Iowa high school football 2025: Picking the area Class 4A districts

Sixth in a series diving into the area Iowa high school football districts for the 2025 season. Today, we examine Class 4A.

Thirty-six teams are assigned to Class 4A, with 16 advancing to the playoffs. The top two teams in each of six districts advance, plus four at-large teams based on RPI.

The Class 4A regular season will consist of nine games, with four rounds of playoffs.

A closer look at area districts:

District 2

OVERVIEW

Some might have (somewhat unfairly) called last season — 7-4 and a berth in the 4A quarterfinals — a “down season” by Cedar Rapids Xavier standards. More accurately, it might have been a setup season for a booming 2025. With returners like junior QB Cash Parks, senior RB Carter Hoffmann (1,278 rushing yards last year, senior receiver Ryan Kelly and many others in the fold, the Saints are the top-ranked team in 4A by The Gazette. As always, they’ve front-loaded their schedule with a challenging non-district, and a road test to always-strong Decorah (10-1) awaits in Week 8. Trevor Kuennen rushed for 888 yards last year for the Vikings, and also accumulated 59 tackles. Mason City (3-6) could be a dark horse, while Waverly-Shell Rock (6-4) and Cedar Rapids Washington (3-6) also should challenge for postseason berths.

PROJECTIONS (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Cedar Rapids Xavier

2. *Decorah

3. *Mason City

4. *Waverly-Shell Rock

5. Cedar Rapids Washington

6. Waterloo East

District 4

OVERVIEW

Pella? Or Newton? That’s the conundrum in this district, one that will be solved in Week 6 at Pella. The Dutch won that rivalry battle, 35-28, last year (also at home) and went on to reach the 4A championship game. Both teams return a lot: Pella (11-2) welcomes back Emmanuel Diers (1,112 rushing yards, 13 TDs, plus 45 receptions) and its top four tacklers. Newton (6-4) counters with QB Caden Klein (22 total touchdowns) and leading receiver Finn Martin. It’s a toss-up, really. Clear Creek Amana (6-4) is coming off its best season since 2018, and will be bolstered offensively by the return of QB Conlan Poynton, who passed for 1,228 yards and rushed for a team-high 901, with 28 total TDs. Like the Clippers, Grinnell (6-3) figures to contend for an at-large berth.

PROJECTIONS (*playoff qualifier)

1. *Pella

2. *Newton

3. Clear Creek Amana

4. Grinnell

5. Marion

6. Oskaloosa

Other districts with area teams

DISTRICT 3

1. *Western Dubuque

2. *North Scott

3. Davenport North

4. Burlington

5. Clinton

6. Davenport West

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com