The 4A Club Conference Preview: MVC-Valley Division
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Because of the pandemic, the Iowa High School Athletic Association has let Class 4A schools and conferences make their own schedules, essentially bringing back conference play in Class 4A football for the first time since 2013. So here’s a preview of…
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Continue ReadingBecause of the pandemic, the Iowa High School Athletic Association has let Class 4A schools and conferences make their own schedules, essentially bringing back conference play in Class 4A football for the first time since 2013. So here’s a preview of every Class 4A school in the Mississippi Division of the Mississippi Valley Conference.
Disclaimer: There are 4 other schools apart of the MVC, those being Wahlert, Waterloo East, Western Dubuque, and Xavier, but since they’re all 3A when it comes to football and I’m only covering 4A schools, I won’t be covering them this season.
Cedar Rapids Jefferson
My Preseason Ranking: 25th
My Team Rating: 33.8889 (C-)
Head Coach: Chris Buesing
Offensive Coordinator: Ryan Eivins
Defensive Coordinator: Scott Andrews
Base Offense: Triple Option (2-2, 3-1, 3-0, 2-0)
Base Defense: 4-3
Watchlist Players:
OLB Josiah Szabo, SR
K/P Jacob Cross, SR
Returning Starters:
G/DT Jackson Stone, SR
C Noah Dukes, SR
CB Dkhai Pope, SR
Risers/Arrivals:
QB Carson Blietz, JR
WR/CB Lonny Melvin, JR
OT Preston Bruck, SR
DT Donovan Fleetwood, SR
DT Will Johnson, SR
OLB Dylan Markham, SR
MLB Joel Watts, SR
S/WR Tavian Cook, JR
A quick word: The J-Hawks lost a bunch of their key players from last season, so it will be interesting to see who Jeff looks towards to replace them. Whether they take backups from last year or start some younger kids that were just brought up to varsity this year.
Cedar Rapids Kennedy
My Preseason Ranking: 7th
My Team Rating: 39.6667 (B+)
Head Coach: Brian White
Offensive Coordinator: Kyle Knock
Defensive Coordinator: Brian White
Base Offense: Pro-Style (2-1)
Base Defense: 3-3-5
Watchlist Players:
QB/S Max White Max White 5'10" | 190 lbs | ATH Kennedy | 2021 IA , SR
OT Jamison Bean Jamison Bean 6'5" | 270 lbs | OL Kennedy | 2021 IA , SR
OT/DE Connor Colby Connor Colby 6'6" | 290 lbs | OL Cedar Rapids Kennedy | 2021 State IA , SR
Returning Starters:
WR Jalen Cotton, SR
G Gavin Bascom, SR
DE Ahvey Garrett, SR
DT Cael Knox, SR
OLB Drew Bartels, SR
S Brody Lovell, SR
K Liam Wahe, SR
Risers/Arrivals:
RB DeMarcus Ray, SR (from Prairie)
RB Jazan Williams, SO
WR Isaiah Morgan, JR
OT Parker Heidt, JR
DE Garrett Eubanks, JR
OLB/TE Reid Pakkebier, SR
MLB Alex Koch, JR
S Divion Ocheltree, SR
A quick word: A state semifinalist last season, the Cougars look to break the glass ceiling and get the state title in 2020. Iowa commit Connor Colby Connor Colby 6'6" | 290 lbs | OL Cedar Rapids Kennedy | 2021 State IA is considered one of the state’s elite talents, and dual-threat Max White Max White 5'10" | 190 lbs | ATH Kennedy | 2021 IA should show off his passer skills after an excellent junior season where he spent most of his yards on the ground.
Dubuque Hempstead
My Preseason Ranking: 20th
My Team Rating: 35.8889 (C+)
Head Coach: Jeff Hoerner
Offensive Coordinator: Matt Ehlers
Defensive Coordinator: Don Pirkle
Base Offense: Spread (2-0, 1-0, 1-1)
Base Defense: 4-2-5
Watchlist Players:
QB Aidan Dunne Aidan Dunne 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Hempstead | 2021 IA , SR
DT/G Cayden Lovett Cayden Lovett 6'1" | 280 lbs | DL Hempstead | 2021 IA , SR
Returning Starters:
WR/S Ty Hancock, SR
WR/CB Jackson Ostrander, SR
G Caleb Heims, SR
DE/TE Cooper Kay, SR
OLB Max Moldt, SR
S/P Zach Sabers Zach Sabers 6'0" | 200 lbs | DB Hempstead | 2021 IA , SR
K Ben Jaeger, SR
Risers/Arrivals:
WR/CB Charlie Besler, JR
OT/DT John Ostrander, JR
G Adam Hermiston, SR
G Austin Unsen, SR
DE Tim Duwe, JR
DE Adam Ward, SR
DE/G Lane Wels, JR
OLB Bryar Blean, JR
OLB/RB Jalen Smith, SR (returning from injury)
CB Kyrie Tate, JR
S Jackson Vanderheyden, SR
A quick word: Veteran assistant Jeff Hoerner will make his head coaching debut for the Mustangs, as he takes over a fairly good Hempstead team that could win a couple of playoff games in 2020.
