Top Five Returning Passers in 1A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking a look at each of the top five passers in yards that return in Class 1A this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-5-returning-passers-in-5a/">Top Five Returning Passers in 5A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-five-returning-passers-in-4a/">Top Five Returning Passers in 4A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-five-returning-passers-in-3a/">Top Five Returning Passers in 3A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/top-five-returning-passers-in-2a/">Top Five Returning Passers in 2A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1621125"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a366c740ac0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Moving up to Class 1A after taking home the Class A title last season for Tri-Center, [player_tooltip player_id='1621125' first='AJ' last='Harder'] comes in as the top returning passer in 1A this fall. The lone member of the class of 2027 on this list, Harder completed 193-of-303 passes (63.7%) for 2,882 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A short, unorthodox release that looks a bit like Philip Rivers' shot-put style throwing motion, Harder gets the ball out quick and on target with some zip. The quick release allows him to fit the ball in tight windows over the middle or in the short game, and he also shows willingness to trust his receivers on deep throws, allowing them to get the ball when he tosses long bombs. He also possesses the foot speed to make plays on the ground and to extend plays in the passing game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1221934"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a366c740b18"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The top passer in 1A that played in the class last fall, [player_tooltip player_id='1221934' first='Garrett' last='Luett'] of Underwood threw for 2,184 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2024. Luett possesses an effortless throwing motion that allows him to flick the ball and send it deep. Reminiscent of former Northern Iowa quarterback, Theo Day, Luett can put the ball where it needs to go in the short game but can also launch an easily caught long ball to take the top off the defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Committed to play baseball at Iowa, Luett will play his final year of organized football this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1614184"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a366c740b67"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the top athletes in the state leading one of the top football programs in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='1614184' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'] will look to take Grundy Center to their fourth straight state championship this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A ridiculously efficient passer in 2024 for the Spartans, Jirovsky completed 142-of-193 passes (73.6%) for 2,181 yards and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of <strong>25 to 1</strong>. He also took 97 carries for 532 yards and 18 touchdowns, <em>and </em>recorded <strong>eight interceptions</strong>, including two pick-sixes for GC. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jirovsky went on to finish as the individual state runner-up in golf, was part of the state championship sprint medley squad, <em>and </em>pitched in 13 games for the Spartans baseball squad, boasting a record of 10-1 with a 0.7 ERA and 91 strikeouts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The six-foot, 170-pound prospect may have cemented himself as one of the best athletes in state history last season, and he has an entire year of high school athletics left. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1657101"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1825635,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a366c740be4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1657101' first='Kyle' last='Tracy'] is back for Regina Catholic this fall after throwing for 1,901 yards and 19 touchdowns last fall. With several of the top offensive weapons in Class 1A back at his disposal this season, Tracy could be in line for a major boost in productivity this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tracy and Regina return [player_tooltip player_id='466364' first='Tate' last='Wallace'], [player_tooltip player_id='1197445' first='Savion' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1605331' first='Gabriel' last='Hegelheimer'] this fall, who each project to the Power 4 level. Wallace doubles up as a defensive end and tight end, while Miller and Hegelheimer hold down the backfield for the Regals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Peyton Welch","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"160","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"South Hardin","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a366c740c8c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bringing up the rear of the top five passers in yards returning to Class 1A this season is Peyton Welch of South Hardin. The senior completed 111-of-183 passes (60.7%) for 1,852 yards and 21 touchdowns during his junior campaign. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Able to help out in the run game, too, Welch took 42 carries for 261 yards and three scores to finish second on his team in rushing. Also serving as the Tigers' punter, Welch booted 21 punts for a total of 835 yards (39.8 yards per punt) last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->