Much of Class 1A, District 2 stayed in tact from the 2023-24 cycle to the 2025-26 cycle as 2023 district champ Emmetsburg and 2024 district champ Manson-Northwest Webster return, as well as Pocahontas Area and East Sac County are also back. The two newcomers include South Central Calhoun, who had been playing in Class A for the past 2 seasons, and South Hamilton, who had been competing in District 7 for the past two seasons.
South Hamilton
The Hawks are coming off their 3rd consecutive appearance in the Round of 16 in Class 1A and their power football identity is anchored by a veteran offensive line coming back in 2025, returning 4 of 6 starters in Titus Herrick, Ben Swenson, Parker Stuck and Gaige Willis. One spot on the interior offensive line and the tight end spot will need to be filled, as well as an entirely new starting backfield. Garrett Johnson is the early favorite for the quarterback spot, while Jose Babcock and Maddux Becker could split carries early at fullback. Wyatt Gelder and Kaden Dean are the two that will likely step in at the 2 running back spots in the Hawks wishbone attack.
Defensively, the Hawks front seven should be a veteran group, with the defensive line led by Titus Herrick, Ben Swenson and Gaige Willis, as Brody Harris and Jose Babcock are back in the linebacking core. The defensive backfield will be on the green side with Wyatt Gelder the top returner, as Garrett Johnson and Kaden Dean will likely step into the secondary.
Emmetsburg
The E-Hawks continued their resurgence with an 8-2 campaign in 2024, the only thing preventing them from a district title being an upset loss to Manson-Northwest Webster in Week 8, but the E-Hawks have positive momentum flowing throughout the program once again. Emmetsburg will have a new quarterback as Matthew Malm will likely take over for the outgoing Gavin Swanson, as leading rusher Brayden Yates is back after just missing out on a 1,000-yard season in 2024. Tyce Jenness and Jack Wilcoxon will see expanded roles in the backfield, while tight end Ryan Wirtz will likely have an bigger role in the passing game. The offensive line will be a question mark, as the E-Hawks graduate 6 lineman from last year’s complete unit.
Emmetsburg’s defense appears to be a bigger rebuild than it’s offense, as the E-Hawks will need to replace 4 of their top 5 tacklers, as Braden Yates will lead a newer linebacking core after tallying 34 stops and 8.5 TFL in 2024, as Joe Fischer brings back legitimate varsity experience. Ryan Wirtz will lead a young defensive line, building off a year where he had a team-high 4.5 sacks, 8 TFL and 19 tackles. The secondary will be a near-total rebuild, as Matthew Malm is the top athlete returning in the defensive backfield.
South Central Calhoun
One of the most consistent programs in small school football, the Titans of South Central Calhoun haven’t seen some of the high-level success they saw in the 2010’s, last having won 10 games in 2019. The Titans will break in a new full-time quarterback in Luke Patterson, who threw for nearly 300 yards and 4 touchdowns. Patterson will have a very new backfield, as Hayden Stickrod is the only back who ran for over 100 yards that returns in 2025. SCC’s passing attack will have weapons back in Charlie Nattress and Garrett Krause, as Nattress had 285 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Krause had 323 yards and 4 touchdowns. Most of the Titans offensive line will be back, graduating just one senior from the entire position group from 2024.
Defensively, it’s a mixed bag of returnees for South Central Calhoun, as linebacker Hayden Stickrod is the top returning tackler for the Titans with 43 stops a season ago. Charlie Nattress joins him in the second level, after 36 tackles, 3 sacks and 8.5 TFL in 2024. The secondary will be headlined by Luke Patterson and Garrett Krause, as the two juniors combined for 3 picks and 50 tackles in 2024. The defensive line brings back their top produces, led by seniors Wyatt Mernka and Jace Pedersen.
