WMU, WACO open year ranked

The Cedar Rapids Gazette preseason poll began its 2023 preseason roll out over the weekend, and there are a couple of familiar teams on the Class 8-Player list.

The Gazette poll is voted on by mostly Gazette sports writers, but also takes a vote from the Southeast Iowa Union.

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Winfield-Mount Union was expected to be highly ranked. The Wolves went 6-4 last year and made the playoffs, and bring much of the 2023 squad back, including Iowa commit Cam Buffington and Army commit Abram Edwards.

WACO slipped in as the No. 10 team in the class after going undefeated up until the state championship last season. The Warriors lost a ton of talent to graduation, but still bring back some big pieces, such as junior running back Louden Huisenga, who was the second-leading rusher for WACO last season, and Colton Leichty, who finished second on the team in tackles.

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Gladbrook-Reinbeck earned the No. 1 spot in the rankings, getting four of the six first place votes. Defending state Remsen St. Mary’s is ranked No. 8.

Both WMU and WACO have tough games in Week 1. The Wolves play at No. 3 Central City, and the Warriors play No. 7 Fremont-Mills in Des Moines.

Key Week 1 8-Player games to watch?

Games kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, unless otherwise noted.

No. 4 Winfield-Mount Union at No. 3 Central City

Don Bosco at No. 1 Gladbrook-Reinbeck

No. 5 Southeast Warren at Montezuma

Harris-Lake Park at No. 8 Remsen St. Mary’s

No. 7 Fremont-Mills vs. No. 10 WACO (Saturday, Aug. 26 at Valley Stadium, West Des Moines)

Class 8-Player preseason football rankings

1. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (9-2, state quarterfinalist) 57 (4 first-place)

2. Anita CAM (7-3, second-round playoff qualifier) 47 (1)

3. Central City (8-2, second-round playoff qualifier) 41

4. Winfield-Mount Union (6-4, playoff qualifier) 32

5. Southeast Warren (9-2, second-round playoff qualifier) 31

6. Moravia (7-3, playoff qualifier) 21

7. Fremont-Mills (8-3, state quarterfinalist) 17

8. Remsen St. Mary’s (13-0, state champion) 16 (1)

9. Lenox (11-1, state semifinalist) 14

10. WACO (13-1, state runner-up) 12