Iowa high school football preseason rankings 2022: Class 3A

Can Harlan be stopped?

The more realistic question ... can Harlan be slowed?

The Cyclones put up more than 50 points per game last season on the way to a 13-0, Class 3A championship run.

A number of those weapons are back, including quarterback Teagon Kasperbauer, who threw for 3,307 yards and 46 touchdowns. He is one of three returning first-team all-state selections, joining lineman Gunner Schmitz and two-way standout Aiden Hall.

Is it any surprise that the Cyclones are a unanimous No. 1 in The Gazette’s preseason 3A poll?

Harlan will get a huge test right away, on the road against Class 4A power Lewis Central. The Cyclones hit the pavement again two weeks later, heading to Sergeant Bluff-Luton, our pick at No. 2 in 3A.

A semifinalist last year, Solon is No. 3, followed by Adel ADM and Humboldt.

Independence is tied for sixth; West Delaware is tied for eighth. The Mustangs and the Hawks have a Week 7 encounter at Manchester.

Capsules on the Class 3A contenders:

*Note: These were assembled before Week Zero

1. Harlan

Poll points: 60 (6 first-place votes)

2021 record: 13-0 overall, 5-0 Class 3A District 6

2021 postseason: Class 3A champion

Key returners: QB Teagan Kasperbauer, sr. (3,307 passing yards, 46 TDs; 1st-team all-state); OT/DT Gunner Schmitz (1st-team all-state); RB/S Aiden Hall, sr. (777 rushing yards, 17 TDs; 32 receptions, 755 yards, 7 TDs; 3 INTs; 1st-team all-state); TE/LB Jacob Birch, sr. (52 receptions, 723 yards, 7 TDs)

Key games: At Lewis Central, Aug. 26; at Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Sept. 9; Adel ADM, Oct. 7

2. Sergeant Bluff-Luton

Poll points: 49

2021 record: 8-3 overall, 4-1 Class 3A District 1 (2nd)

2021 postseason: Class 3A quarterfinalist

Key returners: QB/S Tyler Smith, sr. (2,271 passing yards, 24 TDs; 511 rushing yards, 8 TDs; 2nd-team all-state); OT/DE Tylar Lutgen, sr. (33 tackles; 3rd-team all-state); WR/S Jake Hamilton, sr. (35 receptions, 533 yards, 3 TDs)

Key games: Central Lyon-GLR, Sept. 2; Harlan, Sept. 9; at Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, Sept. 30

3. Solon

Poll points: 48

2021 record: 11-1 overall, 5-0 Class 3A District 5 (2nd)

2021 postseason: Class 3A semifinalist

Key returners: RB/DB Sean Stahle, sr. (1,138 rushing yards, 17 TDs; 12 receptions, 305 yards, 3 TDs; 2nd-team all-state); TE/LB Brett White, jr. (94 tackles; 2nd-team all-state); QB/DB Blake Timmons, sr. (1,553 passing yards, 19 TDs; 888 rushing yards, 10 TDs; 3rd-team all-state)

Key games: Mount Vernon, Sept. 2; at Williamsburg, Sept. 9; Davenport Assumption, Sept. 16

4. Adel ADM

Poll points: 33

2021 record: 7-3 overall, 4-1 Class 3A District 6 (2nd)

2021 postseason: Class 3A qualifier

Key returners: RB Brevin Doll, jr. (1,051 rushing yards, 18 TDs; 13 receptions, 268 yards, 2 TDs; 2nd-team all-state); TE Vince Benetti, sr. (34 tackles; 2nd-team all-state); P Sam Holloway, sr. (40.7 yards/punt; 3rd-team all-state)

Key games: North Polk, Sept. 9; Creston, Sept. 30; at Harlan, Oct. 7

5. Humboldt

Poll points: 29

2021 record: 11-1 overall, 5-0 Class 3A District 2 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 3A semifinalist

Key returners: WR/DB Will Orness, sr. (73 receptions, 1,205 yards, 15 TDs; 4 INTs; 1st-team all-state); TE/DL Tayeton Lohaus, sr. (40.5 tackles; 2nd-team all-state); RB/LB Lance Coon, sr. (489 rushing yards, 5 TDs)

Key games: Webster City, Aug. 26; at Estherville ELC, Sept. 9; at Nevada, Oct. 14

T-6. Independence

Poll points: 24

2021 record: 9-2 overall, 4-1 Class 3A District 3 (2nd)

2021 postseason: Class 3A quarterfinalist

Key returners: OL/DL Korver Hupke, sr. (32.5 tackles; 1st-team all-state); QB/LB Mitch Johnson, sr. (1,457 passing yards, 22 TDs; 57 tackles; 2nd-team all-state); RB/LB Brady McDonald, jr. (31 receptions, 467 yards, 7 TDs)

Key games: At West Liberty, Sept. 9; at Hampton-Dumont/CAL, Sept. 30; at West Delaware, Oct. 14

T-6. Nevada

Poll points: 24

2021 record: 9-2 overall, 4-1 Class 3A District 2 (2nd)

2021 postseason: Class 3A quarterfinalist

Key returners: TE/DE Carson Rhodes, sr. (11 receptions, 121 yards, 3 TDs; 3rd-team all-state); RB/S Cason Stevenson, jr. (1,138 rushing yards, 14 TDs); WR/S Karter Beving, sr. (46 tackles)

Key games: West Marshall, Sept. 2; Ballard, Sept. 30; Humboldt, Oct. 14

T-8. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley

Poll points: 14

2021 record: 12-1 overall, 5-0 Class 3A District 1 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 3A runner-up

Key returners: RB/LB Brock Fisher, sr. (23 tackles); RB/DB Blake Bomgaars, sr. (18 tackles)

Key games: At Central Lyon-GLR, Aug. 26; Unity Christian, Sept. 9; Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Oct. 7

T-8. West Delaware

Poll points: 14

2021 record: 9-2 overall, 5-0 Class 3A District 3 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 3A quarterfinalist

Key returners: OL/DL Luke Reth, sr. (1st-team all-state); RB/DB Will Ward, sr. (29 receptions, 354 yards, 3 TDs); RB/LB Logan Peyton, sr. (47 tackles)

Key games: At Cedar Rapids Xavier, Sept. 2; Waverly-Shell Rock, Sept. 16; Independence, Oct. 14

10. Davenport Assumption

Poll points: 13

2021 record: 6-4 overall, 4-1 Class 3A District 4 (2nd)

2021 postseason: Class 3A quarterfinalist

Key returners: K Billy Moore, jr. (25-28 PAT, 8-9 FG; 1st-team all-state); RB/DB Angelo Jackson, jr. (524 rushing yards, 8 TDs); TB/LB Cale Preston, sr. (61.5 tackles)

Key games: North Scott, Sept. 9; at Solon, Sept. 16; Mount Vernon, Sept. 30

Others receiving votes

Ballard 8, North Polk 8, Creston 4, Benton Community 1, MOC-Floyd Valley 1.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com