Iowa high school football 2021: Picking the area Class 2A districts

This is the fourth in a series diving into the area high school football districts for the 2021 season. Today, we examine Class 2A.

» More district picks: 8-Player | Class A | Class 1A

Forty-eight teams are assigned to 2A, with 32 advancing to the playoffs. The top four teams in each of eight districts advance.

The 2A 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

After a season-opening loss to Decorah, Waukon (10-1) rattled off 10 consecutive victories on its march to the 2A state championship. The Indians have a couple of key components back in Lincoln Snitker (led the team in tackles with 66, and also intercepted four passes) and Pat Hennessy (261 rushing yards, 49 tackles). Dubuque Wahlert was 6-3 as a 3A team last year, dropping a 17-14 toughie to Cedar Rapids Xavier in Round 3 of the postseason. The Golden Eagles head to Waukon in Week 6 for a game that will likely decide the title. There appears to be a gap between the top two teams and the other four.

PROJECTIONS (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Waukon

2. *Dubuque Wahlert

3. *North Fayette Valley

4. *Union Community

5. Oelwein

6. Jesup

District 5

OVERVIEW

Camanche (9-2) won a pair of decisions against West Liberty (6-3) by verdicts of 20-0 and 34-20, the second of which sent the Indians to the UNI-Dome. Those two teams appear to be just about dead-even heading into 2021. Camanche will rely on the arm of Mike Delzell, who completed 64.5 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,096 yards and 20 touchdowns. West Liberty counters with a ground game spearheaded by Jahsiah Galvan (1,673 yards, 14 touchdowns). Galvan and Drake Collins were co-leaders in tackles with 54, and both return. Tipton (5-4) pushed Camanche in the third round of the postseason before falling 35-29, and has a strong nucleus back.

PROJECTIONS (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Camanche

2. *West Liberty

3. *Tipton

4. *Monticello

5. Northeast

6. Anamosa

District 6

OVERVIEW

Williamsburg (8-1) has run the table in its district for each of the last three seasons (by 37.7 points per game last year), and more of the same is expected in 2021 despite fairly significant graduation losses. Carson Huedepohl becomes a focal point on both sides of the ball; he accumulated 423 rushing yards (and seven touchdowns) and 40 tackles. Davis County (3-4), Centerville (5-4) and Mid-Prairie (4-4) should wrangle for the other three playoff spots.

PROJECTIONS (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Williamsburg

2. *Davis County

3. *Centerville

4. *Mid-Prairie

5. Eddyville EBF

6. Central Lee

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com