2019 Prep Football Preview

2019 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW

DESTINATION,

DOME

Cover

48 pages of football coverage DISTRICT PREVIEWS • Class 4A, District 3 • Class 3A, District 3 • Class 2A, District 3 • Class 2A, District 4 • Class 2A, District 7 • Class 1A, District 3 • Class 1A, District 6 • Class A, District 4

• Class A, District 6 • 8-player, District 2 • 8-player, District 3 • 8-player, District 5 TEAM PAGES • Cedar Falls • Waterloo West • Waterloo East • Waterloo Columbus

• Crestwood • North Fayette Valley • Oelwein • Union Community • Sumner-Fredericksburg • Aplington-Parkersburg • Denver • Dike-New Hartford • Jesup

• Osage • Don Bosco • Janesville • Tripoli • Dunkerton • Gladbrook-Reinbeck • AGWSR • Decorah • Waverly-Shell Rock

• Independence • Charles City • St. Ansgar • Nashua-Plainfield • Hudson • North Tama • Wapsie Valley • Grundy Center • East Buchanan

Hudson’s Eli Fox celebrates with the rest of the Hudson Pirates after winning the Class A state football championship last season in the UNI-Dome.

KELLY WENZEL, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

2 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

CLASS 4A FOOTBALL CLASS 4A, DISTRICT 3 PREVIEW

2018 standings‌

Cedar Falls C.R. Prairie Dub. Hempstead Dub. Senior C.R. Jefferson Wat. West

Aug. 30 – Ames at Cedar Falls (ND), Cedar Rapids Jefferson at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (ND), Cedar Rapids Washington at Cedar Rapids Prairie (ND), Davenport North at Dubuque Hempstead (ND), Dubuque Senior at LinnMar (ND), Waterloo East at Waterloo West (ND).

Dist. Overall W L W L 5 0 12 1 4 1 7 3 3 2 4 5 2 3 3 6 1 4 1 8 0 5 3 6

Sept. 5 – Dubuque Hempstead at Cedar Rapids Washington (ND).

2018 playoffs‌

Sept. 6 – Cedar Falls at Iowa City High (ND), Cedar Rapids Prairie at Pleasant Valley (ND), Davenport North at Dubuque Senior (ND), Muscatine at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (ND), Waterloo West at Mason City (ND).

First round Cedar Falls 48, Indianola 14 Johnston 28, C.R. Prairie 14 Quarterfinals Cedar Falls 40, Waukee 7 Semifinals Cedar Falls 26, SE Polk 12 Championship W.D.M. Dowling 22, Cedar Falls 16

Sept. 12 – Linn-Mar at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (ND),

Players to watch‌ CAEL LOECHER, Cedar Falls: Passed for a district-best 2,008 yards, completing 61.5 percent of 221 throws with 29 TDs and just three interceptions. Also averaged 40.3 yards per punt.

CARTER MASKE, Waterloo West: Completed 53.2 percent of 201 passes for 1,188 yards and 12 TDs with six interceptions.

ISAAC TOLBERT, Waterloo West: Ran for 667 yards and six TDs, averaging 7.8 yards per carry.

COLLIN BOHNENKAMP, Cedar Falls: A disruptive force a year ago with 14 tackles for loss and three sacks among 47 total tackles.

TARIQ AMIR, C.R. Prairie: Top returning rusher in the district after gaining 804 yards and averaging 9.6 yards per carry a year ago.

KENNY MOORE, C.R. Jefferson: Made 73 tackles last season with three TFLs EZEKI LEGGINS, C.R. Jefferson: Ran for 283 yards and four scores, but was an electric return man, as well, with an average of 36.9 yards on seven runbacks with a TD. CARTER KONRARDY, Dubuque Senior: Top returning tackler in the district last season with 100.5, including 4.5 for a loss with one sack.

JACE ANDEREGG, C.R. Prairie: Ran for 290 yards (8.8 per carry) and caught nine passes for 143 yards last season in limited opportunities.

TOM CASEY, Dubuque Senior: Passed for 989 yards and nine TDs last season.

JOHNNY JOENS, C.R. Prairie: Caught just nine passes a year ago, but turned them into 254 yards (28.2 per catch) and two TDs. JACOB THOMPSON, C.R. Jefferson: Had 50.5 tackles with 11 TFLs and three sacks a year ago.

2019 schedule‌

BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Waterloo West’s Isaac Tolbert finds some running room during last season’s game against second-ranked Cedar Falls.

Questions everywhere Top teams reloading, while others are on the rise DOUG NEWHOFF

doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com‌

‌ year ago, some things were a given A in Class 4A’s District 3.

With a handful of Division I recruits leading the way, it was no surprise that Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids Prairie were the top teams in the district. Dubuque Hempstead and Dubuque Senior were good enough to be dangerous. With a first-year head coach and a wealth of underclassmen on the field, Cedar Rapids Jefferson was a program in transition.

If there was a surprise, it was the 0-5 district record Waterloo West posted after starting the season 3-1.

There figure to be plenty of surprises during a 2019 season that begins with a long list of questions.

Can Cedar Falls win another district title and make another deep playoff run after losing first-team all-staters Jack Campbell (Iowa), Logan Wolf (UNI), Jackson Leistikow (UNI) and

Matthew Cook (UNI) and third-team all-state runningback Sam Gary (UNI), as well as a dozen other regular contributors?

Who fills the shifty shoes of 2,025yard rusher Keegan Simmons at Prairie?

Will Hempstead make a move up after sending a number of sophomores into the varsity fray last season?

Where does Senior fit in with a deep group of skill position players returning on offense?

What happens at Jefferson where Chris Buesing brings back 17 total players with starting experience?

What’s in store for Waterloo West, which also has some explosive playmakers returning as part of a solid nucleus of veterans?

The cupboard is never bare at Cedar Falls, which went 12-0 before falling 22-16 to West Des Moines Dowling in Please see 4A-3, Page 5

Sept. 13 – Ankeny at Cedar Falls (ND), Cedar Rapids Prairie at Waukee (ND), Cedar Rapids Washington at Dubuque Senior (ND), Dubuque Hempstead at Bettendorf (ND), Waterloo West at Ankeny Centennial (ND).

Sept. 20 – Cedar Falls at Bettendorf (ND), Cedar Rapids Jefferson at Cedar Rapids Washington (ND), Cedar Rapids Kennedy at Cedar Rapids Prairie (ND), Des Moines Hoover at Waterloo West (ND), Dubuque Senior at Iowa City West (ND), Iowa City High at Dubuque Hempstead (ND).

Sept. 27 – Cedar Rapids Jefferson at Waterloo West, Cedar Rapids Prairie at Dubuque Senior, Dubuque Hempstead at Cedar Falls.

Oct. 3 – Cedar Falls at Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Oct. 4 – Dubuque Hempstead at Cedar Rapids Prairie, Waterloo West at Dubuque Senior.

Oct. 11 – Cedar Rapids Jefferson at Cedar Rapids Prairie, Dubuque Senior at Dubuque Hempstead, Waterloo West at Cedar Falls.

Oct. 18 – Cedar Falls at Dubuque Senior, Cedar Rapids Prairie at Waterloo West, Dubuque Hempstead at Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Oct. 25 – Cedar Rapids Prairie at Cedar Falls, Dubuque Senior at Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Waterloo West at Dubuque Hempstead.

CLASS 4A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 3

CEDAR FALLS TIGERS Returning letterwinners‌

Schedule‌

Player Quarterback Cael Loecher Running backs Bo Grosse Austin Cross Receivers Ben Sernett Bryce Albaugh Landon Wolf Tight end Jacob Remmert Offensive linemen Sawyer Jacobson Xavier Faucon Logan Saak Drew Hoth Defensive linemen Collin Bohnenkamp Trevor Fisher Trey Weimer Keyshawn Mosley Logan Clements Jakob Weichers Aaron Niemann Linebackers Caiden Barnett Eli Mickey Jaeger Borcherding Ryan Dunlop Defensive backs Alex Paxson Jibreel Bailey Caleg Keagle Connor Brown

August 30 Ames, 7:15 p.m.

September 6 at Iowa City High, 7:15 p.m.

13 Ankeny, 7:15 p.m.

20 at Bettendorf, 7:15 p.m.

27 Dubuque Hempstead, 7:15 p.m.

October 3 at C.R. Jefferson, 7:15 p.m.

11 Waterloo West, 7:15 p.m.

18 at Dubuque Senior, 7:15 p.m.

25 C.R. Prairie, 7:15 p.m.

Ht. Wt. Year 6-5 185 Sr. 5-9 182 Sr. 5-10 150 Sr. 6-1 166 Sr. 5-10 167 Sr. 6-3 160 Jr. 6-5 196 Sr. 6-1 6-0 6-4 6-3

268 Sr. 245 Sr. 281 Jr. 240 Jr.

6-0 5-10 5-11 6-0 6-3 5-10 6-2

215 Sr. 160 Sr. 220 Sr. 248 Sr. 203 Sr. 213 Sr. 263 Sr.

5-10 6-0 5-10 5-11

175 Sr. 175 Jr. 180 Sr. 190 Sr.

5-9 5-11 5-11 5-11

166 Sr. 150 Sr. 145 Sr. 160 Sr.

Players to watch‌ CAEL LOECHER, QB: Completed 136 of 221 passes for 2,008 yards and 29 touchdowns with just three interceptions last season. Also averaged 40.3 yards on 44 punts.

BO GROSSE, RB: Turned 91 carries into 394 yards (4.3 avg.) with five TDs a year ago.

BEN SERNETT, WR: In something of a secondary role behind all-state standout Logan Wolf, Sernett caught nine passes for 194 yards (21.6 avg.) and two TDs. COLLIN BOHNENKAMP, DL: Made a big impact on the defensive line last season with 47 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and four sacks.

ALEX PAXSON, DB: Picked off a teamhigh five passes, one for a touchdown, and made 34 tackles.

2018 results‌ BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Cedar Falls’ Cael Loecher tries to escape Southeast Polk’s Daniel Hackbarth during last season’s state football semifinals in the UNI-Dome. Loecher is back to lead the Tigers’ offense again this season.

It’s next man in at Cedar Falls Tigers reloading after memorable 2018 run to state finals DOUG NEWHOFF

doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com‌

‌CEDAR FALLS — The 2018 season will go down as one of the most memorable in the history of Cedar Falls High football.

It featured star players, exceptional leadership and big wins that carried the Tigers all the way to the Class 4A state championship game.

This year’s Tigers are quick to point out that 2018 is history. It’s time for new stars to emerge, new leaders to take over and a new team to make its mark through the regular season and beyond.

“It’s our chance this year to show what 2019 football is about here,” said senior quarterback Cael Loecher. “Last year was a great year, but it means nothing now for us. Now we need to buy in again as one unit and take over as a team.”

Defensive lineman Collin Bohnenkamp laughed when asked how this year’s Tigers can reach the level of success last year’s team achieved.

“They said that about us last year,” he noted. “They said we wouldn’t make the playoffs, and we ended up playing for the state championship. Everyone is losing their top athletes, and we have a couple of juniors now who I think are going to be star athletes. “(Last year) just builds up motivation because we hadn’t been in the championship since I think 2008 and we hadn’t won it since I believe 1986. We want to be that team that finally makes it.

“Last year, that’s over with. We’ve got to take what we learned from it and apply it this year, but you can’t dwell on it. We’ve just got to keep going game by game and get better every single day and every week.”

Bohnenkamp (47 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, four sacks) and Loecher (136-221-3, Please see CEDAR FALLS, Page 5

Regular season (9-0) Aug. 24 Cedar Falls 31, Ames 0 Aug. 31 Cedar Falls 47, I.C. High 0 Sept. 7 Cedar Falls 28, Ankeny 7 Sept. 14 Cedar Falls 29, Bettendorf 23 Sept. 21 Cedar Falls 39, Dub. Hempstead 0 Sept. 28 Cedar Flls 38, C.R. Jefferson 7 Oct. 5 Cedar Falls 55, Waterloo West 0 Oct. 12 Cedar Falls 41, Dubuque Senior 0 Oct. 19 Cedar Falls 28, C.R. Prairie 14 Postseason (3-1) First round Cedar Falls 48, Indianola 14 Quarterfinals Cedar Falls 40, Waukee 7 Semifinals Cedar Falls 26, SE Polk 12 Championship W.D.M. Dowling 22,

Cedar Falls 16

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 29 Most recent playoff appearance: 2018 Top finishes: The Tigers were state champs in 1986 and have finished as the state runner-up five times — 1982, 1999, 2005, 2008 and 2018.

Key matchup‌ Cedar Falls at Bettendorf Sept. 20, Bettendorf Cedar Falls head coach Brad Remmert said the Tigers’ 29-23 win over perennial Class 4A powerhouse Bettendorf last season in the UNI-Dome was a catalyst for CF’s run to the state championship game. This year’s matchup will provide a similar measuring stick.

CLASS 4A FOOTBALL

4 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

WATERLOO WEST WAHAWKS Returning letterwinners‌

Schedule‌

Player Quarterback Carter Maske Running backs Isaac Tolbert Offensive linemen Nate Bauler Javarious Burris Adam Teare Jon Wion Receivers Mondre Lagow Kyler Lyons Renajid Kajtezovic Mason Tomlinson Tight end Clayton Rottinghaus Defensive line Micheal Robinson Jr. Adis Sabic Armin Kuljuhovic Linebackers Nate Ewell Dylan Heiselman Mitch Kayser Defensive backs Isaac Tolbert Mondre Lagow Kaiden Peverill Placekicker Renajid Kajtezovic Punter Armin Kuljuhovic

August

Ht. Wt. Year

30 Waterloo East, 7:15 p.m.

5-11 160 Sr.

September 5-7

155 Sr.

6-3 6-2 6-2 5-8

220 Sr. 235 Sr. 230 Jr. 180 Sr.

5-10 6-3 5-9 5-11

160 Sr. 185 Sr. 170 Sr. 185 Sr.

6-0

185

6 at Mason City, 7 p.m.

13 at Ankeny Centennial, 7 p.m.

20 Des Moines Hooover, 7 p.m.

27 C.R. Jefferson, 7:15 p.m.

October 4 at Dubuque Senior, 7:15 p.m.

11 at Cedar Falls, 7:15 p.m.

18 C.R. Prairie, 7:15 p.m.

Jr.

25 at Dubuque Hempstead, 7:30 p.m.

2018 results‌

5-11 195 Jr. 6-0 210 Sr. 6-4 245 Sr.

Regular season (3-6) BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

5-11 200 Jr. 5-8 160 Sr. 5-10 170 Sr. 5-7 155 Sr. 5-10 160 Sr. 5-11 175 Sr. 5-9

170 Sr.

6-4 245 Sr.

Players to watch‌ CARTER MASKE, QB: Completed 197 of 201 passes as the starter a year ago for 1,188 yards and 12 touchdowns with six interceptions.

ISAAC TOLBERT, RB: Top returning rusher after gaining 667 yards (7.8 avg.) with six TDs last season.

MONDRE LAGOW, WR: Top returning receiver after turning 15 grabs into 143 yards as a junior.

MICHEAL ROBINSON JR., DL: As a sophomore starter on the defensive line, Robinson Jr. had 30.5 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 2018.

NATE EWELL, LB: Started a sophomore last season and is West’s top returning tackler after making 47 total stops with four tackles for loss and a sack.

Waterloo West’s Mondre Lagow tries to tackle Ankeny Centennial’s Tyler Cahill last season in Waterloo. Lagow is one of the Wahawks returning starters this season.

Wahawks seek a finishing touch West eager to bounce back after disappointing 2018 DOUG NEWHOFF

doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com‌

‌WATERLOO — During a recent visit to a Waterloo West football practice, a rinsed version of Drake’s rap song “Started From The Bottom” reverberated through the morning air.

It’s a tune the Wahawks can relate to after a promising start to their season a year ago went off the rails on the way to an 0-5 record in Class 4A’s District 3.

In at least three of those games, West simply didn’t finish.

“I’ll be honest, I think the competition level kind of ramped up a little bit for our guys,” said veteran head coach Lonnie Moore. “We were young and

we took the success a little too much to heart the first four games (a 3-1 record).

“Our five games in district, three of those games we were close and two of them we had the last drive with a chance to win, so that could have turned around easily, but it didn’t and that’s why we brought up ‘Wahawk Tough.’”

That’s the theme this year’s West team is embracing as it tries to get back in the postseason hunt.

“Those are situations where you have to be really tough mentally and physically to finish those games,” said Moore.

This year’s Wahawks return eight players who were starters on offense, six starters on defense and eight more seniors who saw action last season.

They still feel the sting from a year ago.

Please see WEST, Page 5

Aug. 24 West 34, Waterloo East 20 Aug. 31 West 34, Mason City 0 Sept. 7 Ankeny Centennal 49, West 7 Sept. 14 West 60, Des Moines Hoover 28 Sept. 20 C.R. Jefferson 21, West 19 Sept. 28 Dubuque Senior 27, West 20 Oct. 5

Cedar Falls 55, West 0

Oct. 12 C.R. Prairie 70, West 14 Oct. 19 Dubuque Hempstead 28,

West 14

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 8 Most recent playoff appearance: 2016 Top finishes: State runner-up in 1975 and 1984

Key matchup‌ West at Cedar Falls Oct. 11, UNI-Dome The Wahawks could be a 5-1 team by the time this game rolls around, making it a key matchup in the district. Even if it’s not a game with playoff implications, it’s a metro rivalry.

CLASS 4A FOOTBALL

4A-3 From Page 2

the state title game.

Cael Loecher is back at quarterback after passing for 2,008 yards and 29 TDs. Bo Grosse returns in the backfield after rushing for 394 yards and five TDs in a supporting role.

Ben Sernett is back at receiver after averaging 21.6 yards per catch. And one area head coach Brad Remmert expects to be a strength is the defensive line where Collin Bohnenkamp, Treyton Weimer and Logan Clements are proven veterans.

“The great thing I liked about our kids this summer was their attitude in the weight room,” said Remmert.

“You always worry about leadership and who’s going to replace those guys you had last year, many of them for three years on the varsity. We had guys do great things in the weight room this summer.”

It’ll be up to those returning players to take ownership of this year’s team. They couldn’t have asked for a better example than the one last year’s seniors provided.

“Their work ethic and what they did to get us on that run ... they put in the work every single week,” noted Remmert.

“They didn’t talk about winning the district championship from day one and that.

West From Page 4

“Oh, man, it was very disappointing, especially for the seniors who left,” said running back Isaac Tolbert, who led West in rushing last season with 667 yards, six touchdowns and a 7.8 yardsper-carry average.

“We thought we were going to be a really good group. I don’t know exactly where it went wrong, but we definitely want to build off that and change that around a little bit ... just

They said, ‘Hey, let’s go out and get a win against Ames and then move on to the next one.’”

That championship run should serve this year’s Tigers well, too.

“Just learning what it takes to get there,” said Remmert. “It sounds like an easy thing, but it’s not. A lot of things have to go right for you and you’ve got to keep grinding and grinding and grinding and working.

“Hopefully, they know we’re back to square one. Hopefully, they understand we can’t worry about week seven or week nine. We’ve just got to worry about right now and getting better.”

Waterloo West has plenty of top end talent, but not much depth. Head coach Lonnie Moore expects a lot from seniors like quarterback Carter Maske, runningback Isaac Tolbert, receivers Mondre Lagow and Kyler Lyons, offensive linemen Nate Bauler and Javarious Burris and defensive linemen Adis Sabic and Armin Kuljuhovic.

“We’ve got some guys back who played last year and got a lot of minutes,” said Moore.

“We only had 13 seniors last year, which means a lot of young guys played.”

Prairie’s group of returning starters includes three offensive linemen and playmakers behind them in Tariq

Amir (804 rushing yards, 9.6 avg.), Jace Anderegg (33-290 rushing, 9-143 receiving).

The quarterback will be new, as will the placekicker and punter, but there are five veterans back from a defense that lost its top four tacklers.

Hempstead has quarterback Aidan Dunne returning after he started as a sophomore. Among the runningbacks, there are five who had double-digit carries a year ago, but no pass receptions return. Five veterans are back on defense.

Senior scored just 116 points last season but returns seven of its offensive regulars, including quarterback Tom Casey and three backs who logged at least 46 carries each. The top two receivers are gone, as are the placekicker and punter, while the defense returns four regulars.

Carter Konrardy is the leader there (100.5 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, one sack).

One of Jefferson’s challenges will also be getting the ball into the end zone. The J-Hawks scored just 119 points a year ago, but have 13 players back with starting experience on both sides of the ball. Kenny Moore (73 tackles), Jacob Thompson (50.5 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, three sacks) and Gabe Coyle (50.5 tackles, 5.5 TFLs) are back to lead the defense.

be more mentally tough.

“Last year we weren’t as hard in the games or as hard in practice as we should have been.”

Tolbert will be one of the Wahawks’ key playmakers again this season.

“He packs a lot of punch for his size (5-7, 155),” said Moore.

“He’s fast and physical and he’s not going to shy away from contact.”

Junior Jeron Shaw is also expected to get plenty of carries in the backfield and give Tolbert a break from a heavy workload as a two-way starter.

West also returns quarter-

back Carter Maske, who completed 107 of 201 passes (53.2 percent) for 1,188 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago with six interceptions.

“It’s his time now,” said Moore. “It’s his time to lead this team. He’s trying to figure some things out ... read coverages better, understand what we want. He’s correcting me now if I make a mistake on a play call.

You can tell now he’s got some experience in that pocket.”

Lagow is another player who could have a breakout season.

He’s the Wahawks’ top returning receiver after making 15

Cedar Falls

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 5

2,008 yards, 29 TDs) are two of the players Cedar Falls will count on for production and leadership.

Other returning starters include runningback Bo Grosse, receiver Ben Sernett, tight end Jacob Remmert, along with Alex Paxson, Treyton Weimer and Jakob Weichers. In all, the Tigers have 26 letterwinners back.

“We’ve got a couple of good backs in there who can play and a couple of good receivers,” noted Tiger head coach Brad Remmert. “The biggest thing we have to do on offense is build those front five on our offensive line. We lost guys like Jackson Leistikow and Justin Campbell who were three-year starters for us and Ben Saak who started for two years. We lost a lot of experience up front.

“We graduated our linebacker corps. All three of those guys were phenomenal. Barnett and Eli Mickey have a chance to step up and show what they can do. Our defensive backfield lost a couple of players, also, so we’ve got kids competing for jobs there.”

Remmert said Loecher took a giant step as the starting quarterback a year ago.

“He had a great year last year as a junior, and he was so much

better at the end of the year than he was at the beginning. He just matured so much along the way and kind of took command of things.

“What we’ve seen from him in preseason camp is the ability now to change plays and get us into a better play based on what the defense is doing.

He’s been able to do that for the most part and that’s a big growth area. We expect him to not only be a great leader, but to really help on the field in those situations.”

For all the touchdowns and tackles the departed seniors provided a year ago, they left something behind that could prove far more valuable.

“They showed us what it takes to be great,” said Loecher.

“Things like showing up early for lifting, doing everything right, showing us the little things and showing us the ropes ... taking us in from day one and showing us what leadership is.”

The challenge for this year’s Tigers is clear.

“It’s not having a flashback from last year and just thinking you are going to come out and win,” said Loecher. “We’ve got to be mentally prepared for games. That might be getting behind in a game and being able to come back, things like that.

“We want people to think we aren’t going to be any good so when we come out week one, we’re flying.”

catches for 145 yards a year ago while also playing both ways.

“He’s a four-sport athlete, one of those kids I love,” said Moore. “You’ve got to have those kids out for your team because those are kids who are going to help your team. They’re kids who understanding coaching and everything, and they’re going to work hard.”

West also returns offensive line starters Nate Bauler, Javarious Burris and Adam Teare, along with tight end Clayton Rottinghaus.

Defensively, Micheal Robinson Jr., Adis Sabic and Armin

Kuljuhovic are back on the line, Nate Ewell returns at linebacker and Lagow and Tolbert were starters last year in the secondary.

Mitch Kayser, a backup at linebacker last season, said the Wahawks may not be many with around 45 players in camp, but they are united.

“We’ve created a brotherhood,” he said. “Everyone’s got each other’s back. We’ve been working extra hard this summer to be conditioned so no matter what we can step up and play all four quarters when we have to.”

From Page 3

6 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

CLASS 3A FOOTBALL CLASS 3A, DISTRICT 3 PREVIEW

It’s crowded at the top Decorah, Indee, W-SR, West Delaware all contenders NICK PETAROS

nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

Parity could be found ‌ throughout a Class 3A, District 3 race last season that nearly ended with a three-way tie for the title.

Decorah ultimately made the final statement by defending its home field with a 45-8 victory over Independence that denied the Mustangs a chance to finished atop the district standings for the first time in five years.

Waverly-Shell Rock’s lone district loss was a 30-14 home setback to the Vikings within the Go-Hawks’ run to the playoffs. West Delaware’s tradition-rich program experienced an off year with consecutive losses to Independence, W-SR and Decorah.

The Hawks return 11 starters, including running back Cael Meyer, who averaged 7.7 yards per carry, for what could be an improved team, potentially adding to the district’s horse race.

“We are optimistic about the 2019 season,” West Delaware coach Doug Winkowitsch noted. “We are coming off a disappointing year in which we battled several key injuries. We will have a talented team this fall in key positions. … In a district where we have so many quality teams, you must be ready each week and sustain it for four quarters.”

Independence coach Justin Putz wouldn’t be surprised to see multiple teams in the title hunt this fall.

“Should be a great district race,” Putz noted. “I think Decorah, Waverly-Shell Rock, West Delaware and Indee are the favorites of the district. Many of those matchups could go either way and it wouldn’t surprise

2018 standings

Sept. 20 – Center Point-Urbana at Independence (ND), Charles

Dist. Overall City at Oelwein (ND), Decorah at

W L W L Crestwood (ND), Waterloo East at Decorah 5 0 8 3 Newton (ND), Waverly-Shell Rock at New Hampton (ND), West DelaWaverly-SR 4 1 8 2 ware at Cedar Rapids Xavier (ND).

Independence 3 2 6 3 Sept. 27 – Independence at West Delaware 2 3 5 4 West Delaware, Waterloo East at Charles City 1 4 4 5 Charles City, Waverly-Shell Rock East 0 5 0 9 at Decorah.

Oct. 4 – Charles City at Decorah, Independence at Waterloo East, First round West Delaware at Waverly-Shell North Scott 39, Rock.

Waverly-Shell Rock 9 Oct. 11 – Charles City at IndeDecorah 17, Clear Creek-Amana 6 pendence, Decorah at West Quarterfinals Delaware, Waverly-Shell Rock at Cedar Rapids Xavier 42, Decorah 6 Waterloo East.

Oct. 18 – Independence at Waverly-Shell Rock, Waterloo East at Decorah, West Delaware at Aug. 30 – Crestwood at Charles Charles City.

City (ND), Decorah at Waukon (ND), Oelwein at Independence Oct. 25 – Decorah at Indepen(ND), Waterloo East at Waterloo dence, Waverly-Shell Rock at West (ND), Waverly-Shell Rock at Charles City, West Delaware at North Fayette Valley (ND), West Waterloo East Delaware at Dubuque Wahlert (ND).

Sept. 6 – Cedar Rapids Xavier LOGAN SCHMITT, Indepenat Decorah (ND), Charles City at dence: Perhaps the district’s top New Hampton (ND), Clear Lake returning playmaker, Schmitt at Waverly-Shell Rock (ND), Independence at South Tama (ND), passed for 1,414 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 902 Iowa City Liberty at Waterloo and 13 scores last season. He East (ND), Marion at West Delaalso tallied four interceptions at ware (ND). safety.

Sept. 13 – Crestwood at Waverly-Shell Rock (ND), Independence SETH SHINDELAR, Decorah: The all-district linebacker is at Maquoketa (ND), Mount among the team’s senior leaders Vernon at West Delaware (ND), Union Community at Charles City and will be called upon to take on the responsibility of carrying the (ND), Webster City at Waterloo football from the running back East (ND), Western Dubuque at Decorah (ND). position.

2018 playoffs‌

2019 schedule‌

Players to watch‌

BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Waverly-Shell Rock’s Ian Heise tackles Decorah’s Kailer McCabe last season in Waverly. Both teams earned playoff berths from Class 3A, District 3. me to have a district champion that was not undefeated in the district.”

Charles City and Waterloo East’s coaches realize it will

be challenging to find growth within their district. They each pointed toward stronger finishes in the second half as keys to success.

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CLASS 3A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 7

WATERLOO EAST TROJANS Returning letterwinners‌

Schedule‌

Player Ht. Wt. Year Quarterback Dylan Reyes 6-2 200 Sr. Running backs Ahkil Muhammad 5-9 160 Sr. Chase Niles 5-8 160 Jr. Offensive linemen Jacob Hanley 5-11 200 Sr. Lakey Martin 5-9 240 Sr. Sage Cunningham 5-8 200 Sr. Javontez Jefferson-Sisk 5-9 240 Sr. Christian Zearing 5-10 170 Sr. Aterryon Williams 5-10 250 Sr. Christian Thompson 5-7 190 Jr. Wide receiver Ahkil Muhammad 5-9 160 Sr. Tyrell Newman 5-11 165 Sr. Aidan Ernst 5-9 166 Sr. Brenden Stigler 6-0 135 Jr. Ra’Mir Scott 5-10 165 Jr. Tadarius Sykes 5-10 159 Sr. Defensive linemen Lakey Martin 5-9 240 Sr. Javontez Jefferson-Sisk 5-9 240 Sr. Christian Thompson 5-7 190 Jr. Linebackers Jacob Hanley 5-11 200 Sr. Christian Zearing 5-10 170 Sr. Defensive backs Ahkil Muhammad 5-9 160 Sr. Dylan Reyes 6-2 200 Sr. Aidan Ernst 5-9 166 Sr. Chase Niles 5-8 160 Jr. Ra’Mir Scott 5-10 165 Jr. Tadarius Sykes 5-10 159 Sr.

August 30

September

DYLAN REYES: Entering his third year as East’s starting quarterback, Reyes is coming off a season in which he passed for 1,716 yards and 10 touchdowns. Reyes also rushed for nine touchdowns last season.

Iowa City Liberty, 7:15 p.m.

13

Webster City, 7:15 p.m.

20

at Newton, 7:30 p.m.

27

at Charles City, 7:15 p.m.

4

Independence, 7:15 p.m.

11

Waverly-Shell Rock, 7:15 p.m.

18

at Decorah, 7:30 p.m.

25

West Delaware, 7:15 p.m.

2018 results‌ JUSTIN A. TORNER PHOTO‌

Waterloo East’s Dylan Reyes (5) is chased down by Iowa City Liberty’s Carter Fedeler (12) during last season’s meeting in North Liberty.

Things looking up for Trojans East has numbers, talent and experience in camp nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

TYRELL NEWMAN: East’s receiver finished with 38 receptions, 591 yards and two touchdowns during his junior season. He returns as a leader within the Trojans’ receiving corps.

6

October

NICK PETAROS

Players to watch‌

at Waterloo West, 7:15 p.m.

‌WATERLOO — A new season has provided optimism for a Waterloo East football program that is looking to chart a different path.

While Trojans have lost their last 15 games, one of head coach Xavier Leonard’s largest rosters could take a step forward. There’s 35 to 40 players on the current varsity roster with 70 total participants in the initial week of practice.

