The IHSAA announced football district assignments that will place North Tama in Class A District 3 and Union Community in Class 2A District 4 for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Pictured are North Tama's Gabe Kopriva (left) and Union's Tyler Wilson (right). -- North Tama Telegraph File Photos

Following Thursday’s regular meeting of the IHSAA Board of Control, district and group assignments for the 2021 and 2022 football seasons were announced.

North Tama and Union will be looking toward rebound seasons after both teams finished under .500 in 2020.

The Redhawks, who finished last year with a 2-6 record, will play in Class A District 3 starting next season and will face a pair of 2020 state qualifier teams in Grundy Center and Wapsie Valley. The Spartans have established themselves as a football powerhouse in recent years, finishing last season as the Class A runner up behind Regina Catholic. Wapsie Valley also succumbed to Regina Catholic in the state playoffs with their only other loss coming against South Winneshiek in the regular season.

Two schools in North Tama’s new district will be entering Class A after playing in different classes last season. AGWSR will step up from 8-Player to play in the 11-Player game in Class A and Hudson will come down from Class 1A. With six district games set for the regular season, the Redhawks will have the opportunity to schedule two additional non-district games with potential for a third if the team doesn’t qualify for the playoffs.

Class A District 3 (2020 record)

AGWSR (5-4)

BCLUW (1-7)

Grundy Center (11-1)

Hudson (2-6)

Nashua-Plainfield (1-7)

North Tama (2-6)

Wapsie Valley (9-2)

The Union Knights will be looking to break a losing streak that stuck to the team through all of 2020. Next season the Knights will play in Class 2A District 4 against a completely new slate of district opponents compared to last season. Waukon and Wahlert Catholic will be the heavy favorites in the district, as Waukon finished 2020 as the Class 2A state champion and Wahlert was a state qualifier in Class 3A.

Along with Wahlert’s move down from 3A, District 4 will see one additional team who moved classes after last season. Jesup played in Class 1A last year, finishing with a 2-6 record. The only returning opponent for the Knights next year will be Oelwein who defeated Union 30-16 in non-district play.

With five district opponents in Class 2A, Union will see three non-district games and potentially a fourth if they do not qualify for the playoffs and wish to play a ninth regular season game.

Class 2A District 4 (2020 record)

Jesup (2-6)

North Fayette Valley (2-6)

Oelwein (3-6)

Union Community (0-8)

Wahlert, Dubuque (6-3)

Waukon (10-1)

Following the one-year assignments in 2020, district assignments are effective for a two-year cycle.

8-Player, Class A, 1A and 2A schools will play eight regular season with 32 teams qualifying for the playoffs. Teams not qualifying for the playoffs will be permitted to play a ninth regular season game.

The 2021 football season will be the first with a new seventh classification (Class 5A), approved in January by the Board of Control to reduce the disparity in enrollment in the IHSAA’s largest class of football, and to increase the number of participating teams and student-athletes in the postseason across all classes.

Class 5A’s group and success model format is based on information outlined in February 2020, before COVID-19 related changes were made in July to the IHSAA’s football scheduling and postseason.

Below are the statewide Class A and Class 2A district assignments announced Friday by the IHSAA.

CLASS A DISTRICT ASSIGNMENTS (2021-2022)

DISTRICT #1

Akron-Westfield

Alta-Aurelia

Gehlen Catholic, LeMars

Hinton

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn

MMCRU

South O’Brien, Paullina

DISTRICT #2

Lake Mills

Newman Catholic, Mason City

North Butler, Greene

North Union

Saint Ansgar

West Fork, Sheffield

West Hancock, Britt

DISTRICT #3

AGWSR, Ackley

BCLUW, Conrad

Grundy Center

Hudson

Nashua-Plainfield

North Tama, Traer

Wapsie Valley, Fairbank

DISTRICT #4

Bellevue

Clayton Ridge, Guttenberg

East Buchanan, Winthrop

Maquoketa Valley, Delhi

North Linn, Troy Mills

South Winneshiek, Calmar

Starmont

DISTRICT #5

Alburnett

Columbus Community, Columbus Junction

Highland, Riverside

Lisbon

North Cedar, Stanwood

Pekin

Wapello

DISTRICT #6

Belle Plaine

Colfax-Mingo

Lynnville-Sully

Madrid

North Mahaska, New Sharon

Ogden

Wayne, Corydon

DISTRICT #7

AHSTW, Avoca

Earlham

Mount Ayr

Riverside, Oakland

Sidney

Southwest Valley

St. Albert, Council Bluffs

DISTRICT #8

IKM-Manning

Lawton-Bronson

Logan-Magnolia

Missouri Valley

Tri-Center, Neola

Westwood, Sloan

Woodbury Central, Moville

CLASS 2A DISTRICT ASSIGNMENTS (2021-2022)

DISTRICT #1

Central Lyon/George-Little Rock

Cherokee, Washington

Okoboji, Milford

Sheldon

Unity Christian, Orange City

West Lyon, Inwood

DISTRICT #2

Clarion-Goldfield-Dows

Estherville Lincoln Central

OABCIG

Pocohontas Area

Southeast Valley, Gowrie

Spirit Lake

DISTRICT #3

Clear Lake

Crestwood, Cresco

Forest City

Garner-Hayfield/Ventura

New Hampton

Osage

DISTRICT #4

Jesup

North Fayette Valley

Oelwein

Union, La Porte City

Wahlert, Dubuque

Waukon

DISTRICT #5

Anamosa

Camanche

Monticello

Northeast

Tipton

West Liberty

DISTRICT #6

Centerville

Central Lee, Donnellson

Davis County, Bloomfield

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont

Mid-Prairie, Wellman

Williamsburg

DISTRICT #7

Albia

Chariton

Iowa Falls-Alden

PCM, Monroe

Roland-Story, Story City

West Marshall, State Center

DISTRICT #8

Clarinda

Clarke, Osceola

Des Moines Christian

Greene County

Red Oak

Shenandoah