cbanks1972

Defense Lives in the Dog House: The Players Creating Havoc

Defense Lives in the Dog House: The Players Creating Havoc

Offense may fill the highlight reels, but defense wins football games.

The Dog House Tour is loaded with defenders who run to the football, attack the line of scrimmage and refuse to back down. Some are piling up tackles. Others are living in opposing backfields. A few are taking the football away and turning defense into offense.

These rankings are based on the statistics currently submitted for seven Dog House programs. Because Iowa and Illinois calculate assisted tackles differently, Illinois totals were converted to the Iowa-style formula for comparison. Tackles for loss, sacks, turnovers and defensive touchdowns were also heavily considered.

1. Chandler Dadant — West Hancock

32 solo tackles, 6 assists, 38 recorded tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 1 sack

Chandler Dadant is everywhere for the West Hancock Titans.

His 32 solo tackles are an incredible number through three games. When the Titans need somebody to step into the hole, chase down a runner or finish a play in space, Dadant has consistently answered the call.

He has also contributed three tackles for loss and one sack. Dadant brings physicality, effort and leadership to Coach Coy Dorothy’s Road Warriors.

He currently sits at the top of the Dog House defensive rankings.

2. Drake May — Macomb

29 MaxPreps tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble

Drake May continues to show why he is one of the most complete football players anywhere in the Tri-State area.

May leads Macomb with 29 tackles while also creating five tackles for loss and two sacks. He has forced a fumble and helped the Bombers begin the season 3–0.

He is producing touchdowns on offense and creating havoc on defense. That type of two-way production is difficult to match.

Coach Tanner Horrell’s Bombers have been taking care of business one game at a time, and May has been at the center of it all.

3. Isaiah Lange — Mount Pleasant

12.5 tackles, 9 solo tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble

If these rankings were based only on disruption, Isaiah Lange might be No. 1.

Eight tackles for loss in two games is a massive number. Lange has also recorded 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble.

He is not simply making tackles after the offense gains yards. He is destroying plays before they have an opportunity to develop.

Lange’s quickness, strength and relentless motor have made him a major piece of a Mount Pleasant defense that continues to improve. The junior defensive end is officially on the Dog House radar.

4. Brett Cook — Central Lee

20 tackles, 17 solo tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble and 1 recovery

Brett Cook really does cook—on both sides of the football.

Cook leads Central Lee with 20 tackles, including 17 solo stops. He has added three tackles for loss, forced a fumble and recovered another.

His physical running style carries over to defense. Cook plays downhill, attacks the football and finishes tackles.

The Hawks finally got the monkey off their back with a road victory at Albia, and Cook’s effort was a major reason Central Lee was able to get it done.

5. Curtis Mathes — Centerville

17.5 tackles, 13 solo tackles and 3 tackles for loss

Curtis Mathes has become the leading tackler for a Centerville defense that showed exactly what it could become during the Big Reds’ victory over Fairfield.

Mathes plays with discipline and physicality. His 13 solo tackles show that when he arrives at the football, the play usually ends.

Centerville has plenty of offensive firepower, but the defense may determine how far this team can go. Mathes is helping set the tone for that unit.

6. Hunter Froman — West Hancock

17 solo tackles, 1 assist and 18 recorded tackles

Hunter Froman gives West Hancock another defender who can find the football.

With Dadant working inside and Froman consistently cleaning up plays, the Titans have two of the most productive tacklers on the Dog House Tour.

Froman has also contributed on offense and special teams, making him another important all-around athlete for Coach Dorothy’s program.

7. Sam Dzawo — WB/ND

17 tackles and 14 solo stops

Sam Dzawo leads a physical WB/ND defensive unit with 17 tackles.

The Falcons have built their identity around playing hard, running to the football and making opponents earn every yard. Dzawo’s 14 solo tackles demonstrate his ability to finish plays without needing much help.

He may not have a tackle for loss or sack recorded yet, but his consistency places him among the Dog House’s leading defenders.

