2019 High School Football by GateHouse Media Iowa

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Ames Tribune, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019

IOWA AIR ATTACK PASSING ATTACK GROWS ACROSS IOWA WITH LOCAL PROGRAMS LEADING THE WAY See page 2

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Thursday, August 29

Passing attack grows across Iowa with local programs leading the way By Hayes Gardner, Staff Writer hgardner@amestrib.com

he first Class 4A state championship football game took place on Nov. 18, 1972, between Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Dowling Catholic. On a chilly Saturday in Iowa City, the two teams dueled on the ground: they combined to complete just 3-of-18 passes for 50 total yards, while amassing 254 rushing yards on 96 carries. Jefferson won 6-0 and after the game, victorious coach Jack Fisk told the Des Moines Register: “We weren’t really concerned about their passing. That’s why we were going with nine men close to the line of scrimmage.” The story was the same in each semifinal that year — defenses faced a heavy diet of rushing attacks. The semifinalists totaled 110, 64, 45 and zero passing yards on a 45-degree day in Des Moines. The next year, 1973, the championship went to Davenport Central. Before the game, coach Jim Fox lauded his team as “pretty balanced” between the run and pass and then marched out a team that completed 4-of-9 passing for 85 yards while rushing 60 times for 360 yards. When it came to offensive style, the common belief of the day was summarized by Woody Hayes, who was running the I-formation at Ohio State at the time: There are three things that can happen when you throw a pass, and two of them are bad. Rushing the

Ames quarterback Cooper Downs and Nevada’s quarterback Kody Kruschwitz. Both Nevada (36.4) and Ames (34.6) finished in the top-five in the state for pass attempts per game last season. PHOTO BY NIRMALENDU MAJUMDAR/AMES TRIBUNE

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Thursday, August 29

ball, repeatedly, violently, and up the middle, reigned supreme in the world of football and particularly at the high school level. It was another Hayes adage — three yards and a cloud of dust — that defined football for years. Slowly, surely, and yet noticeably, that’s changing at the high school level in Iowa. “I think you’re seeing an evolution as we speak,” current Dowling Catholic coach Tom Wilson told the Ames Tribune this month. It’s no secret that passing is more commonplace now than it was when the sport was invented and the forward pass was akin to a trick play, and aerial attacks have become more commonplace since the middle of the 20th century. However, the increase in Iowa high school football is ongoing. Pass attempts per game increased by 17.6 percent across all levels of 11-man high school football in Iowa over the past decade, based on an analysis of 2008 and 2018 statistics by the Ames Tribune. In 2008, teams averaged 14.8 passes per game, while that number rose to 17.4 a year ago. The trend is especially prominent locally as both Nevada (36.4) and Ames (34.6) finished in the topfive in the state for pass attempts per game. Last fasll, the two teams are extreme examples of a statewide incline — football

Pass attempts in Iowa high school football 2008

2018

20 19.3

17.5

15 13.6 13.7

13.5

18.7

15.5

14.5

17.4 14.8

Totals

Class

is a living game that is gradually transforming, and the result is more passing. • • • Sports strategy is always shifting, with the focus often upon making more effective use of space in the field of play. In Major League Baseball, the modern game has been criticized for defensive shifts and an increase in home runs. Basketball has changed to adapt to the 3-point line, with deep jump shots rendering the current game unrecognizable from the 1980s. Spread offense has been that catalyst for football. The spread germinated

decades ago at the high school level and has become especially commonplace this millennium with countless pro, college and high school teams adopting forms of it. Teams can throw or pass out of the spread — which generally features one running back and three to five receivers — but it always forces the defense to guard the entirety of the field. Nevada coach Andy Kleeman said his team attended a camp over the summer and each of the eight participating high schools ran some form of the spread. That includes the Cubs, who are passing

at a significantly higher rate than in previous years. “Watching as a kid when I was in middle school, even at Nevada games, we were a really good running team, and I remember us just running all over the place,” Nevada senior quarterback Kody Kruschwitz told the Ames Tribune. “But now I feel like when I go to football games, it’s more so of, who can be the best deep threat and complete passes against the other team’s secondary?” Last year, the Cubs averaged the third-most pass attempts in all of the state and by far the most in 2A. In their final game of the

season, Kruschwitz fired off 56 passes. When Kleeman — a former defensive coordinator now in his fourth year at Nevada’s helm — considered what offense he wanted to institute at Nevada, he thought of styles that always gave him fits. “We’re looking at ways to make the defense, their eyes have to see the entire field,” Kleeman told the Tribune. “Even if we’re running the ball up the middle, we have to have options on the perimeter. So that forces defenses to have to defend multiple things within one play where, if you’re always

just doing the same thing, that gets a lot easier for defenses to prepare for.” Ames is even more wellknown for spreading the field and airing the ball. Over the past 10 years, the Little Cyclones finished in the top three in 4A in pass attempts per game six times, never landing outside of the top seven. On three occasions last year, Ames quarterback Cooper Downs got off at least 42 passes. Ames coach Bruce Vertanen pointed out that although his team does spread the field, it has played a variety of styles in the past, such as 2013, when Clifford Kwaw-Mensah rushed for a staterecord 2,806 yards. “We have a system as a blueprint, but we do adapt to personnel,” Vertanen told the Tribune. “We air things out a little more because we are adapting to personnel.” One recent, significant change to high school football has been an uptick in quick screens and short completions. Instead of primarily handing off or throwing downfield, teams are more often turning to high-percentage completions. “More passes doesn’t mean people are throwing it 50 yards downfield. It means the short passing game is kind of an extension of the run game,” Dowling’s Wilson, who has won six-straight 4A state titles, told the Tribune.

