The last three years have been the most successful period in program history for the Iowa Yellow Jackets.

They are 30-8 since the 2021 season, including a run to the Nonselect Division II semifinals in 2022.

Iowa will turn to a deep senior class to keep the program moving forward. Iowa boasts 23 seniors with 14 of them holding down and 15 of 22 starting positions on offense and defense.

“I thought we’ve had a really good off-season and summer,” head coach Tommy Johns said. “I am very proud of the group that we’ve got.

“I think we’ve got a really good senior class, and a lot of them had to play for us early on. They’ve done a really good job. They really have. That’s what you want.”

The offense is senior-heavy with seven returning starters. Johns said they will have to adjust the offense some without a pair of Division I signees on the line in tight end Luke Guillory (6-3, 220) and guard Damian Reed (6-2, 275), quarterback Josiah Bushnell, who had more than 2,000 total yards and running back Cole Corbello (689 yards, 14 TD). But they return five players with plenty of starting experience in seniors Aiden Gubanesik, Danny Simpson, Drue Winfrey and Jude Guillory, and junior Kohl Fulton.

“That’s one thing we pride ourselves on is being physical. And I think that group, we’re expecting a lot out of them. They’re going to carry us, that’s for sure.”

The other two returners on that side will be big-scoring threats in junior wide receiver Jeremiah Bushnell and senior running back Jonathan Walker Jr. Bushnell led Iowa with 582 receiving yards and six touchdowns last year, while Walker had 1,254 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns. Walker will also start at cornerback.

First-year quarterback senior Reed Dupre will replace dual-threat Josiah Bushnell, who had more than 2,000 total yards, under center and will benefit from playing behind a seasoned offensive line.

“He’s had a tremendous off-season this summer. I mean, he has really turned it on, stepped up his game, and I think Reed’s going to be fine.”

Iowa returns six starters in its 4-2-5 defense. Five of them are seniors in linemen Andrew Duhon, who had 17 quarterback hurries last year, and Ethan Desjardine, linebacker Hayden Lebleu, free safety Cohen Charles, and Northwestern State commitment, and Walker at corner.

They are trying to create some depth up front and will start a pair of sophomores in Landon Joseph and Gaven Brown. Junior Bryceson Fontenot will start at linebacker next to Lebleu, while Christian Williams and Jamar Deville will be new starters in the secondary.

“We really need to solidify some spots up front with our tackles and some depth,” Johns said. “That is what we are lacking there and at linebacker from an experience standpoint and size.

“We will have some guys that we will have to flip around and help us on both sides of the ball on the offensive and defensive fronts. I do like the group. We have two sophomores who are going to be starting up front for us. We expect a lot out of those guys. Hopefully, those guys can pick it up quickly.”

Johns said they must avoid becoming too relaxed after all the success recently and not get down when times are tough — such as when they started last season 1-2 before making a run to the quarterfinals.

“No. 1, don’t want to be complacent. Every year is a new year. It’s a new team. That’s how we’ve had to approach it. And I think these guys have bought into that. But like I said, you never can really tell all those things until you get out there.

“We got off to a 1-2 start. We played complacent, and we got beat. It was a wake-up call for us. And I think the same thing kind of happened even in ‘22, and then we went on the run. So I think, hopefully, we don’t have to have the wake-up calls.”

IOWA

Mascot: Yellow Jackets

District: 3-4A

Playoff division: Nonselect Division II.

Head coach: Tommy Johns.

Head coach career record: 49-25.

2023 record (Dist.): 9-4 (6-0).

Last time in playoffs (round): 2023 (quarterfinals).

Returning starters (offense/defense): 7/6

Key players lost: Cole Corbello (FB), Luke Guillory (TE), Josiah Bushnell (QB), Damian Reed (OL), Austen Latour (LB), Matthew Vest (K).

Top returners: Jonathan Walker (RB/DB), Drue Winfrey (OL), Jeremiah Bushnell (WR), Hayden Lebleu (LB).

Schedule

Sept. 6 vs. Jennings

Sept. 13 at Little Cypress-Mauriceville, Tx.

Sept. 20 at Parkview Baptist

Sept. 27 vs. Wossman

Oct. 4 vs. St. Louis Catholic

Oct. 11 vs. Leesville*

Oct. 18 vs. Washington-Marion*

Oct. 25 at Eunice*

Oct. 31 at LaGrange* (Thurs.)

Nov. 7 at DeRidder* (Thurs.)

*District 3-4A game