Season Preview: 3A-District 2 Teams, Players to Watch

A strong case can be made for District 2 being the deepest group in the Class 3A last season. Five teams won at least five games and four of them advanced to postseason play.   Clear Lake and Webster City finished 4-1 in district play. Algona and Humboldt also competed in the playoffs. Hampton-Dumont-Cal was left out despite winning five contests.   It should be an incredibly fun race again in '24. Let's take a closer look:   Clear Lake   Outlook: The Lions appeared to be a state-title contender for the first seven weeks of the season. That 7-0 start was followed by losses in two of the final three games, including a first-round home playoff setback against Sioux City Heelan.   Clear Lake will be motivated by how last season ended. Its roster shapes up as one that can make a deeper postseason run in '24.   It starts with [player_tooltip player_id='847937' first='Thomas' last='Meyer'], one of the top players in the state regardless of class or position. The University of Iowa tight end commitment also wreaks havoc as a defense end. All-State running back [player_tooltip player_id='1361107' first='Titan' last='Schmitt'] returns after rushing for almost 1,500 yards last fall, and his backup, [player_tooltip player_id='1241524' first='Sam' last='Dodge'], rides again after accumulating more than 700 yards rushing and receiving seven touchdowns.   [player_tooltip player_id='1279871' first='Landon' last='Lewerke'], [player_tooltip player_id='1286466' first='Henry' last='Bunn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1286464' first='Aaron' last='Richtsmeier'] anchor the O-Line. Meyer, Bunn, [player_tooltip player_id='1241522' first='Gage' last='Larson'] abd [player_tooltip player_id='1361105' first='Lincoln' last='Allsbrook'] help form the foundation of what should be a salty defense.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1204540' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'], QB/DB; Blake Enke, WR/DB; MJ Otto, RB/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1844789' first='Trevor' last='Theobald'], WR/DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1844810' first='Luke' last='Fuhrman'], WR/DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1241521' first='Donnie' last='Johnson'], WR/LB: [player_tooltip player_id='1361104' first='Alex' last='Kerr'], WR/DB; Jordan Ainley, TE/LB.   Webster City   Outlook: Webster City will be seeking its fifth consecutive postseason trip after making it to the state quarterfinals in two of the last three years. It could be challenging replacing student-athletes lost to graduation that played a big role in recent successes.   Running backs [player_tooltip player_id='1361121' first='Cael' last='Nixon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1361125' first='Luke' last='Estlund'] appear ready for larger workloads. Estlund and [player_tooltip player_id='1844903' first='Jaxon' last='Griffith'] show potential as receivers. Sophomore linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1205999' first='Jayden' last='Weinzetl'] has a bright future as does his classmate, lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1361130' first='Beau' last='Nohrenberg']. Elsewhere on defense, Estlund, Nixon, [player_tooltip player_id='1811636' first='Aiden' last='Hrnicek'], Tristan Mason and [player_tooltip player_id='1361127' first='Carson' last='Bertran'] deliver plays.   Other Players to Watch:  Max McGilligan, OL/DL; Cody Elliott JR, OL/LB; Eli Estlund, OL/DL.   Algona   Outlook: Few teams around the state return as much star power as does Algona. Iowa State commitments [player_tooltip player_id='252334' first='Jack' last='Limbaugh'] and [player_tooltip player_id='252221' first='Alex' last='Manske'] are ranked in the Top 7 of <a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2025-rankings/">Prep Redzone's 2025 Class ratings</a>. They and the rest of their teammates taking another step forward this season could lead to the Bulldogs advancing beyond the first-round of the postseason for the first time since '19.   Manske is one of the top quarterbacks in the country. Limbaugh is a dominating defensive lineman. And there's more.   Leading rusher [player_tooltip player_id='1240413' first='Evan' last='Allie'] returns. He and Tate Slagle are dangerous receivers, while the latter also stands out as a tackling-machine at linebacker. Tate Garman already is a productive two-way performer. Aiden Ulrich shines in the trenches, and Landon Thompson stands out in the secondary.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1240419' first='Tate' last='Carter'], OL/DL; Devin Larsen, RB/DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1240418' first='William' last='Weichert'], RB/DB; Ashton Moreno, RB/DB; Tyson VanDewalle, RB/LB; Jaxon Eischen, TE/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1204547' first='Nathan' last='Manske'], QB/LB; Tristan Fehr, WR/DB; Cadyn Samp, WR/DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1665965' first='Taevyn' last='Zinnel'], RB/LB; Drew Schutjer, OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1240420' first='Max' last='Nevitt'], OL/DL.   Humboldt   Outlook: Humboldt bowed out in the first-round of the playoffs against eventual 3A state champion Williamsburg. The Wildcats reached the UNI-Dome during the previous two campaigns.   There's plenty of talent to lean on for a run in '24. All-State defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1280029' first='Keegan' last='Groat'] is back in the fold as is starting quarterback Coen Matson, who can do damage with his arm and legs. Two of his top receiving targets return in Mason Van Pelt and Jackson Dodd. Van Pelt also is a dogged defender. He has support on that side of the ball from [player_tooltip player_id='1840888' first='Cael' last='Donahe'], Zane McIntire, Trey Al-Hameed and Syler Brown. [player_tooltip player_id='1197447' first='Broedy' last='Hendricks'] is one of the better '27s in the state.   Other Players to Watch: Kamdyn Haggard, Ol/DL: Parker Sleiter, OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1840904' first='Jack' last='Guy'], OL/DL; Peyton Pedersen, RB/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1840861' first='Karson' last='Rubel'], WR/DB; Cyler Cirks, DB/WR; Braiden Swanson, TE/LB;   Hampton-Dumont-Cal   Outlook: A seven-point loss to Humboldt ended up costing the Bulldogs a playoff spot. That was disappointing after they started 4-0 with a win against postseason-bound Nevada. They'd been in the playoffs the previous two years.   Hampton-Dumont-Cal will get back up on the horse this fall and aim for a return to at least a 10th game this season. It will be replacing its starting quarterback, its top three rushers and it's two leading receivers from '23, though.   The defense has a chance to lead the way with linebackers Taylor Mahler and Chase Johnson along Brody Strother, a defensive back, returning after solid seasons. Defensive tackle Austin Hanson disrupts the proceedings for opposing offenses.   Other Players to Watch: Ryder Strother, QB/DB; Colin Bird, RB/LB; Chase Johnson, RB/LB; Maddon Evans, OL/DL; Aaden Keehn, WR/DB.   Charles City   Outlook: Charles City last reached the playoffs in '13. The Comets are hoping young talents like quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1204546' first='Patrick' last='Bruening'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1615329' first='Deacon' last='Caspers'], a productive running back and linebacker, can raise them up in a very tough district for ascension.   Kaden Littleton is a dangerous receiver, and Kamden Meek contributes on both sides of the ball. The defense brings back a key playmaker in Jackson Ruzicka.   Other Players to Watch:  Philip Armstrong, Jr., TE/DL; Ryder Biwer, OL/DL; Trevor Carolan, OL/DL; Brayden Ellis, OL/DL.

A strong case can be made for District 2 being the deepest group in the Class 3A last season. Five teams won at least five games and four of them advanced to postseason play.