Week 4 Iowa high school football football rewind: Takeaways have triggered Tipton’s turnaround

Tipton’s turnaround mathematics have centered around turnovers.

Precisely, 9 + 5 = 4-0.

“We’ve got some ball hawks in our defensive backfield,” Tigers Coach Taul Noard said. “We’ve been pretty stout defensively.”

One of the major storylines in Eastern Iowa football has centered around the massive 180-degree turn orchestrated by Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Today, let’s examine Tipton.

The Tigers were 0-8 last year. After a 21-11 home victory over West Liberty on Friday, this year’s version is 4-0.

“This is something we’ve seen coming, with this group of juniors and seniors,” said Noard, in his third year as head coach. “Despite the (recent) struggles, we’ve been looking forward to this group coming.

“We haven’t changed anything. The kids have just gotten bigger, faster, stronger.”

Size, speed and strength are a nice recipe. So is the uncanny ability to wrest the ball away from opponents.

Through four games, the Tigers have collected 14 takeaways — nine interceptions and five fumble recoveries.

“Ball hawks,” indeed. And as a result, the Tigers are allowing 6.5 points per game.

Last year, by comparison, they gave up 33.4 per contest.

It’s not as if this program has been in a prolonged funk. Prior to the last two years’ 1-16 ledger, Tipton had produced six consecutive winning seasons.

Offensively, the Tigers have rallied behind quarterback Ian Spangler, who moved from receiver after the injury of Ayden Bosten in Week 2.

“Ian has taken over and done some really good things,” Noard said.

Griffin Naderman returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in the Tigers’ season-opening win over Louisa-Muscatine, then hauled in three TD receptions the following week against Vinton-Shellsburg.

With this start and this defense, the ceiling now seems high for the Tigers. Their next three games (at Camanche, home against Anamosa, at Northeast) are winnable, then the regular season ends with a stiff challenge against 2A District 4 favorite Monticello.

“I’m really concerned about the next three weeks,” Noard said. “Camanche always plays us tough. Anamosa is going to be bigger than us. Northeast always throws the ball all over the place.

“But we’re excited. Our community is excited. They’ve been waiting for a couple of years for a reason to cheer.”

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Grant Glausser, Western Dubuque run past No. 1

For the third consecutive week, the No. 1 spot in Class 4A was a perilous place to be.

Grant Glausser ran for 389 yards and four touchdowns to lead 4A No. 5 Western Dubuque to a come-from-behind 31-24 victory over top-rated North Scott at Epworth.

That’s the way it’s been through September in the 4A landscape. Preseason No. 1 Cedar Rapids Xavier fell in Week 2, Adel ADM tumbled in Week 3, then North Scott bowed Friday.

“It’s pretty clear to me that (the Iowa High School Athletic Association) had an agenda — and that’s not a bad thing — that they wanted teams with previous success to play each other,” Western Dubuque Coach Justin Penner said.

Xavier and Lewis Central — ranked 2 and 3 last week — also were defeated Friday, and with only one remaining unbeaten (Gilbert), this week’s No. 1 is anybody’s guess.

How about the Bobcats, whose only setback was a 22-20 decision at Xavier in Week 3?

“I think we’re probably deserving,” Penner said. “Bondurant-Farrar has a nice resume. There’s plenty of parity with a lot of good teams.”

Glausser, who netted more than 1,500 rushing yards last year, has tallied 906 through four games, on 95 carries.

“He had some big runs late (Friday, including an 89-yard touchdown run),” Penner said. “He is 10 pounds heavier this year, and faster.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com