Repeat? Don Bosco & 8-Player Preview

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Over the coming days, before the 2020 Iowa High School Football season kicks off, we will check in with all the champions from last season. </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">How likely is it they repeat as champions? Who wins the title in that Class this year? Let’s dive in. </span> We start in 8-Player, where Don Bosco dominated last season. The Dons went 13-0 putting up basketball like scoring numbers each night. Their lowest point total was 35 in the state championship game. That was also the closest game they played all year. Other than that championship game, only one team came within 39 points. <span data-preserver-spaces="true">With what we know right now, COVID-19 will have the final say; Don Bosco is most likely to repeat as champions. Despite the loss of 2,000-yard rusher Thomas Even and 700-yard receiver Lewis Havel, the Dons return enough to be the favorite. </span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Quarterback - </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Cael Frost will return and play the primary role in the offense. Frost threw 31 touchdowns and for over 1,300 yards last season. Frost doesn’t just throw; the multiple sport standout also ran for 1,236 yards and 19 touchdowns. </span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Rushers - </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Don Bosco will have to replace a 2,000-yard rusher. The Dons will do it with multiple athletes. Seniors Ryan Naughton, [player_tooltip player_id="24004" first="Cade" last="Tenold"], and Carson Tenold all saw their share of touches last season, and all rushed for over 200 yards. Three other young Dons got to experience last season. </span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Receivers -</span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> That will be the part of the offense Don Bosco will be inexperienced at. Juniors Cade and Carson Tenold are the only receivers to catch a pass and return this season. Last year, Frost relied on Lewis Havel as his go-to receiver. The Dons completed 60 passes last year, and all but 15 were caught by seniors. </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">No matter who is coming back or not, Don Bosco has built a program this past decade. They’ve reached the state playoffs in 9 straight years, winning four titles. Don Bosco is the favorite to win its fourth title in five years this season.  </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Who could stop them? </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Remsen St. Mary’s made a run to the state semifinals last year. That’s been a common theme for the Hawks who have only missed the semifinals once in their five appearances in the first round; they won the title in 2004. </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Remsen returns their all-state quarterback Blaine Harpenau. Harpenau threw for 1,447 and 26 touchdowns to go along, running for 837 yards and 24 more scores. Sophomore Jaxson Bunkers completed 18 of his 30 passes for 258 yards as well. </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">1000 yard rusher Jeremy Koenck returns; he scored 14 touchdowns last season. Skyler Waldschmitt is the lone everyday rusher or receiver lost to graduation. </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The defense is where Remsen will have some question marks. All-State defender Noah Schroeder is gone. He led the state in all classes with 158.5 tackles. Skyler Waldschmitt was second on the team with 77 tackles. The athletes won’t be the problem on defense for Remsen; they have those, it will come down to who will step up to make the 235 tackles lost to graduation. </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Watch out for: Audubon, the Wheelers made the finals last year and will have a say in who wins the title. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Harris-Lake Park </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Montezuma</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">CAM </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Fremont-Mills </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Easton Valley </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Turkey Valley </span>