Wilson, Vertanen and Kleeman all described short passes in that way — as an extension of the run game. A wide receiver screen may be a pass, but it gives the ball to a playmaker behind the line of scrimmage in the same way a run play does; the difference is that it forces defenses to worry about and guard the entire horizontal field. Run-pass options (RPOs) have also played an explicit role. Popularized within the last five or ten years, RPOs are a designed run play that allow a quarterback to decide to throw if the defense’s alignment proves it advantageous. Wilson believes RPOs are now at their height. “I think RPOs have a lot to do with it,” he told the Tribune. “A lot of times where you would just call a run play, well now you can attach a pass option onto that, and let’s just say it’s 30 percent of the time you get a pass out of it, well there’s your increase, which you wouldn’t have had before.” Offensive styles that dominated football for years — and are still active in many places — such as the Power-I and Wing-T are complex in their own ways, but modern passing games are disparately intricate, with moving pieces across the entire line of scrimmage. Nevada, for example, runs what is similar to a run-and-shoot offense. It’s a style that has been around for more than a generation — Ames ran it with Fred Hoiberg as signal-caller in the early 1990s — but may be more commonly used this millenium. In a run-and-shoot, receivers are often sent in motion to reveal defensive strategy and receivers and quarterbacks improvise based upon the defense’s alignment. Allen Trieu, a Midwest Recruiting Analyst for 247Sports who has covered high school football recruiting for 14 years, has noted

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Thursday, August 29

Offensive styles that dominated football for years — and are still active in many places — such as the Power-I and Wing-T are complex in their own ways, but modern passing games are disparately intricate, with moving pieces across the entire line of scrimmage. the increase in passing and multiple offenses since he began following the sport. “Much more sophisticated offense is being run now than I would say even 10 years ago,” he told the Tribune. Decades ago, football was overtly dominated by the line of scrimmage and the middle of the field. That’s where the action was. Football was, largely, smashmouth: the line-emup, nine-men-in-the-box, here-it-comes, try-andstop-it football. Instead of strictly the traditional three yards and a cloud of dust, however, modern football is becoming four receivers, then adjust. • • • Football is a living sport, with varied offensive styles and defensive fronts weaving on and off the field throughout its existence. But what has caused the recent spike in throwing? It’s not necessarily imitation of successful teams. Dowling’s Wilson emphasized that, to win a state championship, especially in the colder months, teams have to run the football effectively, even when everyone in the stadium knows it’s coming. Vertanen, despite his pass-heavy attacks, agreed. “Winning teams run the ball and stop the run. That’s never changed,” he told the Tribune. Of the five 2018 state champions playing 11-man football, four passed at a lower rate than the average school in their class. 1A state champion West Sioux passed 27.2 times per

game, the 8th-most in their class, but the other four state champions — 4A’s Dowling (16.9 attempts per game), 3A’s Cedar Rapids Xavier (14.5), 2A’s PCM (15.8), and A’s Hudson (13.4) — threw at a lower clip. One change could be emphasis placed on the skill of passing the football. It takes training and coordination to complete passes, and quarterbacks may now be practicing the craft more, especially with the advent of 7-on-7 camps. “I’m old enough now that we used to have a quarterback show up in August and that would be the first time you’d worked with him: August 1,” Vertanen told the Tribune. “And now, if you’re not working with the quarterback throughout the entire summer and he’s not working on his own through the entire spring then you’re not ahead of the game.” Wilson shied from the impact of 7-on-7, but did reference the trickle-down effect from the NFL and college football. Nine times in NFL history have teams averaged 34.0 or more pass attempts per game, and eight of those occurred this decade. The spread may have spent its infancy at the high school level, but now that is has reached the NFL and college — “Anytime a kid turns his television on, they’re gonna see a form of (spread),” Wilson said — it’s begun to re-influence the lower ranks. Wilson said he draws ideas from football at a

national level and also from in-state colleges. Kleeman agreed, emphasizing that access to college coaches has aided in the spread becoming, well, widespread. “I think it’s allowed coaches to maybe find more confidence in teaching the pass game and route concepts because colleges are so open to high school coaches coming in and learning from them,” Kleeman told the Tribune. Added Wilson: “I think social media has a lot to do with it, too. You go on Twitter, and it’s like a clinic every day. I think it’s the influence of everybody and really where the game has gone.” In following high school recruiting, Trieu has noticed similar patterns: quarterbacks and wide receivers training more in the offseason and social media serving as a vehicle for new concepts. “Every day I see a kid retweeting some sort of footwork drill or a pro doing a drill. I think it’s easier for kids to find those things and sort of duplicate that than ever before,” Trieu told the Tribune. • • • Not every team in the state is running the spread offense, and not all of them are throwing it at an increased rate. Running still remain the bread and butter of high school football in Iowa. In fact, teams averaged 35.8 rushing attempts per game in 2018. In the 2018 4A state championship, Dowling Catholic topped Cedar Falls 22-16. The two teams

combined to complete 16-of-35 passes for 187 yards inside the UNI Dome. Just like the IHSAA’s first title game in 1972, it was a four-quarter football game; linemen and running backs played a massive role; rules remained essentially the same. But there’s been a definite uptick in passing attempts and an evolution of the passing game. Kleeman played at West Lyon High in the early 2000s and he noted how different his current offense is from when he suited up. “I know our last game last year, we threw the ball 56 times, which, I guess I don’t want to make a habit of that, but that’s probably more than we threw for sure my whole senior year of high school, might even throw in my junior year, as well,” he said. Trieu played prep football during the same time period, the early 2000s, in Michigan, and he noted the rarity of passing. “I think if you threw the ball and got into the doubledigits per game, it seemed like that was above average,” he said. Invention and creativity in sports is often born from a desire to be different, to catch opponents off-guard and ill-prepared. Wilson pointed to Ames — with a barrage of quick passes — and Ankeny Centennial — with a form of the Wing-T — as doing just that by rolling out offenses that opponents’ rarely face. “Bruce is doing something totally different (at Ames), and I applaud him

