Week 1 Class 3A Standouts with Rankings Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/prep-redzone-iowa-preseason-class-3a-rankings/">Preseason 3A Rankings</a> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As promised, we're committed to updating our team rankings in the state's largest three classes weekly. We hope to replicate it with the rest of the state in future seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1.</strong> <strong>Clear Lake (1-0) – </strong>The Lions hung onto the top ranking this week after a convincing, 41-14 victory against visiting Forest City Friday night. They led 34-0 after three quarters. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1204540' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'] threw for four touchdowns, and [player_tooltip player_id='1361107' first='Titan' last='Schmitt'] rushed for 217 yards and two scores against Forest City. Iowa TE commitment [player_tooltip player_id='847937' first='Thomas' last='Meyer'] caught a TD and contributed to a strong defensive effort off the edge. [player_tooltip player_id='1286466' first='Henry' last='Bunn'] stood out on both lines. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Next: </strong>9/6 at New Hampton </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2.</strong> <strong>Solon (1-0) –</strong> The Spartans moved up three spots this week with an eye-opening, 33-7 home triumph against preseason No. 10 Davenport Assumption. A case could be made that it was the most impressive victory in 3A during the opening week. Solon led 30-0 at the intermission. QB Ty Bell threw for 210 yards and a pair of scores, and [player_tooltip player_id='1360709' first='Eddie' last='Johnson'] produced 120 yards and a TD on the ground. Colby Myers racked up a couple TFLs for a stingy Spartan defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Next:</strong> 9/6 at Clear Creek Amana</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. Williamsburg (1-0) – </strong>The defending state champs held on to the No. 3 ranking with a 55-10 thumping of 1A West Branch. Williamsburg was able to gain experience for a team replacing a lot of lost production from a year ago. Senior QB Grant Hocker tossed six touchdowns against West Branch. Half of them went to [player_tooltip player_id='848057' first='Rayce' last='Heitman'], who caught five balls for 121 yards in all. [player_tooltip player_id='1421438' first='Cael' last='Moore'] hauled in two TDs. On defense, Heitman tallied 10.5 tackle, and Moore added 10.0 with a sack and 2.0 TFLs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Next: </strong>9/6 vs. Xavier </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. Mount Vernon (1-0) –</strong> The Mustangs hang in fourth by virtue of a 44-6 opening-night win at 2A Monticello. They led 37-0 at the break and never looked back. [player_tooltip player_id='1278806' first='Ethan' last='Wood'], Jase Jaspers and [player_tooltip player_id='1279984' first='Nova' last='Lane'] are two-way impact players for a Mount Vernon roster guided by first-year head coach Brad Meester. The Mustangs are contenders to win it all in this wide open class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Next: </strong>9/6 vs. Union Community </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. Bishop Heelan (1-0) – </strong>The Crusaders are up one spot this week. They recorded a 32-14 victory at 2A Kuemper Catholic. All-State LB [player_tooltip player_id='1238514' first='Kasen' last='Thomas'], who reported scholarship offers from Iowa and Iowa State summer camps, rushed for 246 yards and five touchdowns with 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack in the opener. Luke Fischer delivered four solo stops in the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Next:</strong> 9/6 vs. Council Bluffs Lincoln </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6. West Delaware (0-1) –</strong> The Hawks dropped four places in the rankings following a 21-13 setback Friday at 4A-ranked Western Dubuque. The game was tied 7-7 at halftime. The outcome should not diminish West Delaware's status as a 3A contender. QB Brent Yonkovic rushed for 124 yards and both his his team's touchdowns. The West Delaware defense showed it would be a salty bunch in '24.