116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Iowa high school football 2023 preseason rankings: The Gazette’s 8-Player poll
Gladbrook-Reinbeck starts at No. 1
In the 23 years of the 8-Player class in Iowa high school football, 14 programs have claimed state championships.
Some of those schools have since closed or merged with others.
Only one is ranked in the top six of The Gazette’s 2023 preseason 8-Player rankings. Second-ranked Anita CAM, the 2021 champ, garnered a first-place vote and is ranked No. 2.
Meet the 8-Player No. 1 team: Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Gladbrook-Reinbeck earned top billing on four of six ballots and will begin the season with the No. 1 distinction next to its name. The Rebels do have 11-player championship history, claiming back-to-back Class A state titles in 2015 and 2016.
A pair of second-team all-state picks return to lead Gladbrook-Reinbeck, a state quarterfinalist last year that finished 9-2.
Senior quarterback Isaac Clark has thrown for 3,159 yards and 51 touchdowns to just nine interceptions the last two seasons. Austin Vaverka led the Rebels in rushing (1,155 yards, 20 touchdowns) and total tackles (79, 16 for loss) and was second with 412 yards receiving in 2022.
Which 2022 Dome teams are in the 8-Player rankings?
Remsen St. Mary’s started last season No. 1 and ended it with a state championship. The Hawks received one first-place vote this time around and come in at No. 8 overall after an undefeated 2022 campaign.
After coming up short to St. Mary’s, 38-16, in its first title-game appearance, WACO is ranked No. 10 to begin the 2023 season.
No. 9 Lenox also reached the semifinals last November.
Who are the ranked Gazette area 8-Player teams?
Third-ranked Central City is the only Gazette area team in the poll. The Wildcats picked up votes last season but weren’t ranked in the final Gazette top 10.
Central City brings back most of its top offensive weapons and seven of its leading eight tacklers from an 8-2 team that fell to WACO in the second round of the playoffs.
What are some 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)
The Gazette’s Iowa high school football 8-Player preseason rankings
| Ranking | School | 2022 season | Poll points |
| 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 |
Others receiving votes: Don Bosco 10, Montezuma 7, West Harrison 7, Bedford 5, Harris-Lake Park 5, Newell-Fonda 5, Ruthven GTRA 2, East Union 1
Find the full rankings here if you’re having trouble seeing them on this post.
Comments: nathan.ford@thegazette.com
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