October 4, 2026cbanks1972

DOG HOUSE PLAYOFF PICTURE: IOWA

PLAYOFF CHAOS! IOWA CLASS 2A DISTRICT 6 IS ABSOLUTELY NUTS!

West Burlington/Notre Dame Is Fighting for Its Playoff Life, Mediapolis Has Its Back Against the Wall, and Nobody Is Safe Yet!

By Coach Chuck Banks
The Dog House Tour | CCA Radio Broadcast Network

Folks, if you thought Iowa Class 2A District 7 was interesting, wait until you take a look at District 6!

THIS DISTRICT IS ABSOLUTELY NUTS!

I’ve been around high school football for a long time, and there is nothing quite like October football when the playoff picture starts getting a little muddy.

And let me tell you something. It’s muddy in District 6!

We have six football teams fighting for four playoff spots, and with two weeks remaining in the regular season, there is a whole lot left to be decided.

West Burlington/Notre Dame is sitting in a position where two victories could put the Falcons into the postseason without having to depend on somebody else.

Mediapolis, meanwhile, is in a situation where two losses could put the Bulldogs on the outside looking in.

And then there is Central Lee, a team that needs some help but still has an opportunity to influence who gets into the playoffs.

Folks, this is why we play the games!

LET’S LOOK AT THE DISTRICT STANDINGS

Here is how things stand entering Week 7, according to BOUND.

Team	District	Overall
Mid-Prairie	3-0	5-1
Wilton	2-1	4-2
Mediapolis	1-1	3-2
West Liberty	1-1	3-2
West Burlington/ND	1-2	4-2
Central Lee	0-3	2-4

Four teams get into the postseason.

Two teams stay home.

That is the reality of October football in Iowa.

But what makes this district especially interesting is that overall records don’t tell the entire story.

West Burlington/Notre Dame has four victories but sits fifth in the district standings. Meanwhile, West Liberty and Mediapolis have three victories apiece and are currently positioned above the Falcons.

And Mid-Prairie? The Golden Hawks are sitting in the driver’s seat at 3-0 in district play.

WEST BURLINGTON/NOTRE DAME: WIN TWO AND MAKE YOUR CASE!

Let’s start with Coach Joe Bowman and the Falcons.

This is a football team that has shown it can compete with some very good programs.

I’ve watched young men like Jayden Nanthan, Kellan Porter, Tatum Warner, and Sam Dzawo compete this season, and there is no questioning the talent on this roster.

But talent doesn’t automatically guarantee a playoff berth.

The Falcons have already suffered two district losses, including that heartbreaking 29-28 defeat against Mediapolis.

Think about that for a moment.

One point!

One play here, one play there, and the entire district picture might look different today.

That’s football.

Now the Falcons have two games remaining.

October 9 — West Liberty at West Burlington/Notre Dame, 7:00 PM

October 16 — West Burlington/Notre Dame at Mid-Prairie, 7:15 PM

Two football games.

Two opportunities.

Win them both, and the Falcons reach 3-2 in district play, putting themselves in a strong position for one of those four playoff spots, although final placement could still involve tiebreakers.

But neither opponent is going to make it easy.

West Liberty is fighting for its own postseason position, while Mid-Prairie has been one of the strongest teams in the district.

If you’re Coach Bowman, the message is pretty simple.

Don’t worry about the standings.

Don’t worry about what Mediapolis is doing.

Don’t worry about what happens next week.

BEAT WEST LIBERTY!

Because without that first victory, the road becomes much more difficult.

MEDIAPOLIS: TWO LOSSES COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING!

Now let’s head over to Mediapolis.

Folks, remember that thrilling victory over West Burlington/Notre Dame?

The Bulldogs found a way to survive that contest 29-28, and at the time, it looked like an enormous step toward the postseason.

But October football doesn’t care what happened two weeks ago.

Mediapolis is now 1-1 in district play, and the remaining schedule presents two very important challenges.

October 9 — Mid-Prairie at Mediapolis, 7:30 PM

October 16 — Mediapolis at Central Lee, 7:00 PM

First comes Mid-Prairie, the district leader.

Then comes Central Lee, a team that would love nothing more than to finish its season with a victory on Senior Night.

If Mediapolis drops both games, the Bulldogs finish 1-3 in district play.

Suddenly, that victory over West Burlington might not be enough to protect their postseason position.