for that,” Wilson said. “Ankeny Centennial is doing something different, and it’s a pain in the rear end to prepare for.” When every team was playing smashmouth football, it behooved an offense to spread the field and throw. That aspiration to be different, in part, is at the root of pass-heavy offenses. It’s an exercise in futility to confidently predict where football may go in the future, but current trends suggest that offenses will continue to focus upon the pass. Said Trieu: “I think you’re going to see just as many footballs in the air coming up as we’ve been seeing.” That does seem very possible. Then again, so, too, does a reversion to traditional play in an attempt to counter a popular trend. “It’s like the singlewing,” Wilson said of an old concept created by football pioneer Pop Warner. “The single-wing went away many, many, many years ago. Well, we’ve got teams running the single-wing today. “So, I think there’s an advantage to being different, and I think high school coaches will realize: Why am I lining up in the spread when everybody else lines up in the spread? Why don’t I be different, so defensive coordinators have to adjust to our style of play? I think there’s some merit in that, and I think you will see that.” There are a variety of culprits for the increase of passing in Iowa high school football: the influence of spread offenses popularized by the college and pro ranks, the advent of RPOs and quick screens, the focused offseason training. Football however, isn’t done changing. After all, it’s a living game. Said Wilson: “Things will change again. The game is going to evolve again.”

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Thursday, August 29

Veteran offense, week-to-week improvement will be keys for Ames By Hayes Gardner

Staff Writer hgardner@amestrib.com

he 2019 Ames offense doesn’t need much of an introduction. With experience at quarterback, running back, wide receivers and the offensive line, the Little Cyclones are relatively veteran on that side of the ball. They bring back last year’s starting signal-caller and two of their top three wide receivers from a team that gathered 78 percent of its yards from scrimmage through the air. The defense, however, is green and boasts only two players who saw any varsity time a year ago. With that, Ames coach Bruce Vertanen knows that his team won’t be a final product when the season opens on August 30. The key, he said, is the progress they make throughout the season. “I think this, probably more than ever, is week-toweek growth. I really feel strongly that game seven, game eight, game nine, we are going to be a completely different team,” he said. “When we get to that midseason point, there’s no longer rookies out there, there’s guys that now have games under their belt.” Defensive lineman Jakob Steiert and safety Diego Alvarez both started games last year as juniors, but the defense will otherwise be comprised of varsity newcomers. Sophomore Tamin Lipsey was expected to once again make a massive impact

— he started at safety and led the team in touchdowns despite playing in only five games — but an ACL injury has him sidelined for the season. Junior Casey Mumm, who also figured to see extensive playing time, is also injured and out for the fall. “To stand there and see Casey Mumm and Tamin Lipsey standing next to me in street clothes, I’m never gonna get used to seeing that,” Vertanen said. Lipsey was plugged into the offense last year, oftentimes as a receiver out of the backfield, and scored seven total touchdowns on only 19 touches (combining receptions and returns). Replicating his production will be impossible, but the Little Cyclones should have some answers. Senior quarterback Cooper Downs, the son of Ames defensive coordinator Vance Downs, returns after throwing for 1,802 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago, and much of his receiving corps is intact. Senior Jonah Strawhacker caught 24 passes for 368 yards a year ago, often as a deep threat, and with his size (6-foot-3) and athleticism, he figures to be one of Downs’s favorite downfield targets this year. “We have a lot more experience, so it’s a lot easier and we’re able to do a little more complex things with our routes, and different packages, so that’s nice,” Strawhacker said. Nate Withers (eight catches for 58 yards) will also be a consistent option.

Ames High quarterback Cooper Downs returns after throwing for 1,802 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago. PHOTO BY NIRMALENDU MAJUMDAR/AMES TRIBUNE

“(He’s) a very good route-runner with excellent hands,” Vertanen said. The prize of the offense, however, seems to be do-itall Gabe Ante. The senior primarily played slot receiver last season, totaling 46 receptions for 460 yards, and he’s likely to keep that role, while also seeing time at running back. He rushed 34 times

for 139 yards a year ago. The Little Cyclones will sprinkle in Ante wherever he is needed to sniff out yards, and also expect to use junior Derek Paypin in the backfield. “Derek’s had a really nice camp and he’s put himself in a position to play,” Vertanen said. The offensive line boasts some experience

and talent, too: Bryan Cortes started every game at left guard last season, A.J. Gross started four and Solomon Farner was a key reserve. Those seniors will form what they hope will be a strong unit. “We’re all pretty good buddies on the O-Line,” Cortes said. “I think we’re all going to work together really well because we’re

pretty good buddies and we get along during practice.” Finding answers on defense will be the trick for the Little Cyclones, which will turn to a flurry of juniors to step up on that side of the ball. Vertanen knows what to expect when it comes to players jumping to the varsity level. “This happens, for as long as I’ve been around, a

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Thursday, August 29

Ames (5-4 last season) Aug. 30: at Cedar Falls Sept. 6: Fort Dodge Sept. 13: Iowa City High Setp. 20: at Marshalltown Sept. 27: at Des Moines North Oct. 4: Council Bluffs Lincoln Oct. 11: at Council Bluffs Jefferson Oct. 18: Valley Oct. 25: at Urbandale

kid that goes from a sophomore player to a starting varsity player is always shocked at (the) speed of the game,” he said. The Little Cyclones are seeking their first playoff appearance since 2015. They came one game short of the postseason last year after dropping a de facto play-in game with Urbandale to end their season with a 5-4 record. They open the 2019 season Friday at a daunting foe: 2018’s 4A runner-up Cedar Falls, which shut the Little Cyclones out last year. They’ll then face another 2018 playoff team in Fort Dodge before

facing a relatively friendly stretch during the middle of the season. By the time they face two other 2018 playoff teams in Valley and Urbandale to conclude the season, Vertanen believes his team will be vastly improved from Week 1. “It’s a really good group of kids with high-character and good chemistry, and I mean that sincerely,” Vertanen said. “With that, they will get better each week, I guarantee it. I guarantee this group will get better each week, and we will progress as the year goes on.”

