Iowa high school football 2024: The Gazette’s 2A preseason rankings

Northwest Iowa continues to be a Class 2A football hot spot.

Four teams ranked in The Gazette’s preseason top 10 — West Lyon, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, Western Christian and Cherokee — hail from District 1. Another (Spirit Lake) is from District 2.

It’s Spirit Lake that opens at No. 1.

Spirit Lake (10-2 and a 2A semifinalist last season) copped four of the six first-place votes and outpointed No. 2 West Lyon by a 58-53 margin in poll points.

The Indians return one of the state’s most prolific aerial shows. Senior quarterback Caden Lundt passed for 2,311 yards and 24 touchdowns last season, and his top two targets — Dylan Stecker and Ethan Stecker — combined for 84 catches, 1,630 yards and 21 TDs.

West Lyon (9-2) received the other two first-place votes. Four all-staters (including three first-teamers) are back from a squad that reached the quarterfinals last year.

The Wildcats have a lengthy list of challengers in District 1: Central Lyon/George-Little Rock is No. 6, Western Christian is No. 7, Cherokee is No. 10.

Monroe PCM opens at No. 3, followed by defending champion Van Meter and Carroll Kuemper.

Mid-Prairie is the Gazette-area’s lone representative in the 2A rankings; The Golden Hawks are at No. 8 after finishing 5-5 last season.

Capsules on the Class 2A contenders:

1. Spirit Lake

Poll points: 58 (4 first-place votes)

2023 record: 10-2 overall, 5-0 Class 2A District 2 (1st)

2023 postseason: 2A semifinalist

Returning all-staters: WR Dylan Stecker, sr. (1st team), WB Will Dittsworth, sr. (2nd team), WR Ethan Stecker, sr. (2nd team)

Key games: Algona, Aug. 30; at Spencer, Sept. 13; at Okoboji, Sept. 27

2. West Lyon

Poll points: 53 (2 first-place votes)

2023 record: 9-2 overall, 4-1 Class 2A District 1 (2nd)

2023 postseason: 2A quarterfinalist

Returning all-staters: OL Bryce Kock, jr. (1st team), DB Carson Meyer, sr. (1st team), D-UT Jaxan Huyser, sr. (1st team), RB Tate Hawf, sr. (2nd team)

Key games: At Ida Grove OABCIG, Sept. 13; Western Christian, Sept. 27; at Cherokee, Oct. 4; Central Lyon-GLR, Oct. 18

3. Monroe PCM

Poll points: 43

2023 record: 8-3 overall, 5-0 Class 2A District 6 (1st)

2023 postseason: 2A quarterfinalist

Returning all-staters: RB Adrian Robbins, sr. (1st team), DL Kaeden Clark, sr. (2nd team)

Key games: Pella Christian, Sept. 6; Nevada, Sept. 13; Union Community, Sept. 27

4. Van Meter

Poll points: 39

2023 record: 13-0 overall, 5-0 Class 2A District 7 (1st)

2023 postseason: 2A champion

Returning all-staters: OL Nathan Becker, sr. (1st team), PK Adlai Lounsbury, sr. (1st team), DB Caleb Moore, sr. (1st team)

Key games: Underwood, Aug. 30; Humboldt, Sept. 13; Clarinda, Sept. 20

5. Carroll Kuemper

Poll points: 35

2023 record: 8-3 overall, 5-0 Class 2A District 8 (1st)

2023 postseason: 2A quarterfinalist

Returning all-staters: OL Hayden Vonnahme, sr. (2nd team), LB Tate Bieret, sr. (2nd team)

Key games: At Underwood, Sept. 6; at Avoca AHSTW, Sept. 13; Roland-Story, Sept. 20

6. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock

Poll points: 28

2023 record: 12-1 overall, 5-0 Class 2A District 1 (1st)

2023 postseason: 2A runner-up

Returning all-staters: DL Jack Krull, sr. (1st team), LB Drew Kupferschmid, sr. (1st team), OL Sam Christensen, sr. (2nd team)

Key games: MOC-Floyd Valley, Sept. 6; Cherokee, Sept. 27; Western Christian, Oct. 11; at West Lyon, Oct. 18

7. Western Christian

Poll points: 23

2023 record: 7-3 overall, 3-2 Class 2A District 1 (3rd)

2023 postseason: 2A second round

Returning all-staters: None

Key games: At Hinton, Sept. 6; Cherokee, Sept. 20; at West Lyon, Sept. 27; at Central Lyon-GLR, Oct. 11

8. Mid-Prairie

Poll points: 13

2023 record: 5-5 overall, 4-1 Class 2A District 5 (2nd)

2023 postseason: 2A second round

Returning all-staters: None

Key games: At Wilton, Aug. 30; Iowa City Regina, Sept. 6; at Albia, Oct. 18

9. Clarinda

Poll points: 11

2023 record: 5-4 overall, 4-1 Class 2A District 7 (2nd)

2023 postseason: 2A second round

Returning all-staters: None

Key games: Treynor, Sept. 13; at Van Meter, Sept. 20

10. Cherokee

Poll points: 7

2023 record: 5-4 overall, 2-3 Class 2A District 1 (4th)

2023 postseason: 2A first round

Returning all-staters: D-UT Jaxan Paulsrud, jr. (2nd team)

Key games: At Marcus MMCRU, Aug. 30; at Western Christian, Sept. 20; at Central Lyon-GLR, Sept. 27; West Lyon, Oct. 4

Others receiving votes

North Fayette Valley 6, Roland-Story 4, Waukon 4, Mediapolis 2, Northeast 2, Anamosa 1, Unity Christian 1.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com