Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

City High

Head coach: Mitchell Moore (6^th season, 30-21)

Assistant coaches: Ben Slife; Ben Evans; Jack Harlow; Jordan Hanrahan; Joe Wilcox; Chris Smith; Connor Nolan; Ja’Korey Walker; Tim Casey; Carter Seaton; Trey Radocha; Jakie Uthe; Quinn Stamps; Holden Clay; Emilio Ames; Greg Brown; Kenardo Rodney

Last season: 2-7

Returning starters: Chayse Newton, Sr., WR; Toby Friday, Sr., OL; Preston Mensah, Sr., OL/DL; Lucas Goodrich, Jr., OL; Marshall Sheldon, Sr., RB/LB; Lawrence Jones, OL/DL; Seth Barnett, Jr., LB; Coden Kurtz, Jr., FS; Shepherd Stanton, Sr., DB; Abe Bidanis, Sr., DB; Chris Kabaiza, Jr., QB;

Other returning letterwinners: Delonte Major, Sr., WR; Austin Klauke, Jr., OL; William Meis, Jr., OL; Arrow Westerdahl, Jr., TE/LB; Joseph Majerus, Soph., OL/DL; Peter Pufall, Sr., SS; Marcelin Kazuma, Jr., WR/DB

Newcomers to watch: Jackson Grabinski, Sr., QB; Savion Miller, Sr., RB; Braden Bickford, Jr., WR; Colton Kueter, Fr., LB/RB; Blaise Selemani Soph., WR/CB; Jameson Eland, Soph., OL; Gabe Ralston, Soph., DL; Karl Tshibangu, Jr., DB; Crosby Newton, Fr., QB/DB; Hassan Ismail, Sr., LB

Playoff history: 32 appearances (1986, 1988-1990, 1992-2001, 2003-2013, 2015, 2016, 2020-2024). City High won 4A state titles in 1993, 1994, 1996 and 2009.

Circle the date: August 28 at West High. City High makes a season-opening trip across town for the annual Battle for the Boot seeking to avenge at 30-0 loss to the Trojans last season at Bates Field.

Headliner: One of the most productive defenders in the state over the past two seasons Marshall Sheldon (6-1, 195) returns as an unquestioned leader in the middle of the City High defense. Sheldon led City High in tackles as a freshman and ranked second on the team with 74.5 stops last season including 19 tackles for loss and two sacks. Over the past two seasons Sheldon has amassed 143.5 tackles.

Ready for a breakthrough: With two years of experience to his credit junior defensive back Coden Kurtz (5-11, 180) is a prime candidate for a big-time breakthrough this fall. Kurtz made 13 tackles and had an interception two seasons ago as a freshman. Last season Kurtz split time between safety and quarterback and made 17.5 tackles including two for loss in a season shortened by injury. Expect Kurtz to be an important piece in the back end of what should be an improved Little Hawk defense this fall.

Unsung hero: Overlooked a bit in last year’s two-win season for City High was the play of junior Seth Barnett (5-10, 195) who emerged as a rising start in the City High linebacking group. Barnett had 21.5 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss and forced a fumble last season as a sophomore and joins a long list of Little Hawks that should take big steps forward this fall.

Keep an eye on: If you are looking for the football, find senior wide receiver Chayse Newton (5-8, 160). The speedy Newton has been a ball magnet leading City High in receptions the past two seasons while racking up 96 catches for 1,154 yards and nine touchdowns. Last season Newton had 60 receptions for 728 yards and six touchdowns and has also rushed for 16 yards and passes for 23 yards and a touchdown over the past two seasons.

Remember the name: Senior quarterback Jackson Grabinski (6-0, 205) takes over the reins of the City High offense this fall after transferring from DePaul College Prep in Chicago, Illinois. Grabinski passed for 1,738 yards and 18 touchdowns last season and brings a strong arm, mobility and experience to the quarterback spot.

Biggest strength: The offensive skill positions. City High is loaded at its offensive skill positions. Senior Jackson Grabinski takes over at quarterback and brings high-level experience. Talented Regina transfer Savion Miller (5-10, 200) steps in at running back after rushing for 1,068 yards and 16 touchdowns and catching 16 passes for 338 yards and nine touchdowns while earning first team Class 1A all-state honors a year ago. Chayse Newton returns at receiver after leading the Little Hawks in receptions each of the past two seasons and junior West Liberty transfer Braden Bickford (6-3, 168) should provide a boost after leading the Comets with 29 receptions for 455 yards and four touchdowns last year.

Biggest question: How well does City High navigate a loaded front end of its schedule? City High may well have the toughest schedule in Class 5A with six teams with winning records from 2025 on the slate including semifinalists Waukee Northwest and Liberty High. The first six weeks are a gauntlet with road games at cross-town rival West High and trips to Waukee Northwest, Norwalk and Southeast Polk. Last season the Little Hawks went winless in that six-week stretch to open the season that also includes games against perennial powers Bettendorf and Cedar Falls. A strong start is critical when facing a challenging nine-week schedule.

Quotable: “The reality is we talk about what does a champion have to go through to be a champion,” City High coach Mitch Moore said. “A lot of those characteristics and habits happen way long before they ever get to raise a banner. They are callused some time in their life and they go through some adversity and they hard times and trials and tribulations and what is their response to that. Now we have a really tangible what’s our response to this. We had what wasn’t our standard and quite frankly we just got our ass kicked up and down the field at times but we never gave up and through that I think that’s given us that strength and belief that we’ve experienced some of that grief that we know that champions go through so now let’s capitalize on that.”

2026 Schedule

Date/Opponent/Record in 2025

August 28: at West High (8-3)

September 4: Bettendorf (4-5)

September 11: at Waukee Northwest (10-2)

September 18: Cedar Falls (7-3)

September 25: at Norwalk (5-4)

October 2: at Southeast Polk (6-5)

October 9: Des Moines East (1-8)

October 16: Liberty High (11-2)

October 23: at Ottumwa (4-5)

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