Football 2012: Area 2A preview

The following is a preseason football glance for area Class 2A districts:

2A DISTRICT 3

Overview -- They are defending state champions, they are down a class, and they have a lot coming back. Yeah, the

Union Knights are the team to beat. Quarterback Jay Scheel and receiver Trev Hadachek give the Knights one of the best pass-catch tandems around, in any class.

Osage and

New Hampton both qualified for the playoffs in 2011 and are well-fortified for a postseason return. Looking for a dark horse? Look no further than

Waukon, which is down from 3A and brings back its top rusher, top receiver and six of its top eight tacklers.

How they'll finish (*playoff qualifier) -- 1. Union*, 2. Waukon*, 3. Osage*, 4. New Hampton*, 5. Central Springs, 6. Hampton-Dumont, 7. Waterloo Columbus.

2A DISTRICT 4

Overview -- Top to bottom, this is one of the most balanced districts in 2A. Start with

Dyersville Beckman, a semifinalist that made eventual champ Iowa City Regina sweat before advancing. An exposive team last year, Beckman will be more defensive-minded this fall behind Kirby Kendrick (115 tackles). Keep close watch on

Center Point-Urbana, which comes into the season with loads of momentum. After starting 0-5, CPU won four straight to reach the 3A playoffs, and returns most of its lineup. Four teams will battle for the other two playoff slots; we'll pick

Cascade and

Mount Vernon to advance.

How they'll finish (*playoff qualifier) -- 1. Dyersville Beckman*, 2. Center Point-Urbana*, 3. Cascade*, 4. Mount Vernon*, 5. Monticello, 6. Camanche, 7. Northeast.

2A DISTRICT 5

Overview -- This appears to be a three-tier district. The top tier consists of

Mediapolis, and probably Mediapolis alone. The Bulldogs welcome back virtually every key cog from a team that advanced to the quarterfinals last year, and ought to make a deeper run this fall. Quarterback Jesse Ertz passed for 2,577 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. Unless we're way off the mark, we envision the second level -- the other playoff teams -- to consist of

West Liberty, Mid-Prairie and

Louisa-Muscatine. West Liberty reached the second round last year.

How they'll finish (*playoff qualifier) -- 1. Mediapolis*, 2. West Liberty*, 3. Mid-Prairie*, 4. Louisa-Muscatine*, 5. Columbus Junction, 6. Central Lee, 7. West Burlington-Notre Dame.