2025 Season Preview: Class 5A Group 1

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   No need to squint anymore when looking to the Iowa high school football season starting. A new campaign kicks off on Aug. 29 with teams from across the state pursuing that magical run to a November appearance in the UNI-Dome.   Prep Redzone Iowa is getting readers ready for the action with group and district previews. We're beginning in Class 5A Group 1, whose members span from Iowa City to Des Moines and beyond.   DES MOINES EAST   2024 Record: 3-6   Key Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='1619318' first='Jayontrey' last='Coakley'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1728145' first='Malik' last='Williams'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1619617' first='Braiden' last='Johnson'], WR; Kayden Johnson, DB; Cristhian Villanueva Morales, K.   Notable Losses: Qwaden Clearwater; Devin Holman; Damarius Parker; Cole Buehler; Khalil Hussien; Teaghan Warren; [player_tooltip player_id='1699955' first='Giovanni' last='Wilson'].   Pivotal Game: Sept. 12 at Ottumwa   Outlook: The Scarlets basically claimed the mythical city championship last season, going 3-0 against North, Lincoln and Roosevelt. They didn't play Class 4A Hoover, but the Huskies went 0-9. Unfortunately for East, its three victories against Des Moines competition represented their only wins of the year. Group 1 will be a difficult one for the Scarlets to crack, especially considering guys no longer on the squad. Wilson transferring to Southeast Polk was an especially hard hit. The cupboard is not bare, however. Coakley and Williams are a dynamic duo on the D-Line, and Johnson and Johnson contribute plays in multiples phases. Morales is a weapon in the kicking game. East will be up against it versus some opponents on the slate, but winnable games like the one at Ottumwa could be the difference between a step forward or back in 2025.   IOWA CITY HIGH   2024 Record: 6-4   Key Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='1215274' first='Chayse' last='Newton'], WR;  [player_tooltip player_id='1241380' first='Iyon' last='Harris'], ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='1619410' first='Christopher' last='Davis'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1241382' first='KP' last='Estremera'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1619488' first='Davion' last='Luckett'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1583593' first='Marshall' last='Sheldon'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1646128' first='Kane' last='Willey'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1619326' first='Raphael' last='Etuma'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1204441' first='Preston' last='Mensah'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1588755' first='Coden' last='Kurtz'], DB.   Notable Losses: Dominic Salibi; Bobby Bacon; Parker Sutherland; Tyler Rindels; Gabe Egeland; Drew Nye; Calin Wagner; Dieuaime Lipanda; [player_tooltip player_id='1361313' first='Dawson' last='Kahl'].   Pivotal Game: Oct. 3 vs Southeast Polk   Outlook: The Little Hawks will be replacing a lot of talent lost on offense, with big hits coming on the O-Line. Leading rusher, Kahl, transferred to Prairie. City brings a lot of talent back, however, and has guys packing potential joining the mix. Expected QB1, Cal Vitense, will be aided by a talented pass catcher in Newton during his first season as the starter. This team likely will lean heavily on its defensive firepower, especially if the offense takes time to gel. Harris, Davis, Luckett and Kurtz help form a salty secondary. Estremera, Etuma, and Willey will lead a disruptive D-Line. Sheldon was one of the state's top freshmen in 2024. City gets three of its toughest opponents - Waukee Northwest, Norwalk and Southeast Polk- at home during a four-week stretch beginning Sept. 12.   NORWALK   2024 Record: 6-4 (Class 4A)   Top Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='283943' first='Eli' last='Robbins'], ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='1619680' first='James' last='Hatlevig'], QB; [player_tooltip player_id='1198816' first='Luke' last='Brewer'], TE; [player_tooltip player_id='1620085' first='Brady' last='Wilkening'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1620101' first='Gavin' last='Dehmer'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='212326' first='Hayden' last='Demaray'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1584562' first='Luke' last='Iverson'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1198836' first='Victor' last='Esparza'], LB.   Notable Losses: Dominic Tigner; Timothy Koerselman; Brady Schmitz; Kadan Borcherding-Johnson; Tyler Stanford; Kolton Borcherding Johnson; Harrison Tripp.   Pivotal Game: Oct. 24 vs Waukee Northwest   Outlook: The Warriors make the move to 5A after bowing out in the first round of the 4A playoffs last year. A talented roster is capable of handling the jump up. It starts with returning all-staters, Robbins and Brewer. The former committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes as a preferred walk-on. The latter is one of the nation's top tight end recruits. Hatlevig threw 18 touchdowns against just six interceptions in 2024. Wilkening, Demaray and Esparza give Norwalk a trio of linebackers that can take over a game. Dehmer and Iverson are excellent in the secondary. If the Warriors can navigate a difficult schedule through the first eight weeks, including a key early home contest against Southeast Polk, the season finale against Waukee Northwest could be big for postseason positioning.   