Saturday, August 29, 2026

Dog House Saturday Morning Blitz

Saturday, August 29, 2026

This Saturday morning felt a little different.

I slept in until approximately 8:45, went outside and mowed the lawn, and then played a little fetch with Loki. There is nothing quite like beginning a Saturday that way—fresh air, a little yardwork and an energetic Beagle ready to chase anything Dad is willing to throw.

Over the past six weeks, I have poured my heart and soul into sharing the stories of our Dog House teams, coaches and communities.

First and foremost, I want everyone to know one thing:

I am having the time of my life.

This week’s Saturday Morning Blitz is about reminiscing on one of the greatest experiences in sports: Football Friday Night.

And what a Friday night it was.

The Home Crew Had a Magical Night

Last night, the home crew took control of the microphones at Fort Madison.

Coach Mike Ehlers, Nic St. Clair and the legend Ryan Smith delivered a truly magical night of broadcasting.

Do not tell them I said this, but those three are quickly becoming stars behind the microphone.

They brought knowledge, energy and personality to the broadcast while giving the Fort Madison community a wonderful call of an unforgettable opening night.

This is becoming bigger than one person, and watching this crew grow together has been one of the most rewarding parts of this entire journey.

Something Was Unleashed in Fort Madison

Last night at Fort Madison, something was unleashed.

Do not get it twisted—I knew this team was going to be good.

I had spent enough time around the football field, weight room and program to know that everything felt different. This group was older, stronger, more mature and downright tough.

I anticipated several players having breakout seasons.

What I did not know was how hard the Bloodhounds would put their foot on the gas against Class 4A Burlington.

The Grayhounds returned a massive offensive line and a talented quarterback. This was supposed to be a serious opening-night test for Fort Madison.

The Bloodhounds responded with a commanding 50–18 victory.

Defense Set the Tone

It all started with the defense.

Ren Watson, Marshall Heitmann, Max Jones, Liam Prier and so many others delivered monster performances.

The pressure created by Fort Madison’s outside linebackers was relentless. The push generated by the defensive line was suffocating.

Burlington’s offense had little time to settle in because Bloodhound defenders were constantly attacking from every direction.

This defense played fast, physical and together.

There was no hesitation. There was no waiting for Burlington to make the first move.

Fort Madison attacked.

Special Teams—Pick Your Poison

Special teams?

If I were preparing to play Fort Madison, I might consider kicking the ball out of bounds.

Aurelio Jaciunde and company can flat-out fly. Jaydon Cratton is frightening in open space as well.

Any kickoff or punt that remains in the field of play could become a major problem. Fort Madison has multiple athletes capable of changing field position—or changing the scoreboard—in a matter of seconds.

Pick your poison.

Owen Huffman Takes Command

Then there was junior quarterback Owen Huffman.

Making his first varsity start at quarterback, Owen played downhill, made several outstanding reads and led the offense with confidence.

I already knew he possessed one of the smartest football minds on the field. What he showed Friday night was that he can also flat-out fly.

Later in the game, Owen lowered his shoulder pads and finished a run like a running back.

That moment told me plenty.

He was not simply managing the offense. He was competing, leading and setting a physical tone for everyone around him.

For a first-time varsity starting quarterback, Owen looked remarkably comfortable in command of the offense.

Moses Thacher Sets the Standard

Then came the running backs.

Moses Thacher was everything I believed he would be.

Quick. Fast. Physical. Downright mean.

Moses ran with purpose and refused to be brought down easily. He earned the Dog House Player of the Game honor, but several Bloodhounds delivered performances worthy of consideration.

Sophomore Ryker Peters later joined the touchdown party, providing another glimpse of the dangerous one-two punch developing in the Fort Madison backfield.

Once again—pick your poison.

The Big Guys Set the Table

The Fort Madison offensive line deserves plenty of recognition.

The Bloodhounds played with excellent pad level and a downright nasty attitude. They created running lanes, protected their quarterback and controlled the line of scrimmage.

Skill players may score the touchdowns and receive the headlines, but nights like Friday begin with the big guys up front.

Fort Madison’s line set the table, and the rest of the offense ate very well.

This was only one game, but the Bloodhounds made a statement.

One thing is guaranteed:

Fort Madison will be moving in the Dog House Rankings.

The Falcons Soar at Danville

The West Burlington–Notre Dame Falcons had themselves quite a night as well.

The Falcons went on the road and came away with an impressive 47–25 victory over a solid Danville team.

The official individual statistics were not available at the time of this article, so I am not going to invent numbers or present guesses as facts.

However, knowing what I saw from Jayden Nanthan during the preseason, I would not be surprised to learn that he had another monster night.

Jayden is a physical and explosive running back who can punish defenders between the tackles and create problems once he reaches open space.

With Kellen Porter directing the offense, Tatum Warner providing another dangerous weapon and a physical group working up front, the Falcons have multiple ways to attack a defense.

Putting 47 points on the scoreboard in a road opener deserves everyone’s attention.

