Head Coach: Zach Connors (first season as head coach)

2024 Record: 3-8 overall, 0-5 in Region 7

Playoffs: No. 22 seed and lost to No. 17 seed Woods Cross 35-27 in the 5A first round

Players to Watch: Sr. QB Landon Johnson, Sr. DE Preston Ashton, Jr. DL Tyler Webb, Jr. DL Rogue Mamea, Sr. LB Nixon Caldwell, Sr. LB Amari Alabi-Isama, So. DL Cash Poulsen, Sr. DB Ty Krinkie, Sr. DB Jarom Cline, Sr. DB/WR Luke Ballard, Jr. RB/WR/DB Ayden Laws, Sr. DL/OL Helaman Gasu

Outlook: Cedar Valley makes the big jump to 6A competition this season, which can be a tall task for any relatively new program. The Aviators first took to the field in 2019, and competed in the 4A ranks before moving up to 5A a few seasons ago and now clear up to the highest classification in the state, which brings about a lot of challenges.

“Any time you’re bumping up from 5A to 6A it’s a significant jump,” said Cedar Valley Coach Zach Connors. “You have the enrollment that says you’re a 6A program, but it often takes the football team a bit more time. With that being said, we have a good-sized program and we’re excited to build and become a successful program. We’re off to a good start.”

Helping the transition is a strong corps of leaders that are ready to take on the massive challenge ahead of them.

“This team is an extremely intentional group,” Connors said. “They want to come to work every day and do exactly what’s asked of them.”

Leading the way for the Aviators is Landon Johnson, who split time at quarterback last season and will be tasked with more responsibility this year.

“We lost a pretty group of seniors from a year ago, but I believe this year’s senior group looks really strong, led by our quarterback Landon Johnson, who is a complete stud for us,” Connors said. “If he was taller he’d be a division one college player. No question in my mind. He has all the talent you could want, and we’re very excited to have him.”

Overall Connors is impressed with his team’s overall buy-in as he hopes to establish a winning tradition in the coming years.

“I feel we have some great leadership in our secondary, particularly, but also some linemen who have really stepped up and look like they’ll be great players for us this year and in the future,” Connors said. “We really like our linebackers, too, and it’s a group that works hard, like I said, and we’re excited to see what we can do this year.”

What’s the best way to motivate today’s high school athlete? “It’s encouraging kids to be at their best in no matter what they do. It’s being at your best on and off the football field. It’s about knowing what’s best for them and them forming intrinsic motivation, which is much more important to have than external.”

-Brandon Gurney