It is pivotal time for the Iowa Yellow Jackets.

They have won 22 games in the last two seasons and are coming off the first semifinal appearance in program history. Now they have to show they can continue to sustain that success with a handful of returning starters.

“It is a whole new season and a lot of new faces,” Iowa head coach Tommy Johns said. “But I thought it was one of our better offseasons that we have ever had.

“I told the kids that it was probably the most critical offseason in the history of the school. Coming off a season like that you raise the bar and raise the expectations. I think that the kids are up to the challenge. It is going to be a completely different challenge. You are not going to sneak up on anybody or anything like that. We are going to have to go out and earn every victory just like last year.”

One of the biggest questions for Iowa is how to replace running back Ronald Young, who is now at Prairie View A&M. He ran for 1,870 yards and 21 touchdowns last year. Quarterback Cole Corbello will likely take a bigger role in the Yellow Jackets’ run game and will play some running back and wide receiver, while Jonathan Walker will double up at wide receiver and running back.

Senior transfer Josiah Bushnell will see time at quarterback, also.

“Obviously, Ronald was a major piece of our offense last year,” Johns said. “We are going to move some guys around. Cole Corbello is going to be like our Swiss army knife.

“He is going to be all over the place. Jonathan Walker is going to be in the backfield and at receiver. We are going to move some guys around until we find the right place they need to be. We are going to have some good stuff. That is two guys right there that can handle it and Luke Guillory is going to be the x-factor, our tight end. He had a tremendous offseason. He committed to U.S. Air Force Academy and we are going to flex him out a lot and do some different things with him. This is a great addition to the things we can do offensively.”

In addition to Guillory, Iowa returns two on the offensive line in Damian Reed and Jude Guillory.

“They are starting to gel a lot,” Johns said. “Damian Reed was an all-state guard last year and Luke is back. Luke was honorable mention all-state. Jude Guillory, his brother, is back, as well. We got a couple of new guys in Drue Winfrey, Aiden Gubanscik that have really stepped up and will do well for us.

“We are not going to be as big as we were last year. We have some guys that can move and are quick. We are going to do some things a little differently offensively to adjust to what those guys can do.”

If the offense can get close, kicker Matthew Vest is another weapon for the Yellow Jackets. He has made 87 percent of his point after kicks in two seasons.

Johns has to rebuild the defensive line but a pair of linebackers return in Austin Latour and Hayden Lebleu plus free safety Joe Natali and safety Cohen Charles, who will also play running back.

“We lost all four,” Johns said. “And really the only one that is coming back that had significant playing time is Andrew Duhon.

“We are going to do some different things defensively because we are not very big. But I do think they are athletic and can move. They will allow us to be a little more multiple than last year.

“Austin is a senior and Hayden is going to be a junior. Hayden started as a sophomore last year and did a great job and Austin had a great junior season and we’re looking forward to what he can do as a senior. Both are very intelligent and know the system.

“It is amazing how after playing a year how quickly you can develop moving forward that they know the system. They are a lot more comfortable. You can tell by the way they are playing. That has been a big key for us helping those young guys up front and getting them lined up correctly.”