Season Preview: 4A-District 4 Teams, Players to Watch

Bondurant-Farrar ran away with Class 4A-District 4 a year ago. The Bluejays then ran all the way to the UNI-Dome for the state semifinals.   They should be in the hunt for a title again this season, but there's a good chance that several strong programs can make it a tighter race. Newton is striving for its third consecutive postseason appearance, and Carlisle is trying to return there after missing it for the first time in five years. Pella is trying to go back to back, and Gilbert returns high-end talent.   Let's take a closer look at 4A-4:   Bondurant-Farrar   Outlook: The Bluejays enjoyed some memorable victories on their ride to the semis. None was more impressive than a regular-season triumph against eventual champion, Lewis Central. They also avenged a Week 8 blowout loss to Pella with a victory versus the Dutch in the first round of the playoffs.   Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='252225' first='Jordan' last='Rial'] returns after guiding last year's offense. He'll have the versatile Cole Miller and [player_tooltip player_id='1240436' first='Nolan' last='Fellers'] with him as on offense, and that duo is established on defense. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1406662' first='Parker' last='Ernst'] is coming off an outstanding '23 season, and [player_tooltip player_id='1421455' first='Landon' last='Cory'] is also a playmaker on that side of the ball.   Other Players to Watch: Blake Guthrie, ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='1240435' first='James' last='Collum'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1240486' first='Kamran' last='Franco'] DL; Joey George, ATH; Ryder Miller, ATH; Braidon Dalton, OL/DL.   Gilbert   Outlook: Few teams around the state will be more motivated than Gilbert. The Tigers want to finish strong after losing their final three contests in '23 to miss the playoffs at 6-3. Still, the strong campaign is something on which to build after being 1-17 the previous two years.   This roster gives Gilbert a reasonable chance at reaching the postseason for the third time since '15. It's a group highlighted by the very athletic [player_tooltip player_id='252314' first='Will' last='Hawthorne'], who shines at running back and linebacker. He has plenty of help on both sides of the ball.   Dual-threat quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1279764' first='Connor' last='Rash'] guides the offense. The Tigers enjoy significant two-way contributions from [player_tooltip player_id='1238526' first='Tayshawn' last='Gillen'] and Alden Short. Ean Eldred is looking to build on a strong sophomore year at receiver. [player_tooltip player_id='1418106' first='Bowen' last='Kruse'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1418114' first='Braeden' last='Nees'] also help form the foundation of what could be a strong defense.   Other Players to Watch: Easton Van Cleave, OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1818858' first='Mason' last='Griffin'], OL/DL; Owen Mattson, K; [player_tooltip player_id='1818847' first='Gabe' last='Fierce'], RB/DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1620069' first='Blake' last='Bell'], RB/DB; Wyatt Pink, RB/DB.   Newton   Outlook: Newton won four of its last five games a year ago to clinch a postseason berth. There it fell in the first round to Western Dubuque, which reached the state title game.   The Cardinals will be seeking their playoffs in a row. It will depend on guys stepping into bigger roles after key graduation losses.   Receivers [player_tooltip player_id='1418172' first='Cade' last='Bauer'], Skyler Milheiser and [player_tooltip player_id='1619913' first='Finn' last='Martin'] can build on solid '23 seasons. Outside linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1619687' first='Caden' last='Klein'] leads a sound defense that also includes standouts Peyton Rozendaal and Coleby Revell.   Other Players to Watch: Kaiden Rogers, DB; Ezra Bartell, LB; Creighton Andrew, QB/WR; Christian Ergenbright, WR; Reilly Trease, RB/WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1280016' first='Jose' last='Benitez'], OL; Chris Deanda, RB/DB; Kyler Griffin, RB/LB; Damien Smith, LB.   Pella   Outlook: The Dutch advanced to the playoffs for 13 consecutive years before failing to qualify in '21 and '22. Pella won three championships in a row during the middle of last decade.   Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1286455' first='Tyson' last='Barnes'] gives defenses nightmares. He gets plenty of help from [player_tooltip player_id='1286458' first='Colin' last='Kerndt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1418143' first='Bailey' last='Shetterly'] out wide, and also from running back [player_tooltip player_id='1240470' first='Emmanuel' last='Diers']. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1240471' first='[player_tooltip player_id='1198121' first='Nathaniel' last='']' last='Warner'] produces at linebacker, and Lake Cowman accomplishes the same thing in the secondary.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1240472' first='Palmer' last='Hemming'], OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='897440' first='Harrison' last='Mullens'], WR/DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1286455' first='Tyson' last='Barnes'], DB; Ben Wilcox, LB; Benjamin Dothager, OL/DL; Remington Vande Voort, OL/DL.   Carlisle   Outlook: After four postseasons in the row, the Wildcats managed just two victories in '23. One of them came against Indianola, a playoff team in '23. It showed that Carlisle remained a strong enough program capable of turning it back around this coming campaign.   Offensively, the Wildcats can lean heavily on running backs [player_tooltip player_id='1280026' first='Caleb' last='Nordhagen'] and Mason Lucas, who also dig in on defense. Hayden Mohwinkle is a big-play receiver. Linebacker Noah Noland is a tackling machine, and [player_tooltip player_id='1248067' first='Jaxon' last='Miller'] produces on that level as well. Calvin Frey solidifies the secondary and also catches passes, while [player_tooltip player_id='1406678' first='Ben' last='Glawe'] contributes as a tight end and on the D-Line. [player_tooltip player_id='491822' first='Chase' last='Cline'] thrives in the trenches.   Other Players to Watch: Trevor Clark, WR; Mario Hamm, OL/DL; JJ Noring, LB/TE; Ty Brown, RB/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1620117' first='Anden' last='Furnal,'] QB/DB.   Des Moines Hoover   Outlook: The Huskies enter the year with a 15-game losing streak. They were outscored 238-22 in district play and last made the playoffs in '15.   Junior Sam Zayzay showed promise at quarterback in '23 as did [player_tooltip player_id='252306' first='Niyo' last='Francois'] at running back. [player_tooltip player_id='1278895' first='Justice' last='Parkey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1418188' first='Tresean' last='Phillips'] are dangerous receivers. [player_tooltip player_id='1279970' first='William' last='Freeman'] chips in on both sides of the ball.   Other Players to Watch: Damarion Yin, RB/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='252333' first='Gage' last='Beem'], OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1466765' first='Hushindi' last='Abwe'], LB; Amisi Bita, ATH; Marqaries Neighbors, LB/OL; Easton Wilson, OL/DL; Gio Wilson, OL/DL; Gabe Polich, LB/RB.

Bondurant-Farrar ran away with Class 4A-District 4 a year ago. The Bluejays then ran all the way to the UNI-Dome for the state semifinals.