Previewing Class 4A Semifinals, Players to Watch

Four of the best teams in the state will be competing for a spot in the Class 4A state title game during Thursday's final four at the UNI-Dome. That might seem obvious, but it's far from a given that the regular-season's most successful outfits reach the promised land for high school football in this state.   North Polk, Pella and defending champion Lewis Central are a combined 31-2. The fourth participant, North Scott, arrives at 9-2 and is a program synonymous with success. It should be a fun couple of weekends finding out who is king of the 4A mountain.   Here's a closer look at the 4A semifinal matchups:   Pella (10-1) vs. Lewis Central (10-1)   Series: It will be the first meeting between these schools since at least 2007, according to Bound.com. The schools have competed in different classes through the years, and they're not geographical partners.   Program History: Lewis Central is playing in its 19th postseason, while the Dutch is making its 34th appearance, which is tied for the 11th most all-time among all programs in Iowa. Pella owns three titles in five trips to the final, and the Titans have two championships in three finals' appearances.   Players to Watch   -Pella: [player_tooltip player_id='1286458' first='Colin' last='Kerndt'], QB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1240470' first='Emmanuel' last='Diers'], RB, JR; [player_tooltip player_id='1286455' first='Tyson' last='Barnes'], WR, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='897440' first='Harrison' last='Mullens'], WR, JR; Lake Cowman, DB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1620031' first='Rex' last='Rhamy'], DB, JR; Nathan VandeLune, DB, SR; Ty VanVliet, DL, JR; Gage Branderhorst, LB, SO; [player_tooltip player_id='1418143' first='Bailey' last='Shetterly'], LB, SR; Ben Wilcox, LB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1644914' first='Kyler' last='VanMaanen'], LB, SO; Nate Warner, LB, JR; [player_tooltip player_id='1620070' first='Jace' last='Peterson'], DL, JR;  Austin Schulte, DL, JR.   -Lewis Central: [player_tooltip player_id='1279100' first='Brady' last='Hetzel'], QB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1360075' first='Chance' last='Chappell'], RB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='755592' first='Jacob' last='Jefferis'], RB, SO; [player_tooltip player_id='1619876' first='Peyton' last='Phippen'], WR/DB, JR; [player_tooltip player_id='1619939' first='Leo' last='Tatum'], WR/DB, JR; TJ Nettles, DE, JR; Noah Wenninghoff, DB, SR; Cameron Moore, LB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1620003' first='Paxton' last='Blanchard'], LB, JR; Parker Stessman, CB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1360092' first='Joseph' last='Monge'], DL, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1197453' first='Kyler' last='McNeal'], DL, SO; [player_tooltip player_id='1279094' first='Nathan' last='Beyenhoff'], OL, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1583687' first='Braydan' last='Doss'], KR, FR; [player_tooltip player_id='401672' first='Jimmy' last='Scott'], K/P, JR.   Breakdown: According to the Bound Power Rankings, these teams faced similar schedule strengths this season. Norwalk handed Lewis Central its lone loss of the season, and Gilbert was the only program to top the Dutch. Outside of that, the Titans twice beat ADM by three points, and Pella avenged its lone setback last week.   Lewis Central has won more comfortably than has the Dutch. The Titans are outscoring their opponents, 34.9-15.3, and Pella is winning by an average score of 28.5-16.9.   They each played Ballard and Bondurant-Farrar. Lewis Central won by a combined score of 52-24, and the Dutch held a 57-38 advantage in those contests.   The Titans average 376.8 yards (222.2 passing, 154.6 rushing) of offense per game, and Pella is putting up 316.9 yards (154.2 passing, 162.7 rushing). Each squad plays aggressive defense, Lewis Central picking off 15 passes, and the Dutch recording 11. They combined for more than 150 tackles for loss.   Lewis Central's [player_tooltip player_id='401672' first='Jimmy' last='Scott'] has connected on 6 of 11 field-goal attempts with the longest make being from 41 yards out. The junior is 47 of 49 on PATs. The Dutch have a 20-yard field goal from [player_tooltip player_id='1286455' first='Tyson' last='Barnes'] in its only attempt, and Nile Roe has converted 19 of 21 extra-point tries.   Scott ranks third in 4A with a 40.1-yard average on 29 punts. Barnes has 19 punts with an average of 38.1 yards, 10th in 4A.   Howe I See It: Can either offense cook against a pair of defenses ranked in the Top 10? If not, which one will do enough to complement its defense and special teams?   