Five Standouts from the Iowa Class 5A Semifinals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the state championship set in 5A, we take a look back at which five prospects stood out the most in the semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1617592"],"_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-691cc7f1d582b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Iowa City Liberty's offense may be the Tennessee of Iowa High School Class 5A football. Everyone and their mother thinks of them as an air raid-esque offense -- but in reality, they can run the ball, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Though first-string running back, [player_tooltip player_id='1617592' first='Brody' last='Beaver'] doesn't rank first in any rushing category for the Lightning, he does still carry a good chunk of the load on the ground, and he showed off what fresh legs can do on Friday night in Cedar Falls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On just ten carries, Beaver ran for 93 yards and a score, averaging 9.3 yards per carry. He added four receptions for 25 yards, as well. His playmaking ability really popped on a 53-yard run in the fourth quarter, where he showed patience and burst, weaving in and around blockers and would-be tacklers for the near score. </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":"Anthony Bonanno","_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":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"205","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Dowling Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-691cc7f1d593f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A relatively unknown prospect on a roster loaded with Division I talent like [player_tooltip player_id='401674' first='Joey' last='Nahas'], [player_tooltip player_id='1583613' first='Carter' last='Barrett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1241492' first='Jeffrey' last='Roberts'], Anthony Bonanno shined for Dowling when the defense needed him most. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He repeatedly stopped the Valley rushing attack from doing any significant damage, stopping runs within one or two yards from scrimmage, if they gained any ground at all. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In on multiple tackles-for-loss (TFLs), sacks and QB hurries, Bonanno showed why his Maroons wouldn't be where they are without him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212326"],"_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-691cc7f1d59ad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Regular readers know of the love we've shared for Valley junior running back, [player_tooltip player_id='2004458' first='Blake' last='Dorenkamp'] -- who finished with 23 carries for 108 yards and the Tigers' only touchdown in the semis, by the way -- and [player_tooltip player_id='212326' first='Hayden' last='Demaray'] is of the same ilk. Not the star of the show with Louisville commit, [player_tooltip player_id='283946' first='Jayden' last='McGregory'] on the backend of the defense, Demaray did all the dirty work for the Valley defense throughout the season, and on Friday in Cedar Falls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An aggressive linebacker that will take on blocks from bigger offensive line, play as physical as they come, stonewall running backs in the hole and cover pass-catchers over the middle, Demaray finished with a team-leading ten tackles and 2.5 sacks against Dowling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1204436"],"_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-691ce1bc20b3c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It would feel wrong to not include [player_tooltip player_id='1204436' first='Mack' last='Heitland'] on this list after the season he put together as a junior. No, it didn't end the way he would have wanted it to, but the 6-foot-1 passer was sensational for his team this season, and he was one of the key players that kept his team in the fight against Liberty last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finishing the game 19-of-25 for 150 yards and a touchdown, Heitland's junior campaign officially came to a close with just under 3,000 yards, 28 touchdowns and <em>zero </em>picks in the toughest conference in all of Iowa football. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A decisive passer who lets his weapons do the work, Heitland knows how to utilize what was afforded to him, like [player_tooltip player_id='1295632' first='Isaiah' last='Oliver'], [player_tooltip player_id='1204437' first='Jordon' last='Green'], [player_tooltip player_id='1204438' first='Joe' last='Vinyard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1361719' first='Ryan' last='Woodruff'], this season. Heitland throws an easily-caught ball, clearly is a smart decision-maker and has helped build the program at Waukee Northwest. He'll benefit from going to camps this coming summer and should be on every FCS program's radar in the Midwest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1552779"],"_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-691cc7f1d5a00"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the most prolific passers in Iowa the last two seasons, [player_tooltip player_id='1552779' first='Reece' last='Rettig'] has been on a revenge tour all season. Coming up just short of an appearance in the 5A state championship last season, he and the Lightning will get their shot this time around, facing Dowling next Friday night in The Dome. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rettig is a 5-foot-10 gunslinger that can make anything and everything happen with his arm, and he can beat you with his legs. Running around, making plays off-script and connecting with receivers on deep shots with his unique, Philip Rivers-like throwing motion, Rettig finished Friday's game by completing 26-of-31 passes (83.8%) for 210 yards and two touchdowns, adding 16 carries for 66 yards and a score on the ground. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rettig hasn't reported any offers or a commitment, but whatever program gets him will be happy. What he lacks in stature, he makes up for with winning plays -- through the air and on the ground. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->