4 Downs: Gazette staff returns to answer Iowa high school football questions

We’re baaaack! The Gazette’s Iowa high school football staff poses and answers questions about the current season. Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Nathan Ford set up a big return for 4 Downs:

1st & 10: What program will be most impacted by a change of classes due to the new socioeconomic factor?

Linder: I think you have to start with Cedar Rapids Washington. The east-side school was the last 5A team this year at No. 36, and any further decline will put Washington into 4A, and next time, it might be for good.

Johnson: Cedar Rapids Washington. Warriors were pretty competitive in Class 4A, but still right around .500. Moving up to 5A will not be pretty, at least not right now.

Pilcher: WIlliamsburg is one of the school’s that moved up a class. In Class 2A, I think the Raiders would have been a sure bet to be back in the state title game. The bump to 3A puts them in with Mount Vernon and Harlan and other Eastern Iowa teams like Davenport Assumption, Independence, Solon and Benton Community.

Ford: The Class A championship race that opened up with Grundy Center’s bump to 1A is interesting. The Spartans would have been an obvious favorite to repeat, but it looks more up for grabs now with teams like East Buchanan, Lynnville-Sully and Woodbury Central in the mix. Of course, West Hancock is still here and the second- “smallest” Class A school could easily make this point moot with a third title in six years.

2nd & long: What result(s) stand out from Week 1?

Linder: I’m a believer in Maquoketa Valley, and the Wildcats’ 33-12 win over Cascade, to me, legitimizes them as a Class A top-10 team.

Johnson: Cedar Rapids Jefferson ending its long losing streak. Sure, Muscatine all-state running back Ty Cozad got hurt after just two carries (that went for 85 yards and a touchdown), but that shouldn’t take away from what the J-Hawks achieved. Couple others that may have been missed: North Cedar and Starmont each won one game last season and won their season openers this past Friday night.

Pilcher: So many to choose from Week 1. Cedar Rapids Jefferson was impressive, scoring 33 points in a win at Muscatine. It was the J-Hawks’ highest point total in a game since tallying 37 in a loss to Muscatine on Aug. 31, 2018. They showed playmaking ability with Ishara Kalolero (15 carries, 251 yards) and L.J. Lyenow (nine catches, 109 yards). Cedar Rapids Prairie beating then-No. 3 Cedar Falls was notable in Kyle Knock’s debut as Hawks head coach. Sumner-Fredericksburg’s win over East Buchanan grabbed my attention and how about Ankeny’s OT win over Ankeny Centennial? What a finish!

Ford: I was curious to see how Adel ADM and North Polk would fare against ranked Class 4A teams in their first games as 4A schools. Both impressed. ADM handled Newton and North Polk knocked off a Bondurant-Farrar team I pegged No. 1 in the preseason (whoops). This class already featuring the likes of Cedar Rapids Xavier and Lewis Central appears to have added even more contenders in 2023. In the area, Cedar Rapids Prairie’s win over Cedar Falls opened my eyes.

3rd & short: What is the most intriguing matchup of Week 2?

Linder: In the area, I think it’s definitely Williamsburg at Cedar Rapids Xavier. Can the Raiders compete? (I think they can.) Also, Iowa City Liberty and Iowa City High are both trying to avoid 0-2, and they collide at North Liberty. Marion at Benton Community should be a close battle. Statewide, it’s hard to top Dowling at Valley.

Johnson: Really curious to see if Williamsburg can hang at all with Cedar Rapids Xavier. That’s a tough ask. The Iowa City High-Iowa City Liberty game intrigues me after Liberty won last year’s Clash At Kinnick in a surprise. Compared to Week 1, it’s kind of a tamer Week 2 overall.

Pilcher: At first glance, Williamsburg at Cedar Rapids Xavier. The Raiders scrimmaged Cedar Rapids Kennedy and opened with West Branch. Curt Ritchie loves to test his team and we’ll see how they can hang with another bigger school. Iowa City Liberty and Iowa City High play each other, while Kennedy travels to Pleasant Valley. Those pique my interest. All four lost in Week 1. Who would have thought two of those four would be 0-2?

Ford: Obligatory Dowling-Valley mention. I’m fascinated by Williamsburg taking on Xavier. And I’m excited for the Cedar Rapids Jefferson J-Hawks, who will try to start 2-0 for the first time since 2000 when they face Marshalltown on Thursday.

4th & goal: Waterloo Christian is in its first season. What are reasonable expectations of a first-year football program? What school would you like to see add/resurrect a football program?

Linder: I think the most reasonable expectation, honestly, is to get through the season without being forced to forfeit games. Imagine numbers are low, so keeping everybody healthy and engaged is key, so the program can grow. Wins are secondary.

Johnson: Calamus-Wheatland recently started up a varsity program. To me, being fairly competitive in some games is reasonable. If you win one, even better.

Pilcher: The only reasonable expectations are to finish the season, improve and generate excitement to increase future participation. Wins should be the least important gauge. Football is a beast onto itself. So much goes into it, even before athletes get into high school. New programs should appreciate the opportunity to be part of the Friday night ritual. Worry about on-field success in a few years.

Ford: Reasonable expectations: Have fun, keep kids interested and build up participation numbers for the future. Now, in terms of adding programs, this former 130-pound, football-loving cross country runner dreams of bringing sprint football to the state of Iowa. For the uninitiated, this is the game of American football as you know it, with a maximum weight requirement of 172 pounds. Sure, we’d need to convince the schools to buy some new, size extra-small equipment but you won’t have to worry about our programs taking up space in the weight room.