It should be competitive with two dynamic senior quarterbacks in [player_tooltip player_id='1279100' first='Brady' last='Hetzel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1286458' first='Colin' last='Kerndt']. The former has a state championship title on his resume.   The Dutch played one playoff game in the previous three seasons before this current run. Lewis Central has a pair of championships and a runner-up finish during that time. Stating the obvious, that's a big difference in experience.   Prediction: Lewis Central 24, Pella 14   North Polk (11-0) vs. North Scott (9-2)   Series: As is the case in the other semifinal, these programs have not played since at least 2007. They're roughly 177 miles apart.   Program History: North Scott is playing in its 21st postseason, while the Comets are appearing for the 16th time. The Lancers won a championship in 2020, and North Polk finished as the runner-up to Iowa City Regina in '10.   Players to Watch   -North Polk: Nathan Feldmann, QB/DB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1361480' first='BJ' last='Tate Jr']., RB/DB, SR; Henry Christensen, RB/DL, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1361535' first='Jake' last='Hout'], WR, SR; Luke Engebretson, LB, SR; Nathan Pitlock, DB, SR; Logan Frelund, LB, SR; Carter Van Brocklin, DL, SR; Gabe Visalden, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1361539' first='Jakob' last='Phillips'], LB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1760678' first='Brady' last='Cathcart'], DB, SO; Caleb Hoffman, DL, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1620124' first='Micah' last='Sands'], DL, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1699692' first='Chase' last='Miller'], DL, JR; Mason Ackerman, DL, SO.   -North Scott: [player_tooltip player_id='690937' first='Thanaphat' last='Chase Smith'], QB/K, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1619849' first='Evan' last='Kruse'], RB, JR; [player_tooltip player_id='1402859' first='Jerrod' last='Lee'], RB/LB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='305767' first='Carson' last='Lage'], WR/DB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1279117' first='Cash' last='Bowe'], WR/DB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1418139' first='Kye' last='Smith'], WR/DB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1586814' first='Brent' last='Morgan'], LB, SR; Cole Johnson, DB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1827636' first='Landon' last='Golinghorst'], DB, JR;  [player_tooltip player_id='1418137' first='Beau' last='Morgan'], LB, SR; Will Schneckloth, LB, SR; Ayden Tschopp, LB, JR; Gehrig Kirst, LB, SR; [player_tooltip player_id='1238170' first='Peyton' last='Brenner'], DL, JR; [player_tooltip player_id='1827657' first='Bryce' last='Stewart'], DL, SO.   Breakdown: North Polk returns to the UNI-Dome, where it lost to Lewis Central in last year's semifinals. The Lancers were last there in '22, a semifinal setback against Xavier.   The Comets faced the 68th most difficult schedule in '24, according to the Bound Power Rankings, while North Scott's slate ranked 111th. The Lancers losses came against fellow postseason participants, Western Dubuque and Xavier. North Polk beat Xavier last week, 35-14.   North Polk's 35.9 points per game are the most in 4A, and the Lancers rank third at 33.4. North Scott leads the class in scoring defense (12.5 PPG), while the Comets are fifth (15.9).   The Lancers average 351.2 yards (225.0 passing, 126.2 rushing) of offense per game, and North Polk is accumulating 369.6 yards (77.6 passing, 292.0 rushing). The Comets have 14 interceptions, 22.0 sacks and 62.0 tackles for loss, while North Scott has eight picks, 21.0 sacks and 64.0 TFLs.   North Scott's [player_tooltip player_id='690937' first='Thanaphat' last='Chase Smith'] is 4 of 6 on field-goal attempts with a long make from 42 yards out. The Comets have not attempted a field goal but Liam Triplett has made 40 of 49 PATs. James Armstrong averages 33.5 yards per punt for North Polk, and Smith has a 36.0 average.   Howe I See It: North Scott's first order of business will be trying to slow down the Comets' rushing attack. Conversely, North Polk is attempting to contain the Lancers' air attack. Conditions inside of the dome won't impact either.   The programs have reached the final four within the last few years. The Comets might hold an edge in that they made it last season.   As mentioned, North Polk boasts a better resume, and a running game that eats up yards and the clock.   Prediction: North Polk 28, North Scott 17

Four of the best teams in the state will be competing for a spot in the Class 4A state title game during Thursday's final four at the UNI-Dome. That might seem obvious, but it's far from a given that the regular-season's most successful outfits reach the promised land for high school football in this state.