Iowa high school football preseason rankings 2021: Class 2A

Two returning state-champion teams are in the top five of The Gazette’s Class 2A football poll.

Neither of them are No. 1.

That designation goes to Central Lyon/George-Little Rock. Unanimously.

The 2020 2A runner-up (it bowed to Waukon 28-14 in the championship game), CL-GLR (11-1) received all five first-place votes. The Lions return three all-staters, including first-team quarterback Zach Lutmer and first-team receiver/cornerback Cooper Spiess.

CL-GLR doesn’t have to wait long or go far to find elite competition. The Lions face a loaded schedule that features Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, West Sioux and West Lyon (all are ranked in the top five of their respective classes) ... all in the first four weeks.

Led by two-way star Lincoln Snitker, Waukon (10-1) opens its bid to repeat at No. 3. The Indians piled up 10 straight wins last year after dropping their opener to Decorah.

No. 5 Ida Grove OABCIG (12-0) is a two-time champion, winning the 2A crown in 2019, then sliding down and winning it all in 1A last year. The Falcons lose all-everything quarterback Cooper DeJean, but bring back a wealth of talent anyway.

West Marshall (8-2) welcomes back 1,800-yard rusher Preston Pope and opens the season at No. 2. West Lyon is No. 4.

The area’s lone ranked 2A squad is Williamsburg (8-1), which shares the No. 7 slot.

Capsules on the Class 2A contenders:

1. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock

Poll points: 50 (5 first-place votes)

2020 record: 11-1

2020 postseason: Class 2A runner-up

Key returners: QB/S Zach Lutmer, jr. (1,194 passing yards, 1,609 rushing yards, 31 offensive TDs, 34.5 tackles, 4 INTs, 1st-team all-state), WR/CB Cooper Spiess, sr. (19 catches, 376 yards, 4 TDs, 4 INTs, 1st-team all-state), RB/LB Kayden Van Berkum, jr. (249 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 29 tackles, 2 INTs, 3rd-team all-state)

Key games: At Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Aug. 27; Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Sept. 3; at West Sioux, Sept. 10; at West Lyon, Sept. 17; Unity Christian, Oct. 1

2. West Marshall

Poll points: 32

2020 record: 8-2

2020 postseason: Class 2A quarterfinalist

Key returners: Preston Pope, sr. (1,842 rushing yards, 24 TDs, 47 tackles, 1st-team all-state), Peyton Hart, jr. (818 passing yards, 788 rushing yards, 21 offensive TDs, 2nd-team all-state), Parker Reese, sr. (37 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries)

Key games: Nevada, Sept. 3; South Hamilton, Sept. 10; at Monroe PCM, Oct. 1

3. Waukon

Poll points: 24

2020 record: 10-1

2020 postseason: Class 2A champion

Key returners: RB/LB Lincoln Snitker, sr. (226 rushing yards, 20 catches for 348 yards, 8 offensive TDs, 66 tackles, 4 INTs, 1st-team all-state), RB/LB Pat Hennessy, sr. (261 rushing yards, 3 TDs, 49 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries), TE/DE Braden Hemann, sr. (13 catches, 271 receiving yards, 3 TDs, 20 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries)

Key games: Waverly-Shell Rock, Aug. 27; at Decorah, Sept. 3; Dubuque Wahlert, Oct. 1

4. West Lyon

Poll points: 23

2020 record: 8-2

2020 postseason: Class 2A quarterfinalist

Key returners: OL/DT Easton Fleshman, sr. (15 tackles, 2nd-team all-state), WR/DE Jaxon Meyer, sr. (completed 73.9% of passes, rushed for 440 yards, 7 TDs, 3rd-team all-state), TE/DE Dawson Ripperda, sr. (53 tackles)

Key games: Western Christian, Aug. 27; at Estherville ELC, Sept. 3; at Sioux Center, Sept. 10; Central Lyon-GLR, Sept. 17; Unity Christian, Oct. 15

