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4 Downs: Gazette staff breaks down the Iowa high school football things that make you go hmm ...
How do co-head coaches thrive? Which 0-3 team is most in need of a win? Is a team emerging in the Class 5A jumble? What coaches could host an interesting podcast?
Sep. 17, 2024 1:25 pm, Updated: Sep. 17, 2024 1:41 pm
The Gazette’s Iowa high school football staff poses and answers questions about the current season. See how much Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Nathan Ford can gain in 4 Downs:
1st & 10: How has Linn-Mar found success with co-head coaches?
Jeff Linder: First of all, they’ve stayed reasonably healthy, which they didn’t do last year. They’ve ridden the legs of Dylan Muszynski and have allowed less than a touchdown per game.
Jeff Johnson: Actually talked to running back Dylan Muszynski about this after the Lions’ win this past Friday over Cedar Rapids Kennedy. I’ll let him answer: “It helps that we’ve had them in the program forever. We have a lot of seniors who have been playing for three years. So, to have co-head coaches who work very well together and trust each other, it’s very easy for us to go out there and our job..”
K.J. Pilcher: Honestly, many successful coaches delegate responsibilities. Split up the duties but stay on the same page. With a short turnaround after the coaching change, I’m guessing this was almost necessary. Whatever they are doing, it’s working. They have schemes that match their athleticism and experience. They are off to a great start.
Nathan Ford: An experienced team helps. I assume Ben Martens and Chad Tompkins are comfortable setting aside egos to hand off some responsibilities. Meanwhile, I tried to convince other schools I could be a co-head coach when I found out both get credited for wins in the record books but was told passing PE 262 (Coaching Theory: Football) at Wartburg College is not actually a qualification for that job.
2nd & Long: Which 0-3 team needs a Week 4 win the most? Who is still in good shape to reach the playoffs?
Jeff Linder: Simply because of the playoff format of Class 5A, with no districts, Cedar Rapids Kennedy finds itself in a tough spot. Yes, the schedule has been tough, but the Cougars’ play has been choppy. They probably can afford only one more loss and make the playoffs. Among teams most likely to qualify, I still like Mid-Prairie a lot, and I think the Golden Hawks might win their district.
Jeff Johnson: Who is still in good shape to reach the playoffs? Just about any Class A or Class 8-Player team. Everyone else still has a shot at winning its district.
K.J. Pilcher: Cedar Rapids Kennedy is the most surprising winless team through Week 3 but the Cougars can certainly run the regular-season table. The margin for error has shrunk substantially and a win over Cedar Rapids Washington is vital. Mid-Prairie is 0-3 but has played a brutal schedule and is very capable of turning things around with a victory. The other team to keep an eye on is East Buchanan. The Bucs are 0-3 and face an injury-hampered Starmont and unbeaten North Linn before three very winnable games to close the regular season.
Nathan Ford: West Delaware is only 0-2 but I’ll say the Hawks could really use a W at Webster City. With Dubuque Wahlert and Independence also in its district, an automatic playoff bid is no guarantee.
3rd & Short: Has any Class 5A team emerged as a clear favorite? If not, who is the most likely definitive frontrunner?
Jeff Linder: Boy, it’s jumbled, isn’t? Take your pick of any of about a half-dozen Central Iowa teams. Where do the top Eastern Iowa teams (Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley, Cedar Falls and Linn-Mar) fit? Cedar Rapids Prairie’s win over Southeast Polk was a good sign. That was all just a rambling way of saying, “No, I don’t see a clear favorite.” And that’s not a bad thing.
Jeff Johnson: It’s a jumble in 5A. The suburban Des Moines schools keep knocking each other off, and some Eastern Iowa schools have done the same (Cedar Rapids Prairie, Cedar Falls). It seems very open, and I’m cool with that.
K.J. Pilcher: The first three weeks in 5A has been a head scratcher. One teams wins, loses the next week and then beats a team that beat the team that beat them. Some teams started in the top five and are 0-3. Surprise teams are ascending the standings quickly. Buckle up because this will likely continue. Won’t be surprised if a 1-2 team is playing in the UNI-Dome. I think Waukee’s potent offense (more than 50 points per game) has elevated the Warriors above the rest, so far.
Nathan Ford: Ankeny Centennial is a clear No. 1 for me based on a resume with three one-sided wins. That 31-10 season-opening victory over preseason No. 1 Ankeny should hold up well, as the Hawks proved by beating West Des Moines Dowling last week. Now, that doesn’t mean I think the Jaguars are the only choice to win it all in November. There are too many talented teams, meaning little surprises me in 5A anymore.
4th & Goal: Name three area head football coaches you would like to see produce a podcast together.
Jeff Linder: Jared Collum of North Linn is good on basketball “LynxCasts,” so that would translate well to the podcast format. I’d like to hear from Joe Hadachek on his plan to turn Vinton-Shellsburg into a winner. And if you could get Duane Schulte to get away from his usual close-to-the-vest-edness, he’d be a great resource on all things football.
Jeff Johnson:. Brad Meester of Mount Vernon, Scott Chandler of Iowa City Liberty and Ed Miles of Cedar Rapids Jefferson. Why? Because all three played in the NFL and theoretically could get some big-time guests to chat with them.
K.J. Pilcher: When I hosted a short coaches’ show for our past media partner, I watched Cedar Rapids Xavier Coach Duane Schulte and former Solon Coach Kevin Miller talk football while waiting for the studio to become available. I was enthralled listening to them exchange ideas and drawing out schemes. I also saw North Linn’s Jared Collum and West Liberty assistant Ben Slife do the same on a bar napkin during karaoke after a 16-inch softball game. I could go Schulte, Miller and maybe West Central’s Steve Milder due to his longevity. I would listen to Kennedy’s Brian White, Prairie’s Kyle Knock and former Washington head coach Moe Blue, who is a Hawks assistant. Their exchanges would be G-O-L-D!
Nathan Ford: I want to hear some stories. Williamsburg’s Curt Ritchie, Xavier’s Duane Schulte and Waukon’s Chad Beerman have surely compiled as many of those as they have wins over the years – and they have a ton of wins.
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