Leonard and his staff have worked to enhance the experience within a group of athletes searching for growth. They had a lock-in at the school prior to attending a team camp that has led into fall

workouts.

“I think the kids, they want to come out for football,” Leonard said. “As a coaching staff we’re making it more enjoyable for the kids. We’re concentrating on the little things. The weight program, they’re having fun with that.”

Enhanced conditioning is among the major takeaways from a 2018 season in which the Trojans were often unable to build on strong starts.

“What they learned last year is they’ve got to be able to finish games,” Leonard said. “The first quarter, second quarter is not enough. You’ve got to play hard in the third and fourth. They’re learning that this is a process. It’s not instant.”

Among East’s senior leaders are defensive back/receiver Akhil MuhamPlease see EAST, Page 12

Regular season (0-9) Aug. 24 Wat. West 34, Wat. East 20 Aug. 31 Liberty 18, Wat. East 6 Sept. 7 Webster City 45, Wat. East 36 Sept. 14 Newton 55, Wat. East 33 Sept. 21 Charles City 61, Wat. East 34 Sept. 28 Independence 52, Wat. East 12 Oct. 5 Waverly-S.R. 38, Wat. East 14 Oct. 12 Decorah 48, Wat. East 0 Oct. 19 W. Delaware 53, Wat. East 19

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 9 Most recent playoff appearance: 2012 Top finishes: The Trojans haven’t been as far as the quarterfinals since their glory days in the early 1970s.

Key matchup‌ Waterloo East vs. Waterloo West Sept. 30, Memorial Stadium East hasn’t defeated its crosstown rival since a 27-21 victory during the Trojans’ most recent playoff season in 2012. This opener will provide East an opportunity to show how much progress has been made since last season. Each team returns its starting quarterback from last year’s game. West’s Carter Maske threw for 192 yards and a touchdown and rushed for two more scores. East’s Dylan Reyes ran for two touchdowns, but was picked off twice.

CLASS 3A FOOTBALL

8 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

WAVERLY-SHELL ROCK GO-HAWKS Returning letterwinners‌

Schedule‌

Player

August

Ht. Wt. Year

Offensive linemen

30 230 Sr.

at North Fayette, 7:30 p.m.

Jeremy Chaplin

6-2

Caleb Siech

6-4 260 Sr.

6

Clear Lake, 7:30 p.m.

Jentry Staack

5-7

195 Sr.

13

Crestwood, 7:30 p.m.

Cole Kramer

6-0

170 Sr.

20

at New Hampton, 7:30 p.m.

27

at Decorah, 7:30 p.m.

5-8

150

6-2

180 Sr.

Cole Kramer

6-0

170 Sr.

Jeremy Chaplin

6-2

230 Sr.

Brayden Wolf

6-1

180 Sr.

Cael White

6-1

185 Sr.

Payton Leonard

5-11 170 Sr.

September

Wide receiver Jonathan Wessel

Jr.

October

Tight end Tyler McNally Defensive linemen

6-2

180 Sr.

Chase Carpenter

6-0 200

Jr.

Punter Cody Langreck

6-0 180 Sr.

Players to watch‌ ETHAN FLEGE: After starting one game and playing half of another as a back-up, Flege will be running the Go-Hawk offense his senior season.

TYLER MCNALLY: The split end will help break in Flege at quarterback as he returns with 368 receiving yards and four touchdowns. McNally also recorded 31.5 tackles and played a role in four sacks in 2018.

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 23 (9 consecutive) Most recent playoff appearance: 2018 Top finishes: Won the 3A state title in 1990 and 1992.

West Delaware, 7:30 p.m.

11

at Waterloo East, 7:30 p.m.

18

Independence, 7:30 p.m.

25

at Charles City, 7:30 p.m.

2018 results‌

Linebackers

Tyler McNally

4

Regular season (8-1) BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Aug. 23 W-SR 35, North Fayette Valley 21

Waverly-Shell Rock linebacker Chase Carpenter celebrates a 2018 sack against Decorah.

The Go-Hawks return their front seven on defense from last year’s 8-2 team.

Aug. 30 W-SR 35, Clear Lake 7

Veteran Go-Hawks want more this year

Sept. 7

Early playoff exit left W-SR with empty feeling a year ago NICK PETAROS

nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

WAVERLY — Playoff appearances ‌ have become the expectation for a Waverly-Shell Rock football program that has reached postseason play the past nine years.

The Go-Hawks’ most recent playoff trip was the product of a strong record against quality opponents, as the state’s new RPI system allowed W-SR to reach the 2019 field alongside district champion Decorah. The absence of a district title, however, meant a lengthy bus trip to Eldridge where W-SR’s season came to an 8-2 end after a 39-9 first-round exit.

“I think it would have been nice to

have that game at home,” W-SR coach Mark Hubbard said. “Our players understand that if you want to play at home in the playoffs then you’ve got to win the district.”

Hubbard enters his 13th season at W-SR with a 78-45 record at the school and a rock solid foundation at the line of scrimmage. Starters Jeremy Chaplin, Caleb Siech, Jentry Staack and Cole Kremer return to the offensive line.

Kramer, Chaplin and Brayden Wolf are back on the three-man defensive front.

“As much as any position on the field, the offensive line experience is huge,” Hubbard said. “It’s not just their experience on the field, but it’s that extra year or two that they gain in the weight room. The physicality of playing on the offensive line is directly related to what Please see WAVERLY-S.R., Page 12

W-SR 7, Crestwood 0

Sept. 14 W-SR 13, New Hampton 6 Sept. 21 Decorah 30, W-SR 14 Sept. 28 W-SR 30, West Delaware 24 Oct. 5

W-SR 38, Waterloo East 14

Oct. 12 W-SR 27, Independence 0 Oct. 19 W-SR 47, Charles City 0 Playoffs Oct. 26 North Scott 39, W-SR 9

Key matchup‌ Waverly-Shell Rock at Decorah Sept. 27, Decorah This district opener ended up deciding the title between the top two teams in Class 3A, District 3 last season. A 30-14 loss meant Waverly-Shell Rock had to open on the road in the playoffs instead of hosting its first round game. The GoHawks and Vikings both feature plenty of depth in what should become a physical game. Waverly-Shell Rock’s experienced line could set the tone for a successful season.

CLASS 3A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 9

INDEPENDENCE MUSTANGS Returning letterwinners‌ Player Ht.

Schedule‌

Wt.

August 30 Oelwein, 7:30 p.m.

September 6 at South Tama, 7:30 p.m.

13 at Maquoketa, 7:30 p.m.

20 Center Point-Urbana, 7:30 p.m.

27 at West Delaware, 7:30 p.m.

October 4 at Waterloo East, 7:30 p.m.

11 Charles City, 7:30 p.m.

18 at Waverly-Shell Rock, 7:30 p.m.

25 Decorah, 7:30 p.m.

Year

Quarterback Logan Schmitt

6-0 185 Sr.

Running back Kaine Millard

6-2 190 Sr.

Offensive linemen Christian Kremer 6-4 185 Sr. Landry Jones

6-0 205 Sr.

Parker Stoner

6-1 220 Sr.

2018 results‌

Wide receivers Brady Webb

5-9

155 Sr.

Blake Bartz 6-3 170 Sr. Brayden Holt

6-2

155 Sr.

Defensive linemen Christian Kremer 6-4 185 Sr. Parker Stoner

6-1 220 Sr.

Linebackers Cole Davis

6-1

175 Sr.

Kaine Millard 6-2 190 Sr.

KELLY WENZEL, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Independence’s Christian Kremer chases down Waverly-Shell Rock quarterback Luke Velky during a 2018 game.

Indee hungry for a title

Logan Schmitt 6-0 185 Sr.

Mustangs return talented, veteran group from 6-3 team

Brady Webb

NICK PETAROS

Defensive backs 5-9

155 Sr.

Players to watch‌ LOGAN SCHMITT: Perhaps the district’s top returning playmaker, Schmitt passed for 1,414 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 902 and 13 scores last season.

He also tallied four interceptions at safety.

COLE DAVIS: This returning first team all-district linebacker is a hard hitter coming off a season in which he recorded 88 tackles.

The state wrestling placewinner is a reliable leader within the Mustangs defense.

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 3 Most recent playoff appearance: 2015

nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

I‌ NDEPENDENCE — Compete and prepare at a playoff level.

That’s the mission for an Independence football team that returns several key leaders from a 6-3 season in which the Mustangs suffered a Week 9 loss at Decorah with a share of the district championship on the line. Players have been looking forward to this 2019 season since that long bus ride home.

The drive for postseason play has fueled this group of Mustangs.

“We’ve really hit the ground running,” Independence coach Justin Putz said, assessing his team’s initial workouts. “I’d say we have more in right now than any point in time last year. Guys are retaining the information, they’re learning.

“Something we preach is to raise that level to a playoff level. We want to get to playoffs, win a district and do stuff that hasn’t really been done here before. To do that they understand that we’ve got to raise the level, practice better, we’ve got to focus

DUNKERTON CO-OP ELEVATOR Tradition of Quality 509 W. Dunkerton St. 822-4291 • 1-800-627-3528 www.dunkertoncoop.com

Please see INDEPENDENCE, Page 12

Regular season (6-3) Aug. 24 Independence 51, Oelwein 14 Aug. 31 Independence 54, South Tama 0 Sept. 7 Independence 55, Maquoketa 19 Sept. 14 Ctr. Pt.-Urbana 34,

Independence 14 Sept. 21 Independence 31,

West Delaware 14 Sept. 28 Independence 52, Waterloo East 12 Oct. 5 Independence 38, Charles City 13 Oct. 12 Waverly-Shell Rock 27,

Independence 0 Oct. 19 Decorah 45, Independence 8

Key matchup‌ West Delaware at Independence Sept. 21, Independence These rivals join Decorah and Waverly-Shell Rock as contenders within a district with plenty of parity. Independence quarterback Logan Schmitt threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 150 yards and two scores during last year’s 31-14 victory at Manchester that placed the Mustangs in position to win the district entering key tests against Waverly-Shell Rock and Decorah the final two weeks.

Best Wishes For A GreAt seAson!

Go KniGhts!

CLASS 3A FOOTBALL

10 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

CHARLES CITY COMETS

Returning letterwinners‌ Player

Ht. Wt. Year

Quarterback Marcus Cranshaw 5-8 185 Sr. Running backs

Perseverence a key

Schedule‌ August 30

Crestwood, 7:30 p.m.

September

Comets skilled, but low on numbers this season

6

at New Hampton, 7:30 p.m.

13 Union, 7:30 p.m.

Jeremiah Chapman 6-1 175 Jr.

NICK PETAROS

20

at Oelwein, 7:30 p.m.

nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

Trever Heitz

‌ HARLES CITY — Charles City got out of C the blocks strong last season. This fall, a small Comets roster facing an uphill battle due to low numbers will be working to find a finishing touch.

Coach Darren Bohlen will be working with only six seniors, one a first-time participant, and relying on several sophomores to make an impact within a Class 3A program that has 46 football players in grades nine through 12.

“Our confidence is up and we do have some experience coming back that we can rely on,” Bohlen said. “Hopefully they can help us get over the hump a little bit.”

Charles City opened last season with wins in four of its first five games — the lone setback by a single point to playoff qualifier Crestwood. The Comets, however, dropped their final four contests, including a high-scoring, 49-38 setback to eventual district champion Decorah.

“We just have to finish games,” Bohlen said.

“We are very low on numbers and that’s going to be a factor for us. We can compete with anyone.

“Last year in the second half we got tired.

Other teams have more kids than us and they can substitute a little bit more than us. They took advantage of that and wore us down.

We’ve got to be able to pick each other up when we do get tired and finish the game.”

The Comets do have experience at key positions. Most notably, the return of junior Trever Heitz will provide leadership at running back.

Heitz is poised to build upon a 1,000-yard, eight touchdown campaign.

“He’s definitely the leader of our team,” Bohlen said. “He’s just super excited about playing football and he is very goal-oriented.

He’s getting guys to follow him and do the same things.

“Trever is going to be very determined to get to that 1,000-yard mark again and then some.

He’s a great kid to have on our team because he picks everyone up.”

At quarterback, Marcus Cranshaw enters his senior season as a returning starter.

“Marcus is doing great — different attitude this year,” Bohlen said. “He’s more upbeat, more confident in himself, making the proper reads in our flexbone offense. He’s a bonus to

27

Waterloo East, 7:30 p.m.

5-10 205 Jr.

Mitz Concepcion 5-8 170 Sr. Offensive lineman Mikiahi Webber

6-0 250 Sr.

Defensive lineman Mikiahi Webber

6-0 250 Sr.

Linebackers Trever Heitz

5-10 205 Jr.

Mitz Concepcion 5-8 170 Sr. Defensive backs Marcus Cranshaw 5-8 185 Sr. Jeremiah Chapman 6-1 175 Jr.

Players to watch‌ TREVER HEITZ: The Comets’ running back returns after a sophomore season in which he rushed for 1,000 yards on 178 carries. Heitz will also step into a linebacker role on Charles City’s defense.

MARCUS CRANSHAW: A dual-threat quarterback Cranshaw appears set to progress within the Comets’ flexbone offense. He ranked second on the team in rushing and was only picked off twice last season.

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 7 Most recent playoff appearance: 2014

October 4

at Decorah, 7:30 p.m.

11

at Independence, 7:30 p.m.

18

West Delaware, 7:30 p.m.

25

Waverly-Shell Rock, 7:30 p.m.

2018 results‌ Regular season (4-5) Aug. 24 Crestwood 7, Charles City 6 KELLY WENZEL, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Charles City returning starters Mikiahi Webber and Trever Heitz (left to right in back) and Jeremiah Chapman and Marcus Cranshaw (left to right in front) are ready to lead the Comets into the 2019 football season. have in our type of offense because he can make plays when there’s nothing there.”

Junior Jeremiah Chapman returns with starting experience at running back and defensive back. Senior Mikiahi Webber is the lone holdover on the line. Sophomores Chase Crooks, Tino Tamayo and DJ DeBoest are among the newcomers up front within a group that has good size.

“On the front, hopefully we can get a good mix in there to stay fresh,” Bohlen said.

Brothers Ian and Caden Collins are among the leaders within a defense that Bohlen describes as athletic in the secondary and at linebacker.

Bohlen mentioned that it will be important for his team to replicate the strong non-district start that the Comets displayed a year ago. It will take confidence to navigate a challenging district schedule that includes Decorah, Waverly-Shell Rock, Independence and West Delaware as teams with the pieces to contend for a spot in the playoff field.

“We’re excited about the classes that we have coming up,” Bohlen said, assessing his youthful team. “I think any success that they’re going to have is going to help us continue to build the program.”

Aug. 31 Charles City 21, New Hampton 9 Sept. 7 Charles City 21, Union 20 Sept. 14 Charles City 12, Oelwein 6 Sept. 21 Charles City 61, Waterloo East 34 Sept. 28 Decorah 49, Charles City 38 Oct. 5

Independence 38, Charles City 13

Oct. 12

West Delaware 69, Charles City 28

Oct. 19 Waverly-Shell Rock 47,

Charles City 0

Key matchup‌

Waverly-Shell Rock at Charles City Oct. 25, Charles City After dropping its final four games following a 4-1 start last season, will Charles City be able to finish stronger against a challenging back end of the 2019 schedule. Rival Waverly-Shell Rock was the only team to hold the Comets’ offense scoreless last season, but doesn’t return as many players at the skill positions. With only six seniors on its roster, this district finale could help set the tone for next season.

CLASS 3A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 11

DECORAH VIKINGS Returning letterwinners‌

Schedule‌

Player

30

August

Ht. Wt. Year

Offensive linemen Mitchell Leschensky

6-2 220 Sr.

Wide receivers Keaton Solberg

6-3

170 Sr.

Matthew Franzen

6-1

175 Sr.

Luke Benzing

6-3 180 Sr. BECKY WALZ, DECORAH NEWSPAPERS‌

Logan Halverson 6-4 220 Sr. 6-1

190 Sr.

Linebackers Seth Shindelar 6-2 184 Sr. Andrew Magner

6-1

193 Sr.

Keaton Solberg

6-3

170 Sr.

Galen Iverson

6-1

193 Sr.

Defensive backs

Matthew Franzen

6-1

175 Sr.

Luke Benzing

6-3 180 Sr.

Players to watch‌ SETH SHINDELAR: The all-district linebacker is among the team’s senior leaders and will be called upon to take on the responsibility of carrying the football from the running back position.

TUCKER YOUNG: A shoulder injury has sidelined Young for the nearly the entire last two seasons. He has fully recovered and will command an offense that will run more plays out of the pistol formation in 2019.

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 25 Most recent playoff appearance: 2018 Top finishes: Won 3A titles in 1974, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2012.

6

Cedar Rapids Xavier, 7:30 p.m.

13

Western Dubuque, 7:30 p.m.

20

at Crestwood, 7:30 p.m.

27

Waverly-Shell Rock, 7:30 p.m.

October

Defensive linemen Dawson Palmer

at Waukon, 7:30 p.m.

September

Decorah’s 2019 captains are, from left, Elijah Mitchell, Tucker Young and Logan Halverson. The Vikings were undefeated in district play last season.

Strength in numbers

Much of last year’s playoff team back for an encore NICK PETAROS

nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

‌ ECORAH — Decorah’s tradition-rich D football program didn’t miss a beat last season. Pat Trewin took over as head coach after 22 years as an assistant following the retirement of Bill Post and led the Vikings to their first district title in five years.

Decorah reached the state quarterfinals and finished 8-3 with all three losses coming to Cedar Rapids Xavier and Western Dubuque teams that played in Class 3A’s state championship game.

“It ended up being a pretty neat season as time went along,” Trewin recalls. “Guys came together. We had a couple good groups put together and they really, really grew as a team and football players. I’m really proud of what we were able to accomplish.”

Indeed, continuity hasn’t been hard to find within a Decorah football program with a veteran coaching staff and large numbers.

The Vikings enter this upcoming season with nearly 20 seniors, 40 total upperclassmen and 80 participants in the high school program.

“There’s a whole bunch of them that played quite a bit — started on one side of the ball or the other,” Trewin said. “They’re hungry and they’re a really together group.

They care about each other and want to be successful.”

Senior all-district linebacker Seth Shindelar returns as a leader on defense after making 12 solo and 11 assisted tackles last season. He’ll also take over a larger role at

running back. Andrew Magner at linebacker joins fellow seniors Logan Halverson and Mitchell Leschensky on the line as difference-makers in the defensive front seven.

All-district cornerback Galen Iverson is also back and will be a receiving threat in the passing game alongside his classmates Keaton Solberg and Matthew Franzen.

That experienced cast will complement senior quarterback Tucker Young, who hasn’t played since the start of his sophomore year after undergoing surgery on his shoulder. Young appears to be back at full strength entering this season. He has already won over his teammates following a 2018 season in which he played the role of an assistant coach on the sideline.

“He did all the stuff a coach could do as far as running the (play) cards and keeping people inspired,” Trewin said of Young. “The kids trust him enough that he’s been viewed as a class leader and they voted him a captain.”

In addition to Young, junior Cael Luzum is coming off an injury and has upside at running back and linebacker. State wrestler Eli Mitchell is also poised to make an impact his senior season on the offensive and defensive lines.

Decorah’s coach plans to run more spread offense out of the pistol with some zone blocking this season to complement the quick-hitting power football the Vikings have often displayed.

“It’s going to be kind of scratch where it itches,” Trewin said. “I think (spread) will fit personnel. We’ve got more quick guys than we’ve got big guys and we’ve got some pretty smart, pretty athletic offensive linemen that can run some of those schemes and ideas.”

4

Charles City, 7:30 p.m.

11

at West Delaware, 7:30 p.m.

18

Waterloo East, 7:30 p.m.

25

at Independence, 7:30 p.m.

2018 results‌ Regular season (7-2) Aug. 24 Decorah 24, Waukon 20 Aug. 31 Cedar Rapids Xavier 45, Decorah 3 Sept. 7 Western Dubuque 19, Decorah 3 Sept. 14 Decorah 23, Crestwood 6 Sept. 21 Decorah 30,

Waverly-Shell Rock 14 Sept. 28 Decorah 49, Charles City 38 Oct. 5 Decorah 28, West Delaware 13 Oct. 12 Decorah 48, Waterloo East 0 Oct. 19 Decorah 45, Independence 8 Playoffs Oct. 26 Decorah 17,

Clear Creek-Amana 6 Nov. 2 Cedar Rapids Xavier 42, Decorah 6

Key matchup‌ Cedar Rapids Xavier at Decorah Sept. 6, Decorah There isn’t a school in Class 3A with a tougher schedule than Decorah. The returning district champion Vikings won’t have to wait long to see how they measure up against the state’s elite. This non-district showdown is a rematch of last year’s playoff quarterfinal. Eventual state champion Xavier handed Decorah two of its three losses last season. The Vikings will face 3A runner-up Western Dubuque the next week.

CLASS 3A FOOTBALL

12 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

Independence

East

From Page 9

From Page 7

more and do things we haven’t done in the past.”

Two-way starter Logan Schmitt is a valuable difference-maker at the quarterback position and free safety. He passed for 1,414 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for another 902 yards and 13 scores last season.

Cutting down on turnSchmitt overs will be a key for the signal caller who has demonstrated leadership traits since his sophomore year.

Schmitt’s No. 2 and 3 targets, Brady Webb and Blake Bartz, have also returned.

“We’re going to ask a little more out of him, to recognize more stuff pre-snap and to get us into good plays and be able to do more audible stuff on the line,” Putz noted. “One of the things we put a lot of time into is improving the deep ball and throwing downfield more. He has a good arm, and maybe trying to put more touch on it. Put the ball in spots where only his receivers can go up and make plays.”

Complementing Schmitt’s running threat is a potential two-man tandem at running back. Sophomore Marcus Beatty has already demonstrated the ability to catch passes out of the backfield and senior Kaleb Lamphier has experience at the position.

On defense, linebacker Cole Davis will help set the tone after recording 88 tackles a season ago. Toughness was revealed

mad, wideout Tyrell Newman, linebacker Jacob Hanley and quarterback Dylan Reyes. The Trojans bring back their top seven tacklers on a defensive side of the ball that was often forced to start too many possessions following turnovers.

“They have something they want to prove,” Leonard said. “They want to show that they definitely can compete.”

Entering his third season as the starting quarterback, maturity is the word Leonard uses to describe Reyes’ progress. The Trojans’ passer threw for 1,716 yards last season but had 18 interceptions versus 10 touchdowns.

“He’s not always looking to throw the deep ball and not always looking for the big play,” Leonard said of Reyes. “He’s taking what they give and being a smarter all-around football player.”

Complementing Reyes is his top target, Newman, who caught 38 passes for 591 yards last season.

“It’s almost like they’re joined at the hip,” Leonard said. “They know what each other is thinking. Tyrell has been working hard with Dylan to get that timing down.”

East has a variety of athletes poised to take on larger roles this fall.

Christian Zearing has grown at linebacker and Sage Cunningham has developed on the line. Ramir Scott has stepped up at wide receiver alongside receiver and defensive back Aidan Ernst. Cedar Rapids Washington transfer Alexander Grover is an option at running back and defensive end and sophomore Kjuan Owns is set to take a role out of the offensive backfield.

Little will be given to the Trojans this season within a district that includes Decorah, Independence, West Delaware and Waverly-Shell Rock as the favorites.

“There’s no easy game on our schedule,” Leonard said. “We’re a growing program so we’ve got to prove week by week what we can do.”

Assessing his team’s initial workouts the coach added, “I see a bunch of hardworking kids that are dedicated and they’re ready to make a change.”

Waverly-S.R. From Page 8

happens in the weight room.

That’s been evident with those guys and their physical development.”

The veteran line will help buy time for senior quarterback Ethan Flege. He made one start and played half of another game after starter Luke Velky went down with an injury last season.

“Ethan has done a good job in the offseason,” Hubbard said. “He did a good job last year. He’s a phenomenal leader.”

The Go-Hawk backfield will

COURIER FILE PHOTO

Independence quarterback Logan Schmitt is unable to escape Dike-New Hartford’s Chase Wilson during a 2017 season-opening matchup. during a game at Charles City in which Davis cut his knee, ended up with 22 stitches, and only missed one drive.

“Cole, I call him kind of a throwback player,” Putz said of the state wrestling placewinner. “He’s an old school, tough middle linebacker. He gets downfield, hits you, and we’re asking him to recognize a little faster, play a little faster.”

Joining Davis as another impact returner is 6-foot-4 defensive end Christian Kremer, who finished with 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks in 2018.

turn to junior Jonathan Wessel to fill the void left by physical, 1,181-yard rusher Ben Hemer’s graduation.

“He’ll be a guy that we call on early and often,” Hubbard said. “He’s low to the ground.

He’s got exceptional vision and he’s extremely hard to tackle in space.”

Tyler McNally enters his senior season as a valuable twoway difference-maker. Playing through an ankle injury last season, McNally still led the Go-Hawks with 368 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

His seven tackles for loss at linebacker were the teamhigh.

“He’s a guy that needs

The Mustangs have a total of 17 seniors who Putz expects to contribute in some capacity. Independence’s coach is still searching for a kicker to step up within a special teams group that was a difference-maker last season.

“Last year we were as good of a special teams team as I’ve had in a long time,” Putz said. “I think this group has a chance to do that, as well. That comes with people taking their role very seriously and really coming out and taking pride in it.”

touches,” Hubbard said of his splint end. “We’re going to try and be as creative as we can and get his hands on the ball.”

In addition to McNally, Chase Carpenter, Cael White and Payton Leonard return as starters within the linebacking corps.

“The front seven on defense, they’ve got a lot of experience,” Hubbard said. “A year ago, we put a lot of juniors out there.”

The Go-Hawks’ offseason wasn’t without adversity. Fullback and safety Kaden Dewey tore his ACL during baseball season and will be a valuable two-way starter absent this fall. Within an inexperienced defensive secondary, Hubbard

is looking to Donovan Wessel, Cody Langreck, Germain Sagbo, Brady Ramker, Lane McDonald and Grant McDonald as options.

“Our secondary is unproven,” Hubbard noted.

“We’ve got good players in the secondary that are just waiting for their chance.”

Playing five games on the road, the Go-Hawks will lean on their physicality in the pursuit of a 10th consecutive postseason appearance.

“You’ve got to win the battle in the trenches and win the turnover battle,” Hubbard said.

“And then you’ve got to stay healthy and try to get better every week.”

CLASS 2A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 13

CLASS 2A, DISTRICT 3 PREVIEW 2019 schedule‌

District 3 2018 standings‌

Crestwood Clear Lake New Hampton Ia. Falls-Alden Hamp.-Dum./CAL Forest City

Aug. 30 – Crestwood at Charles City (ND), Forest City at Estherville Lincoln Central (ND), Hampton-Dumont-CAL at Southeast Valley (ND), Iowa Falls-Alden at Waterloo Columbus (ND), New Hampton at Aplington-Parkersburg (ND), Osage at Clear Lake (ND).

Dist. Overall W L W L 5 0 8 3 4 1 7 2 3 2 3 6 2 3 3 6 1 4 3 6 0 5 0 9

Sept. 6 – Algona at Hampton-Dumont-CAL (ND), Charles City at New Hampton (ND), Clear Lake at Waverly-Shell Rock (ND), South Hardin at Iowa Falls-Alden (ND), Spirit Lake at Forest City (ND), Waukon at Crestwood (ND),

2018 playoffs‌ First round Algona 45, Crestwood 20

Players to watch‌ JAYLEN DEVRIES, Clear Lake: First-team all-stater passed for 1,828 yards and 22 TDS and ran for 273 yards and three scores a year ago.

REECE WILSON, Crestwood: A senior at Crestwood, Wilson ran for 1,084 yards and seven scores on the way to second-team all-state honors.

JADEN GREEN, Clear Lake: Rushed for 940 yards (8.4 per carry) and 14 TDs as a sophomore.

KYLER HADWIGER, Iowa Falls-Alden: Racked up 736 rushing yards with six TDs and made 48 tackles on defense.

NICK DANIELSON, Clear Lake: Top returning receiver in the district after catching 29 balls for 452 yards and eight TDs. BRYER THOMPSON, Crestwood: Led the district in tackles a year ago with 69.5, including 7.5 for loss with 1.5 sacks.

WYATT SCHEIDEL, Crestwood: Earned second-team all-state honors after making 41.5 tackles with five TFLs and 1.5 sacks.

RYAN THOMAS, Clear Lake: This 6-2, 265-pound offensive lineman was a first-team all-stater a year ago as a junior.

LOGAN WALKER, Hampton-Dumont-CAL: Piled up 63.5 tackles last season with seven for a loss and three sacks.

KARSON SHARAR, Iowa Falls-Alden: Grabbed 22 passes for 422 yards and four TDs last season.

CHRIS ZOELLER, MASON CITY GLOBE GAZETTE‌

Clear Lake’s Nick Danielson, left, attempts to avoid a tackle from New Hampton’s Keagan Kane during a game in 2017.

Clear Lake taking aim at Crestwood New Hampton, IF-A also ready to contend in district DOUG NEWHOFF

doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com‌

‌Clear Lake heads into the 2019 high school football season with a sense of unfinished business.

The Lions went 7-2 a year ago, but they didn’t get invited to Class 2A’s postseason party in part because of a district loss to Crestwood.

Not much has changed heading into a new season. The Lions and Cadets are widely considered the preseason favorites with New Hampton and Iowa Falls-Alden poised to challenge.

Clear Lake returns 11 players with starting experience for head coach Jared DeVries’

fourth season. The Lions led the district in passing (1,836 yards), scoring (359 points) and interceptions (10) and was second in rushing (2,012 yards).

Clear Lake, whose playoff miss a year ago was just the second in the past 20 years for the program, returns firstteam all-stater Jaylen DeVries at quarterback, 940-yard rusher Jaden Green, the top returning receiver in the district in Nick Danielson and first-team all-state lineman Ryan Thomas.

Crestwood used a rugged non-district schedule to prepare for what turned into an undefeated district run. The Cadets return a strong core of eight starters that includes second-team all-staters Reece Wilson and Wyatt Scheidel.

Wilson ran for 1,084 yards as Crestwood rumbled for a district-best 2,209 on the

ground.

New Hampton coach Scott Frerichs looks to get his team back in the postseason behind five returning starters and six other letterwinners.

The Chickasaws have a strong group returning on defense led by Carter Ferrie, Evan Rosonke and Bryce Maloy. They’ll need to be more productive on offense after scoring just 147 points and struggling with turnovers.

Iowa Falls-Alden has 10 starters back and seven other letterwinners from a 3-6 squad. The Cadets have three productive players back on offense in quarterback Sam Off (774 passing yards), running back Kyler Hadwiger (736 yards) and receiver Karson Sharar (422 yards). McKade Eisentrager leads the defense after a 53 tackle season that included 10 tackles for loss.

Sept. 13 – Aplington-Parkersburg at Iowa Falls-Alden (ND), Clarion-Goldfield-Dows at Forest City (ND), Crestwood at Waverly-Shell Rock (ND), New Hampton at Waukon (ND), Clear Lake at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura (ND), South Hardin at Hampton-Dumont-CAL (ND).

Sept. 20 – Decorah at Crestwood (ND), Forest City at West Hancock (ND), Hampton-Dumont-CAL at Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (ND), Iowa Falls-Alden at Roland-Story (ND), Mason City at Clear Lake (ND), Waverly-Shell Rock at New Hampton (ND).

