6a70-11e6-a185-0fa973f5ca79.html

 

[EastIowaHawk]

I don't think Pella or Xavier lose this week.

 

[fmclonefan]

Which of the 3, Xavier, Washingotn, Harlan is least/most likely to lose/win week one?

I think Harlan might be the most likely to lose, of these three.

 

[ronsss]

harlan is going to have a long year.....lewis central totally dominated the game....they are the real deal, or harlan is the real dead horse

 

[westside rules]

Since there was talk about Harlan, here is my take from last Friday Night: ( posted on the Harlan thread as well)

I was at the LC Game Friday as a spectator only and to watch Harlan I will give you my take-away for whatever it's worth.
Harlan is very young and inexperienced and it showed, this team will get better and better as the season goes on, it was a very tough game to open the season with but it is what it is. Harlan needs to work/improve on their run game which will open up some passing opportunities, their passing was non-existent. . Also I know they had the Tarney kid "in and out" on offense yet hardly gave him the ball, you may want to re-consider how they use him on offense. I saw him play at the end of the season last year and he was impressive.

The O-line needs to improve and I'm sure they will! LC was in the backfield most of the night, the LC D-end ( not sure of the name) is a tough match for any team ( 235, fast and strong) so not sure you can read much into that, all the same the line needs to improve game over game.
The Harlan defense had to contend with a 2 Headed Monster, a QB that is really really good ( running and throwing) and a running back that's both fast and shifty, both dealt Harlan fits all night.

In closing I would not jump off any buildings as Harlan is Harlan and will bounce back and be fine. Best to get them early in the season as I predict they will be a completely different team in a few weeks.
. Interested in hearing from others who were at the game?

 

[ronsss]

thanks ...great info.....later