5. Ida Grove OABCIG

Poll points: 21

2020 record: 12-0

2020 postseason: Class 1A champion

Key returners: OL/LB Ethan Shever, sr. (83.5 tackles, 2 INTs, 1st-team all-state), WR/CB Easton Harms, sr. (64 receptions, 1,091 yards, 16 TDs, 5 INTs, 1st-team all-state), RB/LB Griffin Diersen, jr. (409 rushing yards, 33 catches, 682 yards, 22 offensive TDs, 20 tackles, 2nd-team all-state), OL/LB Keaton Railsback, sr. (13 tackles, 3rd-team all-state)

Key games: At Southeast Valley, Sept. 10; Spirit Lake, Sept. 24; Estherville ELC, Oct. 8

6. Monroe PCM

Poll points: 19

2020 record: 10-1

2020 postseason: Class 2A semifinalist

Key returners: RB Aiden Anderson, sr. (735 rushing yards, 9 TDs, 3rd-team all-state), QB August Stock, jr. (1,069 passing yards, 429 rushing yards, 24 offensive TDs), DE Durant Van Dyke, sr. (35.5 tackles)

Key games: Pella Christian, Sept. 10; West Marshall, Oct. 1

T-7. Estherville ELC

Poll points: 17

2020 record: 7-2

2020 postseason: 2A Round of 16

Key returners: QB/CB Ryan Schiltz, sr. (1,410 passing yards, 23 TDs, 311 rushing yards, 5 TDs, 3rd-team all-state), RB/DE Zavion McMurrian, jr. (470 rushing yards, 10 TDs, 44 tackles), WR/CB Daryl Jensen, sr. (25 receptions, 344 yards, 5 TDs, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INTs)

Key games: West Lyon, Sept. 3; Southeast Valley, Sept. 24; Spirit Lake, Oct. 1; at Ida Grove OABCIG, Oct. 8

T-7. Williamsburg

Poll points: 17

2020 record: 8-1

2020 postseason: Class 2A Round of 16

Key returners: K Alex Marovets, sr. (3-8 FG, 40-45 PAT, 3rd-team all-state), RB/LB Carson Huedepohl, jr. (423 rushing yards, 7 TDs, 40 tackles), WR/CB Jake Weber, sr. (16 catches, 275 yards, 5 TDs, 26 tackles), QB/CB Kobe Julius, sr. (3 INTs)

Key games: At Iowa City Regina, Aug. 27; Van Meter, Sept. 3; at Solon, Sept. 10

9. Camanche

Poll points: 16

2020 record: 8-2

2020 postseason: Class 2A semifinalist

Key returners: QB/LB Mike Delzell, sr. (Completed 140 of 217 passes, 2,096 yards, 20 TDs, 25 tackles, 2nd-team all-state), RB/LB Eric Kinkaid, sr. (90.5 tackles, 2nd-team all-state); WR/S Tucker Dickherber, sr. (29 receptions, 508 yards, 2 TDs, 53.5 tackles, 4 INTs, 3rd-team all-state), WR/CB Adam Dunlap, sr. (30 tackles, 4 INTs)

Key games: West Liberty, Sept. 17; Monticello, Oct. 1; Tipton, Oct. 15

10. Greene County

Poll points: 13

2020 record: 7-3

2020 postseason: Class 2A Round of 16

Key returners: OL/LB Bradyn Smith, sr. (64.5 tackles, 12 TFL, 2 fumble recoveries, 3rd-team all-state), WR/DB Jackson Morton, sr. (18 receptions, 293 yards, 2 TDs, 279 rushing yards, 7 TDs, 44.5 tackles, 2 INTs, 3rd-team all-state), QB/DB Bryce Stalder, sr. (1,212 passing yards, 570 rushing yards, 20 offensive TDs), RB/LB Nathan Black, sr. (752 rushing yards, 6 TDs)

Key games: At Guthrie Center ACGC, Aug. 27; at Clarinda, Sept. 24; Red Oak, Oct. 1

Others receiving votes

Southeast Valley 12, West Liberty 12, Spirit Lake 9, Dubuque Wahlert 6, Clear Lake 4

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com