All sports seasons begin with high expections and the hope of success. The 2015 high school football season kicks-off in earnest with a full schedule of games on Friday night (Aug. 28).

At Gladbook-Reinbeck, the Rebels are relishing their runner-up finish in the 2014 Class-A state playoffs. Many football aficionados in Iowa believe they could have similar success this season.

Some media outlets that publish preseason rankings have Gladbrook-Reinbeck rated as high as No. 2 in the state. The Rebels return 24 letter-winners and eight starters on both sides of the ball from a team that ended 2014 at 12-2 following a 28-24 setback to Logan-Magnolia in the title game last November.

“We're very respectful and proud to be ranked based on what we've done in the past,” Head Coach John Olson said. “We don't want to say it doesn't matter because we're happy about what we've done, but at the same time, it doesn't make that much of a difference for this year. We've got a new team and a new group of people and we've got to make sure we're working toward what we need to do this year.”

Gladbrook-Reinbeck opens the season at La Porte City Union, a Class-2A opponent that finished 8-3 last year after splitting a pair of playoff games. Union also ranked among the 10 best teams in some preseason surveys.

“They're going to be a tough team,” Olson said of the Knights. “They've got a lot of guys coming back too. We struggled with them the first game of the year last year, and I know they're going to present an awesome challenge this year as well.

“(Union) will be playing maybe two or three guys both ways (each position) and we'll be playing maybe 10 guys (total) both ways. Depth will be an issue for us and it'll show up right away.”

The lack of depth and a tough schedule are two of Olson's biggest concerns heading into the season-opener against the Knights.

In other opening-night high school football action, North Fayette Valley begins defense of its Class-2A title with a road test at Decorah, while 2014 Class-4A playoff qualifier Cedar Falls hosts Iowa City High at the UNI-Dome. The Tigers are coning off an 8-3 season.

Also finishing 8-3 in 2014 was Waverly-Shell Rock, a playoff qualifier in Class-3A. The Go-Hawks host Class-4A opponent Waterloo West, a team they beat 31-13 in last year's season-opener. West is looking to improve on a 3-6 season.

Oelwein opens its season with a home game against Sumner-Fredericksburg, a squad that won six games in 2014 but missed out on a playoff berth. The Huskies are hoping to change their fortunes in 2015, following a 1-8 campaign last year. Unfortunately, Oelwein has lost 31 of 32 games dating back to the 2011 season.

Two other area teams looking for improvement and on-field success are Waterloo Columbus Catholic and Waterloo East, both of which went win-less last year. Columbus will try to snap an 11-game losing streak when the Sailors kick-off their season at 2014 Class-3A playoff qualifier Independence. East looks to end a 19-game slide, hosting Marshalltown and the Bobcats' new head coach Don Knock.


Week 1 Schedule For Cedar Valley and Northeast Iowa Teams - Friday, Aug. 28, 2015:

Green Mountain-Garwin @ BCLUW

Vinton-Shellsburg @ Benton Community

Iowa City High @ Cedar Falls

Tripoli @ Central Community

Osage @ Charles City

Center Point-Urbana @ Clear Creek-Amana

New Hampton @ Crestwood, Cresco

North Fayette Valley @ Decorah

Aplington-Parkersburg @ Dike-New Hartford

Clayton Ridge @ Edgewood-Colesburg

West Delaware @ Western Dubuque

Iowa Falls-Alden @ Hampton-Dumont

East Marshall, LeGrand @ Hudson

Waterloo Columbus Catholic @ Independence

Dunkerton @ Janesville

Denver @ Jesup

 

 

Don Bosco @ Midland (Wyoming)

Grundy Center @ Montezuma

Central Springs @ Nashua-Plainfield

East Buchanan, Winthrop @ North Tama

Sumner-Fredericksburg @ Oelwein

MFL MarMac @ Postville

Kee, Lansing @ Riceville

Turkey Valley @ Rockford

AGWSR, Ackley @ South Hardin

Waukon @ South Winneshiek

Wapsie Valley @ Starmont

Gladbrook-Reinbeck @ Union 

Marshalltown @ Waterloo East

Waterloo West @ Waverly-Shell Rock

Clarksville @ West Central, Maynard

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