The old cliché about having two quarterbacks doesn’t always ring true. For Western Dubuque, it’s a luxury. The Bobcats enter the 2024 season with two varsity quarterbacks on the roster who have led the team to a playoff berth.
Brett Harris was the team’s starter as a freshman in 2022 and led WD to its first playoff appearance since winning the Iowa Class 4A state championship in 2019. But he missed the following year after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Tanner Anderson stepped in last year and led the Bobcats to the District 2 championship and a state runner-up finish.
Now they’re hoping for déjà vu. The last time Western Dubuque finished as state runner-up, it won the title the next season. Here is a capsule look at the Bobcats this season: Coach — Justin Penner (11th season, 117-82) Last year — 11-2 (5-0); Class 4A state runner-up Returning starters — Caden Culbertson (Sr.
, 6-4, 205, LB); David Theisen (Sr., 6-0, 195, LB); Drew Burds (Sr., 6-0, 195, DB); Garrett Kluesner (Sr.
, 6-2, 235, OL/DL); Zander Ehlers (Sr., 6-1, 170, DB); Ben Wernimont (Sr., 5-10, 165, DB); Leo Clemens (Sr.
, 6-2, 195, DB); John Lemke (Sr., 6-0, 250, OL); Tanner Anderson (Sr., 6-3, 180, QB); Brett Harris (Jr.
, 6-1, 190, QB) Other returning veterans — Mason Ruden (Sr., 6-3, 240, OL/DL); Justin Kurt (Sr., 6-2, 213, TE); Tanis Willenbring (Sr.
, 6-0, 180, TE) Promising newcomers — Charlie Ernzen (Jr., OL); Bradley Brosius (Jr., RB/DB); Alex Gassman (Jr.
, LB/OL); Drew Horsfall (Jr., OL); Owen Habel (Jr., WR); Brady Shekleton (Jr.
, WR/DB); Chase Brunscheen (Jr., RB/LB) Alumni competing in college — Ben Bryant (Wartburg), Will Conlan (Wartburg), Drake George (Wartburg), Owen Hatcher (Wartburg), Dakota Lau (Wartburg), Brock Carpenter (Northern Iowa), Grant Glausser (Iowa), Caden Abresch (Coe), Caiden Wohlers (Coe) Outlook — Having two quarterbacks is nice, but the Bobcats have a gaping hole to fill in their offense from last season with the graduation of Glausser — who broke every program rushing record in the book, posted the sixth-highest single-season rushing total in Iowa 11-player history with 2,909 yards and set the Class 4A championship game record with 263 rushing yards. There will be experience running the offense no matter who Penner turns to.
Anderson threw for 1,650 yards with 21 touchdowns and six interceptions over 13 games last season. Harris threw for 1,257 yards with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions over 10 games in 2022. There will be new targets on the end of those throws, though, as the returning receiving corps had just four combined catches last year.
The offensive line returns two starters, including an all-state selection in Kluesner, and the defense has seven starters back for their senior seasons. Schedule — Aug. 30: WEST DELAWARE; Sept.
6: at Dubuque Wahlert; Sept. 13: CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER; Sept. 20: at North Scott; Sept.
27: at Waverly-Shell Rock; Oct. 4: MARION; Oct. 11: at Waterloo East; Oct.
18: at Decorah; Oct. 25: MASON CITY.
