Bulldogs will lean on experience against stacked schedule

By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

Strong numbers—and most importantly a core of multi-year starters—will help the MFL MarMac football team compete for a playoff spot in what head coach Dan Anderson argues is the toughest district in Class 1A.

The Bulldogs boast 51 players this season, including 13 seniors, many of whom have experienced a string of football success since their youth days.

“I always say the strength of your team is the strength of your seniors, and we have a really good senior class. A lot were starters last year and starters the year before that. There’s a lot of experience there,” Anderson shared.

MFL MarMac is especially stacked on defense, returning eight starters from a team that last season led the whole state in sacks. That includes senior inside linebacker Kade McElwaine, whose 108.5 tackles broke a school record and were second most in the state a year ago. He also collected school records for tackles in a game and tackles for loss in a game.

Another school record-breaker, senior Wyatt Powell, will join McElwaine as outside linebacker. Powell moves from the strong to the weak side this year to play a larger role in pass coverage.

After exiting last season early with an injury, senior nose guard Tristen Koehn is also back healthy and stronger than ever, according to Anderson.

“It’s great to have a four-year starter at nose guard, because when you run an odd front defense like us, it starts right at nose guard and you work out from there,” Anderson said.

A trio of juniors—Quinn McGeough at strong safety, Averey Thornton at defensive end and Brayden Gordon at outside linebacker—will slot into the only defensive starting positions lost to graduation.

“You’ve got three juniors, and the rest are all going to be seniors,” Anderson said. “You look back a few years ago and see some sophomores and even a few freshmen sprinkled in there in the offense and defense—those are all here. They’ve matured, they’re still hungry, they’ve worked hard. They’re confident and physical. Hard to find too many weak spots on the defense...This is a year that could be special.”

Offensively, the Bulldogs graduated three interior lineman, but Anderson is confident sophomore Will Howes can step in at center, Thornton at power guard and Gordon at quick guard thanks to their offseason growth.

Junior Austin Schoulte and senior Bryce Diehl, both three-year starters, return at tackle. McElwaine and senior Cayl Anderson will play tight end.

“The puzzle pieces are there. Once that offensive line becomes cohesive, they’re going to be a good one,” Anderson said.

And most importantly, he added, there is depth at these and other positions. 

“We’re two-deep at every position on offense and defense, and they’re all getting reps if something would happen,” Anderson explained.

There’s especially depth in MFL MarMac’s offensive weaponry, where Powell returns as running back. He racked up over 1,000 yards last season and was second in the state in yards per carry.

“He’s a good tailback, good leader, fast, good vision. I think he’ll be one of the best tailbacks in the state of Iowa, maybe in any class,” Anderson said.

Senior Bryce Radloff and juniors Brock Hackett and Carter Stoddard will all see time at wing back. Each has their own skill set, according to Anderson. Radloff is shifty and has good hands. Hackett, too, has good hands as well as physicality, while Stoddard is quick.

McGeough and Koehn will trade off at fullback.

“Quinn is ready. He’s smart, a hard worker, always knows what’s going on,” Anderson said. “Tristen is super physical, he’s quick and runs hard.”

The fullback from a year ago, senior Carver Blietz-Bentien, returns to the quarterback position. His arm, said Anderson, is as strong as any he’s seen at MFL MarMac.

“A flick of the wrist and he can throw it 60 yards down field,” the coach shared.

Senior Brandon Christofferson will be his prime target. Another senior, Elias Hatt, will serve as a receiver but can also step in as quarterback, if needed.

“Brandon is a big, strong receiver, and we’re trying to figure out ways to get him the ball even more,” said Anderson, particularly as the team’s experience allows he and the other coaches to expand the passing game.

Compared to this time last year, Anderson said the Bulldogs are ahead of schedule, “so I can add more in, both offensively and defensively. I think you’ll see new wrinkles this year on both sides of the ball. We’ll be able to install more things, more fronts, more formations, more shifts.”

Anderson acknowledged MFL MarMac will need this and more against a schedule that includes seven straight playoff teams. This includes Class 2A quarterfinalist Crestwood opening night, on Friday, Aug. 25, then Waukon week two and New Hampton week three. That’s all before hitting district play, where the Bulldogs will see the likes of Dike-New Hartford, Aplington-Parkersburg, Denver and Sumner-Fredericksburg. Central Springs, while not a bad team, might be the lone weaker spot.

“We wanted a tough schedule and that’s what we got,” Anderson said. “I don’t know if anyone can argue that District 3 is the toughest 1A district in Iowa from top to bottom. There are five really good football teams that probably deserve to make the playoffs. Someone is going to be sitting home who’s a really good football team.”

Fresh off its fourth straight postseason quarterfinal appearance, MFL MarMac is ready for the challenge, though. By controlling what they can control, mitigating unnecessary risks, making good choices, sleeping and eating well and remaining unselfish, the Bulldogs’ goal is to win a district title and make the playoffs, Anderson said.

“They’ve worked hard, ever since last year. They didn’t take any time off in the offseason. They got right back in the weight room,” he reflected. “They have high expectations and really big goals. We believe we can get there.”