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Dog House Week 3 Rankings

Dog House Week 3 Rankings: Brown County Takes Over the Top Spot

Welcome to the end of August and the beginning of September!

Another week of high school football has given us statement victories, heartbreaking finishes, dominant defensive performances, and plenty of movement inside the Dog House Rankings.

Brown County has taken over the top spot after posting two consecutive shutouts. Fort Madison made the biggest jump following an impressive victory over a Class 4A opponent, while the margin separating the teams ranked fourth through sixth remains razor-thin.

Here are the Dog House Week 3 Rankings.

No. 8 — West Hancock Titans

The 0–2 West Hancock Titans remain at No. 8 as they prepare to travel to Knoxville to face the 1–1 Blue Bullets.

West Hancock suffered a heartbreaking 45–38 loss to South Fulton last Friday night, but the Titans proved something important during that performance: this offense can score points—and it can score them in a hurry.

Now comes an entirely different challenge.

Knoxville has installed the dreaded flexbone and triple-option offense. Defending that attack requires tremendous discipline, assignment football, and complete focus on every snap. Each Titan defender must know whether he is responsible for the dive, quarterback, or pitch.

The record may say 0–2, but West Hancock is beginning to find its offensive identity. If the Titans can play disciplined defense, protect the football, and continue producing explosive plays, they will have an opportunity to leave Knoxville with a season-changing victory.

West Hancock remains a team nobody should overlook.

No. 7 — Central Lee Hawks

Rising one position this week are the Central Lee Hawks.

The Hawks opened their season with a victory over Van Buren County. They will now make the lengthy road trip to face the 1–0 Albia Blue Demons, who are coming off a huge victory over the Chariton Chargers.

This has all the makings of a tough, physical dogfight.

Albia has gotten the better of Central Lee for the better part of the last decade. The Blue Demons have been a difficult hurdle for the Hawks to clear, especially when the teams meet in Albia.

Could this finally be the game that gets Central Lee over the hump?

The Hawks enter the matchup with confidence, momentum, and an opportunity to make a statement. Winning in Albia will require physical football, disciplined defense, and the ability to finish drives when opportunities arise.

Central Lee has already taken its first step. Now the Hawks have an opportunity to prove that this season could be different.

No. 6 — West Burlington/Notre Dame Falcons

The West Burlington/Notre Dame Falcons drop one position to No. 6, but do not mistake movement for weakness.

The margin separating spots No. 4 through No. 6 is razor-thin, and the Falcons remain one of the most dangerous teams in the Dog House.

West Burlington/Notre Dame opened its season with an impressive 47–25 road victory over Danville. The Falcons now return home to Bill Nelson Field for a major early-season test against the Fort Madison Bloodhounds in the Dog House Game of the Week.

Expect an old-fashioned dogfight at Bill Nelson Field.

Head coach Joe Bowman continues to build a physical and confident West Burlington/Notre Dame program. His Falcons play fast, compete hard, and are never afraid of a challenge. Bowman has developed a team capable of attacking opponents in several ways, and the Falcons will enter Friday night believing they can protect their home field.

Across the field will be Coach Derek Doherty and a Fort Madison team that plays with the same physicality and confidence.

Both teams are coming off statement victories. Both programs believe they can establish control at the line of scrimmage. This matchup could be decided by turnovers, special teams, discipline, and which team handles the biggest moments.

The Falcons may have dropped one position, but they will have an immediate opportunity to climb back up.

No. 5 — Centerville Big Reds

Moving down one position to No. 5 are the Centerville Big Reds—but don’t get this jaded: Centerville is a great football team.

The Big Reds did exactly what we expected Friday night. They traveled to Knoxville, dominated the line of scrimmage, and rolled to an impressive 40–7 victory.

That dominance up front allowed Gold Ticket running back Makoa Kaleponi to deliver a powerful performance. When Centerville controls the trenches and gets Kaleponi rolling downhill, this offense becomes extremely difficult to stop.

Quarterback Mack Murdock and the rest of Centerville’s offensive weapons give opposing defenses even more to worry about. This is a physical, talented, and well-coached football team capable of beating anybody on its schedule.

Centerville did not move down because of a poor performance. The difference between the fourth, fifth, and sixth positions is incredibly small, and that order could change quickly.

Make no mistake about it: Centerville is for real, and the Big Reds will be a major factor throughout this season.

No. 4 — Fort Madison Bloodhounds

Movin’ on up from the East Side!

After an extremely impressive 50–18 victory over Class 4A Burlington, the Fort Madison Bloodhounds climb two positions to No. 4.

The Bloodhounds made a statement Friday night. They were physical at the point of attack, explosive with the football, and relentless for four quarters. Fort Madison demonstrated that it has the talent, depth, and toughness to make plenty of noise this season.

The Bloodhounds now travel to Bill Nelson Field to face West Burlington/Notre Dame in the Dog House Game of the Week.

I am calling this one the Black-and-Blue Game.

