Iowa high school football preseason rankings 2022: Class 4A

Ten teams, 25 returning all-staters. That makes for a talented cast of contenders in the world of Class 4A football this season.

Most of last year’s top 4A teams return a number of key cogs, led by defending champion Lewis Central.

The Titans (11-2 last year) bring back three first-team all-state skill players — quarterback Braylon Kammrad, running back Jon Humpal and receiver Lucci Fidone.

No wonder they received all six first-place votes in The Gazette’s preseason rankings.

The Titans won’t have to wait long for a major challenge. They host 3A No. 1 Harlan — another reigning state champ — on Friday. They also face 4A No. 7 Norwalk and 4A No. 3 Indianola in the third and fourth weeks of the season.

Norwalk has the most returning all-staters of anyone, with five, and could be poised for a big jump after bowing out in the first round of the playoffs last year.

Waverly-Shell Rock welcomes back three all-staters — all first-teamers — from a 2021 semifinal team and checks in at No. 2. Indianola, Bondurant-Farrar and Cedar Rapids Xavier round out the top five.

Xavier went 11-2 last year and advanced to the final before dropping a triple-overtime heartbreaker to Lewis Central. Thomas Sundell and Aidan McDermott lead the Saints’ charge for another Dome run.

Cedar Rapids Washington is No. 9.

Capsules on the Class 4A contenders:

1. Lewis Central

Poll points: 60 (6 first-place votes)

2021 record: 11-2 overall, 5-0 4A District 6 (1st)

2021 postseason: 4A champion

Key returners: QB/S Braylon Kammrad, sr. (2,506 passing yards, 25 TDs; 358 rushing yards, 11 TDs; 1st-team all-state); RB/CB Jon Humpal, sr. (1,432 rushing yards, 24 TDs; 33 receptions, 424 yards, 3 TDs; 1st-team all-state); WR/CB Lucci Fidone, sr. (51 receptions, 740 yards, 11 TDs; 1st-team all-state); K Boston Hensley, sr. (63-64 PAT, 5-7 FG; 2nd-team all-state)

Key games: Harlan, Aug. 26; at Norwalk, Sept. 9; Indianola, Sept. 16

2. Waverly-Shell Rock

Poll points: 45

2021 record: 10-2 overall, 5-0 Class 4A District 2 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 4A semifinalist

Key returners: RB/DL Jake Walker, sr. (33.5 tackles; 1st-team all-state); RB/LB Asa Newsom, sr. (690 rushing yards, 6 TDs; 54 tackles; 1st-team all-state); RB/LB McCrae Hagerty, sr. (1,289 rushing yards, 19 TDs; 43.5 tackles; 3 fumble recoveries; 1st-team all-state)

Key games: Webster City, Sept. 9; at West Delaware, Sept. 16; Western Dubuque, Oct. 14

3. Indianola

Poll points: 42

2021 record: 9-2 overall, 4-1 Class 4A District 5 (T-1st)

2021 postseason: Class 4A quarterfinalist

Key returners: WR Drew Kingery, sr. (55 receptions, 952 yards, 14 TDs; 1st-team all-state); QB Bennett Brueck, sr. (2,418 passing yards, 25 TDs; 2nd-team all-state); RB/LB Matthew Edgington, sr. (394 rushing yards, 2 TDs)

Key games: Ankeny Centennial, Aug. 26; at Lewis Central, Sept. 16; at Bondurant-Farrar, Oct. 14

4. Bondurant-Farrar

Poll points: 41

2021 record: 9-2 overall, 4-1 Class 4A District 5 (T-1st)

2021 postseason: Class 4A quarterfinalist

Key returners: RB/S Titus Cram, jr. (1,461 rushing yards, 26 TDs; 43 tackles; 2nd-team all-state); FB/LB John Powers, sr. (87 tackles; 3rd-team all-state); WR/CB Tysen Barkema, sr. (27 tackles; 5 INTs; 3rd-team all-state); QB Colby Collison, sr. (1,555 passing yards, 17 TDs)

Key games: Dallas Center-Grimes, Sept. 2; Indianola, Oct. 14; at Norwalk, Oct. 21