Ames High safety Diego Alvarez played cornerback last season, but will move to safety in 2019. PHOTO BY NIRMALENDU MAJUMDAR/AMES TRIBUNE

Ames High senior Jakob Steiert is one of only two defensive players who return with varsity experience. PHOTO BY NIRMALENDU MAJUMDAR/AMES TRIBUNE

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Thursday, August 29

Talented defense has Ballard ready for 2019 By Joe Randleman Staff Writer

he Ballard football team will look to an experienced defense to turn its Class 3A District 8 fortunes around in 2019. Ballard finished 2018 with a 4-5 record in its first season under co-head coaches Corey Vespestad and Kyle Howard. The Bombers picked up just one win in 3A District 8, but they were very close to finishing with three — losing by a single score to both district champion Norwalk and rival North Polk in their final two games. “Really tough district last year — one of the best in the state,” Vespestad said. “We expect the same this year. Teams in our district are well coached, and the kids play really hard.” In order to turn the corner Ballard will need a young offense to gel quickly. “The biggest thing for us is experience,” Howard said. “We lost a great group of seniors last year and we’ll have a lot of youth on the field this year. Those guys just need reps.” Junior Connor Drew returns at quarterback after throwing for 747 yards and six touchdowns and rushing for 526 yards and seven

Returning defensive playmakers Mason Murphy (front, left), Sam Petersen (front, center), Logan Harmeyer (front, right), Riley Neel (back, left) and Rylee Davidson (back, right) will team with quarterback Connor Drew (back, center) to lead the Ballard football team in 2019. PHOTO BY JOE RANDLEMAN/AMES TRIBUNE.

scores as a sophomore. But he has a whole new set of playmakers around him. Gone are Skyler Noftsger (1,073 yards rushing), Reece Huen (623 yards rushing and 336 receiving) and Kegan Odden (286 receiving yards) off last years team. Filling in at running back this season will be

senior Blaine Hermann, junior Donovan Bertand and sophomore Nate Nessa. Senior Nic Edwards is the leading returning receiver with three catches for 44 yards and he will be joined by juniors Nolan Schonhorst, Brenden Kaldenberg and Hayden Bentrott and sophomores Jacob Ihle and Bryce Haessig.

Ballard will also have some new faces on the offensive line. Bombers contending for positions up front include seniors Riley Neel, Drew Van Zee, Nick Vasey and Nick Archibald; juniors Lucas Maier, Cory Hennick, Brady Ehresman and sophomore Kale Krogh. Junior Caleb Hartsook and sophomore Ashton

Hermann will compete with Drew at quarterback. A battle-tested defense should give Ballard time to find its niche on offense. “Defensively, we return seven starters from last year,” Vespestad said. “We’re excited about their leadership and ability to adapt to different situations.” Junior defensive backs Sam Petersen and Mason Murphy, senior linebacker Sam Salasek and junior outside linebacker Logan Harmeyer are the top returning tacklers for the Bombers. Petersen led Ballard with 67 tackles and he also intercepted three passes a year ago. Murphy made 46 tackles, Salasek 49 and Harmeyer 47.5 - including eight behind the line. Edwards, Schonhorst, senior Alex Upah junior Connor Finch will also vie for time in the defensive backfield. Hartsook, senior Carson Finch and juniors Mason Askelsen and Jeremiah Wilkinson will compete at linebacker. Askelsen had 17 tackles a year ago. Senior Riley Davidson will anchor the defensive line after making 35 tackles in 2018. Neel, Van Zee, seniors Andrew Williams and Austin Nelson

and junior Carter Bryan will also compete up front for the Bomber defense. If the younger players can step up their coaches believe the Bombers can make some noise in the district this fall. “There was a lot of parity in our district last year,” Howard said. “We think it will be wide open.” But they want to take it one game at a time. “We want our kids to get better every week,” Vespestad said. “We want to compete hard on Friday nights and continue to grow as a team throughout the season.” Ballard hosts Boone in its opener on Aug. 30 at Rich Strouse Field in Huxley. “The only game we’re worried about right now is our home opener against Boone on Aug. 30,” Howard said. The Bombers travel to Carroll and Dallas CenterGrimes the next two weeks then host Winterset on Sept. 20 to close out their non-district slate. In district play Ballard goes to Gilbert on Sept. 27, hosts Bondurant-Farrar and Carlisle the next two weeks then ends the season with road games at Norwalk and North Polk.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Thursday, August 29

Tigers have high expectations in 2019 Gilbert to compete in balanced 3A District 8 By Joe Randleman Staff Writer

he Gilbert football team will be counting on strong veteran leadership to turn the corner and challenge for a winning season in 2019. Gilbert finished 3-6 overall and 2-3 in Class 3A District 8 last fall. The Tigers were close to a winning record, suffering two losses by one score. Tiger head coach Scott Auderer said his team is capable of turning the corner this season. “We have the potential, the kids believing in themselves is the key,” Auderer said. “We’re practicing to be great, not just good.” Gilbert brings back juniors Ethan Vesey and Tucker Hanson and senior Carson Johnson as their top playmakers from a year ago. Vesey and Johnson will be at running back and Hanson at receiver. In 2018 Vesey ran for 229 yards and added 141 receiving and Hanson caught 21 passes for 277 yards and two scores

and added 114 yards and one touchdown rushing. Johnson ran for 80 yards and tacked on 88 receiving yards last fall. Senior Aiden Carr will also be a starting running back. Carr ran for 123 yards and one score in 2018. Senior Cooper Hurn will also get carries in the backfield and Drew Hawthorne will be in the mix at receiver. Senior Ethan Newell had 117 yards rushing and 90 receiving last fall. On the offensive line Gilbert will have junior Alex Hergenreter at center and senior Brennan Hergenreter at tight end. Seniors Isaac Roetman, Jake Steenhoek and Jacob Torresi will also help out on the line and senior Jonah Hillmann will be the long snapper. Junior Tanner Henningsen will take over for Matt Barragy at quarterback. Henningsen completed three passes for 53 yards and a touchdown in 2018. Defensively, Gilbert will have junior Cayden Meskan, Roetman, Steenhoek and Torresi on the line and