Sept. 27 – Clear Lake at Hampton-Dumont-CAL, Forest City at New Hampton, Iowa Falls-Alden at Crestwood.

Oct. 4 – Crestwood at Clear Lake, Hampton-Dumont-CAL at Forest City, New Hampton at Iowa Falls-Alden.

Oct. 11 – Clear Lake at Forest City, Iowa Falls-Alden at Hampton-Dumont-CAL, New Hampton at Crestwood.

Oct. 18 – Clear Lake at New Hampton, Forest City at Iowa Falls-Alden, Hampton-Dumont-CAL at Crestwood.

Oct. 25 – Crestwood at Forest City, Iowa Falls-Alden at Clear Lake, New Hampton at Hampton-Dumont-CAL

CLASS 2A FOOTBALL

14 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

CRESTWOOD CADETS

Bullseye on Crestwood

Returning letterwinners‌ Player

Ht. Wt. Year

Quarterback

August 30 at Charles City September

Carter Henry

6-2

180

Jr.

Runningbacks Reece Wilson

5-10

170 Sr.

Sawyer Swatek

5-11

150

Jr.

Receivers Garret Ollendieck

6-2

Logan Albert

6-0 170 Sr.

185 Sr.

Offensive linemen Cameron Sobolik

6-2

180 Jr.

Justin Kerian

6-2

190 Jr.

Treyton Burnikel 6-4 2087 Jr. Defensive linemen Wyatt Scheidel

6-0

220 Sr.

Logan Albert

6-0

170 Sr.

Linebackers Bryer Thompson 5-10 165 Sr. Mason Peter

District champs have sights set on another big run

Schedule‌

5-7

165

Jr.

Defensive backs Garret Ollendieck 6-2

185 Sr.

DOUG NEWHOFF

doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com‌

‌ RESCO — A young Crestwood High footC ball team may have surprised a few people last season on its way to an unbeaten district record and a trip to the Class 2A playoffs.

The Cadets won’t sneak up on anyone this year.

“We were awful young and we ended up having a pretty good year,” notes veteran head coach Skip Eckhardt. “Our non-district schedule was pretty tough. We were able to make it through the beginning and had a good district season.”

That early schedule, which will be repeated this season, featured Class 3A foes Charles City, Waverly-Shell Rock and Decorah, along with 2A powerhouse Waukon. W-SR and Decorah made the 3A playoffs while Waukon reached the 2A semifinals.

Crestwood came out of it with a 1-3 record, but battled each opponent to the finish in tight games.

With a strong group of returning players, the Cadets have high expectations again.

Second-team all-state running back Reece Wilson returns after a 1,084-yard season. So does second-team all-state defensive lineman Wyatt Scheidel (41.5 tackles), six tackles for loss, two sacks). Sawyer Swatek is back after rushing for 426 yards. Carter Henry moves into fulltime duty at quarterback after making an impact as a sophomore receiver (23 catches, 352 yards, five TDs).

“He’s a good athlete,” Eckhardt said of Henry. “We can run and he can throw half-

way decent.”

Receivers Garret Ollendieck and Logan Albert also return, as do the top five tacklers from the defense, led by Bryer Thompson (69.5 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks), Albert (59 tackles, two interceptions) and Mason Peter (49 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 3 sacks).

“We’ve got 10 guys who were honorable mention or all-district,” said Eckhardt. “We expect the guys who have been in there to get a little better.

“We lost a center, a guard, a defensive back and a few other positions where kids need to step up.”

Eckhardt wants a little more balance on offense this season. The Cadets threw the ball 160 times a year ago for 877 yards and ran it 429 times for a district-best 2,209 yards.

“We’ve just got to work on things and keep working hard, as we did in the offseason,” he said. “We want to get better in the passing game, limit turnovers and have a good kicking game.”

As always, staying healthy will be a key to Crestwood’s season.

“Our challenges are just replacing the guys we lost and staying healthy,” said Eckhardt.

“You’ve got to have a little luck to have a great team. That’s just the way it is. In high school if you lose two or three guys that can be detrimental. We’ve got to stay healthy, eliminate mistakes and have a great kicking game.

“We played a lot of sophomores last year who have now aged. We have an opportunity to be OK this year.”

6 Waukon 13 at Waverly-Shell Rock 20 Decorah 27 Iowa Falls-Alden October 4

at Clear Lake

11

New Hampton

18 Hampton-Dumont/CAL 25 at Forest City

2018 results‌ Regular season (6-4) Aug. 24 Crestwood 7, Charles City 6 Aug. 31 Waukon 22, Crestwood 7 Sept. 7 Waverly-S.R. 7, Crestwood 0 Sept. 14 Decorah 23, Crestwood 6 Sept. 21 Crestwood 47,

Ia. Falls-Alden 17 Sept. 28 Crestwood 40, Clear Lake 27 Oct. 5 Crestwood 27,

New Hampton 21 Oct. 12 Crestwood 41, Hamp.-Dumont-CAL 13 Oct. 19 Crestwood 33, Forest City 13 Playoffs Oct. 26 Algona 45, Crestwood 20

Key matchup‌

Players to watch‌ REECE WILSON, RB: Ran for 1,084 yards on the way to second-team all-state honors.

WYATT SCHEIDEL, DL: A second-team all-stater after making 41.5 tackles with 5 for a loss and 1.5 sacks.

SAWYER SWATEK, RB: Added another dimension in the backfield with 426 yards and six TDs as a sophomore.

BRYER THOMPSON, LB: Coming off a season when he made 69.5 tackles, including 7.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks.

CARTER HENRY, QB: Started at wide receiver as a sophomore and contributed 23 catches for 352 yards and five TDs. He’ll be running the offense this fall.

LOGAN ALBERT, LB: Made 59 tackles, intercepted two passes and caught nine passes a year ago.

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 10 | Most recent playoff appearance: 2018 Top finishes: The Cadets have never made it as far as the semifinals

Crestwood at Clear Lake Oct. 4, Clear Lake The Cadets and Lions could be headed for another showdown for the district title. Crestwood handled Clear Lake 40-27 a year ago, and the Lions missed the playoffs. This time, they get the Cadets on their home field.

CLASS 2A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 15

CLASS 2A, DISTRICT 4 PREVIEW

District 4 2018 standings‌

Waukon Columbus Monticello N. Fayette Valley Oelwein Anamosa

Dist. Overall W L W L 5 0 10 2 4 1 7 2 3 2 5 4 2 3 3 6 1 4 3 6 0 5 1 8

2019 schedule‌ Aug. 30 – Cascade at Monticello (ND), Decorah at Waukon (ND), Iowa Falls-Alden at Waterloo Columbus (ND), Maquoketa at Anamosa (ND), Oelwein at Independence (ND), Waverly-Shell Rock at North Fayette Valley (ND).

Sept. 6 – Anamosa at Iowa City Regina (ND), Dyersville Beckman at Monticello (ND), North Fayette Valley at Union Community (ND), Oelwein at Jesup (ND), Waterloo Columbus at Hudson (ND), Waukon at Crestwood (ND).

Sept. 13 – Monticello at Bellevue (ND), New Hampton at Waukon (ND), North Fayette Valley at Sumner-Fredericksburg (ND), Vinton-Shellsburg at Oelwein (ND), Waterloo Columbus at East Marshall (ND), West Liberty at Anamosa (ND).

Sept. 20 – Anamosa at Dyersville Beckman (ND), Cascade at Waukon (ND), Charles City at Oelwein (ND), Denver at North Fayette Valley (ND), Monticello at Maquoketa Valley (ND), Vinton-Shellsburg at Waterloo Columbus (ND).

Sept. 27 – North Fayette Valley at Anamosa, Oelwein at Waterloo Columbus, Waukon at Monticello Oct. 4 – Monticello at North Fayette Valley, Oelwein at Waukon, Waterloo Columbus at Anamosa.

Oct. 11 – Anamosa at Monticello, North Fayette Valley at Oelwein, Waukon at Waterloo Columbus.

Oct. 18 – Anamosa at Waukon, Monticello at Oelwein, North Fayette Valley at Waterloo Columbus.

Oct. 25 – Oelwein at Anamosa, Waterloo Columbus at Monticello, Waukon at North Fayette Valley.

Waukon will be tough to beat again

First round Waukon 40, Union (La Porte City) 11 Quarterfinals Waukon 24, Algona 21 Semifinals Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 48, Waukon 12

Players to watch‌

Columbus also loaded for run at elusive playoff berth

CREED WELCH, Waukon: Completed 61.7 percent of 274 passes for a district-leading 2,457 yards and 29 TDs with eight interceptions, made 34.5 tackles and had three interceptions as a sophomore last season.

DOUG NEWHOFF

doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com‌

‌Waukon is not only considered the favorite to repeat as Class 2A, District 4 champion this season. The Indians are also considered state championship contenders.

After going 5-0 in the district and 10-2 overall with an appearance in the state semifinals last season, Waukon returns eight starters on both sides of the ball along with 10 additional letterwinners.

The Indians led the district in passing (2,753 yards, 30 touchdowns), in rushing (2,203 yards), in scoring (412 points), turnovers forced (28) and tied Columbus with a whopping 18 interceptions.

There are playmakers everywhere. Quarterback Creed Welch completed 61.7 percent of 274 passes for a district-leading 2,457 yards and 29 TDs with eight interceptions as a sophomore.

Second-team all-stater Dawson Baures rushed for 1,255 yards and 20 TDs, had 1,001 receiving yards and 11 scores on 43 catches, finished with 37.5 tackles, six TFLs, two sacks and three interceptions and averaged 27.5 yards on kickoff returns and 26.3 on punt returns with a TD. Ethan O’Neill is another weapon in the backfield after rushing for 670 yards and six TDs as a sophomore. There are impact players on defense, as well.

“They should have a Dome or bust mentality this year,” noted new North Fayette Valley head coach Justin Heins, whose team lost four close games a year ago and has missed the playoffs the last two years after four straight seasons of double-digit wins.

The TigerHawks are one of several teams that could give Waukon a run. Another is Waterloo Columbus, which put together a 7-2 campaign a year ago but was left out of the postseason. The Sailors return eight starters on both sides of the ball and plenty of playmakers in veterans like Kobe Nobis (620 rushing yards), Ray Seidel (936 rushing yards), Cannon Butler (202 receiving yards, 48.5 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, five sacks) and Ben Sinnott (21 receptions

2018 playoffs‌

JEFF CARLSON, Monticello: Threw for 2,092 yards and 16 TDs. BEN SINNOTT, Columbus: Second-team all-stater had 45 tackles with 12 TFLs, six sacks and three interceptions on defense and turned 21 pass receptions into 348 yards and eight TDs. CANNON BUTLER, Columbus: Had 11 receptions for 202 yads and two TDs as a receiver and was a defensive force with 48.5 tackles, including 12 TFLs and five sacks.

BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley’s Sam Te Slaa tackles Waukon quarterback Creed Welch for a loss during last year’s Class 2A state football semifinals. for 348 yards and eight TDs, 45 tackles, 12 TFLs, six sacks).

“I think it’s the best district in the state,” said Columbus head coach Brad Schmit, whose team is hungry for its first trip to the playoffs since 2010. “There are no weeks where you’re not in a dogfight. There’s great coaching across the board and hardnosed kids.

“We definitely have our work cut out for us, and we know that.”

Oelwein returns eight offensive starters and seven on defense for new head coach Bob Lape, who moved over from North Fayette Valley and will try to get the Huskies back on the winning track after seven straight losing seasons.

Monticello was 5-4 a year ago and returns an experienced team with eight offensive starters and six returning on defense.

Anamosa suffered through a 1-8 season, but played nearly everyone tough. The Blue Raiders’ losses included one by one point, one by two points, one by six and two by seven. Seven starters are back.

DAWSON BAURES, Waukon: Rushed for 1,255 yards and 20 TDs, had 1,001 receiving yards and 11 scores on 43 catches, finished with 37.5 tackles, six TFLs, two sacks and intercepted three passes and averaged 27.5 yards on kickoff returns and 26.3 on punt returns with a TD while earning second-team all-state accolades.

MASON KUNKLE, Oelwein: Third-team all-stater after 20 TFLs and 7.5 sacks among 35 total tackles. Caught 24 passes for 256 yards.

RAY SEIDEL, Columbus: Rushed for 936 yards and nine TDs (7.7 avg.).

LIAM MCINTYRE, North Fayette Valley: Ran for 635 yards and nine TDs as a sophomore while making 52 tackles with 5.5 TFLs. TYLER LUENSMAN, Monticello: Caught 32 passes for 441 yards and a pair of scores and averaged 28.8 yards on kickoff returns with a TD. CAMEREN PALMER, Oelwein: Racked up 398 receiving yards on 40 grabs with three TDs and averaged 27.5 yards on kickoff returns with a TD a year ago.

BEN TROST, Columbus: Connected on 31 of 38 PATs and all four of his field goal attempts as a freshman.

CLASS 2A FOOTBALL

16 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

WATERLOO COLUMBUS SAILORS Schedule‌

Returning letterwinners‌ Player Ht. Wt. Year Running backs Ray Seidel 5-9 175 Sr. Kobe Nobis 5-9 175 Sr. Offensive linemen Aidan Schmitz 5-9 190 Sr. Mitchell Carpenter 5-11 250 Sr. Caleb Vesely 6-2 275 Sr. Brayden Cole 6-2 220 Sr. Alex Buser 5-10 185 Jr. Dallas Westhoff 6-0 185 Soph.

Receivers Ben Sinnott 6-3 195 Sr. Cody Hellman 5-9 170 Sr. Ben Dalrymple 6-1 170 Sr. Tight end Cannon Butler 6-5 205 Sr. Defensive line Ben Sinnott 6-3 195 Sr. Cannon Butler 6-5 205 Sr. Caleb Vesely 6-2 275 Sr. Brayden Cole 6-2 220 Sr. Andy Nunez 5-11 180 Jr. Linebackers Ray Seidel 5-9 175 Sr. Dallas Westhoff 6-0 185 Soph.

Alex Buser 5-10 185 Jr. Gabe Roche 5-9 165 Jr. David Randall 5-10 175 Jr. Defensive backs Kobe Nobis 5-9 175 Sr. Joe Dunlay 5-9 165 Jr. Cody Hellman 5-9 170 Sr. Ben Dalrymple 6-1 170 Sr. Alex Feldman 5-6 160 Jr. Placekicker Ben Trost 5-11 155 Soph.

Punter Ray Seidel 5-9 175 Sr.

Key matchup‌ Waukon at Columbus Oct. 11, T.J. McLaughlin Field If the season unfolds as most expect, this game will likely be for the district championship and an automatic playoff berth. Waukon is a perennial 2A power. Columbus wants to be in that conversation, too.

August 30 Iowa Falls-Alden, 7 p.m.

September 6 at Hudson, 7 p.m.

13 at East Marshall, 7 p.m.

20 Vinton-Shellsburg, 7:30 p.m.

27 Oelwein, 7 p.m.

October 4 at Anamosa, 7:30 p.m.

11 Waukon, 7:30 p.m.

18 N. Fayette Valley, 7:30 p.m.

25 at Monticello, 7:30 p.m.

2018 results‌

KELLY WENZEL, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Columbus’ Ray Seidel finds some running room against Monticello during a game last season in Waterloo.

Columbus fueled by frustration Sailors want tears of joy at end of this regular season DOUG NEWHOFF

doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com‌

‌ ATERLOO — Saturday, Oct. 26 was W a day last year’s Waterloo Columbus football team won’t forget.

After a 7-2 regular season during which the only losses were to Class A state champion Hudson and Class 2A state runner-up Waukon, the Sailors were denied in their bid to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

“It was so disappointing,” said Columbus senior runningback Ray Seidel.

“I remember the Saturday after the game we all came in and had a talk and I remember almost half the team was in tears we were so disappointed we didn’t make it.”

This year’s Sailors have a chip on their shoulder and the manpower to do some-

thing about it with nine returning starters and 18 regulars back from a year ago.

“We actually made bracelets for our team that say ‘Unfinished Business’ and ‘Anchor Down,’” said Kobe Nobis, another senior runningback. “We want to do it for the guys last year because they worked their butts off in the weight room and everything like that to come so far and not make it.”

Seidel ran for 936 yards (7.7 avg.) and nine touchdowns last season and also caught 16 passes. Nobis added 620 rushing yards, 20 pass receptions and two TDs. Two-way standouts Ben Sinnott and Cannon Butler also return.

Sinnott made 45 tackles with 12 for a loss, six sacks and three interceptions while also catching 21 passses for 348 yards (16.6 avg.) and eight scores. Butler, a UNI football commit, finished with 48.5 tackles, 12 TFLs and five sacks to Please see COLUMBUS, Page 19

Regular season (7-2) Aug. 24 Columbus 31,

Iowa Falls-Alden 14 Aug. 31 Hudson 14, Columbus 0 Sept. 7 Columbus 45, East Marshall 0 Sept. 14 Columbus 51, Vinton-Shellsburg 33 Sept. 21 Columbus 54, Oelwein 0 Sept. 28 Columbus 22, Anamosa 16 Oct. 5 Waukon 38, Columbus 12 Oct. 12 Columbus 35, N. Fayette Valley 34 Oct. 19 Columbus 27, Monticello 21

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 11 Most recent playoff appearance: 2010 Top finishes: State champs in 1976 (3A), 1986 (3A) and 2004 (2A). Runners-up in 1984 (3A)

Players to watch‌ BEN SINNOTT, WR-DE: 21 receptions, 348 yards (16.6 avg.), eight TDs while making 45 tackles with 12 solo tackles for a loss, six sacks and three interceptions last season.

RAY SEIDEL, RB-LB: Ran 121 times for 936 yards (7.7 per carry) with nine TDs. Defensively, made 36 tackles with two TFLs, two sacks and two interceptions a year ago.

KOBE NOBIS, RB-DB: Rushed for 620 yards on 112 carries (5.5 avg.) with one TD, caught 20 passes for 145 yards and a TD and made 31.5 tackles with two TFLs, one sack and two interceptions.

CANNON BUTLER, TE-DE: Was a force on defense with 48.5 tackles, 12 TFLs and five sacks and caught 11 passes for 202 yards (18.4 avg.) with a pair of TDs.

CLASS 2A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 17

NORTH FAYETTE VALLEY TIGERHAWKS

New coach, same standard

Returning letterwinners‌ Player Ht.

Wt.

Year

Runningbacks Trey Darnall

5-10

165 Sr.

Liam McIntyre

5-11

190

Austin Koch

5-10 180 Sr.

Jr.

Offensive linemen 5-8

195

Zander Britt

5-11

180 Sr.

Jr.

Stryker Long 5-6 220 Sr. 6-3

185 Sr.

Defensive linemen Kole Johnson

6-2

175

Jr.

Stryker Long 5-6 220 Sr. Seth Meyer

6-3

185 Sr.

Linebackers Liam McIntyre

5-11

190

Jr.

Austin Koch 5-10 180 Sr. Kale Rodgers

5-8

Zander Britt

5-11 180 Sr.

195

Jr.

Defensive backs Trey Darnall 5-10 165 Sr. Lukas Lau

5-8

DOUG NEWHOFF

doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com‌

Kale Rodgers

Seth Meyer

TigerHawks eye return to playoffs after two-year lapse

165

Jr.

Players to watch‌ LIAM MCINTYRE, RB-LB: Ran for 635 yards and nine TDs last season and was second on the team in tackles with 52 stops, including eight tackles for loss.

TREY DARNALL, RB-DB: Averaged 8.8 yards per rush but got just 28 carries.

KALE RODGERS, OL-LB: Led the team a year ago with 58 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss with 1.5 sacks.

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 24 (four as North Fayette Valley, 15 as North Fayette and five for Valley of Elgin) Most recent playoff appearance: 2016 Top finishes: Won the 2014 2A state title as North Fayette Valley.

North Fayette was the 1992 2A champion.

‌WEST UNION — North Fayette Valley hasn’t been itself the last two football seasons.

Consecutive years with a losing record and no trip to the playoffs? That hasn’t happened since 1998 and ‘99.

New head coach Justin Heins was part of that rich tradition as a player and more recently as an assistant coach. Some of his players lived it, too, growing up in families where dads and uncles helped set a standard of football excellence that rivals any in Class 2A. “A couple of our coaches have kids in there who have been around the program,” noted Heins, a former multisport start at North Fayette High and then a stalwart on the defensive line at the University of Northern Iowa.

“One of our linemen’s uncle was a good lineman for us in 2004. Some of these kids were around it a lot when things were rolling. They’re kind of anxious to get it back.”

Heins will build his 2019 team around six seniors and a dynamic junior class.

“Experience for the most part,” Heins said of the biggest challenge his team faces.

“That junior class is good. They were undefeated last year in JV. Hopefully we get them up to varsity speed early on.”

Heins has continuity and years of experience on his coaching staff. They know what has made the TigersHawks successful in the past, starting with a relentless wing-T offense.

“Pretty much our base stuff is still our base stuff,” he said.

“I will have a different take on some things and push some

Schedule‌ August 30 Waverly-Shell Rock September 6 at Union Community 13 at Sumner-Fredericksburg 20 Denver 27 at Anamosa October 4 Monticello 11 at Oelwein 18 at Waterloo Columbus 25 Waukon

2018 results‌

BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

North Fayette Valley’s Trey Darnall celebrates after scoring against Waverly-Shell Rock last season.

Key matchup‌ N. Fayette Valley at Waterloo Columbus Oct. 18, Waterloo If the TigerHawks and Sailors take care of business along the way, this will be a key game in the district and could set up NFV for a showdown against Waukon for the title. Columbus pulled out a 35-34 win a year ago. different things. Will it look exactly the same? No. “Maybe if we go 10 for our first 10 passing, we’ll start Please see N. FAYETTE VALLEY, Page 19

Regular season (3-6) Aug. 23 Waverly-S.R. 35,

N. Fayette Valley 21 Aug. 31 Union 22,

N. Fayette Valley 15 Sept. 7 Sumner-Fredericksburg 26, N. Fayette Valley 22 Sept. 14 N. Fayette Valley 48, Denver 12 Sept. 21 N. Fayette Valley 28,

Anamosa 21 Sept. 28 Monticello 28,

N. Fayette Valley 21 Oct. 5 N. Fayette Valley 24,

Oelwein 6 Oct. 12 Waterloo Columbus 35,

N. Fayette Valley 34 Oct. 19 Waukon 40,

N. Fayette Valley 22

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CLASS 2A FOOTBALL

18 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

OELWEIN HUSKIES Schedule‌

Returning letterwinners‌ Player

August 30 at Independence September 6 at Jesup 13 Vinton-Shellsburg 20 Charles City 27 at Waterloo Columbus October 4 at Waukon 11 North Fayette Valley 18 Monticello 25 at Anamosa

Ht. Wt. Year

Receivers Cam Palmer

5-9

150 Sr.

Nick Dittmer

6-2

170 Sr.

Mason Kunkle 6-4 220 Jr. Offensive linemen Adam Deaner

6-1 180 Sr.

Christian Stoler 6-2 290 Soph.

Gage Voshell

5-10 185

Jr.

Richard Tournier 5-9 180 Sr. Damon Melchert 5-11 260

2018 results‌

Jr.

Defensive linemen Mason Kunkle

6-4

220

Jr.

Cooper Smock 5-7 250 Jr. Linebackers Gage Voshell

5-10

185

Jr.

Andrew Roete 5-9 150 Sr. Defensive backs Ethan Thomas 5-11 170 Sr. Cam Palmer

5-9 150 Sr.

Nick Dittmer

6-2

170 Sr.

Players to watch‌ CAMEREN PALMER, WR-DB: Caught 40 passes for 398 yards and three scores last season and averaged 27.5 yards on eight kickoff returns with a touchdown.

NICK DITTMER, WR-DB: Had 10 receptions for 109 yards and a score and made 23.5 tackles.

MASON KUNKLE, DL-HB: Was a third-team all stater after making 35 tackles with 20 TFLs and 7.5 sacks and catching 24 passes for 256 yards and a TD. GAGE VOSHELL, LB-OL: Top returning tackler (49 tackles, 2.5 TFLs).

JACOB KING, QB: Takes over at QB after going 9 of 13 for 90 yards with one interception last season.

BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Oelwein head football coach Bob Lape runs players through practice drills at Oelwein High School Aug. 26.

Lape has plan for Oelwein revival

New coach impressed with Huskies’ returning talent DOUG NEWHOFF

doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com‌

‌ ELWEIN — Nobody knows better than O Bob Lape what it takes to compete at the top level of Class 2A football.

Lape did it for more than two decades as an assistant coach before 11 seasons as the head coach just up the road at North Fayette Valley where his teams won a state championship in 2014, reached the semifinals five times and won at least 10 games in six of his seasons. He owns a career record of 93-32.

Now he is taking on a new challenge at Oelwein. The Huskies haven’t been to the playoffs since 2011. A three-win season a year ago broke a stretch of six straight seasons where they went a collective 2-52.

“My wife is from here and I lived here earlier in my life,” said Lape. “When the job came open I just decided to apply.

“We’re going to see what happens. We’ll

try to instill some of the things I believe in and feel are important as far as coaching and teaching and life in general. We’re going to try to make a difference in some kids’ lives.”

Lape has some talent to build around.

Mason Kunkle was a third-team all-state defensive end last season (35 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks) who also caught 24 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown.

Cameren Palmer hauled in 40 passes for 398 yards and three TDs and averaged 27.5 yards with a TD on kickoff returns. Nick Dittmer, Gage Voshell, Ethan Thomas, Adam Deaner, Christian Stoler, Richard Tournier and Damon Melchert and Andrew Roete are veterans, too.

“The transition for me has been pretty easy,” said Lape. “I know a lot of people in town, and the kids are really open. They’re eager to please, eager to work and do the things they need to do to turn it around a little bit.

Please see OELWEIN, Page 19

Regular season (3-6) Aug. 24 Independence 51,

Oelwein 14 Aug. 31 Oelwein 40, Jesup 27 Sept. 7 Oelwein 12,

Vinton-Shellsburg 7 Sept. 14 Charles City 12, Oelwein 6 Sept. 21 Waterloo Columbus 54,

Oelwein 0 Sept. 28 Waukon 46, Oelwein 16 Oct. 5 N. Fayette Valley 24,

Oelwein 6 Oct. 12 Monticello 50, Oelwein 14 Oct. 19 Oelwein 44, Anamosa 35

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 7 Most recent playoff appearance: 2011 Top finishes: The Huskies have won just two postseason games

Key matchup‌ N. Fayette Valley at Oelwein Oct. 11, Oelwein Regardless how the season goes, this one will be an emotional matchup with Bob Lape leading his new Oelwein team against his former team. “It’s going to be difficult,” said Lape. “I was there a long time.”

CLASS 2A FOOTBALL

Columbus From Page 16

go with his 11 pass receptions for 202 yards and two TDs. Up front, Aidan Schmitz, Caleb Vesely and Mitchell Carpenter are returning starters while the defense returns starters Joe Dunlay and Dallas Westhoff. Kicker Ben Trost is back, too.

“Last year, I feel like it was a huge step for us,” said Nobis. “After going 1-8 and 2-7 the previous years, I feel like we just took a big step in the right direction.”

The Sailors also feel like they still have something to prove.

“We’ve talked about proving last year wasn’t a hoax,” Nobis noted. “We want to prove that we worked hard for that and we didn’t just get lucky last year.”

Nobody will take Columbus lightly this season, added Butler.

“We definitely have kind of a bounty on our heads where people want to see if we’re still the same and they want to take us down and beat us,” he said.

The Sailors are more than talented athletes, noted head coach Brad

Oelwein From Page 18

“I’m still trying to figure things out a little bit and get kids in the right places. With Palmer and Dittmer and Thomas, they’ve run at state track.

They’ve got some speed, and we’re excited about them. Gage Voshell is going to be a good player for us.”

The Huskies are learning a new system. Lape built his North Fayette Valley teams around a low-risk, punishing, wing-T offense that wore

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Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 19

Schmit, who is in his sixth season.

“They really enjoy each other, too, which you can’t say enough about,” said Schmit. “They’re all best buddies and they have great camaraderie. They’re guys who provide a lot of production and they practice hard. The younger guys see that and their peers see that and that just equates to good practices, which equates to success.

“Our numbers aren’t great ... 9 through 12 I think we’ve got like 33 kids, but our top 15 I think are better than most and not just Class 2A. Our top 15 are tough across the board.”

Columbus will have a new quarterback this season in sophomore Carter Gallagher.

“He’s doing a really good job with the RPOs,” said Nobis. “He’s been reading it right almost every single time. He is new in the system so he doesn’t know all the reads and everything like that yet, but I feel like we have the potential to make some big plays this year.”

The stars are aligned for a big season.

“We’ve known this group was going to be successful if they put the work into it,” said Schmit. “Last year we learned how to win. We were in those tight games and we had guys stepping

up and making plays in the clutch. That something you can’t coach. This group had won in the past at the lower levels, but they learned to win at the varsity level, which we all know is tough.

“Now our goal is we want to go out and dominate across the board.

“Three years ago we were starting six sophomores. Some even played a little varsity when they were freshmen.

Now it’s nice to have those guys who have been in those tight battles.

“They’ve also seen the opposite end.

Nobody likes coming in on Saturday knowing you didn’t take care of business. I think that’s what’s great about this group of seniors. They have perspective from both sides. They’ve been through the dark times, but they’ve also seen how fulfilling and how awesome it was to be part of what we had last year.”

This time, the Sailors want the Saturday after the regular season to be different.

“We’ve got the guys to compete with everybody, I feel like,” said Nobis. “It’s all in our heads. We’ve got to go out there thinking we can win every game and thinking we can run through everybody and just play how we know how to play.”

opponents out. It’s logical to assume Oelwein will now feature a heavy dose of that, as well.

“It’s going to look a lot different,” said Lape. “We’re not going to veer too far off the path.”

One position that was up for grabs in the preseason was quarterback.

“At quarterback, we’ve got a threeman race with senior Andrew Roete, who hasn’t played quarterback since he was a freshman and Jacob King, a junior who has played it, and Duncan Tripp, a sophomore who has played it,” said Lape.

“It’s been a healthy battle. It might be a time where we might end up platooning those guys a little bit. They’re working hard, but everything is different for them. I’m asking them to do different things than they’ve been asked to do in the past.”

The challenges are clear, but they aren’t insurmountable.

“I think part of it is just getting the kids to believe in themselves and having the confidence it takes to have success,” said Lape. “I think it’s here.

We have some ability to go out and be competitive and win some games.”

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N. Fayette Valley From Page 17

chucking it all over the place,” Heins joked.

“Seriously, this spring when I took over somebody asked if we were going to switch it up. Our staff has been running the same stuff for more than 20 years. They know the ins and outs of it. We’ll stick with what we know best.”

Two of last year’s top rushers are back in Liam McIntyre (635 yards, nine TDs) and Trey Darnall (250 yards, three scores). Kole Johnson, primarily a receiver on offense last season, is taking over at quarterback.

“Kole was probably going to play some there last year, but he smashed a finger right before last season started,” said Heins. “He plays a pretty good defensive end for us, and we’re looking forward to him having the reins at quarterback.”

Other returning starters include Austin Koch and Kale Rodgers, who will likely have roles on both sides of the ball.

Joel Grimes has been a pleasant offensive surprise after returning to football for the first time since he was a freshman.

