2025 Season Preview: Class 4A District 3

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/2025-season-preview-class-5a-group-6/">Links to capsules on all 36 teams in 5A </a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/2025-season-preview-class-4a-district-1/">2025 Season Preview: Class 4A District 1</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/2025-season-preview-class-4a-district-2/">2025 Season Preview: Class 4A District 2</a>   No need to squint anymore when looking to the Iowa high school football season kicking off. A new campaign gets underway 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. You can find capsules on all 36 teams in Class 5A linked above. Here's a breakdown of programs in 4A District 3:   CLINTON   2024 Record: 3-6   Top Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='1752579' first='Ethan' last='Carpenter'], RB/LB; Nolan Eggers, RB/LB; Marshall Johnson, WR/DB; Maddux Cooley, WR/DB; Konnor Schroeder, WR/DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1654034' first='Jordan' last='Gruhn'], TE/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1676704' first='Cooper' last='Belitz'], TE/DL; Carter Frame, DB; Eric Harris, DB; Hayden Chandler, DL.   Notable Losses: Jordan Coleman; Jack Hoffman; Jaxon Spooner; Sam Hoffman; Jadis Franklin; Blake Shepherd; Logan Lorenzen; Zac McDonnell.   Key Games: Aug. 29 at Central DeWitt; Sept. 26 at Burlington; Oct. 24 vs Davenport West   Outlook: The River Kings have big shoes to fill after the graduation losses of the Hoffmans, Coleman and others. They return a special tight end duo in Gruhn and Belitz. Carpenter is an impactful two-way performer, and Cooley and Schroeder also contribute on both sides of the ball. Eggers is a sound running back and Johnson, a receiver, are ready for bigger roles. Frame, Harris and Chandler help give Clinton a solid foundation on defense. Brady Kurtz, Damarius Robinson and Danny Peters are among a group of less experienced players competing for playing time.   BURLINGTON   2024 Record: 2-7   Top Returnees: John Phillips, QB; Caden Zaugg, QB; Javion Watts, ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='1581294' first='Owen' last='Difederico'], ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='1238599' first='Adrian' last='Perez-Hall'], LB; Kohl Lair, LB; Taivon Tate, DB; Amare Stepps, LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1699760' first='Brody' last='Guernsey'], LB; Porter Humphrey, LB; Maverick Crose, OL/DL; DeVon Morgan, OL/DL; Caden Huff, OL/DL.   Notable Losses: Darius Shealey; Dave Robinson; Caleb Bolander; Buxton Carlson; Gavin Carlson; Micah Zaugg;  Jamar Carle.   Key Games: Aug. 29 vs Fort Madison; Sept. 12 at Washington; Sept. 26 vs Clinton   Outlook: With a lot of production returning in 2025, the Grayhounds have the potential for more success. Phillips and Zaugg are athletes that can play quarterback or help elsewhere. Watts and Difederico also are versatile athletes. Perez-Hall leads a deep and talented group of linebackers that also includes Lair, Stepps, Guernsey and Humphrey. Tate is talented in the secondary, and the trenches are in good shape with Crose, Morgan, Huff and others. Tyson Garrett, Kyler Degen, Ethan Kerr, Xavier Dorcha, DaMarrius Maxwell, Zech Hart, Lawrence Jones, [player_tooltip player_id='1238600' first='Mason' last='McAllister'], Tanner Klein, Marcellus Hunt and Tavian Harris are among the inexperienced guys capable of cracking the lineup.   DAVENPORT WEST   2024 Record: 0-9 (5A)   Top Returnees: Maleiki Mckern, DB/WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1619411' first='Carson' last='Huggins'], DB; Beckhim Hutchison-Fuessel, ATH; Christopher Simmons, DB; Michael Cribbs, DB; Jamariann Burge, DL; Jordan Martin, DL/OL; Lucas Workman, OL/DL.   Notable Losses: Tyrale Ross; Marvin Neely IV; Brady Belz; Jordan Tate; Trey Brown; Landen Pillard; [player_tooltip player_id='1619384' first='Hunter' last='Bennett'].   Key Games: Sept. 5 vs Central DeWitt; Sept. 12 vs Davenport Central; Oct. 17 at Davenport North   Outlook: The Falcons drop down a classification in hopes of better days and more wins. The journey will start with the need for new faces to replace significant graduation and transfer losses . McKern gives them a two-way player with potential. Huggins, Simmons and Cribbs are sound in the secondary, and Hutchinson-Fuessel can deliver at linebacker. Burge, Martin and Workman provide strength on the lines. Jamariann Burge, Adam Anderson, [player_tooltip player_id='1204432' first='Sayden' last='Williams'], Markus Streufert, Andres Rodriguez, Shonn Bell Jr., Wade Snyder, Easton Smith, Mason Juras, Ryne Boyd, Benjamin Evans, Wyatt Sievers, Bryce Snow, [player_tooltip player_id='1361681' first='Dustin' last='Eastwood'] and others have a chance to earn more playing time.   WESTERN DUBUQUE   2024 Record: 6-4 (4A Playoff Qualifier)   Top Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='1621113' first='Drew' last='Bergfeld'], RB/LB; Brady Shekleton, WR/DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1240425' first='Caleb' last='Smith'], TE/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1619904' first='Bradley' last='Brosius'], RB/WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1240424' first='Owen' last='Habel'], WR/DB; Ben Wernimont, DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1240426' first='Jared' last='Schanbeck'], OL/DL; Zach Gassman, OL/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1617064' first='Chance' last='Nerney'], DL/OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1630874' first='Charlie' last='Ernzen'], OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1240421' first='Carter' last='Heidt'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1597005' first='Clayton' last='Hogan'], OL/DL   