WACO No. 4 in preseason rankings

It’s an exciting time of year on the football fields in Henry County. The County’s three small schools, all coming off successful 2021 campaigns, and there’s reason to believe this fall could bring some magic on the gridiron to WACO, Winfield-Mount Union and New London.

While the ladder team didn’t appear in the 2022 Gazette preseason football poll, the former two did. While WMU received votes in the poll, WACO landed in the Top-5.

WACO received 32 votes in the poll, pitting them in fourth place heading into the new year. The Warriors are ranked behind heavy preseason favorites Remsen St. Mary’s and Easton Valley, who went one and two, and Newell-Fonda, which sits just two points above WACO on the list.

WACO went 10-1 overall last year and won Class 8-Player’s District 6 with a 6-0 record. The Warriors came one game away from a state title, falling 34-30 in a quarterfinal thriller against Audubon.

The Warriors bring back a lot of talent, including first team All-State running back Simeon Reichenbach, who ran for 1,413 yards and 23 touchdowns.

On Saturday, the Warriors will put their No. 4 ranking on the line when they take on Southeast Warren during the 8-Player showcase at Martensdale-St. Mary’s High School.

Before the Warriors take the field, a pair of teams who received votes will go at it. WMU will play Audubon at 2 p.m., before WACO and Southeast Warren show down at 5:30 p.m.

The Wolves, led by future Iowa Hawkeye Cam Buffington (1,157 passing yards, 1,028 rushing yards, 35 total TDs) will take on the same Wheeler team that eliminated WACO in last year’s playoffs.

Listed below is the first edition of The Gazette’s high school football rankings, as chosen by writers from The Gazette and Southeast Iowa Union sports editor Andy Krutsinger.

1. Remsen St. Mary’s

Poll points: 59 (5 first-place votes)

2021 record: 11-1 overall, 6-0 8-Player District 1 (1st)

2021 postseason: 8-Player semifinalist

Key returners: QB/LB Cael Ortmann, sr. (1,768 passing yards, 32 TDs; 1,198 rushing yards, 30 TDs; 42 tackles; 2nd-team all-state); RB/LB Brenden Fisch, sr. (825 rushing yards, 14 TDs; 71 tackles); WR/CB Ryan Willman, sr. (24 catches, 770 yards, 15 TDs; 59 tackles; 6 INTs)

Key games: At Harris-Lake Park, Aug. 26; Kingsley-Pierson, Sept. 16; at Newell-Fonda, Sept. 30

2. Easton Valley

Poll points: 55 (1 first-place vote)

2021 record: 12-1 overall, 7-0 8-Player District 5 (1st)

2021 postseason: 8-Player runner-up

Key returners: WR/CB Carson Fuegen, sr. (88 receptions, 1,091 yards, 16 TDs; 75.5 tackles; 8 INTs; 1st-team all-state); TE/DE Hayden Felkey, sr. (47 receptions, 1,035 yards, 19 TDs; 135 tackles; 1st-team all-state); RB/LB Charlie Simpson, sr., 1,310 rushing yards, 29 TDs; 52 tackles; 3nd-team all-state)

Key games: At Don Bosco, Aug. 26; at Central City, Sept. 23; at Edgewood-Colesburg, Oct. 7

3. Newell-Fonda

Poll points: 34

2021 record: 9-2 overall, 5-1 8-Player District 1 (2nd)

2021 postseason: 8-Player quarterfinalist

Key returners: QB/CB Mason Dicks, sr. (1,643 passing yards, 20 TDs; 1,443 rushing yards, 26 TDs; 49.5 tackles; 3 INTs; 3rd-team all-state); RB/LB Wyatt Kreft, sr. (824 rushing yards, 14 TDs); RB/LB Ryan Greenfield, sr. (55 tackles)

Key games: At West Bend-Mallard, Aug. 26; Algona Garrigan, Sept. 16; Remsen St. Mary’s, Sept. 30

4. WACO

Poll points: 32

2021 record: 10-1 overall, 6-0 8-Player District 6 (1st)

