Season Preview: Class 5A Group 3 Players to Watch

Group 3 proved to be a wild ride last season. Four of the six teams finished the campaign above.500. Bettendorf lost to Kennedy and City High during the regular season but topped the Little Hawks in the first-round of the playoffs. The Bulldogs trip to the quarterfinals was the best finish in this group.   With a lot of top talent returning 2024, a path to more success certainly is in play. Let's take a look at 5A-3:   Cedar Rapids Kennedy   Outlook: The Cougars entered 2023 with high hopes based on an experienced roster with star power. They stumbled out of the gate with losses to fellow perennial playoff teams, Dowling and Pleasant Valley, but rebounded by winning their next five contests. Then they lost to Cedar Falls twice in the final two weeks, including a 30-26 setback in the postseason's first round. Perhaps Kennedy was a year away, poised to build on lessons learned.   It starts with a cornerstone at left offensive tackle in [player_tooltip player_id='847892' first='Nick' last='Brooks'], <a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2025-rankings/">Prep Redzone's top player</a> in the state for '25. He's joined up front by [player_tooltip player_id='342733' first='Braylon' last='Edwards'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1238497' first='Ethan' last='Sloan'] on what should be a dominant unit. Behind them will be veteran quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='847811' first='Vincenzo' last='Gianforte'] and running back [player_tooltip player_id='332995' first='Jacob' last='Doyle']. Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1101671' first='Pierce' last='McCrary'] stresses defenses on the outside. On the other side of the ball, [player_tooltip player_id='1236892' first='Bralin' last='Henry'], Ryan Bartels, [player_tooltip player_id='1361687' first='Sam' last='Adams'] and Carson Borek form a foundation of what should be a salty D.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1238501' first='Keegan' last='Mastin'], ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='1238502' first='Thierry' last='Boyd'], QB/ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='1238503' first='Brayden' last='Peck'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1238542' first='William' last='Woodring'], QB;  Brayden Alber, RB; Jackson Popelka, WR; Michael Richards, DB; Rex Preston, LB; Carson Borek, DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1583627' first='Alex' last='Myers'], LB.   Bettendorf   Outlook: The Bulldogs ended the regular season with a 42-21 home loss to City High. They then beat the Little Hawks, 32-21, in the first round of the playoffs the following week before falling to Centennial in the quarterfinals. It was a step forward for a Bettendorf program that uncharacteristically missed the postseason in two of the previous three campaigns.   For the Bulldogs to keep it going, they'll need to replace some key pieces lost to graduation, including starting quarterback Charlie Zimmerman. Leading rusher Jacob Whipple, who is supported in the backfield by [player_tooltip player_id='1361693' first='Will' last='Taylor']. Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1240429' first='Hayden' last='Morrison'] returns after a productive sophomore season. Three-year starter [player_tooltip player_id='1586309' first='Zach' last='Hamilton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1240433' first='Grant' last='Koehler'] anchor the O-Line, and [player_tooltip player_id='1286612' first='Caden' last='Buhr'] is one of the state's top specialists. Northern Illinois tight end commit [player_tooltip player_id='1280007' first='Amari' last='Washington'] also stands out on defense along with [player_tooltip player_id='1295017' first='Sam' last='Beecher'], Connor Mack and [player_tooltip player_id='1277230' first='Jackson' last='Laver'].   Other Players to Watch: Cole Odefey, DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1272825' first='Tommy' last='Bloome'], TE; Xavier Peters, DL; [player_tooltip player_id='217007' first='Jack' last='Wessel'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1240432' first='Owen' last='Schertz'], OL/DL; Wrigley Matthys, RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1240430' first='Henry' last='Gillies'], ATH;  [player_tooltip player_id='1240431' first='Kendyll' last='Kerr'], RB; [player_tooltip player_id='401666' first='Armon' last='Williams'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1198826' first='Caleb' last='Brown'], ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='1199299' first='Zeke' last='Ehrler'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1199300' first='Amari' last='Marshall'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1279988' first='Landry' last='Nazarenus'], WR/DB.   Iowa City High   Outlook: After missing the postseason for four consecutive years, the Little Hawks have been playoff participants for the last three years. The run included a trip to state semifinals in '21 and first-round exits the last to campaigns. They've dealt with some bad luck and poor timing, too.   City returns plenty of talent to make a November charge again. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1205114' first='Bobby' last='Bacon'] is one of Iowa's top quarterbacks. He'll be throwing to two of his top targets in receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1279961' first='Connor' last='Cross'] and tight end [player_tooltip player_id='983337' first='Parker' last='Sutherland']. The offensive front should be solid led by Northern Illinois commitment [player_tooltip player_id='1279124' first='Tyler' last='Rindels'], [player_tooltip player_id='1281980' first='Elijah' last='Davis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1278909' first='Calin' last='Wagner']. [player_tooltip player_id='1278914' first='Dominic' last='Salibi'] is a two-way contributor, and [player_tooltip player_id='1241382' first='KP' last='Estremera'], Dieuaime Lipanda and [player_tooltip player_id='1279082' first='Jalyn' last='Ford'] are disruptive defenders.   Other Players to Watch: Gabe Egeland, RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1204441' first='Preston' last='Mensah'], OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1241379' first='Blaine' last='Heick'], LB; Lyon Harris, DB; , LB/TE; [player_tooltip player_id='1241381' first='Alen' last='Kraina'], OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1241418' first='Melvin' last='Murimi'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1204445' first='Javeon' last='Donald'], OL.   Dubuque Hempstead   Outlook: The Mustangs finished above .500 last season, winning three games by seven points. It represented one of the state's top turnarounds after they posted a 1-8 mark '22. Hempstead fell to Kennedy and Bettendorf by a combined score of 93-7, so being more competitive against the group's top teams will be imperative to taking another step forward.   Hempstead is breaking in a new starting quarterback. He'll benefit from the return of [player_tooltip player_id='1178591' first='Quinn' last='Breitbach'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1241414' first='Jaden' last='Montgomery'], the team's leading rushers in '23, and a sound offensive line that includes [player_tooltip player_id='1241416' first='Luke' last='Baker'], [player_tooltip player_id='1279868' first='Robby' last='Glab'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1241486' first='RaQuann' last='Cooper']. Breitbach, Isaac Smith, [player_tooltip player_id='1235734' first='Trenton' last='Ettema'] and Dylan Duster form the foundation of a capable defense.   Other Players to Watch: Xander Wiskus, DB; Chase McElmeel, OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1241412' first='Brandon' last='Puccio'], ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='1241417' first='Logan' last='Stuckey'], ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='1241484' first='Tyshawn' last='Hargrove'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1241485' first='Samson' last='Kuhle'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1241421' first='Avery' last='Keehner'], QB; [player_tooltip player_id='1241411' first='Aidan' last='Kelley'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1241413' first='Broderick' last='Sabers'], OL.   Davenport North   Outlook: North will be striving for its first winning season since '19 after dropping several close games last year in finishing 2-7. It should be helped by it being a '24 schedule with five home games. The Wildcats must improve on defense, where they allowed almost 28 points a game a year ago.   The offense should be potent with Northern Iowa commitment [player_tooltip player_id='1278361' first='Kaz' last='Rebarcak'] back at quarterback. He'll have leading rushers Mason Bogan and [player_tooltip player_id='1619398' first='Derrick' last='Pena'] with him in the backfield. [player_tooltip player_id='1417559' first='Izreal' last='Harper'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1281004' first='Cunell' last='Burrage'] are receivng weapons. Burrage also thrives on defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1417561' first='Parker' last='Taylor'] and Jaiden Preisser stand out on that side of the ball, too.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1619398' first='Derrick' last='Pena'], TE/LB; Karver Burgess, DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1692280' first='Trateris' last='Watson'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1619389' first='Kenyon' last='Purnell'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1417557' first='Drew' last='Franklin'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1241495' first='Drew' last='Sheedy'], RB.   Davenport Central   Outlook: Central gave Hempstead a run for its money in the regular-season finale, eventually dropping a 38-31 decision. It ended a 2-7 campaign for the Blue Devils but gave them something on which to build heading into '24. They last reached the playoffs in '17, which is also the last time they finished above .500.   Central played three quarterbacks last fall but two of them graduated. Dual-threat junior [player_tooltip player_id='1668477' first='Marcus' last='Burton'] returns. He along with Mikael Brown, Nicholas Mosley, Connor Jones and Charles Ebeling will be looking for bigger roles on offense after being role players in '23. Ebeling and Otis Charles also stood out on defense.   Other Players to Watch: Tristen Kern, LB; Jacob Wislander, LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1279952' first='Adrian' last='Jones'], DL.

Group 3 proved to be a wild ride last season. Four of the six teams finished the campaign above.500. Bettendorf lost to Kennedy and City High during the regular season but topped the Little Hawks in the first-round of the playoffs. The Bulldogs trip to the quarterfinals was the best finish in this group.