Season Preview: Class 5A Group 5 Players to Watch

Two of the most consistently strong teams in Class 5A call Group 5 home. Pleasant Valley is striving for at least eight wins for the fifth season in a row. Cedar Falls has 21 victories during the last three years.   Davenport West, Linn-Mar, Muscatine and Dubuque Senior look to challenge those two programs, something they struggled to accomplish a year ago. Their rosters are solid enough to reach for that goal.   Here's a closer look at 5A-5:   Pleasant Valley   Outlook: The Spartans received a wake-up call from rival Bettendorf in Week 1. After that 30-10 loss, they ripped off eight wins in a row only to lose the postseason opener to Des Moines Valley, 31-21, at home. They've trained to flush that disappointment and compete for a state title.   Two-way lineman [player_tooltip player_id='252328' first='Joey' last='VanWetzinga'] is one of the best players in the state regardless of position. The Iowa commitment is joined on the defensive front by the disruptive [player_tooltip player_id='1278822' first='Max' last='Schmeltzer'], and on the O-Line by the powerful [player_tooltip player_id='1286479' first='Kyle' last='Vonderhaar']. Pleasant Valley will be replacing its starting quarterback and top four rushers in '23. Elijah Rodney and Ben Birkel are big-play guys ready for more work in the offensive backfield. The Spartans will be stingy on defense with guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1320126' first='Harrison' last='Fierce'] and Glen Averill teaming up with VanWetzinga and Schmeltzer, who also represents a threat at tight end.   Other Players to Watch: Dominick Kurtz, RB/DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1361707' first='Will' last='Diaz'], OL; Roman Saddler, OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1361702' first='Sam' last='Munn'], OL/DL; Ben Micek, LB; Lincoln Dalton, QB/LB; Adam Bratcher, OL/DL.   Cedar Falls   Outlook: With the talent and experience on its roster, Cedar Falls could make a deep run in '24 after ending last season with a one-point state quarterfinal loss to three-time defending state champion Southeast Polk. The Tigers return a roster stocked with potent pieces.   That's especially true on the offensive front, where Iowa State commitment [player_tooltip player_id='847962' first='Will' last='Tompkins'] is joined by [player_tooltip player_id='1183033' first='Connor' last='Best'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1221959' first='Hayden' last='Bishop']. They'll be blocking for a new starting quarterback. Running backs [player_tooltip player_id='1221961' first='William' last='Remmert'] and Ben Backes move into larger roles, and Northern Iowa commitment [player_tooltip player_id='1096164' first='Kailer' last='Smith'] is one of the state's better two-way tight ends. Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1080239' first='Jarrett' last='Kies'] and Owen Dellinger deliver on the defense's second level. [player_tooltip player_id='1248121' first='Cael' last='Harms'] ranks among the state's top specialists.   Other Players to Watch: Jaxon Schreiber, DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1286481' first='De'Shaun' last='Bernstrom'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1221964' first='Josh' last='Grete'], ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='1221958' first='Ian' last='Fuchtman'], RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1221969' first='Jaden' last='Ubben'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1221971' first='Leyton' last='Wolf'], QB; Cooba Patterson, P/PR/DB.   Davenport West   Outlook: The Falcons finished with a 5-4 record in '23 and have won 12 games during the last two years. It represented the first time since at least 2008 that they enjoyed back-to-back seasons above .500.   They'll look to keep the momentum going with one of the state's top two-way players, [player_tooltip player_id='1278364' first='Jordan' last='Tate'], leading the way. [player_tooltip player_id='847923' first='Marvin' last='Neely'] is a dynamic two-way performer in his own right. Trey Brown shows promise at receiver. [player_tooltip player_id='1279983' first='ArShawn' last='Hubert'] anchors the defensive line, [player_tooltip player_id='1188409' first='Landen' last='Pillard'] produces at linebacker and safety Brady Belz secures the secondary.   Other Players to Watch: Williams Evans, OL; Memphis Cress, OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1402846' first='Nolan' last='Dempsey'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1619384' first='Hunter' last='Bennett'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1204432' first='Sayden' last='Williams'], ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='1278363' first='Michael' last='Foster'], RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1279853' first='Kenny' last='Fouse'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1279849' first='Tyrale' last='Ross'], QB/DB.   Linn-Mar   Outlook: The Lions reached the playoffs in '23, when they fell to Southeast Polk in the first round. They played in the postseason for a third season in a row.   Starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1279977' first='Stone' last='Morgan'] is back as are the team's top two rushers, [player_tooltip player_id='848086' first='Dylan' last='Muszynski'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1417954' first='Tyree' last='Alons'], and its leading receiver, Landon Sorg. [player_tooltip player_id='1417963' first='Daniel' last='Peplinski'] is a threat at tight end. The defense features a sound secondary with [player_tooltip player_id='1249578' first='Bryson' last='Miell'], Evan Pulis, [player_tooltip player_id='1241409' first='Tate' last='McEowen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1241407' first='Brody' last='Pata']. Linebackers Carson Luense, Parker Gasper and Tanner Buresh help solidify the back seven. John Norris stabilizes the D-Line.   Other Players to Watch: Alex Thurm, RB; Talan Sivertsen, RB; Austin Waller, RB; Emerson Gasper, RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1241408' first='Cole' last='Potter'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1198825' first='Cael' last='Fairley'], QB; [player_tooltip player_id='1198823' first='Damarion' last='Orr'], RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1198824' first='Hudson' last='Turner'], RB.   Muscatine   Outlook: The Muskies were up and down last season on their way to a 4-5 record. They lost three of their final four games to come up short of reaching the postseason for the first time since '20 and just the second time in eight years.   Muscatine should be competitive in this group, but it graduated a lot of production. Quarterback Gaige Curtis returns after guiding the run-heavy attack as a sophomore in '23. Neco Arceo, [player_tooltip player_id='1619356' first='Andy' last='Franke'] and Eli Trosen could help the Muskies take a step forward on defense.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1362812' first='Cash' last='Hodges'], DL/OL; Sabastian Gbor, RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1241506' first='Seth' last='Reiland'], RB; Alec Recker, RB/DL.   Dubuque Senior   Outlook: Senior is hoping to build on the end of last season, when it won its final two contests. It doesn't seek a repeat of the seven-game losing streak to start the year. The Rams should be much improved this fall and could make some noise in 5A.   [player_tooltip player_id='1280011' first='Daylin' last='Moore'] stresses defenses as a dual-threat quarterback. Running back Mykeel Hall is one of his favorite targets in the passing game. TE/DE [player_tooltip player_id='628968' first='Drew' last='Francois'] ranks as one of the top two-way players in 5A. [player_tooltip player_id='1417743' first='Sean' last='Sweeney'] and Owen Lawler make plays in the back end of the defense. [player_tooltip player_id='252344' first='Jalen' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1204423' first='Rome' last='Freeman'] do likewise at linebacker. Jay Pittman and Jonquel Wright lead the D-Line.   Other Players to Watch: Robert Howard, RB; Brady Cooper, LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1641944' first='Porter' last='Moeggenberg'], LB; Peyton Goedken, LB; Aiden McNamer, DL; Aiden Artist, K.

Two of the most consistently strong teams in Class 5A call Group 5 home. Pleasant Valley is striving for at least eight wins for the fifth season in a row. Cedar Falls has 21 victories during the last three years.