Gilbert brings back juniors Ethan Vesey, pictured, and Tucker Hanson and senior Carson Johnson as their top playmakers from a year ago. FILE PHOTO BY DEBBIE GRAY/ SPECIAL TO THE AMES TRIBUNE

Johnson, Hurn and junior Nolan Mueller at linebacker. Hurn led Gilbert with 73 tackles last season, Meskan made an impressive 12 sacks, Johnson recorded 29 tackles and Mueller came up with 15.5 stops. Hanson, Hawthorne, Trey Hansen and Tony Terrones will be in the defensive backfield for Gilbert. Last season Hanson had 40.5 tackles, Hawthorne 36.5 stops and Hansen 35.5

and they each intercepted one pass. Junior Christian Cory will kick the field goals and Vesey will handle both the kickoff and punting duties on special teams. Vesey averaged 36.8 yards on six punts in 2018. Hanson will return both kicks and punts and Johnson will return kicks for the Tigers. Hanson averaged 29.9 yards with one touchdown on kick returns

and 16 yards on six punt returns last season. “We want to stay injuryfree and reach our potential,” Auderer said. “We have high expectations.” In order for Gilbert to make noise in 3A District 8 they will have to knock off some tough opposition. Norwalk is the defending district champion, Bondurant-Farrar and North Polk both turned in a winning overall record and

Carlisle and Ballard both finished just one game below .500 in 2018. “It will be a balanced district,” Auderer said. “Anybody could win any week.” Gilbert opens the season Friday at Webster City. The Tigers then host RolandStory and Boone and travel to Greene County before beginning district play Sept. 27 at home against Ballard.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Thursday, August 29

Norsemen out to earn respect R-S must replace large senior class By Joe Randleman Staff Writer

oland-Story enters the 2019 high school football season with something to prove. The Norsemen haven’t had a winning season since 2011. They came close the past two years, but couldn’t get over the hump in finishing 4-5 each time. After graduating 19 seniors off last year’s team, including Ben Chelsvig — a 2019 Shrine Bowl participant and the school’s all-time leading rusher — Roland-Story isn’t getting a lot of attention heading into the season. “We have heard since the season was over last year that we are not supposed to be very good,” Roland-Story head coach Aaron Stensland said. “That eats away at you.” That has fueled the Norsemen all offseason. “Everything you do, whether it is weights, practice, running or hitting you

think about that and use it as a chip on your shoulder,” Stensland said. “We aren’t out to prove anyone wrong — we are out to prove to ourselves we belong.” Stensland wants his players to go out and take the bull by the horns. “Our main goal is to fight for our respect every drill, every rep and every day,” Stensland said. “We won’t be given anything this year, we will only get what we earn.” On offense Roland-Story will run out of multiple sets. Stensland said most will be out of the pistol shotgun. Junior Zach Twedt — an Iowa State verbal commit and highly-touted linebacker prospect at the next level — will take over at running back for RolandStory. Twedt ran for 78 yards as a sophomore and he also caught 20 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown. Senior speedster Kyle Selby will occupy the other running back spot.

Jayden McDonald (52), Jimmy Philipsen (54), Adam Mcilrath (15), Zach Twedt (26), Caleb Marquardt (7), David Downs (back, far left), Nick Hansen (back middle) and Wyatt Bunn (back right) are out to help the Roland-Story football team earn respect in 2019. The Norsemen must replace 19 seniors off last year’s team as they compete in a tough Class 2A District 7. PHOTO BY JOE RANDLEMAN/AMES TRIBUNE

At receiver, Roland-Story will have junior Adam McIlrath and senior Caleb Markwardt. McIlrath was a state track participant for the

Norsemen last spring. Senior Ty Thompson will be at tight end. On the offensive line Roland-Story will be led by

senior center Jayden Macdonald and have juniors Jimmy Philipsen and David Downs next to him at the guard positions. Junior Kole

Knutson and senior Nic Hansen will be the Norsemen tackles. Senior Wyatt Bunn will take over at quarterback for

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Thursday, August 29

the Norsemen. This will be his first season with varsity experience. Roland-Story will be in a 3-3-5 on defense. On the defensive front the Norsemen will have Hansen and Macdonald at the tackles and Downs at noseguard. Macdonald has the most experience of the group with 7.5 tackles. Philipsen, Selby and Thompson will be RolandStory’s linebackers. Philipsen made 15 tackles a year ago. The Norsemen defensive backfield features Twedt at strong safety, Bunn and McIlrath at the free safety spots and Markwardt and sophomore Will Bunn at the corners. Nate Johnson will take over at kicker and Wyatt Bunn will handle the punting duties on special teams.