The good news for Heins and his squad is that the TigerHawks aren’t that far removed from their glory days under Ron Wymer and Bob Lape, who left after last season and took over at Oelwein.

Just three seasons ago, they were 10-1.

Five years ago, they were 13-1 state champions. Even last year’s 3-6 disappointment could have gone much differently. Four of North Fayette Valley’s six losses were by one score.

“If we clean up a few mistakes here and there and flip those games the other way we’re looking at 6-3 or maybe 7-2,” noted Heins. “We were tied with Union late and they ran a fake punt for a TD. We gave up three long touchdowns to Sumner-Fredericksburg. They only had about 200 yards of offense but 150 of it was on those three plays.

We lost a one-point game to Columbus.

“Good teams win those games.”

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CLASS 2A FOOTBALL

20 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

UNION KNIGHTS

Returning letterwinners‌ Player Ht. Wt. Year Runningback Brayden Grosse 5-9 153 Sr. Offensive linemen Liam Stone 5-11 335 Sr. Linebackers Seth Wirtz 5-10 151 Sr. Hunter Heitmann 5-9 181 Sr. Defensive backs Brayden Grosse 5-9 153 Sr.

Schedule‌ August 30 at Dyersville Beckman September 6 North Fayette Valley 13 at Charles City 20 Dike-New Hartford 27 at Benton Community October 4 at Roland-Story 11 Vinton-Shellsburg 18 at Nevada 25 West Marshall

Key matchup‌ West Marshall at Union Oct. 25, La Porte City West Marshall is a team several of the district’s coaches consider the preseason favorite. The Trojans were also the only team to defeat Union in district play last season.

First-year head coach Jared Pospisil

New look for new season Pospisil takes over as head coach for young Knights DOUG NEWHOFF

doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com‌

‌LA PORTE CITY — It’s been a tough year for the Union Community football family.

In December, head coach and Dysart native Joe Hadachek resigned after a highly successful 12-year tenure. In July, longtime assistant coach Adam Gassman lost his battle with cancer.

In some respects, the 2019 season couldn’t come fast enough for a Knights program eager to carry on a rich tradition that includes a state championship in 2011, a runner-up finish in 2016, 11 straight playoff appearances, eight or more wins six times in the last nine years and just one sub-.500 season since 2010.

“There are a lot of expectations, but that’s good,” said new head coach Jared Pospisil. “It keeps us motivated and keeps us moving forward.”

Pospisil, a former defensive back at South Dakota, has been part of that tradition. He was defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach from 2008-2012. He stepped away after his first child was born, but his love for the game and for coaching pulled him back as a volunteer assistant last season.

Now he is embracing the opportunity to carry on what Hadacheck and others have built.

“It’s helped that we have such an experienced coaching staff,” said Pospisil, who was able to retain most of the previous staff. “I’m really blessed to have this group of guys so we have something the kids could anchor to and help us through the transition.

“Our numbers are kind of down, but the guys here are working hard, performing well and learning well.”

Pospisil isn’t reinventing the wheel on the chalkboard.

“We’ll be very similar,” he said. “We’ll make a few tweaks here and there, but we have the same defensive coordinator in Todd Carlson and he does a great job and will run a similar system. Scott Denner is our new offensive coordinator. He’s been here several years and has done a fantastic job creating this offense kind of in his image. He has taught the guys very well so far and I’m excited to see it unleashed.”

The Knights don’t have a lot of experience returning with just three returning starters on each side of the ball. They lost their quarterback, leading rusher, top three receivers and

KELLY WENZEL, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Union Community veteran players Marc Mahood, Hunter Heitmann, Brayden Grosse, and Seth Wirtz form a huddle Aug. 22 in La Porte City. top six tacklers.

One of the returning veterans is Brayden Grosse, who is coming off a superb junior season when he rushed for 638 yards and 12 touchdowns, passed for 59 yards on seven completions in 15 attempts, caught 12 passes for 132 yards and two TDs, made 23.5 tackles and intercepted four passes.

“Brayden Grosse is going to be a young man to watch,” said Pospisil. “He played very well last year. He was able to be put into several different positions and excel at those whether it was running or receiver.

“Liam Stone will be a good anchor for us on the offensive line. He’s done very well in the offseason. Marc Mahood has a thundering leg and we’re asking him to do a little more for us on offense and defense, too.

“Seth Wirtz and Hunter Heitmann are back at linebacker. Hunter will be our play caller at linebacker. He’s a hard-nosed kid who did really well in the weight room this summer.”

Pospisil said the Knights are a hungry team after going 6-4 with a first-round playoff exit.

“I think we were a little disappointed,” he said. “Getting to the playoffs was a great goal, but we wanted a good showing while we were there. It was a tough way to end the season.

“The guys have bounced back and rallied back. I think they’re wanting to do better this year, and they’ve taken measures to do so.”

2018 results‌ Regular season (6-4) Aug. 24 Union 26, Dyersville-Beckman 13 Aug. 31 Union 22,

N. Fayette Valley 15 Sept. 7 Charles City 21, Union 20 Sept. 14 Dike-New Hartford 35, Union 22 Sept. 21 Union 34, Benton 6 Sept. 28 Union 44, Roland-Story 8 Oct. 5 Union 45,

Vinton-Shellsburg 13 Oct. 12 Union 23, Nevada 20 Oct. 19 West Marshall 26, Union 16 Playoffs First round Waukon 40, Union 11

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 12 Most recent playoff appearance: 2018 Top finishes: Won the 3A state title in 2011. Runner-up in 2016.

Players to watch‌ BRAYDEN GROSSE, RB: Did a little of everything a year ago, rushing for 638 yards and 12 TDs, completing 7 of 15 passes for 59 yards, catching 12 passes for 132 yards and two TDs, making 23.5 tackles and intercepting four passes.

SETH WIRTZ, LB: Top returning tackler after making 34 stops with five tackles for a loss.

HUNTER HEITMANN, LB: Stepping into a leadership role on defense after playing in a backup capacity a year ago and making 15.5 stops.

MARC MAHOOD, PK: Knocked home a pair of field goals and converted all four of his PAT attempts last season. Will see action on offense and defense this year.

CLASS 2A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 21

CLASS 2A, DISTRICT 7 PREVIEW

District 7 2018 standings‌

Benton Comm.

West Marshall Union Comm.

Roland-Story Nevada Vint.-Shellsburg

Dist. Overall W L W L 4 1 9 2 4 1 7 3 4 1 6 4 2 3 4 5 1 4 3 6 0 5 0 9

2018 playoffs‌ First round Williamsburg 51, West Marshall 32 Benton Community 46, Greene County 20 Waukon 40, Union Community 11 Quarterfinals West Liberty 42, Benton Community 13

Players to watch‌ KODY KRUSCHWITZ, Nevada: Passed for a district-leading 2,247 yards (61 percent completions) with 20 TDs and 11 interceptions a year ago. Punted for a 44.4-yard average.

CLAY KROUSIE, Benton: Completed 62.9 percent of his passes for 1,744 yards and 15 TDs with four interceptions and ran for 260 yards last season.

BROOKS ERICKSON, Vinton-Shellsburg: Passed for 586 yards and seven TDs and ran for 427 and five scores.

JOSE WILSON, Vinton-Shellsburg: Is the district’s top returning rusher after a 799-yard season.

BRAYDEN GROSSE, Union: Ran for 638 yards and 12 TDs and caught 12 passes for 132 yards and two TDs a year ago. Picked off four passes and made 23.5 tackles.

IAN RUPP, Benton: Had 51 solo stops among 70.5 tackles with 5.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks last season.

New season, same outlook Benton, West Marshall, Union look like teams to beat

Aug. 30 – Clarion-Goldfield-Dows at Roland-Story (ND), Nevada at North Polk (ND), South Tama at Benton Community (ND), Union Community at Dyersville Beckman (ND), Vinton-Shellsburg at Alburnett (ND), Williamsburg at West Marshall (ND).

Sept. 6 – Benton Community at Cascade (ND), Greene County at Nevada (ND), North Fayette Valley (ND), Roland-Story at Gilbert (ND), Tipton at Vinton-Shellsburg (ND), West Marshall at PCM (ND).

DOUG NEWHOFF

doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com‌

‌Benton Community, West Marshall and Union Community represented Class 2A’s District 7 in the state playoffs last season.

All three are expected to be in contention again.

That’s the tradition and expectation those programs have established. At Benton, the Bobcats have now made the postseason three times in the last four years after a seven-year absence. At West Marshall, last year’s trip to the playoffs ended a fouryear drought for the Trojans, who have 19 postseason appearances since 1984. And at Union, the Knights are on a run of 11 straight playoff seasons.

Benton returns five starters on each side of the ball, starting with quarterback Clay Krousie (1,744 yards, 62.9 percent completions, 15 TDs, four interceptions).

West Marshall has eight starters back on both offense and defense. Union brings back three starters each way for new head coach Jared Pospisil, led by playmaking back Brayden Grosse (638 rushing yards, 12 TDs).

2019 schedule‌

Sept. 13 – Benton Community at Center Point-Urbana (ND), Denver at West Marshall (ND), Nevada at Perry (ND), Union Community at Charles City (ND), Vinton-Shellsburg at Oelwein (ND), West Marshall at PCM. BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Union’s Brayden Grosse looks for room to run against Benton Community last season.

Elsewhere, Nevada returns nine starters on offense, including quarterback Kody Kruschwitz, and eight on defense after a three-win season when it led the district in passing with 2,345 yards and 21 TDs, Roland-Story brings back five on offense and three on defense after winning four games, and Vinton-Shellsburg returns six offensive starters and seven on defense as the Vikings try to turn around a winless 2018 campaign. Among them are 799-yard rusher Jose Wilson and quarterback Brooks Erickson.

Benton and West Mar-

GOOD LUCK

BRAYDEN EVERTSON, West Marshall: Disrupted opponents with 14 TFLs and 10.5 sacks among 46.5 total tackles.

TO ALL OUR COACHES AND ATHLETES!

JARRIN GOECKE, West Marshall: Had six interceptions and 38.5 tackles with three TFLs.

UNION BOOSTER CLUB

shall rushed for 2,310 and 2,170 yards a year ago, respectively. The Bobcats had 14 interceptions and 21 takeaways and the Trojans 13 picks among the 19 turnovers they generated.

“I think it will interesting,” said Union’s Pospisil. “There are some new coaches and a lot could be up in the air.

We’ll kind of be feeling each other out to see how much each team has kept from last year.

“I think it will be a very competitive district. I also think our guys are up to competing and we’ll get after it.”

Sept. 20 – Dike-New Hartford at Union Community (ND), Iowa Falls-Alden at Roland-Story (ND), South Tama at Nevada (ND), Vinton-Shellsburg at Waterloo Columbus (ND), West Marshall at Aplington-Parkersburg (ND), Wilton at Benton Community (ND), Sept. 27 – Nevada at Vinton-Shellsburg, Roland-Story at West Marshall, Union Community at Benton Community.

Oct. 4 – Benton Community at Nevada, Union Community at Roland-Story, West Marshall at Vinton-Shellsburg.

Oct. 11 – Nevada at West Marshall, Roland-Story at Benton Community, Vinton-Shellsburg at Union Community.

Oct. 18 – Benton Community at West Marshall, Union Community at Nevada, Vinton-Shellsburg at Roland-Story.

Oct. 25 – Benton Community at Vinton-Shellsburg, Roland-Story at Nevada, West Marshall at Union Community.

Good Luck West High Wahawks!

West High Athletic Booster Club

CLASS 1A FOOTBALL

22 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

2019 schedule‌

CLASS 1A, DISTRICT 3 PREVIEW

Aug. 30 – Denver at Dike-New Hartford (ND), Mason City Newman at Lake Mills (ND), Nashua-Plainfield at North Butler (ND), New Hampton at Aplington Parkersburg (ND), Osage at Clear Lake (ND), Postville at Sumner-Fredericksburg (ND).

Sept. 6 – Dike-New Hartford at Aplington Parkersburg (ND), North Butler at Central Springs (ND), Saint Ansgar at Osage (ND), Sumner-Fredericksburg at South Winneshiek (ND), Wapsie Valley at Denver (ND), West Fork at Lake Mills (ND).

Sept. 13 – Aplington-Parkersburg at Iowa Falls-Alden (ND), Denver at West Marshall (ND), Lake Mills at Algona Garrigan (ND), North Butler at Dike-New Hartford (ND), North Fayette Valley at Sumner-Fredericksburg (ND), Osage at West Hancock (ND),

A gang of Aplington-Parkersburg tacklers, including Jack Haren (12), make a tackle in 2018 against Dike-New Hartford.

Sept. 20 – Belmond-Klemme at North Butler (ND), Denver at North Fayette Valley (ND), Garner-Hayfield-Ventura at Osage (ND), North Union at Lake Mills (ND), Sumner-Fredericksburg at MFL MarMac (ND), West Marshall at Aplington Parkersburg (ND).

1A-3 has ‘wow’ factor again this year

Sept. 27 – Aplington-Parkersburg at North Butler, Lake Mills at Sumner-Fredericksburg, Osage at Denver.

COURIER FILE PHOTO‌

A-P, Denver, S-F hoping to unseat Osage at top JIM NELSON

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

‌Aplington-Parkersburg head coach Alex Pollock may have summed up best just how balanced Class 1A, District 3 will be in 2019.

“Osage has a lot of returning guys. Denver is really physical, so you can’t exclude them.

Lake Mills with what they do offensively and defensively is really difficult to prepare for ...,” Pollock said. ” Every team has something that makes you say, ‘Wow.” Defending district champion Osage returns a ton of talent across the board on offense

District 3 2018 standings‌

Dist. Overall

W L W L Osage 5 0 7 3 Sumner-Fred.

3 2 7 3 Lake Mills 3 2 4 5 Aplington-Park. 2 3 4 5 Denver 2 3 2 7 North Butler 0 5 1 8

2018 playoffs‌ First round Van Meter 42, Sumner-Fredericksburg 16 West Branch 56, Osage 14 with 1,000-yard rusher Zach Williams and the receiving tandem of Gage Belz and Thor Maakestad, who caught a com-

bined 86 passes for 1,854 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2018.

“Our team has some pretty big goals and it starts week one with Clear Lake, a pretty tough first opponent,” Green Devils coach Matt Finn said.

Sumner-Fredericksburg also qualified for the playoffs out of District 3 and the Cougars lost some important pieces, but return quarterback Brandon Meyer, who ranked fourth in the district last year with 890 passing yards and is the only starting quarterback who returns.

“Kids are ready to work,” first-year head coach Jacob Coyle said. “They have bought into everything I have wanted or needed from them so we are off to a good start.”

Injuries slowed Aplington-Parkersburg a year ago, but with 10 players with starting

experience back and linebacker Jalen Meyer set for a big senior season, the Falcons are poised to make a jump “I do think our kids are focused and do want to be better than they were last year,” Pollock said. “Everything I have seen the first two weeks has shown me that.”

After several consecutive runs to the Class 1A and A playoff semifinals, a youthful Denver team finished 2-7 last year. Head coach Rhett Barrett believes the Cyclones are ready to move back toward the top of the standings.

“We are a little bit older, and a little bit bigger,” Barrett said.

North Butler returns five key players for head coach Jordan Vanderloop, who has been with the program but is in his first year as head coach.

Oct. 4 – Denver at Aplington Parkersburg, North Butler at Lake Mills, Sumner-Fredericksburg at Osage.

Oct. 11 – Lake Mills at Aplington Parkersburg, Osage at North Butler, Sumner-Fredericksburg at Denver.

Oct. 18 – Aplington-Parkersburg at Sumner-Fredericksburg, Lake Mills at Osage, North Butler at Denver.

Oct. 25 – Aplington-Parkersburg at Osage, Denver at Lake Mills, Sumner-Fredericksburg at North Butler

Players to watch‌ GAGE BELZ, THOR MAAKESTAD, Osage: These two seniors combined to catch 86 passes for 1,854 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2018.

JALEN MEYER, Aplington-Parkersburg: Meyer was third in the district with 72 1/2 tackles, including five solo and five assisted tackles for loss.

CLASS 1A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 23

APLINGTON-PARKERSBURG FALCONS 2018 results‌

Returning letterwinners‌

Regular season (4-5) Player Ht.

Wt. Year

Aug. 24 Aplington-Parkersburg 13,

New Hampton 12

Running backs Sam Nolte

6-1

170 Sr.

Ayden Morris

6-0

156 Sr.

Jared Brouwer

5-8

140 Sr.

Jalen Meyer

5-10

175 Sr.

Sept. 7 Aplington-Parkersburg 21

Iowa Falls-Alden 17

Jack Haren

5-8

135 Sr.

Jacob Kalkwarf

5-10

145 Sr.

Sept. 14 West Marshall 48, Aplington-Parkersburg 28

Aug. 31 Dike-New Hartford 40, Aplington-Parkersburg 6

Wide receivers

Offensive line

JIM NELSON, COURIER SPORTS WRITER‌

Noah Oldenburger 5-11

255 Sr.

Luke Edeker

6-1

221 Sr.

Nick Johnson

6-0

170

Jr.

Jaxson Brouwer

5-11

260

Jr.

More depth a key for Falcons

Jack Haren

5-8

135 Sr.

Injuries derailed A-P during disappointing 2018 season

Jacob Kalkwarf

5-10

145 Sr.

Ayden Morris

6-0

156 Sr.

Sam Nolte

6-1

170 Sr.

Jared Brouwer

5-8

140 Sr.

Jalen Meyer

5-10

175 Sr.

Noah Oldenburger 5-11

255 Sr.

Luke Edeker

6-1

221 Sr.

Nick Johnson

6-0

170

Jr.

Jaxson Brouwer

5-11

260

Jr.

Defensive backs

Linebackers

Defensive line

2019 schedule‌ Aug. 30 New Hampton Sept. 6 Dike-New Hartford Sept. 13 At Iowa Falls-Alden Sept. 20 West Marshall Sept. 27 At North Butler Oct. 4 Denver Oct. 11 Lake Mills Oct. 18 At Sumner-Fredericksburg Oct. 25 At Osage

Jack Haren, Jalen Meyer and Noah Oldenburger, left to right, will be three key components for Aplington-Parkersburg during the 2019 football season.

JIM NELSON

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

‌ ARKERSBURG — Aplington-ParkersP burg head coach Alex Pollock won’t call 2018 a lost year because he knows the players he had available gave everything they had.

But as injuries stacked up last season, it became tougher and tougher for the Falcons to achieve at the level they wanted during a 4-5 season.

With that in mind, Pollock and his staff have made a conscious effort to be better prepared for the unpredictable this season.

“I think we need to continue to develop depth,” Pollock said. “I think that is a big deal. We need to bring younger kids along maybe a little faster than what we have done in the past.

“The injury bug was the biggest thing (in 2018), to be completely honest. When you had as many quality players as we had last year that missed significant time, that is going to be really difficult. That is where we came to the realization that we really need to bring kids along faster. We need more kids ready to play when it matters and not have to freak out and put different kids at spots they don’t belong.”

The offensive and defensive lines and quarterback are where injuries hurt the most, but the positive side of that is A-P brings back two quarterbacks — Owen Thomas and Jack Haren — who got significant snaps last year and four linemen who are a year better.

Thomas, a junior, and Haren, a senior,

combined to complete 15 of 27 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown a year ago, while Haren was also one of the Falcons’ leading receivers, hauling in 20 passes for 442 yards and six scores.

“I don’t know right now,” Pollock said of which one will start. “I think we are very encouraged by the two of them. I don’t think we’re in a situation where we don’t have a starter. We have two kids that are capable of starting so that is really fun.”

Up front, Pollock likes the improvement he has seen, stating that Oldenburger is setting the example as a third-year starter.

Altogether, Aplington-Parkersburg has 10 players who have seen significant time as starters and a handful of others who have contributed in smaller roles.

“I think you can look at our senior group and pretty much all of them have played significant time,” Pollock said. “We’ve got guys like Jack, Oldenburger and a guy like Jalen Meyer, and this sounds weird, but we have been trying to find ways to take him off the field and it has been really difficult.”

Meyer, a linebacker, led A-P with 72 1/2 tackles last year, including five solo tackles for loss and 10 assisted TFLs. Until A-P takes the field on Friday nights, the players understand what needs to happen to be prepared for success.

“I think the big key is bringing energy every single day to practice,” Haren said. “The saying is ‘Iron Sharpens Iron’ so every single one of us has to work hard and make us better.

Sept. 21 Aplington-Parkersburg 42,

North Butler 7 Sept. 28 Denver 22, Aplington-Parkersburg 13 Oct. 5 Lake Mills 31, Aplington-Parkersburg 14 Oct. 12 Aplington-Parkersburg 21, Sumner-Fredericksburg 6 Oct. 19 Osage 34, Aplington-Parkersburg 7

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 22 Most recent playoff appearance: 2017 Top finishes: The Falcons won back-toback titles in 2000 and 2001 and were also state champs in 1993.

Key matchup‌ Denver at AplingtonParkersburg Oct. 4, Parkersburg This is a game pitting two teams hoping to improve on 2018 performances. This week two district game is pivotal for both squads.

Players to watch‌ JALEN MEYER, LB: Meyer was third in the district with 72 1/2 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss.

JACK HAREN, WR: Caught 20 passes for 442 yards and six TDs a year ago, but could find himself at quarterback this season.

CLASS 1A FOOTBALL

24 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

DENVER CYCLONES

Returning letterwinners‌ Player Ht.

Wt.

Year

Offensive line Trevor Dorn

6-2

205 Sr.

Logan Tierney

6-1

219 Sr.

Ely South 6-0

215 Sr.

Peyton Dobbs

6-6

230 Sr.

Running backs Coltin Reiter

6-0

160 Sr.

Nathan Eggena

5-8

170 Sr.

Wide receivers John Bergmeier

5-10

135

Jr.

Tight end Mitchil Thuesen

5-11

175 Sr.

Defensive line Trevor Dorn

6-2

205 Sr.

Logan Tierney

6-1

219 Sr.

Peyton Dobbs

6-6

230 Sr.

Mitchil Thuesen

5-11

175 Sr.

Linebackers Coltin Reiter

6-0

160 Sr.

Nathan Eggena

5-8

170 Sr.

Defensive backs John Bergmeier

5-10

135

Jr.

Isaac Besh

5-10

165

Jr.

Players to watch‌ COLTON REITER, RB: Ran for 248 yards and two TDs and caught seven passes for 99 yards and a score last season.

TREVOR DORN, OL-DL: A three-year starter, Dorn will be part of an experienced group on both lines. He had 41.5 tackles last season with seven TFLs.

Older, wiser and bigger

2019 schedule‌ Aug. 30 At Dike-New Hartford Sept.6

Cyclones look to rebound after last season’s struggles

Wapsie Valley

Sept. 13 At West Marshall Sept. 20 At North Fayette-Valley Sept. 27 Osage

JIM NELSON

Oct. 4 At Aplington-Parkersburg

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

Oct. 11 Sumner-Fredericksburg

‌ ENVER — After a run D of four straight playoff appearances, three of which ended in the semifinals, a young and largely inexperienced Denver High football team struggled in 2018.

With a schedule that featured four playoff teams in the first five games and five altogether, a Cyclone team with only four seniors won just two games.

A year older, a year wiser and maybe most important a year bigger and with double the number of seniors, Denver is looking to make steps back toward the Class 1A playoffs in a wide open District 3.

“Our record shows we went 2-7, but we were in most games we played and had chances but just couldn’t get over the hump,” head coach Rhett Barrett said. “It is good to get going again. We are a bit older and a little bigger and we will have more experience than we had last season.”

The Cyclones lost quarterback Cael Krueger (1,271 passing yards, 618 rushing) but are strong up front where the offensive and defensive lines return four starters apiece among seniors Trevor Dorn (tackle), Logan Tierney (guard), Ely South (center), Peyton Dobbs (tackle) and Mitchil Thuesen (defensive end).

“We were competitive on the line and it kind of set us up for success for

Oct. 18 North Butler Oct. 25 At Lake Mills

2018 results‌ Regular season (2-7) Aug. 24 Dike-New Hartford 21, Denver 0 JIM NELSON, COURIER SPORTS WRITER‌

Key returners for Denver in 2019 are, front row left to right, Jon Bergmier, Colton Reiter, Isaac Besh and Mitchil Thuesen. In back left to right are Ely South, Peyton Dobbs, Trevor Dorn, Nathan Eggena and Logan Tierney.

2019,” Barrett said. “We have to replace just one (on the offensive line), Brock Farley, but we’ve got three guys in the mix who are competing hard.”

At quarterback, junior Isaac Besh takes over. He played primarily at receiver last year, hauling in 14 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. He attempted just two passes while rushing eight times for 27 yards.

“He has really stepped up at that spot and is doing a good job,” Barrett said.

Denver also has experience in the backfield with Colton Reiter and Nathan Eggena. Reiter rushed 53 times for 248 yards and two scores, while also catching 29 passes for 399 yards and TDs. Eggena rushed 34 times for 102 yards and had seven receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown.

“Both of those guys are doing such a good job this first week of practice,” Barrett said.

Defensively, Dorn (41.5, 7 TFLs), Eggena (12 TFLs) and Tierney (31 total tackles) were among the Cyclones’ top defenders in 2018.

“Once again, our defensive line with Thuesen, Dorn, Tierney is a strength,” Barrett said.

“We feel good about our linebacker group with Reiter, Braydon Powers and Brennen Graber. Johnny Bergmeier and Besh are back in the backfield.

“Those guys are feeling it out, learning, getting better and have done a good job early.”

With the challenging schedule awaiting, Barrett and his staff are trying to build at a steady pace.

“You don’t want to throw too much at them, but you’ve got to motivate and challenge them,” Barrett said. “We’ve got to shore up that depth chart.

Naturally, we have more depth than we had last year, but you can always use more depth.”

Aug. 31 Wapsie Valley 31, Denver 16 Sept. 7 West Marshall 34, Denver 20 Sept. 14 North Fayette-Valley 48, Denver 12 Sept. 21 Osage 32, Denver 20 Sept. 28 Denver 22, Aplington-Parkersburg 13 Oct. 4 Sumner-Fredericksburg 16, Denver 13 Oct. 12 Denver 43, North Butler 14 Oct. 19 Lake Mills 28, Denver 0

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 9 Most recent playoff appearance: 2012 Top finishes: The Trojans haven’t been as far as the quarterfinals since their glory days in the early 1970s.

Key matchup‌ Osage at Denver Sept. 27, Denver After four extremely tough non-district games against Dike-New Hartford, Wapsie Valley, West Marshall and North Fayette Valley, the Cyclones open district play against the defending 1A-3 champion Green Devils at home.

CLASS 1A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 25

OSAGE GREEN DEVILS Returning letterwinners‌ Player Ht.

Wt

Year

Running back Zach Williams

5-10 185 Sr.

Receivers Thor Maakestad 6-2 183 Sr. Gage Belz 6-2 188 Sr. Offensive linemen Noah Sletten Mason O’Malley Zach Duren Matt Olson

6-3 5-11 5-10 5-11

215 Sr. 186 Sr. 216 Sr. 203 Sr.

Defensive linemen Noah Sletten 6-3 215 Sr. Mason O’Malley 5-11 186 Sr. Conner Smith 6-1 255 Sr. Linebackers Zach Williams Gage Belz

5-10 185 Sr. 6-2 188 Sr.

Defensive backs Spencer Mooberry 6-3 180 Jr. Colin Muller 5-11 181 Jr. Thor Maakestad 6-2 183 Sr.

2019 schedule‌

Aug. 30 at Clear Lake Sept. 6 Saint Ansgar Sept. 13 at West Hancock Sept. 20 Garner-Hayfield Sept. 27 at Denver Oct. 4 Sumner-Fredericksburg Oct. 11 at North Butler Oct. 18 Lake Mills Oct. 25 Aplington-Parkersburg

2018 results‌

Regular season (7-2) Aug. 24 Clear Lake 55,

Osage 40 Aug. 31 Osage 36, Saint Ansgar 31 Sept. 7 West Hancock 48,

Osage 28 Sept 14 Osage 52, Garner-Hayfield 26 Sept. 21 Osage 32, Denver 20 Sept. 28 Osage 22, Sum.-Fred. 14 Oct. 5 Osage 60,

North Butler 0 Oct. 12 Osage 42,

Lake Mills 30

Explosive Osage wants a big bang Early playoff exit motivating Green Devils this season JIM NELSON

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

‌OSAGE — A great season came to a crashing halt in the 2018 playoffs for the Osage Green Devils.

It ended far short of the huge goals Osage had set.

With seven starters back on offense and eight on defense, the Green Devils’ 2019 goals are even larger as they ramped up preparations for the season-opener at Clear Lake on Aug. 31.

“These guys are so focused,” head coach Matt Finn said.

“There has been no rah-rah, motivational stuff. They’ve just been showing up and going to work, which has been a lot of fun.”

Even with a large number of returning players, the Green Devils do have some questions to answer.

Who will replace Brett Bobinet, now at Simpson College, and his 2,864 passing yards and 31 touchdowns? Is there another receiver who can match Hayden Meek’s school-record 57 catches?

Finn says the answers are already in camp.

Colin Muller, a 5-foot-11, 186-pound junior who was an all-district safety in 2018, is set to take over at quarterback. As a back-up last year, Muller completed five of eight passes for 29 yards.

“There has not been much of a competition,” Finn said.

“Colin has taken the job and has continued to evolve. He is a pretty cerebral kid, athletic, too. We’ve installed a lot of things and he has handled the complexity of our scheme.

“We really haven’t skipped a beat.”

At receiver, Osage had three players last year with more than 800 receiving yards apiece and two of them return.

Gage Belz hauled in 47 passes for 991 yards and seven scores, and Thor Maakestad caught 39 balls for 863 yards and 13 scores for a team that averaged 36 points a game.

Belz set a school single-season record with his yards, and his 1,243 career yards are also a school record. The 13 touchdown catches by Maakestad is a single-season record.

“We are expecting things out of those guys, expecting them to carry the load,” Finn said.

Add to that mix senior running back Zach Williams, who rushed for 1,094 yards and 11 scores and four returning offensive linemen — Noah Sletten, Mason O’Malley, Zach Duren and Matt Olson.

As Muller continues to get more comfortable with the offense, the faster Finn will ask him to go in a fast-paced, high-octane offense.

“I’m not kidding, we are in the two-minute offense all of the time,” Finn said. “We are still shoring up some things, some new offensive stuff, getting our protocol down and being more smooth presnap right now. Our defensive coordinator is loving life right now because we are not snapping the ball every seven seconds.”

Defensively, Sletten set a school record with 13 1/2 tackles for loss from his defensive line spot last year, including 7 1/2 sacks. Williams was also stout from his linebacker spot, ranking second on the team in tackles with 70, including seven for loss.

Finn knows a lot of the Green Devils’ opponents are pointing in his team’s direction this season.

“Nick Saban calls that ‘rat poison’ any time you think you have arrived,” he said.

Oct. 19 Osage 34, Apl.-Parkersburg 7 Playoffs First round: West Branch 56,

Osage 14

Playoff history‌

Total playoff appearances: 11 Most recent playoff appearance: 2018

Key matchup‌

Osage at Clear Lake Aug. 31, Clear Lake

While it is a non-district game and the season-opener, the Green Devils want to set the tone early against one of the top teams in Class 2A.

