Season Preview: Class 5A Group 6 Players to Watch

Ankeny is joined in 5A-6 by a collection of Eastern Iowa programs. They'll get another opportunity to figure out the Hawks.   They swept Iowa City West, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Iowa City Liberty and Cedar Rapids Washington in '23. They then went on to the state championship game.   The Central Iowa squad will be the class of the group again, at least on paper. The other teams know that's not where games are won.   Ankeny   Outlook: Ankeny brings back a lot of firepower from its march to the title contest. It will be trying to claim the top prize after being the runners up in two of the last three seasons.   [player_tooltip player_id='1280955' first='Luke' last='Anderson'] returns at quarterback after completing 64 percent of his passes last year. So, too, are running backs [player_tooltip player_id='1278885' first='Caden' last='Henkes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='401669' first='Daniel' last='Larmie'], each of whom rushed for 1,000 yards. [player_tooltip player_id='1280082' first='Evan' last='Irlmeier'] is a proven receiver, and [player_tooltip player_id='1280954' first='Jack' last='Dorfler'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1238537' first='Zach' last='Breitbach'] lead a sound O-Line. On defense, [player_tooltip player_id='1280079' first='Sam' last='Sandvig'] (DB), [player_tooltip player_id='1280953' first='Andrew' last='Haase'] (DL), Kinnick Vos (DB) and Manning Allen (DL) form the foundation of a dangerous defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1279803' first='Ryan' last='Harrington'] is a weapon at kicker.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1280081' first='Mason' last='Randolph'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1280025' first='Mykal' last='Johnson'], DB; Ez Pinks,, LB; Kingston Ukpabi, DL; Jeremiah Peters, LB; Lukas Beroth, LS; [player_tooltip player_id='897474' first='Andrew' last='Brandhorst'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1238535' first='Joseph' last='Wakhungu'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1204418' first='Will' last='Ohloff'], DL;  [player_tooltip player_id='1617630' first='Hunter' last='Minner'], DL.   Cedar Rapids Prairie   Outlook: The Prairie Hawks recorded an impressive win against Cedar Falls in Week 1 and wrestled their way into the postseason at 5-4. They suffered a 21-10, first-round loss at Waukee. Prairie played well in close losses to good teams in '23 and returns a strong roster.   [player_tooltip player_id='1279710' first='T.Y.' last='Pour'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1279712' first='Denzil' last='Green'] are weapons in multiple phases. The right side of the O-Line from last season, [player_tooltip player_id='1279707' first='Roby' last='Swartzendruber'] (T) and [player_tooltip player_id='1279711' first='Jace' last='Tonne'] (G), returns after producing positive results in '23. [player_tooltip player_id='1581860' first='Quinton' last='Alexander'] is back after a season of disruption from his D-End post. LaMarious Clark already shines at defensive back with a chance to help on the other side of the ball. Productive linebackers Tyler Beck and [player_tooltip player_id='1216911' first='Max' last='Schwieger'] are back, too.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1581807' first='Wyatt' last='Eash'], QB; [player_tooltip player_id='1204446' first='Cael' last='Kongshaug'], QB; Drew Long, CB; Wyatt Beatty, LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1241371' first='Aiden' last='Packard']; C/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1241373' first='Ben' last='Thalacker'], OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1241375' first='Justin' last='Velky'], G-LS; Cole Krousie, LB;  Kyden Adams, S.   Cedar Rapids Jefferson   Outlook: The J-Hawks stunned folks around the state by starting '23 at 4-0 after going winless for three seasons in a row. Their first winning campaign since '15 eluded them, however.   Jefferson will be breaking in a new starting quarterback. He will have the services of big [player_tooltip player_id='1279915' first='Braylon' last='Evans'] (6-5, 310) and [player_tooltip player_id='1280070' first='Matthew' last='Helle'] up front, dynamic running back [player_tooltip player_id='1279921' first='Ishara' last='Kalolero'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1234328' first='Lloydson' last='Nyenow Jr'] out wide. The defense features playmakers on all three levels, including [player_tooltip player_id='1234330' first='Evan' last='Smith'] (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='1234333' first='Kayden' last='James'] (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='1466784' first='Anthony' last='Snodey III'] (LB), and [player_tooltip player_id='1234334' first='Ty' last='Kuennen'] (DB).   