Iowa high school football preseason rankings 2021: Class 3A

Six returning all-staters.

Six!

That’s the wealth of talent which with the Harlan Cyclones are operating this fall. And it’s little wonder that last year’s Class 3A state runners-up open as a unanimous No. 1 to start the 2021 campaign in The Gazette’s 3A preseason poll.

Harlan (11-1 last year) brings back nearly all of its weapons from a prolific passing attack. All-staters Connor Frame, Will McLaughlin, Aidan Hall and Joey Moser combined for 124 receptions and 2,397 yards.

And the maestro of the attack, quarterback Teagon Kasperbauer, is back as well.

Led by No. 2 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, the northwestern-most district is stacked with talent. BHRV is joined in the rankings by District 1 foes Sergeant Bluff-Luton (No. 4) and Sioux Center (No. 10).

Highway 20 rivals West Delaware and Independence complete the top five, at third and fifth.

Both the Hawks and the Mustangs have a star in the backfield. West Delaware’s Wyatt Voelker ran for 1,294 yards and 18 touchdowns (and recorded 91 tackles) last season. Indee’s Marcus Beatty tallied 1,515 ground yards and 15 touchdowns.

West Delaware visits Independence on Oct. 15 in what should be one of the top area games of the season.

Highway 1 rivals Solon and Mount Vernon are sixth and ninth. They are not district rivals, but square off Sept. 3 at Mount Vernon.

Capsules on the Class 3A contenders:

1. Harlan

Poll points: 50 (5 first-place votes)

2020 record: 11-1

2020 postseason: Class 3A runner-up

Key returners: WR Connor Frame, sr. (44 receptions, 949 yards, 12 TDs, 16.5 tackles, 1st-team all-state), TE/CB Will McLaughlin, sr. (16 catches, 190 yards, 70 tackles, 1st-team all-state), WR/S Aidan Hall, jr. (34 receptions, 860 yards, 8 TDs, 41.5 tackles, 5 INTs, 2nd-team all-state), DE Jameson Bieker, sr. (60 tackles, 3rd-team all-state), CB Joseph Fah, sr. (56.5 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 3rd-team all-state), WR/CB Joey Moser, sr. (30 receptions, 428 yards, 4 TDs, 3rd-team all-state), QB Teagon Kasperbauer, jr. (2,553 passing yards, 23 TDs)

Key games: Lewis Central, Aug. 27; Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Sept. 10; at Glenwood, Sept. 17; at Adel ADM, Oct. 8

2. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley

Poll points: 41

2020 record: 8-3

2020 postseason: Class 3A semifinalist

Key returners: FB/CB Landyn Van Kekerix, sr. (35 receptions, 556 yards, 5 TDs, 61.5 tackles, 2 INTs, 2nd-team all-state), WR/CB Caleb Kats, sr. (1,603 passing yards, 14 TDs), RB/LB Bryson Van Grootheest, sr. (18 receptions, 326 yards, 3 TDs), WR/LB Cade Fisher, sr. (51 tackles, 4 fumble recoveries)

Key games: Central Lyon-GLR, Oct. 27; at Western Christian, Sept. 3; at Unity Christian, Sept. 10; at Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Oct. 8

3. West Delaware

Poll points: 38

2020 record: 10-2

2020 postseason: Class 3A quarterfinalist

Key returners: RB/LB Wyatt Voelker, sr. (1,294 rushing yards, 18 TDs, 91 tackles, 5 fumble recoveries, 2 INTs, 1st-team all-state), RB/CB Kyle Cole, sr. (460 rushing yards, 30 catches, 426 yards, 16 offensive TDs, 2 fumble recoveries), RB/LB Jadyn Peyton, sr. (52 tackles)

Key games: Cedar Rapids Xavier, Sept. 3; Decorah, Sept. 10; at Waverly-Shell Rock, Sept. 17; at Independence, Oct. 15

