Iowa Team Preview | Top Contender: Harlan Community

Take a look as Prep Redzone Iowa previews some of the state’s top contenders who, at least on paper, have what it takes to push for a title. From 5A down there are plenty of programs who have what it takes to challenge the reigning champions. Will any of these squads take it all? Here we take a look at the Harlan Community Cyclones and everything that they bring to the table that is undoubtedly a recipe for a championship run. Recap Harlan battled through a grueling schedule last season to remain undefeated all the way to the 3A state championship where they suffered their first loss to North Scott. The high powered Cyclones offense paved the way for some key regular season victories over other state contenders such as Lewis Central and Glenwood. They then fought through an equally tough path to the title game defeating Lewis Central for a second time and outdueling a talented Carlisle team in a shootout. Harlan gained invaluable experience in a very successful 2020 campaign that has them in an ideal position to finish what they have started. Outlook The aerial assault is back, as are the Cyclones’ leading tacklers, and this team is looking primed to make a very legitimate run in the reshaped 3A landscape. With teams such as North Scott and Lewis Central bumping up and out of the picture, this Harlan squad has to be a preseason favorite to take it all. Harlan’s leading receivers, who accounted for over 2,000 yards in 13 games last year, are back and ready to tear it up. It will be exciting to see this group take the next step and watch their productivity rise. They, collectively, have blistering speed and it is impossible for a defense to account for all three. The maturity of their Quarterback and experience together will no doubt make their offense even more dangerous and efficient. The defense is anchored and led by arguably the best Linebacker corp in the state. It will be really hard for teams to put enough points on the board to even keep things competitive the way the Cyclones’ will inevitably be able to run it up fast and early. Harlan will be tested often throughout the regular season with high profile matchups against Lewis Central, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Glenwood, and ADM. This will certainly help gauge who the favorite is heading into the postseason. Top Returning Players Harlan brings back a premier group of players with ultra high ceilings including: Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="104082" first="Teagon" last="Kasperbauer"], Wide Receivers [player_tooltip player_id="99142" first="Connor" last="Frame"], [player_tooltip player_id="104715" first="Aidan" last="Hall"], and [player_tooltip player_id="148723" first="Joey" last="Moser"], Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id="23949" first="Will" last="McLaughlin"], [player_tooltip player_id="148870" first="Joseph" last="Fah"], and Lucas Stanley, and Defensive End Jameson Bieker. This list includes a few of the most talented, highly ranked players in the state. There will be no shortage of electric playmaking ability on either side of the ball this fall for the Cyclones. Strengths It isn’t that this Harlan team doesn’t have a number of strengths, it is just that this team’s passing game is so elite and arguably the best you can find right now in Iowa. They can stretch the field and get behind coverage, pick a defense apart underneath, work route concepts that put defensive backs in an absolute bind, and the list goes on and on. Someone is going to be open at all times and they have a Quarterback who can read coverage and work through progressions to find that target. The combination of Kasperbauer, Frame, Hall, and Moser is lethal and they certainly rival, if not overshadow, any other team’s passing personnel. Look for this group to build on and eclipse last year’s numbers. Biggest Question The Cyclones graduated both of their leading rushers last year. Will their upcoming Juniors William Kenkel, Bradley Curren, and Zane Bendorf be able to fill those shoes? By committee or someone seizing the job Harlan will need the ground game to be efficient to keep defenses from bailing to sell out against the pass and emphasize rushing the passer. If they can pound the rock here and there it will make them even more dangerous through the air. Top Matchup You could probably flip a coin here between ADM and Sergeant Bluff-Luton. The Sergeant Bluff-Luton game will be a terrific early challenge, but the ADM game is slated for week 7 and this will likely be Harlan’s last big test as they gear up for the playoffs. These two teams could see each other again late in the bracket and their regular season matchup could have big implications for seeding. ADM is returning players that will put some serious strain on Harlan’s secondary and some defenders that can force the Cyclones to be very one dimensional. The schedule seems to work out in Harlan’s favor here as this game will really put strengths and deficiencies on display. The opportunity to fine tune in weeks 8 and 9 will be big. Keys to Success Limiting the total snaps of opposing offenses and defensive 3rd down efficiency will be huge. Harlan is going to score fast and foreseeably will put up big point totals each week. Therefore keeping the Cyclones defense fresh and off the field as much as possible will be key in putting teams away early on. This will be especially true late in the season as the Cyclones push for a title run.