Other results and tiebreakers would come into play, but the possibility of missing the playoffs becomes very real.

And don’t think for one second Central Lee is going to roll over simply because its district record isn’t where the Hawks want it to be.

That would be a mistake.

CENTRAL LEE: DON’T COUNT THE HAWKS OUT OF THE STORY!

I know what some folks are thinking.

Central Lee is 0-3 in district play. The Hawks have lost four consecutive games, and their playoff situation is extremely difficult.

But let me tell you something.

Coach Nathan Doran and his young men still have football left to play.

And they have a chance to affect the entire district race.

October 9 — Wilton at Central Lee, 7:00 PM

October 16 — Mediapolis at Central Lee, 7:00 PM

Two home games.

Two opportunities to finish the regular season with some momentum.

And two opportunities to make life miserable for teams fighting for playoff position.

I have always believed that one of the greatest tests of a football program’s culture is how its players respond when things aren’t going their way.

It’s easy to show up when you’re undefeated.

It’s easy to practice when everybody is telling you how good you are.

But what happens when you’ve lost a few games?

What happens when the playoffs are slipping away?

Do you quit?

Do you point fingers?

Or do you show up on Monday afternoon, put on your helmet, and go back to work?

That’s when you find out what kind of young men you’re developing.

I know Brett Cook and the rest of those Hawks would love to finish this season on a positive note.

And if they can knock off Wilton or Mediapolis, they could have a tremendous impact on the final standings.

Don’t underestimate the power of a football team with nothing to lose and everything to prove.

MID-PRAIRIE, WILTON, AND WEST LIBERTY

Now let’s look at the other side of this district race.

Mid-Prairie is 3-0 in district play and has put itself in an excellent position.

The Golden Hawks defeated Central Lee 56-21 and now have Mediapolis and West Burlington/Notre Dame remaining.

That’s not exactly an easy finish.

Wilton sits at 2-1, with Central Lee and West Liberty still on the schedule.

And West Liberty?

The Comets have a massive contest coming up against West Burlington/Notre Dame before closing the regular season against Wilton.

What makes all of this so interesting is how these remaining games connect.

One upset could completely change the playoff picture.

One unexpected victory could move a team into the top four.

One loss could force a team to depend on somebody else’s Friday night results.

That’s what makes this district so much fun to follow.

THE GAMES THAT WILL DECIDE DISTRICT 6

Friday, October 9

Wilton at Central Lee — 7:00 PM
West Liberty at West Burlington/Notre Dame — 7:00 PM
Mid-Prairie at Mediapolis — 7:30 PM

Friday, October 16

Mediapolis at Central Lee — 7:00 PM
West Liberty at Wilton — 7:00 PM
West Burlington/Notre Dame at Mid-Prairie — 7:15 PM

Six games.

Four playoff positions.

And a whole lot of possibilities.

West Burlington/Notre Dame has a path to three district victories by winning out. Mediapolis needs to protect its position. Wilton and West Liberty still have work to do, while Mid-Prairie wants to finish what it started.

Central Lee, meanwhile, can still make a major impact on how the district finishes.

The final playoff picture will depend on results, head-to-head outcomes, and any applicable district tiebreakers.

AN OLD BALL COACH’S PERSPECTIVE: THIS IS WHY OCTOBER MATTERS

You know, one of the things I miss most about coaching is this time of year.

There is just something different about walking onto a football field in October.

The air gets colder.

The grass gets a little wetter.

The bruises take a little longer to heal.

And those young men begin to understand that the season they worked so hard for is coming to an end.

For the seniors, that reality starts hitting home.

Some of these young men have been playing football together since elementary school.

They’ve shared victories, defeats, injuries, bus rides, early morning workouts, and more memories than they can probably count.

And now they’re down to their final two regular-season games.

For some, the playoffs will extend that journey.

For others, October 16 will be the last time they ever put on a football helmet.

That’s why I hope every young man in District 6 understands the opportunity sitting in front of him.

You don’t get these Friday nights back.

You don’t get another chance to be a high school senior.

You don’t get to rewind the clock and replay that fourth-down conversion you missed or that tackle you should have made.

What you do get is another opportunity this Friday.

Make it count.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: SOMEBODY IS GOING HOME!

Folks, there is no way to sugarcoat this.

Six teams are fighting for four playoff positions.

Two teams will be left out.

Coach Joe Bowman and West Burlington/Notre Dame have to take care of business, beginning with West Liberty.

