Playoff Outlook and Star Power
The eight‑player football landscape in Iowa is shaping up for a dramatic 2026 postseason, with Bishop Garrigan and Marty Wadle entering the year as the reigning state champions.
Remsen St. Mary’s, despite losing several seniors, will rely on quarterback Dalton Klein and top receiver Beau Johnson to rebuild their attack.
Don Bosco arrives with a potent offense that averaged nearly 50 points per game last season, setting a high bar for their rivals.
Edgewood‑Colesburg’s sophomore Jax Steger led a high‑scoring unit that topped 50 points per game, throwing for 1,858 yards and 29 touchdowns.
In Iowa Valley, running back Nolan Kriegel returns after a breakout season in which he amassed 1,944 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns, making him a centerpiece of the offense.
Gladbrook‑Reinbeck continues its streak of three consecutive winning seasons, having posted double‑digit victories each year and a 15‑year run of positive records.
Audubon’s offense is expected to be explosive, driven by quarterback Aiden Kjergaard, who posted 815 passing yards and 12 touchdowns in the previous campaign.
Woodbine, the state runners‑up, will count on prospect Landon Blum, who caught 60 passes for 1,049 yards and 24 touchdowns, to anchor a potent receiving corps.
Newell‑Fonda brings back key contributors Gunnar Baron, Jackson Bellock and Andrew Greenfield, who all benefited from last year’s improvements and look ready to elevate the team.
North Union’s dual‑threat Greyson Colegrove combined nearly 800 passing yards with 500 rushing yards and 23 total touchdowns, underscoring his all‑around impact.
Turkey Valley will lean on Kaden Schmidt, who rushed for 604 yards and eight scores, and Treyton Franzen, who added 408 yards and seven touchdowns.
Central Elkader’s returning trio — Griffen Hammersland, Owen Hammersland and Mason Loan — aim to build on the first .500 season the program has seen since 2016.
Other standout performances include Braydon Anderson’s 1,000‑yard sophomore campaign, the return of top receiver Everett Bender, Quentin Dalton’s leadership of a Bedford offense that scored 59 points per game, and Brogan Petersen’s 21‑of‑37 passing effort for 336 yards and eight touchdowns.