“We have great kids and some great players, they just need to believe they can be great,” Stensland said. “When you have 19 seniors who fill so many roles like last year the younger players aren’t in many stressful positions and situations. Now they are thrown in the mix and need to develop quickly. The great thing is they have 100-percent control over their attitudes and belief in themselves.” Roland-Story will face tough competition in Class 2A District 7. Benton Community, Union and West Marshall — the three teams to finish ahead of RolandStory in the district last year — will again be among the top teams in 2A. “Our district was arguably the toughest in the state last year,” Stensland said. “I think we were the only 2A district with three state

qualifiers. Benton would be the favorite (in 2019) with Union and West Marshall as title contenders as well.” Nevada and VintonShellsburg will be RolandStory’s other 2A District 7 opponents. Outside the district the Norsemen open against Clarion-GoldfieldDows, travel to Gilbert and host Prairie City-Monroe and Iowa Falls-Alden. “Key games will be game one as so many new faces will start and work through first game mistakes, and game two,” Stensland said. “Playing Gilbert is always exciting. We respect Coach (Scott) Auderer and the Gilbert program, and them being in 3A gives us great motivation to try and play well against them.” Roland-Story’s opener against Clarion-GoldfieldDows will be on Aug. 30 in Story City.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Thursday, August 29

Cubs aim for the playoffs in 2019 Kruschwitz returns after record passing year By Joe Randleman Staff Writer

evada put together one of the most explosive offenses in Class 2A last season and the Cubs are poised to continue that trend as the 2019 high school football season approaches. Nevada finished last season at 3-6 overall and 1-4 in Class 2A District 7. But the wins and losses don’t tell the whole story for a team that was competing in a district that qualified three teams — Benton Community, Union and West Marshall — for the playoffs. With record-setting quarterback Kody Kruschwitz back surrounded by some quality talent the Cubs have big goals heading into 2019. “Our team wants a shot at the playoffs this season,” Nevada head football coach Andrew Kleeman said. “We’re going to work hard, take it one game at a time, and try to put ourselves in a position to make a run.” Kruschwitz completed 183 of 300 passes (61 percent) for 2,247 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2019. He ranked second in 2A for passing yards and ninth in touchdowns and set Nevada records for completions, yards and touchdowns through the air in a single season. Kruschwitz will be protected by an offensive line featuring four seniors — tackles Noah Adelmund and Luke Schmitz, center Alec Sutton and guard Isaac Pantoja. Sophomore Holden Fry will fill in at the

other guard spot. Joining Kruschwitz in the backfield will be senior Lucas Rogers and junior Caden Jones at running back. Jones gained some valuable experience last season, running for 220 yards and one touchdown on 38 carries. Nevada’s receiving corps took a hit with the loss of Shrine Bowl participant Andrew Saunders and playmakers Sam Abraham, Joven Nelson and Brayden Bottorf. Saunders set Cub singleseason marks for receptions (80), yards (982) and touchdowns (9). Abraham made 38 catches for 560 yards and five touchdowns, Nelson 18 grabs fro 249 yards and Bottorf 19 receptions for 241 yards and two scores. But the good news is the cupboard isn’t bare. Junior Blake Bottorf is the leading returning receiver with 18 catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Keaton Fry will take over the other spot on the outside and he made four catches for 39 yards a year ago. In the slot Nevada will start Ayden Rhodes. Rhodes was a valuable player on defense last season with 38 catches and one interception. Senior Henry Nelson will take over a tight end. “We’ve had some players step up throughout the offseason and have made great strides in the weight room,” Kleeman said. “I believe their hard work will pay off this season.” Nevada will run a 4-3 on defense.

The Nevada football team expects to remain potent on offense in 2019. The Cubs return record-setting quarterback Kody Kruschwitz (front) and the talent supporting him will be led by offensive lineman Noah Adelmund (65), receiver Keaton Fry (11), tight end Henry Nelson (21), receiver Ayden Rhodes (15), receiver Blake Bottorf (7) and offensive lineman Alec Sutton (77). PHOTO BY JOE RANDLEMAN/AMES TRIBUNE.

The Cubs defensive line will have Pantoja and Adelmund manning the interior with senior Ross Uthe and junior Grant Higgins at the ends. In 2018 Uthe had 25 tackles and a sack, Adelmund 13 tackles and a sack and Pantoja five stops. Fry, Jones and Rogers will fill in the starting spots at linebacker. Rogers tallied 27 tackles and a sack, Fry 22.5 stops and Jones 6.5 a year ago. In the defensive backfield seniors Carter Franzen and Jordan Barrett will be

at cornerback and Rhodes and sophomore Cael Franzen at safety. Kruschwitz will handle all the kicking duties. He set a Nevada record by averaging 44.4 yards per punt last season and he also made 9 of 10 extra points and a 39-yard field goal. “We have a solid nucleus of players coming back,” Kleeman said. “Our biggest area of growth will be to develop more physicality in our football team. We have the talent to be a good football team, but we have to

learn how to be more physical and respond to adversity when it occurs.” The 2019 schedule presents Nevada with a lot of challenges. Kleeman expects 2A District 7 to be very strong once again. “Our district was one of the deepest in Class 2A last season,” Kleeman said. “Every team had strong senior classes and were talented and well-coached. I believe the district will be similar this season. I’m not sure there’s any clear front runner at this time. We

know we have to bring our best every Friday night in order to win.” In district play Nevada will host Benton Community Oct. 4, Union Oct. 18 and Roland-Story Oct. 25. They travel to VintonShellsburg Sept. 27 and West Marshall Oct. 11. In non-district competition the Cubs will play home games against Greene County on Sept. 6 and South Tama Sept. 20. They travel to North Polk for their opener Aug. 30 and to Perry Sept. 13.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Thursday, August 29

Royals to contend for winning record in 2019 C-N will have quality starters on both sides By Joe Randleman Staff Writer

battle-tested roster should help ColoNESCO become a more competitive football team in 2019. After going 20-10 from 2014-17 the Royals slipped to a 1-9 record a year ago, placing seventh in 8-man District 5 with a 1-6 district mark. But they bring back several bodies that played varsity a year ago and will look for several younger players to turn the corner. “We are returning a lot of starters and letterwinners,” Colo-NESCO head coach Josh Nessa said. “We will have some experience and a lot of younger players that struggled at times last year look a lot more experienced and have gained essential skills and football smarts. This is a great group of kids and they a lot of fun to coach.” Colo-NESCO will run out of a double-tight end formation. The Royals will look to pound their opposition on the ground and mix in some play-action passing. Junior Brandon Roberts is back at quarterback. Roberts completed 30 of 70 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 192 yards and four scores last season. On the offensive line Colo-NESCO will have senior Jackson Shaw and juniors Kaleb Ruffcorn and Tanner Ingle. Junior Parker Ryan, sophomore Andrew Tschantz and junior Trevor Burg will be at the end positions. In 2018 Ryan made a 38-yard touchdown reception, Tschantz had one catch

