The 4A Club Conference Preview: MVC-Valley 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 every Class 4A school in the Mississippi Division of the Mississippi Valley Conference. <strong>Disclaimer: </strong>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 Rapids Jefferson My Preseason Ranking: 25th My Team Rating: 33.8889 (C-)   Head Coach: Chris Buesing Offensive Coordinator: Ryan Eivins Defensive Coordinator: Scott Andrews Base Offense: Triple Option (2-2, 3-1, 3-0, 2-0) Base Defense: 4-3   Watchlist Players: OLB Josiah Szabo, SR K/P Jacob Cross, SR   Returning Starters: G/DT Jackson Stone, SR C Noah Dukes, SR CB Dkhai Pope, SR   Risers/Arrivals: QB Carson Blietz, JR WR/CB Lonny Melvin, JR OT Preston Bruck, SR DT Donovan Fleetwood, SR DT Will Johnson, SR OLB Dylan Markham, SR MLB Joel Watts, SR S/WR Tavian Cook, JR   A quick word: The J-Hawks lost a bunch of their key players from last season, so it will be interesting to see who Jeff looks towards to replace them. Whether they take backups from last year or start some younger kids that were just brought up to varsity this year.     Cedar Rapids Kennedy My Preseason Ranking: 7th My Team Rating: 39.6667 (B+)   Head Coach: Brian White Offensive Coordinator: Kyle Knock Defensive Coordinator: Brian White Base Offense: Pro-Style (2-1) Base Defense: 3-3-5   Watchlist Players: QB/S [player_tooltip player_id="23839" first="Max" last="White"], SR OT [player_tooltip player_id="23937" first="Jamison" last="Bean"], SR OT/DE [player_tooltip player_id="23808" first="Connor" last="Colby"], SR   Returning Starters: WR Jalen Cotton, SR G Gavin Bascom, SR DE Ahvey Garrett, SR DT Cael Knox, SR OLB Drew Bartels, SR S Brody Lovell, SR K Liam Wahe, SR   Risers/Arrivals: RB DeMarcus Ray, SR (from Prairie) RB Jazan Williams, SO WR Isaiah Morgan, JR OT Parker Heidt, JR DE Garrett Eubanks, JR OLB/TE Reid Pakkebier, SR MLB Alex Koch, JR S Divion Ocheltree, SR   A quick word: A state semifinalist last season, the Cougars look to break the glass ceiling and get the state title in 2020. Iowa commit [player_tooltip player_id="23808" first="Connor" last="Colby"] is considered one of the state’s elite talents, and dual-threat [player_tooltip player_id="23839" first="Max" last="White"] should show off his passer skills after an excellent junior season where he spent most of his yards on the ground.     Dubuque Hempstead My Preseason Ranking: 20th My Team Rating: 35.8889 (C+)   Head Coach: Jeff Hoerner Offensive Coordinator: Matt Ehlers Defensive Coordinator: Don Pirkle Base Offense: Spread (2-0, 1-0, 1-1) Base Defense: 4-2-5   Watchlist Players: QB [player_tooltip player_id="23854" first="Aidan" last="Dunne"], SR DT/G [player_tooltip player_id="23901" first="Cayden" last="Lovett"], SR   Returning Starters: WR/S Ty Hancock, SR WR/CB Jackson Ostrander, SR G Caleb Heims, SR DE/TE Cooper Kay, SR OLB Max Moldt, SR S/P [player_tooltip player_id="23922" first="Zach" last="Sabers"], SR K Ben Jaeger, SR   Risers/Arrivals: WR/CB Charlie Besler, JR OT/DT John Ostrander, JR G Adam Hermiston, SR G Austin Unsen, SR DE Tim Duwe, JR DE Adam Ward, SR DE/G Lane Wels, JR OLB Bryar Blean, JR OLB/RB Jalen Smith, SR (returning from injury) CB Kyrie Tate, JR S Jackson Vanderheyden, SR   A quick word: Veteran assistant Jeff Hoerner will make his head coaching debut for the Mustangs, as he takes over a fairly good Hempstead team that could win a couple of playoff games in 2020.     