Five Surprise Iowa Standouts: Class 1A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking a look at some of the new faces on the block in 2A that have surprised on the gridiron this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/five-surprise-iowa-standouts-class-5a/">Five Surprise Iowa Standouts: Class 5A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/five-surprise-iowa-standouts-class-4a/">Five Surprise Iowa Standouts: Class 4A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/five-surprise-iowa-standouts-class-3a/">Five Surprise Iowa Standouts: Class 3A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/five-surprise-iowa-standouts-class-2a/">Five Surprise Iowa Standouts: Class 2A</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1902281"],"_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-68e7fa40be026"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The younger brother of Iowa redshirt-sophomore linebacker, Nolan DeLong, [player_tooltip player_id='1902281' first='Owen' last='DeLong'] is carrying on the legacy at Durant in his second year with the program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off a freshman campaign where he played sparingly, DeLong showed glimpses of being the type of impact player his brother was for the Wildcats, posting 6.5 tackles and an interception on varsity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season, he's taken it up a notch -- or several. Now having an understanding of varsity football at the high school level, DeLong has taken 92 carries for 443 yards and seven scores, adding eight receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown on offense this season. Defensively, he's more than doubled his output, putting together 15 tackles while also being tied for third in 1A in interceptions with three. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1940984"],"_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-68e7fa40be09e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With the passing game reaching a new echelon this fall for MVAOCOU, [player_tooltip player_id='1940984' first='Tanner' last='Dixon'] has been a major beneficiary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grabbing 10 receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown last season, Dixon was a part of the passing game, but he's blown those numbers out of the water in 2025. So far this fall, Dixon has caught 27 passes for 572 yards and two scores from junior quarterback, Caden Schmidt. The third-year gunslinger has drastically improved his passing efficiency, going from a QB rating of 108.3 to 161.2 this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dixon is currently tied for fifth in 1A in touchdown receptions, third in receiving yards, third in yards per catch (21.2) and has the longest touchdown reception in the class this season, with a score of 93 yards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1941001"],"_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-68e7fa40be110"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A major bright spot that has kept South Hamilton competitive this season despite being winless thus far, [player_tooltip player_id='1941001' first='Wyatt' last='Gelder'] has carried quite the load out of the backfield for the Hawks in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The bell cow tailback and engine that makes the offense go, Gelder has gone from a little-known freshman who took 22 carries for zero touchdowns and posted 16 tackles to a top five runner in Class 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So far this season, Gelder has taken 124 carries for 878 yards and 11 touchdowns to go with 26.5 tackles defensively. His numbers at RB place him tied for second in rushing TDs, first in rushing yards, second in rushing attempts, second in two-point attempt conversions (seven) and fifth in all-purpose yards (922) this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1940996"],"_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":1941019,"_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-68e7fa40be18a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Like many others before him in this series, [player_tooltip player_id='1940996' first='Ethan' last='Hill'] contributed during his junior campaign for Treynor. Last year, he put together 19 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown on offense, adding 24.5 tackles and two interceptions defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, he's <em>the guy </em>under center for the Cardinals as a senior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season, Hill has been super efficient as a passer, completing 80-of-119 passes (67.2%) for 1,002 yards, 12 touchdowns and just three picks. On the ground, he's taken 48 carries for 189 yards and six scores. Thanks to those numbers, he's tied for fourth in offensive touchdowns in 1A with 18. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1941007"],"_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-68e7fa40be1e5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A transfer from Pleasantville, [player_tooltip player_id='1941007' first='Zane' last='Mullenix'] stepped onto the gridiron for EBF this fall and became one of the most productive two-way players in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Posting 49.5 tackles, including ten tackles-for-loss last season for the Trojans, it's no surprise that the junior made the move to EBF and has had success, but he's been a monster for the Rockets this fall. Currently ranking in the top two in eight separate statistical categories in 1A (!!!), Mullenix has been having his way with opposing teams in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offensively, he's tied for second in rushing touchdowns (11), first in all-purpose yards (1,128), second in rushing yards (865) and tied for second in two-point conversions (5). Defensively, Mullenix is first in tackles (78.5) and solo tackles (60), and he's tied for first in forced fumbles (four) and blocked field goals (two). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->