March 28, 2024

Mark down these early football games

The high school football schedules for the next two seasons were released Wednesday morning. And while I know the spring seasons are just getting underway, I always look forward to football season.

I have already written down the football schedules on my work calendar.

I am looking forward to covering our area athletes this spring and this summer.

But, let’s look ahead at the football season and highlight some of the area’s best non-district games.

Newton at PCM

Both programs lost just twice each last year,

The Mustangs lost 24-22 to Class 1A state semifinalist Pella Christian and fell 18-17 to 2A runner-up Williamsburg.

PCM brings back nearly its entire roster. The quarterback is back. As ar e the top two rushers, top five receivers and the top five tacklers. The offensive line also returns three starters.

I think the Mustangs are a top three team in 2A next year.

Newton is down to 3A after playing a 4A schedule the past two seasons.

This year’s team will look different than last year’s squad. Garrett Sturtz is gone. So are the top four tacklers.

PCM coach Greg Bonnett told me this winter that he’s been trying to schedule the Cardinals for several years. He’ll get his wish in Week 1 this season, and it should be a good one.

PCM at Pella Christian

PCM hasn’t been able to get over the hump against the Eagles. They lost by only two points last year. The Mustangs’ huge and talented junior class hopes to finally get in the win column against the Eagles as seniors next season.

Pella Christian finished 11-1 and lost to Iowa City Regina in the 1A semifinals in a season that was supposed to be a rebuild.

The Eagles lose its starting quarterback but brings back its top three tailbacks, four of its top five receivers, three of its top four tacklers and plenty of other talent across all 22 positions on the field.

Colfax-Mingo at Lynnville-Sully

This game wasn’t close last year as Lynnville-Sully got the best of the Tigerhawks in Colfax.

But Colfax-Mingo brings back enough to improve from last year’s 4-6 record despite bumping up to 1A. The Hawks graduate a ton of talent but there is enough back to once again challenge for a district title.

L-S went undefeated during the regular season last year.

Zarek Hill is back for Colfax-Mingo after leading the state with eight picks last season.

Sigourney-Keota at Lynnville-Sully

The Hawks have a tough non-district schedule, playing another 1A team in Sigourney-Keota in Week 2. They open the season with a road game against 1A Pleasantville, too.

Sigourney-Keota went 5-5 last year but brings back its best player in Carson Crawford, who rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and led the Savages in tackles.

Don Bosco at Baxter

The Bolts will have a gauntlet of a district to navigate through next season. And then they were given the defending 8-man state champions in the non-district schedule.

Baxter fans may be looking forward to the Collins-Maxwell game the most next season, but the Don Bosco matchup is the most intriguing to me.

The Dons went 13-0 last year. They lose several offensive skill positions from that team but return its top three tacklers on defense and its top receiver on offense.

Contact Troy Hyde
at thyde@newtondailynews.com