Looking ahead: District 4 football

For Mt. Pleasant and Washington football this season, there will be some similarities and differences out on the gridiron.

With the new district layout for the 2023-24 season, the Panthers and Demons are in 3A District 4.

Both squads will still matchup with familiar foes Fort Madison and Keokuk, but Davenport Assumption and 2022 state runner-up Mount Vernon enter the fray this time around.

For Mt. Pleasant, it will be head coach John Bowlin’s first season at the helm.

The Panthers bring back the likes of Payton Hagans, Payton Walker and Hayden Logan, all of whom carried the ball over 10 times a year ago.

Hagans ran for 172 yards, Walker 87 and Logan 37.

The lone returner with over 100 yards receiving is Hagans with 28 receptions for 286 yards and two touchdowns.

Along with Hagans, the Panthers will look to Logan, Payson Coleman and Cooper Kleinkopf. All caught at least one pass last season.

Walker moves into prime position to take the helm on that side of the ball. Walker followed Davis with 34.5 tackles in 2022. Logan and Jaden Bauer both finished with over 20 tackles last year as well.

For Washington, things will look a lot different as they lose their leader in every statistical category.

Logan McDole will more than likely run the offense for the Demons. He was one of two players to throw the ball a year ago.

The Demons’ five top rushers are all gone.

The next four rushers from last season all return. They were Casen Evans (36 yards), McDole (17 yards), Julian Carter (seven yards) and Alec Ulin (six yards).

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Luke Beenblossom is the only returning receiver. Beenblossom was the third leading pass catcher. He caught eight passes for 70 yards and one touchdown.

Casen Evans, who tallied 66 tackles returns as well as Chase Greiner, Alec Ulin and Nicolaus Dittrich. All of which ended with 30 plus tackles.

Mount Vernon will be well built once again.

The Mustangs bring back starting quarterback Joey Rhomberg, who threw for 2,543 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2022.

In the rushing department, two of the top five rushers return. Jackson Hird rushed for 264 yards and four touchdowns a season ago, while Rhomberg ran for 210 yards and four touchdowns as well.

Leading receiver Evan Brase will be back. Brase caught 48 passes for 640 yards and six touchdowns.

Defensively, leading tackler Jackson Jaspers is back. He had 110.5 total tackles last season.

Davenport Assumption gets Jake Timmons at quarterback back. Timmons threw for 1,045 yards and six touchdowns.

The second and third leading rusher are back for the Knights. Angelo Jackson ran for 426 yards and 11 touchdowns. Timmons followed with 187 yards and one score.

Jackson was Assumptions leading receiver from a year ago. He finished with 311 yards and one touchdown. Bauer Caspers was the leading catcher, bringing in 25 passes for 155 yards and two scores.

Defensively, Keaton O’Neill is back. He finished with 70 total tackles last season.

Fort Madison loses its leading passer and will likely have Marcus Guzman under center. Guzman threw just three passes in 2022.

Rushing wise, Teague Smith is returning. Smith rushed for 621 yards and eight touchdowns last year. Hayden Segoviano returns as well. He had 113 yards rushing with a score.

The Bloodhounds top two receivers will be apart of the team. Henry Wiseman had 507 yard receiving with four scores. Leif Boeding tallied 424 yards with four scores as well.

Defensively, Hayden Segoviano ended with a team-high 63 tackles.

Keokuk brings back a lot of talent.

Starting quarterback Brenton Hoard is back under center. He had 1,163 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.

Malachai Douglas will be in the backfield. Douglas finished with 551 yards and two touchdowns last time around.

The top three receivers will be back. Diego Garcia (624 yards, eight touchdowns), Drew Campbell (203 yards, three touchdowns) and Chase Eckland (159 yards, one touchdown) are all back.

On defense, Douglas was the third leading tackler and highest returner. He had 39 tackles in 2022.

2022 Overall Records

1. Mount Vernon, 12-1

2. Fort Madison, 7-3

3. Washington, 5-4

4. Davenport Assumption, 4-5

5. Keokuk, 2-7

6. Mt. Pleasant, 0-9