4. Sergeant Bluff-Luton

Poll points: 33

2020 record: 6-3

2020 postseason: Class 3A round of 16

Key returners: TE/LB Jacob Imming, sr. (30 receptions, 502 yards, 7 TDs, 49.5 tackles, 1st-team all-state), QB/S Tyler Smith, jr. (67.0% completion rate, 1,880 passing yards, 22 TDs, 303 rushing yards), RB/LB Jason Dickson, sr. (34.5 tackles)

Key games: At Central Lyon-GLR, Sept. 3; at Harlan, Sept. 10; Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Oct. 8

5. Independence

Poll points: 30

2020 record: 6-2

2020 postseason: Class 2A Round of 16

Key returners: RB/LB Marcus Beatty, sr. (1,515 rushing yards, 15 TDs, 34 tackles, 2nd-team all-state), OL/DL Korver Hupke, jr. (29.5 tackles, 3rd-team all-state), QB/LB Mitchell Johnson, jr. (1,055 passing yards, 17 TDs, 43 tackles), WR/LB Keegan Schmitt, sr. (22 receptions, 254 yards, 3 TDs, 38.5 tackles)

Key games: At Clear Creek Amana, Sept. 3; West Liberty, Sept. 10; West Delaware, Oct. 1

6. Solon

Poll points: 23

2020 record: 7-3

2020 postseason: Class 2A quarterfinalist

Key returners: OL/DE Gage Marty, sr. (9.5 tackles, 3rd-team all-state), QB/S Blake Timmons, jr. (1,078 passing yards, 639 rushing yards, 22 offensive TDs), RB/LB Hayden Taylor, sr. (513 rushing yards, 6 TDs, 16.5 tackles)

Key games: At Mount Vernon, Sept. 3; Williamsburg, Sept. 10; at Davenport Assumption, Sept. 17; at Washington (Iowa), Oct. 1

7. Davenport Assumption

Poll points: 21

2020 record: 8-1

2020 postseason: Class 3A Round of 16

Key returners: QB/CB Ayden Weiman, sr. (643 passing yards, 7 TDs), RB/LB John Argo, sr. (128 rushing yards, 6 catches, 55 yards, 7 offensive TDs, 36.5 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INTs), WR/CB Evan Forker, sr. (48.5 tackles)

Key games: At North Scott, Sept. 10; Solon, Sept, 17; at Mount Vernon, Oct. 1; at Benton Community, Oct. 8

8. Humboldt

Poll points: 17

2020 record: 5-4

2020 postseason: Class 3A Round of 32

Key returners: QB/S Caden Matson, sr. (1,515 passing yards, 1,068 rushing yards, 32 offensive TDs, 67 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, 4 INTs, 3rd-team all-state), WR/CB Jacob Heier, sr. (23 receptions, 425 yards, 2 TDs), RB/LB Tanner McKimmey, sr. (71 tackles)

Key games: At Webster City, Aug. 27; Estherville ELC, Sept. 10; at North Polk, Oct. 1; Nevada, Oct. 15

9. Mount Vernon

Poll points: 7

2020 record: 7-2

2020 postseason: Class 2A Round of 32

Key returners: RB/LB Trenton Pitlik, sr. (1,193 rushing yards, 13 TDs, 60 tackles, 1st-team all-state), OG/LB Clark Younggreen, jr. (51.5 tackles), WR/S Leo Appleton, sr. (31 tackles, 4 INTs)

Key games: Solon, Sept. 3; at Benton Community, Sept. 24; Davenport Assumption, Oct. 1

10. Sioux Center

Poll points: 4

2020 record: 6-3

2020 postseason: Class 2A Round of 32

Key returners: OL/DT Ethan Hooyer, sr. (9 tackles, 1st-team all-state), QB/LB Zachary Rozeboom, sr. (604 passing yards, 978 yards rushing yards, 18 offensive TDs), WR/CB Dao Keokhamthong, sr. (11 receptions, 115 yards, 2 TDs, 32 tackles)

Key games: At West Sioux, Sept. 3; West Lyon, Sept. 10; at Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Sept. 24; Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Oct. 1

Others receiving votes

Nevada 3, Algona 2, Atlantic 2, Ballard 2, Benton Community 1, Grinnell 1

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com