Iowa 2A Way-Too-Early Title Contenders: Van Meter

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An early look at some of the top teams in each class, now to Class 2A. We'll profile several programs that look to return the talent necessary to compete for a state championship in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/iowa-2a-way-too-early-title-contenders-alburnett/">Iowa 2A Way-Too-Early Title Contenders: Alburnett</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/iowa-2a-way-too-early-title-contenders-centerville/">Iowa 2A Way-Too-Early Title Contenders: Centerville</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/iowa-2a-way-too-early-title-contenders-kuemper-catholic/">Iowa 2A Way-Too-Early Title Contenders: Kuemper Catholic</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/iowa-2a-way-too-early-title-contenders-mid-prairie/">Iowa 2A Way-Too-Early Title Contenders: Mid-Prairie</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/iowa-2a-way-too-early-title-contenders-pcm/">Iowa 2A Way-Too-Early Title Contenders: PCM</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/iowa-2a-way-too-early-title-contenders-roland-story/">Iowa 2A Way-Too-Early Title Contenders: Roland-Story</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/01/iowa-2a-way-too-early-title-contenders-wilton/">Iowa 2A Way-Too-Early Title Contenders: Wilton</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offense:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Van Meter loses a good chunk of its most productive players from their 2025 runner up squad. Without their starting quarterback, leading receiver, and second-leading rusherthe Bulldogs will look quite different in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>However</em>, they do return top dog, and sophomore stud, [player_tooltip player_id='1900142' first='Christian' last='Williams']. Van Meter's leading rusher, Williams' second-year surge was propelled by growing an inch and gaining 25 pounds in a year. He finished the season with 1,054 hard-earned yards and 16 touchdowns on 208 carries, adding 20 catches for 183 yards and two scores. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Luckily, too, though they don't have their top receiver back, "gadget guy" [player_tooltip player_id='2061098' first='Lexon' last='Blevins'] returns. He caught 13 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns in 2025, adding 12 carries for 136 yards and three scores. In true "gadget guy" fashion, Blevins also completed his only passing attempt for the year, finding a receiver for a 16-yard touchdown pass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defense:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On top of the offensive production that hit the door, the Bulldogs will have to replace their second-leading tackler, sack leader and tackles-for-loss (TFLs) leader from 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shocker, here comes Williams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top tackler for Van Meter this season, the sophomore star put together 84 tackles, including eight TFLs and 2.5 sacks. He'll have one of his top cohorts at linebacker back in 2026 as well, as [player_tooltip player_id='1905838' first='Adam' last='Boeck'] posted 51.5 tackles and 9.5 TFLs, tied for the third-most TFLs on the Van Meter squad. A freshman on the defensive front for the state runners up, [player_tooltip player_id='2074519' first='Cody' last='Deemer'] could be in line for a breakout campaign this coming season, too, after he posted 28 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and two sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the backend, Blevins showed off his versatility, racking up ten pass-breakups and adding two interceptions. Boeck, Williams and Deemer each added two picks, as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The multi-faceted Blevins also was a factor on special teams, returning 15 kicks for 302 yards (an average of 20.1 yards per return) and should be in line to take over full time punt return duties after taking back two punts for 43 yards in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->