Iowa high school football 2021: Picking the area Class A districts

This is the second in a series diving into the area high school football districts for the 2021 season. Today, we examine Class A.

» 8-Player district predictions

Fifty-six teams are assigned to Class A, with 32 advancing to the playoffs. The math is simple here — the top four teams in each of eight districts advance.

The Class A regular season will be eight games, with five rounds of playoffs. Teams not making the playoffs will be permitted to play a ninth regular-season contest.

A closer look at area districts:

District 4

OVERVIEW

South Winneshiek (8-2) was the only team of these seven to finish on the plus side of .500, but the Warriors were hit hard by graduation, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. So that makes this a toss-up district with as many as five teams battling for four postseason spots. Bellevue is a very slight favorite behind senior Jacob Waller (774 rushing yards, 20 receptions, nine total touchdowns, 49 tackles). Clayton Ridge (3-6) is on its way up; the Eagles snapped a 14-game losing streak last year, winning three of their final five games. Their top six tacklers are back. North Linn (2-6) and Starmont (1-7) also should be ready to make lengthy steps forward. Starmont’s Bowen Munger ran for 801 yards last year and made 77.5 tackles.

PROJECTIONS (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Bellevue

2. *Clayton Ridge

3. *North Linn

4. *South Winneshiek

5. Starmont

6. East Buchanan

7. Maquoketa Valley

District 5

OVERVIEW

No sense in burying the lead: Lisbon (7-3) is stacked and a heavy favorite to run away with this district. Jamien Moore and Kaden Caspers combined to rush for 1,424 yards and 16 touchdowns, and track star Kole Becker is a big-play threat on the perimeter. The three teams that beat Alburnett (6-3) were a combined 26-4, including eventual state champion Iowa City Regina in the third round of the postseason. But the Pirates have a significant number of players to replace. Highland (1-6) might be ready to make a big move behind solid two-way player Connor Grinstead, and Wapello (4-4) has the inside track to the final playoff spot.

PROJECTIONS (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Lisbon

2. *Alburnett

3. *Highland

4. *Wapello

5. North Cedar

6. Pekin

7. Columbus Community

Other area districts

DISTRICT 3

1. *Grundy Center

2. *Ackley AGWSR

3. *Hudson

4. *Wapsie Valley

5. North Tama

6. Nashua-Plainfield

7. Conrad BCLUW

DISTRICT 6

1. *Belle Plaine

2. *Lynnville-Sully

3. *Madrid

4. *Ogden

5. Colfax-Mingo

6. North Mahaska

7. Wayne

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com