West Burlington–Notre Dame entered the season as a team I believed could make some noise. Friday night, the Falcons delivered the first piece of evidence that they may be ready to do exactly that.

The Falcons are officially off and flying.

Central Lee Makes an Opening Statement

The Central Lee Hawks did much more than earn a solid victory Friday night.

Coach Doug Dodds’ team went on the road and defeated Van Buren County 38–12, producing 418 yards of total offense and making big plays in all three phases.

Senior quarterback Brett Cook showed exactly why he is the leader of this team.

Cook completed 8 of 14 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown. He also carried the ball 18 times for 87 yards and two more scores, giving him 288 total yards and three touchdowns.

That is a tremendous opening performance.

Evan Fogarty was the big-play threat through the air, catching three passes for 122 yards and a touchdown, including a 60-yard reception. Carson Morrison added three catches for 59 yards.

The Hawks also displayed balance on the ground.

Jonathan Seyb rushed 12 times for 83 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a 47-yard run. Sophomore Jaxson Mueller added another rushing touchdown, while Micah Ashmore gained 20 yards on only two carries.

As a team, Central Lee rushed for 217 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per carry.

The defense also made its presence known.

Cook and Luke Kruse led the Hawks with eight total tackles apiece. Kruse recorded seven solo stops, while Cook finished with six solo tackles and a tackle for loss. Jack Benner added four solo tackles and two tackles for loss.

Carver Hayes delivered one of the game’s biggest plays. He recovered two fumbles and returned one of them 60 yards for a touchdown.

That is winning football—production from the offense, toughness from the defense and a game-changing score created by forcing a turnover.

Central Lee entered the season ranked eighth in the Dog House Rankings, but the Hawks made it very clear Friday night that they do not plan on staying there.

The Hawks are 1–0.

Brett Cook is leading the way.

And Central Lee officially has the Dog House’s attention.

Mount Pleasant Proves Why It Is No. 1

The top-ranked team in the Dog House Rankings took care of business Friday night.

Mount Pleasant traveled to Mediapolis and earned a convincing 23–7 victory over a solid Bulldogs program.

The Panthers produced 344 yards of total offense, displaying the kind of balance and efficiency that made them my preseason No. 1 Dog House team.

Senior quarterback Grayson Walker was outstanding.

Walker completed 14 of 16 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown without throwing an interception.

That is an 87.5% completion rate.

He was accurate, composed and in control of the offense.

Junior Kaden Schadt delivered the biggest night among the Panther receivers, catching five passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. His performance included a 50-yard reception.

Isaiah Lange showed that he is much more than a disruptive defensive end. Lange caught five passes for 62 yards, providing Walker with another reliable weapon.

The Panthers also maintained balance on the ground, rushing 42 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

Junior Ryan Helling led the rushing attack with 65 yards on 12 carries and scored both Mount Pleasant rushing touchdowns. Griffen Jones added 42 yards on 12 carries, while Asa Rose contributed 21 yards on seven attempts.

Mount Pleasant did not have to depend on one player or one part of the offense.

Walker distributed the football efficiently. Schadt created explosive plays. Lange worked underneath. The Panthers continued attacking with multiple running backs.

The official defensive statistics were not listed, but holding Mediapolis to seven points on its home field speaks for itself.

This was a mature road performance from Coach John Bowlin’s team.

Mount Pleasant entered the season ranked No. 1 because of its experience, physicality, depth and outstanding coaching staff.

Friday night, the Panthers showed exactly why.

They are 1–0.

They are balanced.

And they remain the team sitting on top of the Dog House—for now.

Centerville Responds in a Big Way

The Centerville Big Reds entered Friday night looking to respond after a difficult Week 0 loss.

They responded with authority.

Coach Matt Kovacevich’s team traveled to Knoxville and earned a dominant 40–7 victory, evening its record at 1–1.

Centerville produced 364 yards of total offense, including 221 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

The biggest performance belonged to senior Makoa Kaleponi.

Kaleponi carried the football 15 times for 152 yards and three touchdowns, averaging an outstanding 10.1 yards per carry. He also caught two passes for 35 yards, giving him 187 yards from scrimmage.

That is a monster night.

Junior quarterback Mack Murdock also delivered an efficient performance. He completed 7 of 11 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown without throwing an interception.

Murdock added 21 rushing yards and another touchdown, finishing with 151 total yards and two scores.

Sloan Phillips provided the biggest play through the air, catching two passes for 48 yards and a touchdown, including a 35-yard reception. Abram Decena added two catches for 34 yards.

Centerville was also able to involve several younger players in the rushing attack. Sophomore Jacob Hash carried six times for 16 yards, while freshman Slade Risher added 17 yards on seven attempts. Senior Curtis Mathes scored on one of his two carries.

Defensively, the Big Reds held Knoxville to only seven points and created consistent pressure.

Byron Hendricks, Carson Pickens and Cory Kratofil each recorded a sack.

This was exactly the kind of response I expected from a Matt Kovacevich-coached football team.

The Big Reds did not allow one difficult night to define them. They went back to work, corrected mistakes and played physical, complete football on the road.

