Football 2012: Area Class A preview

The following is a preseason football glance for area Class A districts:

A DISTRICT 3

Overview -- No Class A school in the state returns as much as

North Butler, which was a competitive 5-5 last season. The Bearcats return virtually every skill-position player, and a good share of their defense, to rate as a slight favorite over

Wapsie Valley. Rob Rottler leads the North Butler defense; he ranked seventh in the state last year with 142 tackles. After finishing 9-2 and advancing to the second round of the 1A playoffs, Wapsie is one of four teams in this district to drop a class. QB Mitchell Boevers is back, as are three of his top receivers.

Starmont has a strong tradition, and

North Linn appears ready to move up after a 2-7 campaign in 2011. The Lynx narrowly get the nod for the fourth spot over

Turkey Valley.

How they'll finish (*playoff qualifier) -- 1. North Butler*, 2. Wapsie Valley*, 3. Starmont*, 4. North Linn*, 5. Turkey Valley, 6. Postville, 7. East Buchanan, 8. Edgewood-Colesburg.

A DISTRICT 4

Overview -- Dan Oltman succeeds Brent Thoren as coach at

North Tama, which has been as good a Class A program as any the past five years. The Redhawks are two years removed from a state championship, and advanced to the second round last year. Always stalwart defensively, North Tama is equipped on both sides of the ball for a deep playoff run.

Iowa Valley also returns largely intact, but the Tigers must prove they can compete successfully with the elite teams. John Gormley is coming off a 1,666-yard, 26-touchdown season.

Grundy Center, Thoren's new home,

 and

Gladbrook-Reinbeck figure to edge

Conrad BCLUW for the last two playoff spots.

How they'll finish (*playoff qualifier) -- 1. North Tama*, 2. Iowa Valley*, 3. Grundy Center*, 4. Gladbrook-Reinbeck*, 5. Conrad BCLUW, 6. Belle Plaine, 7. Garwin GMG.

A DISTRICT 5

Overview -- On the way to a 14-0 record and the Class A state title,

Lisbon defeated

Lone Tree twice, including a victory in the quarterfinal round. This year, it's Lone Tree that wears the tag of favorite. Quarterback Gabe Lorack returns, as do the top two tacklers -- Andy Dodson and Lucas Sieverding. If they make a smooth adjustment to a new coaching regime, the Lions are a threat to advance to the UNI-Dome. Lisbon lost a lot, but should return plenty in a bid to return to the postseason.

Highland, a refugee from 1A, brings back most of its key cogs from a strong passing attack, and ought to battle

WACO, a perennially strong team for the third spot.

How they'll finish (*playoff qualifier) -- 1. Lone Tree*, 2. Lisbon*, 3. Highland*, 4. WACO*, 5. Danville, 6. Winfield-Mount Union, 7. New London, 8. Van Buren.

A DISTRICT 6

Overview -- There are a handful of state-title contenders in Class A, and

Lynnville-Sully certainly qualifies. A team that averaged nearly 40 points per game last season, the Hawks welcome back their quarterback, top three rushers and leading receiver, as well as four of their top five tacklers.

BGM handled the Hawks, 30-0, last year, and remains strong despite the loss of 1,776-yard rusher Danny Brau. There appears to be a steep drop after that, though

Pekin figures to be solid on name alone. The race for the fourth playoff spot should come down to

Montezuma, Pleasantville and

Southeast Warren.

How they'll finish (*playoff qualifier) -- 1. Lynnville-Sully*, 2. BGM*, 3. Pekin*, 4. Montezuma*, 5. Pleasantville, 6. Southeast Warren, 7. North Mahaska, 8. English Valleys.