Iowa high school football preseason rankings 2021: Class 4A

Months after the new football classification system for Iowa high school football was unveiled, it’s still difficult to fathom.

Cedar Rapids Washington is not a “big-class” team anymore, at least for the time being.

Washington had dropped to 38th in the state in terms of enrollment, and the large-school class (now 5A) is a club of 36 schools instead of the former 40. So there you go.

Despite a 3-5 record in 2020, the Warriors — led by returning all-stater Watts McBride — should field a high-quality team this fall. And that makes them an intriguing addition to the new-look 4A. The Gazette staff ranks them No. 4 in its preseason poll.

As for the top team, Lewis Central is a consensus No. 1. The Titans (8-2 and a 3A quarterfinalist in 2020), are led by all-state lineman Hunter Deyo.

The No. 2 slot is shared by North Scott (the 2020 3A state champion) and Indianola (which, like Washington, moves down from the class of largest schools).

Winterset rounds out the top five, and Cedar Rapids Xavier is tied for sixth, with Webster City.

Capsules on the Class 4A contenders:

1. Lewis Central

Poll points: 48 (3 first-place votes)

2020 record: 8-2

2020 postseason: Class 3A quarterfinalist

Key returners: OT/DT Hunter Deyo, sr. (38 tackles, 1st-team all-state), WR/DE Nick Miller, sr. (41 tackles, 2nd-team all-state), QB/S Braylan Kammrad, jr. (874 passing yards, 12 TDs, 161 rushing yards, 28 tackles), RB/CB Jonathan Humpal, jr. (23 receptions, 474 yards, 5 TDs, 23 tackles, 2 INTs)

Key games: At Harlan, Aug. 27; at Indianola, Sept. 17; Dallas Center-Grimes, Oct. 15; at Winterset, Oct. 22

T-2. Indianola

Poll points: 39 (1 first-place vote)

2020 record: 4-5

2020 postseason: Class 4A Round of 16

Key returners: RB/LB Kael Kolarik, sr. (813 rushing yards, 15 receptions for 194 yards, 19 tackles, 2nd-team all-state), WR/CB Colton Gordon, sr. (15 catches, 166 yards, 3 TDs), RB/LB Jacob Lundberg, sr. (50.5 tackles)

Key games: Ankeny Centennial, Aug. 27; at Pella, Sept. 10; Lewis Central, Sept. 17; Bondurant-Farrar, Oct. 15

T-2. North Scott

Poll points: 39 (1 first-place vote)

2020 record: 9-1

2020 postseason: Class 3A champion

Key returners: WR/S Oliver Hughes, sr. (37 receptions, 393 yards, 4 TDs, 4 INTs, 1st-team all-state), OG/DE Adam Allen, sr. (32 tackles, 3rd-team all-state), RB/LB Darnell Butler, sr. (502 rushing yards, 4 TDs), WR/CB Jakob Nelson, sr. (23 receptions, 389 yards, 2 TDs), WR/CB Connor Corson, sr. (35.5 tackles, 5 INTs)

Key games: at Western Dubuque, Sept. 3; Davenport Assumption, Sept. 10; at Cedar Rapids Xavier, Sept. 17; Iowa City Liberty, Sept. 24

4. Cedar Rapids Washington

Poll points: 24

2020 record: 3-5

2020 postseason: Class 4A Round of 32

Key returners: RB/S Watts McBride, jr. (70.5 tackles, 3rd-team all-state), RB/LB Jabari Dobbs, sr. (457 rushing yards, 5 TDs), FB/LB Romen Young, sr. (45.5 tackles), RB/LB Chase Mahoney, jr. (44.5 tackles)

Key games: Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Sept. 10; at Cedar Rapids Xavier, Sept. 24; Clear Creek Amana, Sept. 30; Pella, Oct. 22

5. Winterset

Poll points: 22

2020 record: 6-3

2020 postseason: Class 3A Round of 16

Key returners: RB/S Dawson Forgy, sr. (1,715 rushing yards, 24 TDs, 2nd-team all-state), RB/LB Blake Bellamy, sr. (76.5 tackles, 3rd-team all-state), QB/S Caden Kleemeier, sr. (695 passing yards, 6 TDs)

Key games: Van Meter, Sept. 10; at Dallas Center-Grimes, Sept. 24; Glenwood, Oct. 1; Lewis Central, Oct. 22

T-6. Cedar Rapids Xavier

Poll points: 21

2020 record: 10-1

2020 postseason: Class 3A semifinalist

Key returners: RB/CB Will Hiserote, sr. (87 rushing yards), WR/DB Aidan McDermott, jr. (24.5 tackles), RB/LB Christian Stanek, sr. (23 tackles)

Key games: At West Delaware, Sept. 3; North Scott, Sept. 17; Cedar Rapids Washington, Sept. 24; at Pella, Oct. 1

T-6. Webster City

Poll points: 21

2020 record: 9-1

2020 postseason: Class 3A quarterfinalist

Key returners: OG/LB Truman Klein, sr. (1st-team all-state), RB/S C.J. Hisler, jr. (565 rushing yards, 5 TDs, 9 receptions, 208 yards, 23 tackles), TE/DE Jamin Stuhr, sr. (53 tackles), FB/LB Skyler Scott, sr. (44.5 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries)

Key games: Humboldt, Aug. 27; Waverly-Shell Rock, Sept. 10; at Mason City, Sept. 17; Fort Dodge, Sept. 24

8. Pella

Poll points: 17

2020 record: 6-3

2020 postseason: Class 3A Round of 16

Key returners: RB/LB Nolan Clayberg, sr. (442 rushing yards, 5 TDs, 35 tackles), WR/S Reece Thoreson, sr. (11 receptions, 126 yards), TE/LB Preston Rowe, sr. (23 tackles)

Key games: North Polk, Sept. 3; Indianola, Sept. 10; Cedar Rapids Xavier, Oct. 1; at Cedar Rapids Washington, Oct. 22

9. Dallas Center-Grimes

Poll points: 13

2020 record: 6-1

2020 postseason: Class 3A Round of 32

Key returners: QB Huston Halverson, sr. (631 passing yards, 6 TDs), RB A.J. Jahinger, sr. (269 rushing yards, 2 TDs), WR Keaton Jackson, sr. (15 receptions, 162 yards, 2 TDs), LB Austin Fiori, sr. (44.5 tackles)

Key games: Bondurant-Farrar, Sept. 3; Johnston, Sept. 10; Winterset, Sept. 24; at Lewis Central, Oct. 15

10. Bondurant-Farrar

Poll points: 10

2020 record: 5-4

2020 postseason: Class 3A Round of 32

Key returners: QB Colby Collison, sr. (1,076 passing yards, 8 TDs), RB/S Porter Smith, sr. (474 rushing yards, 8 TDs), RB/S Titus Cram, soph. (356 rushing yards, 3 TDs, 36 tackles, 2 INTs), WR/CB Nolan Meyer, sr. (24 receptions, 424 yards, 2 TDs), FB/LB John Powers, jr. (51 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries)

Key games: At Dallas Center-Grimes, Sept. 3; Pella, Sept. 17; at Indianola, Oct. 15

Others receiving votes

Waverly-Shell Rock 8, Iowa City Liberty 4, Carlisle 3, Fort Dodge 3, Western Dubuque 2, Mason City 1

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com