Centerville is back in the win column.

Makoa Kaleponi announced his presence.

Mack Murdock looked composed and efficient.

And the Big Reds reminded everyone that they remain a serious threat inside the Dog House.

Macomb Has Another Night

No official individual statistics were available at the time of this article, but one thing is perfectly clear:

The Macomb Bombers had another night.

Coach Tanner Horrell’s team overwhelmed Lewistown, earning a dominant 54–0 shutout victory and improving to 2–0.

Through two games, Macomb has outscored its opponents 96–14.

Let that sink in for a moment.

The Bombers opened the season by building a 42–0 halftime advantage against Knoxville. One week later, they put 54 points on the scoreboard while their defense pitched a shutout.

That is domination on both sides of the football.

Until the official statistics are released, I will not guess at individual rushing totals, passing numbers or touchdown totals. The young men deserve to have their performances reported accurately.

What the scoreboard tells us is already powerful enough.

Macomb is physical in the trenches, explosive with the football and suffocating on defense. The Bombers have experience, depth and a coaching staff that has this team playing with tremendous focus.

When I left Macomb after Week 0, I wrote that Coach Horrell and his staff had something special brewing.

After a 54–0 victory, I may need to change that wording.

Something special is no longer brewing.

It has officially arrived.

The Bombers are 2–0.

They have scored 96 points.

They have allowed only 14.

And the rest of Illinois Class 4A should be paying attention.

Jack Sefton and the Hornets Continue to Dominate

The Brown County Hornets are not simply winning football games.

They are completely dominating them.

Coach Tom Little’s team shut out Pleasant Hill/Western 56–0, improving to 2–0.

Through two games, Brown County has outscored its opponents 108–0.

The Hornets have scored more than 50 points in each victory, and their defense has yet to surrender a single point.

That is an incredible start.

Senior running back Jack Sefton continues to establish himself as one of the most dangerous players in the entire Dog House.

Sefton broke loose for a 48-yard touchdown run and then delivered an electrifying 85-yard kickoff-return touchdown. He also had a punt-return score erased by a penalty.

Think about that impact.

Sefton demonstrated the ability to change a game from the backfield, on kick returns and on punt returns. Every time the football reaches his hands, the opposing team is in danger.

I heard Jack Sefton’s name loud and often after Brown County’s opening victory. One week later, he delivered another dominant performance.

This is no longer a one-game explosion.

Jack Sefton is continuing to dominate.

The complete individual statistics were not available at the time of this article, so I will wait before publishing additional numbers.

The team totals already tell an incredible story.

Two games.

Two shutouts.

108 points scored. Zero points allowed.

Brown County entered the season ranked No. 2 in the Dog House and was already one of the most physical and complete small-school football teams I visited during the summer.

The Hornets may be even better than advertised.

West Hancock Shows Its Fight

The West Hancock Titans fell to 0–2 Friday night, but their home opener told a much different story than the final record might suggest.

After scoring only 12 points during a lightning-delayed opening loss at Abingdon-Avon, the Titans responded with 38 points against South Fulton.

West Hancock ultimately fell 45–38, but this team demonstrated plenty of fight.

No official individual statistics were available at the time of this article, so I will not guess at rushing totals, passing yards or touchdown leaders.

What we know is that the Titans found an offensive rhythm and battled until the end of a one-score game.

That matters.

It would have been easy for this group to lose confidence after a difficult opening night. Instead, Coach Coy Dorothy’s team returned home, put points on the scoreboard and gave itself an opportunity to win.

West Hancock is now 0–2 and has been outscored 86–50 through two games. Those numbers show where improvement is needed—particularly on the defensive side—but they do not tell us that this team is finished.

Far from it.

The Titans still have experienced leaders such as Wade Gooding, Chandler Dadant, Logan “Hulk” Baker and Hunter Froman. There is too much toughness and talent inside this program to judge its season after two weeks.

West Hancock must continue building on the offensive improvement it showed Friday while finding answers defensively.

The record says 0–2.

The 38-point performance says this team is still fighting.

Knowing Coach Dorothy and the young men inside that program, I expect the Titans to continue doing exactly that.

Final Thoughts from the Dog House

What a night for the Dog House.

Fort Madison unleashed something special.

West Burlington–Notre Dame scored 47 on the road.

Central Lee opened with 418 yards and a convincing victory.

Mount Pleasant showed why it entered the season ranked No. 1.

Centerville responded with authority.

Macomb improved to 2–0 with a 54-point shutout.

Brown County moved to 2–0 without allowing a single point.

West Hancock showed heart and offensive growth despite a difficult loss.

Seven Dog House teams won Friday night.

One battled until the end of a one-score game.

This is why I climbed into the old white Honda throughout the summer. This is why I visited practices, talked with coaches, interviewed players and tried to share the stories behind these programs.

It was never only about football.

It was about the young men, the coaches, the families and the communities that make Football Friday Night one of the greatest traditions on the planet.

This old ball coach is having the time of his life.

And after what happened Friday night, those Dog House Rankings are about to become very interesting.

Stay tuned.

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