Prep Redzone Iowa Preseason Class 4A Rankings

’25 Norwalk DT Kolton Borcherding-Johnson. (Photo: Rob Howe/PRZ-IA)

Rob Howe August 14, 2024 @ 07:41 PM

Prep Redzone Iowa released its <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/prep-redzone-iowa-preseason-class-5a-rankings/">Class 5A Preseason Rankings</a> on Tuesday. It then went to work on 4A, which you can find below.   These rankings will be updated (hopefully on Saturdays) after each week's games have concluded. We'll do that through the regular season.   1. Lewis Central - The Titans rolled to their second state championship in three years last season. They return plenty of firepower to claim three out of the last four titles and their fourth consecutive championship game appearances. First-team all-state QB [player_tooltip player_id='1279100' first='Brady' last='Hetzel'] is back along with productive skills players in [player_tooltip player_id='1360057' first='Brody' last='Patlan'] and Parker Stessman. All-stater Nathan Beyenhof anchors the offensive line. He, Cameron Moore, [player_tooltip player_id='1360092' first='Joseph' last='Monge'], [player_tooltip player_id='1360084' first='Gavin' last='Riemenschneider'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1197453' first='Kyler' last='McNeal'] headline what should be a very stout defense once again.   <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol>   2. Cedar Rapids Xavier - The Saints uncharacteristically fell in last year's state quarterfinals, 17-14, at North Polk. While they graduated a lot of key production from that squad, they bring back a talented group and should be motivated by how last season concluded. Leading receiver Carter Hoffmann should build on a breakout sophomore campaign. [player_tooltip player_id='1402852' first='Ryan' last='Beckmann'] stands out on the O-Line. Jack Stevenson shines at linebacker and contributes on offense, too.   3. Norwalk - A young Warriors squad dropped its final three games a year ago, including to state champion Lewis Central. They did reach the postseason, however, and should be able to rise up the ranks with this roster. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='283943' first='Eli' last='Robbins'] impacts the game in all three phases. Joining him as key cogs on offense are TE [player_tooltip player_id='1198816' first='Luke' last='Brewer'] and OL [player_tooltip player_id='1279887' first='Carter' last='Eden']. All-stater [player_tooltip player_id='252331' first='Kolton' last='Borcherding-Johnson'] along with his brother, DB Kadan Borcherding-Johnson and LB [player_tooltip player_id='245555' first='Harrison' last='Tripp'] lead the defense.   4. North Scott - The Lancers regularly field a strong team, reloading instead of rebuilding. While they'll need guys to step forward for graduated seniors, the cupboard still is stocked and reinforcements are on the way. [player_tooltip player_id='1279117' first='Cash' last='Bowe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='305767' first='Carson' last='Lage'] form one of the top WR duos in the state, and RB [player_tooltip player_id='1402859' first='Jerrod' last='Lee'] returns after rushing for almost 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns in '23. Kicker Chase Smith is a weapon. The defense will be salty with Jay Lightle, Jace Tippet, Isaac Veach, [player_tooltip player_id='1418139' first='Kye' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='1238170' first='Peyton' last='Brenner'] and others back.   5. Bondurant-Farrar - The Bluejays are competing for their fourth consecutive postseason bid and are becoming an outfit that reloads after losing production to graduation. The offense will be led by QB [player_tooltip player_id='252225' first='Jordan' last='Rial'], who three 18 TDs with only five picks last season. Leading receiver Cole Miller will join him. [player_tooltip player_id='1406662' first='Parker' last='Ernst'], Ryder Miller and Joey George are productive defenders. Juniors Blake Guthrie, [player_tooltip player_id='1421455' first='Landon' last='Cory'], [player_tooltip player_id='1240435' first='James' last='Collum'], [player_tooltip player_id='1240486' first='Kamran' last='Franco'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1240436' first='Nolan' last='Fellers'] are ready for bigger roles.   6. Gilbert - The Tigers scratched out a 6-0 start in '23 only to lose out and miss the playoffs. An experienced roster is focused on not letting that happen again this fall. RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='252314' first='Will' last='Hawthorne'], an Iowa State commitment, is one of the better two-way performers in 4A. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1279764' first='Connor' last='Rash'] can dent teams with his arm and legs, and he'll have leading receiver Ean Eldred back in the fold. [player_tooltip player_id='1238526' first='Tayshawn' last='Gillen'] looks like a younger version of Hawthorne. [player_tooltip player_id='1418106' first='Bowen' last='Kruse'], Alden Short and [player_tooltip player_id='1418114' first='Braeden' last='Nees'] are playmakers.   7. Western Dubuque - This certainly could end up being too low for the Bobcats, who played in last year's state championship game. It will take inexperienced team members to step up, especially with graduation losses on offense. The good news is that QB [player_tooltip player_id='1279823' first='Tanner' last='Anderson'] (21 TD/6 INT) returns with protection from first-team all-state OL [player_tooltip player_id='1277238' first='Garret' last='Kluesner'], also a factor on defense. He'll line up on that side of the ball with a formidable crew that includes Caden Culbertson, [player_tooltip player_id='1282223' first='Drew' last='Burds'], Zander Ehlers, Mason Ruden and Ben Wernimont.   8. Ballard - The Bombers were grounded in the first round of last year's playoffs, falling 17-14 to eventual state semifinalist, North Polk. They should be able to build on a successful '23 with [player_tooltip player_id='1271559' first='Mason' last='Gatchel'] back behind center. Second-leading receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1240484' first='Jude' last='Gibson'] is back. LB [player_tooltip player_id='1165288' first='Jackson' last='Wacha'] will be producing a sequel to his 112-tackle '23 with co-stars Rhett Hedrick, who had 69.5 stops, and D-Lineman Henry Christensen. [player_tooltip player_id='1240474' first='Dillon' last='Shoen'] and Tucker Vitzthum take care of business in the secondary.   9. Indianola - Last season ended in the opening round of the postseason when Indianola lost a tough, one-score game at Xavier. Indianola will try to earn a home contest or two in '24 with dual-threat [player_tooltip player_id='1418132' first='Andrew' last='DeWall'] back at QB leading the offense. With him in the backfield will be 1,000-yard rusher Jake Pontier. Up front, South Dakota commitment and all-stater [player_tooltip player_id='1277245' first='Lathan' last='McDaniel'] leads the O-Line. Pontier, Charlie Radosevich and [player_tooltip player_id='1418127' first='Adler' last='Deike'] help form the foundation of a resistant defense.   10. Waverly-Shell Rock - The Go-Hawks went from a team that lost three total games during the previous two years to winning only three in '23. They should grow from the lumps taken last season and bring back an experienced roster. QB Wesley Hubbard can throw and run it. He'll hand off to 1,000-rusher Ethan Bibler, who'll run behind an O-Line featuring [player_tooltip player_id='1240475' first='Ian' last='Sedgwick']. Bibler, Camden Kramer, Sam Wilson, [player_tooltip player_id='1418065' first='Charlie' last='Kramer'] and Kael Dewey make a difference on D.

Prep Redzone Iowa released its Class 5A Preseason Rankings on Tuesday. It then went to work on 4A, which you can find below.