Season Preview: 4A-District 6 Teams, Players to Watch

District 6 starts with a Class 4A power. Reigning state-champion Council Bluffs Lewis Central will be chasing its third title in four years this season. The Titans are just that.   Glenwood and Norwalk joined them in the playoffs last fall. No team in this district won fewer than three games in '23.   Here's a closer look at 4A-6:   Lewis Central   Outlook: Lewis Central's lone loss last season came at Indianola. The Titans then won their final nine games, scoring no less than 32 points in any of them. They capped it with a victory against Cedar Rapids Xavier, the team that topped them a year earlier.   An eighth consecutive postseason appearance seems likely for Lewis Central based on the talent returning. There will be guys stepping into bigger roles in an effort to keep the train rolling. A nice way to get it out of the station is behind first-team all-state quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1279100' first='Brady' last='Hetzel'].   Running backs [player_tooltip player_id='1360057' first='Brody' last='Patlan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1360075' first='Chance' last='Chappell'] return after combining for more than 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing. Hetzel loses several of his favorite targets to graduation but still has the services of Parker Stessman. Nathan Beyenhof is a productive two-way lineman. Cameron Moore, [player_tooltip player_id='1360092' first='Joseph' last='Monge'], [player_tooltip player_id='1360084' first='Gavin' last='Riemenschneider'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1197453' first='Kyler' last='McNeal'] all are back for a defense that should be salty in '24. Kicker [player_tooltip player_id='401672' first='Jimmy' last='Scott'] is a weapon.   Other Players to Watch: Jaylen Davis, RB/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1198834' first='Jacob' last='Jefferis'], ATH; Ty Paulson, TE/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1248126' first='Brody' last='Chubb'], QB/LB; Leonardo Hinojosa, DB/WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1207814' first='Hunter' last='Infanger'], LB.   Glenwood   Outlook: Glenwood's eight wins last season were its most since '17. The Rams also reached the state quarterfinals for a second year in a row and advanced to the postseason for the fourth time in the last five campaigns.   They're working to keep that momentum going in '24 and competing for a trip to the UNI-Dome. Glenwood will need stars to emerge as it loses five all-state players to graduation, three of which were on the first team. Tristan Meier, Pauley Simonetti and [player_tooltip player_id='1619887' first='Jack' last='Johnson'] are reliable at the offensive skill positions.   Johnson also is a dynamic defensive back. Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1406695' first='Brodie' last='Schafer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1406720' first='Cole' last='Staudt'] shine on the second level of the defense.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1204447' first='Ben' last='Carlo'], QB; Pierce Dalton, WR/DB; Scott Reed, RB/DB; Colin Steele, WR/DB; Jaxson Galusha, RB/LB;  Jose Diaz, WR/DB; Mason Koehler, OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1406722' first='Nicholas' last='Delaney'], OL/DL.   Norwalk   Outlook: Norwalk won its first three games and lost its final three contests. In between, it split the other four games. In other words, it was a rollercoaster ride for the Warriors.   They're seeking a much smoother trip in '24, one that will take them beyond the state quarterfinals for the first time since '19. This roster shapes up as one that can make it happen.   Sophomore tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1198816' first='Luke' last='Brewer'] ranks as one of the top prospects in the state regardless of class or position. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='283943' first='Eli' last='Robbins'] is an exciting three-phase performer, and [player_tooltip player_id='1279856' first='Timothy' last='Koerselman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1279748' first='Brady' last='Schmitz'] are established receivers. [player_tooltip player_id='245555' first='Harrison' last='Tripp'] is one of the state's top linebackers, and [player_tooltip player_id='252331' first='Kolton' last='Borcherding-Johnson'] can say the same on the D-Line.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='212326' first='Hayden' last='Demaray'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1619680' first='James' last='Hatlevig'], QB; Dominic Tigner, RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1620101' first='Gavin' last='Dehmer'], RB/LB; Kadan Borcherding-Johnson, DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1620085' first='Brady' last='Wilkening'], LB/WR; Breck Welch, DB/RB; Tyler Stanford, LB/RB; Roman Hale, DL/OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1279887' first='Carter' last='Eden'], OL/DL.   Dallas Center-Grimes   Outlook: Following back-to-back playoff appearances in '19 and '20, the Mustangs have missed the postseason three years running. They did defeat Norwalk and lost by only seven points against Glenwood last fall, showing DCG is capable of moving up in the standings during the new campaign.   First-team all-state defensive back Tate Perrin returns after picking off nine passes a year ago. [player_tooltip player_id='1197446' first='Wyatt' last='Valenta'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1619934' first='Hudson' last='Heidgerken'] can build on successful seasons at receiver. Linebackers Taitn Gray and Karsten Freund make life difficult on opposing offense. [player_tooltip player_id='1418157' first='Clark' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1418160' first='Ryan' last='Pertzsch'] are talented linemen.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1418155' first='Cayden' last='Mayfield'], DB; Cole Hemmingsen, RB/DB; Landen Morton, RB/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1418153' first='Allen' last='Huinker'], OL/DL; Jackson Studer, OL/DL.   WInterset   Outlook: Winterset went out on a high note last season, knocking off Council Bluffs Jefferson on senior night. Perhaps it sparked a resurgence for a program that advanced to the state semifinals in '21.   Returning starting quarterback Hunter Lyon will have last season's two leading rushers, [player_tooltip player_id='797201' first='Hank' last='Wilmes'] and Ben Porter, along side of him. [player_tooltip player_id='1418148' first='Jaydn' last='Cooper'] is a difference-maker on both sides of the ball. Linebacker Kahne Kiburz comes back for his senior season after leading the team in tackles during '23. Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1033543' first='Leo' last='Kirkland'] shows promise.   Other Players to Watch: Carsen Dinkla, WR/CB; Bowen Tadlock, RB/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1418151' first='Lane' last='Hockett'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1685835' first='Wyatt' last='Swanson'], LB; Caleb Decker, OL/DL; Luca Wetzel, OL/DL.   Council Bluffs Jefferson   Outlook: With only five total wins during the last three seasons, Jefferson is looking to climb as high as it can in '24. The Yellow Jackets have good reason to believe in upward mobility.   Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1403015' first='Jayden' last='Fujii'] has a year starting under his belt, and he'll have last season's leading rusher, [player_tooltip player_id='1418184' first='Jayden' last='Mulligan'], in the backfield again. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1403020' first='Mayson' last='Kramer'] delivers on both sides of the ball. Mulligan stands out at linebacker, too. Quenton Pfitzer, [player_tooltip player_id='1204466' first='Malik' last='Nichols'] and Zaden Costello are intriguing linemen.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1619942' first='Jayce' last='Shanno'], DB/WR; Gavin Carpenter, WR/LB; Noah Phillips, WR/DB; Cole Townsend, ATH; Isaac Carpenter, DB.

District 6 starts with a Class 4A power. Reigning state-champion Council Bluffs Lewis Central will be chasing its third title in four years this season. The Titans are just that.