Players to watch‌ THOR MAAKESTAD, WR: Hauled in 39 passes for 863 yards and 13 TDs. GAGE BELZ, WR: Caught 47 passes for 991 yards and seven TDs last year.

ZACH WILLIAMS, RB: Coming off a junior season when he rushed for 1,094 yards and 11 TDs. NOAH SLETTEN, DL: Racked up a school record 13.5 tackles for loss with 7 1/2 sacks a year ago.

TRUST IN TEAMWORK

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CLASS 1A FOOTBALL

26 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

SUMNER-FREDERICKSBURG COUGARS Sept. 7 Sum.-Fred. 26,

N. Fayette-Valley 22

Returning letterwinners‌ Player

Ht.

Sept. 14 Sum.-Fred. 44,

MFL Mar-Mac 0

Wt. Year

Quarterback Brandon Meyer 5-10

Sept. 21 Sum.-Fred. 32,

Lake Mills 7

175 Sr.

Sept. 28 Osage 22, Sum.-Fred. 14

Running backs Kelby Olson

6-0

Blake Biermann 5-10

190 Sr.

Oct. 4 Sum.-Fred. 16,

Denver 13

190

Oct. 12 Apl.-Park. 21, Sum.-Fred. 6

Offensive linemen Colton Yungtum 5-9

195 Sr.

Oct. 19 Sum.-Fred. 42,

North Butler 0

Defensive linemen Colton Yungtum 5-9

195 Sr.

Dalton Block

240 Sr

6-2

Linebacker Blake Biermann 5-10

Cougars strive to sustain success

190

Defensive backs Brandon Meyer 5-10

175 Sr.

Cayden Bergman 6-0

180 Sr.

Punter Kody VanEngelenburg 6-0

180

Jr.

2019 schedule‌ Aug. 30 Postville Sept. 6

at South Winneshiek

Sept. 13 North Fayette-Valley Sept. 20 at MFL Mar-Mac Sept. 27 Lake Mills Oct. 4

at Osage

Oct. 11

at Denver

Oct. 18 Aplington-Parkersburg Oct. 25

COURTESY PHOTO‌

at North Butler

2018 results‌ Regular season (7-2) Aug. 24 Sum.-Fred. 42,

Postville 7 Aug. 31 Sum.-Fred. 44, S. Winneshiek 8

New head coach Coyle returns solid nucleus of veterans JIM NELSON

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

SUMNER — The transition has been ‌ smooth, and that is just how Jacob Coyle wanted it to be.

After four years as an assistant coach for Brad Mohs at Sumner-Fredericksburg, Coyle was named the new head coach last year after Mohs decided to retire from the position.

“It has been pretty smooth thus far,” Coyle said of the transition.

The Cougars are coming off a trip to the Class 1A playoffs and a 7-3 season, but Coyle and his staff are in the process of trying to build depth and find new starters after a huge graduating class.

Sumner-Fredericksburg returns just eight letterwinners and a handful of starters.

“We lost a large number of players who were not only seniors, but some very talented seniors and very good leaders not only on our team but in our school,” Coyle said. “We’ve got a lot of young juniors that didn’t see a lot of time except for two or three. They need to step up and play confident, not think too much, for sure. Our communication has to be good to keep people in the right spots.”

The cupboard is not empty.

Quarterback Brandon Meyer returns after completing 62 of 125 passes for 890 yards and nine scores. Kelby Olson is back after leading the team in both rushing (550 yards, nine touchdowns) and receiving (15 catches, 350

yards, four scores).

“Brandon has become a lot more vocal,” Coyle said. “He’s been asking a lot more quality questions and you can see he feels more comfortable back there. It is kind of all coming together for him and that is exciting. He really dove into the playbook and is seeing the big picture of how it is going to all work out.”

Other key returners include linemen Colton Yungtum and Dalton Block, running back Blake Biermann and athletes Nathan Zupke and Cayden Bergman.

Biermann was third on the team in tackles last year with 54.5, including 5 1/2 for loss.

Block recorded 47 tackles, including eight solo tackles for loss.

Punter Kody VanEngelenburg returns after averaging 38.1 yards on 39 punts.

“We have some pieces to fill in at offensive and defensive line, really need some juniors to step up there,” Coyle said. “I’m very pleased with our new offensive system. We are going to spread it out a little more, more of a pistol set to try to utilize our playmakers and our athleticism.”

Coyle said a big key is just getting total buy-in from his team.

“Sticking together, playing together,” Coyle said. “It is always a cohesion thing, especially when you are playing a lot of new guys. It’s got to be a big family, a big family that trust each other and we are still getting that buy-in, but they are off to a good start.”

Playoffs First round: Van Meter 42, Sumner-Fredericksburg 16

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 8 Most recent playoff appearance: 2018 Top finishes: Before joining forces, Fredericksburg won the Class A title in 2001 and finished second in 2002.

Key matchup‌ Sumner-Fred. at Osage Oct. 4, Osage The Cougars opened 5-0 last year before dropping a 22-14 decision to the Green Devils at home in week two of district play.

Players to watch‌ BRANDON MEYER, QB: The Cougars’ veteran signal-caller hit 62 of 125 passes for 890 yards and nine TDs last season.

KELBY OLSON, RB: Made an impact both rushing (550 yards, nine TDs) and receiving (15 catches, 350 yards, four TDs) a year ago.

CLASS 1A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 27

CLASS 1A, DISTRICT 6 PREVIEW 2019 schedule‌

Aug. 30 – Denver at Dike-New Hartford (ND), East Marshall at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (ND), Iowa City Regina at Cedar Rapids Xavier (ND), Jesup at Hudson (ND), South Hamilton at South Hardin (ND), Starmont at North Linn (ND).

Sept. 6 – Anamosa at Iowa City Regina (ND), Dike-New Hartford at Aplington-Parkersburg (ND), East Marshall at BCLUW (ND), North Linn at Maquoketa Valley (ND), Oelwein at Jesup (ND), South Hardin at Iowa Falls-Alden (ND).

Sept. 13 – Iowa City Regina at Pella Christian (ND), MFL MarMac at Jesup (ND), North Butler at Dike-New Hartford (ND), North Linn at Alburnett (ND), South Hardin at Hampton-Dumont (ND), Waterloo Columbus at East Marshall (ND), Sept. 20 – Dike-New Hartford at Union Community (ND), Eagle Grove at South Hardin (ND), East Marshall at B-G-M (ND), Edgewood-Colesburg at North Linn (ND), Jesup at BCLUW (ND), Williamsburg at Iowa City Regina (ND).

Sept. 27 – Iowa City Regina at East Marshall, North Linn at Dike-New Hartford, South Hardin at Jesup.

Oct. 4 – East Marshall at Dike-New Hartford, Iowa City Regina at South Hardin, Jesup at North Linn.

Oct. 11 – Dike-New Hartford at Jesup, North Linn at Iowa City Regina, South Hardin at East Marshall.

Oct. 18 – Dike-New Hartford at South Hardin, Jesup at Iowa City Regina, North Linn at East Marshall.

Oct. 25 – East Marshall at Jesup, Iowa City Regina at Dike-New Hartford, South Hardin at North Linn.

D-NH, Regina on collision course JIM NELSON

Players to watch‌

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

‌ ike-New Hartford had D a memorable 2018 season that culminated in a run to the Class 1A state title game where the Wolverines fell just short.

D-NH took some big hits along its offensive line, but the Wolverines feel they have more than enough to be a district champion contender in 1A, District 6, in 2019, as well as the talent to make another deep run in the playoffs.

“Our kids have high expectations and that is a good thing,” D-NH head coach Don Betts said.

“You want your program to get to that point where kids expect a lot from themselves every year.

“To have that you have to have a high work ethic and these kids have shown that component.”

ASHTON COOK, Iowa City Regina: Cook threw for 1,270 yards and nine scores as a sophomore while starting only five games.

DREW SONNENBERG, Dike-New Hartford: Sonnenberg led the district in passing, completing 62.7 of his passes for 1,922 yards.

COURIER FILE PHOTO‌

Dike-New Hartford quarterback Drew Sonnenberg scrambles during last year’s Class 1A state championship game against West Sioux.

Quarterback Drew Sonnenberg (1,900-plus passing yards), running back Cade Bennett (1,928 rushing yards) and super athlete Parker Kiewiet at receiver and defensive back are three of the top weapons in all of Class 1A. “We can’t sit back.

We’re going to work hard.

That is our thing here,” Kiewiet said.

Although the Wolverines were the only team from the district to make the 1A playoffs last year, Betts knows the district will be much improved.

“Our district is as tough

CADE BENNETT, DikeNew Hartford: Rushed for nearly 2,000 yards last season. as ever,” Betts said. “We are going to have to battle just to get through our district. Our inexperienced kids are going to have to grow quickly.”

Part of that challenge is long-time powerhouse Iowa City Regina. With a chance to extend its con-

secutive playoff streak to 15 last year in the season finale, the seven-time state champion Regals lost, 56-28, to D-NH to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

Regina returns a lot of experience, including quarterback Ashton Cook, who averaged 250 passing yards a game, and all-district receiver Alec Wick and his 59 receptions.

“We did lose a bunch of offensive productivity,” Regals head coach Marv Cook said. “But the young guys coming back are excited about having the opportunity to fill their shoes.”

North Linn, which went 6-3 last year, returns a ton of experience, too, and Betts noted that South Hardin has gotten better each of the last two years and is much more experienced this season.

2018 standings‌

Dike-NH I.C. Regina North Linn South Hardin Jesup East Marshall

Dist. Overall W L W L 5 0 12 1 4 1 5 4 3 2 6 3 2 3 3 6 1 4 2 7 0 5 0 9

2018 playoffs‌ First round Dike-New Hartford 42, South Hamilton 8 Quarterfinals Dike-New Hartford 37, Interstate 35 0 Semifinals Dike-New Hartford 34, Pella Christian 21 Championship West Sioux 52, Dike-New Hartford 38

good luck athletes and coaches! www.geater.com

CLASS 1A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 27

CLASS 1A, DISTRICT 6 PREVIEW 2019 schedule‌

Aug. 30 – Denver at Dike-New Hartford (ND), East Marshall at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (ND), Iowa City Regina at Cedar Rapids Xavier (ND), Jesup at Hudson (ND), South Hamilton at South Hardin (ND), Starmont at North Linn (ND).

Sept. 6 – Anamosa at Iowa City Regina (ND), Dike-New Hartford at Aplington-Parkersburg (ND), East Marshall at BCLUW (ND), North Linn at Maquoketa Valley (ND), Oelwein at Jesup (ND), South Hardin at Iowa Falls-Alden (ND).

Sept. 13 – Iowa City Regina at Pella Christian (ND), MFL MarMac at Jesup (ND), North Butler at Dike-New Hartford (ND), North Linn at Alburnett (ND), South Hardin at Hampton-Dumont (ND), Waterloo Columbus at East Marshall (ND), Sept. 20 – Dike-New Hartford at Union Community (ND), Eagle Grove at South Hardin (ND), East Marshall at B-G-M (ND), Edgewood-Colesburg at North Linn (ND), Jesup at BCLUW (ND), Williamsburg at Iowa City Regina (ND).

Sept. 27 – Iowa City Regina at East Marshall, North Linn at Dike-New Hartford, South Hardin at Jesup.

Oct. 4 – East Marshall at Dike-New Hartford, Iowa City Regina at South Hardin, Jesup at North Linn.

Oct. 11 – Dike-New Hartford at Jesup, North Linn at Iowa City Regina, South Hardin at East Marshall.

Oct. 18 – Dike-New Hartford at South Hardin, Jesup at Iowa City Regina, North Linn at East Marshall.

Oct. 25 – East Marshall at Jesup, Iowa City Regina at Dike-New Hartford, South Hardin at North Linn.

D-NH, Regina on collision course JIM NELSON

Players to watch‌

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

‌ ike-New Hartford had D a memorable 2018 season that culminated in a run to the Class 1A state title game where the Wolverines fell just short.

D-NH took some big hits along its offensive line, but the Wolverines feel they have more than enough to be a district champion contender in 1A, District 6, in 2019, as well as the talent to make another deep run in the playoffs.

“Our kids have high expectations and that is a good thing,” D-NH head coach Don Betts said.

“You want your program to get to that point where kids expect a lot from themselves every year.

“To have that you have to have a high work ethic and these kids have shown that component.”

ASHTON COOK, Iowa City Regina: Cook threw for 1,270 yards and nine scores as a sophomore while starting only five games.

DREW SONNENBERG, Dike-New Hartford: Sonnenberg led the district in passing, completing 62.7 of his passes for 1,922 yards.

CADE BENNETT, DikeNew Hartford: Rushed for nearly 2,000 yards last season.

COURIER FILE PHOTO‌

Dike-New Hartford quarterback Drew Sonnenberg scrambles during last year’s Class 1A state championship game against West Sioux.

Quarterback Drew Sonnenberg (1,900-plus passing yards), running back Cade Bennett (1,928 rushing yards) and super athlete Parker Kiewiet at receiver and defensive back are three of the top weapons in all of Class 1A. “We can’t sit back.

We’re going to work hard.

That is our thing here,” Kiewiet said.

Although the Wolverines were the only team from the district to make the 1A playoffs last year, Betts knows the district will be much improved.

“Our district is as tough

as ever,” Betts said. “We are going to have to battle just to get through our district. Our inexperienced kids are going to have to grow quickly.”

Part of that challenge is long-time powerhouse Iowa City Regina. With a chance to extend its con-

secutive playoff streak to 15 last year in the season finale, the seven-time state champion Regals lost, 56-28, to D-NH to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

Regina returns a lot of experience, including quarterback Ashton Cook, who averaged 250 passing yards a game, and all-district receiver Alec Wick and his 59 receptions.

“We did lose a bunch of offensive productivity,” Regals head coach Marv Cook said. “But the young guys coming back are excited about having the opportunity to fill their shoes.”

North Linn, which went 6-3 last year, returns a ton of experience, too, and Betts noted that South Hardin has gotten better each of the last two years and is much more experienced this season.

2018 standings‌

Dike-NH I.C. Regina North Linn South Hardin Jesup East Marshall

Dist. Overall W L W L 5 0 12 1 4 1 5 4 3 2 6 3 2 3 3 6 1 4 2 7 0 5 0 9

2018 playoffs‌ First round Dike-New Hartford 42, South Hamilton 8 Quarterfinals Dike-New Hartford 37, Interstate 35 0 Semifinals Dike-New Hartford 34, Pella Christian 21 Championship West Sioux 52, Dike-New Hartford 38

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CLASS 1A FOOTBALL

28 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

DIKE-NEW HARTFORD WOLVERINES Returning letterwinners‌

Oct. 12 Dike-New Hartford 54, South Hardin 0

Quarterback

Oct. 19 Dike-N.H. 56,

Iowa City Regina 28

Player

Ht. Wt. Year

Drew Sonnenberg 6-2 180 Sr.

Playoffs

Running back Cade Bennett

5-10,180 Sr.

First round — Dike-N.H. 42, South Hamilton 8

6-3 170 Sr.

Quarterfinals — Dike-N.H. 37, Interstate 35 0

Wide receiver Parker Kiewiet

Semifinals — Dike-N.H. 34, Pella Christian 21

Offensive line Nathan Graves

6-1 195 Sr.

Defensive linemen Joe Folkerts

6-0 212 Sr.

Derek Kinney

6-2 190 Sr.

Linebackers Nathan Graves

6-1 195 Sr.

Noah Epley

6-1 210 Sr.

Defensive backs Parker Kiewiet

6-3 170 Sr.

Reece Roberts

5-10 146 Sr.

Kaleb Brouwer

6-0 165

Jr.

Dane Fuller

5-11 155

Jr.

2019 schedule‌ Aug. 30 Denver

Sept. 6 at Aplington-Parkersburg Sept. 13 North Butler Sept. 20 at Union Sept. 27 North Linn Oct. 4

East Marshall

Oct. 11 at Jesup Oct. 18 at South Hardin Oct. 25 Iowa City Regina

2018 results‌

Regular season (9-0) Aug. 24 Dike-N.H. 21, Denver 0 Aug. 31 Dike-N.H. 40, Apl.-Park. 6 Sept. 7 Dike-N.H. 56,

North Butler 0 Sept. 14 Dike-N.H. 35, Union 22 Sept. 21 Dike-N.H. 49, North Linn 6 Sept. 28 Dike-New Hartford 53,

East Marshall 0 Oct. 5 Dike-New Hartford 59,

Jesup 0

KELLY WENZEL, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Dike-New Hartford’s Parker Kiewiet catches a touchdown pass during a playoff game against West Sioux last season.

Championship — West Sioux 52, Dike-New Hartford 38

Playoff history‌

Wolverines are in a good place

Total playoff appearances: 17

D-NH building around several of state’s best players

Top finishes: The program as Dike won the 1A title in 1981, the Wolverines as a combined program have been second five times (1998, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2018).

JIM NELSON

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

‌DIKE — From the outside, the cupboard might look a bit more bare this season.

Those within the Dike-New Hartford football program will tell you that is a mirage.

Sure, the Wolverines loss two talented offensive tackles in Owen Goos and Colton Harberts among offensive and defensive lines that graduated four players from a 2018 run to the Class 1A state finals.

That is a lot of talent to replace.

However, teams that have annual aspirations to make long runs in the playoffs don’t rebuild, they reload.

“I feel good about where we are at,” D-NH head coach Don Betts said. “We lost some awfully big pieces. We also return some awfully big pieces, and we have a lot of guys who are going to be seniors who have patiently waited their turn to play.”

Betts rattled off names like Deacon Eiklenborg, Zach Starbuck, Matt Reinicke, Jacob Loehr and Joe Folkerts as players who have gotten on the field in minor roles and are now ready to seize the moment and shine.

“Those guys have had to play, practice against some really, really good players,” Betts added.

A lot of those players also man a position of need for the Wolverines, — the offensive and defensive lines.

“Line of scrimmage is an area we have to go prove ourselves at,” Betts continued. “I like what I have seen with that group of kids. They are dialed in and focused on their chances.”

“I think losing a lot of guys on the line has made those coming back that much hungrier,”

added returning quarterback Drew Sonnenberg.

Nobody will question Dike-New Hartford’s talent at the skill positions.

Sonnenberg is back after throwing for 1,922 yards and 22 touchdowns. Running back Cade Bennett also returns after scampering for 1,928 yards and 26 touchdowns.

And big-play wide receiver/cornerback Parker Kiewiet is back after catching 19 passes for 478 yards and seven scores, playing shutdown defense and leading the team with six interceptions.

“We’ve got a lot of playmakers, that is for sure,” Bennett said. “We’ve just got to stay disciplined, stay humble and keep working hard.”

To a man, the Wolverines feel they can make a deep run in the playoffs, and there is one thing D-NH wants its opponents to know.

“We always are working hard,” Kiewiet said. “Nobody will outwork us. When you work as hard as we do you improve, so we just go to work every single day.”

“Coach told us a quote from Nick Saban the other day and it was something to the effect that in offseason practice you find out who wants to win and who is going to win. That kind of stuck with me,” added linebacker/ running back Noah Epley.

Defensively, the Wolverines return talent, too. Kiewiet was an all-state defensive back, and Nathan Graves earned all-state honors at linebacker after recording 100 1/2 tackles, 71 of them solo, including 10 for loss.

“I just really like our work ethic,” Betts said.

“We are probably not very flashy, but we just show up and work. I like that. You can do a lot of things with kids like that.”

Most recent playoff appearance: 2018

Key matchup‌ Iowa City Regina at Dike-New Hartford Oct. 25, Dike For the second consecutive year, the Wolverines and Regals will play in the regular-season finale for both teams. And, like last season, this game could be for the district championship.

Players to watch‌ PARKER KIEWIET, WR-DB: Allstate defensive back had six interceptions while also catching 19 passes for 478 yards and seven TDs. DREW SONNENBERG, QB: Passed for 1,922 yards and 22 TDs a year ago.

CADE BENNETT, RB: Rushed for 1,928 yards and 26 scores last season.

NATHAN GRAVES, LB: All-stater had 100.5 tackles, including 71 solo stops and 10 tackles for a loss.

CLASS 1A FOOTBALL

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2019 |

29

JESUP J-HAWKS Returning letterwinners Player

Ht. Wt. Year

Quarterback Jase Pilcher

5-7

119

Jr.

148 127 142 132

Sr Jr. Jr. Sr.

Backs/receivers Cooper Fuelling 5-9 Brady Dahl 5-7 Tanner Cole 5-9 Joe Giarratano 5-5 Offensive linemen

Cole Oberbroeckling 5-10 240 Keaton Roscovious 5-7 160 Defensive linemen Cole Oberbroeckling 5-10 240 Luke VanBrocklin 6-1 176 Linebackers Keaton Roscovious 5-7 Defensive back

Sr. Sr.

Sr. Sr.

160

Sr.

Cooper Fuelling 5-9 148

Sr.

2018 results Regular season (2-7) Aug. 24

Hudson 46, Jesup 8

Aug. 31

Oelwein 40, Jesup 27

Sept. 7

MFL 48, Jesup 20

Sept. 14

Jesup 35, BCLUW 6

Sept. 21

South Hardin 34, Jesup 12

Sept. 28 North Linn 23, Jesup 0 Oct. 5

Dike-New Hartford 59, Jesup 0

Oct. 12

Iowa City Regina 42, Jesup 22

Oct. 19 Jesup 18, East Marshall 7

Playoff history Total playoff appearances: 2 Most recent playoff appearance: 2015

Jesup getting its ‘freak’ on for 2019

2019 schedule

Sauer wants J-Hawks to pour themselves into what they do

at Hudson

Sept. 6

Oelwein

Sept. 13

MFL Mar-Mac

Sept. 20 at BCLUW

JIM NELSON

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com

JESUP — It’s time to be freakish.

That is the mantra that Jesup football coach Tim Sauer has been preaching to his J-Hawks in the offseason and in preseason workouts leading up to Jesup’s season-opener Friday at Hudson.

Freak may come off as a little harsh, but not in the way Sauer is using it.

“One thing, in my second year, is the guys having a freak mentality,” Sauer said. “That is having expectations in the weight room and being a freak about it.

It’s about how you act outside of football and how you treat people and being a freak about it.”

To paraphrase, Sauer said it is about teaching the right behaviors and if his athletes attack football and life by doing the right things all the time, with a freak mindset, winning will follow and his athletes will go on to be better men in life and work after football is over.

The second step for a program that has gone 6-22 since making the playoffs in 2015, is sticking together when it feels like maybe the wheels are loose and instead of tightening the bolts, letting the wheels fall off.

“We’ve been talking about execution and having a positive attitude and how that is going to transfer more into our games on Friday more so than X’s and O’s,” Sauer said.

In his first season, Sauer and the J-Hawks went 2-7 while playing a lot of sophomores. A year older and a year wiser, Sauer said he needs that group to take a big step forward.

“Our strength will be at the skill positions,” Sauer said. “We are going to be rather young up front, but we were young last year.

We played some sophomores and they went through a bit of a learning curve. But now those guys are

Aug. 30

COURTESY PHOTO

Jesup returns a group of experienced players for 2019. From left to right are Luke Van Brocklin, Cole Oberbroeckling, Joe Giarratano, Keaton Roscovious and Cooper Fuelling. our leaders and that has been really helpful, really beneficial so far.

“You see those kids pulling others aside and saying this is how we do stuff.”

Junior Jase Pilcher is back at quarterback after completing 71 passes for 886 yards and eight scores a year ago. His favorite target, Cooper Fuelling, also returns after catching 35 passes for 401 yards and four scores.

Two of the team’s top three runners are also back in Tanner Cole (55-319-3) and Joe Giarratano (64-147-1).

Defensively, Keaton Roscovious recorded 43 tackles in 2018,

and Fuelling added 31 1/2 as a defensive back.

“We like to spread it out, and we like to throw,” Sauer said.

“Having Jase back, it means so much because last year as a sophomore he was just playing, trying to grasp the offense. Now, it’s about going out there ready and leading ... setting the tone for all the other guys.”

Sauer added the keys for success will be having an offense that limits negative plays and runs a high percentage of productive plays, and a defense that is able to consistently get off the field on third downs.

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South Hardin

Oct. 4

at North Linn

Oct. 11

Dike-New Hartford

Oct. 18

at Iowa City Regina East Marshall

Oct. 25

Key matchup MFL MarMac at Jesup Sept. 13, Jesup This is a home game to eye as a youthful Jesup team continues to grow and will have two games of experience to shore up holes and weaknesses.

Players to watch KEATON ROSCOVIOUS, LB: Is among the leading returning tacklers for the J-Hawks.

JASE PILCHER, QB: Passed for 896 yards and eight touchdowns last year as a sophomore

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CLASS 1A FOOTBALL

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2019 |

29

JESUP J-HAWKS Returning letterwinners Player

Ht. Wt. Year

Quarterback Jase Pilcher

5-7

119

Jr.

148 127 142 132

Sr Jr. Jr. Sr.

Backs/receivers Cooper Fuelling 5-9 Brady Dahl 5-7 Tanner Cole 5-9 Joe Giarratano 5-5 Offensive linemen

Cole Oberbroeckling 5-10 240 Keaton Roscovious 5-7 160 Defensive linemen Cole Oberbroeckling 5-10 240 Luke VanBrocklin 6-1 176 Linebackers Keaton Roscovious 5-7 Defensive back

Sr. Sr.

Sr. Sr.

160

Sr.

Cooper Fuelling 5-9 148

Sr.

2018 results Regular season (2-7) Aug. 24

Hudson 46, Jesup 8

Aug. 31

Oelwein 40, Jesup 27

Sept. 7

MFL 48, Jesup 20

Sept. 14

Jesup 35, BCLUW 6

Sept. 21

South Hardin 34, Jesup 12

Sept. 28 North Linn 23, Jesup 0 Oct. 5

Dike-New Hartford 59, Jesup 0

Oct. 12

Iowa City Regina 42, Jesup 22

Oct. 19 Jesup 18, East Marshall 7

Playoff history Total playoff appearances: 2 Most recent playoff appearance: 2015

Jesup getting its ‘freak’ on for 2019

2019 schedule

Sauer wants J-Hawks to pour themselves into what they do

at Hudson

Sept. 6

Oelwein

Sept. 13

MFL Mar-Mac

Sept. 20 at BCLUW

JIM NELSON

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com

JESUP — It’s time to be freakish.

That is the mantra that Jesup football coach Tim Sauer has been preaching to his J-Hawks in the offseason and in preseason workouts leading up to Jesup’s season-opener Friday at Hudson.

Freak may come off as a little harsh, but not in the way Sauer is using it.

“One thing, in my second year, is the guys having a freak mentality,” Sauer said. “That is having expectations in the weight room and being a freak about it.

It’s about how you act outside of football and how you treat people and being a freak about it.”

To paraphrase, Sauer said it is about teaching the right behaviors and if his athletes attack football and life by doing the right things all the time, with a freak mindset, winning will follow and his athletes will go on to be better men in life and work after football is over.

The second step for a program that has gone 6-22 since making the playoffs in 2015, is sticking together when it feels like maybe the wheels are loose and instead of tightening the bolts, letting the wheels fall off.

“We’ve been talking about execution and having a positive attitude and how that is going to transfer more into our games on Friday more so than X’s and O’s,” Sauer said.

In his first season, Sauer and the J-Hawks went 2-7 while playing a lot of sophomores. A year older and a year wiser, Sauer said he needs that group to take a big step forward.

“Our strength will be at the skill positions,” Sauer said. “We are going to be rather young up front, but we were young last year.

We played some sophomores and they went through a bit of a learning curve. But now those guys are

Aug. 30

COURTESY PHOTO

Jesup returns a group of experienced players for 2019. From left to right are Luke Van Brocklin, Cole Oberbroeckling, Joe Giarratano, Keaton Roscovious and Cooper Fuelling. our leaders and that has been really helpful, really beneficial so far.

“You see those kids pulling others aside and saying this is how we do stuff.”

Junior Jase Pilcher is back at quarterback after completing 71 passes for 886 yards and eight scores a year ago. His favorite target, Cooper Fuelling, also returns after catching 35 passes for 401 yards and four scores.

Two of the team’s top three runners are also back in Tanner Cole (55-319-3) and Joe Giarratano (64-147-1).

Defensively, Keaton Roscovious recorded 43 tackles in 2018,

and Fuelling added 31 1/2 as a defensive back.

“We like to spread it out, and we like to throw,” Sauer said.

“Having Jase back, it means so much because last year as a sophomore he was just playing, trying to grasp the offense. Now, it’s about going out there ready and leading ... setting the tone for all the other guys.”

Sauer added the keys for success will be having an offense that limits negative plays and runs a high percentage of productive plays, and a defense that is able to consistently get off the field on third downs.

Sept. 27

South Hardin

Oct. 4

at North Linn

Oct. 11

Dike-New Hartford

Oct. 18

at Iowa City Regina East Marshall

Oct. 25

Key matchup MFL MarMac at Jesup Sept. 13, Jesup This is a home game to eye as a youthful Jesup team continues to grow and will have two games of experience to shore up holes and weaknesses.

Players to watch KEATON ROSCOVIOUS, LB: Is among the leading returning tacklers for the J-Hawks.

JASE PILCHER, QB: Passed for 896 yards and eight touchdowns last year as a sophomore

good luck athletes and coaches! www.geater.com

CLASS A FOOTBALL

30 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

CLASS A, DISTRICT 4 PREVIEW 2019 schedule‌ Aug. 30 – Central Springs at North Union (ND), Mason City Newman at Lake Mills (ND), Nashua-Plainfield at North Butler (ND), Postville at Sumner-Fredericksburg (ND), South Winneshiek at MFL MarMac (ND), Starmont at North Linn (ND), West Fork at Saint Ansgar (ND).

Sept. 6 – Algona Garrigan at Mason City Newman (ND), Edgewood-Colesburg at Starmont (ND), MFL MarMac at Postville (ND), Nashua-Plainfield at Belmond-Klemme (ND), North Butler at Central Springs (ND), Saint Ansgar at Osage (ND), Sumner-Fredericksburg at South Winneshiek (ND).

Sept. 13 – Central Springs at West Fork (ND), Mason City Newman at Nashua-Plainfield, South Winneshiek at Postville, Starmont at Saint Ansgar.

Sept. 20 – Mason City Newman at Central Springs, Nashua-Plainfield at West Fork (ND), Postville at Saint Ansgar, South Winneshiek at Starmont.

Sept. 27 – Central Springs at Postville, Saint Ansgar at Nashua-Plainfield, Starmont at Mason City Newman, Wapsie Valley at South Winneshiek (ND), Oct. 4 – Central Springs at Starmont, Hudson at Saint Ansgar (ND), Mason City Newman at Postville, South Winneshiek at Nashua-Plainfield.

Oct. 11 – Grundy Center at Mason City Newman (ND), Nashua-Plainfield at Central Springs, Postville at Starmont, Saint Ansgar at South Winneshiek.

Oct. 18 – Central Springs at South Winneshiek, North Tama at Postville (ND), Saint Ansgar at Mason Coty Newman, Starmont at Nashua-Plainfield.

Oct. 25 – Postville at Nashua-Plainfield, Saint Ansgar at Central Springs, South Winneshiek at Mason City Newman, Starmont at GMG (ND).

CHRIS ZOELLER, MASON CITY GLOBE GAZETTE‌

Newman Catholic teammates mob senior Josh Fitzgerald after he scored against Saint Ansgar last season. The Knights defeated the Saints in a game that ultimately decided the district title.

