PRZNY Team Previews: Iroquois Red Hawks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Last Season (8-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last offseason, I predicted Iroquois to win Class B in 2025. But a shocking blowout loss Week 1 to Grand Island raised a few eyebrows. The Red Hawks would, however, go on to win their next 8 straight games until another upset loss against West Seneca East in the Semifinals dashed their hopes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Prospect</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1794281"],"_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-6a59148e58355"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With a lot of turnover in the Iroquois locker room this season, Luders will be looked upon as a leader. He is an athletic OT that brings a lot of playing experience. He is light on his feet and has good awareness. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Three X-Factors</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1707374"],"_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-6a59148e58411"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kwaizer is one of my favorite defensive players in Section VI. He plays deep like a FS but can also come down in the box and make solid form tackles. He has showed good film on the defensive side of the ball and with a new look offense, I can see him emerging as one of Iroquois' top receiving targets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2236645"],"_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-6a59148e584a1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nolan led Iroquois in tackles as a junior (81) and added 3 INTs. He has good instincts and is able to track the ball down in the air. He has a lot of speed and can make plays all over the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":2249386,"_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-6a59148e58538"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Latchford was used sparingly as a junior but Iroquois' entire offense should look different from a personnel standpoint. If the Red Hawks continue to throw the ball frequently with new QB George Issa, Latchford could be in for a breakout season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakout Player</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1707378"],"_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-6a59148e585d4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For the past four seasons, Iroquois has set records with a dynamic aerial attack led by WNY All-Time passing leader Justus Kleitz. With Kleitz graduating in 2026, I think we will hear [player_tooltip player_id='1707378' first='Trey' last='Pfeiffer']'s name a lot this season. When it was time to put the game away last year, Iroquois used Pfeiffer and he showed a lot of explosion and great awareness. I first saw Pfeiffer play in week 2 of last season when his number was called upon in a blowout win over Depew and he ran for 117 yards on just 12 carries and a pair of scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Names to Know</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Position</span></strong></td><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Player</span></strong></td><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Class</span></strong></td></tr><tr><td>QB</td><td>George Issa</td><td>2028</td></tr><tr><td>OL/DL</td><td>Harrison Bednasz</td><td>2028</td></tr><tr><td>OL/DL</td><td>Max Wagner</td><td>2027</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Losses</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Position</span></strong></td><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Player</span></strong></td><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Commitment/Contributions</span></strong></td></tr><tr><td>QB</td><td>Justus Kleitz </td><td>Houghton (Basketball)</td></tr><tr><td>DL</td><td>Richard Donohue</td><td>Erie Community College</td></tr><tr><td>WR</td><td>Nick Skutnik</td><td>Electrifying playmaker at WR and DB</td></tr><tr><td>TE/LB</td><td>TJ Domino</td><td>3-sport stud athlete</td></tr><tr><td>DE</td><td>Tyler Urmson</td><td>Led Iroquois in Sacks</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 Schedule</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Date</span></strong></td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Opponent</span></strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Fri Sep 4 7:00 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">@ Maryvale</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Fri Sep 11 7:00 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">vs Cheektowaga</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Fri Sep 18 7:00 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">@ Depew</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Fri Sep 25 7:00 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">@ Dunkirk</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Fri Oct 2 7:00 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">@ Olean</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Thu Oct 8 7:05 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">vs Pioneer</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Fri Oct 16 7:00 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">vs Lackawanna</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Fri Oct 23 7:00 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">vs East Aurora</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 Outlook</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Current Head Coach:</strong> Rob Pitzonka (entering his 10th season)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iroquois' 2026 schedule is almost identical to that of 2025 with new opponents coming in the form of Cheektowaga (9/11) and Pioneer (10/8); both of which are still divisional opponents. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is going to be an interesting year for the Red Hawks. There isn't much difference in their competitors but they lost several key contributors; including Justus Kleitz, their starting QB for the past four years and the WNY All-Time passing leader. With that being said, there is a lot of young talent on this team and it will be intriguing to see how they progress.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->