Mediapolis cannot afford to assume its earlier victory over the Falcons guarantees anything.

Mid-Prairie wants to claim the district championship.

Wilton and West Liberty are fighting for positioning.

And Central Lee has an opportunity to remind everybody that a football team’s value isn’t measured solely by its record.

I’ve seen plenty of crazy finishes in my years coaching football.

I’ve seen teams get into the playoffs when nobody expected them to.

And I’ve seen good football teams sitting at home because they couldn’t finish the job.

That’s the beauty and heartbreak of this game.

WEST BURLINGTON NEEDS TWO WINS TO PUT ITSELF IN A STRONG POSITION. MEDIAPOLIS COULD LOSE TWO AND FIND ITSELF ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.

Nothing is guaranteed yet.

And with these remaining matchups, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re still trying to figure out the playoff picture late on October 16.

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 6 IS ABSOLUTELY NUTS!

And this old ball coach wouldn’t have it any other way.

See you under those Friday night lights!

Coach Chuck Banks
The Dog House Tour
CCA Radio Broadcast Network
Coaching Culture in Athletics

#DogHouseTour #CCARadioBroadcastNetwork #SaturdayMorningBlitz #IowaHighSchoolFootball #Class2A #District6 #WestBurlingtonNotreDame #MediapolisBulldogs #CentralLeeHawks #MidPrairie #WestLiberty #Wilton #FridayNightLights #PlayoffPush #CoachChuckBanks

PLAYOFFS? ONLY TWO GUARANTEED SPOTS! CLASS 3A DISTRICT 4 IS HEADING FOR A SHOWDOWN!

Mount Pleasant Is Rolling, Fort Madison Is Fighting, and Solon and Washington Have Something to Say About Who Gets In!

The Dog House Tour — Road to the Playoffs

By Coach Chuck Banks
CCA Radio Broadcast Network | Coaching Culture in Athletics

Folks, if you thought Iowa Class 2A Districts 6 and 7 were getting interesting, wait until you take a look at what is happening in Class 3A District 4!

And believe me, this old ball coach has been watching this district very closely.

Why?

Because two of our Dog House Tour programs, Coach John Bowlin’s Mount Pleasant Panthers and Coach Derek Doherty’s Fort Madison Bloodhounds, are right in the middle of what could become one heck of a postseason race.

But there is something very different about Class 3A compared to Class 2A.

ONLY TWO TEAMS FROM EACH DISTRICT ARE GUARANTEED A PLAYOFF SPOT!

That’s right, folks.

While Class 2A takes the top four teams from each district, Class 3A guarantees postseason berths to the top two district finishers. The remaining playoff positions are determined through the at-large qualification process.

That means a team can have a respectable record, play some outstanding football, and still find itself waiting to learn whether its season will continue.

And in this district, with Solon, Mount Pleasant, Washington, Fairfield, Fort Madison, and Keokuk battling through the remaining schedule, things are about to get interesting.

THE PANTHERS ARE MAKING A STATEMENT!

Let’s start in Mount Pleasant.

Folks, I have been impressed with what Coach John Bowlin and his staff have been doing this season.

And after Friday night’s 45-10 victory over Fort Madison, the Panthers have given everybody in District 4 another reason to pay attention.

This football team has continued to demonstrate that it can move the football, put points on the scoreboard, and compete at a high level.

Quarterback Grayson Walker has been a big part of that success.

I’ve watched this young man develop into a leader of the Panther offense. His ability to distribute the football, make decisions, and create opportunities has been impressive.

And don’t forget about young men like Ryan Helling and Kaden Schadt.

Football games aren’t won by one player. They’re won by eleven young men working together, understanding their assignments, and trusting the guys beside them.

That’s something I see developing in Mount Pleasant.

But let’s not start handing out district championship trophies just yet.

The Panthers still have three games remaining, and two of those contests could have major postseason implications.

October 9 — Keokuk at Mount Pleasant, 7:00 PM

October 16 — Mount Pleasant at Solon, 7:30 PM

October 23 — Fairfield at Mount Pleasant, 7:30 PM

Now look at that middle game.

Solon.

On the road.

At Spartan Stadium.

Folks, if both programs take care of business this coming Friday, that October 16 contest could become one of the biggest games in southeastern Iowa.

But before we get there, Mount Pleasant needs to take care of Keokuk.

And I’ve said this a thousand times as a coach.

