Class 3A District 1 produced two of the state’s final eight teams last season and appears capable of delivering another competitive race in 2026.
Bishop Heelan and Sioux Center each finished 4-1 during the regular-season district schedule. Heelan claimed the championship through its 28-15 head-to-head victory.
Sioux Center finished 9-2 after reaching the state quarterfinals, where it again fell to Heelan. The Crusaders continued to the Class 3A championship game before losing 27-6 to Nevada.
MOC-Floyd Valley finished 5-4 and was part of a three-way tie at 2-3 with Humboldt and Webster City. The Dutch finished 17th in the final RPI—one position outside the 16-team postseason field.
2025 District Results
| Finish | Team | District | Overall | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bishop Heelan | 4-1 | 10-3 | Class 3A runner-up |
| 2 | Sioux Center | 4-1 | 9-2 | Class 3A quarterfinals |
| T-3 | MOC-Floyd Valley | 2-3 | 5-4 | Did not qualify |
| T-3 | Humboldt | 2-3 | 4-5 | Did not qualify |
| T-3 | Webster City | 2-3 | 3-6 | Did not qualify |
| 6 | Algona | 1-4 | 4-5 | Did not qualify |
District records reflect the regular season. Overall records include postseason games.
Sioux Center Returns Proven Quarterback
Sioux Center must replace many of the playmakers responsible for last year’s success, but the Warriors return one of the district’s most experienced quarterbacks.
Senior Ezra Hibma completed 110 of 187 passes for 1,675 yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions last season. He also rushed for 484 yards and seven scores, giving him 2,159 yards of total offense and 28 combined touchdowns.
“Anytime you return a quarterback that’s got experience like Ezra, you’re excited,” Sioux Center coach Tim Van Regenmorter said. “For us, he’s been our quarterback since he’s been a sophomore. He’s an incredibly gifted athlete with what he can do and how he processes things at such a high level.”
Hibma’s leading receiver also returns. Braedon Perez-Hietbrink caught 23 passes for 528 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 23 yards per reception. Parker Smit recorded 16 catches for 216 yards, while Tate Swager and Cohen Verhoef also return with varsity receiving experience.
The backfield will look considerably different. Cody Sandbulte and Joseph Molina graduated after combining for 1,324 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Jake Lane added 149 yards and another score. Aside from Hibma, the Warriors return only 24 recorded rushing yards from last season.
Sioux Center also graduated seven of its top 10 defenders by tackle points. Swager leads the returning group after recording 63 tackles and two interceptions. Ethan Bosma contributed 30 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks, while Perez-Hietbrink intercepted a team-leading four passes.
Dutch Developing New Offensive Core
MOC-Floyd Valley must replace all 801 of its passing yards and a 1,312-yard rushing season from Dylan Maasdam.
Senior Trycen Groendyke will take over at quarterback after directing the junior varsity offense last season and seeing Friday-night action at other positions on defense. His development continued through basketball and soccer.
“He’s really worked hard to prepare for this opportunity as our quarterback this season,” Hegstad said. “And you can just see the opportunities he had in those other sports have prepared him in advance for what this will be. And guys respect him.”
Chase Carmichael is expected to take a larger role in the backfield after rushing for 198 yards and one touchdown as a sophomore. Albear Van Zee and Hudson Kleinhesselink provide returning experience along the perimeter, while Tucker Doughan is expected to contribute at tight end and defensive end.
The Dutch return approximately one-third of last season’s recorded defensive production. Burke Uhl leads that group after producing 49 tackles and seven tackles for loss. Kleinhesselink and Carmichael also return with starting experience, while Parker Plathe, Ryan Boone and Nolan Schmidt are among the players expected to assume larger responsibilities.
“Coach Aalbers talks consistently about winning first down and let’s get off the field in three,” Hegstad said. “When you can do that and really limit the offensive production of an offense, when you can keep them from gaining momentum and really getting into a flow, that’s where you can really find some power and momentum as a defense.”
District Race Begins September 25
Both teams face revealing openers August 28. MOC-Floyd Valley hosts Central Lyon/George-Little Rock at Northwestern College’s Korver Field, while Sioux Center hosts Unity Christian.
The Warriors continue their four-game non-district schedule by hosting Sheldon, traveling to Le Mars, and hosting Spencer.
Sioux Center begins district competition September 25 at defending champion Bishop Heelan. The Warriors then host Webster City and Algona before closing the regular season with road games at MOC-Floyd Valley on October 16 and Humboldt on October 23.
The October 16 meeting will be the second-to-last regular-season game for both Sioux County programs. Sioux Center defeated MOC-Floyd Valley 29-13 last season.
Van Regenmorter does not see a clear favorite in this year’s district race.
“Every one of them could actually be the team that wins it,” Van Regenmorter said. “To say there’s a district favorite, I don’t really know. Algona returns a lot of athleticism and much of their team and a really good quarterback. But some of the other teams—MOC-Floyd Valley and Humboldt—return a lot of really good players as well. It’ll be a dogfight night in and night out.”
