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Previewing, Predicting 1st-Round Class 4A Playoff Games

Previewing, Predicting 1st-Round Class 4A Playoff Games
Clear Creek Amana ’25 DL Brody Clubb. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Red Zone)
Rob Howe
Rob Howe October 30, 2024 @ 07:13 PM
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In this article:

Brody Johnson
Brody Johnson 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB/RB | 2027
IA
Kyler VanMaanen
Kyler VanMaanen 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB | 2027
IA
Tru McBride
Tru McBride 6'3" | 210 lbs | QB | 2027
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Drew Bergfeld
Drew Bergfeld 6'1" | 205 lbs | RB | 2027
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Jesse Egli
Jesse Egli 6'0" | 200 lbs | DB/LB | 2026
IA
Brady Bodensteiner
Brady Bodensteiner 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH | 2026
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Noah Milburn
Noah Milburn 6'5" | 195 lbs | TE/DL | 2026
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Tytrell Mosley
Tytrell Mosley 5'7" | 150 lbs | WR | 2026
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Ryan Kelly
Ryan Kelly 5'9" | 155 lbs | WR | 2026
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Trevor Kuennen
Trevor Kuennen 6'2" | 190 lbs | RB/LB | 2026
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Hudson Shull
Hudson Shull 5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH | 2026
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Caden Klein
Caden Klein 5'10" | 175 lbs | ATH | 2026
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James Hatlevig
James Hatlevig 6'5" | 200 lbs | QB | 2026
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Nick Milburn
Nick Milburn 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB | 2027
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Bowen Kruse
Bowen Kruse 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB/LS | 2025
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Miles Robbins
Miles Robbins 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB | 2025
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Jack Berends
Jack Berends 6'4" | 200 lbs | LB | 2025
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Brody Jordan
Brody Jordan 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB | 2025
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Owen Rosenberg
Owen Rosenberg 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR | 2025
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Karver Sutton
Karver Sutton 5'9" | 200 lbs | DL | 2025
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Brayden Rynearson
Brayden Rynearson 6'0" | 195 lbs | DB | 2025
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Jakob Phillips
Jakob Phillips 5'11" | 210 lbs | LB | 2025
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BJ Tate Jr
BJ Tate Jr 5'8" | 180 lbs | ATH | 2025
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Joseph Monge
Joseph Monge 5'9" | 220 lbs | DL | 2025
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Chance Chappell
Chance Chappell ATH | 2025
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Colin Kerndt
Colin Kerndt 6'2" | 185 lbs | ATH | 2025
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Drew Burds
Drew Burds 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB | 2025
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Brady Vreeman
Brady Vreeman 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB | 2025
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Corbin Reed
Corbin Reed 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH | 2025
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Cash Bowe
Cash Bowe 6'3" | 175 lbs | WR | 2025
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Brady Hetzel
Brady Hetzel 5'11" | 185 lbs | QB | 2025
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Garret Kluesner
Garret Kluesner 6'2" | 225 lbs | DL/OL | 2025
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Conlan Poynton
Conlan Poynton 5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH | 2026
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Ian Sedgwick
Ian Sedgwick 6'1" | 255 lbs | OL | 2026
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Emmanuel Diers
Emmanuel Diers 5'8" | 185 lbs | RB | 2026
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Tayshawn Gillen
Tayshawn Gillen 5'10" | 190 lbs | DL | 2026
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Victor Esparza
Victor Esparza 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB | 2027
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Luke Brewer
Luke Brewer 6'5" | 220 lbs | TE | 2027
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Kyler McNeal
Kyler McNeal 6'1" | 270 lbs | DL | 2027
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Jackson Wacha
Jackson Wacha 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB/TE | 2025
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Cael Bruning
Cael Bruning 6'4" | 200 lbs | QB | 2025
