Quick update from this old coach!
I had a little health scare Monday morning, but I’m doing okay. They’re monitoring the implanted loop recorder in my chest daily for the next seven days. Unfortunately, my monitor wasn’t connected when Monday’s episode happened. Just my luck—but we’ll keep moving forward and taking things one day at a time.
The plan is to return to work Thursday and see how I feel. Friday is still up in the air as far as hitting the road for football. If we go, I’ll have to talk Mike into driving my little white Honda. That might take some convincing! 😂
Thank you to everyone who has called, messaged, or checked in. I truly appreciate you thinking of me.
For now, I’m doing okay, and football is on the horizon. Have a great week, everyone! 🐾🏈
🐾🏈 DOG HOUSE PLAYOFF WATCH — MORE THAN A LINE ON A GRAPHIC
By Coach Chuck Banks | The Dog House
Oh Nelly. One week remains, and that Class 3A playoff picture deserves a closer look.
The bubble graphic has Fairfield at No. 12, Washington at No. 18, and Fort Madison at No. 20. But before we start declaring teams in or out, remember how Class 3A qualifies its field.
The top two teams in each district earn automatic berths. Four additional teams qualify through RPI. That means we have to look at district finishes alongside those statewide numbers. The red line after No. 16 does not tell the whole story.
And the results out west give us another reason to pay attention.
DISTRICT 6 ADDS SOME INTRIGUE
Last Friday, Carroll defeated Perry 48–7, Creston edged Greene County 13–9, and Harlan beat Atlantic 42–21.
That Harlan–Atlantic result catches this old coach’s eye.
Atlantic appears at No. 15 in the bubble graphic, while Harlan sits at No. 17. Both are listed at 5–3, and Harlan now owns the victory in their head-to-head meeting.
That does not settle the entire qualifying picture. It does show why a quick glance at the rankings can leave out important context. District placement and the final Friday still matter.
FAIRFIELD AT MOUNT PLEASANT — PLENTY ON THE TABLE
Fairfield enters Week 9 at 5–3 and No. 12 in the RPI. A trip to face 7–1 Mount Pleasant gives the Trojans an opportunity to strengthen their position with a significant road win.
For the Panthers, the attention belongs on Fairfield.
I said earlier this year that the Week 8 game between Mount Pleasant and Solon could produce another meeting down the road. That possibility remains, but you earn those future opportunities by handling the work in front of you.
Coach Bowlin’s team has another week to sharpen its execution and prepare for what comes next. Fairfield will demand its full attention.
The Trojans need to finish drives and make their possessions count. Mount Pleasant needs to establish itself at the line of scrimmage and play disciplined football for four quarters.
Talk of a rematch can wait. This week is about Fairfield.
WASHINGTON — HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS FIRST
The Demons sit at 4–4 and No. 18, with Keokuk coming to town.
Washington needs to build on its win over Fort Madison and give itself the strongest finish it can. There will be other scores worth watching, but the Demons’ first responsibility is taking care of their own game.
Keokuk has every reason to make that difficult. The Chiefs can finish with a road victory and disrupt Washington’s plans in the process.
Protect the ball. Finish drives. Avoid giving away possessions. Those details carry plenty of weight when your postseason hopes are under pressure.
FORT MADISON — A BIG CHALLENGE, ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY
The Bloodhounds sit at 3–5 and No. 20, with a trip to undefeated Solon ahead.
That is a tough assignment. A win would be a major statement, but we cannot call it a guaranteed playoff ticket without the final district results and RPI calculations.
For the Hounds, the football comes first: move the chains, tackle well, limit explosive plays, and make Solon earn its opportunities.
For the seniors, give this week everything you have. Another practice with your teammates and another Friday in that jersey are worth your best effort.
THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER WEEK
To the coaches still teaching, correcting, encouraging, and developing their guys—thank you.
There is still something to gain from this week. A younger player can take a step forward. A senior can set an example. A team can put together its best performance.
And thank you for allowing the Dog House into your communities. We appreciate the conversations, the access, and the chance to share the stories of your players and programs.
Now we get one more Friday to see where the regular season takes us.
Take care of your game. Then we’ll sort through the numbers. 🐾🏈
#TheDogHouse #DogPoundRadio #Class3A #PlayoffWatch #Week9 #FridayNightLights #IowaHighSchoolFootball
🐾🏈 DOG HOUSE WEEK 9 — LET’S TALK PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
By Coach Chuck Banks | The Dog House
Oh Nelly. One regular-season Friday remains, and there is plenty more to this Class 3A picture than a red line on a graphic.
Six district champions. Six district runners-up. Four at-large qualifiers through RPI.
That is how we get our 16 playoff teams. We determine the automatic qualifiers first, then fill those four remaining openings.