DON’T LOOK AHEAD!

The moment you start preparing for next week’s opponent before finishing this week’s business is the moment you open the door for something unexpected.

Coach Bowlin understands that better than anybody.

FORT MADISON: THE BLOODHOUNDS HAVE TO RESPOND!

Now let’s talk about the Bloodhounds.

Friday night’s 45-10 loss to Mount Pleasant certainly wasn’t what Coach Derek Doherty and his staff had in mind.

But you know what?

Sometimes football doesn’t go your way.

Sometimes you run into a team that executes better than you do.

Sometimes you make mistakes, miss assignments, or simply get outplayed.

The important question isn’t what happened Friday night.

It’s what happens next!

Fort Madison still has three regular-season games remaining, and each one presents an opportunity for this football team to demonstrate its character.

October 9 — Fort Madison at Fairfield, 7:30 PM

October 16 — Washington at Fort Madison, 7:30 PM

October 23 — Fort Madison at Solon, 7:30 PM

Folks, that is not an easy road.

Fairfield is coming off a 28-14 loss to Washington and will be looking to get back on track.

Washington is playing meaningful football in October and has its own postseason aspirations.

And then there is Solon, a program with a reputation for physical, disciplined football.

For Fort Madison, the challenge is simple.

Get better.

Fix the mistakes.

Protect the football.

Execute your assignments.

And most importantly, continue believing in one another.

I’ve spent enough time around Coach Doherty to understand how much he cares about the young men in his program.

I’ve also watched players like Moses Thacher, Owen Huffman, Liam Prier, Marshall Heitmann, and Cal Hennings put their hearts into this football team.

Those kids have battled.

They’ve experienced success, adversity, and everything in between.

Now comes the difficult part of the season.

The part where you have to look yourself in the mirror and decide how you want to finish.

For the Bloodhounds, the automatic qualification route is challenging, making every remaining result and the at-large picture extremely important.

But there is still football to play.

And as long as there is football to play, there is an opportunity to compete.

SOLON IS LOOKING LIKE THE TEAM TO BEAT!

Let’s talk about the Spartans.

Solon made a statement Friday night with a 51-0 victory over Keokuk.

That’s the kind of result that gets everybody’s attention.

Solon has established itself as one of the teams to beat in District 4, and its remaining schedule is going to have a major influence on the final standings.

Look at what’s coming.

October 9 — Solon at Washington

October 16 — Mount Pleasant at Solon

October 23 — Fort Madison at Solon

Three games.

Three opponents with something to prove.

And three opportunities for the Spartans to strengthen their position.

But here’s where things get interesting.

Washington gets Solon at Case Field this coming Friday.

If the Demons can pull off a victory, the district race could take a dramatic turn.

And if Mount Pleasant continues winning, the Panthers could head into Spartan Stadium with an opportunity to make a tremendous statement.

Solon may be in an excellent position, but nobody should be celebrating anything yet.

WASHINGTON ISN’T GOING AWAY!

Don’t overlook the Demons.

Washington picked up an important 28-14 victory over Fairfield this past Friday.

And now look at the remaining schedule.

October 9 — Solon at Washington

October 16 — Washington at Fort Madison

October 23 — Keokuk at Washington

That’s a fascinating finish.

Washington has an opportunity to disrupt Solon’s district championship plans this week.

Then the Demons travel to Richmond Stadium to face Fort Madison before closing the regular season against Keokuk.

The October 9 game against Solon could change everything.

If Washington wins, suddenly the battle for those two automatic playoff positions becomes even more interesting.

And folks, that’s what makes October football so exciting.

You can study records, compare opponents, look at statistics, and make predictions all day long.

But eventually somebody has to line up, put a hand in the dirt, and play football.

FAIRFIELD AND KEOKUK CAN STILL SHAKE THINGS UP!

Now let’s look at the other two teams in the district.

Fairfield has Fort Madison, Keokuk, and Mount Pleasant remaining.

Keokuk has Mount Pleasant, Fairfield, and Washington.

Both programs have opportunities to influence the district standings, and neither should be overlooked by teams fighting for postseason positioning.

Fairfield’s October 9 matchup with Fort Madison is particularly important to the Bloodhounds’ postseason hopes.

And Mount Pleasant will need to avoid overlooking either Keokuk or Fairfield while preparing for that enormous matchup with Solon.

That’s what makes this district dangerous.

There aren’t many easy Friday nights left.

