Iowa high school football rewind: Western Dubuque off to big start, especially offensively

CEDAR RAPIDS — They’re good, which they and others expected them to be.

Western Dubuque’s Bobcats won their second straight game to begin the 2023 season Friday night, 35-14, over Dubuque Wahlert. Make that their second straight game in comfortable fashion to begin the 2023 season.

Western Dubuque had a 35-0 lead after three quarters. It shellacked West Delaware last week in its opener, 61-27.

The Bobcats are ranked sixth by The Gazette in Class 4A.

“We played OK,” said Western Dubuque Coach Justin Penner. “We left a couple of scores on the board that we should have converted on. But we got a lot of kids in there to play, which is great.”

Running back Grant Glausser has been the go-to guy offensively early for WD. The senior has 436 yards rushing and five touchdowns in two games, and has another two TDs receiving.

“I thought coming into the season that our offensive line was going to be a strength for us and loved where they were at, in terms of their commitment to our football team,” Penner said. “Then I really liked out defensive experience as well. We had a lot of valuable, experienced guys coming back. That has proven true.

“Grant has been able to do his thing and run the football. I think that’s just because our offensive line is who they are. We’ve got a great couple of tight ends as well. We were a little rough on first down (two weeks) ago against West Delaware but big on big plays. Tonight we had some big plays, too, but we were a little more successful on first down. We’ve just got to sharpen up on some red-zone stuff. But we’re coming along, I guess, slowly but surely.”

Western Dubuque has gone with junior Tanner Anderson at quarterback, and he’s been terrific, completing 25 of 38 passes for 407 yards and six touchdowns, with no interceptions. He has taken over for intended starter Brett Harris, a sophomore who Penner said is out with an injury.

Offensively thus far, incorporating a new QB hasn’t been a problem for the Bobcats.

“We’ve been jelling as a football team,” Penner said. “We just realized that (Harris) was going to be banged up for a little bit here, I don’t know, a few weeks ago. Really pleased with our depth and pleased that those guys could step in. We love our kids, man.

“We’re pleased with the way Tanner is playing. You know what, (backup) T.J. Cook is a fine quarterback as well. He has certainly been a great competitor for us, and there’s also a lot about his game that we like as well.”

Western Dubuque plays this coming week at top-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier, which won’t be top ranked after losing Friday night to Williamsburg. Then No. 4 North Scott and Waverly-Shell Rock at home.

That’s a really tough top half of a schedule.

“I thought coming into the season that our offensive line was going to be a strength for us and love where they were at, in terms of their commitment to our football team,” Penner said. “Then I really liked out defensive experience as well. We had a lot of valuable, experienced guys coming back. That has proven true.”

This and that

• Pleasant Valley scored on a 2-point conversion following a touchdown in double overtime to beat Class 5A eighth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 36-35, at PV.

The Spartans (1-1) had a 14-0 lead at halftime and was up late in the game, 28-14, only to have Kennedy (0-2) score twice in the final four minutes to tie it. Kennedy had a field-goal attempt to win it blocked in the first overtime.

Kennedy scored a touchdown and kicked the extra point to begin the second OT. Quarterback Vinny Gianforte threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns in the game for the Cougars.

• Starmont went to 2-0 with a 53-0 win over Clayton Ridge. The Stars led at halftime, 39-0. Starmont won just one game last season.

• Independence linebacker Tate Wood had a whopping 22 tackles in his team’s 39-13 win over Crestwood. Independence recorded all 22 as solo, including one for a loss.

• Cedar Falls picked up a huge win for the eastern side of the state in 5A by beating third-ranked Johnston, 35-21. Drew Gerdes and William Remmert each surpassed 100 yards rushing in the game and had two touchdowns apiece.

Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com