4 Downs: Gazette staff pontificates about the Iowa high school football season

The Gazette’s Iowa high school football staff poses answers to questions about the current season. Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Nathan Ford share their thoughts in 4 Downs:

1st & 10: Which running back(s) has emerged as a standout this season?

Linder: It would be easy to pick Grant Glausser of Western Dubuque, who leads the state in rushing yards through four weeks. But he was already a proven commodity with 1,500-plus yards last year. So I’ll pick Ishara Kalolero (638 yards, 9.8 per carry, 9 TDs), who has been a major factor in Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s rise.

Johnson: Certainly Glausser needs to be toward or at the top of the list. He’s got 906 yards in four games. Maquoketa Valley’s Lance McShane has been a do-it-all back for Maquoketa Valley. Don’t forget Jefferson’s Kalolero, who has nine touchdowns and is averaging 9.8 yards a carry.

Pilcher: Kalolero has been a pleasant surprise and a big part of the J-Hawks’ resurrection. Don’t overlook Decorah’s Dakota Johnson. He has rushed for 625 yards on 70 carries, averaging 8.9 yards per carry. Johnson has eight touchdowns and has rushed for at 120 yards and one TD in each of the first four games.

Ford: OK, Conlan Poynton is technically a quarterback, but wears No. 22 and is the guy who immediately came to mind when I saw the word “emerged.” The Solon sophomore didn’t get a touch in the Spartans’ first three games, but ran 19 times for 286 yards and three touchdowns (and completed a pass) in last week’s 37-20 win over then-No. 2 Mount Vernon. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of him this season.

2nd & long: What are the toughest districts in Class 4A and groups in 5A? What is the toughest district-opening matchup?

Linder: Going to focus on 4A here since 5A group races don’t mean much in terms of playoff qualification. It’s a tough call between District 4 and District 5, but I’m going to go with the latter. I think four teams in this district – Adel ADM, North Polk, Ballard and Indianola – are capable of a deep postseason run, but only two (or maybe three) of them will make the field of 16. Add a 3-1 Boone team, and this is one deep group. ADM is at Boone on Friday; Ballard is at Indianola.

Johnson: Class 4A-4 stands out to me, with Bondurant-Farrar, Carlisle, Newton, Pella, Gilbert. 4A-5, with ADM, Ballard, Indianola and North Polk appears to be a bear as well. In 5A, I look at a group with Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Bettendorf and Iowa City High. That City High-Kennedy game Friday night at Bates Field should be a beauty.

Pilcher: I’m giving the nod to District 4 in 4A. You have No. 3 Bondurant-Farrar, No. 6 Gilbert (only unbeaten team in the class), Carlisle, Newton and Pella, which just beat Cedar Rapids Xavier. 4A District 3 includes traditional powers Xavier and North Scott. 4A District 5 has co-No. 1 ADM and No. 5 North Polk but I’m not sold on Ballard, Indianola and Boone to making as deep. In 5A, one group includes unbeaten Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Iowa City High. My three top teams in Eastern Iowa. Kennedy and City High have righted their ships after 0-2 starts and play each other Friday at Bates Field.

Ford: Class 4A District 4 intrigues me. Bondurant-Farrar looks like the favorite, but will have plenty of challengers. Gilbert is off to a hot start, but Newton had high expectations this fall and Carlisle and Pella both beat ranked teams last week. In 3A, circle No. 2 Harlan at No. 3 Creston this Friday. I think the unbeaten Panthers should be ranked higher right now and they have a chance to prove it against the perennial powerhouse.

3rd & short: Reader submitted question: What are your theories on parity and several surprising results this season?

Linder: I’m a fan of parity. What fun is a list of games each week in which you know the majority of the results ahead of time? A lot of the early parity stems from the IHSAA pairing teams with fairly equal strength throughout non-district play. With district action beginning this week in the larger classes, we’ll see the top teams begin to separate themselves.

Johnson: It’s been good for a Jefferson, for instance, to schedule “like” opponents. And the J-Hawks have not just beaten these teams, but dominated them. Then you look at the other end of it, where a West Des Moines Valley is scheduling its fellow suburban schools to get ready for its district. Another thought: I can’t figure out Class 4A. At all. As far as parity, at least in 5A, someone from this side of the state needs to knock off one of the big dogs in Central Iowa for it to be a thing.

Pilcher: Parity is tricky. Media and neutral fans love parity. You know who doesn’t love parity? Coaches and fans of specific programs. They prefer one-sided dominance in their favor. Class 4A has been a classic example of parity. Gilbert is the lone unbeaten team in the class. Four teams in 5A are unbeaten, while eight 8-Player teams haven’t lost. The head-scratching results in 4A from week-to-week have provided frustration for rankings, but it has led to excitement to see scores late Friday night.

Ford: While the district format in high school football can be a little complicated to follow every two years, credit the IHSAA for its non-district scheduling this year (and its previous reworking of Class 5A schedules). I haven’t had time to do the research to support this, but my theory is with fewer district games in the bigger classes, there are more games featuring evenly-matched teams and fewer blowouts. Just look at the loss column in our 5A and 4A rankings.

4th & goal: Marching bands have always been a huge part of the Friday Night experience. What bands have impressed you so far this season?

Linder: Big fan of marching bands here (though I was a horrific baritone player). Marion and Iowa City High are the best I’ve seen to this point.

Johnson: I’m not falling into this trap. ALL of them!

Pilcher: Marching bands have been a staple of Friday night games. From the national anthem to fight songs to halftime performances, they add to the atmosphere and can enhance to the excitement. I am a big propoent of how Cedar Rapids Public Schools handle things, allowing one school to play in the pre-game and the other perform at halftime during intracity games. The Band of Blue at Jefferson has been one of the best around the area.

Ford: Every Saturday during the commercial fests that are FBS college football games, I appreciate even more the high school live streams that keep running during Friday night halftimes. Last week I happened to have Pella’s opened and it looked like a great show.