Season Preview: Class 5A Group 2 Players to Watch

Three-time defending big-school champion Southeast Polk resides in 5A-2. The Rams are producing a group of college prospects annually and enter 2024 as the favorites in this Group. That said, they'll be replacing high-end talent lost to graduation during the last few seasons, opening the door for other capable programs.   Here's a closer look at 5A-2:   Southeast Polk   Outlook: The Rams ride a 22-game winning streak into the season, their last loss was on Sept. 16, 2022 against Ankeny, the same team they beat in last year's title game. During the streak, they've sent a left tackle to Alabama and a quarterback to Iowa State along with plenty of others to the next level.   Multi-sport athlete [player_tooltip player_id='254611' first='Holden' last='Hansen'] enjoys the inside track on being the new starting quarterback. He has a tough act to follow in replacing Connor Moberly, a freshman at ISU. [player_tooltip player_id='1278273' first='Sam' last='Zelenovich'] is one of the state's better receivers, running back Landon Vander Werff returns after productive campaign and lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1221954' first='Cael' last='Roberts'] leads what should be a sound offensive front.   [player_tooltip player_id='1279607' first='Emmanuel' last='Gaye'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1279618' first='Kaden' last='Hills'] lead the secondary after combining for nine picks a year ago, and Carter Phillips also returns in the back of the defense. [player_tooltip player_id='640854' first='Cooper' last='Martinson'] disrupts opponents from his D-Tackle spot, and Rece Whinery accomplished the same off of the edge.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1238602' first='[player_tooltip player_id='1198121' first='Nathaniel' last='']' last='Sleh'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='401671' first='Drew' last='Thompson'], RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1238623' first='Lafoy' last='Hall Jr'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1207820' first='Noah' last='White'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1207828' first='Tyler' last='Cunningham'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1198831' first='Will' last='Hinze'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1207825' first='Gunnar' last='Lee'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1207829' first='Aaden' last='Levy'], ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='1207832' first='Cooper' last='Chebuhar'], LB.   Waukee   Outlook: Last season, Waukee reached the state quarterfinals, where it lost at home game against West Des Moines Valley. The Warriors won that matchup during the regular season, 37-15. They finished a solid year at 8-3.   Waukee hopes to challenge Southeast Polk this fall with [player_tooltip player_id='1240560' first='Beckett' last='Bakker'] ('26) back at starting quarterback, leading rusher/receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1279995' first='Grant' last='Gammell'] also returning, and Division I tight ends [player_tooltip player_id='1221928' first='Evan' last='Jacobson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1198217' first='Sage' last='Yazzie'] running routes. [player_tooltip player_id='1240558' first='Andrew' last='Hine'], [player_tooltip player_id='1279726' first='Patrick' last='Moreland'] and David Souvongsavath bring production and veteran leadership to the O-Line. [player_tooltip player_id='1277154' first='Carter' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='245544' first='Malachi' last='Curvey'], [player_tooltip player_id='1279723' first='Nathan' last='Deimerly'], [player_tooltip player_id='1279956' first='Ian' last='Samples'],   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1240572' first='Colt' last='Schipper'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1279904' first='Tavian' last='Boess'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1286518' first='Brady' last='Schuler'], TE; [player_tooltip player_id='1279725' first='Dominic' last='Channon'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='252330' first='Sunny' last='Salkic'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1279717' first='Logan' last='Atkin'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1241077' first='Xavyer' last='Gutierrez'], WR; Vincent Johnson, OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1240568' first='Ben' last='Case'], RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1240887' first='Vincent' last='Bunkers'], TE; [player_tooltip player_id='1240569' first='Clark' last='Harrison'], LB.   Johnston   Outlook: Johnston won three games in a row to end last regular season and reach the playoffs. The Dragons lost to state-championship-game-participant Ankeny in the first round. They reached the UNI-Dome in '22.   Senior [player_tooltip player_id='252226' first='William' last='Nuss'] returns for his third season at starting quarterback. He should receive protection from an offensive line led by North Dakota pledge [player_tooltip player_id='1277264' first='Nick' last='Darling'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1241376' first='Colton' last='McClish']. Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1279761' first='Nathan' last='King'] is a passing-game weapon, and running back D'Angelo Barkue returns after leading the team in rushing last fall. Northern Illinois commitment [player_tooltip player_id='1279701' first='Micah' last='Cook'] anchors the defense. Tanner Downs, Jacob Helgeson and Jeff Scott are back after enjoying productive junior campaigns.   Other Players to Watch: Austin Gray, DL; Blake Tubbs, RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1281982' first='Quinn' last='Russell'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1281983' first='Caulier' last='Cason'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1241378' first='Tino' last='Daye Jr'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1198833' first='Bryce' last='Beachem'], WR.   Sioux City East   Outlook: If you're looking for a dark-horse candidate in this group, the Black Raiders can be that team after reaching the postseason in '23. We'll see how much they can close the gap on the top three teams, who defeated them handily last year.   Starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1238521' first='Cal' last='Jepsen'] ('26) is back as is leading rusher [player_tooltip player_id='1127791' first='Myles' last='Wegher'], who also ranked second on the team in receptions (29). [player_tooltip player_id='584951' first='Louden' last='Grimlsey'] could be WR1 after coming over from Lawton-Bronson with [player_tooltip player_id='1619632' first='Quinton' last='Ashcraft'], Austin Sheppard and John Yates also threats in the passing game. OL [player_tooltip player_id='1075432' first='Isaiah' last='King'] can dominate. [player_tooltip player_id='1105158' first='Dane' last='Milton'], [player_tooltip player_id='1198829' first='Kason' last='Clayborne'], [player_tooltip player_id='1105157' first='Christopher' last='Ford'], [player_tooltip player_id='773219' first='Jacob' last='Breyfogle'], [player_tooltip player_id='1241400' first='Colin' last='Pittenger'] and others make up an experienced defense.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1279971' first='Clinton' last='Welch'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1278812' first='Manasse' last='Kasongo'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1619359' first='James' last='Hogancamp'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1617668' first='Kuper' last='Fritz'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1105159' first='Darrian' last='Anderson'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1694619' first='Mandell' last='Groetken'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='856405' first='Jack' last='Ohman'], TE; [player_tooltip player_id='1241419' first='Divine' last='Adams'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1286602' first='Jacob' last='Borall'], P.   Des Moines Lincoln   Outlook: Its first postseason trip since '11 might be a tall order, but Lincoln returns some firepower to take a step forward in '24. It's only been two seasons since the Railsplitters were above .500.   Jackson Lamb was the team's starting quarterback as a junior in '23. Lincoln leaned heavily on a running game powered by [player_tooltip player_id='1123309' first='Javon' last='Sanders'], who returns after rushing for more than 1,500 yards. [player_tooltip player_id='1286516' first='Blake' last='Butters'] contributes running and receiving. Judd Dietrich, Fisher Wilson, Damarius Parker and Daniel Sakyiamah are standouts on a veteran defense.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1280006' first='Charley' last='Feucaloro'], WR; Denver Longden, LB; Kyler Petithory, LB; Daymonee Wesley, LB.   Council Bluffs Lincoln   Outlook: The Lynx dropped their final six contests in its two-victory season of '23. It was its second under-.500 campaign in a row after two consecutive winning years.   Lincoln brings back talent to build around. [player_tooltip player_id='1242953' first='Evan' last='Lang'] is a play-making defensive back, and [player_tooltip player_id='1279951' first='Trystan' last='Wilcox'] stands out on both lines. Starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1417545' first='Etienne' last='Higgins'] is a dual threat, [player_tooltip player_id='1619672' first='Andre' last='Rogers'] is a skilled running back, and Cael Hanson and [player_tooltip player_id='1417552' first='Isaiah' last='Lusajo'] are playmakers at receiver . Brady Watts, Trenton Tallman, Parker Henry and Nick Keller power the defense.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1619450' first='Rolando' last='Olivares'], WR; Aidan Sandbothe, WR; Joah Rasmussen, DB;  [player_tooltip player_id='1619450' first='Rolando' last='Olivares'], DB; Kowen Dighton, LB; Gavin Huff, DB.

Three-time defending big-school champion Southeast Polk resides in 5A-2. The Rams are producing a group of college prospects annually and enter 2024 as the favorites in this Group. That said, they'll be replacing high-end talent lost to graduation during the last few seasons, opening the door for other capable programs.