Every two seasons, the Iowa High School Athletic Association realigns the districts for its football playoff system, forcing coaches to prepare for teams they haven't seen in previous years.

But for eight-man District 3, there was no real realignment. Instead two teams - CWL of Corwith and Woden-Crystal Lake Titonka - have been added to the district.

Meanwhile, Clarksville coach Bob Goeller and Janesville's Jason Sullivan are hoping for at least one change - the order of the finish.

Last year, Northeast Hamilton topped the district and returned to the playoffs for its fourth straight year. In four years of eight-man, the Trojans are 21-0 in district play.

Ventura was the district runner-up last season, while Clarksville, Janesville and CAL each finished with 1-4 marks.

Janesville was in the playoffs two years ago, but couldn't back that up in 2007.

"Last season left a bad taste in our mouths, and the kids want to make it back to the playoffs," the third-year head coach said.

Bo Murley and Luke Brace will be counted on to lead the offense. Murley, a senior, rushed for 242 yards and completed 31 of 75 for 418 yards while sharing the quarterback role. Brace, another Wildcat senior, carried the ball 148 times for 490 yards.

Also at quarterback last year and returning is junior Josh Hovenga, who threw for 560 yards and six touchdowns. The Wildcats will also return their team MVP - Brent Smith who had 115 tackles.

Goeller has eight letter winners, including seven starters, returning at Clarksville. Three of those starters are only sophomores.

Scott Hempen will be the quarterback, while senior Ben White, junior Seth Behrends and sophomore Tyler Kraft will return as running backs.

Ventura, 8-2 a season ago, returns Tyler Peterson. He had 695 rushing yards and 340 receiving a year ago. Tyler Betz had 795 receiving yards and a team-high 22 sacks.

CWL, coached by Waterloo Central graduate Ken Burrington, finished with a 7-2 mark.

Contact Doug Johnson at doug.johnson@wcfcourier.com

Schedule

(Starting time at 7 p.m. unless noted)

Aug. 29 - Kee High at Janesville; WCLT at Armstrong-Ringsted; Dunkerton at CAL; CWL at West Bend-Mallard; West Central at Clarksville; Ventura at North Sentral (Kossuth); Northeast Hamilton at Twin River Valley (Bode)

Sept. 5 - Janesville at Preston; North Sentral (Kossuth) at WCLT; CAL at West Central (Maynard); Armstrong-Ringsted at CWL; Clarksville at Kee High; Twin River Valley (Bode) at Ventura; West Bend-Mallard at NE Hamilton

Sept. 12 - WCLT at Janesville; CWL at CAL; Clarksville at Ventura; Melcher-Dallas at NE Hamilton

Sept. 19 - Janesville at NE; CAL at Clarksville; Ventura at WCLT; CWL (Open)

Sept. 26 - Janesville at Ventura; WCLT at CAL; NE Hamilton at CWL; Clarksville (Open)

Oct. 3 - Clarksville at Janesville; CWL at WCLT; Ventura (Open); CAL at NE Hamilton

Oct. 10 - Janesville at CWL; WCLT at Clarksville; CAL (Open); NE Hamilton at Ventura

Oct. 17 - Janesville (Open); Northeast Hamilton at WCLT; Ventura at CAL; CWL at Clarksville

Oct. 24 - CAL at Janesville; WCLT (Open); Ventura at CWL; Clarksville at NE Hamilton

Capsules

CAL CADETS

HEAD COACH - Shannon Muhlenbruch

2007 RECORD - 1-8

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (7) - Travis Aikey, qb/db; Justin Heisermann, rb/lb; Marc Freie, te/de; Kyle Vanness, te/de; Nic Brooks, ol/dl; Dillon Muhlenbruch, ol/db; Jose Trinidad, ol/dl

CLARKSVILLE INDIANS

HEAD COACH - Bob Goeller

2007 RECORD - 1-8

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (8) - Bodee Capper, g/lb; Sean Wefel, c/ng; Austin Krominga, g/ng; Cody Henkle, te/lb; Tylerr Kraft, rb/s; Scott Hempen, qb/s; Seth Behrends, rb/lb; Ben White, rb/lb

CWL PANTHERS

HEAD COACH - Ken Burrington

2007 RECORD - 7-2

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (10) - Tony Rasmussen, rb; Brandon Heginger, ol; Jason Egan, ol; Jay Nissen, te; Kyle Pedersen, lb; Luke Wilhite, te; Tommy McGregor, qb; Tanner Holmes, wr; Daniel Anderson, wr; Wesley Steward, dl.

JANESVILLE WILDCATS

HEAD COACH - Jason Sullivan

2007 RECORD - 1-8

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (9) - Josh Hovenga, qb/db; Luke Brace, rb/db; Bo Murley, rb/lb; Sam Reeves, te/dl; Brent Smith, ol/lb; Jacob Hovenga qb/db, Mitch Christopher, Jake Kofron, Isaac Alderman

NORTHEAST HAMILTON TROJANS

HEAD COACH - John Seiser

2007 RECORD - 10-1

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS - Not available

VENTURA VIKINGS

HEAD COACH - Mike Horstman

2007 RECORD - 8-2

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (4) - Tyler Betz, te/lb; Tyler Peterson, rb/lb; Scott Watson, fb/lb; Jeremiah Hagen, qb/lb

WCLT (TITONKA) TIGERS

HEAD COACH - Denny Buns

2007 RECORD - 2-8

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS - Not available