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Getting to Know the 2015 Dowling Catholic Maroons

By Romelle Slaughter

In a perfect world, people would ask for an encore performance and they receive one.

But what type of encore will Dowling Catholic give this year?  After all, they are the two-time defending Class 4A champions. The next question is how will they win their third straight title without the likes of Ryan Boyle, Nick Wilson, and Max Morris?

If you asked the Maroons’ football Tom Wilson, it won’t be easy to replace that amount of talent, but they will fill in with capable players. With 40+ letterwinners, including the only returning starter Michael Zachary who will not be eligible to play until October. Cole Deskin, Michael Palme and Brawntae Wells saw significant game time during the season, the Maroons still have a target on their back as they prepare for the road to the UNI-Dome.

Junior Cole Deskin will take over full-time in the backfield after an 80 carry, 511 yards, 8 touchdowns performance last season and will be expected to be the workhorse on offense. Deskin also turned heads this spring for his work on the track. Kurt Walding and J.T. Brown will compete to replace Ryan Boyle at quarterback. Both Walding and Brown combined for 6-10 passing for 47 total yards last season. That pales in comparison to Ryan Boyle, who racked up 137-221, 18 touchdowns for 1934 yards in his final season as the Maroons’ signal-caller. 

What will Dowling Catholic look like in the post-Ryan Boyle era? (Courtesy: Sports Spotlight)

Cole Scieszinski will fill see more time at receiver. Alec Hemann replaces “Mr. Perfect” Nick McClellan at placekicker.

Ross Otte and Michael Zachary will lead the Maroons’ defense, which will need to replace standouts Max Morris, Nick Wilson, Jo Jo Jok, and Dante Campero.

Dowling Catholic stats

2014 record:

Head Coach: Tom Wilson,

Assistant Coaches: Jim Williams, Grant Bousum, Jay Campbell, Craig McClain, Adam Jack, Andy Pollock, Jeff Motz, Fred Tiernan, Steve Smith, Ryan Van Veen, Luke Bengtson, Aundra Meeks

Returning offensive players with significant time

QB J.T. Brown and Kurt Walding, SR

WR Cole Scieszinski, SR

RB Cole Deskin, SR

Returning defensive starter

LB Michael Zachary

Total Returning Starters: 1

Total Returning Letterwinners: 40+

Offensive Scheme: Spread

Defensive Scheme: 4-2-5

Facts & Info: Former Johnston star Luke Bengston joins the Dowling staff. Bengston returns to the Des Moines area after being on the University of Arkansas staff. The Maroons will strive to be the first Class 4A school to win three straight football titles. Six schools, including Dowling (Bettendorf, Linn-Mar, Iowa City High, Iowa City West, WDM Valley) has won back-to-back titles. Dowllng and Bettendorf has won back-to-back twice since the playoff era began in 1972.

2015 Schedule (district games in bold)

Aug. 28 @ Cedar Rapids Xavier

Sept. 4 vs. Urbandale

Sept. 11 @ Waukee

Sept. 18 vs Valley (at Drake Stadium)

Sept. 25 @ CB Lewis Central 

Oct. 2. @ SC East

Oct. 9 vs. Johnston

Oct. 16 @ DM Roosevelt

Oct. 23 vs. DM North

Riders Swing But Maroons Hold Firm, Score Knockout

Dowling Catholic took every punch the Roosevelt Roughriders gave them. In the end, the Maroons were still standing with a convincing 70-21 win in their regular season home finale at Valley Stadium Friday night.  But, the Maroons had to be tired after racking up 730 yards of offense, 452 on the ground and 279 via the air.

Dowling raced out to a 7-0 lead with a 9 yard touchdown run by Gray Gouchenour, with a little over a minute into the game. After a pair of 3 and outs from both teams, Max Kasap (16-144)would hit paydirt for the first of his three touchdowns from 7 yards out. The Maroons were knocking on the door again with 1:15 left in the first quarter, leading 14-0, when Ryan Boyle fumbled the ball on the Riders’ 1 yard line. Roosevelt’s Logan Hoile picks up the ball and ran it 99 yards for a score. The extra point was blocked.

