The 4A Club Conference Preview: MVC-Mississippi Division
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 Class 4A school in the Mississippi Division of the Mississippi Valley Conference.
Disclaimer: There are 4 other schools apart of the MVC, those being Wahlert, Waterloo East, Western Dubuque, and Xavier, but since they’re all 3A when it comes to football and I’m only covering 4A schools, I won’t be covering them this season.
Cedar Falls
My Preseason Ranking: 4th
My Team Rating: 43.1818 (A)
Head Coach: Brad Remmert
Offensive Coordinator: Ken Kolthoff
Defensive Coordinator: Matt Humpal
Base Offense: Multiple (1-0, 2-1, 1-1)
Base Defense: 4-3
Watchlist Players:
RB Ryan Ostrich Ryan Ostrich 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Cedar Falls | 2021 IA , SR
WR Trey Campbell Trey Campbell 6'4" | 180 lbs | WR Cedar Falls | 2022 State IA , JR
WR Daniel Hutchins Daniel Hutchins 6'2" | 200 lbs | WR Cedar Falls | 2021 IA , SR
OT Drew Hoth Drew Hoth 6'4" | 270 lbs | OL Cedar Falls | 2021 IA , SR
Returning Starters:
TE Carter Janssen, SR
OT Ty Tompkins, SR
OT Joe Knutson, SR
G Logan Saak, SR
OLB Elijah Mickey, SR
CB Nathan Gee, SR
S Jase Seger, SR
Risers/Arrivals:
QB Hunter Jacobsen, SR
C Jayson Weiland, SR
DE Paden Bonner, SR
MLB Ryley Barnett Ryley Barnett 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Cedar Falls | 2022 State IA , JR
A quick word: Consistently one of the best teams in the MVC, This season looks to remain the case for the Tigers. They got some very good skill players coming back, and combined with most of their offensive line coming back, CF should have one of the best offenses in Eastern Iowa.
Cedar Rapids Washington
My Preseason Ranking: T-27th
My Team Rating: 31.6667 (D+)
Head Coach: Maurice Blue
Offensive Coordinator: Jason Wood
Defensive Coordinator: Maurice Blue
Base Offense: Spread (1-0, 2-0, 2-1)
Base Defense: 4-2-5, 3-3-5, 4-3
Watchlist Players:
QB Henry Clymer Henry Clymer 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Washington | 2021 IA , SR
Returning Starters:
OT Dallyn Garner, JR
G Michael Gibson, SR
C/DE Noah Allen, JR
DT Tony Westmoreland, SR
OLB/RB Jabari Dobbs, JR
MLB Romen Young, JR
S/WR/P Justin Scherrman, SR
K Seth Moore, SR
Risers/Arrivals:
WR Mason Ward, SR
WR Zaren Ross-Carr, SR
WR Max Bjornsen, SR
OT Tate Sykora-Mathess, JR
OT Charlie Hayek, SR
G Maxwell Perez, SR
OLB Cavan Riley, SR
MLB Garrett Watson, SR
MLB Evion Shaw, SR
S Riley Martin, JR
A quick word: While the Warriors have taken a considerable fall from where they were a few years ago, they could be on the upswing in 2020 with the number of players coming back.
Iowa City High
My Preseason Ranking: 30th
My Team Rating: 29.8889 (D-)
Head Coach: Dan Sabers
Offensive Coordinator: Joe Wilcox
Defensive Coordinator: Dan Sabers
Base Offense: I-Form (2-1, 2-2, 1-2)
Base Defense: Multiple Front (4-3, 3-3-5, 3-4)
Watchlist Players:
QB/DE Raph Hamilton, SR
Returning Starters:
FB/MLB Darren Richardson, JR
FB/MLB Joe Bacon, SR
WR/CB Jacob Means, SR
WR/CB Jamari Newson, JR
TE/MLB Kolby Kucera, SR
OT Ostyn Friday, JR
OT Avery Goodrich, JR
G Nolan Waters, JR
G Chris Washington, SR
DE Joey Bouska, JR
OLB/RB/K Sila Lulinda, SR
MLB/TE John Klosterman, JR – injured
S/WR/P Gable Mitchell, JR
Risers/Arrivals:
WR/S Will Larson, SO
OT Ethan Goodrich, JR
C Fritz Spencer, SR
DE TaeShon McDaniels, SO
DE Marcelino Robles, SR
OLB Carter Seaton, SO
OLB Aaron Stalkfeet, JR
MLB Ben Kueter, SO
CB/WR Jovan Harris, JR
A quick word: City High has a bunch of starters returning and could have enough depth to help turn the program back around after these past few mediocre seasons.
