West Sioux leads Class 1A rankings

The Gazette’s preseason Class 1A football rankings were dominated by last year’s runner-up. West Sioux lost to Van Meter in the title game last year, but a big core of returners helped the Falcons earn the top spot.

West Sioux earned every first place vote. Defending champ Van Meter will start the year in fourth.

Of the Union area Class 1A teams, Sigourney-Keota was ranked for much of the last two years, but due to a big graduating class, the Cobras do not find themselves in this year’s preseason rankings.

Cardinal has also jumped in and out of the rankings in recent years. The Comets were also shut out from getting any votes.

Notable teams in the rankings include No. 2 Dike-New Hartford, which knocked Sigourney-Keota out of the playoffs last season. Iowa City Regina is ranked at No. 6, and Mediapolis received votes.

1. West Sioux

Poll points: 60 (6 first-place votes)

2021 record: 11-2 overall, 5-0 Class 1A District 1 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 1A runner-up

Key returners: RB/LB Brady Lynott, sr. (50 receptions, 967 yards, 13 TDs; 6 rushing TDs; 71 tackles; 1st-team all-state); QB/CB Dylan Wiggins, sr. (3,011 passing yards, 34 TDs; 537 rushing yards, 1 TD; 1st-team all-state); RB/LB Carter Bultman, sr. (1,287 rushing yards, 12 TDs; 39 receptions, 472 yards, 8 TDs; 30 tackles; 2nd-team all-state)

Key games: Hartley HMS, Aug. 26; at Sioux Center, Sept. 2; at Central Lyon-GLR, Sept. 9

T-2. Dike-New Hartford

Poll points: 38

2021 record: 11-1 overall, 5-0 Class 1A District 3 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 1A semifinalist

Key returners: OG/DT Wil Textor, sr. (44 tackles; 1st-team all-state); C/LB Nick Reinicke, sr. (102.5 tackles; 1st-team all-state); RB/CB Jerek Hall, sr. (1,658 rushing yards, 20 TDs; 2nd-team all-state)

Key games: At Grundy Center, Sept. 2; at Aplington-Parkersburg, Sept. 30; Denver, Oct. 7

T-2. Dyersville Beckman

Poll points: 38

2021 record: 11-1 overall, 5-0 Class 1A District 4 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 1A semifinalist

Key returners: QB/S Cayden Gassman, sr. (1,313 passing yards, 16 TDs; 765 rushing yards, 9 TDs; 4 INTs; 1st-team all-state); OL Brett Burlage, sr. (2nd-team all-state); RB/LB Nick Wulfekuhle, sr. (421 rushing yards, 5 TDs; 50 tackles)

Key games: Monticello, Sept. 9; at Waterloo Columbus, Sept. 30; at MFL MarMac, Oct. 14

4. Van Meter

Poll points: 36

2021 record: 13-0 overall, 5-0 Class 1A District 7 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 1A champion

Key returners: QB/LB Ben Gilliland, sr. (46 tackles; 1st-team all-state); WR/CB Carter Durlinger, sr. (42 tackles, 3rd-team all-state); RB/CB Ben Gordon, jr. (295 rushing yards, 3 TDs)

Key games: Williamsburg, Sept. 2; Winterset, Sept. 9; at Guthrie Center ACGC, Oct. 14

5. Pella Christian

Poll points: 34

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

2021 postseason: Class 1A second round

Key returners: QB/LB Isaac Kacmarynski, sr. (1,586 passing yards, 20 TDs; 927 rushing yards, 16 TDs; 57 tackles; 3 fumble recoveries; 3rd-team all-state); TE/DB Josiah Diehl, sr. (47.5 tackles); RB/S Peyton Ritzert, sr. (44 tackles)

Key games: Des Moines Christian, Aug. 26; at Sigourney-Keota, Sept. 23; Pleasantville, Sept. 30

6. Iowa City Regina

Poll points: 30

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

2021 postseason: Class 1A second round

Key returners: QB/S Jack Tierney, sr. (563 rushing yards, 5 TDs; 937 passing yards, 9 TDs); RB/LB Levi Daniel, sr. (1,033 rushing yards, 14 TDs; 29.5 tackles); TE/LB Ronan Poynton, sr. (29.5 tackles)

Key games: At Williamsburg, Aug. 26; at Mediapolis, Sept. 16; at West Branch, Oct. 7

7. Underwood

Poll points: 26

2021 record: 10-1 overall, 5-0 Class 1A District 7 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 1A quarterfinalist

Key returners: QB/DB Alex Ravlin, sr. (2,358 passing yards, 27 TDs; 408 rushing yards, 4 TDs; 2nd-team all-state); WR/DB Mason Boothby, jr. (19 receptions, 257 yards, 3 TDs); WR/LB Wyatt Baker, sr. (30.5 tackles)

Key games: At Tri-Center, Aug. 26; Treynor, Sept. 30; at Carroll Kuemper, Oct. 14)

8. West Branch

Poll points: 15

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

2021 postseason: Class 1A second round

Key returners: RB/LB Andy Henson, sr. (1,320 rushing yards, 16 TDs; 42.5 tackles; 3rd-team all-state); QB/CB Carver Boelk, sr. (902 passing yards, 5 TDs; 265 rushing yards, 6 TDs); WR/CB Holden Arnaman, jr. (3 INTs)

Key games: At Waterloo Columbus, Sept. 2; Mediapolis, Sept. 23; Iowa City Regina, Oct. 7

T-9. Aplington-Parkersburg

Poll points: 14

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

2021 postseason: Class 1A qualifier

Key returners: OT/DT Joe Johnson, sr. (26.5 tackles; 3rd-team all-state); RB/LB Aidan Junker, sr. (976 rushing yards, 8 TDs; 58.5 tackles); WR/CB Kaden Huttinger, sr. (35 receptions, 566 yards, 5 TDs; 34 tackles)

Key games: Osage, Sept. 2; Denver, Sept. 16; Dike-New Hartford, Sept. 30

T-9. Denver

Poll points: 14

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

2021 postseason: Class 1A qualifier

Key returners: OT/DT Logan Beaty, jr. (3rd-team all-state); QB/S Tye Bradley, sr. (1,061 passing yards, 12 TDs; 350 rushing yards, 4 TDs); Ethan Schoville, sr. (1,099 rushing yards, 11 TDs)

Key games: At Wapsie Valley, Aug. 26; at Aplington-Parkersburg, Sept. 16; at Dike-New Hartford, Oct. 7

Others receiving votes

MFL MarMac 11, Guthrie Center ACGC 7, Waterloo Columbus 3, South Central Calhoun 2, Mediapolis 2.