Columbus, Pekin, VBC and Highland set for Class A football

Class A District 5 football was dominated by two teams last season.

This season, the race is going to be a bit tighter.

Four Union area teams are represented in the Class A district, that includes Columbus, Pekin, Van Buren County and Highland.

Lisbon, Danville, Wapello and Louisa-Muscatine are all featured as well.

The Lions of Lisbon were the district champions with a record of 9-1, 7-0.

Columbus, followed Lisbon in second with a 6-3, 6-1 record. Pekin ended 6-3, 1-2, Van Buren County went 3-5, 2-3 and Highland 2-6, 0-2.

Danville finished with a 4-5, 3-2 record, Wapello went 1-7, 1-5 and Louisa-Muscatine closed 0-8, 0-5.

Columbus loses some great talent from its 2023 squad, but still has a nice core coming back.

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At quarterback, expect Trevor Phillips to return. Phillips threw the ball just 58 times last year, but finished with 587 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Wildcats biggest missing piece comes in the rushing department. Kaden Amigon who finished with 1,860 yards and 28 touchdowns is gone.

A bright spot, Riley Kaalberg is back. He followed Amigon with 942 yards and 14 touchdowns. Angel Venzor was third on the list with 136 yards and two scores.

Receiving wise, Kaalberg is the top returner. He was second a year ago with eight catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns. Markell Zapiensz was the only other non senior to catch a pass.

On the defensive side of the ball, Tyson Kaalberg led all tacklers with 52.5 tackles. Riley Kaalberg finished with 49.5. Elliot Wessley returns as well. He had 45 total tackles.

Pekin will look very similar this fall, but does lose one key player.

Will Adam returns to the quarterback position. Adam threw for 1,144 yards a year ago with 11 touchdowns. On the ground, Adam was the second leading rusher last season with 668 yards and 10 scores.

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The Panthers do loses their leading rusher, but bring back Henry Adam who had 311 yards and six touchdowns as well as Riley Smith and Robert Brown who finished with 207 and 136 yards respectively.

Speaking of Brown, he will be Pekin’s leading receiver once again. He posted 24 catches for 444 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023.

Defensively, Henry Adam is the top returner. Adam finished with 49 tackles. Will Adam followed with 43.5 tackles.

Van Buren County will look very similar this fall, bring back a handful of top players as it looks to make a jump.

The Warriors starting quarterback is ready for action once again. Izaak Loeffler led VBC with 1,036 yards and 10 touchdowns. Loeffler also led the Warriors in rushing with 430 yards and five touchdowns.

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Kayden Simmons (178 yards) and Bryce Newcomb (170 yards) are also back.

VBC will have a new leading receiver as Lucas Fett graduated. Kamden Nusbaum was the next highest returning pass catcher. Nusbaum had 15 catches for 166 yards.

Nusbaum also led the Warriors on the defensive end, tallying 64.5 tackles.

Highland meanwhile returns the majority of its top talent.

Sage Hartley-Norman returns to the quarterback position. He finished with 463 yards last year. He was also the Huskies’ leading rusher, tallying 515 yards.

Logan McFarland (451 yards), Jose Ramirez (118 yards) and Colten Sypherd (102 yards) return as well.

The Huskies bring back their top two receivers as well. Ayden Havel led the way with 309 yards and four touchdowns last season. Logan McFarland followed with 11 catches for 99 yards.

McFarland also led Highland with 55.5 total tackles and 11.5 tackles for a loss.