Dog House Saturday Morning Blitz

Saturday, September 5, 2026

Good Saturday morning, Dog House family!

Another Football Friday Night is in the books, and this one brought extreme heat, altered schedules, rivalry battles, blowouts, defensive performances and a couple of games that went down to the wire.

Six Dog House teams completed their games Friday night, while Brown County will take the field Saturday morning.

Here is this week’s Saturday Morning Blitz.

Dog House Tour Scoreboard

Final Scores

• Mount Pleasant 55, Knoxville (Iowa) 8
• Macomb 55, Rushville-Industry 0
• West Burlington–Notre Dame 42, Fort Madison 21
• Centerville 30, Fairfield 8
• Central Lee 20, Albia 14
• West Hancock 22, Knoxville (Illinois) 20

Saturday Morning Football

• Brown County vs. Routt Catholic/Lutheran
• Kickoff: 8:30 a.m. Saturday

When Mother Nature Laid Down the Law

Friday, like the rest of the week across the Midwest, was hot.

Not just ordinary late-summer heat, either. It was the kind of heat that forced schools and athletic departments to make difficult decisions.

Kickoff times were moved. Games were postponed. Some were canceled, while others were rescheduled for later dates.

In all my years around high school athletics, I am not sure I have ever witnessed anything quite like it.

Mother Nature laid down the law across the Midwest, reminding everyone that the health and safety of our young athletes, coaches, officials, band members, cheerleaders and fans must always come first.

The entire week was a blur in its own right.

There were long days, changing schedules and plenty of adjustments. Still, it was another great week in the education business.

As Friday afternoon arrived, we headed home and finally allowed everything to slow down.

I found my way to the couch, with Loki ever present and making sure Dad did not enjoy too much peace without him.

For a few moments, I simply sat there.

No rushing. No traveling. No fighting traffic.

Just the comfort of home, the company of a little old Beagle and the anticipation of another Football Friday Night.

Outside, the Midwest heat was still making its presence felt.

Inside, the Dog House was preparing to come alive.

The White Honda Crew Hits the Road

The plan was simple: grab some water, pick up Coach Mike Ehlers and then head over to get the legend, Ryan Smith.

You should have seen the three of us packed inside that little white Honda.

It was not a pretty sight—but we got the job done.

Both Ryan and Mike keep telling me that Dog Pound Radio needs to upgrade to a Cadillac Escalade so everyone can have enough legroom.

I thought about it for a moment.

Then I remembered that I work in education and cannot afford those kinds of luxuries!

So the Escalade dream was placed back on the shelf, everyone adjusted their knees the best they could and the little white Honda continued moving.

With water in hand and the crew squeezed into place, we headed north on Highway 61 toward Bill Nelson Field.

The temperature was hot.

The car was crowded.

The jokes were already flying.

And the Dog Pound Radio crew was on its way to call the Black and Blue Game.

When the Broadcast Plan Fell Apart

We rolled into Bill Nelson Field surrounded by the kind of heat that had affected football games throughout the Midwest.

Thank goodness Coach Ehlers brought his fan.

At first, it seemed like a nice little convenience. Later in the night, it would feel like the greatest luxury money could buy.

We headed upstairs and began preparing the broadcast. We were sharing the space with several other people, and the heat inside was brutal.

Then I had an idea.

We could set up underneath the press-box window, plug everything in and call the game from there.

Everyone agreed, and we went with it.

What I did not realize was that an extremely loud speaker was positioned directly above us. The internet connection also began drifting in and out.

Then the audio-only stream stopped working.

I looked over and realized that our broadcast had gone offline.

Unfortunately, that was not even the scariest moment of the night.

Approximately 15 minutes earlier, the computer and part of our broadcasting system had tragically crashed to the ground.

Thankfully, the equipment appeared to be okay—but watching it fall nearly stopped this old ball coach’s heart.

At one point, I looked down and realized my legs were completely soaked from the sweat pouring off me.

The three of us exchanged looks.

Some of us grinned.

Some of us grimaced.

Honestly, the expression probably depended on the exact moment.

