2025 Season Preview: Class 4A District 5

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>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/2025-season-preview-class-4a-district-3/">2025 Season Preview: Class 4A District 3</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/2025-season-preview-class-4a-district-4/">2025 Season Preview: Class 4A District 4</a>   No need to squint anymore when looking to the start of the Iowa high school football season. 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. You can find capsules on all 36 teams in Class 5A linked above. Here's a breakdown of programs in 4A District 5:   GILBERT   2024 Record: 9-2 (4A State Quarterfinalist)   Top Returnees: Ethan Rash, QB; [player_tooltip player_id='1818847' first='Gabe' last='Fierce'], RB/DB; Tayton Warg, RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1238526' first='Tayshawn' last='Gillen'], RB/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1620069' first='Blake' last='Bell'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1705163' first='Aidan' last='Rash'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1694616' first='Kyler' last='Grooters'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1643647' first='Trent' last='Wesselmann'], OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1636920' first='Easton' last='Van Cleave'], OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1818858' first='Mason' last='Griffin'], OL/DL   Notable Losses: Wyatt Pink; Will Hawthorne; Ethan Wilcox; Braeden Nees; Alden Short; Nolan Zehr; Bowen Kruse;   Key Games: Sept. 26 at Bondurant-Farrar; Oct. 10 at Ballard; Oct. 24 vs North Polk   Outlook: Replacing Hawthorne and the rest of last year's senior class will be challenging, but the Tigers return a lot of production from 2024. They're especially strong in the trenches with Grooters, Wesselmann, Van Cleave and Griffin. Ethan Rash will be improved with experience at quarterback. Warg and Gillen will pick up some of the slack at running back with the latter also making a difference on defense. Bell is a playmaker on that side of the ball, and [player_tooltip player_id='1705163' first='Aidan' last='Rash'] flashes the potential for more production in the secondary. Look for student-athletes in a group that includes Ean Eldred, Micah Leyva, [player_tooltip player_id='1620069' first='Blake' last='Bell'], Drew Chapman, Cooper Mitchell, Hudson Stephens, Paul Marpe, Brandon Terry, Davis Cowan, Connor Castro, Holden Boshart, Tate Larson, Isaac Holtan and Zach Noe to emerge successful from opportunity.   BALLARD   2024 Record: 5-5 (4A Playoff Qualifier)   Top Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='1240484' first='Jude' last='Gibson'], RB; [player_tooltip player_id='1240474' first='Dillon' last='Shoen'], DB/WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1757082' first='Parker' last='Miller'], WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1620081' first='Chase' last='Ihle'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1818864' first='Blake' last='Brendeland'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1691198' first='Tanner' last='Ruby'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1818824' first='Cole' last='Berka'], DL/OL; John McCrady, DL/OL.   Notable Losses: Mason Gatchel; Tucker Vitzthum; Rhett Hedrick; Jackson Wacha; Mason Gatchel; Nicolas Schonhorst; Eric Sydnes; Jacob Luster; Caden Anderson.   Key Games: Sept. 26 at North Polk; Oct. 10 vs Gilbert; Oct. 17 at Bondurant-Farrar   Outlook: The Bombers are gunning for their third consecutive postseason trip. They hope the next appearance lasts longer than the previous first-round exits. There's a case to be made for it happening. The team's strength is on the defensive front with Ruby, Berka and McCrady. Gibson is a dynamic running back, and [player_tooltip player_id='1757082' first='Parker' last='Miller'] is a reliable pass catcher. Shoen chips in on offense and is dynamite on defense. Ihle and Brendeland also stand out on that side of the ball. Bryce Miller is a good athlete competing for QB1. Gage Tapp,  Aidan Wilson, Max Clark, Lewis Harms, Jack Plucar, Jayden Leland, [player_tooltip player_id='1240473' first='Samuel' last='Hill'], [player_tooltip player_id='1545890' first='Elden' last='Buck'] and others will have opportunities to contribute on various levels this season.   DES MOINES NORTH   2024 Record: 0-9   Top Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='1818875' first='Jadrian' last='Naab'], QB; Taveon Boone, RB/WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1760638' first='Moises' last='Sarceno-Mata'], LB; Nichaud Lewis-Walker, DB; Johnny Kien, DB; Angel Tavera, LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1620019' first='Logan' last='Hansen'], LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1760643' first='Athan' last='Inthabounh'], OL/DL; Emmanuel Cordoba, DL.   Notable Losses: Patrick Boone; Kinnick Dutcher; Dein Gaye; Gabe Gunn; William Freeman; Desmon Campbell, WR;   Key Games: Aug. 29 at Des Moines East; Sept. 5 at Des Moines Lincoln; Oct. 24 vs Bondurant-Farrar   Outlook: The Polar Bears showed not too long ago that better days are possible at North. For the 2025 team, it can lean on a strong core group returning. Naab flashed ability last season and will be a year better. Boone shows upside and a versatile skill set on offense. The Polar Bears' should be solid defensively. Sarceno-Mata, Lewis-Walker, Kien, Tavera and Hansen all piled up tackles last season. [player_tooltip player_id='1760643' first='Athan' last='Inthabounh'] and Emmanuel Cordoba anchor would should a salty D-Line. North will need help from inexperienced players, and guys like Darian Bevington, Jayvion Hanson, Anthony Burnett, Damonte Hardiman, Jamarius Echols, Luis Clemente, Kyle Pierce and Robert Chestnut will receive opportunities.   