Dubuque Senior
My Preseason Ranking: T-9th
My Team Rating: 39 (B)
Head Coach: Dale Ploessl
Offensive Coordinator: Sam Benda
Defensive Coordinator: Tim Dolson
Base Offense: Spread (1-0, 1-1, 2-1)
Base Defense: 3-4, 4-2-5, 4-3
Watchlist Players:
RB/CB Cain McWilliams Cain McWilliams 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Dubuque | 2021 IA , SR
TE/DE Carson Tart, SR
OT/DE Jim Bonifas Jim Bonifas 6'5" | 260 lbs | OL Dubuque Senior | 2021 State IA , SR
OLB/WR Seth Bullock Seth Bullock 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB Dubuque | 2021 IA , SR
S/WR Logan Flanagan Logan Flanagan 6'5" | 190 lbs | DB Dubuque | 2021 IA , SR
Returning Starters:
WR Hunter Preston Hunter Preston 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Dubuque | 2021 IA , SR
OT Tanner Buol, JR
MLB/FB Ben Hefel, SR
CB Gavyn Schumacher, SR
P Parker Kerf, SR
Risers/Arrivals:
DE Connor Lucas, JR
DT Dustin Dean, JR
MLB Nate Oswalt, SR
CB David Williams, SR
S Tommy Williams, JR
A quick word: Despite unexpectedly losing star receiver Kendrick Watkins-Hogue Kendrick Watkins-Hogue 6'0" | 165 lbs | WR Dubuque | 2021 IA , who moved to Galesburg, Illinois, the Rams return a bunch of key players from last season, and should be one of the best teams in their conference.
Iowa City West
My Preseason Ranking: 19th
My Team Rating: 36.3333 (C+)
Head Coach: Garrett Hartwig
Offensive Coordinator: Andrew Durham
Defensive Coordinator: Tyler Meade
Base Offense: Multiple (2-1, 1-0, 1-1)
Base Defense: 4-3, 3-4, 4-2-5
Watchlist Players:
QB/P Marcus Morgan Marcus Morgan 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Iowa City West | 2021 IA , SR
WR/S Grahm Goering Grahm Goering 6'2" | 190 lbs | WR Iowa City West | 2021 IA , SR
K Owen Smith, SR
Returning Starters:
WR/CB Eric Torres, SR
TE/DE Alex McKay, SR
OT Liam Becher Liam Becher 6'6" | 310 lbs | OL Iowa City West | 2022 State IA , SR
OT Joey Chase, SR
G Fred Syata, SR
DE Mason Applegate, JR
OLB Dijon Genus, SR
OLB/WR Ian McAreavy, SR
MLB Kalen Haworth, SR
CB/RB Tyuss Bell, SR
CB Fabian Brown, SR
Risers/Arrivals:
RB Trey King Jr, SR (from Burlington)
WR Damarion Williams, SR (from Bradford, Kenosha, WI)
G Will Towler, JR
MLB Boaz Abromoff, JR
TE Nick McDonnell, JR
OLB/QB Conner O’Neil, JR (from Riverdale Country School in the Bronx, NY)
A quick word: It was a rare down year for the Trojans in 2019, but now with Marcus Morgan Marcus Morgan 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Iowa City West | 2021 IA ready to give his all for his senior season, combined with a bunch of other starters returning should give West a more all-around improved season in 2020.
Waterloo West
My Preseason Ranking: 26th
My Team Rating: 32.6667 (D+)
Head Coach: Lonnie Moore
Offensive Coordinator: David Milder
Defensive Coordinator: Nick Roe
Base Offense: Spread (1-0, 2-0, 1-1)
Base Defense: 4-3
Watchlist Players:
DE Micheal Robinson, SR
Returning Starters:
OT/DT Adam Teare, SR
OT Kornell Epps, JR
G Christian Chapman, JR
DE Tayvious Campbell, SR
OLB Maki Leflore, SR
MLB Nate Ewell, SR
K Jaxon Hoppes, SR
Risers/Arrivals:
WR Tay Norman, SR
G/OLB Clayton Rottinghaus, SR
C Aidan Lemley, JR
DE Devontay Bentancourt, SR
DT/OT Levi Russell, JR
OLB Orlando Vivians, SR
S Jackson Westemeier, JR
A quick word: The Wahawks lost a bunch of starting skill players and players in the secondary, but a fair amount of their starting o-linemen and defensive front seven return for 2020.