South Winn set to make a move NICK PETAROS

nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

‌A strong arm and 14 players back with starting experience has South Winneshiek poised to make a move in Class A, District 4 this season.

The Warriors finished 3-3 in the district a season ago with two of those losses coming by a single point. All-state quarterback Jake Herold returns for his junior season after passing for 2,121 yards and 23 touchdowns versus nine interceptions.

Herold will have a trio of all-district receivers back in Collin Wiltgen, Noah Tieskoetter and Cayden Kleppe, as well as five linemen with starting experience. The Warriors’ defense brings back Abe Schmitt up front along with Kleppe and Jaron Todd at linebacker.

“This season we return a lot of experience across the board,” South Winn coach Jason Ohrt noted. “We have one of the best football players in the state at the quarterback position.

We have some big shoes to fill in the kicking game, but we have guys working really hard to step in.”

Mason City Newman captured the district title a year ago, but graduated its quarterback,

top two rushers, leading receiver and leading tackler.

St. Ansgar coach Drew Clevenger’s only district loss over the past five years came to Newman last season. His Saints may be among the favorites in the district this fall, but Clevenger anticipates South Winn to be in the mix.

“They have a great coaching staff,” Clevenger said. “They just seem to plug players in when they have injuries during the year. I think they do as good of a job as anybody of preparing their kids to step up and handle the duties.”

Central Springs coach Bill Schaefer assesses St. Ansgar and South Winn as the favorites as he prepares to enter his 12th season at the school. The Panthers return eight starters.

Low numbers forced Starmont to forfeit the final five games of its 2018 schedule, but the school has enough players to field a team this season. Mike Augustine will serve as head coach after working on the staff in an assistant role the previous nine seasons.

Postville and Nashua-Plainfield are also searching for growth after going winless against the rest of the district aside from the Starmont forfeits.

2018 standings‌

Dist. Overall

W L W M.C. Newman 6 0 7 Saint Ansgar 5 1 6 Central Springs 4 2 6 South Winneshiek 3 3 4 Nashua-Plainfield 2 4 2 Postville 1 5 1 Starmont 0 6 0

L 2 3 3 5 7 8 9

2018 playoffs‌ First round: Mason City Newman 31, North Tama 28 Quarterfinals: AHSTW 31, Mason City Newman 14

Players to watch‌ JAKE HEROLD, South Winneshiek: A 6-foot-1, 180-pound all-state quarterback. Herold completed 136 of 221 passes for 23 touchdowns. He spread the ball to six different receivers who finished with at least 175 yards.

JACK SIEVERT, St. Ansgar: The Saints running back enters his senior season after rushing for 865 yards and 16 touchdowns. Eight of his 54 tackles from the defensive end position went for losses.

CLASS A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 31

NASHUA-PLAINFIELD HUSKIES Returning letterwinners‌ Player Quarterbacks Michael Stille Jacob Sievers Fullbacks Trey Nelson Christian Hillman Offensive linemen Dalton Asche Evan Kalainoff Shane Hillesheim Jordan Klueber Drew Rodruck Garren Crabtree Cael Brunner Jarrett Petersen Wide receivers Ike Sinnwell Derik Auchstetter Kyler Hackman Mckade Munn Sam Funderman Defensive linemen Shane Hillesheim Jordan Klueber Drew Rodruck Garren Crabtree Cael Brunner Jarrett Petersen Linebackers Evan Kalainoff Kristian Holmvig Tyson White Trey Nelson Christian Hillman Defensive backs Michael Stille Ike Sinnwell Max Hillegas Jacob Sievers Kyler Hackman Mckade Munn Sam Funderman

2018 results‌

Regular season (2-7)

Ht. Wt. Year 5-9 5-8

Aug. 24 North Butler 20,

Nashua-Plainfield 0

150 Sr. 135 So.

Aug. 31 Belmond-Klemme 55,

Nashua-Plainfield 0

5-6 135 So. 5-11 135 Jr. 5-11 6-3 6-1 6-1 6-3 6-1 5-10 6-5

220 Sr. 205 Sr. 170 Sr. 170 Sr. 220 So. 200 Jr. 165 Jr. 290 So.

5-9 5-10 5-5 5-9 5-9

150 Sr. 140 Jr. 130 Jr. 150 So. 140 So.

6-1 6-1 6-3 6-1 5-10 6-5

170 Sr. 170 Sr. 220 So. 200 Jr. 165 Jr. 290 So.

6-3 5-7 6-3 5-6 5-11

205 Sr. 170 Jr. 205 So. 135 So. 135 Jr.

5-9 5-9 6-0 5-8 5-5 5-9 5-9

150 Sr. 150 Sr. 170 So. 135 So. 130 Jr. 150 So. 140 So.

2019 schedule‌ August 30 at North Butler, 7 p.m.

September 6 at Belmond-Klemme, 7 p.m.

13 Mason City Newman, 7 p.m.

20 at West Fork, 7 p.m.

27 St. Ansgar, 7 p.m.

October 4 South Winneshiek, 7 p.m.

11 at Central Springs, 7 p.m.

18 Starmont, 7 p.m.

25 Postville, 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 Mason City Newman 41,

Nashua-Plainfield 0 Sept. 14 West Fork 34,

Nashua-Plainfield 0 Sept. 21 St. Ansgar 51,

Nashua-Plainfield 0 BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Nashua-Plainfield returns 11 key contributors from last season. In front, left to right, are Derik Auchstettor, Ike Sinnwell, Michael Stille, Kristian Holmvig and Jordan Klueber. Left to right in back are Max Hillegas, Evan Kalainoff, Shane Hillesheim, Tyson White, Andrew Rodruek, Dalton Asche.

N-P showing signs of growth Huskies catching on to new system in second year NICK PETAROS

nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

‌ ASHUA — Change takes time.

N Such was the case last season at Nashua-Plainfield after the Huskies finished 2-7 in their first year under head coach Nick Lamphier.

“I think the biggest thing was just the learning curve that it took,” said Lamphier, who previously served on Luther College’s staff and coached at South Central Calhoun. “I brought in quite a different system.

“It just took a little bit longer than I expected to break some of the habits of the traditional-I and get into more of a spread offensive mindset.”

The Huskies enter this season with a roster of 25 players, and Lamphier plans on using most of those bodies.

“A handful of sophomores will be helping us out quite a bit,” Lamphier noted.

“They got some experience last year and now are kind of stepping into full-time roles on both offense and defense.”

Veteran leadership can be found from senior linemen Evan Kalainoff, Dalton Asche, Shane Hillesheim and Jordan Klueber. Michael Stille returns at quarterback and has a valuable target in fellow senior Ike Sinnwell out of the slot, along with Derik Auchstetter. Both Sinnwell

and Auchstetter can be threats rushing the football in addition to catching passes.

“We don’t quite have the numbers we had last year, but there’s definitely been a lot of growth, especially on the offensive side of the ball,” Lamphier said. “You can tell the kids are taking that next step and we’re no longer focusing on learning terminology, but we’re focusing on the details of each play and improving on every snap.”

Stille’s maturity has complemented a strong arm to help the offense take another step forward.

“He’s making his reads better than he was a year ago,” Lamphier said. “He just has a positive mindset coming from quarterback.

He’s a positive kid.”

On defense, Kalainoff returns as the Huskies’ leader with 61 tackles from the linebacker position a year ago. Kristian Holmvig and Sinnwell each accounted for over 44 hits. While Hillesheim missed the final four games last season, he is an explosive weapon off the end.

As a whole, Lamphier likes the mentality this year’s group has brought to preseason workouts.

“A lot of positive kids,” he said. “They’re definitely really smart kids. You don’t have to tell them too many times the same thing.

They really bond well and mesh pretty well together.

“There’s no one person who has to have the ball. They’re willing to throw a block if they don’t have the ball, sacrifice themselves for the team.”

Sept. 28 South Winneshiek 38,

Nashua-Plainfield 16 Oct. 5

Central Springs 20, Nashua-Plainfield 0

Oct. 12 Nashua-Plainfield 2, Starmont 0 Oct. 19 Nashua-Plainfield 8,

Postville 0

Playoff history‌

Total playoff appearances: 5 Most recent playoff appearance: 2014

Key matchup‌

NashuaPlainfield at North Butler Aug. 30, Greene

It took six games before Nashua-Plainfield’s offense scored a touchdown last season. The Huskies will have a chance to unveil just how far their transition to a spread offense has progressed in this season opener.

Players to watch‌

EVAN KALAINOFF: Led the Huskies with 61 tackles a season ago and competes at the rare combination of offensive line and linebacker.

IKE SINNWELL: A valuable two-way playmaker, Sinnwell tallied 44.5 tackles from his defensive back position last season. He looks to be an option in space as a slot receiver this fall.

32

CLASS A FOOTBALL

| THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2019

ST. ANSGAR SAINTS

Returning letterwinners Player

Ht. Wt. Year

Quarterback Cade Duckert

5-10 170

Sr.

Running back Ryan Cole

5-9 173

Jr.

Fullback Jack Sievert

6-2 209

Sr.

Offensive linemen Mark Williams 5-10 190

Sr.

Alex Hansen

6-2 242

Jr.

Preston Isler

5-9 189

Sr.

Sage Hulshizer

6-0 232

Jr.

Elijah Soltero

5-10 224

Jr.

Collin Brumm

5-9 181

Sr.

Tight ends Adam Williams

5-10 191

Sr.

Taylor Hillman

6-4 199

Jr.

Wide receivers Sawyer Smith 6-0 178

Sr.

Defensive linemen Jack Sievert 6-2 209

Sr.

Collin Ubben

6-1

245

Jr.

Sage Hulshizer

6-0 232

Jr.

Mark Williams

5-10 190

Sr.

Linebackers Sam Juenger

5-7

157

Sr.

Carter Salz

6-0 180

Jr.

Preston Isler

5-9 189

Sr.

Adam Williams

5-10 191

Sr.

2019 schedule August 30 West Fork, 7 p.m.

September 6 at Osage, 7:30 p.m.

13 20 27

Starmont, 7 p.m.

Postville, 7 p.m. at Nashua-Plainfield, 7 p.m.

October 4 Hudson, 7 p.m.

11 18

at South Winneshiek, 7 p.m.

Mason City Newman, 7 p.m.

19

at Central Springs, 7 p.m.

Saints ready to bounce back A year older, St. Ansgar looks to return to playoffs NICK PETAROS

nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com

ST. ANSGAR — Experience is a luxury that was forged through adversity last season on the St. Ansgar football team.

“You have to become the varsity player at some point,” St. Ansgar head coach Drew Clevenger said, as he prepares to begin his 20th season at the school. “Typically I would say kids don’t see the field here until their junior year.

“Last year we had a small senior group and had a couple injuries with the seniors, that we did have some sophomores pressed into duty maybe before they were ready. It’s kind of trial by fire, and once you do that, typically kids rise to the challenge.”

The Saints saw a string of 12 consecutive playoff appearances come to an end in 2018 despite a 6-3 record that included non-district losses to a larger Osage playoff team and eventual Class A state champion Hudson. Ultimately, a 41-26 road loss at Mason City Newman — St. Ansgar’s first district setback in five years — was the culprit for the Saints’ postseason absence.

Starters return at 18 of 22 positions this season for a St. Ansgar program determined to get back on track after reaching the state semifinals in 2017.

“The good news is we have a lot of kids back,” Clevenger said. “The bad news is we weren’t up to our expectations last year. We have some improving to do.”

Running back Jack Sievert started during the 2017 semifinal run and is among the team’s leaders on both sides of the ball. He paced a four-man

CHRIS ZOELLER, MASON CITY GLOBE GAZETTE

St. Ansgar’s Jack Sievert fights for extra yardage during a 2017 state quarterfinal playoff game. The running back and linebacker is a multi-year starter taking on a larger leadership role this season. rushing attack with 865 yards and 18 touchdowns to go with five receptions for 100 yards and two scores.

Sievert also tallied 42 tackles, eight for loss, and three sacks from the defensive end position.

“He does a very good job of playing with his hands,” Clevenger said. “He’s good in the pass rush game, good defending the run, as well.

We’re looking for him to be the tone-setter for our defense.”

That defense also includes linebacker Preston Isler, who recorded a team-leading 59.5 tackles and is entering his third season starting.

“We need him to be better at diagnosing and reading plays as they’re happening,” Clevenger said. “He’s certainly not afraid of contact and is a very physical player. We’re hoping the game slows down a little bit for him this year and he’ll be able to understand how teams are trying to attack us.”

On offense, the Saints have a solid foundation with Alex Hansen and Sage Hulshizer the anchors to a line that returns all five starters.

“Early in the year, we’re not answering as many questions about assignments,” Clevenger said. “They understand assignments better up front and we’re just able to work on technique and doing it better.”

Ryan Cole returns alongside Sievert in the backfield after rushing for an average of 9.2 yards per carry with seven touchdowns. Cade Duckert, in his third year , will take on quarterback duties after receiving limited game reps last season.

“We’re going to run the ball first,” Clevenger said. “That’s what we do, and maybe we use that to set up the pass a little bit with our play-action game. Both (Sievert and Cole) have shown they’re capable of making big plays.”

The initial workouts within this experienced St. Ansgar team have evolved beyond the basics. Now, the Saints will see if they can reach the next level.

“I like that attitude and effort we’ve seen the first couple days,” Clevenger said. “I think we’ve got good leadership out of our group.”

2018 results Aug. 24 St. Ansgar 53, West Fork 21 Aug. 31 Osage 36, St. Ansgar 31 Sept. 7 St. Ansgar 54, Starmont 6 Sept. 14 St. Ansgar 48, Postville 7 Sept. 21 St. Ansgar 51, Nashua-Plainfield 0 Sept. 28 Hudson 27, St. Ansgar 12 Oct. 5 St. Ansgar 40, South Winneshiek 39 Oct. 12 Mason City Newman 41, St. Ansgar 26 Oct. 19 St. Ansgar 57, Central Springs 14

Playoff history Total playoff appearances: 18 Most recent playoff appearance: 2017 Top finishes: Won the Class 1A state title in 2011.

Key matchup St. Ansgar at South Winneshiek Oct. 11, Calmar This game was a classic last season. St. Ansgar jumped out to a big lead on its home field and held on for a 40-39 victory. South Winneshiek returns quarterback Jacob Herold who passed for 443 yards and three touchdowns in the comeback effort. Both teams bring back enough talent for this game to potentially side the championship in Class A, District 4.

Players to watch JACK SIEVERT: The hard-nosed running back rushed for 865 yards and 16 touchdowns last season while eight of his 54 tackles from the defensive end position went for losses.

PRESTON ISLER: St. Ansgar’s top returning tackler after making 60 hits from the linebacker position in 2018. Isler is a member of an experienced offensive line that will look to impose its will.

CLASS A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 33

CLASS A, DISTRICT 7 PREVIEW 2018 standings‌

2019 schedule‌

Dist. Overall

W L W L Hudson 6 0 13 0 North Tama 5 1 8 2 Wapsie Valley 4 2 7 3 Grundy Center 3 3 5 4 East Buchanan 2 4 4 5 BCLUW 1 5 2 7 GMG 0 6 2 7

Aug. 30 – Clayton Ridge at Wapsie Valley (ND), Colfax-Mingo at BCLUW (ND), GMG at Grand View Christian (ND), Grundy Center at Belle Plaine (ND), Jesup at Hudson (ND), Maquoketa Valley at East Buchanan (ND), North Mahaska at North Tama (ND).

2018 results Regular season (0-9) Aug. 24 Wat. West 34, Wat. East 20 Aug. 31 Liberty 18, Wat. East 6 Sept. 7 Webster City 45,

Wat. East 36 Sept. 14 Newton 55, Wat. East 33 Sept. 21 Charles City 61,

Wat. East 34 Sept. 28 Independence 52,

Wat. East 12 Oct. 5 Waverly-S.R. 38,

Wat. East 14 Oct. 12 Decorah 48, Wat. East 0 Oct. 19 W. Delaware 53,

Wat. East 19

Sept. 6 – Columbus Community at GMG (ND), East Buchanan at Clayton Ridge (ND), East Marshall at BCLUW (ND), North Tama at Lisbon (ND), South Hamilton at Grundy Center (ND), Wapsie Valley at Denver (ND), Waterloo Columbus (ND).

BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Hudson’s Jacob Murray gets off a short pass to Aiden Zook during the Pirates’ 24-20 victory last season at Wapsie Valley. These teams are among the 2019 favorites in what figures to be another exciting district race.

A-7 loaded with

Playoffs First round Algona Garrigan 12, Wapsie Valley 7 Mason City Newman 31, Tama 28

North

Hudson 44, Lynnville-Sully 22 Quarterfinals Hudson 41, Riverside 14 Semifinals Hudson 35, West Hancock 28 Championship Hudson 30, AHSTW 7

Players to watch‌ ETHAN FULCHER, Hudson: A 5-foot-10, 185-pound all-state leader at the linebacker position.

Fulcher finished last season with 117 tackles, including 18 for loss. He also tallied 390 receiving yards, 671 rushing and 13 total touchdowns.

TREVOR SAUERBREI, Wapsie Valley: The Warriors’ junior will look to supply balance to a dangerous offense following a season in which he rushed for 986 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also recorded two interceptions and 20 tackles on defense.

firepower again Hudson, Wapsie Valley headline dangerous district NICK PETAROS

nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

‌ ow tough was Class A, District 7 last season?

H Consider that eventual state champion Hudson needed an overtime field goal against North Tama and a late touchdown against Wapsie Valley to secure the district championship.

Those three teams all qualified for the playoffs within the state’s new RPI system and return plenty of talent this fall. Grundy Center (5-4 overall in 2018) and East Buchanan (4-5) also can’t be ignored.

“It will come down to the wire again this year and I feel like whoever comes out of the district can make a deep playoff run,” Hudson coach Justin Brekke said. “I feel like last season we had one of the best districts in the state and this year will be no different. I wouldn’t be surprised if three teams

came out of the district to the 2019 playoffs.”

East Buchanan coach Jerry Alden agrees with that assessment. Despite finishing 2-4 in district play last season, Alden’s Buccaneers dropped a one-point game to playoff qualifier North Tama and suffered a three-point loss at Wapsie Valley’s playoff team.

“This year I think Wapsie Valley and Hudson will be top five-ranked teams and North Tama returns quite a few guys from a playoff team,” Alden noted. “Throw in traditionally tough Grundy Center who has a new coach. … It will be a very tough task every week.”

North Tama coach Tom McDermott assesses Wapsie Valley with its returning skill players and Hudson with its returning defenders as the district favorites. His team will be as tough as any in the trenches with the return of all-state linemen Ryan McLean and Cory Isenhower.

BCLUW and GMG face a tough road as they were unable to secure a win against the district’s top five teams last season despite combining for three wins outside the district.

Sept. 13 – BCLUW at Grundy Center, East Buchanan at Edgewood-Colesburg (ND), Hudson at GMG, Wapsie Valley at North Tama.

Sept. 20 – GMG at Wapsie Valley, Grundy Center at East Buchanan, Jesup at BCLUW (ND), North Tama at Hudson.

Sept. 27 – East Buchanan at North Tama, GMG at Grundy Center, Hudson at BCLUW, Wapsie Valley at South Winneshiek (ND).

Oct. 4 – BCLUW at Wapsie Valley, East Buchanan at GMG, Hudson at Saint Ansgar (ND), North Tama at Grundy Center.

Oct. 11 – BCLUW at East Buchanan, GMG at North Tama, Grundy Center at Mason City Newman (ND), Wapsie Valley at Hudson.

Oct. 18 – GMG at BCLUW, Hudson at Grundy Center, North Tama at Postville (ND), Wapsie Valley at East Buchanan.

Oct. 25 – BCLUW at North Tama, East Buchanan at Hudson, Grundy Center at Wapsie Valley, Starmont at GMG (ND).

CLASS A FOOTBALL

34 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

HUDSON PIRATES Returning letterwinners‌ Player Ht. Wt. Year Running backs Joe Culham 5-8 172 Jr. Ethan Vogt 5-7 165 Jr. Offensive linemen Jacob Wiersma 6-0 215 Jr. Blake Johnson 5-9 215 Jr. Tony Trevino 6-1 240 Jr. Tate Entriken 5-8 159 So. Wide receivers Ethan Fulcher 5-10 185 Sr. Payton Stuart 6-1 175 Sr. Trey Jochumsen 5-8 150 Jr. Jackson Lehr 6-0 190 Jr. Austin Reynolds 6-0 162 Sr. Bryce Griffin 6-0 168 Jr. Defensive linemen Tony Trevino 6-1 240 Jr. Trey Germain 5-9 200 Sr. Eli Fox 5-8 185 Sr. Carter Swope 6-4 200 Jr. Linebackers Ethan Fulcher 5-10 185 Sr. Aiden Zook 5-10 185 So. Aiden Larson 5-8 180 Sr. Jackson Lehr 6-0 190 Jr. Defensive backs Payton Stuart 6-1 175 Sr. Trey Jochumsen 5-8 150 Jr. Karter Krapfl 5-9 146 So. Ethan Vogt 5-7 165 Jr. Kicker Austin Appleton 5-8 145 Sr.

Players to watch‌ ETHAN FULCHER: The Hudson linebacker shined in the 2018 state championship game with a sack part of his five solo tackles for loss. He’ll be taking on a larger role in the offense this upcoming season.

AIDEN LARSON: Complementing Fulcher’s with 117 tackles with 66.5 of his own, Larson is a hard-hitting linebacker within a veteran defense. He led the Pirates with five solo sacks during the 2018 state title season.

Pirates regroup for an encore Hudson returns plenty of experience from title team NICK PETAROS

nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

HUDSON — Win by win, ‌ pieces of a puzzle that sometimes never gets solved finally came together for Hudson last season.

A Pirates’ program that finished state runner-up in 2017 left no doubt during 2018’s championship quest, capping a perfect 13-0 season with a convincing 30-7 victory over AHSTW. “It’s been really good for the community and the school,” Hudson coach Justin Brekke said. “We’ve got a lot of kids back so they know what their expectations are.”

Hudson’s strength this fall will come on the defensive side of the ball where nine starters return. It’s a group that allowed more than 20 points in five of six games before delivering a lockdown performance with a state championship on the line.

“We definitely peaked at that right time,” Brekke said. “We had every unit clicking in that (championship) game.

“That was honestly what we needed. We needed all 13 games to make that happen because we had a ton of guys that switched positions. We were still improving and working hard that 13th week.”

The 1-2 punch of linebackers Ethan Fulcher (117.5 tackles in 2018, including 18 for loss) and Aiden Larson (66.5 tackles, 11 for loss) return for their senior seasons. Fulcher is coming off a state championship game in which he recorded five solo tackles for loss and assisted on three more stops behind the line of scrimmage.

“He really sets the tone and is a great communicator,” Brekke

2019 schedule‌ August 30 Jesup, 7 p.m.

September 6 Columbus, 7 p.m.

13 at GMG, 7 p.m.

20 North Tama, 7 p.m.

27 at BCLUW, 7 p.m.

October 4 at St. Ansgar, 7 p.m.

11 Wapsie Valley, 7 p.m.

18 at Grundy Center, 7 p.m.

28 East Buchanan, 7 p.m.

2018 results‌ KELLY WENZEL, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Hudson’s Ethan Fulcher catches a touchdown pass from Jacob Murray during the first half of the Pirates’ 2018 state semifinal win over West Hancock. Fulcher will be a valuable two-way contributor for the defending state champion Pirates this season. said of his fourth-year starter.

“When practice needs to be toughed up a little bit, he’ll get after the guys and does it in a very constructive way.”

As for Larson, Brekke added, “He’ll hit you with everything he’s got. He’s going to bring it and he’s tough.”

Fulcher also figures to make an impact within an offense that graduated Class A Player of the Year Christian Seres — a 2,075-yard rusher with 32 touchdowns. While Fulcher was second on the team with 671 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, he’s the top returning receiver with 25 receptions for 390 yards and four more scores.

“That’s kind of our goal,” Brekke responded, when asked if Fulcher would become a featured back this year. “But he’s also one of our better receivers and I’d like to keep him out there, too. We want to find out who else can help support and run the rock.”

Juniors Joe Culham and Ethan Vogt are among the other backfield options with each bringing something different to the table.

There’s also a competition to replace three-year starting quarterback Jacob Mur-

ray. Aiden Zook is an option at quarterback or fullback, while Jackson Lehr can play tight end, receiver or quarterback in addition to making an impact at defensive end.

“They’re both pretty close,” Brekke said.

Up front, Hudson returns three fulltime starters, in addition to two more athletes who started in a couple games. Jacob Wiersma, Blake Johnson, Tony Trevino, Trey Germain, Eli Fox and Carter Swope are among the linemen who started on either offense or defense last season.

“We’re pretty deep on the offensive and defensive line,” Brekke said. “We’re hoping to be able to keep guys fresh, not totally platoon, but at least partial to half.”

Levi Budreau (tight end), Karter Krapfl (defensive back), Tate Entriken (offensive line) and Jake Yoder (slot receiver) are among the sophomores who have impressed early in camp and could contend for varsity reps.

A Hudson program that has tallied a 25-1 record over the past two seasons shows no signs of slowing down.

Regular season (9-0) Aug. 24 Hudson 46, Jesup 8 Aug. 31 Hudson 14, Columbus 0 Sept. 7 Hudson 35, GMG 0 Sept. 14 Hudson 24, N. Tama 21 Sept. 21 Hudson 49, BCLUW 0 Sept. 28 Hudson 27, St. Ansgar 12 Oct. 5 Hudson 24, Wapsie Vall. 20 Oct. 12 Hudson 55, Grundy Center 21 Oct. 19 Hudson 42, E. Buchanan 20 Playoffs 1st round: Hudson 44, Lynnville-Sully 22 Quarter: Hudson 41, Highland 14 Semi: Hudson 35, West Hancock 28 Champ: Hudson 30, AHSTW, Avoca 7

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 18 (10 straight) Most recent playoff appearance: 2018 Top finishes: Won 2A state title in 1975, 1A crown in 1994 and A championship in 2018. Finished runner-up in 2017.

Key matchup‌ Wapsie Valley at Hudson Oct. 11, Hudson These teams are likely to enter the season ranked among the state’s elite. Hudson needed a late touchdown by standout Christian Seres to snag a road win over the Warriors last season. Seres has graduated. Now the Pirates will turn to a cast of returning starters on defense and new playmakers on offense in a game that could decide the district title.

CLASS A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 35

NORTH TAMA REDHAWKS Returning letterwinners‌

Redhawks are flying high again

Player

North Tama excels in McDermott’s return

Ht. Wt. Yr.

Quarterback Skyler Staker Running backs

6-0

215 Sr.

Zach Greiner 5-9 Offensive linemen

180 Jr.

Ryan McLean Cory Isenhower Wide Receivers Skyler Staker Luke Pennell Tate Payne Defensive linemen

6-4 5-6

250 Sr. 160 Sr.

6-0 6-0 5-11

215 Sr. 180 Sr. 160 Sr.

Ryan McLean Xander Bradley Linebackers Skyler Staker Zach Greiner Luke Pennell Defensive backs

6-4 6-0

250 Sr. 250 Jr.

6-0 5-9 6-0

215 Sr. 180 Jr. 180 Sr.

Tate Payne Gabe Kopriva

5-11 160 Sr. 5-10 150 So.

NICK PETAROS

2019 schedule‌ August 30 North Mahaska, 7 p.m.

September 6 13 20 27

at Lisbon, Cornell College, 7 p.m.

Wapsie Valley, 7 p.m. at Hudson, 7 p.m.

East Buchanan, 7 p.m.

October 4 at Grundy Center, 7 p.m.

11 GMG, 7 p.m.

18 at Postville, 7 p.m.

25 BCLUW, 7 p.m.

nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

‌TRAER — After spending the better part of the 70s and 80s in charge of North Tama’s football program, Tom McDermott never strayed far from the field. The school administrator served several stints an assistant coach before taking back the whistle last fall in what became a memorable bounce-back season.

North Tama compiled an 8-2 record, ending a string of five consecutive losing seasons for a once tradition-rich program that reached the 2008 state title game and won Class A’s championship in 2012.

“It was very rewarding to see what we could accomplish,” McDermott said. “I had been the assistant in charge of the defense for two years prior to that. I knew the guys pretty well and felt we were capable of having a pretty good football team.

“One of the things we emphasized was developing the positive attitude that was necessary to be successful. We were fortunate to have a good group of seniors who wanted to be successful and showed good leadership.”

The Redhawks return eight starters and nine letterwinners from a 2018 team that lost just two games by three points — a district setback to eventual state champion Hudson and a playoff loss at Mason City Newman.

“Hopefully our returning guys can use that as motivation to realize how close we were and some of the things that we need to improve upon,” McDermott said.

“We’ve talked a lot about taking the next step this year. I’ve emphasized to them that we’re not talking about how many wins we

have or how far we got this season, it’s just each person taking that next step to be a better player and a better person.”

Among North Tama’s senior leaders are all-state linemen Cory Isenhower and Ryan McLean. Isenhower’s heart and McLean’s technique provide sources of inspiration.

“Cory (Isenhower) is very small for a defense lineman and he’ll be playing on offense also,” McDermott said. “He shows quickness and what you can accomplish no matter what your size is. He enjoys playing the game of football and has a tremendous, fun attitude out there.

“Ryan (McLean) is somebody we think can be dominant on both sides of the football. We use him a lot with our younger kids to show the proper technique on offense or defense. He was worked hard from freshman year to develop the proper way to do things.”

At quarterback, incumbent senior Skyler Staker and sophomore Gabe Kopriva will likely both see reps. Staker’s strength and Kopriva’s athleticism provide different dimensions. Whoever isn’t taking snaps is likely to see reps in the backfield.

The Redhawks must replace four starters on the offensive line in addition to Tyler Morrison, who rushed for 2018 totals of 1,224 yards and 24 touchdowns and accumulated a team-high 373 receiving yards.

McDermott points to junior Noah Weber as an option to fill that playmaking role.

“He has looked good in initial workouts,” McDermott said of Weber. “We’re hoping that he can take that next step and be in that role.”

On defense, senior linebacker Zach Greiner returns as the team’s leading tackler with 57.5 hits followed by Staker at 55.5.

The Redhawks posted four shutouts and held another district rival to six points a season ago.

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2018 results‌ Regular season (7-2) Aug. 24 North Tama 69, North Mahaska 6 Aug. 31 North Tama 49, Lisbon 0 Sept. 7 North Tama 33, Wapsie Valley 26 Sept. 14 Hudson 24, North Tama 21 Sept. 21 North Tama 7, East Buchanan 6 Sept. 28 North Tama 34, Grundy Center 26 Oct. 4 North Tama 49, GMG 0 Oct. 12 North Tama 53, Postville 0 Oct. 19 North Tama 52 BCLUW 0

Playoffs

First round Mason City Newman 31, North Tama 28

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 15 Most recent playoff appearance: 2018 Top finishes: Won the 2010 Class A title.

State runner-up in 2008.

Key matchup‌ Wapsie Valley at North Tama Sept. 13, Traer This showdown begins a stretch of four consecutive weeks in which North Tama will face teams that figure to contend for the district title. A thrilling 33-26 victory at Upper Iowa last season ultimately helped the Redhawks secure a place in the playoff field.

Skylar Staker connected with Hale Hulme on a touchdown pass with 30 seconds remain to secure that dramatic victory. Wapsie Valley has the core of its team back this year.

