Five Surprise Iowa Standouts: Class 2A

<!-- 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:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["850243"],"_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-68e687081030e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fresh off visits to Iowa and UNI, [player_tooltip player_id='850243' first='Brayton' last='Alford'] has been on a hot streak this season, not only in his recruitment, but on the field, too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Giving a go at running back last year for Kuemper Catholic, [player_tooltip player_id='850243' first='Brayton' last='Alford'] took 23 carries for 123 yards and a score. Defensively as a DB, he posted 34 tackles and a pick.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One position change later and Alford is the top receiver for one of the best offenses and one of the best teams in 2A. [player_tooltip player_id='1242935' first='Brock' last='Badding']'s go-to option through the air, Alford has caught 31 passes for 465 yards and three scores so far this season. He's taken it up another level on defense, too, putting together 54 tackles (including five tackles-for-loss), has forced three fumbles and has snagged four interceptions, including a pick-six. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1871892"],"_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-68e687081037d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Almost tripling his carries from his sophomore season, [player_tooltip player_id='1871892' first='Keaton' last='Gates'] ran the ball 36 times for 165 yards and a score last year. This season, Gates is the top rusher in Class 2A with fewer than 100 carries, having rushed for 872 yards and ten scores on 97 touches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thanks to those numbers, Gates ranks second in yarder per carry (9 yards), is tied for 8th in rushing touchdowns and finds himself fourth in total rushing yards in 2A. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition to his offensive efforts, Gates has put together 18 tackles in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1242845"],"_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-68e68708103cb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Iowa's Class 2A sack leader, [player_tooltip player_id='1242845' first='Kade' last='Spotts'] has certainly been on college radars for a while -- especially from in-state schools. Spotts holds interest from Wartburg, Central in Pella, Buena Vista, Dordt, Coe, Iowa Central and Morningside in addition to an offer from three-time NAIA national champions, Northwestern in Orange City. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 45 tackles, including six TFLs, Spotts was a name to know on opposing team scouting reports last season, too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year, he's taken it to a new level, especially in getting after the quarterback. Spotts is the top sack-getter in 2A with seven, which places him tied for nineth in all classes. Pair that with 86 carries for 414 yards and five scores, and the hard-hitting senior has established himself as one of the top players in northwest Iowa. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1939756"],"_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-68e687081040f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After taking a year off from football in 2024, [player_tooltip player_id='1939756' first='Griffin' last='Seydel'] is back for West Branch, and he's back with a vengeance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second Bear on this list, Seydel clearly used his year off from the gridiron to rest and recover, playing some of the best ball on the West Branch roster and in Class 2A in this part of the state. So far this season, Seydel is tied for first in Class 2A in interceptions with five, registering nearly one per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1939757"],"_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-68e6870810451"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">From little-known backup to full-time starter under center for Okoboji, [player_tooltip player_id='1939757' first='Trey' last='Vander Pol'] has led the Pioneers to a 6-0 start, seeking to match their win total from last season this Friday against Spotts and OABCIG. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vander Pol has done so by taking the offense to a whole new echelon as one of the most efficient quarterbacks in 2A. The sophomore ranks in the top eleven in completions (80), completion percentage (69.6%), passing yards (1,105), yards per completion (13.8), passing touchdowns (12) and QB rating (181.2). He's done all of that while throwing just two interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With so much going right for Vander Pol, he'll be greatly served by attending camps this upcoming summer in order to gauge interest from programs statewide. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->