Mid-Prairie ranked in preseason

The Cedar Rapids Gazette’s preseason football polls continue to get rolled out ahead of the 2024 season and, once again, a Union area team finds itself with some early fall hype.

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After a slow start to the 2023 season, the Golden Hawks turned an 0-3 record into 4-4 to slip into the Class 2A playoffs last fall. Mid-Prairie blasted Northeast 49-18 before falling to PCM in the second round.

The Golden Hawks bring back a wealth of talent, including starting quarterback Brady Weber, starting running back Hudson Ehrenfelt and leading tackler Kaden Kos.

Spirit Lake, which went to the state semifinals, is ranked No. 1 to begin the season. State champion Van Meter drops to fourth.

Capsules on the Class 2A contenders:

1. Spirit Lake

Poll points: 58 (4 first-place votes)

2023 record: 10-2 overall, 5-0 Class 2A District 2 (1st)

2023 postseason: 2A semifinalist

Returning all-staters: WR Dylan Stecker, sr. (1st team), WB Will Dittsworth, sr. (2nd team), WR Ethan Stecker, sr. (2nd team)

Key games: Algona, Aug. 30; at Spencer, Sept. 13; at Okoboji, Sept. 27

2. West Lyon

Poll points: 53 (2 first-place votes)

2023 record: 9-2 overall, 4-1 Class 2A District 1 (2nd)

2023 postseason: 2A quarterfinalist

Returning all-staters: OL Bryce Kock, jr. (1st team), DB Carson Meyer, sr. (1st team), D-UT Jaxan Huyser, sr. (1st team), RB Tate Hawf, sr. (2nd team)

Key games: At Ida Grove OABCIG, Sept. 13; Western Christian, Sept. 27; at Cherokee, Oct. 4; Central Lyon-GLR, Oct. 18

3. Monroe PCM

Poll points: 43

2023 record: 8-3 overall, 5-0 Class 2A District 6 (1st)

2023 postseason: 2A quarterfinalist

Returning all-staters: RB Adrian Robbins, sr. (1st team), DL Kaeden Clark, sr. (2nd team)

Key games: Pella Christian, Sept. 6; Nevada, Sept. 13; Union Community, Sept. 27

4. Van Meter

Poll points: 39

2023 record: 13-0 overall, 5-0 Class 2A District 7 (1st)

2023 postseason: 2A champion

Returning all-staters: OL Nathan Becker, sr. (1st team), PK Adlai Lounsbury, sr. (1st team), DB Caleb Moore, sr. (1st team)

Key games: Underwood, Aug. 30; Humboldt, Sept. 13; Clarinda, Sept. 20

5. Carroll Kuemper

Poll points: 35

2023 record: 8-3 overall, 5-0 Class 2A District 8 (1st)

2023 postseason: 2A quarterfinalist

Returning all-staters: OL Hayden Vonnahme, sr. (2nd team), LB Tate Bieret, sr. (2nd team)

Key games: At Underwood, Sept. 6; at Avoca AHSTW, Sept. 13; Roland-Story, Sept. 20

6. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock

Poll points: 28

2023 record: 12-1 overall, 5-0 Class 2A District 1 (1st)

2023 postseason: 2A runner-up

Returning all-staters: DL Jack Krull, sr. (1st team), LB Drew Kupferschmid, sr. (1st team), OL Sam Christensen, sr. (2nd team)

Key games: MOC-Floyd Valley, Sept. 6; Cherokee, Sept. 27; Western Christian, Oct. 11; at West Lyon, Oct. 18

7. Western Christian

Poll points: 23

2023 record: 7-3 overall, 3-2 Class 2A District 1 (3rd)

2023 postseason: 2A second round

Returning all-staters: None

Key games: At Hinton, Sept. 6; Cherokee, Sept. 20; at West Lyon, Sept. 27; at Central Lyon-GLR, Oct. 11

8. Mid-Prairie

Poll points: 13

2023 record: 5-5 overall, 4-1 Class 2A District 5 (2nd)

2023 postseason: 2A second round

Returning all-staters: None

Key games: At Wilton, Aug. 30; Iowa City Regina, Sept. 6; at Albia, Oct. 18

9. Clarinda

Poll points: 11

2023 record: 5-4 overall, 4-1 Class 2A District 7 (2nd)

2023 postseason: 2A second round

Returning all-staters: None

Key games: Treynor, Sept. 13; at Van Meter, Sept. 20

10. Cherokee

Poll points: 7

2023 record: 5-4 overall, 2-3 Class 2A District 1 (4th)

2023 postseason: 2A first round

Returning all-staters: D-UT Jaxan Paulsrud, jr. (2nd team)

Key games: At Marcus MMCRU, Aug. 30; at Western Christian, Sept. 20; at Central Lyon-GLR, Sept. 27; West Lyon, Oct. 4

Others receiving votes

North Fayette Valley 6, Roland-Story 4, Waukon 4, Mediapolis 2, Northeast 2, Anamosa 1, Unity Christian 1.