Class 2A District 1 sent four teams to the postseason last fall and produced a race that remained unsettled until the final night of the regular season.
Cherokee and Western Christian each finished 4-1 in district play, with Cherokee holding the head-to-head victory. Unity Christian entered the final week with a chance to finish first but slipped to third following a loss to Central Lyon/George-Little Rock. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley claimed the fourth playoff position.
Another competitive race is expected in 2026, but several contenders must replace the players around whom their offenses were built. Cherokee’s Jaxon Paulsrud, BHRV’s Kaden Van Schepen, Unity Christian’s Dylan Bosma and Western Christian’s Landon DeStigter have all graduated.
“If I had to pick a district winner right now, I don’t know that I could do it without actually seeing what teams look like on film,” Unity Christian coach Josh Van Kempen said. “I do know it’s going to be a really good competitive district again, like it always is.”
2025 District Results
| Finish | Team | District | Overall | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cherokee | 4-1 | 8-3 | Class 2A quarterfinals |
| 2 | Western Christian | 4-1 | 6-3 | Class 2A first round |
| 3 | Unity Christian | 3-2 | 4-6 | Class 2A second round |
| 4 | Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley | 2-3 | 4-5 | Class 2A first round |
| 5 | Central Lyon/George-Little Rock | 2-3 | 2-6 | Did not qualify |
| 6 | Sheldon | 0-5 | 1-7 | Did not qualify |
Cherokee defeated Western Christian in their head-to-head meeting, while BHRV defeated CL/GLR. Unity’s playoff rematch with Cherokee does not count toward its regular-season district record.
Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley
The Nighthawks took their most significant step forward under head coach Jayme Rozeboom last season.
After records of 3-6, 1-8 and 1-8 during Rozeboom’s first three seasons, BHRV improved to 4-5, finished 2-3 in its first season back in Class 2A and reached the postseason.
“They worked their tail off in the midst of being told they couldn’t do it and really laid the framework for what the future of Nighthawk football is,” Rozeboom said.
The next step must come without Kaden Van Schepen, who accounted for approximately 83% of BHRV’s total offense. Van Schepen threw for 1,203 yards and rushed for another 946 while scoring 16 combined touchdowns.
Rozeboom expects a more balanced rushing attack behind an offensive line led by Iowa commit Nate Brenneman. Eric Luevano also returns up front, while Layton Snuttjer and Cole Bomgaars provide experienced receiving options.
“We want to be a smash-mouth football team, but also understand that we have athletes too,” Rozeboom said. “The way I describe it is smash-mouth fast break.”
Brenneman is also the centerpiece of the defense after recording 46 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and five sacks. BHRV held four opponents to seven points or fewer last season, including a 12-7 win over CL/GLR, a 35-0 victory over Sheldon and narrow losses to Unity and Western.
Clayton Juffer returns after averaging 36.9 yards per punt. His ability to change field position could remain valuable while the offense establishes its new identity.
Central Lyon/George-Little Rock
The Lions may possess the district’s greatest amount of proven offensive experience.
CL/GLR started last season 0-6, but four of those losses were decided by seven points or fewer. The Lions finished with victories over Sheldon and Unity Christian, including a 24-21 win that altered the district standings on the final night.
“Last year, we just didn’t make the plays when we needed to make them. We couldn’t finish out some games. We definitely played better football as we went throughout the season, ending with Unity, who turned around and beat Okoboji, the number three team in the state, the next week. I just really felt like we were playing pretty good football toward the end of the year. And, you know, you definitely have to carry that into this season. And so, you know, for us, it’s all about finishing football games and making plays.”
Quarterback Jayden Daale and running back Michelet Sedam return as seniors. Daale has accumulated 1,908 passing yards and 1,071 rushing yards over the past two seasons. He has averaged 11.7 yards per completion and 5.4 yards per carry.
Sedam has rushed for 1,609 career yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
Jephte Raymond and Egan Pedersen headline a receiving group that must replace several departed seniors. Raymond is also an important special-teams weapon after averaging 46.2 yards per punt last season. Logan Koob returns to handle kicking duties and is expected to contribute at receiver after injuries limited him in 2025.
The defense returns its top two tacklers in Wyatt Minter and Tynan Schipper. Caleb Kooiker, Raymond, Cash Sandbulte, Brady Kirch and several other experienced players also return.
“We’re going to play fast. We’re going to play upbeat. We’re going to play physical,” Eben said. “We won’t be real deep at some positions, but at the same time, we will battle all the way around.”
CL/GLR has missed the UNI-Dome in consecutive seasons. Before that stretch, the Lions reached at least the state semifinals three times in four years, with their only earlier exit coming against West Lyon in the 2021 quarterfinals.
Cherokee-Washington
Cherokee followed its district-opening loss to Unity Christian by winning six consecutive games and reaching the Class 2A quarterfinals.
The Braves defeated Western Christian 56-36, survived Spirit Lake 58-57 in the playoff opener and avenged their regular-season loss to Unity with a 40-14 second-round victory.
Repeating that success will require replacing one of the state’s most productive players.
Paulsrud, now playing football at Air Force, threw for 891 yards, rushed for 2,021 and scored 30 rushing touchdowns. He also finished second on the team with 118 tackles and 15 tackles for loss.
Paulsrud and Blake Lovell combined for 3,235 rushing yards and 46 of Cherokee’s 47 rushing touchdowns. Only 177 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown return from last year’s team.
