The 4A Club Conference Preview: CIML-Iowa
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Because of the pandemic, the Iowa High School Athletic Association has let Class 4A schools and conferences make their own schedules, essentially bringing back conference play in Class 4A football for the first time since 2013. So here’s a preview of…
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Continue ReadingBecause of the pandemic, the Iowa High School Athletic Association has let Class 4A schools and conferences make their own schedules, essentially bringing back conference play in Class 4A football for the first time since 2013. So here’s a preview of every school in the Iowa Conference of the Central Iowa Metro League.
Disclaimer: Mason City is also apart of the Iowa Conference, but since they were brought down to 3A as apart of the new football realignment and I’m only covering 4A schools, I won’t be covering them this season.
Ames
My Preseason Ranking: 34th
My Team Rating: 28.4444 (E+)
Head Coach: Kevin Ferguson
Offensive Coordinator: Kevin Ferguson
Defensive Coordinator: Jamie Smith
Base Offense: Multiple (1-0, 2-0)
Base Defense: 4-2-5
Watchlist Players:
TE Corey Phillips Corey Phillips 6'5" | 250 lbs | TE Ames | 2022 State IA , JR
Returning Starters:
RB Derek Papin, SR
DE Mikael Broders, SR
OLB Jack White, SR
OLB Franck Biyoghe, SR
MLB Caleb Grawe, SR
Risers/Arrivals:
WR/S Tamin Lipsey, JR (returning from injury)
CB Brady Burkheimer, SR
S/WR Evan Grey Evan Grey 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Ames | 2022 IA , JR
S Emilio Sandoval, SR
A quick word: There is a changing of the guard in Ames, as longtime head coach Bruce Vertanen called it a career, and ex-Simpson College assistant and most recently an assistant at Southeast Polk, Kevin Ferguson became the new HC. He’s got an uphill battle to get through, as the Little Cyclones lost a ton of starters from last year, but with basketball superstar Tamin Lipsey returning to the field after a torn ACL took away his sophomore year of sports, to go along with D-1 caliber TE Corey Phillips Corey Phillips 6'5" | 250 lbs | TE Ames | 2022 State IA , the uphill battle seems a little easier for the rookie head coach to handle.
Ankeny
My Preseason Ranking: 2nd
Team Rating: 44.7273 (A+)
Head Coach: Rick Nelson
Offensive Coordinator: Adam Booth
Defensive Coordinator: Nick Nelson
Base Offense: Spread (1-0, 1-1, 2-1)
Base Defense: 3-4
Watchlist Players:
QB Jase Bauer Jase Bauer 6'1" | 205 lbs | QB Ankeny | 2021 State IA , SR
RB Colin Kadolph Colin Kadolph 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Ankeny | 2022 State IA , JR
WR Brody Brecht Brody Brecht 6'4" | 205 lbs | WR Ankeny | 2021 State IA , SR
WR Arland Bruce IV, SR
MLB Brecken Manus, SR
CB Cooper Cox, SR
S Cael Boyd Cael Boyd 5'10" | 185 lbs | DB Ankeny | 2021 IA , SR
S Ryan Crandall Ryan Crandall 6'3" | 200 lbs | DB Ankeny | 2022 State IA , SR
Returning Starters:
FB Brock Chiodo, SR
WR Kade Somers, SR
TE Weston Fulk, SR
G Antonio Espino, SR
CB Will Cornwell Will Cornwell 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB Ankeny | 2022 State IA , SR
K Max Pelham, JR
P Boston Sanderson, SR
Risers/Arrivals:
RB Nate Nessa, JR (from Ballard)
WR Arland Bruce IV, SR (from Olathe North, Olathe, KS)
DE/TE Braden Simonsen Braden Simonsen 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL Ankeny | 2022 State IA , JR
MLB Brice Peterson, SR
OLB Will Johnson, SR
OLB Jackson Penningroth, JR
S Caleb Rathjen Caleb Rathjen 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Ankeny | 2021 IA , SR
A quick word: There aren’t many teams as loaded as the Hawks are this season. Arland Bruce IV, all-around stat machine as QB at Olathe North and son of a three-time CFL All-Star has just moved up from the Kansas City area to team up with his future Hawkeye teammate Brody Brecht Brody Brecht 6'4" | 205 lbs | WR Ankeny | 2021 State IA to lead the states most deadly passing game along with QB Jase Bauer Jase Bauer 6'1" | 205 lbs | QB Ankeny | 2021 State IA . Defensively they’re led by a good and experienced secondary that can certainly hold the fort for a front seven that only returns one starter from 2019.