I did not know whether Coach Smith and Coach Ehlers were going to continue rolling with the punches or pick me up and throw me over the railing.

To their credit, they kept rolling.

We carried everything downstairs, reset for the night and found another way to get the game on the air.

With a phone, a few microphones and plenty of determination, we continued sharing the Black and Blue Game with the world.

Was it perfect?

Absolutely not.

Did it go according to plan?

Not even close.

But the athletes are the real stories of the Dog House, and their performances still deserved to be shared.

We did the best we could with the conditions and equipment available.

Sometimes technology fails. Sometimes the weather wins. Sometimes a carefully constructed plan crashes to the floor right along with your computer.

You take a breath, gather your crew, change the plan and keep moving forward.

That became the theme of the night:

Sometimes things do not go as planned—but you keep going anyway.

The Black and Blue Game Lives Up to the Hype

The Black and Blue Dog House Game of the Week lived up to every bit of the hype.

There was some serious hitting in this football game, and both teams showed everyone that they were as good—and as physical—as advertised.

The game began exactly as you might imagine.

West Burlington–Notre Dame turned to its Jerome Bettis-style running back, Jayden Nanthan.

The big man went rumbling, bumbling and stumbling into the end zone—and he did it at a surprisingly fast rate.

Nanthan brings tremendous power, but do not let his size fool you. Once he gets moving downhill, he can flat-out go.

Fort Madison answered.

Moses Thacher displayed his speed, agility and physical running style. Junior quarterback Owen Huffman contributed with his arm and legs before finding his way into the end zone.

At that point, Fort Madison held a narrow 7–6 lead.

The remainder of the first half was filled with moments just like those.

There were crushing hits from the West Burlington–Notre Dame linebackers, including several delivered to Fort Madison’s Max Jones.

But Max absorbed the punishment, maintained possession and continued moving the chains for first downs.

That is toughness.

On the other side, Fort Madison linebackers Liam Prier, Marshall Heitmann and Ren Watson delivered some crushing blows of their own.

Neither team backed down.

The battle in the trenches was intense, physical and downright nasty.

Fort Madison’s newly numbered “Big 50” Cal Hennings—yes, the number change caught all of us off guard—helped lead the way alongside Ren Watson, Nolan Lamb, Liam Prier and Clifford Stewart.

Across from them, the West Burlington–Notre Dame front refused to give an inch without a fight.

This was not a finesse football game.

This was a donnybrook.

Every yard had to be earned. Every first down came with a price. Every collision reminded us why this matchup carries the name Black and Blue Game.

When the clock finally reached 0:00 at the end of the first half, Fort Madison held a razor-thin 21–20 lead.

After two quarters, absolutely nothing had been settled.

The first half belonged to both teams.

The second half would belong to the team that could adjust, endure the heat and finish.

The Second Half Belonged to Jayden Nanthan

The second half was all about Jayden Nanthan.

After an early Fort Madison turnover, Nanthan made the Bloodhounds pay. He attacked the end zone with a vengeance and helped West Burlington–Notre Dame seize control of the game.

The Falcons continued building on that momentum and eventually earned a 42–21 victory.

However, the final score does not accurately reflect how close or competitive this game truly was.

Fort Madison held a 21–20 lead at halftime. This was a one-point heavyweight fight before the early second-half turnover shifted the momentum toward West Burlington–Notre Dame.

Playmakers were everywhere.

Nanthan powered the Falcons’ rushing attack. Moses Thacher continued displaying his speed and physicality. Max Jones made tough catches while absorbing punishing hits. The offensive and defensive fronts battled relentlessly.

Then Coach Joe Bowman turned up the pressure.

At one point in the second half, the Falcons began bringing additional defenders and attacking Fort Madison quarterback Owen Huffman.

Owen took a hard shot.

He bounced immediately back to his feet.

On the very next play, the junior quarterback stood in, delivered an impressive football and moved the chains for a first down.

The drive eventually stalled, but that does not diminish the importance of the moment.

That sequence showed toughness, poise and leadership from a young quarterback making only his second varsity start.

