5 Players to Watch in Iowa Class 2A Quarterfinals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the quarterfinals of the Iowa High School Football playoffs right around the corner, we detail five players to watch -- maybe a few that haven't gotten the spotlight as much as they deserve this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/5-players-to-watch-in-iowa-8-man-quarterfinals/">5 Players to Watch in Iowa 8-Man Quarterfinals</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/5-players-to-watch-in-iowa-class-a-quarterfinals/">5 Players to Watch in Iowa Class A Quarterfinals</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/5-players-to-watch-in-iowa-class-1a-quarterfinals/">5 Players to Watch in Iowa Class 1A Quarterfinals</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1631997"],"_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-690b8e9112ad4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fresh off a commitment flip from South Dakota to Iowa State, [player_tooltip player_id='1631997' first='Keaton' last='Mennen'] has ascended to being one of the top defensive linemen in the state this season for Van Meter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, the Cyclones preferred walk-on possesses the physical makeup to be a success story in Ames, and he'll have every opportunity to impact the quarterfinals matchup with Mid-Prairie on Friday. So far this season, Mennen has posted 29.5 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss (TFLs) and two sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1221948"],"_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-690b8e9112b7a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the freakier playmakers in all of Class 2A, [player_tooltip player_id='1221948' first='Jaxon' last='Paulsrud'] has been terrorizing opponents in Northwest Iowa for years on behalf of Cherokee Washington. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season, Paulsrud ranks in top three in 2A in rushing yards (1,808), yards per carry (10.1), rushing touchdowns (29), all-purpose yards (2,205), offensive yards (2,623), total touchdowns (38) and solo tackles (66). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A two-way star for the Braves, Paulsrud is a one-man wrecking crew taking on the top team in 2A on Friday night in Kuemper Catholic. Cherokee will need everything they can get from the Air Force commit against the Knights if they're going to pull the upset and head to the Dome. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2005674"],"_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-690b8e9112bff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When PCM needs a big play through the air on either side of the ball, [player_tooltip player_id='2005674' first='Gavin' last='Steenhoek'] is the man that has stepped up all season long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a receiver, Steenhoek leads the Mustangs, catching 33 passes for 763 yards and 11 touchdowns. Defensively, he's tied with his quarterback and defensive back teammate, grabbing six interceptions on the season for PCM, including two pick-sixes. He's not only forced turnovers, but forced incompletions, too, swatting away seven pass-breakups. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Facing Wilton on Friday, Steenhoek and PCM will want to get going through the air to counteract Wilton's run game, led by junior tail back Noah Gray. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1241488"],"_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-690b8e9112c85"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another quarterback with some ridiculous stats this season, Paulsrud could only seemingly only be surpassed for crazy stats by Osage's [player_tooltip player_id='1241488' first='Quinn' last='Street'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So far this season, Street ranks top five in Class 2A in rushing yards (1,403), yards per carry (9.6), rushing touchdowns (24), all-purpose yards (1,617), offensive yards (3,118) and total touchdowns (39).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A happy medium between Paulsrud and the soon-to-be mentioned quarterback, Street beats opponents with his arm and his legs. He'll need both to get past Alburnett, as the Pirates have one of the most formidable duos in the class between [player_tooltip player_id='1901425' first='Laken' last='Caves'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1924004' first='Eaghan' last='Fleshman']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1896856"],"_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-690b8e9112d0a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The clear pocket-passer between all three quarterbacks listed, [player_tooltip player_id='1896856' first='Brooks' last='Weber'] doesn't take off and run, but he has beaten opponents with his arm on a regular basis throughout the 2025 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throwing for the Class 2A co-lead in passing touchdowns (28) so far this season with Kuemper's [player_tooltip player_id='1242935' first='Brock' last='Badding'], Weber has been difficult to deal with through the air. The top remaining QB in passer rating (194.4), Weber has completed 116-of-176 passes (65.9%) for 1,735 yards and just six INTs to his 28 scores. Efficient as a passer, he'll look to defeat Van-Meter through the air en route to a hopeful Dome appearance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->