Class 1A 4-4 Front: Top DL and LB Performances from Week 2

Once again looking at Class 1A in Iowa, I'm formatting this report a bit differently, and I'm grouping together the top DL and LB performances from this section in a 4-4 Front set, taking the top 4 DL and top 4 LBs from this week into a lineup compiling the best box front to assemble based on how they did. This week, these 8 defenders made noise for their disruptive performances, including several young emerging standouts to watch for as the season rolls on. Here is the 4-4 Defensive Front from Class 1A for week 2!    East Marshall was able to shut down the Saydel Eagles for much of the game in week 2 en route to a strong win, and Wyatt Stalzer played a big part in shutting down that offense. Stalzer finished the game with a team high 10 tackles, 3 TFLs, and 1 sack. Stalzer holds great frame for an interior-defensive lineman, and he's very fast breaking into the backfield, and it showed as Stalzer was a problem all night in disruptive the passing game. Stalzer will be a stalwart for the Mustangs' defense for the next 2 seasons he's in East Marshall.     Treynor lost a close game in week 2 to Tri-Center, but Zack Robbins was a dangerous player who consistently brought down the ball-carrier in the backfield. Robbins recorded 7 tackles in week 2, all of them being TFLs. Robbins' effectiveness was absurd, and he was practically unguardable all night. Robbins did a great job gaining inside leverage and breaking through the B-gap to get into the backfield. The inside release is what propelled Robbins throughout the night to make it difficult for the Trojans to gain yardage. Robbins has 9 TFLs through 2 games, and he will be a hard defender to stop this season in Class 1A.     [player_tooltip player_id='1294036' first='Nolan' last='Perrien'] is one of the better OL prospects in Iowa for the class of 2025, but his efforts on the defensive side of the ball have been just as noticeable. Against Clarinda, Perrien finished with 3.5 tackles, 2 TFLs, and 2 sacks. Perrien is a tough, combative player on the trenches who possesses solid power, does a good job at shedding blocks to get to the ball-carrier, and has a quick burst of speed in rushing the QB. Perrien will remain a bright spot to watch on both sides of the trenches for Red Oak this season.     For a player of his size, Damien Pestle seems like an odd choice to play at Nose Tackle on the defensive-line, but his speed and tenacity in the interior-gaps has actually worked out really well in his favor. Against West Liberty, his skillset shined in this role as he finished with 3.5 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, and a sack in the win. Hassell plays how a Nose Tackle should play, with a low pad level and driving on the snap, and he shows an impressive amount of power to break off the blocks from the Guards. Pestle's skillset is one of the most unique I've seen for his position, and he's a great addition to round off the 4 linemen on the trenches among this front.     [player_tooltip player_id='252313' first='Kolton' last='Koopmans'] is one of the most impressive two-way prospects of the 2025 recruiting class in Iowa, and while he's been renowned as an upper-tier TE prospect, Koopmans has been hugely effectively as a MLB to start the season. Against Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Koopmans led the team with 12.5 tackles to go with 2.5 TFLs and a sack. Koopmans was all over the field, showing a quick burst through the middle, great lateral movement, and excellent reads finding the right lanes to stop the play. Koopmans will be one of the most interesting athletes of the class of 2025, and his usage could go either way in the collegiate level.     Zach Luedtke has already made a profound impact for the Cardinal Comets that he was named team captain prior to his sophomore season. Luedtke has been a shining star for a struggling Comets' team so far this season, and in week 2 against Central Lee, Luedtke finished with an impressive 15 tackles. Luedtke is a hard-hitting LB, and while the defense struggling to contain the run game, Luedtke was consistently where the ball-carrier was and making a relentless effort to stop the play. Luedtke is one of the most resilient players I've seen so far this season, and it will be interesting to watch his growth over the next few years.     One freshman standout is quickly emerging into one of the leaders for Pocahontas Area's football team, and that is Karson Welander. Welander finished with a team high 13 tackles despite losing to Okoboji. Welander boasts solid size for his age, and he's quickly gaining a lot of confidence in the second level of the defense, showing quick feet, solid tackling form, and has a knack for finding the ball-carrier and making a play to stop them. Welander is a growing prospect to watch from Pocahontas Area moving forward.     AHSTW wrapped up senior night against Riverside with a strong win, and one of their seniors, Blake Akers played a big part in flustering the Bulldogs' offense all night. Akers finished with 12 tackles and a TFL in the win. Akers holds a great upper frame, and is an imposing leader of the defense, and he showcased tough tackling and great instincts in slowing down the Bulldogs on Friday night. Akers will be a name that will be flying under the radar this season, but he will be vital in helping AHSTW continue their hot start this year.

Once again looking at Class 1A in Iowa, I'm formatting this report a bit differently, and I'm grouping together the top DL and LB performances from this section in a 4-4 Front set, taking the top 4 DL and top 4 LBs from this week into a lineup compiling the best box front to assemble based on how they did. This week, these 8 defenders made noise for their disruptive performances, including several young emerging standouts to watch for as the season rolls on. Here is the 4-4 Defensive Front from Class 1A for week 2!