Season Preview: Class 5A Group 1 Players to Watch

’25 Dowling Catholic LB Dylan Manning. (Photo: Manning X Account)

Rob Howe July 1, 2024 @ 03:54 PM

Dowling Catholic returns as district champions after running through it undefeated a year ago. The Maroons finished 9-2 overall after falling to Ankeny, 14-7, in the state quarterfinals.   Dowling brings back a lot of talent from that team and heads into the 2024 campaign favored to repeat in 5A-1. Here's a closer look at each program and its players to watch:   Dowling Catholic   Outlook: Dowling owned the 2010s, winning eight of 10 large-school championships during the decade, including seven in a row to end it. The Maroons have been chasing their 11th all-time title since then and uncharacteristically fell short of The Dome in two of the last four falls. The bar is high at Dowling, so it will be very motivated in '24.   It also will be replacing its starting quarterback with Dante Cataldo graduating. The offense will center around all-state running back [player_tooltip player_id='847998' first='Rashawd' last='Davis'], and receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1279753' first='Trey' last='Wilson'] will be relied upon. The Maroons should be salty on defense with guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1278782' first='Dylan' last='Manning'], Aiden Ducharme, and Isaac and [player_tooltip player_id='212328' first='Mason' last='Beaver'] among the key returnees on that side of the ball.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='401674' first='Joey' last='Nahas'], QB; Parker DePhillips, QB; [player_tooltip player_id='245539' first='Parker' last='Pearson'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='856072' first='Ian' last='Middleton'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1619515' first='Jackson' last='Miller'], LB/FB; [player_tooltip player_id='1619297' first='Ryan' last='Bobo'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1271437' first='Owen' last='Pins'], DL; Owen Sankoh, LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1240476' first='Cohen' last='Shelton'], RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1240479' first='Josh' last='Miller'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1279750' first='Cartyr' last='Smith'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1279802' first='Hunter' last='Blessing'], DL; Jacob Skau, WR.   Ankeny Centennial   Outlook: Despite not winning this district last year, Centennial reached the state semifinals, where it lost to rival Ankeny, 10-7. Dowling beat it, 30-17, during the regular season in Ankeny, but the Jaguars were on the prowl in the postseason, winning at Waukee Northwest and Bettendorf.   Talented quarterback Trenton Smith (Iowa Western), leading rusher Elijah Porter (Northern Illinois) and leading receiver Max Snyder all graduated after last season. Productive running backs [player_tooltip player_id='1280497' first='Braeden' last='Jackson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='401673' first='Javaris' last='Morgan'] return as do defensive standouts [player_tooltip player_id='1286629' first='Chase' last='Kluver'], [player_tooltip player_id='1279727' first='Reed' last='Anderson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1277268' first='Isaiah' last='Bassett'].   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1227598' first='Houston' last='Luce'], DL; Jeremiah Bassett, RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1279763' first='Mitchell' last='Grider'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1198817' first='Carlos' last='Blount Jr'], LB; Isaac Bruhl, WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1279896' first='Lucas' last='Juravich'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1279722' first='Ryan' last='Bendezu'], K; [player_tooltip player_id='1278896' first='Max' last='Dickinson'], OL; Braylin Dieken-Keahay, OL; Nash Tarrgat; DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1198818' first='Rowan' last='Doak'], QB; [player_tooltip player_id='1105164' first='Logan' last='Wirtz'], DB.   Urbandale   Outlook: If you're looking for a sleeper in 5A-1, Urbandale is an excellent candidate. The J-Hawks bring back a lot of firepower from a team that experienced growing pains in '23.   Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1197442' first='Landon' last='Rinnan'] returns after starting as a freshman last fall. He'll be joined in the backfield by last year's leading rusher, Jaylon Brooks, and talented tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1105161' first='Hayden' last='Moser']. Two-way standout [player_tooltip player_id='1277283' first='Elijah' last='Hoyt'], a UNI commit, shines at receiver and defensive back. [player_tooltip player_id='1206077' first='Axel' last='Ramazani'] is a menace on the defensive line with the help of [player_tooltip player_id='1279966' first='Ter' last='Kuany'].   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='847874' first='Trey' last='Hicklin'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1241364' first='David' last='Bonilla'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1212629' first='Jackson' last='Sturdivant'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1241370' first='Trey' last='Dahlgren'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1241369' first='Lincoln' last='Cole'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1241365' first='Elias' last='Pardon'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1241367' first='Jordan' last='Tran'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1105154' first='Cameron' last='Bowie'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1204464' first='Brayden' last='Cowger'], DL.   Des Moines Roosevelt   Other Players to Watch: Roosevelt took care of city rivals Des Moines East and Lincoln in '23 but finished with an under-.500 record for the second year in a row. The Roughriders have been working on making this season better in a difficult district.   Leading rusher [player_tooltip player_id='582192' first='Jayden' last='Davison'] transferred to West Des Moines Valley for his senior season, but the Riders' cupboard is not bare. Rylan Malloy, Alex Phanthoudeth and Jonah Calderon bring experience at receiver. Eddie Fulton, Quentin Harrison and [player_tooltip player_id='1279869' first='Mohamed' last='Guma'] anchor would could be a deep defense.   Other Players to Watch: Joshua Hines, DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1361569' first='Deacon' last='Vasey'], DL; Gus Christensen, LB; Jonah Calderon, DB.   Sioux City North   Outlook: North managed just a win against Des Moines East in 5A-1 play a year ago. It lost three of its game by a total of 11 points, providing hope the Stars can turn around results in the close contests in '24.   They'll be replacing [player_tooltip player_id='1222862' first='Noah' last='Conley'], the quarterback who started as a freshman last season. Tal Nettleton and Alex Soldati are one of the better under-the-radar defensive back duos in the state.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='773218' first='Isaiah' last='Sanchez'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1222863' first='Aiden' last='Dot'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1222858' first='Sta'sean' last='Gorman'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1222859' first='Austin' last='Nelson'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1241509' first='Jackson' last='Richter'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1241510' first='Leslie' last='Stilter'], OL.   Des Moines East   Outlook: East will be trying to snap a 15-game losing streak when it kicks off the campaign. That could happen in one of the first two weeks when the Scarlets face Des Moines North and Lincoln.   [player_tooltip player_id='252345' first='Cole' last='Buehler'] gives East a difference maker at linebacker. [player_tooltip player_id='1271564' first='Devin' last='Holman'] is back as the starting quarterback, and running back Javarius Hughes can scoot. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='252332' first='Cruz' last='Rodriguez'] leads the defense.   Other Players to Watch: A'Monte Johnson, ATH; Qwaden Clearwater, RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1619617' first='Braiden' last='Johnson'], WR; Antonio De La Cruz, DB; Alf Clark, DB.

Dowling Catholic returns as district champions after running through it undefeated a year ago. The Maroons finished 9-2 overall after falling to Ankeny, 14-7, in the state quarterfinals.