Iowa High School Football: Predicting The Class 3A District Races

The Class 3A Iowa High School Athletic Association State Football Playoffs a year ago showed that if a team gets hot late in the season, anything can happen.

Nevada was that team, as the Cubs dominated Solon and Sioux City Bishop Heelan inside the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls to hoist the trophy.

Now, they will enter 2026 looking to repeat while everyone else tries to knock them off that pedestal.

Here is a preview for each of the six districts in Class 3A of Iowa high school football.

Iowa High School Football Class 3A District Predictions

District 1

Teams: Algona, Sioux City Bishop Heelan, Humboldt, MOC-Floyd Valley, Sioux Center, Webster City.

Favorite: With dual-threat Ezra Hibma set for a big senior season, Sioux Center has the QB1 position locked down. Hibma threw for almost 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago, adding 484 yards and seven scores. The Warriors graduated their two leading rushers, but return Braedon Perez-Hietbrink as the top target for Hibma.

Dark horse: For the first time in recent years, Algona struggled, as the young Bulldogs finished just 4-5. They did knock off district champion and state runner-up Sioux City Bishop Heelan to end the year, giving them plenty of momentum going into 2026. Nathan Manske also return at the quarterback position.

Predicted playoff teams: Algona, Sioux City Bishop Heelan, Sioux Center.

District 2

Teams: Benton Community, Charles City, Clear Lake, Independence, Iowa Falls-Alden, West Delaware.

Favorite: An unbeaten regular season was the highlight to the year for Clear Lake, and the Lions should be able to run the table once again with Jaxson McIntire leading the offense. He threw for over 1,600 yards and ran for more than 400, and will have Carson Riser and Maddon McIntire to throw to this fall.

Dark horse: It has been a few seasons since Iowa Falls-Alden contended for a playoff spot, but the Cadets return quarterback Karsen Kalous, who threw for almost 1,300 yards and ran for another 553 last year. Jack Duit, Cade Olberding and Collin Pieper also are back, as Olberding had 657 yards and nine TDs receiving.

Predicted playoff teams: Clear Lake, West Delaware.

District 3

Teams: Davenport Assumption, Center Point-Urbana, Central DeWitt, Maquoketa, Mount Vernon, Dubuque Wahlert Catholic.

Favorite: Knocked off in the semifinals a year ago, Dubuque Wahlert Catholic returns with another loaded roster this fall. The Golden Eagles will be led by quarterback JP Elbert, as he had almost 1,600 yards passing and 700 yards rushing with 25 combined TDs. William Freund and Brody Creighton should be in for a big offensive years for Dubuque Wahlert Catholic.

Dark horse: If they can find a replacement for Hudson Krukow, Central DeWitt could compete for the title, as they boast standout athlete Jameson Gregoire, who had 858 yards and 11 touchdowns receiving last year. Cooper Small almost rushed for 1,000 yards and will also be returning.

Predicted playoff teams: Davenport Assumption, Central DeWitt, Mount Vernon, Dubuque Wahlert Catholic.

District 4

Teams: Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Mount Pleasant, Solon, Washington.

Favorite: Solon remains a step ahead of the pack here, as the Spartans reached the final four a year ago. Maddox Kelley returns along with Luis Buck, Hunter Sonntag, Kaden Hoeper, Cody Milliman and Owen Bock. Kelley and Hoeper combined for nearly 1,400 yards receiving a year ago.

Dark horse: Grayson Walker could provide a threat to Solon, as he threw for almost 1,200 yards and 11 TDs last year to lead Mount Pleasant, who also returns 300-yard rushers Ryan Helling and Griffen Jones.

Predicted playoff teams: Solon, Mount Pleasant.

District 5

Teams: Des Moines Christian, Knoxville, Nevada, Saydel, Williamsburg, Winterset.

Favorite: Things are looking up for Williamsburg, as the Raiders return a number of big-time producers. Cash Brown threw for nearly 800 yards with seven touchdowns as a sophomore while Rogan Ackerman had 540 and eight TDs as a junior. Leading rusher Dallin Sullivan is back, along with top receiver Kale Bailey.

Dark horse: The defending state champions are replacing a lot, but Nevada will have the momentum of lifting the trophy heading into the new season. Players like Colton Pedersen, Tyler Wirtz, Fletcher Williams and Braiden Fleming will be looked at for much larger roles.

Predicted playoff teams: Williamsburg, Winterset.

District 6

Teams: Atlantic, Carroll, Creston, Greene County, Harlan, Perry.

Favorite: After a bit of a slow start last year, Carroll got hot, winning five in a row and pushing Nevada to the end in the playoffs. The Tigers will have 1,500-yard rusher Adam Malik back, as he scored 18 touchdowns. Camden King had almost 800 yards passing and ran for 442 as a junior, with Lincoln Burke leading the defense.

Dark horse: Like Carroll, Atlantic has a star at the RB position in Ethan McNeal coming back. McNeal ran for 1,331 yards and scored 14 times, as Carter Hadley, Grant Petty and Jake Wailes lead the defense.

Predicted playoff teams: Atlantic, Carroll, Harlan.

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