5. Cedar Rapids Xavier

Poll points: 39

2021 record: 11-2 overall, 5-0 Class 4A District 4 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 4A runner-up

Key returners: RB/LB Thomas Sundell, sr. (83 tackles; 1st-team all-state); WR/DB Aidan McDermott, sr. (58 receptions, 759 yards, 3 TDs; 44 tackles; 7 INTs; 1st-team all-state); RB/DB Michael Cunningham, sr. (587 rushing yards, 7 TDs)

Key games: West Delaware, Sept. 6; at North Scott, Sept. 16; at Cedar Rapids Washington, Sept. 23

6. Webster City

Poll points: 38

2021 record: 8-3 overall, 5-0 Class 4A District 1 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 4A quarterfinalist

Key returners: RB/S C.J. Hisler, sr. (1,032 rushing yards, 7 TDs; 3 INTs; 2nd-team all-state); RB/LB Jaxon Cherry, jr. (936 rushing yards, 19 TDs; 61 tackles; 3rd-team all-state); QB/S Ty McKinney, sr. (398 passing yards, 7 TDs; 708 rushing yards, 6 TDs; 38 tackles)

Key games: At Humboldt, Aug. 26; at Waverly-Shell Rock, Sept. 9; at Fort Dodge, Sept. 23

7. Norwalk

Poll points: 24

2021 record: 6-4 overall, 3-2 Class 4A District 5 (3rd)

2021 postseason: Class 4A qualifier

Key returners: WR Dillon Ranck, sr. (45 receptions, 718 yards, 5 TDs; 2nd-team all-state); DT Maddux Borcherding-Johnson, sr. (36.5 tackles; 2nd-team all-state); S Justus Williams, sr. (62 tackles, 3 INTs; 2nd-team all-state); WR Braeden Carlson, sr. (42 receptions, 640 yards, 7 TDs; 3rd-team all-state); OL Noah Mulford, sr. (3rd-team all-state)

Key games: Lewis Central, Sept. 9; at Indianola, Sept. 30; Bondurant-Farrar, Oct. 21

8. North Scott

Poll points: 17

2021 record: 9-1 overall, Class 4A 5-0 District 3 (1st)

2021 postseason: Class 4A qualifier

Key returners: TE/DE A.J. Petersen, sr. (47 tackles; 1st-team all-state); OT/DT David Borchers, sr. (27.5 tackles; 2nd-team all-state); WR/CB Cole Jennings, sr. (6 INTs)

Key games: Western Dubuque, Sept. 2; Cedar Rapids Xavier, Sept. 16; at Iowa City Liberty, Sept. 23

9. Cedar Rapids Washington

Poll points: 8

2021 record: 5-5 overall, 3-2 Class 4A District 4 (T-2nd)

2021 postseason: Class 4A qualifier

Key returners: RB/S Watts McBride, sr. (646 rushing yards, 7 TDs; 24 receptions, 254 yards, 3 TDs; 52.5 tackles; 3rd-team all-state); RB/DB Miles Thompson, sr. (332 rushing yards, 6 TDs); WR/DB Michael Blank, sr. (30 receptions, 270 yards, 2 TDs); TE/LB Chase Mahoney, sr. (60.5 tackles)

Key games: Cedar Rapids Kennedy (Kingston), Sept. 9; Linn-Mar, Sept. 15; Cedar Rapids Xavier, Sept. 23

10. Fort Dodge

Poll points: 4

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

2021 postseason: Class 4A qualifier

Key returners: WR Javion Jondle, sr. (54 receptions, 880 yards, 7 TDs; 2nd-team all-state); QB Connor Carver, sr. (2,103 passing yards, 16 TDs; 3rd-team all-state); LB Tucker Pederson, sr. (36.5 tackles)

Key games: Ames, Sept. 2; Webster City, Sept. 23; at Spencer, Sept. 30

Others receiving votes

Glenwood 3, Winterset 3, Spencer 2, Dallas Center-Grimes 1, Iowa City Liberty 1, Pella 1, Western Dubuque 1.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com