Boyle (21-25, 279 yards, 1 TD) would make up for the fumble early in the second quarter when he dashed for a 21 yard score, and then tossed a 56 yard strike to Joe Gorsche. Gray Gouchenour would score again to push the Maroons lead to 35-6. Charlie Schulte led the Dowling receiving corp with 10 receptions for 110 yards, and Eric Fardal with 6 catches for 98 yards.

Martavian Hall’s 1 yard touchdown plunge cut the lead to 35-14 for the Roughriders (3-5). Max Kasap’s second score would make it a 42-14 halftime lead for the Maroons.

Kasap tacked on his third touchdown of the night with 4:50 left in the third quarter to go up 49-14. Roosevelt would score once more when quarterback Mikal Settles finding receiver Blake Obe for a 69 yard touchdown pass.

Dowling would have their reserves in for most of the third and all of the fourth quarters. Danny Denkinger, Kurt Walding, and Christian Cavan would score three more touchdowns for the Maroons, who are ranked #1 in Class 4A Sports Spotlight poll.

Maroons coach Tom Wilson was excited to see the younger players get onto the field in the second half and play well.

DCHS finishes the regular season on the road next week at Des Moines North, who lost to Sioux City East, 63-2. Then they’ll await playoff pairings. Roosevelt will host Lewis Central, who rallied late to defeat Johnston,  31-28, Friday night.

Our next video game will feature Valley and DM Lincoln. Valley defeated Ankeny Centennial 28-3, while Lincoln scored a mild upset of Hoover, 49-35.

Week 1 Preview: Cedar Rapids Xavier @ Dowling Catholic

xavier-saints-ia dsm-dowling-ia

They ended 2013 in the UNI-Dome.

They will begin 2014 at Valley Stadium.

And, to add, this will be your Century Link Game of Week here on CISN.

How’s that to kick off Week 1 of the Iowa prep football season?

For Cedar Rapids Xavier, the Saints has a score to settle with the Maroons. Dowling Catholic turned a highly anticipated title game into a rout en route to their second state title in four years. Could Dowling do it again? Many pundits have predicted that this could be Tom Wilson’s best squad…even better than last year’s title team.  Xavier has now dropped down to 3A, and are in a rebuilding mode. Head Coach Duane Schulte expects his seniors to lead and for his juniors to follow suit as they begin the season in West Des Moines.

Who: Cedar Rapids Xavier (0-0) at West Des Moines Dowling Catholic (0-0)

Where: Valley Stadium, West Des Moines

When: Friday, August 29th, 7:30pm kickoff

The Facts: Dowling defeated Xavier in the 2013 Class 4A championship game, 44-13.  The Maroons return All-State QB Ryan Boyle, FS Nick Wilson, and K Nick McClelland, among 30+ letterwinners. Xavier returns three starters, RB/LB Nik Ekland, RB/LB Jay Kortemeyer, and RG/DE Louis Hasley.

Things to watch:

  • How can Xavier stop Iowa recruit Ryan Boyle?
  • How will the Saints respond to their farthest road trip in years?
  • Xavier coach Schulte says stopping the big plays is key to winning.
  • Dowling’s Tom Wilson says this game will be determined at the line of scrimmage.
  • Xavier starts a sophomore QB in Bryan Schulte, but his genetics tell you to not let age determine his effectiveness.
  • Who will be the most “dependable” in the Maroon offense?

Dowling Catholic – Projected Starting Lineups

Off. Backfield: QB Ryan Boyle, TB Isaiah Patton, FB Gray Gochenour, SE Eric Fardal, FL Charlie Schulte

Offensive Line: C Cole Wymore, G Joe Brett and Kevin Vaughn-Carber, T Elijah Swehla and Conner McPhee, TE Ben McNeal

Def. Backfield: FS Nick Wilson, CB Dante Campero and Michael Zachary, Rover Kevin McMurray, WLB Jordan Theis, MLB, Rodney Harris, Bandit Gray Gochenour

Defensive Line: Stud Max Morris, T Ross Carpenter, NG Steven Johnson, Whip Jo Jo Jok,

Special Teams: P/K Nick McLellan, Holder Frankie Mauro, LS Quinn Sonntag, PR Michael Zachary, KR Joe Gorsche

CR Xavier – Projected Lineups

Off. Backfield: QB Bryce Schulte, RB Jay Kortemeyer and Nic Ekland, FL Nick Stark, SE, Joe Welch

Offensive Line: C Ben Fahnle, G Logan Brown (or Sanders Ferring) and Louis Hasley, T Joe Constant and Tim Ottig, TE Noah Clasen

Def. Backfield: LB Jay Kortemeyer Thomas Eckes and Nic Ekland, DB Camden Stovie and Matt Downey, S Dylan Eller and Sean Murphy

Defensive Line: DE Noah Clasen and Louis Hasley, DT Nick Kellen and Mike Maher

Special Teams: K Dallas Klein and Connor Vogl, P Connor Foley

We will have a live blog of the game. Check in to see any story lines develop and stats as they become available.