Manson-Northwest Webster
It was a Cinderella season for the Cougars in 2024, winning 8 games for the first time since 2013, and winning the program’s 2nd district title in school history and the first since 1994 with their upset win over Emmetsburg. 2025, however, appears to be a total rebuild for the Cougars, replacing nearly all of their offensive production from 2024. Junior Isaiah Daggett appears to be in line to take over at quarterback, while Grayson Klocko is the lone running back returning with legitimate varsity experience. Daggett will have a couple targets back in junior Coy Moline and senior Mason Anderson, while the Cougars do return a good chunk of their offensive line, led by Carter Van Waes and Jagger Wolfe.
Defensively, the Cougars will bring back a very productive linebacking core, led by junior Carter Van Waes, who recorded 58.5 tackles, 8 TFL and 4 sacks a year ago. Mason Anderson added 44.5 tackles, 6 TFL and 3 sacks, while Charlie Sturgis accumulated 27.5 tackles, 8.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks. Jagger Wolfe and Hendrik Puuraid will lead an experienced defensive line with Wolfe tallying 33.5 tackles and 4.5 TFL, while Puuraid added 31.5 tackles and 5 TFL. The secondary will be a big question mark, as Isaiah Daggett is likely the one to lead the defensive backfield.
Pocahontas Area
A young squad for Pocahontas resulted in the Indians taking their lumps in 2024, but ended their season with a win over Eagle Grove. The Indians found their quarterback of the future in freshman Blake Bunda in the season finale, as also back is the backfield tandem of sophomore Karson Welander and senior Logan Shiflett combined for nearly 800 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground. Leading receiver Gabe Ehn is gone, but senior Christian Valenzuela will lead a young receiving room after making 17 catches for 150 yards. The offensive line will need to replace the leadership of Trevor Sturhenberg and Hunter Trewyn, but the group of Adam Marsh, Kellen Kincade, Kaden Fulkerth and Sawyer Krips provide a good nucleus.
Defensively, the Indians return a solid bulk of their production, beginning with the linebacking core, which brings back Karson Welander, Blake Bunda and Kellen Kincade. Adam Marsh will look to anchor the defensive line after tallying 54.5 tackles, 2 TFL and 2 sacks as a freshman. The secondary will have plenty of experience back, as Logan Shiflett led the unit with 41.5 tackles a season ago, while Christian Valenzuela added 28 tackles and an interception.
East Sac County
2024 was a playoff season for the Raiders of East Sac despite playing a tough schedule that included IKM-Manning, OABCIG, Emmetsburg and Manson-Northwest Webster. The Raiders will have a lot to replace on the offensive side of the football, as quarterback Sam Julin graduated and younger brother Weston Julin is in line to follow his older brother. Carson Schmitt is the top running back returning, while fellow junior Gabe King will also play a role. Schmitt will also play a factor in the passing game as well, as him, Ryan Peterseon and Dawson Allen will try and break in a new quarterback. The offensive line returns a handful of starters, including Kade Snyder, Cal McCollough and Seth Donelson.
Defensively, the linebacking core returns the teams leading tackler in Gabe King, who finished with 93 total tackles, 80 solo stops and 9 TFL, while Dawson Allen added 39.5 tackles, 3.5 TFL and a sack. Carson Schmitt is the top defensive back returning, amassing 70.5 tackles, 3 TFL and 2 interceptions, but the rest of the unit will try and find their spots before Week 1. Kale Snyder leads the defensive line group, accruing 53.5 tackles and 3 TFL.
Quinn’s Class 1A, District 2 Prediction
1. Emmetsburg
2. South Hamilton
3. South Central Calhoun
4. East Sac County
5. Pocahontas Area
6. Manson-Northwest Webster
Much like the 3A-2 prediction from yesterday, you can easily make a case for teams 1-3 to earn themselves a district title in 2025. Emmetsburg takes the top spot for now as the E-Hawks have more answers than questions on their roster. If South Hamilton’s backfield can gel quickly, they could be someone that knock’s off the E-Hawks. South Central Calhoun could be a threat the quicker their offense evolves throughout the year. East Sac County and Pocahontas Area could very well battle for that final playoff spot, as Manson-Northwest Webster looks to start nearly from scratch.