(Featured Image – Patrick Coons Photography)
WEBSTER CITY — I put out some preseason football rankings around a month and a half ago, and let’s just say people had opinion’s about them. Well, more time has passed and more intel collected, it gives me chance to shore up on those rankings before we start getting into the weekly ballots I submit to Radio Iowa.
Let’s have fun shall we?
Class 5A
- West Des Moines, Valley
- Iowa City Liberty
- Waukee
- Waukee Northwest
- Southeast Polk
- Ankeny
- Dowling Catholic
- Cedar Falls
- Sioux City East
- Dubuque Hempstead
No change in my 5A Rankings, Valley remains #1 behind what should be a prolific connection between Drake DeGroote and Louisville-commit Jayden McGregory. Iowa City Liberty brings back Reece Rettig, who tallied 38 total touchdowns in 2024, as the Road to the Dome in 5A could very well run through Waukee, as Waukee High and Northwest both have top 5 rosters coming into 2025.
Southeast Polk does lose a lot from 2024, but until proven otherwise, they earn a top 5 ranking preseason. Dowling Catholic falls under the same category, but when’s the last time the Maroon’s weren’t able to answer any questions? Ankeny and Cedar Falls are led by stout returning defenses, as Sioux City East quarterback Cal Jepsen is poised to bring the Black Raiders back to the postseason. Dubuque Hempstead garnered some talk at #10, but when you return over 80% of your offensive production from a 6-3 team, you earn yourself a spot in the top 10.
Class 4A
- Cedar Rapids Xavier
- Sergeant Bluff-Luton
- Fort Dodge
- Newton
- LeMars
- Lewis Central
- Clear Creek-Amana
- Pella
- ADM, Adel
- Decorah
This poll got some particular commentary, but the top 5 stays very similar, the only switch being SB-L and Fort Dodge swapping spots based on SB-L’s recent postseason success. I still expect the Dodgers to be a very good team in 4A, as well as Newton and LeMars rounding out the top 5 with both teams returning gobs of production.
Lewis Central, like Southeast Polk, I expect them to reload until they show otherwise. Clear Creek-Amana returns QB Conlan Poyton and his top 2 backs, while Pella enters the rankings at #8 behind the return of explosive playmakers Emmanuel Diers and Harrison Mullens. ADM sits at #9 as they bring back dual-threat QB Hudson Shull, while Decorah returns a lot of production off a district title team in 2024.
Class 3A
- Bishop Heelan, Sioux City
- Mount Vernon
- Algona
- Clear Lake
- Humboldt
- Harlan Community
- Solon
- Wahlert Catholic
- Nevada
- Webster City
No change in the Top 5 of 3A, which is maybe as even competitively as any top 5 of the 7 classes. Bishop Heelan is led by a 2-way wrecking ball in Iowa-commit Kasen Thomas, while Mount Vernon clocks in at #2 with QB Kellen Haverback and WR Jase Jaspers back. Algona brings a lot of speed back from their quarterfinal team with running back William Weichert and receiver Evan Allie, as Nathan Manske showed he can play with the best after stepping up in 2024. Humboldt breaks in a new quarterbacks, but a supporting cast in Chase Flaherty, Cash McIntire, Valley Davis and Broedy Hendricks is as good as any 3A.
Harlan returns an experienced QB in Gabe Arkfeld, but after that, there’s quite a bit of uncertainty in 3A. Solon has been a program that reloads most year’s and it gives them the benefit of the doubt, while defending champions Wahlert Catholic returns some solid production, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Nevada brings back their receiving core, which should help break in a new quarterback rather smoothly, as Webster City returns their leading rusher in Jaxon Griffith, as well as quality starters up front on both sides of the football from a team that gave many of the top 3A teams a full-fledged fight.
Class 2A
- Central Lyon/George-Little Rock
- Kuemper Catholic, Carroll
- OABCIG
- Osage
- Van Meter
- Mid-Prairie, Wellman
- Roland-Story
- Alburnett
- PCM
- Centerville
Northwest Iowa seems poised to rule Class 2A once again as Central Lyon/George-Little Rock returns quite a bit of young talent that’s gained a lot of varsity experience. Kuemper Catholic clocks in at #2 with prolific backfield duo of QB Brock Badding and RB Jarin Hoffman, as OABCIG brings back Jaxx DeJean and brings in former Ridge View quarterback Raif Jensen. Osage brings back over 80% of their offensive production and over 50% of their defensive production, as Van Meter replace a lot of production, but has shown the ability to reload year-in and year-out.