Iowa City Liberty
My Preseason Ranking: 23rd
My Team Rating: 34.563 (C)
Head Coach: Jeff Gordon
Offensive Coordinator: Ronnie Hughes
Defensive Coordinator: Clint Feuerbach
Base Offense: Wing-T (3-1)
Base Defense: 4-2-5, 4-3
Watchlist Players:
N/A
Returning Starters:
RB/DE Max Tafolla, SR
OT Max Beckman, JR
OLB Darius Newell, JR
CB Luke Meyers, JR
CB Jacob Adam, JR
S Kelby Telander Kelby Telander 6'4" | 205 lbs | ATH Liberty | 2021 IA , SR
Risers/Arrivals:
RB/P Beau Miller, SR (from Oswego, IL)
WR/S Michael Miller, SR (from Oswego East, Oswego, IL)
WR/OLB Griff Kraft, JR
TE/DE Colin Shults, JR
OT Peyton Kurtz, JR
A quick word: The Lightning will make their Class 4A football debut in 2020 after spending their first two seasons in 3A play, which include a playoff appearance just last season. They lost a bunch of starters from last year, but key returnees like Max Tafolla and Kelby Telander Kelby Telander 6'4" | 205 lbs | ATH Liberty | 2021 IA look to improve after already strong campaigns last year.
Linn-Mar
My Preseason Ranking: T-9th
My Team Rating: 39 (B)
Head Coach: Paul James
Offensive Coordinator: Paul James
Defensive Coordinator: Edmond Miles
Base Offense: Spread (1-0)
Base Defense: 4-3
Watchlist Players:
OT Cole Doty, SR
CB Jeron Senters, JR
S Dylan Muszynski Dylan Muszynski 5'8" | 160 lbs | DB Linn-Mar | 2022 State IA , JR
Returning Starters:
RB Bricen White, SR
DT/FB Chris Baker, SR
G/DE Dylan Page, SR
DE/OT Luke Gaffney, JR
DT Abass Kemokai, SR
OLB Cam Guenther, JR
Risers/Arrivals:
QB McKade Jelinek, JR
WR Mehki Jackson, SR
TE/QB Andrew Knipper, SR
DT Lucas Baumann, SR
OLB Sage Holmes, SR
OLB Elijah Glekiah, SR
MLB Mac Watts, JR
CB Kaden Carlton, SR
A quick word: It took a couple of years for Paul James to bring Linn-Mar’s program back to the forefront of Eastern Iowa football, but now his Linn-Mar Lions are showing some signs of their former glory after their first playoff appearance since he arrived. This team is built for the future, as their best players on defense, Senters, Muszynski, Gaffney, and Guenther are all juniors.
Prairie
Preseason Ranking: t-13th
Team Rating: 38 (B-)
Head Coach: Mike Bliss
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Bliss
Defensive Coordinator: Jim Dostal
Base Offense: Single Wing & Spread (3-2, 3-1, 1-0)
Base Defense: 4-3
Watchlist Players:
RB/OLB Nick Pearson Nick Pearson 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Prairie | 2021 IA , SR
TE Gabe Burkle Gabe Burkle 6'7" | 240 lbs | TE Cedar Rapids Prairie | 2022 State IA , JR
Returning Starters:
OE/DT Baxter Bohr, SR
DE Moses Each, SR
DT Josue Ramirez, SR
MLB/FB Clayton Scott, SR
P Sam Braksiek, SR
Risers/Arrivals:
WR/MLB Aidan Moeller, SR
G Eli Ripley, SR
DE Jackson Costigan, DE
DT Isaiah Harrison, SR
OLB Jackson Decker, SR
OLB Vaughn Swart, SR
CB Mason Mahoney, SR
S Collin Rickertsen, SR
S Nick Fetters, SR
S Adam Longwell, SR
A quick word: The Hawks are always a contender for a playoff spot year-end and year out. Nick Pearson Nick Pearson 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Prairie | 2021 IA is the state’s leading returning rusher coming out of their Single Wing offense, and Gabe Burkle Gabe Burkle 6'7" | 240 lbs | TE Cedar Rapids Prairie | 2022 State IA is set for a breakout year after getting a few Power-5 offers come his way in the offseason.