WEBSTER CITY, Ia. — Class 1A, District 2 was seen as one of the most wide-open districts in the state in 2025, with seemingly every team having some ability to contend for a district title. Ultimately, Manson-Northwest Webster picked up their 2nd district title in a row, but who will be next in line to grab gold?
South Hamilton
A 1-8 season in 2025 is something that South Hamilton football has become very unaccustomed to, and 2026 looks ripe for a bounce back year for the Hawks. Much of the Hawks backfield is back, including quarterback Garrett Johnson and 1A’s leading rusher in Wyatt Gelder, who had over 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Hawks offensive line will have a couple of bellcows to rely on in junior Ben Swenson and senior Davien Henderson to help bring along a newer offensive line.
Defensively, the front 4 will be a strong suit, as Ben Swenson was the Hawks leading tackler a year ago, as Davien Henderson, Lyndon Johnson and Maddux Becker are two names to watch help Swenson up front. The linebacking core is younger, led by senior Kaden Dean and will have reinforcements in Wyatt Gelder and Cooper Stuck. The defensive backfield will bring back plenty of production, including interceptions-leader Kash Northrop and Garrett Johnson.
East Sac County
The Raiders were able to sneak into the playoffs in 2025 as the 4-seed out of District 2, and have a chance to build off that playoff campaign by returning plenty of production. Junior Weston Julin returns at quarterback after nearly 500 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 450 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground. Julin returns his favorite targets in senior Dawson Allen and Zach Jacobsen, as running back Carson Schmitt accumulated nearly 900 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns. The Raiders offensive line brings back key pieces in Tyler Renze, Brooks Ludwig and Cal McCollough.
Defensively, the Raiders defense brings back nearly all of it’s production, highlighted by their linebacking core; as Gabe King tallied over 100 tackles, while Dawson Allen had 75 tackles and Carson Schmitt accumulated nearly 60 tackles. Cal McCollough and Tyler Renze will lead the defensive line for the Raiders, as the defensive backfield returns their key pieces in Weston Julin, Cain Gullett and Beckem Kluver.
Emmetsburg
2025 was another playoff season for the E-Hawks of Emmetsburg, but 2026 could be a rebuilding one for one of Iowa’s most storied programs. The lone returner in the backfield is fullback Brennan Hasbrouck, who rushed for nearly 700 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2025. The quarterback position looks like a battle between junior Marc Maina and senior Clayton Hoch, while the rest of the backfield will likely be between sophomore Beckam Shirk, senior Joe Fischer and juniors Clay Shirk and Drake Heim. The offensive line will be an almost entirely new group, outside the returns of seniors Gage Ditch and Aidyn Opheim.
Defensively, the front seven looks to be the strength with Gage Ditch and Aidyn Opheim leading the defensive line, while Brennan Hasbrouck and Joe Fischer look to spearhead a young, yet talented linebacking core. The defensive backfield will be on the greener side with athletes like Drake Heim and Clayton Hoch to lead the unit.
Manson-Northwest Webster
The Cougars of Manson have put together one of the best two-year stretches in program history with back-to-back district titles, the first time the Cougar program has ever accomplished that feat. The Cougars looked primed to make a run for a 3rd-straight district crown, as they bring back quarterback Isaiah Daggett, who threw for 540 yards and 3 touchdowns, as well as bellcow running back Coy Moline, who rushed for over 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns, as Tegan Thoma and Charlie Sturgis added nearly 600 more yards and 6 touchdowns. It will be a younger receiving room in 2026, as the offensive line will be a veteran one, returning junior Logan Salazar and seniors Jaggar Wolfe, Aiden Nelson and Israel Alvarez.
Defensively, there’s a little bit more to replace, beginning at linebacker, as Tegan Thoma and Coy Moline lead the linebacking core, with over 110 tackles between the two in 2025. Charlie Sturgis leads the defensive line, after 54 tackles, 11 TFL and 3 sacks, as the defensive backfield has some pieces to replace with the departure of Jack Hoeppner.
Pocahontas Area
A 2-6 campaign was not enough to get the Indians to the postseason in 2025, but Pocahontas Area returns a plethora of experience in 2026. Junior Blake Bunda presents a dual-threat presence at QB, throwing for nearly 800 yards and 6 touchdowns, while running for another 324 and 3 scores. Karson Welander provides a rushing and receiving threat out of the backfield, amassing over 650 all-purpose yards and 5 touchdowns, as the receiving room returns the likes of Xander Small, Braydon Hudson and Coen Hammen. The offensive line loses some pieces, but returns an all-state caliber pieces in Adam Marsh and promising junior Bailey Hoover.
Defensively, the second and third levels, as the linebacking core returns leading tacklers Adam Marsh, Karson Welander and Xander Small. The defensive line has a lot to replace, but brings back junior Bailey Hoover to lead the group. The defensive backfield will have experience with the likes of Coen Hammen, Brayden Hudson and Isaiah Dolan leading the charge.
South Central Calhoun
It was a playoff season for the Titans in 2025, but for a program that expects deep postseason runs year after year, South Central Calhoun is looking for bigger things in 2026. The Titans do have a key piece back in junior Cade Higgins at quarterback, who threw for just under 1,000 yards and 5 touchdowns. Higgins will have back some key targets in seniors Garrett Krause and Hayden Stickrod, while leading rushers Cooper Nattress and Luke Patterson are back. The offensive line will have some rebuild ahead of them, but get experience players such as juniors Max Hardy, Trendon Daniel and Quinn Roller, as well as senior Marshall Bundt back.
Defensively, the Titans strength will lie in the second-level, as the linebacking core returns starters in Evan Myers, Cooper Nattress and Coltley Timmerman. South Central Calhoun’s secondary should be strong, bringing back top tacklers in Halas Steig, Garrett Lrause and Luke Patterson. The defensive line will have young pieces stepping into bigger roles, led by Marshall Bunt and Trendon Daniel.
Quinn’s Class 1A, District 2 Predictions
1. Manson-Northwest Webster
2. South Central Calhoun
3. South Hamilton
4. Emmetsburg
5. East Sac County
6. Pocahontas Area
The Cougars have the experience and the talent back to make a legitimate run for their 3rd-consecutive district title, but South Central Calhoun under Bryan Case is a legitimate threat to un-seat the Cougars atop the district. South Hamilton football should be in for a nice bounce-back season, as Emmetsburg is able to load up enough to grab that final playoff berth. East Sac County and Pocahontas Area are 5 and 6, but don’t expect either of them to be anywhere close to pushovers.