Breaking down every CIML team for 2019


Breaking down every CIML team for 2019

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Kurt Warner says it was his playing days at Cedar Rapids Regis and the University of Northern Iowa that paved the way for greatness in the NFL.
Des Moines Register

Central Iowa has been home to some of the state’s best high school football for the last two decades.

Dating back to the fall of 2000, the Central Iowa Metropolitan League has won 15 out of 19 state championships in Iowa’s largest football class. That includes each of the last nine — Dowling Catholic in 2010, West Des Moines Valley in 2011, Ankeny in 2012, and the Maroons’ current streak of six in a row.

The 2019 season is shaping up to be another exciting one here in central Iowa. Practice officially began this week, and here, we offer a rundown of all 18 CIML football teams for this fall.

Ames

2018 Record: 5-4

2019 Outlook: Ames was the first team left out of the 4A playoffs last year after losing to Urbandale in the season finale. The Little Cyclones return plenty of offensive experience with quarterback Cooper Downs and a slew of skill players. Is it enough to break into the postseason?

Ankeny

2018 Record: 5-5, playoffs

2019 Outlook: A tough non-district slate will test these Hawks early, with matchups against Ankeny Centennial, Johnston and Cedar Falls in the first three weeks. Could grow into a sneaky darkhorse team.

Ankeny Centennial

2018 Record: 9-1, playoffs

2019 Outlook: Plenty of returning talent from last year’s district champion team. Jaguars have the capability to make another run at the UNI-Dome this season, with Avery Gates back at running back and plenty of experience on the offensive line.

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Ankeny Centennial junior running back Avery Gates is lifted up by teammate Brady Petersen after running in for a touchdown against Ankeny at Ankeny Stadium on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. (Photo: Bryon Houlgrave/The Register)

Des Moines East

2018 Record: 5-4

2019 Outlook: East missed the playoffs last season despite winning its final three games. The Scarlets have a strong set of skill players, which will be needed if they want to return to the postseason. A tough schedule, featuring Southeast Polk, Waukee and Johnston, awaits.

Des Moines Hoover

2018 Record: 1-8

2019 Outlook: Hoover’s only victory a year ago was against North in a game that was cut short due to gunfire. The Huskies return many key players on both sides and could grow into a competitive squad, but district favorites Dowling Catholic and Ankeny will be tall orders.

Des Moines Lincoln

2018 Record: 4-5

2019 Outlook: Lincoln won the mythical city title last year with wins over East, Roosevelt and Hoover. The Railsplitters return many key playmakers. A strong showing in non-district play could help this team potentially contend for an at-large spot.

Des Moines North

2018 Record: 0-9

2019 Outlook: The Polar Bears won their first two games of the 2016 season. They’ve since lost 25 in a row. Opportunity abounds for them to snap that streak this fall, with matchups against Marshalltown, Des Moines Christian and their city school counterparts all on the schedule.

Des Moines Roosevelt

2018 Record: 3-6

2019 Outlook: New head coach Mitchell Moore is upbeat about his team’s ability. Whether it translates to victories remains to be seen. If the Roughriders can muscle out five wins, it would mark the second time in three years they’ve posted a winning record. 

Dowling Catholic

2018 Record: 11-2, Class 4A state champs

2019 Outlook: The six-time defending state champs are the favorites once again. No Iowa high school football program has ever won seven straight state titles. The Maroons, led by running back Gavin Williams and an experienced offensive line, are aiming for history this year.

Fort Dodge

2018 Record: 7-3, playoffs

2019 Outlook: The Dodgers were spectacular last year, then they ran into Dowling in the first round of the playoffs. Replacing quarterback Drake Miller will be tough, but the offense has potential with receiver Tysen Kershaw and running back Dayson Clayton back again this year.

Johnston

2018 Record: 8-3, state quarterfinals

2019 Outlook: The Dragons lost plenty of players that helped secure 17 wins the last two seasons. The cupboard isn’t bare — leading rusher Jordan Rusch is back — but plenty of new faces will be tasked with leading Johnston after back-to-back state quarterfinal appearances.

Marshalltown

2018 Record: 4-5

2019 Outlook: Last year’s 3-0 start seems like such a distant memory for these Bobcats. Defense will be the strength, based on who’s returning, but a district that features three playoff teams from a year ago — Centennial, Fort Dodge, Southeast Polk — is always going to be a tall order.

Mason City

2018 Record: 0-9

2019 Outlook: The Mohawks are 6-30 over the last four years. They scored just 27 points in district play last season. Many players with playing experience are back again, and are aiming to put Mason City in the win column this year.

Ottumwa

2018 Record: 2-7

2019 Outlook: The Bulldogs won in Week 1 and Week 9 last year, bookending a seven-game losing streak. Three returning offensive linemen will likely bolster scoring expectations this season. A strong start in non-district play could set up a nice season.

Southeast Polk

2018 Record: 6-6, state semifinals

2019 Outlook: Last year’s surprise team, qualifying for the playoffs at 4-5, and then running all the way to the UNI-Dome. The loss of Gavin Williams, who transferred to Dowling, will sting, but the Rams have the pieces for another strong season.

Urbandale

2018 Record: 6-4, playoffs

2019 Outlook: Last year, the J-Hawks beat the teams they were better than and lost to the teams that were better than them. Can they take the next step? The offense has potential to put up points and the linebacking corps might be one of the best in central Iowa this year.

Waukee

2018 Record: 8-3, state quarterfinals

2019 Outlook: The Warriors have the makeup to produce a special year. They have one of the state’s best quarterbacks in Mitch Randall and have plenty of speed at the skill positions. Defensive experience is a luxury, and Waukee has plenty of that, too. Could this be the year Waukee gets back to the UNI-Dome?

West Des Moines Valley

2018 Record: 10-1, state quarterfinals

2019 Outlook: The Tigers are always tough, but haven’t been back to the UNI-Dome since 2015. A new quarterback will be surrounded by talented skill players. Add in some nice defensive elements, and Valley is sure to be a player come the postseason once again.

Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.

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