Owen did not allow the previous hit to affect his next decision. He got back up, trusted his protection and delivered.

That is the kind of moment coaches remember when evaluating the growth of a quarterback.

West Burlington–Notre Dame made the critical second-half adjustments, created a turnover and leaned on Nathan to finish the job.

Fort Madison competed toe-to-toe with the Falcons throughout a physical first half but could not recover once the momentum shifted.

At the end of the day, the biggest lesson was simple:

Both of these football teams can flat-out play.

The Falcons earned the victory and the Black and Blue Game bragging rights.

The Bloodhounds earned plenty of respect.

And every athlete who stepped onto Bill Nelson Field showed exactly why this rivalry deserved to be the Dog House Game of the Week.

Fort Madison’s Unsung Heroes

The stars receive plenty of attention, but several Bloodhounds made important contributions that should not be overlooked.

No. 3 JT Thompson

JT Thompson delivered an outstanding performance and made several unbelievable catches throughout the game.

When Fort Madison needed a play, Thompson found a way to get open and secure the football. He displayed dependable hands, toughness and the ability to rise in important moments.

Max Jones

Max Jones showed tremendous toughness and tenacity.

The West Burlington–Notre Dame linebackers delivered several crushing blows after Max made catches over the middle. He absorbed the contact, maintained possession and continued fighting for first downs.

Friday night cemented his status as a legitimate playmaker.

Aurelio Jaciunde

Aurelio Jaciunde continues to shine—even when the football does not come directly to him.

His speed and big-play ability demand attention from opposing defenses. When defenders begin flowing toward Jaciunde, space opens for his teammates to make plays.

That kind of impact may not always appear in a box score, but coaches and teammates understand how valuable it is.

Jonah Santiago

Do not forget about the kicker.

Jonah Santiago continues to impress me with his accuracy and consistency. Reliable kicking is an important weapon, especially in rivalry games where every point and every possession matter.

Jonah has quietly become someone Fort Madison can trust when he steps onto the field.

Owen Huffman

Owen Huffman has cemented himself as the natural leader of this offense.

He took hits, got back up and continued delivering the football with confidence. His response after being knocked down showed the kind of toughness and composure teammates respect.

Owen is still growing as a varsity quarterback, but leadership cannot always be taught.

Sometimes a young man simply has it.

Owen Huffman has it.

These young men may not have received the biggest headline after the game, but they helped Fort Madison compete in a physical Black and Blue battle.

Football is never about one player.

It takes toughness, sacrifice and teammates willing to perform their roles—even when the spotlight is shining somewhere else.

The Falcons Behind the Headline

Jayden Nanthan’s 300-yard performance will deservedly receive much of the attention, but several West Burlington–Notre Dame players made major contributions to the Falcons’ victory.

Garrison Reid

Garrison Reid impressed me with his footwork throughout the night.

Good football begins with technique, balance and doing the small things correctly. Reid displayed those qualities in a physical game where every assignment mattered.

Sam Dzawo

Sam Dzawo had himself a night.

He contributed on both sides of the football and showed exactly what kind of young man he is—tough, physical and willing to do whatever his team needed.

Playing both ways in that heat required tremendous conditioning and mental toughness. Dzawo continued competing and delivering for the Falcons.

Tatum Warner

Tatum Warner may have been the wild card of the entire night.

When Fort Madison found ways to contain the two-headed backfield beast of Jayden Nanthan and Kellen Porter, Warner became the answer.

He worked across the middle on drag routes and made unbelievable catches on third down.

Time after time, when the Falcons needed to extend a drive, Warner found space, secured the football and moved the chains.

Those were not empty catches.

Those were winning plays.

If Nanthan had not delivered a 300-yard rushing performance, Warner could easily have been the Dog House Player of the Game in my opinion.

Nanthan supplied the power and explosive production. Porter helped guide the attack. But Warner repeatedly punished the defense whenever too much attention shifted toward the backfield.

That is what makes West Burlington–Notre Dame so dangerous.

Try to stop Nanthan, and Porter can hurt you.

