No. 1 Western Dubuque shows variety on offense, domination on defense in win over Marion

MARION — Western Dubuque is no one-trick pony.

Sure, the focus is on workhorse running back Grant Glausser and his 1,230 yards and 13 touchdowns. Rightfully so, but the team has a lineup of play-making thoroughbreds.

“We love Grant but everybody on the team is very valuable,” Western Dubuque quarterback Tanner Anderson said. “We have our whole wide receiver corps and I can’t forget about our offensive line. They’re the reason I can get all these passes off.”

Well, they all ran roughshod Friday night.

Anderson threw touchdown passes to three different receivers, in addition to a score by Glausser, leading top-ranked Western Dubuque to a 35-7 victory over Marion in a Class 4A District 2 prep football game at Marion Stadium. The Bobcats scored all of their points before halftime and posted their seventh straight win over the Wolves.

“We had a really good week of practice and it helped us work on our plays,” Anderson said. “As a team, we grew stronger together and it helped overall.”

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Photos: Western Dubuque vs. Marion high school football

Western Dubuque (5-1, 2-0) scored on its first four possessions of the game, including two Anderson TD passes for a 14-0 lead with 2:01 left in the first quarter. Anderson capped an 80-yard drive with a 14-yard score to Hunter Quagliano. His 11-yard pass to Ryan Digmann capped a 75-yard, nine-play series.

Western Dubuque Coach Justin Penner likened his role to Utah Jazz Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton. Put the ball in the hands of many able athletes.

Anderson completed 10 of 11 passes for 188 yards. He connected with five receivers.

“We need him to do that and keep everyone involved,” Penner said. “Our offense has that capability. I thought Tanner demonstrated a desire for all the guys to touch the football tonight. I loved the way he distributed that.”

“When you can have that variety, the offensive line shows their versatility,” Penner said. “That’s pretty cool deal.”

Brock Carpenter is one of those other Bobcats playmakers. He produced two touchdowns. Carpenter returned a punt 64 yards for a 21-0 lead with 12 seconds left in the first quarter. Carpenter pulled down the punt, broke a tackle and received downfield blocks from Digmann, Brandon Decker and Tate Weidenbacher to spring him.

“It was a whole team touchdown,” Carpenter said. “I appreciate those guys holding their blocks for me. The return wouldn’t have been anything without those guys.”

After Glausser scored on a 6-yard TD run, leading to 98 yards on 17 carries, and a Decker interception, Anderson and Carpenter deliver one last blow. On third-and-10, they hit on a 60-yard scoring strike for 35-0 advantage that started the second half with a running clock.

“Tanner put it right on the money,” said Carpenter, who had a team high 82 receiving yards on three catches. “We have good chemistry.”

Anderson wasn’t as confident and credited Carpenter for making it a success.

“He ran a great route and made a great catch,” Anderson said. “I thought I overthrew him but he saved my butt. He made a good catch and scored a touchdown for us.”

The Bobcat defense stifled Marion (4-2, 1-1) in the first half. The Wolves mustered just 24 total yards, including 5 passing. They held Marion scoreless for three quarters and Bobcat reserves were able to see the field in the second half.

“They’ve done a great job,” Penner said. “I like the adjustments our defensive staff made. I thought our guys flew around to the football.”

Marion’s Kaleb Diers finished with 70 total yards. Darius Rouson rushed for 44 yards and scored on an 11-yard rush for the Wolves lone score.

Western Dubuque hosts Waterloo East for Homecoming next week. Marion plays at Decorah.

Western Dubuque 35, Marion 7

AT MARION

WD MAR

First Downs 15 10

Rushes-yards 28-117 29-118

Passing yards 249 39

Comp-att-int 13-15-0 4-15-1

Total yards 366 157

Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-0

Punts-avg. 1-26.0 4-40.5

Penalties-yards 4-35 2-20

Western Dubuque 21 14 0 0 -- 0

Marion 0 0 0 7 -- 7

WD – Hunter Quagliano 14 pass from Tanner Anderson (Caden Abresch kick)

WD – Ryan Digmann 11 pass from Anderson (Abresch kick)

WD – Brock Carpenter 64 punt return (Abresch kick)

WD – Grant Glausser 6 run (Abresch kick)

WD – Carpenter 60 pass from Anderson (Abresch kick)

MAR – Darius Rouson 11 run (Grayson Kirsch kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Western Dubuque: Glausser 17-98, Tate Weidenbacher 8-13, Bradley Brosius 2-4, T.J. Cook 1-2. Marion: Rouson 5-44, Kaleb Diers 7-31, Klayton Rompot 6-30, Hunter Horak 5-19, Logan Tilkes 2-8, Trey Franck 2-3, Team 2-(-17).

PASSING – Western Dubuque: Anderson 10-11-0-188, Cook 3-4-0-61. Marion: Diers 4-15-1-39.

RECEIVING – Western Dubuque: Carpenter 3-82, Brandon Decker 4-65, Quagliano 2-30, Sam Krapfl 1-23, Tanis Willenbring 1-22, Glausser 1-16, Digmann 1-11. Marion: Kaiden Griffith 3-34, Rouson 1-5.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com