OABCIG leads Class 2A preseason football rankings

The 2022 Cedar Rapids Gazette preseason football rankings were released last weekend, and Class 2A has a clear favorite. Ida Grove OABCIG, a quarterfinalist from last season, was ranked No. 1 by seven votes.

Ida Grove picked up five of the six first place votes in the poll. The only other first place vote went to No. 2 Central Lyon/George-Little Rock.

Williamsburg is ranked No. 3. The Raiders play in District 6, along with Mid-Prairie.

1. Ida Grove OABCIG

Poll points: 58 (5 first-place votes)

2021 record: 9-2 overall, 4-1 Class 2A District 2 (T-1st)

2021 postseason: Class 2A quarterfinalist

Key returners: RB/LB Griffin Diersen, sr. (964 rushing yards, 8 TDs; 23 receptions, 242 yards, 2 TDs; 88 tackles; 1st-team all-state); OT/DT Luke Swanger, sr. (2nd-team all-state); QB/CB Beckett DeJean, sr. (2,955 passing yards, 30 TDs; 423 rushing yards, 8 TDs; 6 INTs; 2nd-team all-state)

Key games: Southeast Valley, Sept. 16; at Spirit Lake, Sept. 23; at Estherville, Oct. 7

2. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock

Poll points: 51 (1 first-place vote)

2021 record: 7-4 overall, 4-1 Class 2A District 1 (2nd)

2021 postseason: Class 2A quarterfinalist

Key returners: QB/S Zach Lutmer, sr. (1,016 passing yards, 8 TDs; 1,246 rushing yards, 22 TDs; 46.5 tackles; 4 INTs; 1st-team all-state); RB/S Graham Eben, jr. (321 rushing yards, 4 TDs; 11 receptions, 200 yards, 3 TDs; 3rd-team all-state); WR/LB Gable Van Beek, sr. (50.5 tackles)

Key games: At Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Sept. 2; West Sioux, Sept. 9; West Lyon, Sept. 16

3. Williamsburg

Poll points: 43

2021 record: 8-4 overall, 5-0 Class 2A District 6 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 2A semifinalist

Key returners: RB/DL Owen Douglas, sr. (316 rushing yards, 6 TDs; 50 tackles; 1st-team all-state); TE/S Derek Weisskopf, jr. (23 receptions, 372 yards, 5 TDs; 80 tackles; 3 INTs; 2nd-team all-state); RB/LB Gable Douglas, sr. (832 rushing yards, 8 TDs; 68 tackles)

Key games: Iowa City Regina, Aug. 26; at Van Meter, Sept. 2; Solon, Sept. 9

4. West Marshall

Poll points: 35

2021 record: 9-2 overall, 5-0 Class 2A District 7 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 2A quarterfinalist

Key returners: OL/DL Sam Schaper, sr. (30.5 tackles; 1st-team all-state); OL/DL Austin Pfantz, sr. (56.5 tackles; 3 fumble recoveries; 1st-team all-state); QB/LB Peyton Hart, sr. (794 passing yards, 5 TDs; 1,020 rushing yards, 21 TDs; 1st-team all-state); OL/DL Zach Chaplin, sr. (2nd-team all-state); RB/LB Caden Vallinga, sr. (61.5 tackles; 3rd-team all-state)

Key games: At Nevada, Sept. 2; at South Hamilton, Sept. 9; Chariton, Sept. 16

5. West Lyon

Poll points: 28

2021 record: 10-3 overall, 5-0 Class 2A District 1 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 2A runner-up

Key returners: RB/LB Jude Moser, sr. (606 rushing yards, 12 TDs); RB/LB Gunner Grems, sr. (48 tackles); WR/S Camden Kruse, sr. (3 INTs)

Key games: Estherville ELC, Sept. 2; at Central Lyon-GLR, Sept. 16; at Unity Christian, Oct. 7

6. Monticello

Poll points: 24

2021 record: 7-3 overall, 4-1 Class 2A District 5 (T-1st)

2021 postseason: Class 2A second round

Key returners: K/DE Christian Castillo, sr. (37-41 PAT, 6-7 FG; 1st-team all-state); QB/LB Preston Ries, jr. (2,594 passing yards, 20 TDs; 1,343 rushing yards, 14 TDs; 2nd-team all-state); WR/CB Tate Petersen, sr. (60 receptions, 810 yards, 4 TDs; 64.5 tackles; 6 INTs; 3rd-team all-state

Key games: At Cascade, Aug. 26; at Dyersville Beckman, Sept. 9; West Liberty, Sept. 23

7. Southeast Valley

Poll points: 16

2021 record: 12-1 overall, 4-1 Class 2A District 2 (T-1st)

2021 postseason: Class 2A state champion

Key returners: OL.LB Justin Loseke, sr. (82.5 tackles; 2nd-team all-state); WR/S Eli Johnson, sr. (32 receptions, 755 yards, 10 TDs)

Key games: at Ida Grove OABCIG, Sept. 16; Estherville ELC, Sept. 23; Spirit Lake, Oct. 14

8. Unity Christian

Poll points: 15

2021 record: 5-4 overall, 3-2 Class 2A District 1 (3rd)

2021 postseason: Class 2A qualifier

Key returners: QB Braeden Bosma, soph. (1,162 passing yards, 13 TDs); RB Trevor Wieringa, sr. (735 rushing yards, 4 TDs); WR Jacob Van Donge, sr. (34 receptions, 510 yards, 5 TDs; 3 INTs)

Key games: At Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Sept. 9; Central Lyon-GLR, Sept. 30; West Lyon, Oct. 7

9. North Fayette Valley

Poll points: 14

2021 record: 9-2 overall, 4-1 Class 2A District 4 (2nd)

2021 postseason: Class 2A quarterfinalist

Key returners: QB/LB Kaleb White, sr. (371 rushing yards, 5 TDs; 936 passing yards, 13 TDs; 62.5 tackles; 2nd-team all-state); FB/DE Blake Reichter, sr. (734 rushing yards, 10 TDs; 41.5 tackles); OG/LB Tyler Menne, sr. (50.5 tackles)

Key games: At Sumner-Fredericksburg, Sept. 2; Waukon, Sept. 16; at Dubuque Wahlert, Sept. 23

10. New Hampton

Poll points: 10

2021 record: 5-4 overall, 4-1 District 3 (T-1st)

2021 postseason: Class 2A qualifier

Key returners: RB/LB Braden McShane, jr. (1,248 rushing yards, 13 TDs; 57 tackles; 2nd-team all-state); RB/LB Ben Tenge, sr. (52.5 tackles); FB/LB Isaac Howe, sr. (47 tackles)

Key games: MFL MarMac, Aug. 26; at Crestwood, Sept. 23; at Osage, Sept. 30