8. Garrett Bence — WB/ND

17 tackles, 14 solo stops and 1 tackle for loss

Garrett Bence gives the Falcons another defender with 17 total tackles and 14 solo stops.

Having Bence and Dzawo around the football gives Coach Joe Bowman a dependable defensive foundation. Add Tatum Warner, Jared Glendening, Bryson Burgus and Sawyer Guihan, and the Falcons have several players capable of making impact plays.

9. Hunter Whibley — West Hancock

13 solo tackles, 4 assists, 17 recorded tackles and 1 tackle for loss

Whibley is the third West Hancock defender to appear in the rankings.

That says something about the effort being displayed by the Titans. Dadant, Froman and Whibley have combined for 73 recorded tackles through three games.

West Hancock had to fight through a difficult opening stretch, but the defense came up big when the Titans went on the road and defeated Knoxville 22–20.

The Road Warriors earned that name.

10. Cory Kratofil — Centerville

11.5 tackles, 9 solo tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 1 sack

Kratofil rounds out the initial Dog House Top 10.

His three tackles for loss and one sack show his ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Kratofil and Mathes have helped give the Big Reds a strong defensive presence around the football.

Dog House Defensive Top 10

  1. Chandler Dadant — West Hancock
  2. Drake May — Macomb
  3. Isaiah Lange — Mount Pleasant
  4. Brett Cook — Central Lee
  5. Curtis Mathes — Centerville
  6. Hunter Froman — West Hancock
  7. Sam Dzawo — WB/ND
  8. Garrett Bence — WB/ND
  9. Hunter Whibley — West Hancock
  10. Cory Kratofil — Centerville

Other Defenders Making Noise

Several players were just outside the Top 10 but deserve recognition:

  • Marshall Heitmann, Fort Madison: 11.5 tackles and 2 tackles for loss
  • Jared Glendening, WB/ND: 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and half a sack
  • Abram Decena, Centerville: 11 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss
  • Sloan Phillips, Centerville: 10.5 tackles and 3 tackles for loss
  • Keegan Birdsell, Mount Pleasant: 12.5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble and 1 recovery
  • Jeshua McPheeters, Macomb: 15 MaxPreps tackles, 2 tackles for loss and 1 forced fumble
  • Colby Martin, Macomb: 9 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries
  • Ren Watson, Fort Madison: 9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and 1 sack
  • Bryson Burgus, WB/ND: 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 1 sack

Turning Defense Into Offense

Central Lee has already produced two defensive touchdowns.

Carver Hayes recovered two fumbles, including one he returned 60 yards for a score. Kellen Weber added a 70-yard fumble return touchdown.

Carson Morrison has also intercepted two passes for the Hawks.

Mount Pleasant’s Adam Denning recorded an interception, while Macomb’s Tyler Schulz and Drake Taber each collected one.

Those are game-changing plays. A defense that can score points or give its offense a short field can completely change the momentum of a football game.

The Dog House Standard

Great defense is built on effort, toughness, discipline and trust.

It is about doing your job, running to the football and knowing the other ten players will do the same. It is about taking on blocks so a teammate can make the tackle. It is about pursuing the football even when nobody believes you can get there.

The statistics tell part of the story, but they do not record every great block defeated, every route taken away or every time a defender forced the football somewhere it did not want to go.

These young men are helping establish the defensive standard inside the Dog House.

Brown County’s individual defensive totals were not available for this edition. The Hornets will be added when those statistics are received.

For now, Chandler Dadant owns the tackle crown, Drake May continues doing everything for Macomb, and Isaiah Lange may be the biggest game-wrecker in the entire pack.

Defense lives in the Dog House—and these dudes are hunting.

#DogHouseTour #DogPoundRadio #DogHouseDefense #DefensiveRankings #CCARadioBroadcastNetwork #FridayNightFootball #HighSchoolFootball #IowaHighSchoolFootball #IllinoisHighSchoolFootball #DefenseWinsChampionships #HumbleAndHungry #OnePackOneGoal

Unknown's avatar

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.

Categories UncategorizedTags , , , ,
search previous next tag category expand menu location phone mail time cart zoom edit close