Dyersville Beckman looks to continue football success

Dyersville Beckman football coach Mark Atwater realized when the program reached a turning point.

The Blazers were preparing for a Week 3 game against rival Cascade in 2020. Atwater was in his third season at the helm for Beckman and decided to turn up the intensity that week of practice.

Players responded and parlayed that effort into a wild, late-game victory. The work resulted in success and became the weekly norm, reaching the state quarterfinals that season.

“They just hadn’t reaped the rewards of that hard work and mental preparedness,” Atwater said. “Ever since that point two years ago, these kids have been aware that this is what it takes to win football games and beat good teams.

“From there, practice is difficult and we need your best effort. Once they can give their all to you, you just start seeing them grow.”

The Blazers captured a district title en route to their fourth state semifinal appearance a year ago and open this season tied for second in The Gazette’s Class 1A preseason rankings. Despite graduating 14 from last year’s 11-1 team, Beckman returns a nucleus of talent with potential for another strong campaign.

“I think the sky is the limit for us,” Beckman senior Michael Dinan said. “We have a lot of weapons on the outer edge and the dogs up front. All behind (quarterback) Cayden Gassmann, I think we can go far.”

The current seniors were sophomores for that defining moment under Atwater. Dinan recalled the shift in approach that led to more focus each day, whether it was full-speed practice early in the week or a walk-through before game day.

“We flipped a switch,” Dinan said. “We practice with a lot of intensity and physicality.”

Beckman returns its leading passer, three of the top four rushers and leaders in receptions and receiving yards and the co-leader in touchdown catches.

Gassmann is back, passing for 1,313 yards and 16 touchdowns, completing 61 percent of his attempts. He also amassed 765 yards and nine scores on the ground. Running back Nick Wulfekuhle added 421 rushing yards and five TDs behind all-stater Brett Burlage and fellow offensive lineman Arturo Venegas.

Padraig Gallagher had a team-high 240 yards on 13 receptions, tying for the lead with four TD catches. Luke Schieltz was best with 17 receptions for 182 yards and a score.

“It will be really similar to last year,” Gassmann said. “I think our physicality and our big boys up front, because we like running the football. We also have some good athletes on the outside, too. I don’t think there are really any holes right now.”

Atwater subscribes to more of a pound-and-pace attack, averaging more than 42 rushes a game last season including 58 times for 341 yards in a win over Camanche and 56 rushes for 400 yards to defeat Monticello.

Personnel may call for more diverse play calling thanks to athletic skill players.

“We’re going to be more dynamic,” Atwater said. “We’re going to spread it out. I’d say we’re one of the more (versatile) teams in 1A football. We use tight ends, we use a fullback and we run some empty and five-wide. I think that puts a strain on things, having to line up to different things.

“I’ll mold to whatever talent we have. If that means we spread it out a little more this year, that’s what we have to do.”

Gassmann is a key component to success on both sides of the ball. He has asserted himself as a leader under center. He was also an all-state defensive back with four interceptions, a fumble recovery, 20.5 tackles, 13 solo and one for loss.

“He’s a great leader for us,” Atwater said. “He goes about his business. The fun thing to watch is guys want to do well for Cayden. You can see it when throwing the ball with those receivers. He’s matured a lot through the last year.

“He puts in the best effort, the best work, and when you have that out of one of your best players that’s really good.”

Gassmann has embraced that role. He said he has to improve in leadership this season after relying on the seniors to provide it a year ago. The mindset is to elevate his teammates to new heights.

“Being a senior quarterback, I get what I’m doing now and feel more comfortable,” Gassmann said. “I can at least help the guys around me and doing that will help make us better.”

Atwater was a hard-nosed two-way player for Linn-Mar, balancing quarterback and linebacker duties. Are there similarities between coach and pupil?

“He’s a little more talented, athletically,” Atwater said with a laugh. “He’s a little shiftier. He’s a little different.”

“I love to hear it,” Gassmann said of Atwater’s assessment. “He was obviously a really good football player. He was a linebacker so he could probably take some more hits than me.”

The Blazers were happy to reach the UNI-Dome but not satisfied with just getting to the semifinals, losing a hard-fought 28-7 decision to eventual state champion Van Meter. The immediate goal is to win the district and then they can set their sights on clearing that semifinal hurdle for the program’s first title game.

“We know what we have to do and we practice hard every day,” Dinan said. “I think it’s just one step forward and we have to keep going.

“When we made the UNI-Dome, it was eye-opening. We saw it as an accomplishment. It builds the expectation for us this year.”