Wyatt Ludvigson is the leading returning offensive producer after recording 303 receiving yards, 132 rushing yards and five total touchdowns as a freshman.
Cherokee’s defense returns a much stronger foundation. Mallon Malausky led the Braves with 125 tackles and added 14 tackles for loss. Ty Schlichting recorded 68 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, while 6-foot-6 Cohen James contributed nine tackles for loss and three sacks.
The roster contains only five seniors, with 30 of its 42 players listed as freshmen or sophomores. Cherokee therefore brings back disruptive defensive talent but must develop a new offense around one of the district’s youngest rosters.
The Braves open against Kuemper Catholic, which handed them two of their three losses last year, including the quarterfinal defeat.
Sheldon
Sheldon is seeking its first district victory after finishing 1-7 overall and 0-5 in district play.
The Orabs defeated Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 34-14 for their lone victory but were outscored 177-21 in district games.
Senior quarterback Sawyer Olson returns, but Sheldon graduated the players responsible for nearly all of its rushing production. The Orabs return only 165 of their 1,301 rushing yards and one of their 10 rushing touchdowns.
Cael Story is the only returning player with recorded receiving production after catching eight passes for 73 yards. Story also intercepted two passes.
Caiden Jager leads the returning defense after producing 33.5 tackle points, four tackles for loss and an interception. Ayden Miller recorded four tackles for loss and one sack, while Caden Osborn contributed two sacks.
The roster includes 13 seniors and considerably more size along the line, including Parker Peelen at 280 pounds and Mason Pritts at 285. Sheldon’s opportunity to improve begins with using that experience and size to establish a more consistent rushing attack.
Unity Christian
Unity Christian returned to the playoffs last season and defeated Okoboji 28-13 in the opening round before falling to Cherokee.
Van Kempen believes that experience can become a building block for the program.
“That was a big springboard for us going into the offseason to see and understand that what we’re doing and what we’re committing to, we can have success and be productive with it,” Van Kempen said.
The Knights must replace Bosma, who threw for 1,900 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding 289 rushing yards and seven scores. Unity also returns only about 32% of its receiving yards.
Junior Greyson Moret will take over at quarterback. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Moret has started on Unity’s lower levels but has attempted only five varsity passes.
Moret will have senior running back Eli Ruschmann beside him. Ruschmann rushed for 662 yards and five touchdowns last season. Jacob Breen returns after making 34 receptions for 464 yards, while Kash Huisman provides an experienced target at tight end.
Huisman is also Unity’s leading returning defender after recording 53 tackle points, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. Cade Vander Veen and Breen return in the secondary.
Unity has 11 seniors, including six players listed along the offensive or defensive lines. Cael Millard, Skyler Altemeier, Gage Roorda, Kaden DeWeerd and Joey Wieringa are among the players expected to establish the Knights up front.
The schedule is demanding. Unity plays Sioux Center, MOC-Floyd Valley and defending Class 1A champion West Lyon before beginning district play at Cherokee. The Knights’ goals include returning to the postseason and winning the first district championship in program history.
Western Christian
Western Christian demonstrated an ability to win close games throughout its 6-3 season.
After opening with a 41-0 loss to West Lyon, the Wolfpack won five consecutive games. Five of Western’s six victories were decided by seven points or fewer, including wins over Spirit Lake, Spencer, Unity Christian, CL/GLR and BHRV.
“We always knew we were just going to keep fighting until the end,” head coach Travis Kooima said. “And that’s the team that we want to be.”
Western must replace DeStigter after he threw for 2,271 yards and 20 touchdowns. Leading receiver, tackler and return specialist Kolby Heemskerk also graduated after catching 54 passes for 716 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Tayden Moret will transition from receiver to quarterback. Moret caught 35 passes for 477 yards and three touchdowns last season and gained experience operating the offense from a different perspective.
Jesse Heynen returns after leading Western with 555 rushing yards. He also caught 18 passes for 207 yards and recorded 39.5 tackle points. Ryer Roetman provides the leading returning receiving threat after catching 34 passes for 517 yards and five scores.
“Our offense will look different this year, but the basics of what we’ve always done are still in our playbook and still part of what we want to do,” Kooima said.
The Wolfpack return only about 39% of their recorded tackle production. Kooima expects Heynen and a large defensive line to play significant roles while Western develops new linebackers and defensive backs.
Kicking, punting and return responsibilities also remain open following the graduations of Benjamin Haan and Heemskerk.
Western plays four of its first five regular-season games on the road. Its district schedule concludes with home games against CL/GLR and Cherokee before a trip to BHRV.
Games That Could Shape the District
District competition begins September 18 with three revealing matchups: CL/GLR at BHRV, Western Christian at Sheldon and Unity Christian at Cherokee.
The September 25 games between Western and Unity and Cherokee and CL/GLR will further establish the race. Cherokee visits Western on October 9 in a rematch of last year’s meeting between the two 4-1 teams.
The final night could again determine several postseason positions. Western travels to B-H/RV, while Unity visits CL/GLR on October 16.
CL/GLR enters the season with the district’s most experienced backfield, while Western brings back a proven rushing and receiving combination. Cherokee has significant defensive production but major offensive questions. Unity and BHRV each possess experienced line play and proven weapons around a new quarterback.
There is no overwhelming favorite—and in a district that produced numerous one-score games last season, small improvements may separate first place from missing the postseason.