These are two teams that pride themselves on toughness and will bring an extremely physical brand of football. Expect hard running, violent collisions, battles in the trenches, and two programs determined to establish control from the opening kick.

Coach Derek Doherty has built the Bloodhounds around accountability, unselfishness, and physical football. Coach Joe Bowman’s Falcons bring that same toughness and confidence to the other sideline.

The difference between No. 4 Fort Madison and No. 6 West Burlington/Notre Dame is razor-thin. Friday night will provide both teams with an opportunity to settle the debate on the field.

Bring the ice packs because this one is going to leave some bruises.

No. 3 — Macomb Bombers

Staying put at No. 3 are the Macomb Bombers.

Normally, a team that wins in the dominating fashion Macomb did Friday night would move up the food chain. However, with the strength of the teams sitting above them, the Bombers remain in the third position.

Make no mistake: Macomb made a statement.

The Bombers overwhelmed Lewistown 54–0, with the game ending under the mercy rule late in the third quarter. Macomb has now won its first two games by a combined score of 96–14.

The Bombers will hit the road for the first time this season to face Rushville-Industry, a team coming off a surprising loss to the Knoxville Blue Bullets.

Expect Rushville-Industry to have a game plan designed to slow down Macomb. The challenge is figuring out which Bomber weapon to take away.

Macomb brings planes, trains, and automobiles to the field.

The Bombers have speed on the perimeter, power in the backfield, physicality along the line, and a defense capable of shutting everything down. Drake May leads a deep and dangerous group, while quarterback Kaden Knupp directs an offense that can attack from multiple directions.

Rushville-Industry will be prepared to defend its home field, but if Macomb continues playing the way it did during its first two home games, this road test should end in familiar fashion.

The Bombers remain directly on the heels of the top two.

No. 2 — Mount Pleasant Panthers

Moving down one position to No. 2 are the Mount Pleasant Panthers.

Coach John Bowlin probably wasn’t completely satisfied with every aspect of Mount Pleasant’s 23–7 road victory over the always-gritty Mediapolis Bulldogs—but the Panthers won.

Sometimes, that is what matters most.

As Al Davis famously said, “Just win, baby!” In my opinion, it remains one of the best attitudes in football—even though I am definitely not a Raiders fan! LOL.

Quarterback Grayson Walker was nearly perfect through the air against Mediapolis. Combine his efficiency with Mount Pleasant’s balanced rushing attack, and this offense has the potential to become deadly as the season progresses.

The Panthers now prepare for their season opener at historic Bob Evans Field, where the Knoxville Panthers will come calling.

That means we have ourselves a Cat Fight.

After practicing through the intense heat this week, you can bet Coach Bowlin and his staff will have Mount Pleasant prepared to protect its home field. Expect a more polished Panthers team determined to play physical football and make a statement in front of its home crowd.

Mount Pleasant may have dropped one position, but this remains one of the most complete and dangerous teams in the entire Dog House.

No. 1 — Brown County Hornets

Moving up one spot and taking over as the No. 1 team in the Dog House are the Brown County Hornets.

Coach Tom Little has something brewing south and east of Dog House Headquarters—and it demands our attention.

These Hornets are downright nasty tough.

Brown County has stung its first two opponents—no pun intended!—while pitching back-to-back shutouts. The Hornets have outscored their opponents by an incredible combined margin of 108–0.

Junior quarterback Michael Kassing provides leadership and complete command of the offense. His ability to execute the play-action game creates nightmares for opposing defenses. Commit too many defenders to Brown County’s talented stable of running backs, and Kassing can make you pay through the air.

But as impressive as the offense has been, the defense may be even better.

The Hornets are physical, disciplined, fast to the football, and tough as nails at every level. Two games into the season, nobody has found a way to cross their goal line.

Brown County now prepares to face the Routt Catholic/Lutheran football team. The 2–0 Hornets should have another opportunity to sting their opponent, but Coach Little will make sure his team remains focused on the next challenge and the next opportunity to improve.

Brown County is talented. Brown County is physical. Brown County is relentless.

Until someone proves otherwise, the road to the top of the Dog House runs through Mount Sterling, Illinois.

The Brown County Hornets are the new No. 1 team in the Dog House Rankings.