2021 postseason: 8-Player quarterfinalist

Key returners: QB/LB Simeon Reichenbach, sr. (1,413 rushing yards, 23 TDs; 11 catches, 176 yards; 3 INTs; 1st-team all-state); WR/CB Mason Miller, sr. (9 INTs, 2nd-team all-state); QB/S Isaac Oswald, sr. (827 passing yards, 10 TDs)

Key games: New London, Sept. 23; Winfield-Mount Union, Oct. 7

5. Lenox

Poll points: 30

2021 record: 9-1 overall, 6-0 8-Player District 9 (1st)

2021 postseason: 8-Player second round

Key returners: RB/DB Isaac Grundman, sr. (1,669 rushing yards, 32 TDs; 3rd-team all-state); QB/DB Gabe Funk, soph. (534 passing yards, 9 TDs); RB/LB Keigan Kitzman, sr. (631 rushing yards, 11 TDs; 44.5 tackles)

Key games: At East Mills, Sept. 2; Fremont-Mills, Oct. 14

6. Anita CAM

Poll points: 21

2021 record: 13-0 overall, 6-0 8-Player District 10 (1st)

2021 postseason: 8-Player champion

Key returners: TE/LB Sam Foreman, sr. (9 receptions, 225 yards, 3 TDs); LB Jack Follman, jr. (80.5 tackles); LB Austin Williams, jr. (56.5 tackles; 3 fumble recoveries; 4 INTs)

Key games: Fremont-Mills, Aug. 26; West Harrison, Sept. 9; at Exira-EHK, Sept 30.

7. Don Bosco

Poll points: 18

2021 record: 8-3 overall, 6-0 8-Player District 4 (1st)

2021 postseason: 8-Player quarterfinalist

Key returners: OL/DL Jared Thiry, sr. (44 tackles; 3 fumble recoveries; 2nd-team all-state); QB Ty Purdy, sr. (1,068 passing yards, 15 TDs); RB Myles McMahon, sr. (972 rushing yards, 15 TDs; 44 tackles)

Key games: Easton Valley, Aug. 26; at Turkey Valley, Sept. 2; Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Oct. 7

8. Turkey Valley

Poll points: 13

2021 record: 9-1 overall, 6-0 8-Player District 3 (1st)

2021 postseason: 8-Player second round

Key returners: QB/CB Noah Hanson, sr. (498 rushing yards, 7 TDs; 751 passing yards, 13 TDs); FB/LB Oliver Schmitt, jr. (34.5 tackles); RB/CB Calvin Bodensteiner, sr. (31.5 tackles, 4 INTs)

Key games: Don Bosco, Sept. 2; at Tripoli, Oct. 7

9. Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Poll points: 12

2021 record: 7-2 overall, 5-1 8-Player District 4 (2nd)

2021 postseason: 8-Player qualifier

Key returners: QB/DB Isaac Clark, jr. (1,281 passing yards, 21 TDs); WR/DB Luke Riffey, sr. (33 receptions, 437 yards, 7 TDs; 4 fumble recoveries); WR/CB Caleb Egesdal, sr. (31 receptions, 587 yards, 6 TDs)

Key games: At Dunkerton, Sept. 9; at Don Bosco, Oct. 7

10. Ruthven GTRA

Poll points: 11

2021 record: 8-2 overall, 5-1 8-Player District 2 (T-1st)

2021 postseason: 8-Player second round

Key returners: QB/LB Max Hough, sr. (1,255 passing yards, 23 TDs; 1,521 rushing yards, 17 TDs; 81.5 tackles; 2nd-team all-state); RB/S Drew Schnell, sr. (20 receptions, 297 yards, 5 TDs; 48.5 tackles; 3 INTs); OG/DT Jordan Saul, sr. (63.5 tackles)

Key games: Kingsley-Pierson, Aug. 26; West Bend-Mallard, Sept. 23; Algona Garrigan, Oct. 7

Others receiving votes

West Bend-Mallard 9, BGM 8, Audubon 7, Fremont-Mills 6, Harris-Lake Park 5, West Harrison 4, Winfield-Mount Union 4, Exira-EHK 2.