Paul Yeager, Mark Kenkel and Jim Kirby will have the call of the game. Follow us on Twitter @CISportsNet

We also will have a live blog to keep you updated on other happenings as the nigh progresses.

Our other game on the website will be  Valley at Waukee, and that game will be on the audio cast, with Dar Danielson doing the play-by-play on the Central Iowa Sports Network.

 

The CISN Game of the Week is proudly presented by CenturyLink.

 

 

Getting To Know You: Dowling Catholic Maroons

Dowling Catholic Head Football Coach Tom Wilson address his team before team camp in July, 2014. Image via DCHS Football Facebook Page.

Dowling Catholic Head Football Coach Tom Wilson address his team before team camp in July, 2014. Image via DCHS Football Facebook Page.

What do you do when you win a state championship for the second time in 4 years? As Steely Dan once sung you go back, Jack, do it again.” The target is clearly on the back of the Dowling Catholic Maroons. Winning a state title will do that. Coach Tom Wilson would like to “do it again”, with the help of 1st team All-State quarterback Ryan Boyle (119-187/1,833 yards/21 TD/3 Int./1.332 yards rushing) returning for his senior campaign.

Coming off of a 14-0 campaign in 2013, the Maroons will start the season against the team they defeated for the 4A title: Cedar Rapids Xavier. Along with Boyle, who has committed to Iowa, Elijah Swehla and Cole Wymore will anchor the offense, and reliable Kicker Nick McClellan (8 for 13 in FG for 2013) is back. On the defensive side, a couple of stalwarts in Max Morris and Jo Jo Jok on the defensive line, and Nick Wilson patrolling the defensive backfield at free safety. Both Morris and Wilson have college offers in their pockets as they begin training camp.

Dowling Catholic Stats

2013 Record: 14-0 overall, 5-0 Divison 3

2014 Class & District: Class 4A, District 2
Coach: Tom Wilson, 22 years overall (9 at Dowling Catholic), 182-56 overall (91-17 at Dowling Catholic)

Returning Starters – Offense:
Ryan Boyle, QB, 12, 6-2, 215, 1st team All-State
Elijah Swehla, OL, 12, 6-3, 305
Cole Wymore, OL, 12, 5-9, 205
Nick McLellan, K, 12, 6-2, 170, 3rd team All-State

Returning Starters – Defense:
Max Morris, DL, 12, 6-2, 235, 1st team All-State
Jo Jo Jok DL, 12, 6-2, 235
Nick Wilson, FS, 12, 6-2, 105

Returning Letterwinners: 36 total

Coaching staff (new additions): Ryan Van Veen (WR), RB-Aundra Meeks (RB)

Offense scheme: Spread
Defense scheme: 4-2-5

Interesting stories about the squad, players or upcoming season: Aundra Meeks joins the coaching staff as Running Backs coach. Meeks was the long-time head football coach at Waterloo Columbus Catholic, winning the 2A state title in 2004. Coach Wilson’s concern is replacing many good players, but as customary with the Maroons, they rely on depth at each position and each player to do their job. The Maroons are second to Emmetsburg in playoff appearances overall (36), and are 56-32 overall in the post-season play since the playoffs were instituted in 1972 (4th best record, in all classes).

Team Motto: Team First
Team Goals: State Championship

2014 Schedule: (District games in bold)

Aug. 29 Cedar Rapids Xavier

Sept. 5 @ Urbandale

Sept. 12 Waukee

Sept. 19 @ West Des Moines Valley

Sept. 26 @ Council Bluffs Lewis Central

Oct. 3 Sioux City East

Oct. 10 @ Johnston

Oct. 17 Des Moines Roosevelt

Oct. 24 @ Des Moines Nort