Dowling Maroons Hitting Their Stride in Rebuilding Year

Only five starters returned from the 2010 football team that won the 4A state championship. 

That inexperience showed itself in week one of this season, when the Maroons lost to crosstown rival , 28-21. 

Dowling has since gained valuable experience and the Maroons are now a solid 5-2 on the season, including a 28-16 win over fourth-ranked Ankeny last Friday night.

But even with the recent success, seventh-year head coach Tom Wilson says this team and last year's are much different.

"This year's team doesn't compare to last year's team," Wilson said. "We practically started over this year. Gaining experience is still really important to us.

"We're fortunate we've played in some big games already this year," he said. "Hopefully, before it's all said and done, we can progress and be a pretty good team by the end."

Senior running back Ben Goaley leads the conference in rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns. He says he's happy with the way his team is playing right now. But it's taken some progressing to get where they are now.

"Recently we think we've been, not quite to our full potential, but we think we've been making real good progress, as opposed to the beginning of the year when we thought we weren't playing too well," Goaley said.

Playing particularly well is Dowling's three-headed offensive monster of Goaley, quarterback Dan Hartlieb and receiver Amara Darboh. Like Goaley, Hartlieb leads the conference in passing yards, and Darboh in receiving yards.

Early in the Southeast Polk game on Sept. 23, Darboh dislocated his shoulder, and hasn't played since.

Wilson says he expects the Division 1 recruit to be back before the season ends. 

"He's in my opinion – I might be a little biased – the best player in the state of Iowa," Wilson said. "I think we'll get him back sometime soon and I think our team will evolve and become much better when he returns."

There isn't much time left for the star receiver to get back to action. Only two games remain in the regular season, both are Cental Conference opponents; Johnston and Indianola.

"I think the big thing for us is the conference race," said Wilson. "And we got ourselves back into it by beating Ankeny, and it's something we take a lot of pride in."

Goaley says it's not just conference but more that he thinks his Maroons can attain.

"The sky is the limit with us," said Goaley. "As long as we put our mind to it, we can acheive a lot."

The Maroons will be at home tonight against Johnston (4-2).