Iowa 5A Way-Too-Early 2026 Title Contenders: Iowa City Liberty

Liberty’s Pryor Reiners runs after a catch against Waukee Northwest during the state semifinals on Nov. 14, 2025 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Redzone)

Eliot Clough December 17, 2025 @ 05:49 PM

An early look at some of the top teams in each class, starting with Class 5A. We'll profile several programs that look to return the talent necessary to compete for a state championship in 2026.   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/iowa-5a-way-too-early-2026-title-contenders-dowling-catholic/">Iowa 5A Way-Too-Early 2026 Title Contenders: Dowling Catholic</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/iowa-5a-way-too-early-2026-title-contenders-johnston/">Iowa 5A Way-Too-Early 2026 Title Contenders: Johnston</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/iowa-5a-way-too-early-2026-title-contenders-waukee-northwest/">Iowa 5A Way-Too-Early 2026 Title Contenders: Waukee Northwest</a>   Offense:   Taking over under center in the state title matchup with Dowling, backup quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='2085086' first='Emerson' last='Berner'] showed some incredibly encouraging signs for the future of the Liberty offense post-[player_tooltip player_id='1552779' first='Reece' last='Rettig']. Staying on schedule and on target, Berner finished 8-of-12 for 54 yards, throwing a perfect ball to [player_tooltip player_id='1617593' first='Pryor' last='Reiners'], that went just off his finger tips, but was perfectly layered over two Dowling defensive backs.   That, and he'll have a good chunk of receiver talent back, including Reiners who led the Lightning in receiving this season, grabbing 55 catches for 631 yards and seven touchdowns. Weapons on the ground and through the air, [player_tooltip player_id='1617592' first='Brody' last='Beaver'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1361347' first='Adrian' last='Clerry'] also return, as Beaver finished as the team's second-leading rusher, taking 90 carries for 648 yards and six touchdowns, along with 30 catches for 217 yards and a score. Clerry, another standout from the state title game, ran the ball 19 times for 92 yards and three scores, also grabbing 40 catches for 357 yards and four touchdowns.   The Lightning have the opportunity to look as lethal as ever on offense in 2026.   Defense:   On the other side of the ball, Liberty returns another hefty group of productive players from this season's defense, including [player_tooltip player_id='2050280' first='Alex' last='Strunk'], who finished with 52.5 tackles to finish second on the team in the category. Those numbers included the second-most tackles-for-loss (TFLs) with 10.5, and he tied for the team-lead in sacks with 4.5.   Eric Strunk, Hank Thompson and [player_tooltip player_id='2003090' first='Cash' last='Hennings'] weren't far off that production, either, as the trio put together 80 tackles, including 22 TFLs and ten sacks collectively.   On the back end of the defense, Thompson and Clerry each return after grabbing interceptions last season. Clerry grabbed two, including a pick-six, while registering four pass-breakups, and Thompson nabbed one interception.

An early look at some of the top teams in each class, starting with Class 5A. We'll profile several programs that look to return the talent necessary to compete for a state championship in 2026.