Repeat? Western Dubuque & Class 3A 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 into it. </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Today we take a look at Class 3A, last year’s champ - Western Dubuque, and contenders to watch out for. </span> &nbsp; <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Western Dubuque used a senior-dominated football team to dominate Class 3A and win their second state title in school history. </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Bobcats rolled to a 13-0 record behind two-time all-state selection Calvin Harris at quarterback. Harries threw for over 2,000 yards and 29 touchdowns while being intercepted just two times. All-State running back Will Burds, defensive lineman Dustin Wille, and Carter Kluesner, a linebacker, all lost to graduation. The Bobcats will be looking for some replacements to step in and take over. They will have an early-season test against Xavier, who was a playoff team from a year ago. I think both will be a top 10 team to start the season and have an early showdown.</span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">It’s not just Western Dubuque, Solon has moved down to Class 2A, and the other two in the final four, Lewis Central and Sergeant Bluff-Luton, lost a lot. At least to start the season, it looks like there will be a new sheriff in town. But who will that be? </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">  </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">If you take an in-depth look at every playoff team from last year, only two teams stand out with what they are bringing back. Pella and Dallas Center-Grimes, both teams return their quarterbacks, both sides return at least two all-state players, and both teams return support players they will need. </span> &nbsp; <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Pella </span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Quarterback -</span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> [player_tooltip player_id="23840" first="Ryan" last="Mace"] returns after throwing for 1,735 yards and 19 touchdowns. </span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Rushers -</span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> Aaron Downs rushed for 841 yards and 14 touchdowns, [player_tooltip player_id="24015" first="Nolan" last="Clayberg"] rushed for 588 yards and three touchdowns, and Aidan Pollock also rushed for over 100 yards. </span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Receivers - </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Pella will be without their top receiver, Logan Shetterly caught 12 touchdowns and went for 860 yards. Though, again, they will have Aaron Downs who caught a touchdown and 246 yards, Josh Warner 283 yards and two touchdowns, and [player_tooltip player_id="23893" first="Grant" last="Nelson"], who went for 154 yards and a score. </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Two all-state defenders will return for Pella. Defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id="23826" first="Kody" last="Huisman"] and Aaron Downs, who will be counted on offensively, and will also need to be a top defender. Downs was selected as a first-team defensive back. He picked off two passes last season for the Dutch. Huisman is a North Dakota State commit and listed as the 21st best prospect in the Class of 2021. </span> &nbsp; <span data-preserver-spaces="true">DCG </span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Quarterback - </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Ty Walker will be back after throwing 14 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards. He also scrambled for 144 yards. </span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Rushers - </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="23888" first="Zach" last="Brand"] is a returning all-state rusher, he went for 792 yards and six touchdowns last season. He will be joined by Luke Busby, who went for four touchdowns and 334 yards. Four other Mustangs return after rushing the ball last season. </span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Receivers - </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">This is the part that sets Pella just slightly ahead. The Mustangs will be without a 200 and 300-yard receiver. They do, however, return 300-yard receiver Caden Grimes, he also caught four touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id="23888" first="Zach" last="Brand"] caught over 100 yards, and Luke Busby caught six passes for 85 yards. Those are the only returning athletes with catches last season. </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The DCG defense will be good again this season; they return two all-state defenders. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="23921" first="Blake" last="Willey"] and defensive back Nic Lawton both will be back this season. The Mustangs defense forced 25 turnovers, a lot of those returns. They will be without Dawson Lego, who came down with five interceptions. Lawton was right behind Lego with four picks, including one that went for six. </span> &nbsp; <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Last season Pella won the opening season meeting between these two teams, 14-0. They will again meet to open the season in what could be a #1 vs. #2 battle to start the season. </span> &nbsp; <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The rest of 3A will be decided by what newcomers/young players step up to have breakout years. </span> &nbsp; <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Grinnell’s [player_tooltip player_id="24026" first="Dallas" last="Sauser"] is on Prep Redzone’s ’23 quarterback watchlist - deservedly. He threw for 1,748 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only five interceptions as a freshman. He led Grinnell to a 6-3 record, just missing the playoffs. </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Running back, [player_tooltip player_id="23897" first="Wyatt" last="Hunter"] is a returning all-state rusher for the Tigers. Offensive lineman Dodge Sauser is also a returning all-stater. </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Clear Creek-Amana returns their quarterback, top rushers, and most of their top receivers. They also return Iowa’s best defensive player and Wisconsin committee, [player_tooltip player_id="23807" first="TJ" last="Bollers"]. </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Lewis Central lost a lot but returns the state’s best all-around football player, uncommitted TE [player_tooltip player_id="23806" first="Thomas" last="Fidone"]. They will be a top 10 football team to start the season. </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Other playoff teams from last year to keep an eye on:</span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Xavier</span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Washington</span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Harlan</span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Carlisle </span> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">North Scott </span>