Of the 14 schools that played for a state football championship this fall, six of the high schools were located in just two of Iowa’s 99 counties.

One would be no surprise to Iowans — the massive Polk County, accounting for 15 percent of Iowa’s population and home to the Class 5A juggernauts from Southeast Polk and West Des Moines Valley, as well as 4A champion North Polk.

The other county was Grundy County, home to the high schools of Dike-New Hartford and area teams Grundy Center and Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

Contrary to Polk County, the entire population of Grundy County could fit comfortably inside the UNI-Dome’s 16,000+ capacity for football. And many Grundy County residents did that this past November for the Class 1A title game between Grundy Center and D-NH, and the 8-player state championship between Gladbrook-Reinbeck and Remsen St. Mary’s.

The quarterbacks for the Grundy Center Spartans and Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebels were instrumental pieces to the talented teams — Spartan junior Judd Jirovsky slotted in at quarterback this year to lead Grundy Center to a third-consecutive state championship; G-R senior Drew Eilers guided the Rebels to their first appearance in the 8-player state championship, finishing as runners-up. Jirovsky and Eilers are the 2024 Times-Republican Co-Football Players of the Year.

“It’s a testament to the types of young people and the caliber of coaching we have in our communities,” Grundy Center head coach Travis Zajac said. “Three small, rural communities, separated by 15 miles, competing for football state championships, is impressive. I’m a Spartan first and foremost, but I am very proud and happy for Dike-New Hartford and Gladbrook-Reinbeck.”

2024 Times-Republican All-Area Football Team

Co-Players of the Year: Drew Eilers, sr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck, and Judd Jirovsky, jr, Grundy Center

Co-Coaches of the Year: John Olson, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, and Travis Zajac, Grundy Center

QUARTERBACK

Vincent Clawson, SR, West Marshall

Ethan Klemesrud, SO, GMG

Kolt Knaack, SR, North Tama

RUNNING BACK

Ben Gonzalez, SR, West Marshall

Davis Ragland, SR, Marshalltown

Easton Sash, FR, GMG

WIDE RECEIVER/TIGHT END

Hudson Clark, JR, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Josh Dostal, SR, North Tama

Jace Eich, SR, West Marshall

Kinnick Geers, JR, West Marshall

Trevor Mathern, JR, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Tiernan Vokes, SR, Grundy Center

OFFENSIVE LINE

Jace Aneweer, SR, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Klayton Freed, SR, Grundy Center

Jaxson Hinkle, JR, Marshalltown

Cash Johnston, SR, West Marshall

Emmitt Petermeier, SR, BCLUW

DEFENSIVE LINE

Jay Bessman, JR, GMG

Michael Boyd, SR, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

AJ Dee, SR, West Marshall

Hunter Roberts, SR, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Ryder Slifer, JR, Grundy Center

Wyatt Stalzer, JR, East Marshall

LINEBACKER

Michael Lechnir, SR, West Marshall

Jamison Niehouse, SO, Marshalltown

Gavin Rausch, SR, North Tama

Drew Stanek, SR, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Ryker Thoren, SR, Grundy Center

Drew Wheater, SR, East Marshall

Brody Zinkula, SR, Grundy Center

DEFENSIVE BACK

Cody Blocker, SR, South Tama

Jacob Hoy, SR, Grundy Center

Pete Lebo, JR, Grundy Center

Kayler Morris, JR, North Tama

Caden Pfantz, SR, West Marshall

KICKER

Luis Monge Jr., SR, Marshalltown

PUNTER

Wade Weuve, SR, West Marshall

KICK/PUNT RETURNER

Eli Burns, SO, East Marshall

Treyvon Herron, SO, Gladbrook-Reinbeck