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🏈 SATURDAY MORNING BLITZ—SATURDAY NIGHT EDITION October 10, 2026

🏈 SATURDAY MORNING BLITZ—SATURDAY NIGHT EDITION
October 10, 2026
Presented by Wondra Chiropractic & Acupuncture

Welcome, Tri-State, to another edition of the Saturday Morning Blitz—well, kind of. It is Saturday night! Here we go…

October 9 was filled with some amazing moments that Mike and I will not soon forget. But first, my family has a pretty important milestone coming Monday, October 12.

I will have been married to the love of my life, Stephanie, for 30 years.

Stephanie was the greatest ball coach’s wife there ever was. Now that I am starting to slow down a little, she is probably breathing a huge sigh of relief!

Funny guy tonight!

In all seriousness, she has stood beside me through long practices, late Friday nights, difficult seasons, health challenges and every wild football adventure I could dream up. Thirty years is a tremendous blessing, and I am grateful she has shared this journey with me.

Monday Back in the Trenches

Monday was a blur, as most Mondays seem to be.

I spent the day at school in the trenches alongside some tremendous staff members and leaders. Monday evening, I continued writing and working to get our athletes in the Dog House more exposure.

That has become one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. Every article, photograph, interview and broadcast gives us another opportunity to share the stories of these incredible young people.

Tuesday Hounds 8th Grade Football and HTC vs. West Burlington Volleyball and Championship Night

Tuesday afternoon brought a little football action as I watched the eighth-grade Fort Madison Bloodhounds take on the Keokuk Chiefs.

I took and posted some photographs for our community before heading over to HTC, where Mike and I broadcast Senior Night and Conference Championship Night inside the gym.

HTC defeated another Dog House community, West Burlington, in three sets. Do not let the sweep fool you, though. Both teams competed hard, and the match felt much closer than the final result indicated.

Wednesday and Thursday came and went—and then Friday arrived.

North on 218 and East on Highway 34

Mike and I headed north on Highway 218 and then east on Highway 34 as we embarked on our pregame coverage at Mount Pleasant.

Watching Grayson Walker in person when the bullets are flying is a thing of beauty. This young man has a strong arm, tremendous composure and a nose for making big plays.

Walker completed 9 of 13 passes for 172 yards and five touchdowns. He added another 37 yards and his sixth touchdown of the night on the ground.

Six total touchdowns!

I could have easily selected Walker as the Dog House Player of the Game, but something else is brewing—something that might be even better for this talented quarterback.

Stay tuned.

Isaiah Lange caught five passes for 68 yards and three touchdowns.

Running back Griffen “Dude” Jones carried the football 10 times for 66 yards.

Then there was No. 32, junior Kaden Schadt.

Schadt caught two passes for 61 yards—and both receptions went for touchdowns.

🏆 DOG HOUSE PLAYER OF THE GAME: KADEN SCHADT

Two receptions.

Sixty-one yards.

Two touchdowns.

That is called making an impact!

Coach John Bowlin and his staff had themselves a night. The Panthers were sharp, explosive and ready to play from the opening kickoff.

Mount Pleasant is now only one week away from the obvious Game of the Year in Class 3A District 4.

Final: Mount Pleasant 56, Keokuk 6

A Conversation With a Legend

As impressive as the Panthers were, the show may have been stolen shortly before kickoff.

I finally spotted one of my favorite people on the planet, Coach Bob Jensen, sitting just outside the fence near the south end zone.

Naturally, I went over and interviewed the legend.

The remarkable thing about Coach Jensen is that he knew everyone’s name—and he always had that familiar grin. We talked football, shared memories and enjoyed a conversation I will never forget.

Coach Jensen is one of the finest human beings and coaches I have ever been around. Before Mike and I headed back down Highway 34 toward Fairfield, I made sure to walk over and tell him goodbye.

That moment meant a great deal to this old ball coach.

Mount Pleasant, the Dog House will be back. You treat us incredibly well up there. From the coaches and players to the administrators, fans and community members, you always make Mike and me feel welcome.

We appreciate you!

Back Down Highway 34

Mike and I talked all the way to our next stop, checking scores and discussing a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Coach Mike Ehlers has quickly become one of my favorite people—not simply because he joined the Dog House, but because the guy is a walking encyclopedia.

He knows a thing or two about football, and he certainly knows his softball.

We arrived in Fairfield and drove Mike’s car nearly all the way down to the field. We parked near the shot-put area, just beyond the south end zone.

As we walked toward the stadium, we joked that we probably could have driven right onto the field.

Maybe next year, AD Courtright?

Probably not—but a guy can dream!

As halftime approached, I made my way toward the Fort Madison fans. I sat down beside Chuck Vandenberg, who was wearing a pretty good grin as we looked at scores from around the area.

The Iowa Hawkeyes were winning big elsewhere, and we enjoyed a good conversation about what could be coming to Lee County.

Then Chuck looked at me and said, “Back to work.”

So, back to work it was!

Fairfield 40 Fort Madison 14

The Bloodhounds dropped an important district game to Fairfield, 40–14.

I saw some positive things from the Hounds, along with several areas that Coach Derek Doherty and his staff will work to clean up.

That is football.

You study the film, correct the mistakes and prepare for the next opportunity.

Still, I had a pain in the pit of my stomach because I understood the significance of this game in the Class 3A District 4 playoff race.

Fairfield’s option offense was firing on all cylinders. Senior Ethan Bisgard carried the football 12 times for 147 yards and five touchdowns.

This kid can flat-out play the game of football.

For Fort Madison, Max Jones stood out to me. He ran crisp routes, worked to create separation and continued showing the toughness and dependability that have made him an important part of this team.

🏆 FORT MADISON DOG HOUSE PLAYER OF THE GAME: MAX JONES

The Bloodhounds will host the Washington Demons next Friday before traveling to Solon in Week 9.

The road will not be easy, but the opportunity remains for this team to respond.

A Late Message From a West Burlington Legend

Late Friday night, Coach Bill Nelson sent me a message and told me his game had been a little easier than he anticipated.

His team earned a 42–0 victory, improving his record in Colorado to 4–3.

I truly enjoy receiving those messages from the West Burlington legend. No matter how many miles separate us, football has a way of keeping great coaches and great friends connected.

Hearing from Coach Nelson was another special way to finish an already memorable Friday night.

One for the Books

This week was truly one for the books.

From the eighth-grade Hounds and championship volleyball at HTC to interviewing the legendary Coach Bob Jensen, watching Mount Pleasant’s explosive offense and finishing our night in Fairfield, Mike and I experienced another unforgettable week in the Dog House.

Most importantly, my health is holding up pretty well at this point in the football season—especially compared with previous years.

I do not take that for granted.

Every drive, conversation, photograph, interview and football game is another blessing.

This Dog House journey is about more than scores, statistics and playoff standings. It is about the athletes, coaches, families and communities that make high school sports so special.

It is about sitting beside a legend near the south end zone.

It is about talking football with a great friend while traveling down Highway 34.

It is about sharing the stories of young people who deserve to be seen.

It is about being present and appreciating every opportunity God places in front of us.

This week was filled with awesomeness, and I am already looking forward to another week in the Dog House.

#SaturdayMorningBlitz #SaturdayNightEdition #DogHouseTour #DogPoundRadio #WondraChiropractic #MountPleasantPanthers #FortMadisonBloodhounds #FairfieldTrojans #KadenSchadt #MaxJones #GraysonWalker #CoachBobJensen #CoachBillNelson #CoachMikeEhlers #FridayNightLights #IowaHighSchoolFootball #MoreThanFootball

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## 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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