FAIRFIELD AT MOUNT PLEASANT — WIN AND TAKE THE AUTOMATIC BERTH
Here are the local scenarios calculated from the official standings:
| Team | Win Friday | Lose Friday |
|---|---|---|
| Solon | District champion | Still district champion through head-to-head |
| Mount Pleasant | District runner-up; automatic berth | Third place; RPI at-large route |
| Fairfield | District runner-up; automatic berth | Third place; RPI at-large route |
| Washington | Finish 5–4; at-large route | Finish 4–5; at-large route |
| Fort Madison | Finish 4–5; at-large route | Finish 3–6; at-large route |
Washington and Fort Madison cannot reach an automatic qualifying position. Solon has beaten both Fairfield and Mount Pleasant, securing the title even if the Spartans lose Friday.
For Coach Bowlin and the Panthers, the assignment is Fairfield.
I said earlier this year that the Week 8 meeting with Solon could lead to another matchup down the road. That possibility remains, but Friday’s opponent has its own postseason business to handle.
Mount Pleasant wins: The Panthers finish 8–1 and take the automatic berth. Fairfield finishes 5–4 and waits on RPI.
Fairfield wins: The Trojans finish 6–3 and take the automatic berth. Mount Pleasant finishes 7–2 and enters the at-large pool.
The Panthers currently sit No. 6 in RPI, giving them a stronger starting position than Fairfield at No. 12 if either must use that route. Those positions are not final calculations.
WASHINGTON — WIN FIRST, THEN WATCH
The Demons enter at No. 18. Beating Keokuk improves their opportunity, but it does not automatically punch their ticket.
Washington needs to finish among the four qualifying at-large teams after automatic qualifiers are removed, subject to the applicable head-to-head rule. A loss would make the climb more difficult.
FORT MADISON — THE OPPORTUNITY IS AT SOLON
The Hounds enter at No. 20. Beating undefeated Solon would give them their strongest opportunity to climb.
But an upset alone is not a verified guarantee. Fort Madison would still need the final RPI and qualifying results to fall its way.
For both programs, there is an important distinction: having an at-large route does not mean a qualifying combination has been mathematically established.
DISTRICT 6 — THE RESULTS CAN CHANGE WHO JOINS THAT POOL
Carroll faces Atlantic, while Harlan faces Greene County. The automatic-berth scenarios are:
| Results | Automatic qualifiers |
|---|---|
| Carroll wins, Harlan wins | Carroll and Harlan |
| Carroll wins, Harlan loses | Carroll and Harlan |
| Atlantic wins, Harlan loses | Atlantic and Carroll |
| Atlantic wins, Harlan wins | Three-way tie; see margins below |
If Atlantic and Harlan both win, these calculated margins determine the two automatic qualifiers:
| Atlantic’s winning margin | Harlan’s winning margin | Automatic qualifiers |
|---|---|---|
| 1–11 | Any | Carroll and Harlan |
| 12 | 1–2 | Atlantic and Carroll |
| 12 | 3+ | Atlantic and Harlan |
| 13 | 1 | Atlantic and Carroll |
| 13 | 2+ | Atlantic and Harlan |
| 14+ | Any | Atlantic and Harlan |
These calculations use the published district point totals and IHSAA tiebreaking rules. An overtime victory counts as +1, regardless of the actual margin. The Atlantic-by-12/Harlan-by-2 combination creates equal averages, bringing the 2026 alphabetical rule into play.
The team missing an automatic berth must pursue an at-large opening. That is why this district matters to teams watching from southeast Iowa.
Also, the official IHSAA sheet lists Harlan at 4–4, correcting the 5–3 record shown on the shared bubble graphic.
HEAD-TO-HEAD HAS A SPECIFIC ROLE
For the final at-large opening, the IHSAA can use head-to-head over RPI when the two teams are directly adjacent in the final rankings. It is not a blanket rule allowing a team to jump several positions.
Winning margin does not increase RPI. The 17-point system is a separate tool used to resolve district ties.
So we can identify the automatic scenarios above. A complete “these exact statewide results get Washington or Fort Madison in” list still requires a full remaining-schedule RPI calculation. We should not turn a hopeful combination into a promise.
TO THE COACHES STILL WORKING — THANK YOU
Another practice. Another film session. Another opportunity to develop your guys.
Whether you are chasing a playoff berth or preparing your seniors for their final Friday, that work matters.
Thank you for welcoming the Dog House into your communities and allowing us to share your programs’ stories.
Now let’s finish this regular season. There is still football to be played. 🐾🏈
#TheDogHouse #DogPoundRadio #Class3A #Week9 #PlayoffScenarios #FridayNightLights
🐾🏈 DOG HOUSE PLAYOFF WATCH — THE OTHER FOUR CLASS 3A DISTRICTS
By Coach Chuck Banks | The Dog House
Oh Nelly. We have covered Districts 4 and 6. Now let’s look at Districts 1, 2, 3, and 5, because those results help determine who joins our local teams in the race for four at-large berths.
