Iowa high school football 2024: Picking the area Class 1A districts

Third in a series diving into the area Iowa high school football districts for the 2024 season. Today, we examine Class 1A.

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

The 1A regular season will consist of eight games, with five rounds of playoffs.

A closer look at area districts:

District 4

OVERVIEW

With three returning first-team all-staters and all of its recent success, Grundy Center (13-0, 5-0) is a heavy favorite here. The Spartans have won 26 straight games and have played in five consecutive state-championship contests, winning a Class A title in 2022 and ruling 1A last year. WR Tiernan Vokes, OL Ryker Thoren and LB Brody Zinkula give the Spartans three cornerstones. That said, the remainder of the district appears to be improved. South Hardin (4-5, 3-2) brings back QB Peyton Welch and 1,100-yard rusher Jaxson Drury, and is worthy of top-10 consideration. Waterloo Columbus (9-3, 4-1) only lost by a touchdown to the Spartans last year, and Alburnett (3-5, 1-4) returns its top five tacklers.

PROJECTIONS (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Grundy Center

2. *South Hardin

3. *Waterloo Columbus

4. *Alburnett

5. Hudson

6. East Marshall

District 5

OVERVIEW

Virtually intact from a team that shared the district title last year, Wilton (8-2, 4-1) could be on the cusp of something very big. The Beavers return all of their notable skill players and seven of their top eight tacklers (including all-state DB Jordan Dusenberry, who intercepted five passes last year), and they absolutely have the look of a team that could conclude their season in Cedar Falls. Both of the next two teams — perennial powers Iowa City Regina (9-2, 4-1) and West Branch (6-4, 4-1) — have new coaches in Dustin Elsbury and John Nestor, respectively. West Branch’s Brennen Dale threw for nearly 1,000 yards last year; Regina’s Will Aitchison ran for nine touchdowns. Expect a big jump from Dyersville Beckman (1-7, 1-4).

PROJECTIONS (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Wilton

2. *Iowa City Regina

3. *West Branch

4. *Dyersville Beckman

5. Cascade

6. Durant

Other districts with area teams

DISTRICT 3 (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Dike-New Hartford

2. *Sumner-Fredericksburg

3. *MFL MarMac

4. *Denver

5. Aplington-Parkersburg

6. Central Springs

DISTRICT 6 (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Pella Christian

2. *Pleasantville

3. *Sigourney-Keota

4. *Colfax-Mingo

5. Eddyville EBF

6. Cardinal

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com