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Next:</strong> 9/6 at Decorah</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7. Algona (1-0) – </strong>The Bulldogs found themselves in a tussle at 2A Spirit Lake Friday. They survived, 42-40, and stick at No. 7. [player_tooltip player_id='252221' first='Alex' last='Manske']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/alex-manske/"></a>, [player_tooltip player_id='252334' first='Jack' last='Limbaugh'], [player_tooltip player_id='1240413' first='Evan' last='Allie'], Tate Slagle, Aiden Ulrich, Devin Larsen, Landon Thompson, Tate Garman and the rest of the dogs know they'll need to be better moving forward, especially on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Next:</strong> 9/6 at Forest City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8. Independence (1-0) – </strong>A second group of Mustangs in the Top 10, Independence stayed eighth for another week. The Mustangs toppled 2A North Fayette Valley, 42-14, Friday at Lyle Leinbaugh Field. They scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to pull away. It was a positive step forward for a talented group that includes EJ Miller, [player_tooltip player_id='252312' first='Brady' last='Kurt']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/brady-kurt/"></a> , [player_tooltip player_id='1406617' first='Tate' last='Wood'], Bryce Christian, [player_tooltip player_id='1279979' first='Cameron' last='Roth'], Christopher Meyer and [player_tooltip player_id='1242263' first='Cael' last='Troutman']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next: 9/6 at Crestwood </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9. Nevada (1-0) – </strong>The Cubs stick at No. 9 having knocked off visiting 2A West Marshall, 33-7, on Friday. Senior Anthony Eaton carried 23 times for 206 yards (9.0 YPC) and five touchdowns. Gavin Egeland caught eight balls for 77 yards.  [player_tooltip player_id='1242256' first='Austin' last='Waldera'], Jackson Burlage, [player_tooltip player_id='1406627' first='Nate' last='Maier'], Jaycee Rangel-Bello, [player_tooltip player_id='1242277' first='Isaac' last='Williams'], Jaden Grimm and [player_tooltip player_id='1671558' first='Lucas' last='Brown'] led the defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next: 9/6 at Roland-Story</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10. Wahlert Catholic – </strong>The Eagles enter the rankings off of a 41-0 shutout of 2A Camanche. Their defense delivered with a big group of guys contributing to the effort. Will Welbes, Lincoln Oberfoell, Greg Smith, [player_tooltip player_id='1286448' first='Michael' last='Bormann'], Matthew Bodnar, Ryan Winter, Dylan Seay, Anderson Herbst and John Berning all were part of the party. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Next: </strong>9/6 vs. Western Dubuque</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dropped Out: </strong>Assumption. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A</strong> <strong>STARS OF THE WEEK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1238514' first='Kasen' last='Thomas'], LB/RB, Heelan (246 rushing yards, 5 TDs/2.0 TFL, 1.0 sacks) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grant Hocker, QB, Williamsburg (264 passing yards, 6 TDs, 0 INTs) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1369861' first='Carson' last='Nolan'], QB, Benton (8-10 passing, 1 TD/7 carries 171 yards 3 TDs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1403008' first='Tyson' last='O'Brien'], RB, Atlantic (35 carries 350 yards 3 TDs) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gavin McLaren, RB, Atlantic (17 carries 128 yards 5 TDs) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anthony Eaton, RB, Nevada (23 carries, 206 yards, 5 TDs) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Geren Kenney, RB, Perry (20 carries 127 yards 3 TDs) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='848057' first='Rayce' last='Heitman'], WR/LB, Williamsburg (5 catches 121 yards 3 TDs/9 solo tackles 2.5 TFL) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1188432' first='Mason' last='Claus'], WR, Keokuk (4 catches 96 yards 2 TDs/9.5 tackles)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='773212' first='Ahman' last='Langton'], WR, MOC-Floyd Valley (6 catches 62 yards 2 TDs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1615329' first='Deacon' last='Caspers'], RB, Charles City (30 carries 253 yards 2 TDs) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1361107' first='Titan' last='Schmitt'], RB, Clear Lake (22 carries 217 yards 2 TDs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jarrett Hansen, WR, Atlantic (3 receptions 106 yards 2 TDs) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1421438' first='Cael' last='Moore'], WR, Williamsburg (3 receptions 90 yards 2 TDs/10 solo tackles, 2.0 TFL, sack)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1421471' first='Gavin' last='Warren'], DB, Sergeant Bluff-Luton (4 solo tackles, 2 INTs) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->