In 2018, the Des Moines Register published the following article:
Let's talk football. And we're kicking off this conversation with a compelling proposition sure to stir things up: "What Iowa high school football team is the greatest in state history?" Try answering that while sipping your coffee at the local store or Starbucks.
n the Register's "best of the preps" tradition, we're breaking down our selections by providing our picks for the top 50 teams since Iowans starting playing in 1890 or so. But, you ask, how can we possibly compare modern-day teams with historic squads from nearly a century ago? Today's highly trained athletes vs. guys who didn't even have helmets or face masks?
But we're not engaging in a head-to-helmet comparison here. We're honoring Iowa's great high school football legacy by recognizing the teams that we think were the most dominant and are the most deserving. There are teams ranging from the 1920s to just last season.
Why they're deserving: The Bulldogs won a second consecutive state championship in 4A--the first team to ever do so in 4A--and players earned four spots on the Sunday Register's 4A all-state first team. Greg Brown starred at running back.
Why they're deserving: Tavian Banks compiled one of the greatest seasons ever for an Iowa running back, rushing for 2,394 yards and 42 touchdowns. He would go on to play at Iowa and in the NFL. It was Bettendorf's second pair consecutive titles and the fourth one in six years.
Why they're deserving: Linebacker Pat Angerer was a fierce and relentless tackler who would later play in the NFL. The Bulldogs went 13-0 and beat Valley 34-22 in the state championship to notch the school's sixth championship since 1981.
In February 2014, the Des Moines Register published the following:
For 100 years, The Des Moines Sunday Register's sportswriters have had their say for an all-state football team. The Register asked readers to select their own all-century squad. Today, we run an All-Century unit — one selected with the help of an expert panel and a companion team chosen by readers.
The story under Plut Myers' byline stated the case for the first all-state football team compiled by an Iowa newspaper.
"Since all of Iowa's high school (stars) of the first magnitude cannot be limited to a single eleven this year, three honorary mythical teams have been picked by The Register and Leader. The foregoing selections are the result of a compilation of opinions expressed by coaches, officials, newspaper men and other football critics since the close of the season."
An expert panel was assembled to compile an all-time team. The group was composed of coaches Jerry Staton of Albia, Ken Winkler of West Marshall of State Center and Keith Hanks of Des Moines North; former coach Chuck Bredlow; sportswriters Chuck Schoffner and John Naughton; and Bruce Clement, a longtime scout and football observer. The panel discussed athletes from every generation since the all-state team began.
The Register's All-Century team included Heisman Trophy winners Jay Berwanger of Dubuque and Nile Kinnick, who attended Adel High School before moving to Omaha for his senior year. Many of the choices were athletes who went on to play in college and the NFL. Some did not, and that was not a requirement for the selections.
Two of the state's best-known underdog stories involve athletes who were not Elite all-state selections or high-profile recruits: Kurt Warner of Cedar Rapids Regis (1988) and Dallas Clark of Twin River Valley of Bode (1997). Both went on to NFL fame. The expert panel offered a sense of history to the All-Century Team. Two of the coaches completed their 46th seasons this fall. Both sportswriters have seen decades of state playoffs and observed and interviewed hundreds of all-state players.
BETTENDORF PLAYERS NAMED TO THE All-CENTURY ALL-STATE TEAM:
Back
Tavian Banks (281 votes): 1991-92. Rushed for 4,317 yards, later starred at Iowa and played in NFL for Jaguars and Saints.
Linebacker
Pat Angerer (526 votes): 2002-03. Two-time Elite pick. Played for NFL Colts for four seasons.
OTHERS receiving votes
Defensive Lineman
Hap Peterson: 1979-80. 1st Team All-State noseguard. 1985 Iowa co-captain and Honorable Mention All-American.
John Elkin: 1988-89. 1st Team All-State noseguard. 3 year starter and 4 year letterman at Drake.
Defensive Back
Garrett Scott: 2005-06. Two-time All-State selection. 3 year starter and 4 year letterman at Northern Iowa.
Copyright © 2002 - 2024 Bettendorf Football | The Ragnarökr Foundation | All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your experience.