Notable Losses: Tanner Anderson; Drew Burds; David Theisen; Caden Culbertson; Zander Ehlers;  Leo Clemens; Cameron Vaassen; Garret Kluesner; John Lemke;   Key Games: Sept. 5 at Xavier; Sept. 19 at Decorah; Oct. 3 vs North Scott   Outlook: The Bobcats must make up for key graduation losses, but there's hope in Epworth that strength in the trenches can keep the train running on time. Heidt, Ernzen, Nerney, Gassman, Hogan and Schanbeck are notable front men. Bergfeld is back as a dangerous ball carrier. Shekleton, Smith, Brosius, Habel and Wernimont all are good athletes capable of impacting ball games on both sides of the ball. Annually a strong program, look greater contributions from a less experienced group of student-athletes that includes Brady Kult, Caiden Begle, [player_tooltip player_id='1240427' first='Drew' last='Horsfall'], [player_tooltip player_id='1240423' first='Will' last='Sahm'], Ethan Hickie, Cameron Steffen, [player_tooltip player_id='1597005' first='Clayton' last='Hogan'], August Patzner, [player_tooltip player_id='1617065' first='John' last='Fitzpatrick'], [player_tooltip player_id='1741922' first='Brady' last='Rissman'], [player_tooltip player_id='1696736' first='Carson' last='Klein'], [player_tooltip player_id='1689158' first='Kyan' last='Vaassen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1696733' first='Nolan' last='Urbain'].   DAVENPORT NORTH   2024 Record: 5-4 (4A)   Top Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='1619398' first='Derrick' last='Pena'], RB/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1421465' first='Bryce' last='Pauly'], DB/QB; [player_tooltip player_id='1241495' first='Drew' last='Sheedy'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1617688' first='Donovan' last='Holloway'], LB; Jaylin Reed, DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1619513' first='Damarius' last='Tate'], DB; Ahking Stewart, DL/OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1692280' first='Trateris' last='Watson'], OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1619389' first='Kenyon' last='Purnell'], OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1617692' first='Joseph' last='Ly'], K.   Notable Losses: Kaz Rebarcak; Cunell Burrage; Mason Bogan; Drew Franklin; Jakobe Worrels; DeAndre Smith; Izreal Harper; Parker Taylor; Nile Votroubek; DeAndre Smith; Kelvin Patterson; Jaiden Preisser; Braiden Richardson.   Key Games: Sept. 26 vs Western Dubuque; Oct. 17 vs Davenport West; Oct. 24 at North Scott   Outlook: Like their Davenport counterparts at West High, North will be dropping from 5A to 4A this season. That could bode well for a program that's been competitive and producing talent in recent years. Rebarcak, who is off to UNI, and other '25 graduates will be tough to replace. While he doesn't play quarterback, the Wildcats can lean on Pena as a ball carrier and also as a playmaking linebacker. Watson and Purnell provide North with power in the trenches. The Wildcats can hang there hat on defense if the offense takes some time to gel with the likes of Pauly, Sheedy, Holloway, Reed, Tate and Stewart already proven producers. [player_tooltip player_id='1619384' first='Hunter' last='Bennett'] joins the mix after piling up 86.5 tackles last season at Davenport West. Inexperience student-athletes from a group that Rhett Butler, Trey Alexander III, [player_tooltip player_id='1699635' first='AJ' last='Taylor'], Malachi Hobbs, Christian Hart-Smith, Hunter Morrow, Kael McMahon, Reilly Elk, Jamauri Walton and Kristopher Perkins will have opportunities.   NORTH SCOTT   2024 Record: 9-3 (4A State Semifinalist)   Top Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='1619849' first='Evan' last='Kruse'], RB; Brady Hubner, DB; Landon Golinghorst, DB; Ayden Tschopp, LB; Trey Feist, OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1238170' first='Peyton' last='Brenner'], OL/DL; Bryce Stewart, OL/DL; Benjamin Lightle, TE/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1699658' first='Grady' last='James'], OL.   Notable Losses: Chase Smith; Jerrod Lee; Carson Lage; Cash Bowe; Kye Smith; Zachary Powell; Brent Morgan; Cole Johnson; Jesse Eller; Beau Morgan; Will Schneckloth; Gehrig Kirst; Caden Noel;   Key Games: Aug. 29 vs Xavier; Sept. 12 vs Pella; Oct. 3 at Western Dubuque   Outlook: North Scott lost a whole lot to graduation from a team that reached the state semifinals, where it fell to eventual state champion, North Polk. Despite what it needs to replace, North Scott can lean on a a foursome of excellent linemen in Feist, Brenner, Stewart and James. Kruse is an established difference-maker at running back. The defense should be strong with Hubner, Golinghorst, Tschopp and Lightle leading the way. [player_tooltip player_id='1361478' first='Miller' last='Haedt'] is an excellent athlete with experience playing quarterback. Will McDermott, Jonas Schlichting, [player_tooltip player_id='1689735' first='Scott' last='McCoy'], Brett Rouse, Ryder Maher, Colten Goodding, Aaron Bergfeld, [player_tooltip player_id='1241411' first='Aidan' last='Kelley'], Gabriel Skyles, Evan Keppy, Vincent Hugaert, [player_tooltip player_id='1696580' first='Rizon' last='Martin'], [player_tooltip player_id='1705105' first='AJ' last='Huber'], [player_tooltip player_id='1706526' first='Drake' last='Schadt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1660069' first='Landon' last='Gronewold'] are among a collection of talented but inexperienced student-athletes competing for playing time in a program historically strong at developing talent.

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