Iowa high school football preseason rankings 2021: Class A

The reigning champion has moved on. That leaves last year’s runner-up as the preseason favorite.

Led by returning all-state quarterback Logan Knaack, Grundy Center has been tabbed as the No. 1 team in Class A football by panelists in The Gazette’s poll.

The Spartans (11-1 in 2020) received four first-place votes and 49 poll points. Logan-Magnolia (8-2 and a quarterfinalist) earned the other No. 1 vote and 42 points. The Panthers are ranked second, followed by Hartley HMS. Lisbon and West Hancock are tied for fourth.

Knaack was responsible for 33 offensive touchdowns last season, passing for 1,129 yards and rushing for 1,193. Brayden Sawyer earned third-team all-state honors.

Grundy Center allowed just 8.8 points per game, posting six shutouts. The team that defeated the Spartans in the championship game, Iowa City Regina has been bumped to 1A.

Logan-Magnolia also returns a first-team all-stater in Rex Johnsen.

Lisbon is the lone area team in the top 10. The Lions were 7-3 last year, return a second-team all-state pick in Tyson Scott and are heavy favorites in District 5. They face a tough opener at home against West Branch, a perennially strong 1A program.

Capsules on the Class A contenders:

1. Grundy Center

Poll points: 49 (4 first-place votes)

2020 record: 11-1

2020 postseason: Class A runner-up

Key returners: QB/S Logan Knaack, sr. (1,129 passing yards, 1,193 rushing yards, 33 offensive TDs, 4 INT, 1st-team all-state), C/LB Brayden Sawyer, sr. (73.5 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 3rd-team all-state), WR/CB Dexter Whitehill, sr. (16 catches, 305 yards, 3 TDs), RB/LB Cole Lehr, sr. (48 tackles)

Key games: South Hardin, Aug. 27; at Dike-New Hartford, Sept. 3; at Wapsie Valley, Sept. 10

2. Logan-Magnolia

Poll points: 42 (1 first-place vote)

2020 record: 8-2

2020 postseason: Class A quarterfinalist

Key returners: OL/DE Rex Johnsen, sr. (46 tackles, 1st-team all-state), RB/LB Gavin McGuire, sr. (1,111 rushing yards, 20 TDs, 46 tackles); QB/S Carter Edney, sr. (455 passing yards, 270 rushing yards); TE/LB Jordan Kerger, sr. (59.5 tackles)

Key games: Carroll Kuemper, Aug. 27; at Woodbury Central, Sept. 3; at Tri-Center, Sept. 17

3. Hartley HMS

Poll points: 31

2020 record: 7-3

2020 postseason: Class A Round of 16

Key returners: OT/DE Lance Behrends, jr. (76.5 tackles, 3rd-team all-state), QB/LB Kooper Ebel, jr. (713 passing yards, 946 rushing yards, 18 offensive TDs, 3rd-team all-state),RB/CB Connor Dodd, sr. (598 rushing yards, 10 TDs, 31.3 yards per catch, 36 tackles, 4 INTs).

Key games: West Sioux, Aug. 27; Le Mars Gehlen, Sept. 3; at West Hancock, Oct. 1

T-4. Lisbon

Poll points: 30

2020 record: 7-3

2020 postseason: Class A Round of 16

Key returners: OL/DL Tyson Scott, sr. (25.5 tackles, 2nd-team all-state), QB/DB Cohen Kamaus, jr. (312 passing yards, 65.2% completion rate, 6 TDs), RB/LB Jamien Moore, sr. (814 rushing yards, 10 TDs, 36.5 tackles

Key games: West Branch, Aug. 27; at Alburnett, Sept. 10; Highland, Oct. 8

T-4. West Hancock

Poll points: 30

2020 record: 9-2

2020 postseason: Class A quarterfinalist

Key returners: RB/CB Kane Zuehl, sr. (36.5 tackles, 2nd-team all-state), TE/CB Braden Walk, sr. (22 tackles, 4 INT, 40.2 yards per kick return, 4 for TDs, 2nd-team all-state), RB/LB Mathew Francis, sr. (642 rushing yards, 7 TDs, 67 tackles)

Key games: At Mason City Newman, Sept. 3; Lake Mills, Sept. 10; at Saint Ansgar, Oct. 8

6. Council Bluffs St. Albert

Poll points: 26

2020 record: 8-3

2020 postseason: Class A semifinalist

Key returners: QB/CB Brendan Monohan, jr. (698 passing yards, 10 TD passes, 0 INT, 255 rushing yards); OL/LB Keaton Barnes, sr. (38 tackles)

Key games: Oakland Riverside, Sept. 3; Underwood, Sept. 10; at Avoca AHSTW, Oct. 15

7. Mason City Newman

Poll points: 14

2020 record: 6-3

2020 postseason: Class A Round of 32

Key returners: QB/LB Max Burt, jr. (1,474 passing yards, 14 TDs, 234 rushing yards, 63.5 tackles), RB/LB Jack Maznio, sr. (563 rushing yards, 7 TDs), TE/LB Nash Holmgaard, sr. (22 catches, 450 yards, 8 TDs), WR/CB Noah Hamilton, jr. (49 tackles, 5 INTs)

Key games: West Hancock, Sept. 3; at Saint Ansgar, Sept. 17; at Lake Mills, Oct. 1

8. Mount Ayr

Poll points: 9

2020 record: 7-2

2020 postseason: Class 1A Round of 16

Key returners: QB/S Jaixen Frost, jr. (700 passing yards, 304 rushing yards, 9 offensive TDs), RB/LB Adler Shay, sr. (312 rushing yards, 16 catches, 260 yards, 7 offensive TDs), RB/LB Jaydon Knight, jr. (42.5 tackles, 10 TFL)

Key games: At Oakland Riverside, Sept. 10; Avoca AHSTW, Sept. 17; Council Bluffs St. Albert, Oct. 1

T-9. Oakland Riverside

Poll points: 7

2020 record: 8-2

2020 postseason: Class A Round of 16

Key returners: QB/S Austin Kremkoski, sr. (2,065 yards of total offense, 22 passing TDs, 8 rushing TDs), RB/LB Rhett Bentley, sr. (1,023 rushing yards, 8 TDs, 23 receptions, 275 yards, 25.5 tackles)

Key games: At Council Bluffs St. Albert, Sept. 3; Mount Ayr, Sept. 10; at Avoca AHSTW, Sept. 24

T-9. Saint Ansgar

Poll points: 7

2020 record: 10-1

2020 postseason: Class A semifinalist

Key returners: RB/LB Lorne Isler, sr. (740 yards, 5 TDs, 60.5 tackles), QB/LB Tate Meyer, jr. (52.5 tackles), RB/CB Bradley Hackenmiller, sr. (35.5 tackles, 4 INTs)

Key games: Mason City Newman, Sept. 17; West Hancock, Oct. 8; at Lake Mills, Oct. 15

Others receiving votes

Le Mars Gehlen 6, Avoca AHSTW 4, Southwest Valley 4, Bellevue 3, Tri-Center 3, Clayton Ridge 2, Lake Mills 2, Ridge View 2, Belle Plaine 1, Woodbury Central 1.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com