These scenarios are calculated from the IHSAA’s Week 8 standings, remaining schedule, and postseason rules.
DISTRICT 1 — ALGONA IS SECURE; HEELAN CONTROLS ITS OPPORTUNITY
Friday’s games:
- Algona at Bishop Heelan.
- Sioux Center at Humboldt.
- MOC-Floyd Valley at Webster City.
Algona enters 4–0 in district play. Sioux Center and Bishop Heelan are both 3–1.
| Result | Automatic qualifiers |
|---|---|
| Algona wins | Algona and Sioux Center |
| Bishop Heelan wins | Algona and Bishop Heelan |
Algona has secured an automatic berth. Heelan is win-and-in.
If Heelan loses, Sioux Center takes the second berth even if Sioux Center also loses, because it owns the head-to-head victory.
If Heelan and Sioux Center both win, three teams finish 4–1. The published point totals keep Algona and Heelan ahead of Sioux Center in that tiebreaker.
At-large impact: Heelan losing puts Heelan in the pool. Heelan winning puts Sioux Center in it. Either way, this district sends a significant contender into the statewide calculation. These are calculated applications of the district tiebreakers.
DISTRICT 2 — BOTH AUTOMATIC BERTHS ARE SET
Friday’s games:
- Clear Lake at West Delaware.
- Iowa Falls-Alden at Benton.
- Independence at Charles City.
Clear Lake and West Delaware are both 4–0 in district play. Iowa Falls-Alden is 2–2.
| Game | Scenario |
|---|---|
| Clear Lake–West Delaware | Winner is district champion; loser is runner-up. Both qualify automatically. |
| Iowa Falls-Alden wins | Finishes 6–3 overall; pursues an at-large berth. |
| Iowa Falls-Alden loses | Finishes 5–4 overall; still needs the at-large route. |
At-large impact: Iowa Falls-Alden is the main bubble team here, entering Friday at No. 16 in RPI. A win strengthens its position; it cannot earn an automatic berth.
DISTRICT 3 — MOUNT VERNON AND WAHLERT ARE THE TEAMS TO WATCH
Friday’s games:
- Assumption at Mount Vernon.
- Wahlert at Maquoketa.
- Central DeWitt at Center Point-Urbana.
Assumption enters 4–0 in district play, Mount Vernon 3–1, and Wahlert and Central DeWitt 2–2.
| Results | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon wins | Mount Vernon | Assumption |
| Assumption wins and Wahlert wins | Assumption | Wahlert |
| Assumption wins and Wahlert loses | Assumption | Mount Vernon |
Assumption has secured an automatic berth. Mount Vernon controls its own opportunity. Wahlert needs a win and an Assumption win.
Central DeWitt cannot reach the automatic positions. If it joins Mount Vernon and Wahlert at 3–2, Wahlert’s district point total settles the three-way tie. If only Central DeWitt and Mount Vernon tie for second, Mount Vernon owns their head-to-head result.
Those outcomes are calculated from the standings and tiebreakers.
At-large impact: Either Mount Vernon or Wahlert will miss an automatic berth. They currently rank No. 9 and No. 10 in RPI, respectively. Central DeWitt, No. 19, also needs the at-large route. This district therefore supplies a strong contender regardless of Friday’s outcome.
DISTRICT 5 — THE AUTOMATIC BERTHS ARE SECURED
Friday’s games:
- Winterset at Des Moines Christian.
- Williamsburg at Saydel.
- Knoxville at Nevada.
Des Moines Christian has secured the championship. Williamsburg has secured the runner-up berth.
Even if Williamsburg loses and another team reaches the same district record, Williamsburg owns the necessary head-to-head victories over Nevada and Winterset.
Nevada, Winterset, Knoxville, and Saydel cannot take an automatic berth. That conclusion follows from the official standings and district qualification rules.
At-large impact: Nevada enters at No. 21 in RPI and needs to improve its position through the statewide calculation. Williamsburg, currently No. 11, already has an automatic route and will not consume an at-large berth.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR LOCAL TEAMS
There are already two important pressures on that four-team at-large field:
- District 1 contributes Sioux Center or Bishop Heelan.
- District 3 contributes Mount Vernon or Wahlert.
Then add Iowa Falls-Alden, the Fairfield–Mount Pleasant loser, the District 6 contender missing an automatic berth, and other teams trying to climb.
Those are competitors for the openings—not a declaration that any four have clinched them.
For Fairfield and Mount Pleasant, the cleanest answer remains the same: win Friday and secure the automatic berth.
For Washington and Fort Madison, winning gives them their strongest opportunity, but their final position still depends on the statewide RPI and qualifying results.
Oh Nelly. There will be plenty of scoreboard watching Friday.
First, handle the team across from you. 🐾🏈
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