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1466778' first='LJ' last='Elophe'], LB; Eli Szabo, LB; Caleb Schroeder, LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1619374' first='Jaydon' last='McCauley'], DT; Nelson Evans IV, DE; [player_tooltip player_id='1234332' first='Jermaine' last='Robinson'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1234331' first='Liam' last='Smith'], OL; Chadrac Elese, DB; Anthony Petit-Frere, DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1249224' first='Yusto' last='Niyukuli'],, DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1234329' first='Vernon' last='Benda'], ATH; Harald Batige, RB; Dayten Guy, WR; [player_tooltip player_id='617066' first='Uweza' last='Kalolero'], RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1198822' first='George' last='Leach'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1204466' first='Malik' last='Nichols'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='325194' first='Josiah' last='Smith'], ATH.   Iowa City Liberty   Outlook: Facing a daunting, early-season schedule and a jump up in class last fall, Liberty stumbled to a 1-5 start. It bounced back to win three of its last four games, however, building momentum entering '23 under new head coach Scott Chandler.   Like Jefferson and Prairie, the Lightning will be replacing its starting quarterback. The new guy will have the luxury of being surrounded with talented returnees. The running back duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1278898' first='Owen' last='Drapeaux'] and [player_tooltip player_id='988861' first='Sutton' last='Koller'] stresses defenses in multiple ways. [player_tooltip player_id='1129677' first='Dallas' last='Miller'] is dangerous as a receiver and returner, and [player_tooltip player_id='1196514' first='Collin' last='Decker'] is an outside threat. [player_tooltip player_id='1282214' first='Caleb' last='Burnett'] anchors the O-Line and Nathan Burnett stands out on the defensive front.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1242836' first='Hayden' last='Vlaanderen'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1279972' first='Blake' last='DuBois'], DL; Jack McDowell, WR; Mason Waterbury, WR; Ethan Barber, DL; Korbin Howard, LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1279972' first='Blake' last='DuBois'], DL.   Iowa City West   Outlook: The Trojans finished Week 7 of last season at 4-3, positioned for a playoff bid with games against Pleasant Valley and Cedar Rapids Prairie remaining. They lost them both, missing out on West's first winning season since '20. The program hadn't experienced three losing seasons in a row since 2008-10.   This year should see the Trojans get over .500 with a chance to enjoy one of the biggest turnarounds in the state. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='245608' first='Jack' last='Wallace'] is a four-year starter. He's joined by playmakers like [player_tooltip player_id='1361552' first='Butali' last='Butali'], [player_tooltip player_id='847948' first='Mason' last='Woods'], [player_tooltip player_id='1234337' first='Mason' last='Goering'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1238512' first='Julian' last='Manson']. [player_tooltip player_id='1238174' first='Colin' last='Whitters'] is a dominant two-way lineman, and Declan Bunn stands out at linebacker.   Other Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1370666' first='Aaron' last='Honore'], RB; Nick Caylor, WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1240557' first='Titan' last='Ross'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1238635' first='Ethan' last='Headings'], ATH; Adrian DeWaard, DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1361550' first='Evan' last='Anderson'], K/P.   Cedar Rapids Washington   Outlook: Eric Addy took over as Warrior head coach in March, coming over after a successful run at Des Moines North. Washington (1-8) won fewer than three games for the first time since at least '08 after making the postseason during the previous two seasons.   [player_tooltip player_id='1238171' first='Grady' last='McGuire'] is one of three starting quarterbacks returning to Group 6 in '24. [player_tooltip player_id='1238496' first='Nick' last='Riley'] is back after leading the team in rushing a year ago. [player_tooltip player_id='1361743' first='Brock' last='Davis'] is a two-way weapon, and linebackers Caiden Buonadonna and [player_tooltip player_id='1417918' first='Will' last='Barnes'] are fast and physical. [player_tooltip player_id='1361745' first='Wyatt' last='Young'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1361747' first='David' last='Fason'] lock down the D-Line.   Other Players to Watch: Mason Bahls, RB/DB/PR/KR; [player_tooltip player_id='1417914' first='Aaron' last='Butikofer'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1238495' first='Terryion' last='Montgomery'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1238173' first='Brody' last='Griffin'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1571476' first='Logan' last='Barton'], K.

Ankeny is joined in 5A-6 by a collection of Eastern Iowa programs. They'll get another opportunity to figure out the Hawks.