New football districts released

The Iowa High School Athletic Association released the new football district list for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, and there are certainly some changes ahead of the new two-year schedule.

The most notable changes were revealed earlier this month as the IHSAA’s new classification system pushed Mt. Pleasant back to Class 3A, along with rivals Fairfield and Washington, and dropped Van Buren County down to Class 1A.

On Monday, a huge chunk of each team’s schedule was made known as district assignments for all seven football classes were revealed.

In Class 3A, just two of the three Union are big schools are grouped together. Mt. Pleasant and Washington will take part in Class 3A, District 4, and Fairfield was pushed west to District 5.

The Panthers and Demons are joined by Southeast Conference foes Fort Madison and Keokuk. Also joining District 4 is Davenport Assumption and Mount Vernon.

District 5 has no other SEC teams besides the Trojans. Fairfield’s new district now consists of Benton Community, Grinnell, Solon, South Tama and Williamsburg.

Mid-Prairie is the only Class 2A team in the Union coverage area. The Golden Hawks were put in Class 2A District 5, along with Albia, Central Lee, Donnellson, Davis County, Mediapolis and West Burlington-Notre Dame.

Cardinal and Sigourney-Keota will face off in district play once again, as both teams were put in Class 1A District 6. Alongside the Comets and Cobras are Colfax-Mingo, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, Pella Christian and Pleasantville.

Van Buren County’s journey to Class A comes with some very familiar foes, as Class A District 5 hosts the most Union area teams, at four. Columbus, Highland and Pekin will join VBC in the new district, as will Danville, which splits off from the Mt. Pleasant co-op. Also in A-5 are Lisbon, Louisa-Muscatine and Wapello.

The area’s Class 8-Player teams are back together once again. New London, WACO and Winfield-Mount Union will all play in District 6, accompanied by English Valleys, HLV and Tri-County.

Hillcrest Academy players, which play at Clear Creek-Amana, will be in Class 4A District 3. That district includes Burlington, Clinton, North Scott, Oskaloosa and Xavier.