Harlan tabbed as Class 3A football favorite

A Harlan squad that brings back six All-Staters from last season is a unanimous choice as the top team in Class 3A.

The Gazette preseason rankings, which are rolling out this week, showed the Cyclones are an early favorite with five first-place votes.

Neither Washington or Fairfield received a vote in the poll, but one team in Class 3A District 5 did. The Solon Spartans sit at sixth.

1. Harlan

Poll points: 50 (5 first-place votes)

2020 record: 11-1

2020 postseason: Class 3A runner-up

Key returners: WR Connor Frame, senior (44 receptions, 949 yards, 12 TDs, 16.5 tackles, 1st-team all-state), TE/CB Will McLaughlin, senior (16 catches, 190 yards, 70 tackles, 1st-team all-state), WR/S Aidan Hall, junior (34 receptions, 860 yards, 8 TDs, 41.5 tackles, 5 INTs, 2nd-team all-state), DE Jameson Bieker, senior (60 tackles, 3rd-team all-state), CB Joseph Fah, senior (56.5 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 3rd-team all-state), WR/CB Joey Moser, senior (30 receptions, 428 yards, 4 TDs, 3rd-team all-state), QB Teagon Kasperbauer, junior (2,553 passing yards, 23 TDs)

Key games: Lewis Central, Aug. 27; Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Sept. 10; at Glenwood, Sept. 17; at Adel ADM, Oct. 8

2. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley

Poll points: 41

2020 record: 8-3

2020 postseason: Class 3A semifinalist

Key returners: FB/CB Landyn Van Kekerix, senior (35 receptions, 556 yards, 5 TDs, 61.5 tackles, 2 INTs, 2nd-team all-state), WR/CB Caleb Kats, senior (1,603 passing yards, 14 TDs), RB/LB Bryson Van Grootheest, senior (18 receptions, 326 yards, 3 TDs), WR/LB Cade Fisher, senior (51 tackles, 4 fumble recoveries)

Key games: Central Lyon-GLR, Oct. 27; at Western Christian, Sept. 3; at Unity Christian, Sept. 10; at Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Oct. 8

3. West Delaware

Poll points: 38

2020 record: 10-2

2020 postseason: Class 3A quarterfinalist

Key returners: RB/LB Wyatt Voelker, senior (1,294 rushing yards, 18 TDs, 91 tackles, 5 fumble recoveries, 2 INTs, 1st-team all-state), RB/CB Kyle Cole, senior (460 rushing yards, 30 catches, 426 yards, 16 offensive TDs, 2 fumble recoveries), RB/LB Jadyn Peyton, senior (52 tackles)

Key games: Cedar Rapids Xavier, Sept. 3; Decorah, Sept. 10; at Waverly-Shell Rock, Sept. 17; at Independence, Oct. 15

4. Sergeant Bluff-Luton

Poll points: 33

2020 record: 6-3

2020 postseason: Class 3A round of 16

Key returners: TE/LB Jacob Imming, senior (30 receptions, 502 yards, 7 TDs, 49.5 tackles, 1st-team all-state), QB/S Tyler Smith, junior (67.0% completion rate, 1,880 passing yards, 22 TDs, 303 rushing yards), RB/LB Jason Dickson, senior (34.5 tackles)

Key games: At Central Lyon-GLR, Sept. 3; at Harlan, Sept. 10; Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Oct. 8

5. Independence

Poll points: 30

2020 record: 6-2

2020 postseason: Class 2A Round of 16

Key returners: RB/LB Marcus Beatty, senior (1,515 rushing yards, 15 TDs, 34 tackles, 2nd-team all-state), OL/DL Korver Hupke, junior (29.5 tackles, 3rd-team all-state), QB/LB Mitchell Johnson, junior (1,055 passing yards, 17 TDs, 43 tackles), WR/LB Keegan Schmitt, senior (22 receptions, 254 yards, 3 TDs, 38.5 tackles)

Key games: At Clear Creek Amana, Sept. 3; West Liberty, Sept. 10; West Delaware, Oct. 1

6. Solon

Poll points: 23

2020 record: 7-3

2020 postseason: Class 2A quarterfinalist

Key returners: OL/DE Gage Marty, senior (9.5 tackles, 3rd-team all-state), QB/S Blake Timmons, junior (1,078 passing yards, 639 rushing yards, 22 offensive TDs), RB/LB Hayden Taylor, senior (513 rushing yards, 6 TDs, 16.5 tackles)

Key games: At Mount Vernon, Sept. 3; Williamsburg, Sept. 10; at Davenport Assumption, Sept. 17; at Washington (Iowa), Oct. 1

7. Davenport Assumption

Poll points: 21

2020 record: 8-1

2020 postseason: Class 3A Round of 16

Key returners: QB/CB Ayden Weiman, senior (643 passing yards, 7 TDs), RB/LB John Argo, senior (128 rushing yards, 6 catches, 55 yards, 7 offensive TDs, 36.5 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INTs), WR/CB Evan Forker, senior (48.5 tackles)

Key games: At North Scott, Sept. 10; Solon, Sept, 17; at Mount Vernon, Oct. 1; at Benton Community, Oct. 8

8. Humboldt

Poll points: 17

2020 record: 5-4

2020 postseason: Class 3A Round of 32

Key returners: QB/S Caden Matson, senior (1,515 passing yards, 1,068 rushing yards, 32 offensive TDs, 67 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, 4 INTs, 3rd-team all-state), WR/CB Jacob Heier, senior (23 receptions, 425 yards, 2 TDs), RB/LB Tanner McKimmey, senior (71 tackles)

Key games: At Webster City, Aug. 27; Estherville ELC, Sept. 10; at North Polk, Oct. 1; Nevada, Oct. 15

9. Mount Vernon

Poll points: 7

2020 record: 7-2

2020 postseason: Class 2A Round of 32

Key returners: RB/LB Trenton Pitlik, senior (1,193 rushing yards, 13 TDs, 60 tackles, 1st-team all-state), OG/LB Clark Younggreen, junior (51.5 tackles), WR/S Leo Appleton, senior (31 tackles, 4 INTs)

Key games: Solon, Sept. 3; at Benton Community, Sept. 24; Davenport Assumption, Oct. 1

10. Sioux Center

Poll points: 4

2020 record: 6-3

2020 postseason: Class 2A Round of 32

Key returners: OL/DT Ethan Hooyer, senior (9 tackles, 1st-team all-state), QB/LB Zachary Rozeboom, senior (604 passing yards, 978 yards rushing yards, 18 offensive TDs), WR/CB Dao Keokhamthong, senior (11 receptions, 115 yards, 2 TDs, 32 tackles)

Key games: At West Sioux, Sept. 3; West Lyon, Sept. 10; at Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Sept. 24; Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Oct. 1

Others receiving votes

Nevada 3, Algona 2, Atlantic 2, Ballard 2, Benton Community 1, Grinnell 1