Iowa high school football 2022: Picking the area Class 2A districts

This is the fourth in a series diving into the area Iowa high school football districts for the 2022 season. Today, we examine Class 2A.

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

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 if they choose.

A closer look at area districts:

District 4

OVERVIEW

Three teams battling for the title, three vying for the fourth playoff spot. Those appears to be the storylines of this district. Waukon has been the 2A giant of northeast Iowa in recent years, but graduation is likely to bring the Indians (10-2, 5-0) back to the pack somewhat after a state title in 2020 and a return to the semifinals last year. Waukon handed North Fayette Valley (9-2, 4-1) both of its losses last year, including one in the quarterfinals. The TigerHawks appear ready to claim the district throne behind Kaleb White, who rushed for 936 yards and also led the team in tackles (62.5). Dubuque Wahlert (3-6, 3-2) should be ascendant this fall with the return of its backfield, headlined by the QB/RB duo of Bryce Rudiger and Ryan Brosius.

PROJECTIONS (*playoff qualifier)

1. *North Fayette Valley

2. *Dubuque Wahlert

3. *Waukon

4. *Oelwein

5. Union Community

6. Jesup

District 5

OVERVIEW

After earning a share of a district title and advancing to the second round of the playoffs last year, Monticello (7-3, 4-1) has its collective eye on bigger things this fall. The return of University of Iowa commit Preston Ries (2,594 passing yards, 1,343 rushing yards) and Tate Petersen (1,025 all-purpose yards) gives the Panthers a pair of big-time offensive weapons. Those two also combined for 133 tackles. Monticello hosts West Liberty (3-6, 3-2) in a Week 4 battle that probably will be the swing game in the district title race. The Comets’ Drake Collins accounted for 703 passing yards and 44.5 tackles as a junior.

PROJECTIONS (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Monticello

2. *West Liberty

3. *Northeast

4. *Anamosa

5. Camanche

6. Tipton

District 6

OVERVIEW

If there’s a district-title slam dunk in Class 2A, it’s Williamsburg. The Raiders (8-4, 5-0) answered an 0-3 start last season with an eight-game win streak that ended in the state semifinals. They are heavy, maybe prohibitive, favorites to run through this district. Senior Gable Dayton leads a running-back corps that returns intact, and the top four tacklers return, including Derek Weisskopf a University of Iowa recruit. Wiesskopf also averaged 16.2 yards per catch. Mid-Prairie (6-4, 4-1) is a quality program that stands heads and shoulders above the other four teams in this district. Braden Hartley is a two-way standout for the Golden Hawks.

PROJECTIONS (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Williamsburg

2. *Mid-Prairie

3. *Centerville

4. *Eddyville EBF

5. Davis County

6. Central Lee

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com