“New Faces In New Places” 2021 HS Football Schedules Released

The IAHSAA has released the 2021 football schedule for each member school. Movement has abounded for teams all over Iowa, but specifically here in North Central. The IAHSAA announced earlier this year, the addition of a 5A Class for football. That addition created a domino effect for other classes and districts statewide. Fort Dodge will be staying in 4A and all of their 2020 opponents are moving to 5A. The Dodgers did keep longstanding rivalries on their schedule. Fort Dodge will open with Mason City, a renewal of one of the oldest rivalries in Iowa. That game didn’t happen in 2020 as Mason City cancelled due to covid-19 related issues. The Dodgers also have kept longtime rivals Ames and Marshalltown on the 2021 schedule.

St. Edmond finds itself in the 8 player class for the very first time. Veteran Head Coach Matt Dillon will try his hand at the 8 player level for the 1st time in his nearly 4 decades in coaching. The Gaels will have a tough schedule to navigate in their 1st year of 8 player. They’ll take on defending State Champs, Remsen-St. Mary’s and a quality Harris-Lake Park program. St. Edmond will also face off with traditional rival Bishop Garrigan who has made the move from Class A to 8 player as well.

Manson- NW Webster has moved up from Class A to 1A. The Cougars will look to get things moving in the right direction under 2nd year Head Coach Marty Hart. Pocahontas Area and Clarion-Goldfield-Dows have now moved up to 2A.

South Central Calhoun is staying put in 1A. The Titans made a run to the State Semifinals last year before falling short. Even after losing some key pieces such as All State Selection Brennan Holder and others, the expectations are always high for SCC. Head Coach Brian Case has a system in place that has embraced the philosophy that “tradition never graduates and culture is contagious”. The realignment does bring South Hamilton into South Central Calhoun’s District. The Hawks will look for retribution after South Central Calhoun went there and ended their season in the 2020 playoffs.

Southeast Valley had a tremendous season last year in 1A, going unbeaten in the regular season and winning the District Title. The Jags were one game away from a trip to the UNI Dome, as they fell at home to South Central Calhoun in the State Quarterfinals. SE Valley has been moved to 2A this season. The Jags schedule features a visit to Gowrie from back-to-back State Champs OABCIG. Expectations are still really high, as they bring back much of last year’s squad. Headlining SE Valley’s returners is All-American and Iowa Hawkeye commit Aaron Graves. Excitement abounds surrounding Coach Mike Swieter’s crew this season.

Schedules For Area Teams Are Below

Fort Dodge (4A, 9 Games) 

8-27 Mason City 

9-3 At Ames 

9-10 vs Waterloo East 

9-17 At Marshalltown 

9-24 At Webster City 

10-1 vs Spencer 

10-8 At Storm Lake 

10-15 Denison-Schleswig

10-22 at Le Mars 

 

St. Edmond ( 8 Player, 8 Games) 

8-27 At Ar-We-Va 

9-3 West Bend-Mallard 

9-10 At North Iowa- Buffalo Center 

9-17 Harris-Lake Park 

9-24 Remsen St. Mary’s 

10-1 At Bishop Garrigan 

10-8 Northwood-Kensett

10-15 At GTRA 

 

South Central Calhoun ( 1A, 8 Games) 

8-27 at East Sac County 

9-3 at Pocahontas Area 

9-10 Emmetsburg 

9-17 At Manson NW Webster 

9-24 Eagle Grove 

10-1 South Hamilton 

10-8 At Woodward-Granger 

10-15 Belmond-Klemme 

 

Manson NW Webster ( 1A, 8 Games) 

8-27 Pocahontas Area 

9-3 at Sioux Central 

9-10 at Okoboji-Milford 

9-17 South Central Calhoun

9-24 at Belmond-Klemme 

10-1 Eagle Grove 

10-8 At South Hamilton 

10-15 Woodward-Granger 

 

Southeast Valley ( 2A, 8 Games) 

8-27 I-35 

9-3 At Emmetsburg 

9-10 Hampton-Dumont-Cal 

9-17 OABCIG 

9-24 At Estherville Lincol-Central 

10-1 At Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 

10-8 Pocahontas Area 

10-15 at Spirit Lake 

 

To see more schedules visit https://www.iahsaa.org/football-2021-2022-schedules/