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Iowa high school football 2023 preseason rankings: The Gazette’s Class 2A poll
Van Meter, last year’s Class 1A state champion, starts at No. 1
The top two teams in The Gazette’s Class 2A Iowa high school football preseason rankings both won state championships last fall.
Central Lyon/George-Little Rock received four of the six first-place votes after claiming the Class 2A title last season, but Van Meter holds the top spot in the poll with 55 points to the Lions’ 53.
Meet the Class 2A No. 1 team: Van Meter
Van Meter will try its hand at 2A after earning back-to-back 1A crowns. It was 25-1 the last two seasons, with its only loss coming last September to eventual 2A runner-up Williamsburg (now a 3A school), 18-13.
Running back Ben Gordon (1,734 yards, 28 touchdowns) and linebacker Porter Doggett give the Bulldogs a pair of returning all-staters.
Central Lyon/George-Little Rock loses University of Iowa recruit Zach Lutmer, the team’s top passer and rusher and third-leading tackler, but still has two future Hawkeyes manning skill positions in Reece Vander Zee and Graham Eben. All-state linemen Trevor Dieren and Michael Denekas are also back.
Which 2022 Dome teams are in the Class 2A rankings?
It’s only the top two. The other three 2022 2A semifinalists have moved to different classes: Williamsburg and Dubuque Wahlert to 3A and Ida Grove OABCIG to 1A.
Northwest Iowa schools fill out three of the top four spots in 2A, with Spirit Lake No. 3 and Western Christian fourth.
Who are the ranked Gazette area Class 2A teams?
With do-everything star Preston Ries back, Monticello is tied for seventh with Carroll Kuemper. The Panthers were 7-3 last season and advanced to the Round of 16 in the 2A playoffs.
Ries is an Iowa commit who threw for 2,543 yards and 25 touchdowns, ran for 1,421 and 17 scores and racked up 21 tackles for loss and 11 sacks on defense, where he’s expected to play at the next level.
What are some key Week 1 Class 2A games to watch?
Games kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, unless otherwise noted.
- No. 1 Van Meter at (1A No. 2) Underwood
- No. 7 Monticello at (3A) Mount Vernon, 7:15 p.m.
- (3A) Nevada at No. 10 West Marshall, 7:30 p.m.
- No. 3 Spirit Lake at (3A) Algona
- No. 5 Greene County at (3A) Carroll, 7:30 p.m.
The Gazette’s Iowa high school football Class 2A preseason rankings
| 1 | Van Meter | 12-1, Class 1A state champion | 55 (2 first-place) |
| 2 | Central Lyon/George-Little Rock | 13-0, state champion | 53 (4) |
| 3 | Spirit Lake | 10-1, state quarterfinalist | 41 |
| 4 | Western Christian | 8-3, Class 1A state quarterfinalist | 30 |
| 5 | Greene County | 8-2, second-round playoff qualifier | 28 |
| 6 | West Lyon | 8-3, state quarterfinalist | 25 |
| T-7 | Carroll Kuemper | 8-2, Class 1A second-round playoff qualifier | 19 |
| T-7 | Monticello | 7-3, second-round playoff qualifier | 19 |
| 9 | Osage | 7-3, second-round playoff qualifier | 16 |
| 10 | West Marshall | 9-1, second-round playoff qualifier | 15 |
Others receiving votes: Monroe PCM 9, New Hampton 7, North Fayette Valley 6, Mediapolis 3, Centerville 2, Northeast 2
Find the full rankings here if you’re having trouble seeing them on this post.
Comments: nathan.ford@thegazette.com
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