THE ROAD TO THE PLAYOFFS: DISTRICT 4 REMAINING SCHEDULE

Friday, October 9

Keokuk at Mount Pleasant — 7:00 PM
Solon at Washington — 7:30 PM
Fort Madison at Fairfield — 7:30 PM

Friday, October 16

Fairfield at Keokuk — 7:00 PM
Washington at Fort Madison — 7:30 PM
Mount Pleasant at Solon — 7:30 PM

Friday, October 23

Keokuk at Washington — 7:00 PM
Fairfield at Mount Pleasant — 7:30 PM
Fort Madison at Solon — 7:30 PM

Nine games remain across the district.

And every one of them could influence the final postseason picture.

AN OLD BALL COACH’S PERSPECTIVE: TWO SPOTS CHANGE EVERYTHING!

Here’s what I find fascinating about Class 3A.

There is very little room for error when only two district finishers are guaranteed postseason positions.

In Class 2A, you can finish third or fourth in your district and still qualify automatically.

Not in Class 3A.

You want to be one of those top two teams.

You don’t want to be sitting around after the regular season, hoping your résumé is strong enough to earn one of the remaining playoff positions.

That’s a tough situation for any football program.

And it’s especially difficult for seniors.

Think about it.

These young men have spent years preparing for moments like this.

They’ve lifted weights in the summer heat.

They’ve practiced in the rain.

They’ve played through bumps, bruises, and injuries.

They’ve sacrificed time with family and friends because they love the game.

And now, in what seems like the blink of an eye, they’re staring at the final three weeks of their regular-season careers.

Some of them will continue into November.

Others will walk off a football field for the final time on October 23.

I remember those moments as a coach.

I remember watching seniors take their helmets off after that final game.

Some cried.

Some sat quietly.

Others hugged their teammates and didn’t want to leave the field.

And as a coach, you wish you could give them just one more Friday night.

One more practice.

One more opportunity to line up beside the guys they’ve grown up with.

But life doesn’t work that way.

Football has a way of teaching us that nothing lasts forever.

What matters is what we do with the opportunities God has placed in front of us.

THE DOG HOUSE IS WATCHING!

For our Dog House Tour, the focus is on two programs.

Mount Pleasant and Fort Madison.

The Panthers are trying to turn an outstanding season into a district championship and a guaranteed playoff berth.

The Bloodhounds are trying to fight through adversity and keep their postseason hopes alive.

Two football teams.

Two different situations.

Two coaching staffs working tirelessly to prepare their young men.

And two communities that care deeply about what happens on Friday nights.

I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Bowlin and Coach Doherty.

I’ve been on those sidelines.

I’ve sat through those long film sessions.

I’ve experienced the sleepless nights wondering whether we prepared our kids well enough.

And I’ve felt the disappointment of watching young men give everything they had, only to come up short.

That’s why I refuse to judge a football program solely by its wins and losses.

There is so much more happening inside those locker rooms than most people will ever understand.

The lessons these coaches are teaching will last long after the final game.

Accountability.

Discipline.

Commitment.

Toughness.

Leadership.

And learning how to get back up when life knocks you down.

Those are the things that matter.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: OCTOBER WILL TELL THE STORY!

Folks, the stage is set.

Solon is looking to finish what it started.

Washington has an opportunity to shake up the entire district.

Mount Pleasant is playing some tremendous football and has a chance to accomplish something special.

Fort Madison is looking to regroup and fight its way through a difficult closing schedule.

Fairfield and Keokuk have opportunities to influence how everything shakes out.

And when the final whistle blows on October 23, the district’s automatic playoff qualifiers will be determined, with the remaining teams waiting to see whether they have done enough for an at-large berth.

But until then, there is football to be played.

And I wouldn’t count anybody out of competing on Friday night.

To every senior in this district, I have one piece of advice.

DON’T COUNT THE DAYS YOU HAVE LEFT. MAKE THE DAYS YOU HAVE LEFT COUNT!

Because someday you’ll wish you could walk through that tunnel one more time.

You’ll wish you could hear your school song after a victory.

You’ll wish you could stand beside those teammates for just one more play.

Enjoy it while you can.

Fight for one another.

And leave absolutely nothing on that field.

ONLY TWO GUARANTEED PLAYOFF SPOTS!

THREE WEEKS REMAINING!

AND THE DOG HOUSE WILL BE WATCHING!