Iowa high school football 2022: Picking the area Class 1A districts

This is the third in a series diving into the area Iowa high school football districts for the 2022 season. Today, we examine Class 1A.

Forty-eight teams are assigned to 1A, with 32 advancing to the playoffs. The top four teams in each of eight districts advance automatically.

The 1A 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

Dyersville Beckman (11-1, 5-0) assembled its best season in school history in 2021, a season that ended in the semifinals at the UNI-Dome. The Blazers headline perhaps the strongest 1A district in terms of 1 through 5. Owen Huehnergarth (1,600-plus rushing yards) has departed, but Beckman returns a pair of ground weapons in QB Cayden Gassmann and RB Nick Wulfekuhle, the latter of whom led the team in tackles as the Blazers held eight opponents to one touchdown or less. Beckman will be challenged by as many as four teams — Waterloo Columbus (7-3, 4-1), MFL MarMac (8-3, 3-2), Cascade (4-5, 2-3) and Sumner-Fredericksburg (3-6, 1-4).

PROJECTIONS (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Dyersville Beckman

2. *Waterloo Columbus

3. *MFL MarMac

4. *Cascade

5. Sumner-Fredericksburg

6. Postville

District 5

OVERVIEW

Perennial power Iowa City Regina (9-1, 5-0) rambled through a perfect regular season before suffering an upset loss to MFL MarMac in the first round of the playoffs. Senior Levi Daniel is a two-way standout; he rushed for more than 1,000 yards last year. The Regals also bring back quarterback Jack Tierney. This district has a distinct top three, with Mediapolis (5-4, 2-3) and West Branch (7-3, 4-1) set to challenge the Regals. Mediapolis returns most of its roster from last year, including Anthony Isley (1,241 rushing yards, 12 TDs). West Branch brings back quarterback Carver Boelk, along with 1,320-yard rusher Andy Henson.

PROJECTIONS (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Iowa City Regina

2. *West Branch

3. *Mediapolis

4. *Durant

5. Wilton

6. Louisa-Muscatine

Other area districts

DISTRICT 6

1. *Pella Christian

2. *Sigourney-Keota

3. *Pleasantville

4. *Van Buren County

5. Central Decatur

6. Cardinal

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com