STC sophomore Kyle Youngbear looks to take down a Grinnell rusher last season. With next season's schedule released, Youngbear will once again look to be a key leader on the Trojan defense. NEWS CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

On Monday, April 7, the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) released complete schedules for every high school football program in the state. Already, South Tama knew that the 2025 season was going to be one full of changes.

The Trojans had learned earlier in the spring that they would be moving from class 3A to class 2A in football. Along with that move, it was later announced that STC was placed in 2A District #7. That means for the next two seasons, the Trojans will play their five district opponents, plus three additional non-district opponents, each season. On April 7, that precise schedule was announced.

South Tama will begin their 2025 season with the three non-district opponents of Vinton-Shellsburg (Aug. 29 at home), Union (Sept. 5 at LaPorte City), and Louisa-Muscatine (Sept. 12 at Letts).

With those opponents announced, it was officially revealed that STC will not be playing their traditional rival Grinnell for the first time in many years.

“There are two major reasons that Grinnell is not on our schedule,” STC High School Activities Director Chelsea Ahrens said. “First, Grinnell is a 4A school and we are now in 2A — it does not make sense to play a school that is so much bigger than us in classification. The second reason is that since 2008, Grinnell leads our series against them 15-4. But just because we are not playing Grinnell for the next two seasons does not mean that the rivalry won’t return in the future.”

Trojan sophomore Eric Medina carries the ball against Grinnell last season. For the first time in many years, STC will not be playing Grinnell this coming fall. NEWS CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

STC’s three non-district opponents had a combined record of 3-23 last season. Vinton-Shellsburg has not won a football contest since September 22, 2023. For Louisa-Muscatine, the streak has been even longer. The Falcons have not won since Sept. 25, 2020. The three opening games present good opportunities for the Trojans, who themselves have not won since September 2, 2022.

STC will turn to facing their district opponents starting on Friday night, Sept. 19, when they will host Albia for the 2025 Homecoming game.

“One matchup that we are looking forward to the most is a rematch against Albia,” Ahrens said. “The last time we played them was in November 2015. We were ranked #2 and they were #1 and we lost a close one, 17-6, at their place.”

Following homecoming, the Trojans will host Prairie City Monroe on Sept. 26. They will then travel to Centerville (Oct. 3), host Pella Christian (Oct. 10), and close out the regular season by traveling to play Davis County, Bloomfield on Oct. 17.

The road trips to Centerville (102 miles) and Bloomfield (99 miles) represent nearly 2-hour trips for each game. Ahrens noted the challenge.

“One disadvantage to these games is that they are very long distances to travel,” she said.

The earlier game against Louisa-Muscatine will be played in Letts (111 miles) — also about a 2-hour trip.

Regardless, the Trojans will enter this fall with a fresh enthusiasm for the opportunities that lie ahead.

“We are excited about this year’s schedule,” Ahrens said. “The IHSAA gave us some favorable and more competitive matchups.”