Complete Week 3 Rankings

  1. Brown County Hornets
  2. Mount Pleasant Panthers
  3. Macomb Bombers
  4. Fort Madison Bloodhounds
  5. Centerville Big Reds
  6. West Burlington/Notre Dame Falcons
  7. Central Lee Hawks
  8. West Hancock Titans

#DogHouseRankings #DogHouseTour #CoachingCultureInAthletics #FridayNightLights #HighSchoolFootball

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Published by cbanks1972

## Charles “Chuck” Banks ### Founder and Voice of Coaching Culture in Athletics Radio Broadcast Network Charles “Chuck” Banks—known to many throughout the tri-state sports community as Coach Banks or “Chuck the Tank”—is the founder and lead broadcaster of the Coaching Culture in Athletics Radio Broadcast Network. Built from more than two decades of coaching, teaching, leadership, and relationship-building, the network is dedicated to telling the stories of the coaches, athletes, schools, and communities that make local sports special. A native of rural Iowa, Banks has spent 20 years in education and more than 25 years coaching football. He earned his bachelor’s degree in History and Secondary Education from Graceland University in 2004 before completing a master’s degree in Secondary Education and Educational Administration and a specialist degree in Educational Leadership. Throughout his coaching career, Banks worked with programs across southeastern Iowa. His stops included Centerville, Central Lee, and Fort Madison, along with seven years coaching girls basketball and additional experience in junior-high track. At Central Lee, Banks served as an assistant defensive coach and activities director before becoming the Hawks’ head football coach from 2020 through 2022. Central Lee reached the playoffs during his final season. He was also part of multiple playoff teams and a district championship during his time with the program. At Centerville, Banks spent nine years as an assistant and helped the Big Reds capture a district championship and earn multiple playoff appearances. Most recently, he coached at Fort Madison under Head Coach Derek Doherty, helping develop younger players within the Bloodhound football program. Banks’ defensive coaching journey evolved from the traditional 5-2 defense to the 3-3-5 before he found his preferred home in the 4-2-5. However, his coaching philosophy has never been limited to schemes, formations, wins, or losses. He believes the greatest responsibility of a coach is to build relationships, develop leaders, create belonging, and prepare young people for life beyond the playing field. That belief became the foundation for Coaching Culture in Athletics. What began as an effort to create meaningful conversations about coaching and leadership grew into a full sports-media and broadcasting network. Coaching Culture in Athletics now serves as the umbrella for Dog Pound Radio, The Coach Show, the Dog House Tour, Dog Pound U, Hound Talk, the Dog House Saturday Morning Blitz, live game broadcasts, team previews, rankings, interviews, historical features, and year-round coverage of local athletics. Through the Dog House Tour, Banks visits practices, meets coaching staffs, interviews athletes, studies programs, and gives local teams the type of detailed coverage normally reserved for much larger schools. The network’s reach extends throughout southeastern Iowa, western Illinois, and northeastern Missouri, connecting communities across the tri-state region. Banks has covered and developed relationships with programs including Fort Madison, Central Lee, Centerville, West Burlington–Notre Dame, Mount Pleasant, Macomb, West Hancock, and Brown County. His work highlights more than star players and final scores. It recognizes assistant coaches, linemen, managers, scout-team players, school traditions, historic stadiums, longtime community supporters, and the people working behind the scenes. The Coach Show allows Banks to sit down with coaches from the high-school and college levels for honest conversations about leadership, program development, adversity, family, faith, and the profession of coaching. His interviews are guided by experience rather than observation alone. He understands the pressure of leading a program, the hours spent preparing, the sacrifices made by coaching families, and the responsibility that comes with mentoring young people. Dog Pound Radio brings a more energetic edge to the network. Inspired by Banks’ love for football and his beagles, Leo and Loki, Dog Pound Radio combines local sports reporting with the unmistakable “Dawg Mentality”—toughness, loyalty, preparation, perseverance, and love for the team. Loki continues to serve as a central part of the brand, while the memory of Leo remains woven into its heart. Banks’ journey has also been shaped by significant personal adversity. After suffering multiple strokes, undergoing heart surgery, and facing additional serious health concerns, he stepped away from coaching and entered what he describes as medical retirement from the sideline. He also speaks openly about depression, adult ADHD, recovery, and the importance of faith, family, purpose, and mental health. Although his health changed the way he could serve, it did not take away his calling. Broadcasting became a new sideline. Through Coaching Culture in Athletics, Banks found another way to teach, coach, encourage, and advocate. His experiences have given his work a deeper sense of urgency: appreciate the people around you, tell their stories while you can, recognize the unseen contributors, and never underestimate the impact a coach can have on a young person’s life. Faith and family remain at the center of Banks’ life. He and his wife, Stephanie, have built a life rooted in southeastern Iowa and are the proud parents of Chelsey, Peyton, and Katarina. Their growing family includes son-in-law Donald Archambault and grandchildren Orion, Owen, and Ollie. Banks often credits his family for standing beside him through the demanding seasons of coaching, education, broadcasting, illness, and recovery. Today, Chuck Banks brings together the perspective of a coach, educator, broadcaster, historian, husband, father, grandfather, and survivor. His voice is passionate, direct, knowledgeable, and deeply connected to the communities he covers. The mission of the Coaching Culture in Athletics Radio Broadcast Network is simple: promote the positive impact of athletics, strengthen coaching culture, celebrate local communities, preserve sports history, and provide athletes and coaches with a platform where their work matters. This is more than a radio network. It is a celebration of coaches, culture, athletes, families, and communities. It is local sports coverage built on relationships. It is where coaches, culture, and communities connect. It is Coaching Culture in Athletics.

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