Players to watch‌ NOAH WEBER: Coach Tom McDermott is optimistic that Weber can help fill the void left by Tyler Morrison who rushed for 1,224 yards and 24 touchdowns and added four receiving TDs last season.

ZACH GREINER: The linebacker led a stingy Redhawk defense with 57.5 tackles, including five solo hits for loss. He also returns with experience in the backfield of offense and caught nine passed for 225 yards.

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CLASS A FOOTBALL

36 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

WAPSIE VALLEY WARRIORS Returning letterwinners‌

Close not good enough for Wapsie

Player

Ht. Wt. Yr.

Quarterback Kobe Risse

6-0 175 Jr.

Running backs Trevor Sauerbrei

Warriors hope to be the team making big plays in clutch

6-1 185 Jr.

Brock Beesecker

5-10 170 Sr.

Offensive linemen Kiks Rosengarten 6-6 225 Sr. Traeton Kaufman 5-10,190,Sr. Cole Neil

6-0 198 Sr.

Brandon Brown

6-3 230 Sr.

Andrew Powell

5-10 185 Sr.

Wide receivers Blayde Bellis

5-7 150 Jr.

Tyler Ott

5-11 175 Jr.

Tight end Kyle Voy

6-1 200 Sr.

Defensive linemen Kiks Rosengarten 6-6 225 Sr. Cole Neil

6-0 198 Sr.

Kyle Voy

6-1 200 Sr.

Brandon Brown

6-3 230 Sr.

Andrew Powell

5-10 185 Sr.

Linebackers Brock Beesecker

5-10 170 Sr.

Tyler Ott

5-11 175 Jr.

Traeton Kaufman

5-10 190 Sr.

Defensive backs Trevor Sauerbrei

6-1 185 Jr.

Jordan Rubner

5-9 165 Jr.

2019 schedule‌ August 30 Clayton Ridge, 7:30 p.m.

September 6 at Denver, 7 p.m.

13 at North Tama, 7 p.m.

20 GMG, 7 p.m.

27 at South Winneshiek, 7 p.m.

October 4 BCLUW, 7 p.m.

11 at Hudson, 7 p.m.

18 at East Buchanan, 7 p.m.

25 Grundy Center, 7:30 p.m.

NICK PETAROS

nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

‌FAIRBANK — Tony Foster knows what it takes to win a state championship.

The man who guided Wapsie Valley to Class A titles in 2007 and 2012 — in addition to a finals appearance in 2006 — talks about the upcoming season with the measured confidence of a veteran football coach. Foster’s Warriors return 10 starters from a 7-3 2018 playoff campaign in which all three setbacks were by seven points or less.

Among the losses was a 2420 district defeat to eventual state champion Hudson when Wapsie Valley was overtaken in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. Class A Player of the Year Christian Seres was a difference-maker in that contest with three touchdowns and 170 yards rushing, including the last score. He broke free from the line of scrimmage and scampered 21 yards on the game-winning run.

“Playing the game and staying close is not good enough,” Foster said. “You have to have somebody take control on the team. In the games we lost, that’s what happened to us.

The other teams took control down the stretch.”

This season, Wapsie Valley returns a variety of athletes capable of making the types of plays its takes to close out those tight games. The cast of playmakers includes quarterback Kobe Risse, who threw for 1,558 yards and 17 touchdowns versus eight interceptions as a sophomore.

“His arm never gets tired, never gets sore,” Foster said.

“We never have to give him a break in practice. I’ve never re-

2018 results‌ Regular season (7-2) Aug. 24 Wapsie Valley 28,

Clayton Ridge 8 Aug. 31 Wapsie Valley 31, Denver 16 Sept. 7 North Tama 33,

Wapsie Valley 26 Sept. 14 Wapsie Valley 39, GMG 0 Sept. 21 Wapsie Valley 15, South Winneshiek 12 Sept. 28 Wapsie Valley 53, BCLUW 0 Oct. 5 Hudson 24,

Wapsie Valley 20 Oct. 12 Wapsie Valley 21,

East Buchanan 18 Oct. 19 Wapsie Valley 14, Grundy Center 7

Playoffs BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Wapsie Valley’s Blayde Bellis extends himself for extra yardage last season against Hudson. Bellis is among the dangerous playmakers returning to the Warriors in 2019. ally had anybody like that before. He can just throw forever and he’s accurate. He’s more relaxed. Last year he was in a hurry all the time. This year he can pick out his targets and make his reads.”

Among Risse’s targets is junior classmate Blayde Bellis, who caught 37 passes for 504 yards and seven touchdowns in 2018.

“They won games for us last year where they just did it on their own and they’ll do that again this year,” Foster said.

“They’ve got some things they can just call between them on the field and get it done. They have great chemistry and are good friends, too.”

On the offensive line, the Warriors bring back seniors Tanner Blaylock, Kiks Rosengarten, Traeton Kaufman, Cole Neil and Andrew Powell. They’ll block for running block for Trevor Sauerbrei, who rushed for 986 yards at an average of 6 per carry with 10 touchdowns last season.

Brock Beesecker is also back after adding 397 rushing yards.

“I think he’s one of the better backs in our class,” Foster said of Sauerbrei. “If we give him any kind of room to run,

he’ll do a great job with it.”

Sauerbrei also covers plenty of ground in the defensive backfield for a unit that has experience. Blaylock tallied eight tackles for loss last season and joins Rosengarten and Neil as returners up front. Kaufman, a nose guard and linebacker, tallied 38.5 tackles in 2018. Jordan Rubner returns as a starter at defensive back and Tyler Ott made 47 hits from his linebacker position last season.

“I think we can compete,” Foster said. “If we stay away from long-term injuries, I think we should be able to compete for our district, and then see what happens after that. We need to get our reserves up to speed, but we’ve got some kids who have some numbers. We didn’t have that last year. So we’re ahead of the game in that way.”

While Wapsie Valley is poised to take a step forward, Foster has seen enough football to know his team can’t take anything for granted.

“Expectations are great,”Foster said. “But expectations can be killers, too. You have to temper them and be humble and keep trying to get better every day.”

First round Algona Garrigan 12, Wapsie Valley 7

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 30 (12 consecutive) Most recent playoff appearance: 2018 Top finishes: Won the 2A titles in 1986 and 1987, the 1A title in 1997, the A titles in 2007 and 2012.

Key matchup‌ Wapsie Valley at Hudson Oct. 11, Hudson Wapsie Valley pushed Hudson as hard as anyone these past two years in which the Pirates haven’t dropped a regular season game. Last year in a battle that included a lightning delay, Hudson overtook the Warriors with a touchdown drive at the end of the fourth quarter. A district title could be on the line when these teams meet again. Defending state champ Hudson will contend with a team that returns 10 starters.

Players to watch‌ KOBE RISSE: Wapsie Valley’s quarterback returns after airing it out during a sophomore season in which he completed 129 of 239 passes for 1,558 yards and 17 touchdowns. His top receiver also returns.

TREVOR SAUERBREI: Coach Tony Foster would like to see his team find growth in the run game. He has faith in Sauerbrei’s ability to deliver big plays. The Warriors’ junior is also a key linebacker on defense.

CLASS A FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 37

GRUNDY CENTER SPARTANS

Zajac set to lead Grundy Center

Returning letterwinners‌ Player

Ht. Wt. Yr.

Quarterback Logan Knaack

5-10 180 So.

Running backs Jesse Mackie Zach Opheim

5-10 190 Sr. 5-11 180 Jr.

Offensive linemen Kolby Muller Wes Willis Austin Engelkes Joe Janssen

6-1 6-2 6-3 6-0

240 Jr. 210 Jr. 220 Sr. 200 Sr.

Wide receivers Jensen Clapp Cale Hendricks Adam Hoy Nick Ascher

6-2 6-0 5-11 6-4

180 Sr. 170 Sr. 175 Sr. 200 Jr.

Defensive linemen Nick Ascher Kolby Muller Wes Willis Austin Engelkes Joe Janssen

6-4 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-0

200 Jr. 240 Jr. 210 Jr. 220 Sr. 200 Sr.

Linebackers Jesse Mackie Zach Opheim

5-10 190 Sr. 5-11 180 Jr.

Defensive backs Jensen Clapp Cale Hendricks Adam Hoy Logan Knaack

6-2 6-0 5-11 5-10

180 Sr. 170 Sr. 175 Sr. 180 So.

Punter Jensen Clapp Kicker

6-2 180 Sr.

Cale Hendricks

6-0 170 Sr.

2019 schedule‌ August 30 at Belle Plaine, 7 p.m.

September 6 South Hamilton, 7 p.m.

13 BCLUW, 7 p.m.

20 at East Buchanan, 7 p.m.

27 GMG, 7 p.m.

October 4 North Tama, 7 p.m.

11 at Mason City Newman, 7 p.m.

18 Hudson, 7 p.m.

25 at Wapsie Valley, 7 p.m.

New coach says line play will be one key this season NICK PETAROS

nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

‌GRUNDY CENTER — Travis Zajac has traded a coaching and teaching position at Dubuque Wahlert for small-town living in a community his wife and family are looking forward to calling home.

Zajac will take over Grundy Center’s football program after serving as Wahlert’s head coach for the past six seasons. He inherits a team that went 5-4 a season ago, including a 3-3 record within a district led by Hudson’s state championship team.

The football coach’s wife, Shannon Zajac, grew up in the Raymond-Gilbertville area and is a Don Bosco graduate. The couple has two children.

“This is a great community,” Zajac said. “My family and I moved here a month ago and got ourselves settled.

“It’s been off to the races since then. Everything has been nonstop football. The kids have been putting in their time, working incredibly hard and the growth is definitely there. It’s just a matter if we can keep that trending the right way so we don’t plateau.”

Playing off the Spartans nickname, Zajac has used the acronym SHIELD (strength, honor, integrity, effort, leadership, discipline) as a brand for his new program.

“Not only is that something we use as a vehicle in football to drive it, but also things that they can implement in their academic lives and personal lives and trying to help them grow into productive young men when they graduate from high school,” Zajac said.

The Spartans return nine twoway starters from last year’s winning team. Logan Knaack

2018 results‌ Regular season (5-4) Aug. 24 Grundy Center 34,

Belle Plaine 22 Aug. 31 South Hamilton 22, Grundy Center 14 Sept. 7 Grundy Center 56,

BCLUW 6 Sept. 14 Grundy Center 42,

East Buchanan 22 Sept. 21 Grundy Center 38, GMG 0 Sept. 28 North Tama 34, Grundy Center 26 Oct. 5 Grundy Center 21,

Mason City Newman 20 Oct. 12 Hudson 55, Grundy Center 21 Oct. 19 Wapsie Valley 14, Grundy Center 7

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 11 Most recent playoff appearance: 2015 Top finishes: Won the 2A title in 1984 and the 1A titles in 1987 and 1988.

BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Grundy Center’s Nick Ascher, Will Grames and Logan Knaack, left to right, celebrate one of Knaack’s three touchdowns during a 2018 win over East Buchanan. Ascher and Knaack are among nine returning Spartan starters entering the 2019 season. will remain at the quarterback position after an injury to Cale Hendricks gave him a chance to run the offense last fall.

Knaack rushed for 669 yards at an average of 9.7 per carry and will looking to build upon his 330 passing yards off 56 attempts.

“Logan ran the ball real well last year,” said Zajac, who plans to run a flexible multiple formation offense. “He’s a very good athlete, so now it’s a matter of trying to get him to progress as a passer.”

Hendricks has moved to wide receiver where he will complement Nick Ascher, who caught 18 passes for 273 yards in 2018.

Senior Jesse Mackie, junior Zach Opheim and sophomore Cole Lehr are all options to carry the football out of the backfield.

“We can’t go into the season hoping for him (Knaack) to carry the load for everybody so we’ve got to disperse what he’s doing a little bit,” Zajac said.

Mackie also returns as the team’s leading tackler after making 65 hits, seven for loss, a season ago.

“He definitely has a knack for finding the football,” Zajac noted. “He’s an instinctual kid.”

The new head coach will be turning to a variety of first-year contributors on the line. Kolby Muller returns as a two-way starter and Wes Willis also has experience.

“We’ve got a lot of unanswered questions up front on both sides of the ball,” Zajac said.

Grundy Center enters the season with 37 football participants, near the 40 to 45 range their coach would like to sustain.

“I’ve been impressed with their work ethic and attention to detail,” Zajac said. “Football is very important in Grundy Center and that’s obvious in the kids taking that responsibility very seriously. The effort has been outstanding.”

Key matchup‌ North Tama at Grundy Center Oct. 4, Grundy Center North Tama won last year’s meeting in Traer by a touchdown, 34-26. This game kicks off a four-game month of October in which Grundy Center will play teams that qualified for the playoffs last season. The Spartans went 1-3 in October last season after opening the year 4-1. State champion Hudson was the only team to score more points against Grundy Center than the North Tama tallied during last year’s game.

Players to watch‌ LOGAN KNAACK: The dual-threat playmaker has taken over the quarterback position entering his sophomore season. Knaack will look to build on a season in which he passed for just 330 yards, but rushed for 669, 9.7 per carry.

JESSE MACKIE: Recovered two fumbles and played in a role in a team-high 70 tackles last season.

Mackie is among the options in Grundy Center’s backfield in addition to a leader from the linebacker position.

CLASS A FOOTBALL

38 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

EAST BUCHANAN BUCCANEERS

Young Bucs have some moxie

Returning letterwinners‌ Player

Ht. Wt. Yr.

Quarterback TJ Lau

5-10 160 Jr.

Running backs Cole Bowden 6-0 170 Jr. Kaden Brockmeyer 5-6 150 Jr. Offensive linemen Luke Recker Landon Nunemaker Foster Hazen Trey Johnson

6-2 5-8 5-9 5-9

Wide receivers AJ Kremer

5-7 135 Jr.

Defensive linemen Luke Recker Landon Nunemaker Foster Hazen Trey Johnson

6-2 5-8 5-9 5-9

Linebackers TJ Lau Cole Bowden

5-10 160 Jr. 6-0 170 Jr.

230 Jr. 220 Sr. 170 Sr. 209 Jr.

230 Jr. 220 Sr. 170 Sr. 209 Jr.

Defensive backs AJ Kremer 5-7 135 Jr. Kaden Brockmeyer 5-6 150 Jr.

2019 schedule‌ August 30 Maquoketa Valley, 7 p.m.

September 6 at Clayton Ridge, 7 p.m.

13 at Edgewood-Coleburg, 7 p.m.

20 Grundy Center, 7 p.m.

27 at North Tama, 7 p.m.

October 4 at GMG, 7 p.m.

11 BCLUW, 7 p.m.

18 Wapsie Valley, 7 p.m.

25 at Hudson, 7 p.m.

Players to watch‌ TJ LAU: An athletic two-way contributor, Lau will look to build on a season in which he passed for 503 yards and six touchdowns. He also tallied 39 tackles and finished with two interceptions.

COLE BOWDEN: The running back tallied 719 yards on the ground and another 191 receiving with 11 total touchdowns in 2018 within a balanced backfield. He also is a defensive leader at linebacker.

2018 results‌ Regular season (4-5)

Developing line play a focal point for East Buchanan

Aug. 24 East Buchanan 42,

Maquoketa Valley 8

NICK PETAROS

Sept. 7 33,

Aug. 31 East Buchanan 42,

Clayton Ridge 6

nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com‌

‌WINTHROP — A collection of talented skill players will be leading East Buchanan’s youthful football team into the upcoming season.

The Buccaneers return a group of five two-way starters who played major roles as sophomores on the varsity team during a 4-5 campaign in 2018. That group includes four athletes at skill positions.

Coach Jerry Alden points to his back seven on defense and playmakers on offense as strengths within this year’s squad.

“Even though we’re young, they have some varsity experience to be able to step up,” Alden said of a team that includes only five seniors. “Guys are picking things up quick.

“We have a few seniors that we’ve got back out that weren’t out last year that will help us.

The juniors that played last year, they got in the weight room and they got themselves physically ready.”

Among the team’s returning leaders is TJ Lau, who passed for 503 yards and six touchdowns versus two interceptions and made 39 tackles from the defensive back position.

“First and foremost TJ is an athlete,” Alden said. “He knows where everybody is supposed to go. We’re putting a lot on his shoulders.

“Early in the year that’s the strength of our team. We’re going to be able to put more athletes out on the field than we have in the past as far as players in multiple positions.”

Cole Bowden is among the leaders back within the linebacking corps, and is also the team’s top returning rusher

Edgewood-Colesburg East Buchanan 0

Sept. 14 Grundy Center 42,

East Buchanan 22 Sept. 21 North Tama 7,

East Buchanan 6 Sept. 28 East Buchanan 63, GMG 0

BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

East Buchanan’s Cole Bowden carries the ball during a 2018 game at Grundy Center. The running back and linebacker will be a valuable two-way player for the Buccaneers this upcoming season. after recording 719 yards and eight touchdowns out of a four-man rotation in 2018. Bowden will also be a pass-catching threat.

“He’s got some speed to him,” Alden said. “He’s got great hands to catch the football. Then defensively he’ll be one of our three linebackers that we think will do a good job back there for us.”

A talented sophomore class will provide the Buccaneers with additional backfield options in Adam Hackett and Connor Williams. Junior Kaden Brockmeyer also has experience carrying the football after averaging five yards on 49 carries with two touchdowns at the varsity level last season.

“We’ll rotate some guys,” Alden said. “We’ve never been really a one-back team where one person really takes a beating every play. I think we’ve got three or four guys that can carry the load for us at different times.”

AJ Kremer, a member of the

team’s strong defensive secondary, joins that group of potential playmakers as a wide receiver.

Up front, East Buchanan will turn to new faces.

Luke Recker, a 6-foot-3, 255-pound junior all-district selection, will anchor an offensive and defensive line that graduated four seniors, including three multi-year starters. Fellow junior Trey Johnson has added leadership to the group.

Seniors Landon Nunemaker and Foster Hazen are poised to take on larger roles in the trenches while sophomores Carson James and Hayden Weber offer plenty of upside.

“It’s going to be a work in progress, breaking things down with that younger group,” Alden said. “They’re perfectly capable of doing the things we’ve done in the past, it might just take a little longer for everybody to jell together and form that one unit that we’ve been accustomed to the last few years.”

Oct. 5

East Buchanan 51, BCLUW 13

Oct. 12

Wapsie Valley 21, East Buchanan 18

Oct. 19 Hudson 42,

East Buchanan 20

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 18 Most recent playoff appearance: 2017

Key matchup‌ Grundy Center at East Buchanan Sept. 20, Winthrop This district opener will be a crucial game for two teams attempting to become contenders for a playoff spot. Grundy Center won last season’s meeting 44-22 in Grundy Center. The Spartans returns Logan Knaack who rushed for 218 yards and three touchdowns in that contest. The 42 points allowed matched the most East Buchanan surrendered in 2018. In a district that includes North Tama, Wapsie Valley and Hudson this is a must win.

8-PLAYER FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 39

8-PLAYER, DISTRICT 2 PREVIEW 8-player, District 2 2018 standings‌

Don Bosco Northwood-Ken. Rockford Janesville Tripoli Dunkerton Riceville North Iowa

Dist. Overall W L W L 6 1 9 2 6 1 8 2 6 1 11 2 4 3 5 5 3 4 4 5 3 5 3 6 1 6 3 6 0 7 1 8

2018 playoffs‌ First round Don Bosco 62, Central City 37 Rockford 64, Turkey Valley 58 Ar-We-Va 27, Northwood-Kensett 6 Quarterfinals Rockford 32, Don Bosco 26, OT Semifinals Rockford 52, Southeast Warren 19 Championship New London 55, Rockford 14

Players to watch‌ THOMAS EVEN, Don Bosco: Even rushed for 1,500 yards and 34 touchdowns, averaging 10.4 yards per carry. He was also one of the Dons’ leading tacklers.

GABE HEIDEMAN, Dunkerton: The junior is the leading returning tackler in District 2, having recorded 104 tackles in 2018.

Don Bosco tops loaded district Janesville positioned to make strong move this season JIM NELSON

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

‌ here might not be a deeper 8-player T district in the state than District 2.

A year ago, three teams reached the playoffs and for the sixth consecutive year a team from District 2 reached the state championship game when Rockford made it after upsetting district rival and two-time defending state champion Don Bosco in the quarterfinals.

A new year doesn’t look to have changed much as Don Bosco, Northwood-Kensett and Rockford appear to have strong teams returning and Janesville, a playoff threat year in and year out, also has a team it thinks can contend for a playoff berth.

With running back Thomas Even (1,500 yards, 34 touchdowns) and quarterback Cael Frost (27 touchdown passes, no interceptions) leading the way, Don Bosco has to be the district favorite.

The Dons lost a couple of key players on their offensive line, but head coach Colby Yoder said his team has as much skill as any team he’s had.

“This is a good district, some challenging opponents,” Yoder said.

Northwood-Kensett lost all eight of its offensive starters, but the Vikings return three all-district defenders — Cade Schrage, Gideon Rollene and Kyle Nichols — from a unit that was the only team to shut

KELLY WENZEL, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Don Bosco’s Cade Tenold looks for room to run during a playoff game against Rockford last season. out Don Bosco in the past eight seasons.

Rockford must find a replacement for quarterback John Staudt, who passed for more than 1,300 yards and rushed for 2,048 and 29 touchdowns.

Janesville returns 18 players who contributed in one way or another to a 5-5 season and that experience could give the Wildcats a leg up on some teams in the district “We are not going to back down from anybody,” Janesville coach Dale Eastman said.

Tripoli returns three offensive linemen and quarterback Lincoln Drewis under first-year head coach Joe Urbanek, who had been an assistant for the Panthers the previous 13 seasons.

Dunkerton’s Gabe Heideman is the top returning tackler in the district and will lead a Raider defense that returns six starters.

2019 schedule‌ Aug. 30 – Central Elkader at Janesville (ND), Don Bosco at Gladbrook-Reinbeck (ND), Easton Valley at Dunkerton (ND), Kee High at Riceville (ND), North Iowa at Harris-Lake Park (ND), Northwood-Kensett at Clay Central-Everly (ND), Springville at Tripoli (ND), West Central at Rockford (ND).

Sept. 6 – Baxter at Don Bosco (ND), Clay Central-Everly at North Iowa (ND), Dunkerton at Midland (ND, )Harris-Lake Park at Northwood-Kensett (ND), Janesville at WACO (ND), Riceville at Central Elkader (ND), Rockford at Kee High (ND), Tripoli at Central City (ND).

Sept. 13 – Janesville at Riceville, North Iowa at Tripoli, Northwood-Kensett at Dunkerton, Rockford at Don Bosco.

Sept. 20 – Don Bosco at Janesville, Dunkerton at Rockford, Northwood-Kensett at North Iowa, Tripoli at Riceville.

Sept. 27 – North Iowa at Dunkerton, Tripoli at Don Bosco, Rockford at Janesville, Riceville at Northwood-Kensett.

Oct. 4 – Don Bosco at Northwood-Kensett, Janesville at Tripoli, Riceville at Dunkerton, Rockford at North Iowa.

Oct. 11 – Dunkerton at Don Bosco, North Iowa at Riceville, Northwood-Kensett at Janesville, Tripoli at Rockford.

Oct. 18 – Don Bosco at North Iowa, Dunkerton at Janesville, Northwood-Kensett at Tripoli, Riceville at Rockford.

Oct. 25 – Janesville at North Iowa, Riceville at Don Bosco, Rockford at Northwood-Kensett, Tripoli at Dunkerton.

Proud affiliate for UNI Panthers Football & Men’s Basketball High School Football Coaches Show that airs each Saturday morning at 10 on 98.9 FM and the KQCR Stream at RadioOnTheGo.com Aplington-Parkersburg, Dike-New Hartford, A-G-W-SR, Grundy Center South Hardin 319-346-1234 radioonthego.com

Good Luck to all DNH Fall Activities!

#ROLLBLUE

8-PLAYER FOOTBALL

40 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

DON BOSCO DONS

Returning letterwinners‌ Player

Ht. Wt. Yr.

Quarterback Cael Frost

5-9 165 Jr

Running backs Thomas Even

5-7 185 Sr.

Cade Tenold

6-0 170 So.

Carson Tenold

6-0 170 So.

Wide receivers/tight ends Lewis Havel

6-1 160 Sr.

Fischer Ohrt

6-0 185 Sr.

Offensive linemen Carter Weber

6-3 225 Sr.

Cael Rahnavardi

5-6 160 Jr.

Defensive linemen Carter Weber

6-3 225 Sr.

Cael Rahnavardi

5-6 160 Jr.

Cade Tenold

6-0 170 So.

Linebackers Thomas Even

5-7 185 Sr.

Carson Tenold

6-0 170 So.

Defensive backs Cael Frost

5-9 165 Jr

Lewis Havel

6-1 160 Sr.

Fischer Ohrt

6-0 185 Sr.

2019 schedule‌ August 30 at Gladbrook-Reinbeck September 6 Baxter 13 Rockford 20 at Janesville 27 Tripoli October 4 at Northwood-Kensett 11 Dunkerton 18 at North Iowa 25 Riceville

Dons regroup after upset loss

Regular season (9-2) Aug. 24 Don Bosco 50, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 6

Playoff setback haunts perennial title contenders

Aug. 31 Don Bosco 84,

Baxter 6 Sept. 7 Don Bosco 80, Rockford 6

JIM NELSON

Sept. 14 Don Bosco 46,

Janesville 34

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

‌ ILBERTVILLE — Together.

G For a program that has finished either first or second five times in 8-player football since 2012, it seems hard to fathom that the program could have a year of non-cohesiveness.

But with injuries mounting late in 2018 for Don Bosco of Gilbertville, head coach Colby Yoder saw cracks in the armor and for the first time in six years Don Bosco did not play for a state championship.

The Dons were knocked out of the playoffs in the quarterfinals by a Rockford team, 32-26 in overtime, which it had beaten by 74 points in the regular season.

Therefore, as much as Don Bosco has worked on X’s and O’s in preparation for the 2019 season, it has worked on togetherness.

“Our motto this year is together,” Yoder said. “Last year, the wheels kind of fell off at the end.”

What Yoder most eludes to is Don Bosco was without star linebacker/running back Thomas Even among other injuries in that playoff game and for the first time in a long time the Dons looked lost without a key player on both sides of the ball.

“That is football, I think,” Yoder continued. “You have to prepare for those things, and we will be better prepared for that this year for sure. This group is a little different than the ones we’ve had over the previous years. They are really striving to be one together and really trying to build relationships between each other.”

There is no question the Dons have talent and may open as the preseason favorite to win it all in the 8-player division.

2018 results‌

Sept. 21 Don Bosco 64,

Tripoli 6 Sept. 28 Northwood-Kensett 18.

Don Bosco 0 Oct. 5 Don Bosco 66, Dunkerton 6 BRANDON POLLOCK PHOTOS, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Don Bosco’s Carson Tenold tries to pull down Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s Jackson Kiburis during last season’s early matchup.

Don Bosco’s Lewis Havel makes a tackle on Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s Jackson Kiburis last season.

For one, Even returns after rushing for 1,500 yards and 34 touchdowns offensively, and then ranking second on the team defensively with 73 tackles.

“I think most of our guys think about that every single day,” Even said of the playoff loss.

“I know it haunts me, remembering sitting on the sidelines watching my team lose. I think that just gives us extra drive to go further and has pushed us this offseason. We know what we’ve got to do.”

Also back is quarterback Cael Frost, who threw for 1,667 yards and 27 touchdowns while not

throwing a single interception in 128 attempts. Frost also added 556 rushing yards.

Lewis Havel returns as a starter on both sides of the ball, and is a key defender who was among the state leaders in interceptions with nine in 2018.

“We think we are capable of winning a title every year,” Frost said. “We understand what we need to do and right now we are just trying to get better every week.”

Where the Dons are least experienced on the offensive line where it graduated two of its best players.

That means players such as Cedric Yoder, Charlie Hogan, Carter Weber and Cael Rahnavardi will need to improve their games.

“I think the line of scrimmage play is where we are going to find out where we are at real early,” Colby Yoder said. “Skill-wise we are as good as we have been over the last few years. But it is that battle up front for us, we really have to see what happens there and we’ve got to stay healthy.”

Even says he likes what he has seen out of the offensive line group.

“They might not have the biggest size, but they bust their tails every day and get after it. I know they will be ready,” Even added.

Oct. 12 Don Bosco 52,

North Iowa 0 Oct. 19 Don Bosco 50, Riceville 12 Playoffs First round Don Bosco 62, Central City 37 Quarterfinals Rockford 32, Don Bosco 26 OT

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 8 Most recent playoff appearance: 2018 Top finishes: Don Bosco has won three 8-man titles (2013, 2016, 2017) and finished second in 2012 and 2015.

Key matchup‌ Rockford at Don Bosco Sept. 13, Gilbertville The Dons open district play against the team that eliminated them in last year’s state quarterfinals.

Players to watch‌ THOMAS EVEN, RB-LB: Rushed for more than 1,500 yards and was the Dons second leading tackler.

CAEL FROST, QB-DB: Threw 27 touchdown passes against no interceptions as a sophomore.

8-PLAYER FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 41

JANESVILLE WILDCATS 2018 results ‌

Returning letterwinners‌ Player

Regular season (5-5)

Ht. Wt. Yr.

Aug. 17 Waco 25,

Janesville 14

6-2 180 Jr.

Aug. 24 Janesville 61,

Central Elkader 12

6-1 190 Jr.

Aug. 31 Easton Valley 47,

Janesville 34

6-1 185 Sr.

Sept. 7 Janesville 38, Riceville 0

Quarterback Joey Carlson Running back Carson Pariseau Tight end Tegan Meyer

COURTESY PHOTO‌

Defensive linemen Tegan Meyer

The 2019 Janesville football team.

6-1 185 Sr.

Linebackers Caden Billingsley

5-8 155 Sr.

Carson Pariseau

6-1 190 Jr

Anything possible at Janesville

2019 schedule‌

Eastman says Wildcats could be anywhere from 2-7 to 7-2

August

JIM NELSON

30 Central Elkader September 6 At Waco 13 At Riceville 20 Don Bosco 27 Rockford October 4 Tripoli 11 Northwood-Kensett 18 Dunkerton 25 At North Iowa

Player to watch‌ JOEY CARLSON: Carlson threw nine touchdown passes and ran for another 428 yards and nine scores last year. The Wildcats expect to use him at multiple positions on offense this season, not strictly at quarterback.

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

J‌ANESVILLE — Janesville head football coach Dale Eastman wrote an honest assessment for a preseason survey.

Consistently a tough foe for all the opponents on their schedule, the Wildcats want to be that team again in 2019 in what is lining up to be a challenging year for 8-player, District 2.

The district produced three state playoff qualifiers last year in tri-champions Northwood-Kensett, Don Bosco and Rockford, which reached the 2018 state championship game.

Eastman lost several strong players from a 5-5 team, but has big numbers and says his young squad will need to grow fast to compete.

“We could be 2-7 or 7-2 or anywhere in between,” Eastman wrote. “If we learn from early mistakes, take advantage of other teams’ mistakes and build some success early, we could be a dangerous football team.”

While Janesville returns just four starters, the team has 18 returning letterwinners.

“We have 31 kids this fall and that is a great number for us,” Eastman said. “I can’t tell you the last time we’ve had that many kids out. and what’s real important is we have six quality seniors, and that makes a huge difference, especially in 8-man.”