Commit to both of them, and Warner finds open space across the middle.

Then players such as Garrison Reid and Sam Dzawo handle the physical work that allows everything else to happen.

The Falcons’ victory was not built by one player alone.

It was a complete team effort filled with toughness, adjustment and clutch performances.

Two Running Backs, Two Players of the Game

The Dog House Player of the Game honors went to the two running backs who helped define this Black and Blue battle:

• Fort Madison: Moses Thacher
• West Burlington–Notre Dame: Jayden Nanthan

College coaches, if you are looking for a couple of absolute dudes, these are two of the best I have seen.

That opinion is not based only on their foot speed, physical running styles or ability to become touchdown factories.

It is based on how they handle themselves away from the football field.

Moses and Jayden are two of the nicest young men I have met during the Dog House Tour. Both have been respectful, appreciative and willing to place their teams ahead of individual attention.

They possess the exact combination every coach wants:

Humble and hungry.

They are humble enough to continue learning, working and sharing credit with their teammates.

They are hungry enough to keep improving, competing and chasing something greater.

Friday night, Moses displayed his speed, agility and toughness while helping Fort Madison build a halftime lead.

Jayden delivered a dominant second-half performance and helped West Burlington–Notre Dame pull away for the victory.

Two outstanding running backs.

Two tremendous young men.

Two deserving Dog House Players of the Game.

After the game, we packed everything into the little white Honda and headed home, giving ourselves time to let the entire night sink in.

The heat, the equipment crashing to the ground, the unstable internet, the change in broadcasting plans, the physical football game and the incredible performances—it was another unforgettable night in the Dog House.

On a side note, I want to wish West Burlington–Notre Dame head coach Joe Bowman a very happy birthday.

Coach Bowman received a pretty good present from his football team:

A Black and Blue Game victory and bragging rights for another year.

Happy birthday, Coach!

Around the Dog House

The Black and Blue Game was not the only big story Friday night.

Mount Pleasant rolled past Knoxville, 55–8, and continued showing why the Panthers are one of the strongest teams in the Dog House.

Macomb remained perfect with another dominant performance, defeating Rushville-Industry 55–0.

Centerville’s defense delivered again as the Big Reds defeated Fairfield 30–8.

Central Lee survived a hard-fought battle with Albia and earned a 20–14 victory.

West Hancock broke into the win column with a dramatic 22–20 victory over Knoxville. After battling through two difficult opening losses, Coach Coy Dorothy and the Titans found a way to finish.

Brown County will attempt to continue its dominant start when the Hornets meet Routt Catholic/Lutheran at 8:30 Saturday morning.

Congratulations to all our Dog House teams, coaches and athletes.

There will be much more coverage coming throughout the weekend.

Final Thoughts from the Dog House

Coach Derek Doherty and Coach Joe Bowman both have plenty to be proud of following this Black and Blue battle.

Coach Bowman’s Falcons made the necessary second-half adjustments, created a critical turnover and finished the game with authority.

Coach Doherty’s Bloodhounds battled toe-to-toe with an outstanding opponent, built a halftime lead and continued displaying the toughness and growth developing inside their program.

The Dog House is excited to watch both teams continue building and growing throughout the remainder of the 2026 season.

There will be plenty more coverage coming—game breakdowns, player recognition, rankings and the next group of Dog House Player of the Week nominees.

But first, I want everyone to take a moment and be thankful.

Players, be thankful for the opportunity to compete beside your teammates.

Coaches, be thankful for the privilege of helping shape young lives.

Officials, thank you for allowing these games to be played safely and fairly.

Fans, families and communities, be thankful for the opportunity to gather beneath those lights and support the young people representing your schools.

The weather may change the schedule.

Technology may fail.

Equipment may fall.

The game may not go according to plan.

But we still get to be part of something incredibly special.

We get to experience the bands, the cheerleaders, the packed stands, the rivalries, the hard hits, the dramatic finishes and the pride that spreads throughout an entire community.

Take some time this weekend to appreciate it.

Be thankful that we can gather around the best sport on the planet:

High School Friday Night Football.

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