Some of the area’s best football players were statistical leaders in their districts last season and will look to do even better this fall in Classes A and 1A.

That includes Columbus senior Kaden Amigon, who ran wild in Class A District 5 last season while helping the Wildcats reach their first winning record in over 20 years. Amigon led the district in rushing yards and touchdowns on the second-most carries and yards per rush while also scoring the most total TDs in District 5 and had the most all-purpose yards.

Columbus junior linebacker Riley Kaalberg also returns after finishing second in the district in total tackles. Wildcat senior defensive lineman Russell Coil was fifth on that list while also leading District 5 in tackles for loss and ending up second in sacks.

When Highland goes on offense this season, they will turn to rising quarterback Sage Hartley-Norman. 550 yards and 10 touchdowns in his sophomore season gave Hartley-Norman the fourth-most passing yards and passing scores in District 5, while he also ended up with the most yards per completion in the district on the fifth-most completed passes and passes attempted.

But Hartley-Norman wasn’t just the fifth-highest-rated passer in District 5. He also ran for the fifth-most yards in the district and was fourth in yards per carry and fifth in total offense.

In Class 1A District 6, Sigourney-Keota’s run to a third straight district championship was thanks in part to quarterback Sawyer Stout, who returns for his senior season after throwing for the fifth-most yards and the fourth-most TDs in the district. Junior running back Issac Bruns returns after piling up 500 yards on the ground, fifth-best in the district, while senior Cole Kindred will also be back after his four touchdown receptions were fourth in District 6.

But the Cobras largely thrived on defense and taking the ball away. Along with Kindred, fellow seniors Jake Moore and Kale Clarahan were top five in the district in interceptions. Senior lineman Evan Vittetoe also returns after his 10.5 tackles for loss were third-best in District 6.