Ankeny Centennial
My Preseason Ranking: T-21st
My Team Rating: 35 (C)
Co-Head Coaches: Jerry & Ryan Pezzetti
Offensive Coordinator: Ryan Pezzetti
Defensive Coordinator: Dave Jones
Base Offense: Multiple (2-1, 3-1, 2-2)
Base Defense: 4-3
Watchlist Players:
N/A
Returning Starters:
RB/OLB Tyler Johnson, SR
G Nate Howe, SR
DE Nathan Wilde, SR
DT/OT Jackie Wells, SR
Risers/Arrivals:
QB Peyton Goode, JR
RB Carter Cahill, JR
OT Logan Stewart, SR
G Johnathon Beuter, SR
DT Griffin Neal, SR
CB/RB Trey Porter, JR
K Scott Talmadge, SR
A quick word: The Pezzetti’s look like they got their hands full as just about every noteworthy starter from last season’s 8-2 campaign is gone. But the Jags have been excellent in developing incoming varsity players through their lower class and JV teams so don’t expect them to take too much of a drop off in 2020.
Fort Dodge
My Preseason Ranking: T-21st
My Team Rating: 35 (C)
Head Coach: Nik Moser
Offensive Coordinator: Dan Adams
Defensive Coordinator: Blake Utley
Base Offense: Spread (1-0, 2-0)
Base Defense: 3-4
Watchlist Players:
RB Dayson Clayton, SR
Returning Starters:
G/DE Brandon Porter, SR
C Sawyer Springer Sawyer Springer 6'1" | 250 lbs | OL Fort Dodge | 2021 IA , SR
CB Jerry Chada, SR
S Sam Daniel Sam Daniel 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Fort Dodge | 2021 IA , SR
Risers/Arrivals:
QB Cael Mason, JR
WR Javion Jondle, SO
G Colten Munter, SO
G Keaton Nichols, SO
MLB Kaden Lynch, SO
OLB James Daniel, SR
OLB Thomas Daniel, SR
A quick word: Matt Miller, the Dodgers all-time winningest coach announced his retirement after the 2019 season, and taking over as head coach will be his offensive coordinator, former Iowa State safety Nik Moser. Offensively, Dayson Clayton has been a starter since he was a freshman and is ready to fully break out now that most of the offensive pieces from last year are gone, and the defense is going to be led by the triplets; Sam, James, and Thomas Daniel.
Marshalltown
My Preseason Ranking: 17th
My Team Rating: 37.1111 (B-)
Head Coach: Adam Goodvin
Offensive Coordinator: Adam Goodvin
Defensive Coordinator: Duncan Ferch
Base Offense: Wing-T (2-2)
Base Defense: 4-3
Watchlist Players:
QB, Brendan Bates Brendan Bates 6'1" | 210 lbs | QB Marshalltown | 2021 IA , SR
TE/MLB Carson Williams Carson Williams 6'5" | 235 lbs | TE Marshalltown | 2021 State IA , SR
Returning Starters:
OT Aidan DeVolder Aidan DeVolder 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL Marshalltown | 2021 IA , SR
OT Ethan Wertzberger, SR
G Tristan Weir, SR
C Spencer Snyder, SR
DE/FB Patrick Landeros, SR
CB Dwight Joar, SR
CB Jaiden Buchanan, SR
Risers/Arrivals:
HB Malik Haynes, SR
HB Nick Rebik, SO
FB Dominick Garth, JR
MLB/TE Gannon Williams, JR (returning from injury)
G Tristan King, JR
A quick word: The Bobcats have some making up to do from 2019 as they came *this* close to a playoff berth after starting 6-0, but faced a tough stretch of teams to end the season and lost all three of them. Their two-way ace Carson Williams Carson Williams 6'5" | 235 lbs | TE Marshalltown | 2021 State IA is a University of Buffalo commit, and his younger brother Gannon is looking to break out too after missing most of last season to help lead a strong Marshalltown team to new heights in 2020.