OTTUMWA   2024 Record: 7-2   Top Returnees: Chance Egbert, WR; Efren Huerta, DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1617704' first='Mason' last='Gravett'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1241507' first='Brannon' last='Flattery'], LB; John Winchell, LB;  [player_tooltip player_id='1617705' first='Charlie' last='Morgan'], DL; Ezekiel Payton, OL.   Notable Losses: Matthew Mitchell; Koby Chanthalavanh; Cameron Manary; Traevios Brown; Parker Derby; Caden Lockwood; Nolan Heller.   Pivotal Game: Oct. 10 vs Norwalk   Outlook: Ottumwa leaned heavily on a super senior class in winning seven games a year ago. That especially was the case on offense, where the Bulldogs relied on a pair of prolific running backs. They'll have to compensate for those departures with a defense that brings back accomplished performers. Morgan wrecks opposing game plans from his spot on the D-Line. Flattery is a tackling machine on the second level. Gravett impressed as a sophomore in the secondary last fall, and Huerta joins him in what should be a team strength in the back end. Ottumwa faces a much more difficult schedule in 2025, but opportunities for more impactful victories will create an easier path to the postseason. The trick will be securing one or two of those wins with several of the most difficult matchups being on the road.   SOUTHEAST POLK   2024 Record: 9-4   Top Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='401671' first='Drew' last='Thompson'], RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1630199' first='Teague' last='Cantrall'], TE; [player_tooltip player_id='1619426' first='Brayden' last='Lewis'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1238623' first='Lafoy' last='Hall Jr']., DE; [player_tooltip player_id='1619443' first='Jack' last='Hope'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1619382' first='Joel' last='Thompson'], DL; D'Anthony Davis, DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1825794' first='Samer' last='Arafa'], K; [player_tooltip player_id='1221954' first='Cael' last='Roberts'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1238602' first='[player_tooltip player_id='1198121' first='Nathaniel' last='']' last='Sleh'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1699955' first='Giovanni' last='Wilson'], OL.   Notable Losses: Holden Hansen; Landon Vander Werff; Sam Zelenovich; Kaden Hills; Emmanuel Gaye; Kane Brockman; Charles Goode; Carter Phillips; Cael Winget; Cristian Scalco; Kaeon Ward-Taylor; Cooper Martinson.   Pivotal Game: Sept. 19 at Dowling   Outlook: The four-time defending 5A state champions will look to reload in 2025 with a mix of proven producers and newcomers aiming to jump at their chance. Cantrall, a South Dakota State commitment, is one of the state's top all-around tight ends. [player_tooltip player_id='401671' first='Drew' last='Thompson'] can get cooking as a ball carrier and a return man. Lewis is a physical force in the secondary, and Hope holds down the defense's second level. [player_tooltip player_id='1619382' first='Joel' last='Thompson'], Davis and Hall are disruptive dudes on the D-Line. Arafa is one of Iowa's best place kickers. Expect more stars to emerge within one of the state's premier programs. They'll need to do so with a difficult schedule that includes contests against fellow 5A contenders Dowling and Centennial, among others. Nobody expected the Rams to make a run with a 5-4 mark entering last year's postseason. Sleeping on them now would be a mistake.   WAUKEE NORTHWEST   2024 Record: 4-5   Top Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='1204436' first='Mack' last='Heitland'], QB; [player_tooltip player_id='1361719' first='Ryan' last='Woodruff'], RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1204437' first='Jordon' last='Green'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1619612' first='Elliot' last='Combe'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1295632' first='Isaiah' last='Oliver'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1240480' first='Brady' last='Fitz'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1204438' first='Joe' last='Vinyard'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1619520' first='Blake' last='Ludwig'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1619483' first='Austin' last='Van Horn'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1685849' first='Anel' last='Heco'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1240481' first='Jackson' last='Davis'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1240556' first='Greyson' last='Beattie'], OL.   Notable Losses: Caleb James; Gavin Schaller; Tanner Jackson; Andrew Eastman; Jack Vinyard.   Pivotal Game: Oct. 10 at Southeast Polk   Outlook: The Wolves have built their program to the point where they could go from being below .500 a year ago to a state title contender. While that's a chore in most cases, the individual talent on this roster is too hard to ignore. Heitland completed almost 75 percent of his passes as a sophomore in 2024. He threw for 1,883 yards and 28 touchdowns against just six interceptions. Three of his favorite targets in Green, Combe and Iowa commitment [player_tooltip player_id='1295632' first='Isaiah' last='Oliver'] are back at his disposal. Linebackers Fitz, Van Horn and Vinyard likely will cause opponents problems. Ludwig delivers in the secondary, and Heco and Davis are disruptive up front. Massive OL [player_tooltip player_id='1687055' first='Dalton' last='DeBoer'], a Wake Forest commit, transferred in from Minnesota. Northwest faces a difficult slate, including games at Ankeny and against Valley during the first two weeks, but it's flush with opportunities to embrace, too.

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