Mid-Prairie, Wellman enters at #6 as they could do damage behind senior RB Hudson Ehrenfelt, as Roland-Story loses most of their offensive line and quarterback, they bring back an extremely talented backfield, receiving core and secondary. Alburnett returns a high-percentage of production from a good 1A squad, as PCM could surprise some people with some really talented underclassmen, especially in the trenches. Centerville is a sleeper with many of their key players being freshman a season ago.
Class 1A
- Grundy Center
- West Lyon, Inwood
- Iowa City Regina
- Pleasantville
- Tri-Center, Neola
- South Hardin
- Underwood
- Treynor
- Hinton
- Sigourney-Keota
Very little change in the 1A rankings from earlier, although I will say that the Top 5 is a pretty clear cut group. Grundy Center returns all-stater Judd Jirvosky at QB and DB, as Defending 2A Champions West Lyon drop down an bring back leading rusher Evan Hildring. Iowa City Regina has a roster littered with Division I talent in QB Kyle Tracy, RB Savion Miller and WR Tate Wallace, as Pleasantville has another Division I-caliber athlete in quarterback Braylon Bingham. Defending Class A Champions Tri-Center bumps up and brings back quarterback AJ Harder and two 1,000-yard receivers in Cael Witt and Zach Nelson.
South Hardin returns a prolific offensive connection in quarterback Peyton Welch and receiver Sam Benson, as Underwood has multi-sport star Garrett Luett at quarterback. Treynor brings back their top rusher in Jett Sornson and top receiver Jude Mieska. Hinton brings back a stout defense off a semifinal appearance last season, as Sigourney-Keota is led by returning spinner-back Brayden Wood, as Ike Molyneux will likely step in at running back.
Class A
- Maquoketa Valley
- MMCRU
- Saint Ansgar
- Riverside, Oakland
- West Hancock
- Madrid
- AC/GC
- Woodbury Central
- Mount Ayr
- Nashua-Plainfield
Not much change in the A rankings, as Maquoketa Valley holds the top spot, returning their quarterback, running back and top 3 receivers. MMCRU brings back a dynamic backfield duo of QB Eli Harpeneau and RB Bryson Mulder, while Saint Ansgar’s wishbone attack returns 1,200-yard rusher Korben Michels. Riverside, Oakland jumps up to #4 with more proven talent back in Jaxon Gordon and Landyn Schoenrock, as West Hancock brings back backfield pieces in Jacoby Subject and Gustavo Gomez.
Madrid stays at #6 as they bring back many key pieces in running backs Easton Halverson and Will Atkinson and tight ends Emerson Bridgewater and Jevyn Severson as Loken Velkey steps in at quarterback. AC/GC clocks in at #7, bringing back a near 1,000-yard rusher in Joe Crawford, as well as Brexton Schneider. Woodbury Central brings back QB Jackson Verschoor and veteran receivers, as Mount Ayr has many multi-year starting skill positions back, led by quarterback Jackson Ruggles. Nashua-Plainfield rounds out the top 10 with a high percentage of production back.
Class 8-Player
- Woodbine
- Bishop Garrigan
- Montezuma
- Iowa Valley, Marengo
- Fremont-Mills
- Clarksville
- Gladbrook-Reinbeck
- Wayne, Corydon
- Ar-We-Va
- Easton Valley
No change in the 8-Player top 10, Woodbine stays at the top with a pair of Division I recruits in Landon Blum and Brody Pryor, but Bishop Garrigan is going to have a big say with Tate Foertsch and Ethan Marso leading the Golden Bears. Montezuma brings back dual-threat QB Brady Boulton and two-way stars Broox Stockman and Braxton Plants, while despite a tough schedule, Iowa Valley can compete with anyone thanks to quarterback Nolan Kreigel. Fremont-Mills is loaded with experience after a young team went 7-2 a year ago.
Clarksville returns 1,700-yard rusher Nathan Moon in the Indians run-heavy offense at #6, as Gladbrook-Reinbeck has a talented supporting cast ready to aide whoever steps in at quarterback. Wayne drops down from Class A and will provide a physical challenge in the trenches, as well as a talented backfield. Ar-We-Va returns 1,100-yard rusher Wyatt Ragaller and a stout defense, while Easton Valley showcases a high-flying connection of QB Keagan Lee and WR Callan Messerich.