Season Preview: 3A-District 1 Teams, Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sioux City Bishop Heelan claimed the Class 3A District 1 crown last season and went on to play in the state championship game. To get there, the Crusaders snuck by district-mate, Sioux Center, by a point in the quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those two teams should be in the mix for a district championship and more in 2024. There are strong programs with them that make this an intriguing race.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a closer look:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bishop Heelan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:&nbsp;</strong>The Cardiac Crusaders won three postseason games by a total of seven points last season. They showed tremendous resiliency during a playoff run to remember. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It should be a valuable experience for the student-athletes returning in '24. New stars must emerge for the ones lost to graduation if Heelan wants to keep it rolling, however.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1238514' first='Kasen' last='Thomas'] experienced a breakout last season and proved to be an offensive weapon, too. Iowa and Iowa State offered him scholarships on defense during the offseason. [player_tooltip player_id='1360516' first='Hayden' last='Overgaard'] was a first-team all-state offensive lineman as a junior last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tight end Carson McInerney is a tough matchup for opponents, and Jack Schramm contributes in all three phases. Linebacker Will Pattee returns after ranking second on the team in tackles last year, and Overgaard can impact the game in the trenches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong> Luke Fischer,&nbsp;RB/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1242255' first='Caden' last='Lester'],&nbsp;WR/DB; Matt Meyer, LB; Zachary Harpenau, OL/LB; Max Aesoph, OL/DL; Logan Gray, OL/DL. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sioux Center</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:&nbsp;</strong>The Warriors reeled off nine consecutive victories in '23, including 21-0 shutout of Heelan in late September. The Crusaders bounced back to take down Sioux Center, 27-26, in the state quarterfinals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That final result should serve to motivate the Warriors, who are seeking their fifth playoff appearance in a row. Like Heelan, they'll be replacing a lot of standouts lost to graduation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1241519' first='Cody' last='Sandbulte'] already stands out on both sides of the ball with two prep seasons remaining, and Isaiah Else also is a three-phase contributor ready for a bigger role. Gavin Vander Schaaf is a difference maker on the lines. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1241537' first='Brendan' last='Lamfers'], OL/DL; Casen Jahn, WR/DB; Kyle Kooi, P/DB/WR. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MOC-Floyd Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:&nbsp;</strong>The Dutchmen only suffered losses against the district's top two teams in '23. Sioux Center got by them by just seven points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MOC-Floyd Valley looks to push past the leading duo this fall. Its roster of returnees makes that possible. Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1282267' first='Blake' last='Aalbers'] runs the show very well with an accurate arm and an ability to move. Running backs Dylan Maasdam and [player_tooltip player_id='1695893' first='Kaleb' last='Koerselman'] come back after being the team's leading rushers in '23. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='773212' first='Ahman' last='Langton'] is an exciting two-way player as are Dylan Maasdam, [player_tooltip player_id='1282275' first='Braylon' last='Van Gelder'] and Dominic Schmitz. Linebacker Beau Weber and [player_tooltip player_id='1281978' first='Draeden' last='Punt'] on the defensive line stand out as playmakers on that side of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong> Cole Pottebaum,&nbsp;WR/DB; Ezra Bundt,&nbsp;WR/LB; Carter Brightwell, WR/DB; Trycen Groendyke, DB; Burke Uhl,&nbsp;RB/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1213553' first='Cohen' last='Bloemers'],&nbsp;OL/DL; Talon Moss, OL/DL. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carroll</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:&nbsp;</strong>Despite only being a three-win outfit in '23, Carroll was competitive most weeks. The Tigers weren't far from a winning season, a goal they'll shoot for again this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quarterback Carter Essick returns after throwing for 10 touchdowns and running for six scores last fall. Reece Ziegmann is an experienced running back, and [player_tooltip player_id='1242825' first='Quinten' last='Polking'] and Edrik Heisterkamp are among a group of active defenders. [player_tooltip player_id='1328145' first='Kieran' last='Polking'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1241368' first='Mason' last='Stitz'] are excellent specialists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1529009' first='Taidyn' last='Peterson'], RB/LB; Reece Ziegmann,&nbsp;RB/DB; &nbsp;Jared Mohr, LB; Caden Mollhoff, TE/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1279885' first='Carter' last='Smith'],&nbsp;LB/RB; Jeisson Avilez, OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1242824' first='Gavin' last='Holt'],&nbsp;OL/DL; Noah Hinners, OL/DL; Tanner Hahn,&nbsp;OL/DL. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sergeant Bluff-Luton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:&nbsp;</strong>SB-L lost by four against Carroll and also competed well with Sioux Center last season. That was a small consolation for a program used to winning at a high level for the last decade. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors would like to rise again in '24. They'll have 1,000-yard rusher [player_tooltip player_id='1529022' first='Zayvion' last='Ellington'] back along with leading receivers [player_tooltip player_id='1692983' first='Isaiah' last='Jervik'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1421471' first='Gavin' last='Warren']. The defense should be sturdy with talented returnees like Eliington, Warren, Kellan Benson, Bo Koedam,&nbsp;Brayden Kerr, Joe Hardy and [player_tooltip player_id='1279897' first='Blake' last='Dunagan']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong> Abram Keokenchanh,&nbsp;RB/LB; Roman Muston, OL/DL; Carlos Gonzalez, OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1279735' first='Alex' last='Wilson'], OL/DL. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Boyden Hull/Rocky Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:&nbsp;</strong>The Nighthawks have fallen on hard times the last two seasons after reaching the state championship game in '21. They also graduated a lot of talent off of last year's squad. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starting quarterback Carter Kleinwolterink could take a big step forward in '24 with one of his top targets, [player_tooltip player_id='1848887' first='Kaden' last='Van Schepen'],&nbsp;also back in the fold. Braylen Crawford,&nbsp;&nbsp;Drew Rozeboom,&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1421468' first='Miles' last='Netten'] and Levi Schafer are proven performers on defense. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong> Trevor Ver Hoef, RB/LB; Carter Kleinwolterink, QB/S; &nbsp;Ike Van Der Brink,&nbsp;WR/DB; Kahle Weber,RB/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1848913' first='Kolter' last='Van Egdom'], TE/LB. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->