With just under 120 days remaining until the start of the 2021 high school football season, the Iowa High School Athletic Association announced the 2021 and 2022 regular season schedules on April 26. The schedules released include the previously announced district opponent slate as well as non-district games determined by the schools over the last month.

District and group assignments were posted in March following Board of Control approval. After a unique one-year cycle and adjusted playoff format in 2020, these schedules are in place for two years and include a new seventh classification.

The new Class 5A has implemented a success model for its group format and regular season scheduling.

Regular season football schedules are determined by the IHSAA. Regular season schedules for all other IHSAA sports are determined by member schools and their conferences.

Districts and groups are assigned by the IHSAA, then schools select preferred non-district opponents through a priority list. The IHSAA attempts to align schedules with as many priority list selections as possible, however, opponents and availability cannot be guaranteed.

The Rebels will face two non-district opponents in the regular season, a season-opening matchup against North Iowa, Buffalo Center. The Rebels and the Bison have never met on the football field. North Iowa finished 5-3 last season with no common opponents between them and Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

The Rebels will see another playoff contender on the schedule to help beef-up what looks to be a top heavy district slate. The Panthers finished 7-2 last season, losing by a touchdown to parochial juggernaut Don Bosco in the opening round of the state playoffs. The Dons and the Rebels project to be the top teams in District 4, both qualifying for the state playoffs last year.

Travel will be manageable in 2021 with the longest road game at Collins-Maxwell, just over an hour away from Reinbeck. The schedule will flip in 2022 and will feature a two and a half hour sojourn north to Buffalo Center in Week 1.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebels

Aug. 27 – vs. North Iowa (H)

Sept. 3 – at Colo-NESCO

Sept. 10 – vs. Dunkerton (H)

Sept. 17 – at Tripoli

Sept. 24 – at GMG, Garwin

Oct. 1 – vs. Meskwaki (H)

Oct. 8 – vs. Don Bosco (H)

Oct. 15 – at Collins-Maxwell

The Wolverines will be looking to break a streak that kept them winless through last season. Their non-district opponents will offer two favorable opportunities with the teams combining for a total of one win in 2020.

GMG will open the season at Grand View Christian on Aug. 27. The Thunder were 1-7 last year with no common opponents between them and GMG. Grand View holds a 2-1 series record and the two teams haven’t played since 2018 when Grand View won 36-24.

Two weeks later the Wolverines will face Clarksville for the first time since 1999. Clarksville played a truncated season in 2020, finishing 0-4.

Travel will be favorable both years for GMG with most opponents located at or under one hour distance from Garwin.

GMG Wolverines

Aug. 27 – at Grand View Christian

Sept. 3 – vs. Collins-Maxwell (H)

Sept. 10 – vs. Clarksville (H)

Sept. 17 – at Meskwaki

Sept. 24 vs. G-Reinbeck (H)

Oct. 1 – at Don Bosco

Oct. 8 – vs. Dunkerton (H)

Oct. 15 – at Colo-NESCO