for eight yards and Burg made one grab for 11 yards. The Royals must replace leading rushers Kelly Gray (655 yards and nine touchdowns) off last year’s team. But senior fullback Francis Bower ran for 566 yards and six scores a year ago and sophomore tailback Andrew Grover picked up 240 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman. On defense Colo-NESCO will use a 4-2-2 against running teams and a 3-2-3 versus teams running out of the spread. Bower and Burg will be at linebacker, Grover could play either linebacker or defensive back and Ingle could see time either at defensive end or linebacker. Bower led Colo-NESCO in tackles a year ago with 78.5, Burg made 9.5 stops, Grover had 33 tackles and Ingle finished with 6.5 stops. Sophomore Kenny Cutler will man a defensive end spot and Ruffcorn and Shaw will fill the middle of the defensive line. Shaw made four tackles a year ago. Roberts and Tschantz will be in the defensive backfield for Colo-NESCO. Roberts was the team’s second-leading tackler last year with 57.5 and he added one interception. “I think our starters will be pretty tough — our young players will have to fill in some important positions and be ready as solid backups and on special teams,” Nessa said. “We don’t have a lot of depth on both sides of the ball. Staying healthy is essential for us this year. Injuries really hurt us last year,

Running back Andrew Grover (front), receiver Parker Ryan (left), quarterback Brandon Roberts (rear, center) and end Trevor Burg (right) will team with returning fullback Francis Bower (not pictured) to give the Colo-NESCO football team an experienced group of playmakers heading into 2019. PHOTO BY JOE RANDLEMAN/AMES TRIBUNE

but let our younger players gain a lot of experience and playing time they normally wouldn’t have gotten.” Colo-NESCO won’t have an easy road in 8-man District 5. “I think that AGWSR, Gladbrook-Reinbeck and Collins-Maxwell all look to be pretty tough, returning a lot of good players,” Nessa said. “If I had to pick one I would have to say AGWSR. They have a solid coaching staff with a lot of experience

and were solid last year with young players.” Colo-NESCO hosts AGWSR on Sept. 20, travel to Collins-Maxwell on Sept. 27 and host Gladbrook-Reinbeck on Oct. 25 to close out the season. The Royals’ other district games are at Twin Cedars on Sept. 13, at Meskwaki on Oct. 4, at home against Melcher-Dallas on Oct. 11 and at Baxter Oc.t 18. In non-district play ColoNESCO faces off against

HLV, Central City and Montezuma. “Looking back on last season some of the key games that really could have improved our record and possibly given us some momentum were the Baxter, Twin Cedars, and Melcher-Dallas games,” Nessa said. “They were close ones and had a few things gone differently, could have tipped in our favor.” In 2018 Colo-NESCO lost to Twin Cedars by one score

and Baxter and MelcherDallas by two scores. The Royals want to turn the tide in some of those close games to get a few more notches in the win column this fall. “Goals for the season include improvement of skills, character, mental toughness, and leadership,” Nessa said. “We will also work very hard to return to a winning season. We have a tough schedule so it will be challenging, but rewarding.”

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Thursday, August 29

Spartans eye district title C-M looks to build off strong 2018 finish By Joe Randleman Staff Writer

ollins-Maxwell hopes to keep moving in the right direction as it enters its third season of high school football in 2019. The Spartans not only didn’t win a game in their first season, they were completely overmatched every week — finishing the season with just 20 points in nine games. But last year with a year of 8-man ball under their belts and more experience they made remarkable strides. After an 0-5 start Collins-Maxwell won four of its final five games, including the last three in a row, to finish 4-6 and place third in 8-man District 5. “Starting from scratch two years ago, then being

where we are now, it’s a complete 180,” Collins-Maxwell head coach Cory Crnkovich said. “Camp went smoothly along with our first week of practice. It’s never been that smooth. Guys know now what we expect out of them everyday. It makes our jobs easier.” That has Collins-Maxwell thinking big in 2019. “Getting third last year was a great accomplishment for our program, but our guys are hungry to get better,” Crnkovich said. “The team wants to take the next step and win a district championship.” On offense Collins-Maxwell will run out of a spread formation. The Spartans bring back top playmaker Brett Livesay for his senior season at receiver and also have two talented options

at quarterback in junior Mason Markley and senior Kadin Bennett. Markley and Bennett will likely split time calling signals for the Spartans. In 2018 Livesay made 48 catches for 843 yards and 11 touchdowns. Markley completed 16 of 40 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for three touchdowns and Bennett threw for 1,184 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for 263 yards. Sophomore Wes Kahler will occupy the other receiver spot. He made one 70-yard touchdown reception as a freshman. Senior Simon McKinney will be at tight end. McKinney caught 10 passes for 80 yards and two scores a year ago. “I think our biggest strength is our skill positions,” Crnkovich said. “This year we have depth in that category. We can spread teams out a little bit more. We have guys who can make plays in the air

Veteran playmakers, from left, Brett Livesay, Simon McKinney, Kadin Bennett, Rylee Scott and Mason Murphy are back to help the Collins-Maxwell football team make a run at a winning record and even contend for a district title in 2019. The Spartans were 0-9 just two seasons ago. PHOTO BY JOE RANDLEMAN/AMES TRIBUNE

and get some yards after the catch.” Collins-Maxwell must replace leading rusher Caleb Fullerton, who ran for 841 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago. Junior A.J. Smith will attempt to fill Fullerton’s shoes. On the line Collins-Maxwell will have sophomore Kaiden Martin at center and junior Rylee Scott and sophomore Parker Lawrence at the guard spots. “Our offensive line will be young,” Crnkovich said. “Once they get some reps in a game they will mature. Our coaching staff has really pushed this group from day one to get them ready to go this fall.” On defense Crnkovich will run a 3-3. Scott, Martin and Lawrence will man the defensive line, with Scott and Lawrence and the ends and Martin at tackle. Scott made 47 tackles and a fumble recovery a year ago.

