Iowa Team Preview | Top Contender: Lewis Central

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? Lewis Central was nearly perfect last season on their way to a semi-finals appearance, but for some intangible reason just couldn’t get over the hump. They are one of the most talented rosters in the new 4A landscape and are an early favorite to go all the way. The Titans appear to be equipped with everything they need to make that happen. Recap The Titans dropped last year’s regular season finale to Harlan only to make a long run to the semi-finals and get sent home by the very same team. They’ll have an opportunity right out of the gate to get that monkey off their backs in a week 1 matchup with the Cyclones. Lewis Central collected notable regular season wins last year against tough opponents in Sergeant Bluff-Luton and Glenwood. The rest of the schedule, however, wasn’t challenging enough for the highly talented Titans and was possibly a disservice in preparing them to face competition that was more on their level. That should not be the case here in 2021 as the revamped regular season schedule seems to be a lot more suited in preparing Lewis Central to achieve their ultimate goal. Last year’s defense was very stingy, holding teams to an average of 13.9 points per game. They only gave up more than 14 points on three occasions. The Lewis Central offense was just as impressive, led by seniors Logan Katzer and [player_tooltip player_id="23806" first="Thomas" last="Fidone"], posting nearly 35 points per game. Outlook Lewis Central will be challenged early and often this year; they will be put through the gauntlet this fall and should be as prepared as possible for the 4A playoff field. They face Harlan, Carlisle, and Indianola in the first half of the season. Then the Titans close out the regular season with three straight strenuous contests against Glenwood, Dallas Center-Grimes, and Winterset. Week 1 provides an enormous opportunity to beat Harlan and erase the blemishes of last season from their memory. Getting over that hurdle, in a literal and figurative sense, could be a massive boost to the confidence and conviction of the program. This is not a make or break game, but could fast track Lewis Central to the elite status they are capable of attaining. The Titans enter the season with a handful of Division 1 caliber players and experience in key positions on both sides of the ball. They will need to replace the productivity of some graduating seniors, but are set to reload at those positions with extremely capable athletes that took plenty of meaningful snaps last year who are ready to slot in. The Titans are balanced offensively; they have the scheme and athletes to execute whatever they need to do to expose weaknesses. Strength against strength, though, they are superior and could likely call whatever they want. On the other side of the ball the Titans are ruthless and are more than capable of overwhelming opponents with size, speed, and physicality. This is a group that could hold opponents under 10 points per game. Top Returning Players Lewis Central will be led by several returning starters and some of the top, most highly recruited players in the state: Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="104088" first="Braylon" last="Kammrad"], Running Backs [player_tooltip player_id="104113" first="Jonathan" last="Humpal"] and Ethen Fishell, Tight End [player_tooltip player_id="99196" first="Brayden" last="Loftin"], Wide Receiver Luciano Fidone, Offensive Linemen Hunter Waldstein, Jon Pierce, and Parker Matiyow, Defensive Linemen [player_tooltip player_id="23948" first="Hunter" last="Deyo"], [player_tooltip player_id="100842" first="Nick" last="Miller"], and Dallas Davis, Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id="100841" first="Wyatt" last="Hatcher"], [player_tooltip player_id="156631" first="Caleb" last="Moore"], and Payton Ludington, and Defensive Back Chase Wallace. To be coming off of such a successful season with so many impact players returning is not common. Most programs are forced to rebuild year after year with a very different looking team. Lewis Central has a unique opportunity. Strengths This Titans team is loaded across the board and their opponents will be hard pressed to find weaknesses. It is unlikely that teams will have things they think they can expose in scheme or a particular position group. If Lewis Central goes down it is because a team stood toe to toe and won individual matchups. As far as their strengths are concerned the Titans have to be very excited about their front seven on defense. They neutralize and destroy blocks on their way to the ball as well as any defense in the state. It will be exciting to see just how explosive they are with an offseason of lifting and training under their belts. This front should be able to put offenses in predictable passing situations often. Considering this group also boasts some of the best pass rushers in the state it is hard to imagine not seeing the Titans atop the team and individual stat categories. Biggest Question There is no questioning the talent and ability this team has to offer, but will it all show up when they need it the most? Can Lewis Central get those signature wins in the regular season? They have plenty of opportunities to do so. One has to think that last year’s shortcomings have served as ideal motivation in the offseason. It is hard to see the Titans’ veteran players settling for anything but redemption and a path to winning it all. It is also very possible that they will bump into at least one of their district opponents in the playoffs. There have been plenty of teams in the past that had all the talent in the world and fell short on the big stage. The Titans will have to figure out how to make sure that doesn’t happen to them. Top Matchup There are a handful of impressive teams on the Titans’ schedule that could make deep playoff runs, but the game Lewis Central has probably circled is likely also the most talented and complete team they will see in the regular season. That is the Harlan Community Cyclones; the Titans players and staff have probably been dreaming about this week 1 matchup on August 27th. It is no secret that the Titans just couldn’t figure this team out last year. Will the third time be a charm? They spoiled a perfect regular season for Lewis Central and kept them from reaching last year’s 3A title game. They are also bringing back a lot of players, like [player_tooltip player_id="99142" first="Connor" last="Frame"] and [player_tooltip player_id="23949" first="Will" last="McLaughlin"], who were directly responsible for that. The narrative, collective talent, and implications make this a game of the week, or possibly even a game of the year, candidate. Keys to Success The Titans will have no problem showing up big in games they are expected to win. Their talent alone will be enough to overwhelm some opponents regardless of execution, technique, and responsibility. The key will be finding ways to persevere and overcome when talent isn’t enough. There are certainly a few teams in 4A that can trade punches with the Titans and they will need to learn from last year to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself. The 2021 Titans should be feared and they are sure to make a lot of noise this fall.