KQRadio 2023 Football Preview: Class 2A, District 2

For the previous 2 years, Class 2A, District 2 was one of the most competitive, hard-hitting districts in the entire state, with many teams holding high-level talent. Returners to the district include CGD, who made their first playoff appearance since 2014 last season, Estherville-Lincoln Central, who has risen to a consistent program, and a Spirit Lake team which claimed the district in 2022. Newcomers include Forest City, who begins year one of the Tom Clarey era, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura, who is trying to find their footing after back-to-back dismal seasons, and a struggling Okoboji program. 

Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 

After making the playoffs for the first time since 2014 last season, CGD coach Caleb Vogel will need to replace a pair of cornerstones on both sides of the ball in QB/S Preston Gardner and RB/LB Nevan Foss. Gardner threw for 450 yards and 6 touchdowns, while rushing for over 1,000 yards and 9 touchdowns, while Foss ran for over 700 yards and 12 touchdowns, while adding 3 more receiving touchdowns. Gardner is expected to be replaced by Carson Nesheim at QB, while Diego Gonzalez, Jaxon Engstrom and Caleb Seaba vying for the running back job. Nesheim will need to break in a very green receiver room, but will have a veteran offensive line to block for him. 

Defensively, Nevan Foss was a menace for the Cowboys, accumulating 30.5 tackles, a sack, 3.5 tackles for loss, 5 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries. CGD also loses Preston Gardner at safety, as well as leading-tackler Ethan Traub, and linebacker Mack Seaba. However, the Cowboys do bring back some important pieces in 2022, including top defensive lineman Mason Allen, who led the Cowboys with 6 sacks and 9 tackles for loss. Uli Frias and Diego Gonzalez will anchor a linebacking core that shined last season, while Colin Kirstein will lead a young defensive backfield. 

Spirit Lake 

The Indians were district champions in 2A-2 back in 2022, but ultimately fell a game short of the UNI Dome, bowing out to an OABCIG team that they defeated in the regular season. The Indians return quarterback Caden Lundt, who threw for nearly 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore, and returning running back Bode Higgins was just shy of 1,000 yards and had 16 touchdowns as a sophomore as well. Lundt will have to work with a new receiving core in 2023, with the departures of Drew Alger, Caden Hassel, Jake Wallin and leading-receiver Tyler Voss. 

Defensively, the Indians return leading tackler Owen Lalumendre, who tallied 90.5 tackles, 7 sacks and 20 tackles for loss in 2022. Other returners include linebackers Dylan Stecker, Bode Higgins and William Ditsworth and defensive back Will Graves. However, the Indians defensive line and defensive backfield will see new blood, with the departures of linemen Tyler Voss and Gabe Poolman, as well as DB’s Jake Cornwall, Justyn Hamm, Drew Alger and Brayden Theesfeld. 

Estherville-Lincoln Central 

The Estherville-Lincoln Central program has risen into one of the more consistent programs in northern Iowa, but have yet to break out into a truly banner season. A 3-6 record in 2022 was a disappointment with the collection of talent the Midgets had collected, but a good amount of that talent is back in 2023 to try and swing the pendulum. ELC returns quarterback Owen Larson, who threw for nearly 1,300 yards and 6 touchdowns, but threw 10 picks and completed just 49.1% of his passes. Larson’s ability to make plays with his feet was valuable, rushing for 472 yards and 4 touchdowns, but junior Kendall Molacek will be tasked with reigniting the rushing game. Larson does return receivers in Yahir Camberos Barajas and Asher Molacek. 

Defensively, it looks more like a rebuild for the Midgets, losing their top 4 tacklers, including tackles leader Zavion McMurrian. Key players back include Owen Larson, Aiden Swanson and top defensive lineman Jordan Jensen, who had 4 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in 2022. Like on the offensive side of the ball, Owen Larson is the key returner on the defensive side, tallying a team-high 4 INT last season, while Aiden Swanson and Yahir Camberos Barajas each claimed INT’s of their own. 

Forest City 

It’s the dawn of a new era in Forest City as Tom Clarey takes over the reigns as head coach from the outgoing Chad Moore. Clarey is looking to guide Forest City to their first winning season since their COVID-shortened 2020 season, but their last 9-game winning record was all the way back in 2016 when the Indians finished 5-4. Clarey will have some pieces to work with, as he returns junior quarterback Ty Dillavou, who threw for over 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns last season. Sam Klassen will step into the RB1 role after rushing for nearly 300 yards and 5 touchdowns as a junior, while Vinton Feldman and Jaxon Archer look to make big strides in the receiving room as seniors. 

On the defensive side, top-tackler Kellen Moore departs, but Sam Klaassen will anchor a productive linebacker core that includes Lucas Kearney, Trevor Siddell. Up front, the Indians have chance to be very good with a line anchored by junior Tristan Brandsoy, who tallied a team-high 2.5 sacks and 5 tackles for loss in 2022, while junior Brock Good will look to step into a more starring role. The defensive backfield returns key starters in Jaxon Archer and Vinton Feldman, who had 2 interceptions each in 2022, as well as Jack Thompson. 

Garner-Hayfield-Ventura 

It’s been a tough start to the new decade for the Cardinals of GHV, who have not seen a winning record since a 5-4 mark in 2019. Last season, a win against Oelwein in week 9 is all that salvaged what would’ve been a winless 2022 campaign. However, things do appear to be looking up for the Cardinals, who bring back an experienced roster in 2023, led by junior quarterback Lane Gayken. Gayken threw for 425 yards and just 1 touchdown last season, with 8 interceptions, but with a majority of his receiving core back (sans yards leader Drew Britson), the ability to adopt some chemistry is there. GHV will also see the backfield filled by senior Mason Graham and sophomore Lucas Kral. 

On the defensive side, leading tackler AJ Tusha is gone after recording 68 tackles a season ago. However, the defensive unit returns 40+ tackle producers in juniors Gage Konz and Parker Moritz at defensive back and linebacker. Andrew Hook returns to help the linebacking core as well, while Lucas Kral will add some help in the secondar as he returns for his junior campaign. The defensive line will be a fairly young one, led by juniors Logan Kudej and Ben Fox. 

Okoboji, Milford 

The Pioneers endured yet another tough season in 2022, their lone win coming against a Manson-Northwest Webster squad that would finish winless in 1A in 2022. However, the Pioneers do return some experience in 2023, that includes quarterback Jase Jonstand and leading rusher Joe Salman. Jonstand will need to see his efficiency numbers rise substantially, throwing 0 touchdowns and 8 interceptions last year, but Salman could be the bellcow back the Pioneers need. Receivers Tallin Wright and Caden Chapman are back as well. 

Defensively, Okoboji does return leading tackler Blaise Elwood, who had 55.5 tackles in 2022, but lose their leaders in tackles for loss and sacks in Christian Gonzalez and Aiden Dahms. Other key contributors back to help include Nathan Franklin, Caden Chapman, Tyler Netsch and Joe Salmon.