Iowa’s future Hawkeyes were all over the map in Week 1, and a bunch of them made noise in big wins, blowouts and a few tight finishes. From pancake blocks to pick-sixes of production on both sides of the ball, the commits gave Hawkeye fans plenty to track as high school football regular season play got rolling.
On offense, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley leaned on Nate Brenneman in a 34-7 win at Sibley-Ocheyedan. The future Iowa offensive lineman logged four pancake blocks and also chipped in on defense with 5.5 tackles, including three tackles-for-loss and a sack.
Jaxx DeJean was just as busy in OABCIG’s 35-6 win over rival Ridge View in the Reynolds Trophy game. He caught eight passes for 57 yards and a touchdown, then added 3.5 tackles, two TFLs and a sack.
Lakota West rolled past Lakota East, 48-14, and Reilly Newman had a hand in that dominance on both sides of the ball. The Iowa commit, who also plays defensive line for the Firebirds, finished with seven tackles, 3.5 TFLs and a sack, plus a pass breakup.
Brayden Santibanez kept slinging it for Collierville despite a 34-24 loss at Oxford, MS. The 2027 Iowa quarterback commit completed 32 of 58 passes for 326 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, while also running 11 times for 54 yards.
Keyon Thomas helped Warren Central to a 49-10 road win over Elkhart with 17 carries for 141 yards and a 22-yard touchdown.
In the Battle for the Boot, James Barnett and Iowa City West pulled off a wild 30-29 home win over City High. The Trojans trailed for nearly the entire night, except for the final 1:11, before tying it on a one-yard quarterback sneak behind Barnett and then getting the PAT to steal it.
Defensively, Bariyus Allen was part of another lopsided result as Belmont blanked New Miami 38-0.
Braylon Bingham opened the year with a win of his own, as Pleasantville topped Lynville-Sully 38-8. Bingham, who also plays quarterback and safety, completed 15 of 22 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, rushed 11 times for 64 yards and a score, and added 4.5 tackles with two TFLs on defense.
Chicago-area power Brother Rice routed Woodlawn 69-0 with Jonathan Harris on the roster for the shutout.
Jerrence Knoblock and the reigning 1A champs opened with a 35-14 win over Western Christian. Knoblock finished with six tackles, 2.5 TFLs and a sack.
Tommy Riordan’s Hinsdale Central team beat West Aurora 35-14, and he contributed two catches for 11 yards on offense. Defensive stats were not available.
Gavin Stecker had six tackles as Bettendorf beat Pleasant Valley 27-10 in the cross-town matchup.
Jake Thies turned in one of the most eye-catching stat lines of the week in Fenwick’s 31-21 road win at Oak Park-River Forest. He posted six tackles and an interception on defense, then ripped off six carries for 198 yards and two touchdowns on offense.
Kyler Van Maanen and Pella earned a 13-0 road win at Ballard, with the future Hawkeye linebacker finishing with two tackles.
Dwayle Smith and St. Frances Academy held off DeLand, Fla., 49-35.
In Other News...
Former Hawkeyes Are Suddenly Fighting For NFL Spots Again
The NFLs late-August roster crunch has put a lot of familiar Iowa names back in the spotlight, with teams required to trim down to 53 players by Aug. 30. For the Hawkeyes, it is a reminder of just how much movement comes with this part of the calendar, as 46 former Iowa players are currently trying to hold onto jobs or find new ones around the league.
Among the latest developments, Mark Gronowski has been cut and could still surface again with the Miami Dolphins, while Geno Stones path is less clear after being waived by the Buffalo Bills. Those kinds of transactions are piling up quickly for Iowa alumni, and with the deadline approaching, several more former Hawkeyes may be left waiting to see whether their next call comes with a final roster spot or another fresh start. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Week 1 Offense Still Has A Few Spots Worth Watching
Iowas offense is starting to take shape as Week 1 against Northern Illinois approaches, with the projected lineup pointing to a few clear choices and a few spots still up for grabs. Jeremy Hecklinski looks like the likely starter at quarterback, Kamari Moulton is projected to lead the backfield, and the line and tight end group also appear close to settled as the Hawkeyes narrow in on their opening-game plan.
The real intrigue remains at receiver, where the rotation could still shift before kickoff and even after it. For a team that has spent much of the offseason sorting out how the pieces fit together, those final decisions matter, because Iowa is still trying to find the right mix of reliability and playmaking on an offense that could use both. [Read more 🡒]
Kaden Wetjen Is Giving Iowa Fans Another Reason To Be Proud
Kaden Wetjen is wasting no time making a case for himself in Pittsburgh, and Iowa fans have had plenty to notice during his first preseason with the Steelers. The former Hawkeye flashed the versatility that made him an intriguing pro prospect, turning in a punt return touchdown against the Buffalo Bills and adding work as a receiver, too. Across three preseason games, he collected three catches for 86 yards, a receiving touchdown and 203 total return yards, giving the Steelers a real glimpse of how he can help in multiple phases.
Wetjens path now points to an opening role that should keep him on the field right away, with Pittsburgh expected to use him as its primary punt and kick returner while also keeping him in the mix as a backup wideout. For Iowa, it is another reminder of the kind of player the program has been producing - one who can arrive in the NFL and immediately carve out value through toughness, speed and special teams impact. The bigger question now is how much of that preseason momentum carries into games that count. [Read more 🡒]