Sophomore Kayden McKinney will join Simon McKinney and Livesay at linebacker. In 2018 Livesay made 47 tackles and recorded an impressive seven interceptions. Simon McKinney had 68 tackles and two fumble recoveries and Kayden added 22 stops a year ago. The Spartans’ two defensive back spots will be manned by Kahler and Smith. Kahler had eight tackles and a fumble recovery and Smith tallied 13 stops in 2018. Bennett will also help out on defense after piling up 40 tackles a year ago. Livesay will handle both the punting and kicking duties. He averaged 31 yards on 37 punts and had eight touchbacks on 43 kickoffs last year. Livesay and Kahler will be the return men for Collins-Maxwell on special teams. Gladbrook-Reinbeck

will be the early favorite to win 8-man District 5 after going undefeated in the district last season. “Gladbrook-Reinbeck has had a lot of success the past couple years,” Crnkovich said. “Coach Olson is a great coach. He seems to always have his guys always locked in. They bring back some key guys and I think you can’t count out the return district champs.” AGWSR went 6-1 in the district last fall and Melcher-Dallas joined Collins-Maxwell in finishing 4-3. If the Spartans can stay healthy and maintain their focus in drive, they expect to be in the district title hunt. “We will have some tough games, but this team will be ready,” Crnkovich said. “We have to build off what we accomplished last year.” Collins-Maxwell’s first district game is Sept. 13 at AGWSR.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Thursday, August 29

Hawks hope defense keeps them soaring in 2019 South Hamilton made the playoffs in 2018 By Joe Randleman Staff Writer

outh Hamilton will rely on speed, athleticism and a tough defense to make another run at the Iowa high school football playoffs in 2019. The Hawks went 7-3 and placed second in Class 1A District 2 last season. They fell to eventual 1A state runner-up Dike-New Hartford in the opening round of the playoffs. South Hamilton lost several starters off that talented team. But head coach Corey Klemp is pleased with the progression his younger players have made over the offseason. “It’s exciting to watch the affects of the work these guys have put in since last season and to see how guys step in to new and/or expanded roles on the team,” Klemp said. “We’ve had a great offseason and start to the (pre-) season. Now our focus and growth is in the detail work.” On offense South Hamilton ran for 204.7 yards and averaged 21.3 points a

year ago. The Hawks only passed the ball 76 times in 2018. South Hamilton will have junior Freddie Lewis taking over for Cole Berg at quarterback this season. Juniors Trevor Thompson and Brock Galetich will be at halfback and senior Cade Flaugh at fullback. Thompson is the top returning rusher for the Hawks after picking up 489 yards and four touchdowns in 2018. Flaugh ran for 76 yards and one score a year ago. The Hawk offensive line will feature seniors Jeremiah Smith and Nathan Wilson at the guard positions and junior Colton Willis at one of the tackle spots. Senior Dawson Mueggenberg and junior Nolan Martenson will battle for time at the other tackle position and juniors Ethan Young and Dom Summers will compete at center. Seniors Brandyn Feighner and Cade Balvanz give South Hamilton experienced receivers at split end and tight end respectively. Feighner was the Hawks’ leading receiver a year ago

Returning letterwinners for the South Hamilton football team in 2019 are, from left, Front row — Nathan Wilson, Cade Flaugh, Jeremiah Smith, Brandyn Feighner, Sheldon Tapper and Cade Balvanz; back row, Lane Swenson, Trevor Thompson, Colton Willis, Kyler Hodnefield, Austin Busch, Freddie Lewis, Dominic Summers and Brock Galetich. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

with nine catches for 199 yards and two scores and Balvanz made four grabs for 51 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Defense was South Hamilton’s biggest strength last season. The Hawks gave up just 11.8 points per game and they bring back a lot of experience on that side of the ball. Balvanz and Wilson will be at defensive end, Willis and Smith at defensive tackle and Summers at nose guard in the Hawks’

five-man defensive front. In 2018 Summers made 37.5 tackles and recovered a fumble, Smith tallied 31 tackles and a fumble recovery and Wilson compiled 20.5 stops and four sacks. Thompson, Flaugh and junior Lane Swenson make up the Hawk linebacker crew. Thompson led the team in tackles a year ago with 50 and he also had two sacks. Flaugh picked up 20 tackles and a fumble recovery in 2018.

In the defensive backfield South Hamilton will have Feighner and Galetich at the two cornerback spots and junior Kyler Hodnefield at safety. Feighner delivered 36.5 tackles and an impressive five interceptions last season and Galetich recorded 24.5 stops and picked off three passes. “We have a great group of hard-working kids with (good) overall speed and athleticism,” Klemp said. “We have tremendous

leadership from the upperclassmen.” With a strong defensive core returning South Hamilton figures to be in the 1A District 2 title race. But defending district champion South Central Calhoun brings back a lot of talent off last year’s team that ended the regular season 9-0. “That will put them as the preseason favorite,” Klemp said. “Overall, the district is very competitive and balanced.” South Hamilton plays South Central Calhoun on Oct. 4 at Lake City. “The South Central Calhoun game will be a big one,” Klemp said. “However, with the RPI system, every game is vital.” The Hawks open the season with road games at South Hardin in Eldora this Friday and at Grundy Center on Sept. 6. They host Woodward-Granger for their home opener Sept. 13 in Jewell and Manson-Northwest Webster on Sept. 20 before staring district play at Madrid on Sept. 27. After the South Central Calhoun game the Hawks host Pocahontas Area, travel to Ogden and host Eagle Grove to close out the season.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Thursday, August 29