Iowa Team Preview | Top Contender: Independence

Take a look as Prep Redzone Iowa previews some of the state’s top contenders who, at least on paper, have what it takes to push for a title. From 5A down there are plenty of programs who have what it takes to challenge the reigning champions. Will any of these squads take it all? Take a look at the Independence Mustangs who made a run all the way to the quarterfinals last year with several underclassmen in pivotal roles. Plenty of experience and elite talent at key positions make this team an early favorite to make a run in a realigned 3A class. Recap The Mustangs achieved plenty of success in their 2020 season, especially when you consider how young their roster was. For a team that started a handful of underclassmen throughout the year to have the maturity to go 6-2 with a trip to the quarterfinals speaks volumes about the quality and state of their program. Keep in mind the Mustangs had their week 4 and 5 games cancelled. To face that kind of adversity and then close out the regular season with two road wins makes their season seem that much more impressive. The Mustangs exited the postseason after a hard fought battle against Solon. Independence showed serious flashes of a high powered, multi-dimensional offense and a physical, shut down defense last year. Expect to see that on a regular basis in 2021. Their future and outlook for the upcoming season appears to be exceptionally bright. Outlook The regular season is going to look pretty different this year for Independence with some tough new matchups. They will be tested often with showdowns in week 2 against Clear Creek-Amana, week 3 against West Liberty, and week 7 against West Delaware. Each of these teams seem to be a lock for the playoffs and will be a great test for the Mustangs to see how they stack up. In fact, the regular season will feature no carry overs from last year’s schedule. Without having familiarity with their opponents each game, even against teams they should beat, there will be new tests. This regular season recipe is sure to prepare the Mustangs for a lot of the challenges and hardships the playoffs could bring. This Independence roster features some truly elite talent; the amount of top notch players they have is uncharacteristically high for a school of their size. They will return plenty of skill on both sides of the ball and some monsters in the trenches. The Mustangs’ spread offense is a balanced attack. They pound the rock and have legitimate weapons in the passing game at receiver, tight end, and out of the backfield. The defense really seemed to come together late last year only allowing 21 total points in the three games leading up to their playoff exit. All signs are pointing up for the Mustangs and they should expect to dominate on both sides of the ball. Top Returning Players Independence will have a lot of familiar faces taking the field this season: Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="152665" first="Mitchell" last="Johnson"], Running Back [player_tooltip player_id="98692" first="Marcus" last="Beatty"], Tight Ends [player_tooltip player_id="156506" first="Brady" last="McDonald"] and [player_tooltip player_id="99204" first="Jake" last="Sidles"], Wide Receiver Keegan Schmitt, Linemen [player_tooltip player_id="156557" first="Tono" last="Cornell"], [player_tooltip player_id="152816" first="Korver" last="Hupke"], Kolby Sebetka and Justin Wood, Linebacker Teegan McEnany, and Defensive Back Sawyer Wendling. The Mustangs will feature veteran experience and leadership across the lineup. These are all players you need to know. Strengths The most striking strength of the Independence Mustangs is how balanced they are across position groups and the unmistakable high-end athleticism that exists within each one. They create so many mismatches on each side of the ball that are very hard for opposing teams to deal with. At the end of the day x’s and o’s get you so far and then it comes down to your players’ ability to execute. It just doesn’t seem likely that many teams will be able to totally game plan for everything Independence can put on the field. There will be weekly opportunities to expose weaknesses, and maybe different players will shine and be showcased from one game to the next, but you can bet the Mustangs will capitalize on their depth. Biggest Question Will all of this young talent be able to collectively take the next step in their development within the descriptions of their jobs and together as a team? Many of the players they have coming back were huge contributors last season. They can become so dangerous if they can continue to trend upwards and allow their individual talents to compliment one another. The different ways this team can beat you should be plentiful if their experience and a successful offseason proves to have been prosperous. Top Matchup The Mustangs have a high profile matchup early on with Clear-Creek Amana, who should be very competitive this year in 4A, and what happens over the course of this game will be very telling in determining just how good this 2021 Independence team can be. The top matchup, though, will be when Independence hosts West Delaware, another top 3A contender, in week 7. If the Mustangs’ offense can consistently move the ball and score on a defense of West Delaware’s caliber, led by the likes of [player_tooltip player_id="148363" first="Wyatt" last="Voelker"] and Jadyn Peyton, they should be able to put up points against anyone they could encounter in the playoffs. This will be just as big of a test for the Mustangs’ defense. West Delaware can really run the ball and Independence struggled at times last year to take away an opponent’s greatest weapons. This game will be a great way to determine if the Mustangs have taken steps forward as they wrap up their regular season. Keys to Success The nucleus of this team is immensely and uncommonly gifted. There are not many teams out there that can go into each game with as balanced of an attack as the Mustangs. The key to a successful season and surpassing last year’s quarterfinals appearance will be putting these players in position to utilize their strengths. It can be easy to scheme too much or overcoach because a roster this talented sets very high expectations and pressure to win mounts. If Independence can find their identity early on and stay true to who they are they should be able to compete with anyone in 3A.