We appreciate Head Coach Gabe Bakker providing @SportsGuysIowa (SGI) with a very detailed look at the Warriors for the 2025 Fall Season. As a new Waukee resident, I drive by the Warrior football field often, and I am excited to see the purple and gold gentlemen play in person this fall.
In 2024 Waukee went 6-4, falling in the first round of the 5A Playoffs to Iowa City Liberty on the road. Our SGI team appreciates Coach Bakker taking the time to answer some of our questions and give a great look ahead to the season.
Q1. What excites you the most about this fall football season?
“I’m really excited to see this group of seniors have the chance to lead our football team. These kids were the first class to begin their 8th grade careers as a split Waukee program. They have been integral in building our program from that first season in 2021 and have the opportunity to do great things. They are a really talented group of kids who have taken the incoming juniors and sophomores under their wings and helped create a close-knit football team this summer.”
Q2. Can you give us some background on returning players and (new) players that you are excited about for the 2025 Season?
“Although we lost several important pieces of our program due to graduation, we have a very talented group coming back.
Beginning on offense, Beckett Bakker returns for his fourth season as our quarterback. Having a great leader who’s started 28 games in class 5A football is an abnormality and should help us through our challenging schedule. He’s a dual threat guy, who was a 2nd Team All-State performer last year. (112-163, 1582 yds, 19 TD / 2 Int) (Rush – 69 for 472 yds, 4 TD).
We return two offensive lineman who have committed to play football at the next level. Andrew Hine has started at left tackle since the middle of his freshman year and has committed to Army. Colt Schipper will play both guard and tackle on the right side of the line and has committed to Northern Iowa. Both will lead our offensive line this season.
Evan Jacobson (20 cat- 198 yd, 5 TD) will be back at TE for another season. He is a Texas A&M commit who is a physical run blocker and a large target for our offense.
At running back, we will utilize a committee approach. Ben Case Haub (44 for 326 yd, 6 TD), Jai White, and Ethan Fitch will all contribute in our running game.
Our receiving core will look different, as both Tavian White (3 cat – 55 yds) and Jayden Jeter (14 cat – 174 yds, 3 TD) will jump into starting roles on both offense and defense. Both played primarily on defense a year ago, but will be big contributors this season on offense. Lucas Peterson (6 cat – 67yds, 2 TD) will join them in our 3 WR/1 TE offense.
On defense, joining White and Jeter in the backfield will be Therston Nebo, Jai White, Alvin Greer, and Jamual Williams. All should see significant time on Friday nights.
In the front seven, there will be a lot of fresh faces. Seniors Harrison Clark (LB) Vince Bunkers (LB), Jimly Vergeon (DL), and Vincent Johnston (DL) have had great summers and will lead their respective position groups as we solidify these positions going through camp.”
Q3. The Conference and District will once again be rugged, What do you think about this fall’s schedule?
“Our schedule is definitely challenging, just like every year in 5A football in central Iowa. We have returning playoff teams in Johnston, Ankeny, Valley, Dowling, and Waterloo West spread out through the schedule.
We have to travel to a consistent winner in Cedar Kennedy in week 3, which will be a test for our program. One of our only 4 home games is Marshalltown in week 6, who showed a lot of improvement as the season went on a year ago. Going to Dallas Center – Grimes week 5, for their homecoming, will
be a challenge as they move to class 5A, but they have a young team that will be greatly improved. Lastly, playing our crosstown rival, Northwest, week 8 at their place will be a game to remember that could have playoff implications.
Overall, the coaches and the players are excited for the opportunity that the schedule presents, as we have to be ready every single week of the upcoming season.”
Q4. What are your goals for your Football team this year?
“My goals for each season stay the same from year to year. We have to maximize our potential as a team by getting the best out of each individual. We want to create a great experience for our players while teaching them many life lessons along the way.
Obviously, winning every game is the goal, but we don’t talk about that. Improving each week and trusting the process is the focus of the program. As we go through the season, our kids are around some of the best coaches I’ve been around as I head into my 14th year as a head coach. Not only are they great coaches, but they are even better husbands, fathers, and overall men.
When the Waukee school system split into two schools in 2021, only 3 current assistant coaches stayed at Waukee. These coaches are Matt Loeffelholz (LB/DC), Taylor Ashman (RB), and Codie Fetters (JV OL/DL). They have been great at creating a connection to the past traditions of Waukee, but also helping us build a new mentality in the program. Other coaches on the offensive side of the ball include: Adam McElderry (OL), Brad Smelley (TE), Randy Blackford (WR), Jared Barnett (QB), and Matt Mulford (OL). On the defensive side of the ball we have: Matt Jeter (DB), Jason Simpson (DB), and Drew Strube (DL). Matt Willis (JV DB/WR) and Colton Calvert (JV QB/RB/LB) round out our JV coaching staff.”
Sports Guys Iowa Commentary
The Warriors are to use a term strong up the middle offensively (on the O Line and TE) with some of the best talent in the state. It’s not often you get an Iowa High Schooler going to the SEC this side of Kayden Proctor returning up front.
The Warriors have QB Barrett Bakker, who this fall will be starting his fourth year leading the offense. That experience of a 4th year starter, backed by the big boys up front, gives the Warriors a very strong foundation for the fall.
The schedule is not easy (it never is for 5A Des Moines area teams) with weeks 1 and 2 being @Johnston and Ankeny, being about as tough of two games as you can draw. The On3 Massey Prediction has the Warriors at 6-3 with losses to Johnston, Ankeny, and Dowling Catholic. As we have shared before, we view high school rankings and predictions as being at best “directional”, but the math shows 6-3. (Coach Bakker is a Mathematics Teacher, so he likely appreciates the math).
The Warriors graduated some strong talent and production in the receiving and running back areas, so that may take time to develop as the season progresses, but they have legitimate chance to challenge Dowling for the district title.
That could put them in a position for a home playoff game, and get to the dance with momentum….and good things happen from there.
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