Class 5A, District 2: Top Offensive, Defensive Standouts

There was a solid youth movement at the top of Class 5A, District 2 this past fall. West Des Moines Dowling and Ames both started underclassmen at quarterback, with several other key players set to return in 2022 with even more expectations on their shoulders. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104089" first="Dallas" last="Sauser"] - Ames - QB - 6-2 - 150</strong> The talented [player_tooltip player_id="104089" first="Dallas" last="Sauser"] led the Little Cyclones this past season, throwing for 2,391 yards with 17 touchdowns. He was efficient, completing over 57 percent of his passes, while averaging 12 yards per completion. Sauser is more of a pocket passer, but a gifted one at that. He has a strong arm and throws a very nice, easily-catchable deep ball. The lefty is best on the move, working around the pocket to give his receivers time to get open. <strong>Jamison Poe - Ames - RB/LB - 5-9 - 150</strong> Freshman sensation Jamison Poe took the Ames offense by storm, racking up 704 yards and five touchdowns. With classmate DeShawn Long, the two provided a constant ground attack for [player_tooltip player_id="104089" first="Dallas" last="Sauser"]. Poe also flashed his skills in the passing game, catching 26 balls for 160 yards and another score. With a year of experience under his belt and an offseason at the high school level preparing, expect big things out of Poe in 2022. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104098" first="Jaxon" last="Smolik"] - West Des Moines Dowling - QB - 6-2 - 190</strong> Over the years, the quarterback position at West Des Moines Dowling has carried plenty of weight and pressure. Junior [player_tooltip player_id="104098" first="Jaxon" last="Smolik"] thrived on that pressure this year. Smolik helped the Maroons reach the quarterfinals before coming up short against eventual champion Southeast Polk. He completed 66 percent of his passes for 959 yards with nine touchdowns and just two interceptions. A big, strong presence in the backfield, Smolik has excellent touch on his passes and is quick to make a read and hit the receiver. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="247901" first="Steven" last="Smith"] - Council Bluffs Lincoln - RB/LB - 5-11 - 165</strong> Council Bluffs Lincoln finished with a 4-5 record in a tough district thanks in large part to the play of [player_tooltip player_id="247901" first="Steven" last="Smith"] on the defensive side of the ball. The junior recorded 75 tackles, with 41 being solo stops. Smith also forced three turnovers. While not the biggest player on the field, Smith plays like it. And once he sets his sights on a ballcarrier, he is as sure a tackler as there is in the state. <strong>Aidan George - Johnston - DL - 6-2 - 200</strong> An interesting player to watch moving forward will be Johnston’s Aidan George. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder racked up 7.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss playing alongside senior Ian Dolan. Next fall, George will be the man on defense. He made 31 tackles, with 16 being solo stops. With his length and frame, George definitely has the body to get even bigger and stronger, and already has great athleticism and quickness off the line.