BONDURANT-FARRAR   2024 Record: 2-7   Top Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='1583617' first='Riley' last='Vanderlinden'], WR/RB/DB; Blake Guthrie, RB; Gavin Vroegh, RB; Chase Rial, LB; Nolan Fellars, LB; Fenton Smith, LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1240435' first='James' last='Collum'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1695856' first='Cooper' last='Moore'], OL.   Notable Losses: Jordan Rial; Boone Obrecht; Cole Miller; Parker Ernst; Landon Cory; Joey George; Braidon Dalton.   Key Games: Sept. 26 at Gilbert; Oct. 3 at North Polk; Oct. 17 vs Ballard   Outlook: The 2024 football season was not fun in Bondurant or Farrar. After reaching the playoffs three years in a row, the Bluejays won just two games. They'll set out to change course this month with a group of returning players that can make that happen. Vanderlinden is one of the most dynamic sophomores in the state, delivering on both sides of the ball. Guthrie and Vroegh are experienced running backs capable of more production with opportunity. Moore is a unique blocker with athleticism. Fellars, Smith and Chase Rial make linebacker a team strength. Collum takes care of business in front of them. For success, the Jays will need production from a group that includes Otto Jones, Eric Rodriguez-Alcaraz, Jackson Halfhill, Andrew Kurtz, Ethan Treager, Trace Fleenor, Makuie Wol, Christopher Rundel, Sam Pruismann, Jaden Pigott, [player_tooltip player_id='1240486' first='Kamran' last='Franco'], Lucas Lorber and [player_tooltip player_id='1691621' first='Cody' last='Landau'].   CARLISLE   2024 Record: 2-7   Top Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='1652778' first='CJ' last='Haug'], QB; Zane Moyer, WR; [player_tooltip player_id='1620117' first='Anden' last='Furnal'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1248067' first='Jaxon' last='Miller'], LB; Isaac Burk, DB; Carter Berg, LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1643652' first='Gavin' last='Roth'], DL/OL; [player_tooltip player_id='491822' first='Chase' last='Cline'], DL/OL; Dawson Van Zante, TE/DL.   Notable Losses: Noah Noland; Caleb Nordhagen;  Mason Lucas; Calvin Frey; Jack Norton; Ben Glawe; Trevor Clark; Alex Olson.   Key Games: Oct. 3 at Gilbert; Oct. 10 vs Bondurant-Farrar; Oct. 24 at Ballard   Outlook: Following a four-year playoff run that included a 10-2 campaign in 2022, Carlisle has produced back-to-back 2-7 seasons. The Wildcats aim to turn that around this fall against a district that will make them earn it. Dual-threat quarterback Huag can help the offense take a step forward. He has a reliable target in Moyer. The defensive line can be dominant with Roth, Cline and Van Zante up there, the latter also flashing potential at tight end. Miller and Berg makes plays at linebacker, and Burk and Furnal do the same in the secondary. Ben Goodhue, Evan Truitt, Ty Brown, Carsten Campbell, Kristian Ruiz, Jakson Hoversten, Troy Acker, Andy Crowder, Konner Glover and others have chances to earn more game time.   NORTH POLK   2024 Record: 13-0 (4A State Champions)   Top Returnees: Benjamin Glasgow, WR/DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1240437' first='Bryce' last='Burke'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1760678' first='Brady' last='Cathcart'], DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1620124' first='Micah' last='Sands'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1699692' first='Chase' last='Miller'], DL/OL; Mason Ackerman, DL/TE; [player_tooltip player_id='1644899' first='Hunter' last='Bacino'], OL.   Notable Losses: Nathan Feldmann; BJ Tate Jr.; Henry Christensen; Jake Hout; Logan Frelund; Carter Van Brocklin; Jakob Phillips; Coen Spurgeon; Luke Engebretson; Nathan Pitlock; Gabe Visalden; Evan Kelsick; Caleb Hoffman; Drew Figgins;   Key Games: Aug. 29 at Lewis Central; Sept. 19 at Pella; Oct. 3 at Bondurant-Farrar   Outlook: The Comets have a tough act to follow in their 2024 squad. It impressively ran the table on the way to a Class 4A state championship. Fortunately for the folks in Alleman, North Polk appears to have built a strong program capable of sustaining success. To do that this fall, guys will need to step up in a big way after key graduation losses. The Comets expect to be sound defensively if it takes some time for the offense to gel with a lot of new faces. Burke and Cathcart combined for six interceptions last season. Sands and Miller are impactful two-way linemen, and Ackerman is disruptive on the defensive front. James Armstrong received time as a backup quarterback on varsity last season and could end up as QB1. He'd receive great protection from Bacino, and Glasgow is a talented running back. Blaine Speas, Carson Reinhart, Calvin Heitzman, Chandler Johnson, [player_tooltip player_id='1644925' first='Brody' last='Johnson'], Taylan Cakinberk, Carter Fors, Karson Cordero, Quinlan Teply and others are hoping to seize opportunities for more game action.

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