Iowa High School Football: Predicting The Class 4A District Races

Last fall, Cedar Rapids Xavier claimed top honors in Iowa high school football in Class 4A, finishing unbeaten while claiming the Iowa High School Athletic Association State Football Championship.

This fall, the Saints will be the hunted, and there is a hungry pack of challengers all waiting to take them down.

Here is a preview for each of the six districts in Class 4A of Iowa high school football.

Iowa High School Football Class 4A District Predictions

District 1

Teams: Fort Dodge, Le Mars, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Sioux City West, Spencer, Storm Lake.

Favorite: Sergeant Bluff-Luton topped Fort Dodge to take home the district crown a year ago, as the Warriors reached the Class 4A semifinals before falling to Pella. The run to the final four included a dominating 55-15 victory over then-defending state champion North Polk, as Sergeant Bluff-Luton returns leading rusher Beckett Verros and will also have 2024 top rusher Ryan Husen back in the fold.

Dark horse: The Dodgers and head coach Nik Moser are not much of a dark horse, but they are the top threat to Sergeant Bluff-Luton. Wayne State commit Tru McBride is coming off an all-state baseball season. Fort Dodge must replace standout Dreshaun Ross, who is now wrestling for Oklahoma State, but has Will McElroy, Kyree Rochon, Jayce Skow, Jayon Preston-Grady and Sam Moser all returning.

Predicted playoff teams: Fort Dodge, Sergeant Bluff-Luton.

District 2

Teams: Cedar Rapids Washington, Decorah, Mason City, Waterloo East, Waverly-Shell Rock, Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Favorite: Until someone knocks them off, Cedar Rapids Xavier will be the favorite in not only the district race, but the pursuit of the Class 4A state championship. The Saints are loaded once again this year, with quarterback Cash Parks back after throwing for over 2,200 yards and 28 touchdowns with just two picks. Dustin Cook and Dawson Doyle will step into the lead running back role, as Cook is a top dual threat with over 500 yards receiving last year.

Dark horse: Waverly-Shell Rock is a team to keep an eye on. The Go-Hawks are under the direction of former Cal Twait, the son of legendary junior college football coach Kevin Twait and grandson of Hall of Fame high school coach Duane Twait. Waverly-Shell Rock played a stacked schedule in 2025 and will return Jayden Stephens, Nolan Johnson, Parker Holmgaard and Easton Jorgenson.

Predicted playoff teams: Decorah, Waverly-Shell Rock, Cedar Rapids Xavier.

District 3

Teams: Burlington, Clinton, Davenport North, Davenport West, North Scott, Western Dubuque.

Favorite: Miller Haedt stepped into the QB1 role and had a big junior season for North Scott, throwing for over 1,200 yards, rushing for 400 more and recording 19 combined passing and running TDs. Jonas Schlichting, Evan Kruse and Gage Wagner all ran for over 200 yards and Ryan Block had 46 receptions for 632 yards to lead the team.

Dark horse: Western Dubuque will need to replace quarterback Brett Harris, as he is off to the University of Iowa to play baseball, but the Bobcats have Iowa State commit Drew Bergfeld back. Bergfeld rushed for 1,256 yards and scored 18 TDs last fall.

Predicted playoff teams: North Scott, Western Dubuque.

Isaiah Hansen, Newton, Iowa, high school, football — Newton's Isaiah Hansen (2) runs for a touchdown around Gilbert's safety Alden Short (5) during first quarter at Tigers Stadium on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Gilbert, Iowa | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

District 4

Teams: Clear Creek-Amana, Grinnell, Marion, Newton, Oskaloosa, Pella.

Favorite: Will Isaiah Hansen be enough for Newton to repeat atop the district? The Iowa State commit rushed for almost 1,400 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. The Cardinals will be replacing all-state quarterback Caden Klein and top receiver Finn Martin, but have Qhjuan Coley back at receiver.

Dark horse: The Clippers boast some strong skill position players in Texton Bollers, Tay Seals and Ian Kelley, as Bollers should slide in and replace Conlan Poynton at quarterback. Seals had over 300 yards receiving and returned two kickoffs for TDs.

Predicted playoff teams: Clear Creek-Amana, Newton, Pella.

Carlisle, Iowa, high school, football — USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

District 5

Teams: Ballard, Bondurant-Farrar, Carlisle, Des Moines North, Gilbert, North Polk.

Favorite: After hoisting the trophy in 2024, North Polk was eliminated in the quarterfinal round last fall. The Comets were a young team last year, and will be in that position at a number of key positions. Chase Bough threw 27 passes as a junior and will have 1,153-yard rusher Carson Reinhart to help him grow. Brady Cathcart is set to become the top receiver, with Cathcart, Reinhart and Taylan Cakinberk anchoring the defense.

Dark horse: Carlisle had a big summer, and the Wildcats could be poised to knock North Polk off. CJ Haug is back at quarterback along with Isaac Burk and Carter Berg, who each rushed for over 600 yards and scored 18 combined touchdowns. Hayden Schulte had over 600 yards receiving, as Berg led the defense with 89 tackles.

Predicted playoff teams: Carlisle, Gilbert, North Polk.

District 6

Teams: Adel-ADM, Boone, Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson, Denison-Schleswig, Glenwood, Lewis Central.

Favorite: All five losses by Lewis Central last year came by three points each night out, including a 27-24 loss to Gilbert in the state playoffs. The Titans played one of the toughest schedules, taking on North Polk and Sergeant Bluff-Luton before district play. A new quarterback will need to be developed, but 1,500-yard rusher Braydan Doss returns along with Leonardo Tatum at wide receiver, where he will be joined by Braxton Parks.

Dark horse: Adel-ADM has been in the driver’s seat as of late, but the Tigers need not only a new QB, but leading rusher. Alex Jensen had 439 yards and six TDs last year while Daniel Storck completed 10 of 14 passes as a freshman.

Predicted playoff teams: Adel-ADM, Glenwood, Lewis Central.

Add us as a preferred source on Google