WEBSTER CITY, Ia. — There may not have been a district in Class 1A that presented the weekly challenges that District 3 provided in 2025. Sitting at the top was the perennial powers in Grundy Center, but South Hardin made their first ever UNI Dome appearance, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows won their first playoff game in over a decade, and younger teams such as Central Springs, Eagle Grove and Garner-Hayfield-Ventura didn’t make it easy on anyone. 2026 could provide even more parity to this already-stout district.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
The Cowboys might be one of the most underrated teams in Class 1A coming into 2026, bringing back a talented and experienced core after a 6-4 campaign in 2025. The backfield returns the likes of Charlie Campbell, Easton Beyer and Colin Sesker, as a quarterback competition between Paxton Lingenfelter and JD Morrical is possible. Huxley Lingenfelter provides a reliable option for whomever is throwing the football at his tight end spot, while the offensive line has a number of key returners, including JT Kelso, Armando Melendez, Ryland Morgan, Daven Duncalf, Calder Creson and Traesyn Cope among others.
Defensively, the Cowboys have big production back at all 3 levels. Traesyn Cope had 12 TFL as a sophomore at defensive tackle, and is joined by fellow returners Easton Beter and Cooper Nosbush. The Cowboys also return all-state linebacker Huxley Lingenfelter, who tallied nearly 70 tackles in 2026, and will be joined by Mason Warnke and JD Morrical at the 2nd-level. Paxton Lingenfelter is the statistical leader returning in the secondary with 3 interceptions a year ago, while Charlie Campbell and Colin Sesker are two hard-hitters to provide physicality to the unit.
Eagle Grove
After missing the playoffs in 2025, the Eagles are hungry not only for their first playoff berth since 2022, but their first winning season since 2017. Adrian Whipple provides a dual-threat component to the Eagles flexbone attack, throwing for over 600 yards and 6 touchdowns, while also rushing for nearly 300 more and 7 touchdowns. Top receiver Gavin Pedersen is back after nearly 400 receiving yards and 7 total touchdowns, while Trenton Robinson is a warrior at fullback, after 850 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2025. Keegan Eisentrager and Kylar Sisson are two names to watch at wingback, as the offensive line brings back a couple veterans in Arturo Reyna Salazar and Christian Schild.
Defensively, the Eagles secondary is a strength, returning interceptions leader Gavin Pedersen, and the team’s second-leading tackler in 2025 in Dylan Terwilliger, along with Cam Sisson and Jackson Babcock. The linebacking core has an anchor in senior Arturo Reyna Salazar, along with senior Caden Hauenstein, as the defensive line returns a couple big playmakers in Trenton Robinson and Christian Schild.
Central Springs
The Panthers of Central Springs were able to sneak into the postseason as the 4-seed in 2025 and very nearly upset a district champion in the Hudson Pirates. The Panthers have a solid nucleus returning, led by junior quarterback Eddie Pruin, who threw for over 850 yards and 8 touchdowns. Pruin does need to find new top receivers, with a room by senior Cohen Meyer. The Panthers do bring back 2 of their top 3 running backs, as junior Jamison Rothmeyer rushed for nearly 600 yards and 6 scores, while senior Manny Gregorie rushed for over 400 yards and 3 touchdowns. Seniors Winton Hogen and Jakob Roegner lead what should be a veteran offensive line.
On the defensive side, the Panthers front seven leads the charge behind a veteran linebacking core with Winton Hogen and Lincoln Levan back after accruing 42.5 tackles and 35.5 tackles respectively. Jakob Roegner leads a defensive line unit that will be a tad more inexperienced in 2026, as Roegner had 27.5 tackles in 2025. Jamison Rothmeyer leads what will be an otherwise green defensive backfield, as Rothmeyer had 30.5 tackles and an interception.
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura
An 0-8 campaign in 2025 is one that many in the GHV program hope is the beginning of a rebuild of a program with a proud heritage, as the Cardinals do bring some pieces back in 2026. Preston Davison returns at quarterback after throwing for 300+ yards and 3 touchdowns, while bringing back top receivers Chance Derr, Dennis Beery and Zander Rosauer. Seniors Carson Madsen and Zane Black will take over the load in the backfield at running back, as the offensive line returns some key pieces in seniors Ethan Goodlund, Kaden Kral and Kaleb Stuart.
Defensively, the Cardinals return good numbers at all 3 levels. Kaden Kral and Kaleb Stuart lead the defensive line unit as incoming seniors, as the two combined for over 40 tackles in 2025. Carson Madsen is the top returning linebacker after 26.5 tackles, with Zane Black joining him in the second level. The secondary brings back all of it’s production, with freshman Chance Derr finishing with 2 picks in 2025, as Demascus Ealy Jr. led the unit in tackles, with Dennis Beery rounding out the unit.
Grundy Center
One of the standards of excellence in small school football in Iowa, Grundy Center fell just short of their quest for a 4th-consecutive title, and graduate one of the winningest classes you’ll find anywhere in Iowa. It will be big shoes to fill at quarterback for whomever replaces Judd Jirvosky, as that battle looks to be Lake Schrage’s to lose. The backfield does have some complimentary pieces back, as Cooper Keller has over 350 yards and 6 touchdowns, as Hayden Geerdes had nearly 300 yards and 7 scores. Ethan Meester and Aiden Hook lead what will be a younger receiving core in 2026, as the offensive line will turn to the likes of Kyle Seitz, Carter Ruth and Jackson Huisman, among others.
The Spartans defense has it’s strength in a veteran linebacking core, with second-leading tackler Aiden Hook, third-leading tackle Hayden Geerdes and fourth-leading tackler Cooper Keller all back after stellar 2025 seasons. Carter Ruth will lead what will be a young, but not totally inexperienced defensive line, as the defensive backfield unit will be on the greener with Ethan Meester leading the unit.
South Hardin
2025 was a flagship year for South Hardin football, as the Tigers qualified for the UNI Dome for the first time since the merger of Eldora-New Providence and Hubbard-Radcliffe. It will be a different look squad for Nick Eller and company, as Braden Weig is in line to take over at quarterback for the departing Peyton Welch. Weig will have some help in the passing game, as second-leading receiver Casey Williamson is back after over 600 yards and 8 touchdowns. The Tigers might be more ground-oriented, returning a near-1,300 yard rusher in junior Kameron Adams, as well as fullback Manning Pfantz. The offensive line will be in a massive rebuild, losing many senior leaders from 2025’s unit.
The Tigers front four looks to be where much of the production returns in 2026, as Manning Pfantz is the leading-tackler returning after 51 stops, 14 TFL and 5.5 sacks on the defensive line, as Kameron Adams joins him at defensive end. The linebacking core is in search of replacements for leading tacklers Lucas Perry and Sawyer Kane, while Joshua Spindler and Casey Williamson will take the reigns to lead a young but potentially-talented secondary.
Quinn’s Class 1A, District 3 Prediction
1. Grundy Center
2. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
3. South Hardin
4. Eagle Grove
5. Central Springs
6. Garner-Hayfield-Ventura
Full disclosure, the top 3 of District 3 all have strong and probable cases to take home a district title in 2026. But, for now, I’m rolling with the culture that Grundy Center has created. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows and South Hardin are going to have final says in the matter with tough, physical teams. Eagle Grove grabs the final playoff spot, as it’s not impossible to think the Eagles can’t pick off one of those top 3 teams in the process. Central Springs is as tough a 5th-place finisher as you’re going to find in 1A, as I expect improvements from GHV despite a bottom finish.