While the seniors will be important, Eastman says it will be a talented group of seven sophomores, and junior 2018 all-district performer Joey Carlson who will be some of the key components for success.

Carlson played quarterback last year, throwing for 562 yards and nine scores while rushing for 428 yards and nine more scores. He could line up at quarterback. He also could line up at running back, tight end or wide receiver.

“I would not be surprised to see Joey line up at four, five different spots in a game this year,” Eastman said.

What makes Carlson versatile for the Wildcats is the emergence of sophomore quarterback Leo Dodd.

“Leo has the potential to be a real good quarterback, and he is going to get his opportunity

to try to shine,” Eastman added.

Janesville also has several key defensive pieces back. Among them are all-district lineman Tegan Meyer as well as linebackers Caden Billingsley and Carson Pariseau. Eastman says his talented sophomore class of Dodd, Cooper Bloes, Jaden Appleby, Jared Hoodjer, Wiley Sherburne, Conner Clubine and Dawson Dix have to grow up fast.

“We’ve got some skill, the key will be getting those young guys acclimated with the older guys,” Eastman said. “The older guys have been good role models so far, have been showing the younger guys the way.”

Another key for Janesville in 2019 will be its ability to play four quarters. Eastman said the Wildcats won’t back down from anybody.

That was true a year ago when it led both Don Bosco and Northwood-Kensett, two teams that went 8-1 in the regular season, at halftime but eventually lost those games.

“We didn’t have enough to finish,” Eastman said. “We have to step up and believe we are capable of going four quarters.

We’ve got great kids and now it’s, let’s go figure out a way to get it done for four quarters.”

Sept. 14 Don Bosco 46,

Janesville 34 Sept. 21 Rockford 48,

Janesville 41 Sept. 28 Janesville 46,

Tripoli 19 Oct. 5

Northwood-Kensett 28, Janesville 11

Oct. 12 Janesville 51, Dunkerton 8 Oct. 19

Janesville 57, North Iowa 13

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 10 Most recent playoff appearance: 2017

Key matchup‌ Don Bosco at Janesville Sept. 20, Janesville The Dons could open the season as the top-ranked team in 8-player football and return a ton of contributors from a playoff team in 2018.

8-PLAYER FOOTBALL

42 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

TRIPOLI PANTHERS Returning letterwinners‌ Player

Ht. Wt. Yr.

Quarterbacks Lincoln Drewis

5-8 145 Sr.

Conner Piehl

5-11 150 Jr.

5-11 155 Sr.

Receiver Dillon Comer

5-6 150 Sr.

Offensive linemen Michael Davis

5-10 185 Sr.

Ethan Schellhorn

5-11 205 Jr.

Dawson Bergmann 6-2 210 Jr. Defensive linemen Michael Davis

5-10 185 Sr.

Ethan Schellhorn

5-11 205 Jr.

Dawson Bergmann 6-2 210 Jr. Linebacker Blake Brocka

5-11 180 Jr.

Defensive backs Lincoln Drewis

5-8 145 Sr.

Conner Piehl

5-11 150 Jr.

Blake Block

5-10 140 Sr.

2019 schedule‌ August 30 Springville September 6 At Central City 13

North Iowa

20 At Riceville 27 At Don Bosco October 4 Janesville 11 At Rockford 18 Northwood-Kensett 25 At Dunkerton

Longtime assistant Urbanek promoted to replace Nuss

Regular season (4-5)

Aug. 31 Central City 61,

Tripoli 16 Sept 7

JIM NELSON

‌TRIPOLI — Joe Urbanek is new to making the final decisions.

However, Urbanek is not a stranger to the Tripoli football sidelines.

After 13 years as an assistant coach with Tripoli, Urbanek takes over for long-time head coach Tom Nuss.

“This is year 14,” Urbanek said. “There has been a lot of stability here and in my 14 years it has been the same staff. Coach Nuss stepped away which will be different, but he is still a fellow teacher and a good friend of mine, so he will still be used, I would say.

“Moving forward, yeah, it is going to be different taking on the leadership. He really set the ground work for us.”

Coming off a 4-5 season in which it won three of its first four games, Tripoli has some experience returning at almost every position. Like many 8-player programs, numbers and depth sometimes will make it challenging, but Urbanek likes what he has seen so far.

“Just like any year we are trying to tighten up loose ends, get your best eight athletes on the field,” Urbanek said. “We are deep at a couple of positions which is fairly exciting.”

Experience definitely starts up front with the Panthers as all three offensive line starters — guards Michael Davis and Ethan Schellhorn and center Dawson Bergmann — return.

All three of those athletes also play key roles on defense.

“Real excited about that,” Urbanek said. “As anybody knows, it all starts there.”

Where Tripoli struggled a season ago was at quarterback

2018 results‌ Aug. 24 Tripoli 14 Springville 12

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

Running back Mason Bradley

Familiar face takes over at Tripoli

Tripoli 30, North Iowa 8

Sept. 14 Tripoli 48, Riceville 14 Sept. 21 Don Bosco 64,

Tripoli 6 COURTESY PHOTO‌

One of Tripoli’s key returners, Dillon Comer, breaks away for a touchdown during a preseason intrasquad scrimmage.

Sept. 28 Janesville 46,

Tripoli 19 Oct. 5 Rockford 34,

Tripoli 32 Oct. 12 Northwood-Kensett 49,

Tripoli 0 Oct. 19 Tripoli 46, Dunkerton 22

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 8 COURTESY PHOTO‌

Mason Bradley takes a handoff from quarterback Lincoln Drewis during a Tripoli intrasquad scrimmage recently. where the Panthers used four different players before finally settling on Lincoln Drewis, who returns in 2019.

Drewis started the final three games for Tripoli, completing 8 of 20 passes for 167 yards and three scores, and he rushed 33 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Before he made the switch to QB, Drewis had hauled in nine passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns and returned two kicks for touchdowns.

“Lincoln kind of made us go at receiver, kick returner and started every game at corner,” Urbanek said. “We weren’t finding what we wanted at quarterback, and he is not a natural quarterback, but week five, he stepped up and said, ‘I can do it.’”

Drewis’ first game at the

helm was against Rockford, the eventual state runner-up, and it turned out to be Tripoli’s best game of the year despite it being a loss. Within two points in the fourth quarter, the Panthers missed a go-ahead field goal and fumbled the ball with a minute and a half left inside Rockford territory in what turned out to be a 34-32 loss.

“Felt like we played well enough to beat the state runner-up,” Urbanek recalled.

“But he makes plays with his feet. The expectation is for him to play quarterback, and in terms of mindset that is valuable for us and he is a natural leader,” added Urbanek.

Other key returners for the Panthers are linebacker Blake Brocka, athlete Conner Piehl and running back-defensive back Dillon Comer.

Most recent playoff appearance: 2017 Top finishes: Tripoli won the 1983 Class 1A state title.

Key matchup‌ Springville at Tripoli Aug. 31, Tripoli A physical Oriole team gave the Panthers a challenge last season that Tripoli passed early and prepared the Panthers for the remainder of their 2018 schedule.

First-year head coach Joe Urbanek is expecting a similar test this season.

Player to watch‌ LINCOLN DREWIS, QB-DB: Started the final three games of the year for the Panthers in 2018 at quarterback after playing receiver for much of the season.

8-PLAYER FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 43

DUNKERTON RAIDERS Returning letterwinners‌ Player

2018 results‌ Regular season (3-6) Aug. 24 Dunkerton 42,

Easton Valley 41

Ht. Wt. Yr.

Quarterback Brody Rygel

Aug. 31 Midland 48, Dunkerton 43

5-8 135 Sr.

Sept. 7 Northwood-Kensett 42, Dunkerton 8

Running backs Kaden Behrens

6-0 160 So.

Elisha Zanders

5-8 160 Sr.

Gabe Heideman

5-10 165 Jr.

Sept. 14 Rockford 54, Dunkerton 36 Sept. 21 Dunkerton 66,

North Iowa 42

Tight end Jake Kennedy

Sept. 28 Dunkerton 56, Riceville 38

6-1 185 Jr.

Oct. 5 Don Bosco 66, Dunkerton 6

Offensive linemen Lane Boner

5-10 175 Jr.

Defensive linemen Jake Kennedy

COURTESY PHOTO‌

6-1 185 Jr.

Linebackers Gabe Heideman

5-10 165 Jr.

Jacob Brandt

5-7 140 Sr.

Kaden Behrens

6-0 160 So.

Defensive backs Elisha Zanders

5-8 160 Sr.

Brody Rygel

5-8 135 Sr.

The top returning players for Dunkerton in 2019 are, (front row, left to right) Elisha Zanders, Jacob Brandt, Gabe Heideman and Brody Rygel. In back, left to right, are Jake Kennedy, Lane Boner, Riley Moulds and Kaden Behrens.

It’s a numbers game at Dunkerton Raiders have solid first group, but are lacking depth JIM NELSON

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

Schedule‌ August 30 Easton Valley September 6 At Midland 13 Northwood-Kensett 20 At Rockford 27 North Iowa October 4 Riceville 11 At Don Bosco 18 At Janesville 25 Tripoli

‌DUNKERTON — Jon Steffen feels good about the top eight players he can put on the field this season for Dunkerton’s 8-player football team.

Steffen has got players with skill. He has players who can make plays, and he has players who can hit and tackle.

But Steffen has an issue that has no real answer.

“Nobody can get tired, and nobody can get hurt,” Steffen quipped. “Our main issue is depth. We just don’t have much depth anywhere. That is going to be a big issue.

“Our starting group, I like what we can do, and we can do it well. Yeah, I feel pretty good about our starting eight on both sides of the ball, and we have a

couple of guys who can step in and play that haven’t played yet.”

The Raiders, 3-6 in 2018, saw their depth take an early hit when projected starting quarterback Brody Rygel was in an skateboarding accident the evening of Dunkerton’s first camp.

Rygel suffered a broken collarbone and will miss the season.

In a limited role last season, Rygel completed 14 of 44 passes for 244 yards and rushed for 145 yards.

WIth Rygel out, junior Riley Moulds takes over. Moulds played mostly on the JV last year, but did get a few snaps with the varsity.

“Brody’s injury was pretty unfortunate, but Riley has good knowledge of the offense and is coming along,” Steffen said.

“He will do a good job. We will rely on our running game, rely on that a lot.”

Steffen believes the strength of the Raiders will be on defense, particularly at linebacker

with returning starters Gabe Heideman, Jacob Brandt and Kaden Behrens.

Heideman recorded 104 tackles in 2018, including 15 solo tackles for loss, and Brandt was second on the team with 83 1/2 tackles “I like our linebacker corps,” Steffen said. “It is going to be really solid. Heideman led us in tackles and Brant was right on his tail. Behrens played as a freshman and had a good summer and offseason ... a big, fast, athletic kid who will be able to make some plays.”

Other key defenders back are Elisha Zanders, Jake Kennedy and Lane Boner.

Offensively, Behrens is the leading returning rusher with 256 yards on 48 carries. Brant, Heideman and Zanders all had 20 or more carries in 2018. Zanders added 16 pass receptions for 134 yards and three scores, and Kennedy caught eight passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns.

Oct. 12 Janesville 51, Dunkerton 8 Oct. 19 Tripoli 46, Dunkerton 22

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 3 (All three came back-to-back-to-back from 2008-10).

Most recent playoffs appearance: 2010

Key matchup‌ NorthwoodKensett at Dunkerton Sept. 13, Dunkerton Northwood-Kensett is one of the district favorites and with two non-district games where the Raiders could be favored, a win in week one of district play would be a huge boost.

Players to watch‌ GABE HEIDEMAN, FB-LB: Heideman led the Raiders with 104 tackles, including 15 solo tackles for loss in 2018.

KADEN BEHRENS, RB-LB: Behrens is the top-returning rusher for Dunkerton after carring the ball 48 times for 256 yards and four scores last season.

8-PLAYER FOOTBALL

44 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

8-PLAYER, DISTRICT 3 PREVIEW 8-player, District 3 2018 standings‌

Dist. Overall

W L W L

Turkey Valley

6 1

8 1

Central City

6 1

9 2

Midland

6 1 9 2

Easton Valley

4 3

Springville

3 4 5 5

Kee

2 6 2 7

Central Elkader

1 6

1 8

West Central

0 7

1 8

2019 schedule‌ Aug. 23 – Springville 41, Winfield-Mt. Union 38 (ND) Aug. 30 – Central City at Colo-NESCO (ND), Central Elkader at Janesville (ND), Easton Valley at Dunkerton (ND), Kee High at Riceville (ND), Midland at Meskwaki Settlement (ND), Springville at Tripoli (ND), Turkey Valley at AGWSR (ND), West Central at Rockford (ND).

5 4

Sept. 6 – Colo-NESCO at Springville (ND), Dunkerton at Midland (ND), Gladbrook-Reinbeck at Turkey Valley (ND), Janesville at Easton Valley (ND), Meskwaki Settlement at West Central (ND), Riceville at Central Elkader (ND), Rockford at Kee High (ND), Tripoli at Central City (ND),

2018 playoffs‌ First round Don Bosco 62, Central City 37 Rockford 64, Turkey Valley 58 Iowa Valley 92, Midland 46

Players to watch‌ NATHAN TRENKAMP, Easton Valley: As a junior Trenkamp passed for 2,619 yards and 38 touchdowns.

ETHAN LEIBOLD, DYLAN ELSBERND, Turkey Valley: Elsbernd and Leibold combined for 1,150 yards and 29 touchdowns rushing for the Trojans in 2018.

COURIER FILE PHOTO‌

A trio of Turkey Valley tacklers gang up to stop Don Bosco’s Nick Mangrich during a 2015 game in Gilbertville. The Trojans are among the favorites in 8-player, District 3 this season.

Turkey Valley looks strong again Trojans return key players from 2018 playoff team JIM NELSON

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

Turkey Valley of Jackson ‌ Junction was one of three teams, joining Central City and Midland (Wyoming), to tie for the District 3 title in 2018, with all three teams making the 8-player playoffs.

All three teams reached the playoffs, but Turkey Valley may have a leg up on its district opponents heading into the 2019 season.

The Trojans return five players who scored rushing touchdowns in 2018, led by the tandem of Ethan Leibold and Dylan Elsbernd. Leibold and Elsbernd combined to rush for

1,150 yards and 29 touchdowns for the Trojans last fall.

Leibold also connected on 77 of 134 passes for 1,380 yards and 20 touchdowns against two interceptions. Elsbernd is the Trojans’ top returning receiver after catching 15 passes for 253 yards.

Kannon Leuenberger, Elliot Dietzenbach and Leibold are three of Turkey Valley’s top returning defenders.

West Central of Maynard’s Steve Milder enters his 42nd year as head coach of the Blue Devils. Milder returns seven players with either one or two years of experience as starters.

Six-foot, 180-pound senior linebacker Dalton Vick is West Central’s top returning defender, and Aidan Nelson, who caught 49 passes for 864 yards and 11 touchdowns, is back on offense.

“We will be young with only three seniors, but we’ve had to play a lot of young kids the past few years,” Milder said.

Central of Elkader returns seven starters and 10 letterwinners. Seniors Drake Dennler (te-lb) and Michael Heer (ol-dl) will lead the team.

Springville returns five all-district players — quarterback Kyle Koppes (1,769 passing yards, 30 touchdowns), Caleb Weber, Grant Gloeckner, Gabe Dlouhy and Spencer DeMean.

“We have a lot of athletes who can play multiple positions on both sides of the ball,” Orioles coach Joe Martin said.

Midland returns first-team all-district quarterback Britan Martens and first-team all-district defensive tackle Hunter Shoaff from its playoff-qualifying team.

Sept. 13 – Central City at West Central, Central Elkader at Easton Valley, Midland at Turkey Valley, Springville at Kee High.

Sept. 20 – Easton Valley at Midland, Kee High at Central City, Turkey Valley at Springville, West Central at Central Elkader.

Sept. 27 – Central City at Turkey Valley, Central Elkader at Midland, Springville at Easton Valley, West Central at Kee High.

Oct. 4 – Central Elkader at Springville, Easton Valley at Central City, Kee High at Turkey Valley, Midland at West Central.

Oct. 11 – Central City at Central Elkader, Kee High at Easton Valley, Springville at Midland, Turkey Valley at West Central.

Oct. 18 – Central Elkader at Kee High, Easton Valley at Turkey Valley, Midland at Central City, West Central at Springville.

Oct. 25 – Central City at Springville, Kee High at Midland, Turkey Valley at Central Elkader, West Central at Easton Valley

8-PLAYER FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 45

8-PLAYER, DISTRICT 5 PREVIEW

G-R, AGWSR teams to beat this fall

Eight-player, District 5 2018 standings‌

Dist. Overall

W L W L

GladbrookReinbeck

7 0 7 3

AGWSR

6 1 6 3

Collins-Maxwell

4 3 4 6

Melcher-Dallas

4 3 4 5

Baxter

3 4 3 6

Twin Cedars

3 4

Colo-Nesco

1 6 1 9

Meskwaki

0 7 0 9

Rebels’ adjustment to 8-player game has been fast

4 6

2018 playoffs‌ First round New London 60, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 12

Players to watch‌ BRETT LIVESAY, Collins-Maxwell: As a junior Livesay caught 48 passes for 843 yards and 11 scores.

TYTUS HUNT, Twin Cedars: Hunt led the district in rushing last year with 1,018 yards and 13 scores.

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Aug. 23 – English Valleys 47, Twin Cedars 8 (ND), H-L-V 60, Colo-NESCO 14 (ND).

Aug. 30 – Central City at Colo-NESCO (ND), Collins-Maxwell at Newell-Fonda (ND), Coon Rapids-Bayard at Baxter (ND), Don Bosco at Gladbrook-Reinbeck (ND), Midland at Meskwaki Settlement (ND), Seymour-Moulton-Udell at Melcher-Dallas (ND), Turkey Valley at AGWSR (ND), Twin Cedars at Moravia (ND),

JIM NELSON

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

‌G l a d b ro o k - Re i n b e c k showed football is still football last year after transitioning from the 11-man game to the 8-man version.

After some early bumps in non-district play, the Rebels, who captured Class A state titles in 2014 and 2015, learned, adjusted and then went 7-0 in district play to earn a playoff berth.

A couple of key pieces are gone from that team, but that experience has advanced them further down the road in preparation for year two in 2019.

“The field is a bit skinnier, the passing game is a little different, but it’s still football,” G-R head coach John Olson said.

The Rebels lost their top two offensive players in Jackson Kubris and Colton Clark, but return eight starters and athletes who have played the 8-man for two years at the junior varsity level (the Rebels fielded an 8-man JV team in 2017 while playing one last season in 11-man).

Cullen Eiffler, a 6-foot-5, 190-pound senior, is taking

2018 schedule‌

Sept. 6 – AGWSR at West Bend-Mallard (ND), Baxter at Don Bosco (ND), Colo-NESCO at Springville (ND), Gladbrook-Reinbeck at Turkey Valley (ND), Melcher-Dallas at Lenox (ND), Meskwaki Settlement at West Central (ND), Murray at Collins-Maxwell (ND), Twin Cedars at Seymour-Moulton-Udell (ND),

COURIER FILE PHOTO‌

Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s Eli Thede trips up a Don Bosco runner in a game last fall. over at quarterback, and veterans Keegan Giesking and Eli Thede will be the featured backs.

“I don’t know if we will have much depth, but I don’t know if that is any different than any other eightman team,” Olson said.

The team that finished second in the district behind Gladbrook-Reinbeck was AGWSR, and the Cougars figure to push the Rebels again in 2019. The two teams square off in Gladbrook on Oct. 18 in week eight.

AGWSR returns quarterback Titan Opperman, and leading rusher Jaden Penning.

Both Olson and AGWSR’s James Koop say the district should be better top to bottom.

“Everybody had a young team last year,” Koop said. “I told some other people, by having a young team every year they get better as they get experience, and at some point it is going to click for those kids. If the lights go on for those kids, a lot of teams in our district could be good this year.”

Collins-Maxwell and Melcher-Dallas each had winning district records last year, but every team in the district had three losses or more as the district won just one non-district game.

Sept. 13 – Collins-Maxwell at AGWSR, Colo-NESCO at Twin Cedars, Melcher-Dallas at Baxter, Meskwaki Settlement at Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

Sept. 20 – AGWSR at Colo-NESCO, Baxter at Collins-Maxwell, Gladbrook-Reinbeck at Melcher-Dallas, Twin Cedars at Meskwaki Settlement.

Sept. 27 – Colo-NESCO at Collins-Maxwell, Gladbrook-Reinbeck at Baxter, Melcher-Dallas at Twin Cedars, Meskwaki Settlement at AGWSR. Oct. 4 – AGWSR at Melcher-Dallas, Collins-Maxwell at Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Colo-NESCO at Meskwaki Settlement, Twin Cedars at Baxter.

Oct. 11 – Baxter at AGWSR, Gladbrook-Reinbeck at Twin Cedars, Melcher-Dallas at Colo-NESCO, Meskwaki Settlement at Collins-Maxwell.

Oct. 18 – AGWSR at Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Collins-Maxwell at Twin Cedars, Colo-NESCO at Baxter, Meskwaki Settlement at Melcher-Dallas.

Oct. 25 – Baxter at Meskwaki Settlement, Gladbrook-Reinbeck at Colo-NESCO, Melcher-Dallas at Collins-Maxwell, Twin Cedars at AGWSR.

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8-PLAYER FOOTBALL

46 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

GLADBROOK-REINBECK REBELS Returning letterwinners‌

2018 results‌

Player Running backs Eli Thede Keagan Giesking Offensive linemen Aidan Walters Auston Wittgreve Sam Mussig Tight ends Kale Hasselmann Jace Petersen Wide receiver Aiden Wyatt Defensive linemen Aidan Walters Kale Hasselmann Linebackers Keagan Giesking Jace Petersen Sam Mussig Defensive backs Eli Thede Aiden Wyatt

Aug. 24 Don Bosco 50, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 6

Regular season (7-3)

Ht. Wt. Year 5-9 145 Sr. 6-1 175 Jr.

Aug. 31 Turkey Valley 48, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 12 Sept. 7 Gladbrook-Reinbeck 76,

Meskwaki 12

5-8 200 Sr. 6-2 200 Jr. 5-9 160 sr.

6-3 190 Sr. 5-9 145 Sr. 5-9 140 Sr. 5-8 200 Sr. 6-3 190 Sr. 6-1 175 Jr. 5-9 145 Sr. 5-9 160 sr.

5-9 145 Sr. 5-9 140 Sr.

2019 schedule‌ August 30 Don Bosco September 6 at Turkey Valley 13 Meskwaki 20 at Melcher-Dallas 27 at Baxter October 4 Collins-Maxwell 11 at Twin Cedars 18 AGWSR 25 at Colo-Nesco

Key matchup‌ AGWSR at GladbrookReinbeck Oct. 18, Gladbrook The Cougars were the only other team in 8-man, District 5 to finish with a winning record last year (63). This week eight matchup could determine the district championship.

Sept. 14 Gladbrook-Reinbeck 93,

Melcher-Dallas 6 COURIER FILE PHOTO‌

A swarm of Gladbrook-Reinbeck players tackle Don Bosco’s Thomas Even last August.

Rebels have settled into 8-player Transition complete, G-R hits the ground running JIM NELSON

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

‌REINBECK — There was no question that Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s transition from 11man football to 8-player would include a tough learning curve.

And for the most part, that played out for the Rebels in 2018.

G-R suffered a couple of tough lessons early, losing its first game to 8-player powerhouse Don Bosco and its second to Turkey Valley by a combined score of 98-18.

But as longtime coach John Olson and his staff soon figured out, other than the obvious difference of three fewer players and a smaller field, the game was quite familiar.

“I think the first thing we learned just like anybody does is football is football,” Olson said. “There were a few different coaching techniques, and there isn’t a safety to clean things up on defense ... but it was mostly the same.”

After the dust had settled from its tough non-conference slate, G-R found its legs as it entered district play and

had a tremendous first season in 8-player football. The Rebels made an incredible, perfect run through District 5 to reach the state playoffs for the ninth consecutive season.

G-R lost in the first round to eventual 8-player champion New London, but now with the transition complete, the Rebels are ready to roll into season two in 2019 with enthusiasm.

“We have eight or nine guys who have starting experience,” Olson said. “That experience is going to pay off and something we can hang our hat on.”

While there is experience, the Rebels did lose their top two offensive players in quarterback Jackson Kiburis and running back Colton Clark (121 carries, 876 yards, 19 scores).

“We lost two or three guys that are very important, not so much in talent, but leadership more than anything else,” Olson said.

Stepping in at quarterback is senior Cullen Eiffler, while junior Keagan Giesking and senior Eli Thede will take on larger roles as two of the primary running backs. That duo rushed for a combined 524 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, while Thede was the team’s second-leading receiver with six catches for 208 yards and three scores.

Giesking missed the firstfour games of last year recovering from a broken leg suffered during his freshman season of soccer.

“We are not going to throw a ton this year,” Olson said.

“It’s not that we can’t, it’s just not one of our strengths. Our backfield, I believe, is elusive.

It’s going to be a pretty good backfield.”

One of the team’s other strengths is up front where starters Sam Mussig, Auston Wittgreve and Aidan Walters all return. Mussig started at center in 2018, but will play guard this season with Wittgreve taking over the center duties.

Olson’s biggest concern is finding depth behind those three and he hopes with almost 40 kids out, 21 of them freshmen and sophomores, he can build some before the season starts.

“I don’t know if we have much depth after those guys, yet, but I don’t know if that is any different than any other eight-man program,” Olson said.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck once again opens with Don Bosco and Turkey Valley, two teams that combined to go 17-4 last year with each reaching the playoffs, but the Rebels and AGWSR figure to be the top two teams in District 5 again this season.

Sept. 21 Gladbrook-Reinbeck 54,

Baxter 4 Sept. 28 Gladbrook-Reinbeck 48,

Collins-Maxwell 0 Oct. 5 Gladbrook-Reinbeck 58,

Twin Cedars 6 Oct. 12 Gladbrook-Reinbeck 44, AGWSR 19 Oct. 19 Gladbrook-Reinbeck 56,

Colo-Nesco 14 Playoffs Oct. 26 New London 60, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 12

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 13 (9 consecutive) Most recent playoff appearance: 2018 Top finishes: Won Class A titles in 2015 and 2016, finished second in 2004 and 2014.

Players to watch‌ AIDAN WALTERS, OL: Was last year’s District offensive linemen most valuable player. One of three starters back along the line from an offense that lost its best two offensive players.

KEAGAN GIESKING, RB-LB: A mainstay on defense, the 6-foot-1 Giesking will be counted on to play a bigger role on offense.

8-PLAYER FOOTBALL

Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 47

AGWSR COUGARS

Returning letterwinners‌ Player Quarterback Titan Opperman Running back Jaden Penning Fullback Brody Roder Receiver Chase Harms Offensive linemen Tanner Weichers Jacob Haley Defensive linemen Tanner Weichers Linebackers Brody Roder Titan Opperman Defensive backs Jaden Penning Chase Harms

Ht. Wt. Yr. 6-1 185 Sr. 5-8 145 Jr.

Early growth will be key for AGWSR Cougars start season without a lot of varsity experience JIM NELSON

jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com‌

5-6 165 Jr. 5-11 166 Jr. 6-4 225 Sr. 6-0 185 Jr. 6-4 225 Sr. 5-6 165 Jr. 6-1 185 Sr. 5-8 145 Jr. 5-11 166 Jr.

2019 schedule‌ August 30 Turkey Valley September 6 at West Bend-Mallard 13 Collins-Maxwell 20 at Colo-Nesco 27 Meskwaki October 4 at Melcher-Dallas 11 Baxter 18 at Gladbrook-Reinbeck 25 Twin Cedars

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‌ACKLEY — When the 2019 football season kicks off at home for AGWSR, head coach James Koop knows there will be a number of challenges for his team.

That, Koop says, is normal.

The challenge that needs to be met is for he and his staff to coach up a young team to achieve big goals.

“We don’t have a lot of depth at the varsity level, so we have to coach up our depth before we play Turkey Valley in week one,” Koop said. “We’ve also got 11 freshmen out who don’t have a lot of experience, so we have to coach them up, too.

“We scrimmage Rockford (Friday, Aug. 23), and that will be a good test to see what we need to work on and then we will go from there.”

A year ago, the Cougars went 6-1 in district play (6-3 overall), but were left out of the playoffs in the first year of the RPI system and return several key performers from that squad.

Three-year starters Tanner Weichers at offensive and defensive line and Brody Roder at fullback and line-

COURIER FILE PHOTO‌

The 2019 AGWSR football team hopes to contend for an 8-player, District 5 title. backer are among the senior leaders, as is returning quarterback Titan Opperman.

Opperman, who started some as a sophomore before taking over fulltime a year ago, passed for 830 yards and 19 scores last year en route to winning co-offensive MVP honors in the district. He also rushed for 11 touchdowns.

The Cougars also returning leading rusher Jaden Penning (650 yards, 12 scores and 21 receptions for 219 yards and seven touchdowns), as well as top wideout Chase Harms (17-426-8).

Harms had 39 tackles and five interceptions on defense to earn co-defensive MVP honors in the district.

“Titan and Harms ... I would expect if they can stay healthy good things could happen for both of them,” Koop said. “I think anytime in high school football the key to success is no injuries.”

In addition, the Cougars return key reserves Cale Culver, Zach Johnson, Jacob Haley, Darren Veld, Riley Sicard and Nik Christopherson. Culver got a ton of reps at running back, spelling Penning.

“As I alluded to before, Turkey Valley gave us a good test a year ago,” Koop said.

“They showed us a lot of holes we had, and will have a bunch of three-years starters back. West Bend-Mallard (AGWSR’s week two opponent) had a good team and by the time we got through those two teams we had learned a lot about our team and moved people to spots where they needed to be.”

As far as District 5, Koop says he doesn’t see much that is different than last year other than some young teams may have grown up.

He says Gladbrook-Reinbeck in his opinion remains the favorite and the Cougars’ week eight game against the Rebels could once again be for the district championship.

2018 results‌ Regular season (6-3) Aug. 24 Turkey Valley 38, AGWSR 13 Aug. 31 West-Bend Mallard 42, AGWSR 19 Sept. 7 AGWSR 43,

Collins-Maxwell 22 Sept. 14 AGWSR 70, Colo-Nesco 36 Sept. 21 AGWSR 58, Meskwaki 0 Sept. 28 AGWSR 63, Melcher-Dallas 14 Oct. 5 AGWSR 69, Baxter 14 Oct. 12 Gladbrook-Reinbeck 44, AGWSR 19 Oct. 19 AGWSR 55, Twin Cedars 18

Playoff history‌ Total playoff appearances: 11, five as Ackley-Geneva, six as AGWSR Most recent playoff appearance: 2016

Key-matchup‌ AGWSR at Gladbrook-Reinbeck Oct. 18, Gladbrook These two teams played for the District 5 title last year and both appear to be the favorites again heading into the 2019 season.

Players to watch‌ TITAN OPPERMAN, QB: The senior is back at the helm of the Cougars offense after throwing for 830 yards and 19 scores last year. Opperman also rushed for 11 touchdowns.

JADEN PENNING, RB: The junior lead AGWSR in rushing as a sophomore with 659 yards and 12 scores. He also caught 21 passes for 219 yards and seven touchdowns.

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48 | Thursday, August 29, 2019

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