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Thanaphat Chase Smith
Thanaphat Chase Smith 5'11" | 190 lbs | QB/K | 2025
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Carson Lage
Carson Lage 6'4" | 185 lbs | WR | 2025
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Eli Robbins
Eli Robbins 6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH | 2026
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Brody Clubb
Brody Clubb 6'3" | 245 lbs | DL | 2025
IA
Will Hawthorne
Will Hawthorne 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB | 2025
IA
<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A closer look at Friday's first-round game in Class 4A: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Dodge (7-2) at North Polk (9-0) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> North Polk prefers keeping it on the ground, as evidenced by its 2,546 rushing yards compared to 672 passing. Nathan Feldmann does both really well, racking up 1,377 yards and 19 touchdowns rushing to go with eight scoring tosses. [player_tooltip player_id='1361480' first='BJ' last='Tate Jr']. has more than 800 yards carrying the ball, and [player_tooltip player_id='1361539' first='Jakob' last='Phillips'] (49.0 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 2 INT, 1.0 Sacks) leads the defense. Fort Dodge leans on a balanced offense with QB [player_tooltip player_id='1644900' first='Tru' last='McBride'] (17 TD passes), RB Jamarius Green (1,213 yards, 13 TDS rushing) and [player_tooltip player_id='1619907' first='Tytrell' last='Mosley'] (31 catches) leading the way. [player_tooltip player_id='1620020' first='Jesse' last='Egli'] (57.0 tackles, 7.0 TFL) is among its defensive standouts. [player_tooltip player_id='1198836' first='Victor' last='Esparza'] has 51.0 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> North Polk</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Xavier (6-3) at Norwalk (6-3) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> Norwalk has emerged victorious its last five games, and the Saints are winners of four of their last five. Both teams have faced challenging schedules. They're talented and legitimate threats to advance out of this pod. Warrior QB [player_tooltip player_id='1619680' first='James' last='Hatlevig'] has thrown for 16 TDs and is an efficient passer. Dominic Tigner leads the rushing attack, and WR [player_tooltip player_id='283943' first='Eli' last='Robbins'] and TE [player_tooltip player_id='1198816' first='Luke' last='Brewer'], are two of the better players at their position in 4A. Xavier QB Cash Parks is recovered from a car accident and dangerous as a dual threat. Carter Hoffmann is a 1,000-yard RB, and WR [player_tooltip player_id='1619867' first='Ryan' last='Kelly'] has 46 catches for 584 yards. Jack Stevenson paces the defense with 54.0 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Xavier </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD B</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Newton (6-3) at Decorah (9-0)</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> A year after coming up just short in multiple games, Decorah has flipped the script this fall, winning close contests against good competition. Efficient senior quarterback Louis Bucksa has 14 touchdown passes against just three interceptions, adding four scores on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1619841' first='Trevor' last='Kuennen'] is the leading rusher, [player_tooltip player_id='1619944' first='Noah' last='Milburn'] is the top receiving target and William Hahn is one of the better two-way linemen in this class. Newton is capable of pulling off the upset behind dynamic, two-way standout [player_tooltip player_id='1619687' first='Caden' last='Klein'] and disruptive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1532913' first='Nick' last='Milburn']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Decorah</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Western Dubuque (6-3) at North Scott (7-2) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> It's a rematch of a game Western Dubuque won, 21-7, on Sept. 20 in Eldridge. North Scott gets another chance at Lancer Stadium. North Scott senior [player_tooltip player_id='690937' first='Thanaphat' last='Chase Smith'] has thrown 23 touchdowns against just three interceptions and rushed for three more scores. He's furnished with one of the better 1-2 punches at receiver in [player_tooltip player_id='305767' first='Carson' last='Lage'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1279117' first='Cash' last='Bowe'], who also share the team lead with two interceptions apiece. Western Dubuque leans on a balanced offense led by RBs [player_tooltip player_id='1621113' first='Drew' last='Bergfeld'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1282223' first='Drew' last='Burds']. [player_tooltip player_id='1277238' first='Garret' last='Kluesner'] is a super two-way lineman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> North Scott </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD C</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clear Creek-Amana (6-3) at Pella (8-1) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> A 14-7 setback against Gilbert in the regular-season finale ruined Pella's run at 9-0. The Dutch look to get back on track when it matters most behind dual-threat dynamo [player_tooltip player_id='1286458' first='Colin' last='Kerndt'] along with versatile running back [player_tooltip player_id='1240470' first='Emmanuel' last='Diers']. Nate Warner, Ben Wilcox and [player_tooltip player_id='1644914' first='Kyler' last='VanMaanen'] are disruptive defenders. CCA overcame a 1-2 start to win five of its last six games. Two-way lineman [player_tooltip player_id='252329' first='Brody' last='Clubb'] is a problem for opponents. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1242954' first='Conlan' last='Poynton'] gashes defenses with his arm and legs, and [player_tooltip player_id='1406686' first='Owen' last='Rosenberg'] shines at receiver and defensive back, where he's intercepted eight passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Pella </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waverly-Shell Rock (6-3) at Gilbert (8-1) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> Bondurant-Farrar ruined Gilbert's perfect season with a 31-28 road victory on Oct. 11. The Tigers then handed Pella its first defeat, 14-7, last week. Gilbert RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='252314' first='Will' last='Hawthorne'] has a strong argument to be player of the year in 4A. He gets help on defense from [player_tooltip player_id='1418106' first='Bowen' last='Kruse'], &nbsp;Blake Bell, [player_tooltip player_id='1238526' first='Tayshawn' last='Gillen'] and Easton Van Cleave. Waverly-Shell Rock's three setbacks came against fellow playoff teams Xavier, North Scott and Decorah. Ethan Bibler is a handful to defend at running back. [player_tooltip player_id='1619985' first='Brady' last='Bodensteiner'] is a productive defender, leading the team with three interceptions, and [player_tooltip player_id='1240475' first='Ian' last='Sedgwick'] is tough in the trenches. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Gilbert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POD D</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ballard (5-4) at Lewis Central (8-1) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> Defending state champion Lewis Central saw its 16-game winning streak come to an end two weeks ago, falling to visiting Norwalk, 21-7. Senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='1279100' first='Brady' last='Hetzel'] helped the Titans rebound with a 49-8 win at Dallas-Center Grimes on Friday. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1360075' first='Chance' last='Chappell'] (12 TDS) and WR Leonardo Tatum (9 TDs) love the end zone. [player_tooltip player_id='1360092' first='Joseph' last='Monge'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1197453' first='Kyler' last='McNeal'] are menaces on the D-Line. Ballard has navigated one of 4A's toughest schedules with a balanced offense and a stingy defense, headed by one of the state's top LBs, [player_tooltip player_id='1165288' first='Jackson' last='Wacha']. DB Tucker Vitzthum (3.0 TFL, 3 INT) also delivers on that side of the ball as do Rhett Hedrick, Caden Anderson and Blake Brendeland.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Lewis Central </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ADM (7-2) at Spencer (6-3) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What2Watch4:</strong> Spencer had ripped off five wins in a row before Fort Dodge spoiled the Tigers' senior night Friday, 24-20. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1418087' first='Miles' last='Robbins'] powers the Spencer offensive attack along with dual-threat QB [player_tooltip player_id='827114' first='Cael' last='Bruning']. [player_tooltip player_id='1644925' first='Brody' last='Johnson'] stands out on the Tiger defense, and the same can be said about [player_tooltip player_id='1418078' first='Jack' last='Berends'], [player_tooltip player_id='1418072' first='Brody' last='Jordan'],&nbsp;Foster Roos and [player_tooltip player_id='1280034' first='Brady' last='Vreeman']. ADM also dropped its final regular-season game, a 27-14 defeat at North Polk. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1619815' first='Hudson' last='Shull'] is enjoying a breakout season for ADM, getting help on the ground from Jonathon Hatchitt and through the air by [player_tooltip player_id='1279866' first='Corbin' last='Reed']. &nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1402881' first='Brayden' last='Rynearson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1402893' first='Karver' last='Sutton'],&nbsp;Grant Jansen and Grant Engleman make a difference defensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> ADM </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->

A closer look at Friday's first-round game in Class 4A:

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