Dubuque Senior My Preseason Ranking: T-9th My Team Rating: 39 (B)   Head Coach: Dale Ploessl Offensive Coordinator: Sam Benda Defensive Coordinator: Tim Dolson Base Offense: Spread (1-0, 1-1, 2-1) Base Defense: 3-4, 4-2-5, 4-3   Watchlist Players: RB/CB [player_tooltip player_id="23836" first="Cain" last="McWilliams"], SR TE/DE Carson Tart, SR OT/DE [player_tooltip player_id="23816" first="Jim" last="Bonifas"], SR OLB/WR [player_tooltip player_id="23844" first="Seth" last="Bullock"], SR S/WR [player_tooltip player_id="23838" first="Logan" last="Flanagan"], SR   Returning Starters: WR [player_tooltip player_id="23926" first="Hunter" last="Preston"], SR OT Tanner Buol, JR MLB/FB Ben Hefel, SR CB Gavyn Schumacher, SR P Parker Kerf, SR   Risers/Arrivals: DE Connor Lucas, JR DT Dustin Dean, JR MLB Nate Oswalt, SR CB David Williams, SR S Tommy Williams, JR   A quick word: Despite unexpectedly losing star receiver [player_tooltip player_id="23837" first="Kendrick" last="Watkins-Hogue"], who moved to Galesburg, Illinois, the Rams return a bunch of key players from last season, and should be one of the best teams in their conference.     Iowa City West My Preseason Ranking: 19th My Team Rating: 36.3333 (C+)   Head Coach: Garrett Hartwig Offensive Coordinator: Andrew Durham Defensive Coordinator: Tyler Meade Base Offense: Multiple (2-1, 1-0, 1-1) Base Defense: 4-3, 3-4, 4-2-5   Watchlist Players: QB/P [player_tooltip player_id="23831" first="Marcus" last="Morgan"], SR WR/S [player_tooltip player_id="23872" first="Grahm" last="Goering"], SR K Owen Smith, SR   Returning Starters: WR/CB Eric Torres, SR TE/DE Alex McKay, SR OT [player_tooltip player_id="23994" first="Liam" last="Becher"], SR OT Joey Chase, SR G Fred Syata, SR DE Mason Applegate, JR OLB Dijon Genus, SR OLB/WR Ian McAreavy, SR MLB Kalen Haworth, SR CB/RB Tyuss Bell, SR CB Fabian Brown, SR   Risers/Arrivals: RB Trey King Jr, SR (from Burlington) WR Damarion Williams, SR (from Bradford, Kenosha, WI) G Will Towler, JR MLB Boaz Abromoff, JR TE Nick McDonnell, JR OLB/QB Conner O’Neil, JR (from Riverdale Country School in the Bronx, NY)   A quick word: It was a rare down year for the Trojans in 2019, but now with [player_tooltip player_id="23831" first="Marcus" last="Morgan"] ready to give his all for his senior season, combined with a bunch of other starters returning should give West a more all-around improved season in 2020.     Waterloo West My Preseason Ranking: 26th My Team Rating: 32.6667 (D+)   Head Coach: Lonnie Moore Offensive Coordinator: David Milder Defensive Coordinator: Nick Roe Base Offense: Spread (1-0, 2-0, 1-1) Base Defense: 4-3   Watchlist Players: DE Micheal Robinson, SR   Returning Starters: OT/DT Adam Teare, SR OT Kornell Epps, JR G Christian Chapman, JR DE Tayvious Campbell, SR OLB Maki Leflore, SR MLB Nate Ewell, SR K Jaxon Hoppes, SR   Risers/Arrivals: WR Tay Norman, SR G/OLB Clayton Rottinghaus, SR C Aidan Lemley, JR DE Devontay Bentancourt, SR DT/OT Levi Russell, JR OLB Orlando Vivians, SR S Jackson Westemeier, JR   A quick word: The Wahawks lost a bunch of starting skill players and players in the secondary, but a fair amount of their starting o-linemen and defensive front seven return for 2020.