The August heat beat down on the practice field as the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Bulldogs football team lined up for one of its signature preseason traditions: “The Gauntlet.”
After early warmups, knee-highs, and wind sprints, players took turns sprinting through a 40-yard dash, greeted at the finish line by a cheering pack of teammates. From tailbacks and wideouts to heavy-handed linemen, the Bulldogs tore down the runway with noticeable pop and speed.
It was a clear statement to open fall camp for the upcoming 2026 season: JWP may have graduated one of the most prolific offensive tandems in school history—Daulton Bauer & Caleb Quast—but the program’s engine is running as fast and focused as ever.
Coming off a solid 5-5 campaign that featured high-scoring highlights and a playoff victory, fourth-year head coach Ryan Luedtke and his staff enter the season with a clear objective—building on that momentum and turning hard-earned experience into a sustained winning culture. “Our seniors have done a great job stepping up and leading by example,” Luedtke noted during camp. “First practices have gone really well—lots of focus and intensity. The young players are keeping up with the vets, and we’re always looking to put the best team on the field.”
Filling Historic Shoes
To maintain that upward trajectory, the Bulldogs must replace several of the most decorated players in JWP program history:
- Daulton Bauer (Co-Offensive Player of the Year): The program’s all-time leading passer finished his career with 4,168 passing yards, 47 touchdowns, and a 59% completion rate. His senior campaign included 1,501 passing yards and 20 touchdowns.
- Caleb Quast (Co-Offensive Player of the Year): Bauer’s primary target set school marks across the board, graduating second in career receiving yards (1,311) and catches (77), while holding the single-game receiving record with a 211-yard performance.
- Chase Gerdts (Defensive Player of the Year & MVP): A defensive anchor who racked up 128 tackles last fall—the fourth-highest single-season mark in school history.
Losing over 800 yards of receiving, 20 passing touchdowns, and nearly 130 tackles in a single offseason presents an obvious challenge, but JWP isn’t dwelling on the past.
The Dahlberg Era Begins
Stepping into the spotlight at quarterback is senior Seth Dahlberg. Having spent three seasons waiting patiently behind Bauer, Dahlberg has absorbed the playbook inside and out. Now, the Bulldog offense belongs to him.
During practice, Dahlberg looked exceptionally comfortable in the pocket. Working through route trees with WR/DB Coach Brandon Goebel, the QB flashed zip on curls and flats, along with precision on deep post routes. During 7-on-7 drills, Dahlberg repeatedly threw receivers open and delivered crisp passes on rollout reads. If early drills are any indicator, the phrase “Dahlberg Dimes” could become a regular feature in Friday night headlines.
“Seth has waited three years to get his chance under center,” said Coach Luedtke. “He’s patiently waited for his opportunity to lead the team during his senior year, and has a great understanding of what we want to do.”
Dahlberg will have a versatile group of perimeter weapons stepping into prominent roles, including Gavin Weedman, Gavin Bauer, Jett Sturdivant, Parker Gearierty, and Jaxon Wolff, who is making a welcome return from injury. In the backfield, running back coach Sam Schruin worked a quick group of ball-carriers through agility drills and first-step breaks, where Tyson Kronbach demonstrated explosive speed and quickness—even taking reps in creative multi-lateral trick packages designed to catch defenses off guard.
Anchored by the Trenches
While the skill positions reload, JWP boasts a major luxury upfront: an experienced, veteran offensive line returning entirely intact.
Seniors Quinn Anderson, James Schoenrock, Yale Johnson, Aidan Rider, and Tyson Johnson form a physically imposing front five that should allow the Bulldogs to dictate terms at the line of scrimmage.
That battle in the trenches was a focal point during practice. Defensive coach Adam Roesler and HC Luedtke drilled linemen on stance and initial push off the snap—even utilizing basketballs in a unique hands-on drill where defenders attempted to maintain leverage and keep the ball-carrier in front of them while offensive linemen worked to evade and sustain blocks.
“We will be physically strong on the offensive and defensive line,” Luedtke said. “I’m hoping that helps our ability to run the football and lead a balanced attack. We want to get the ball in space to our skill positions, but it starts with consistency on both the run and the pass.”
Evolving Defense & Section Outlook
Defensively, JWP is shifting its scheme from traditional zone principles into more match coverage, relying on athletic DBs like Weedman and G. Bauer to lock down receivers downfield. Up front, Trenton Huber and Y. Johnson lead a defensive line tasked with generating immediate pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
During practice station work, players focused heavily on fundamental wrap-and-roll tackling techniques before linebackers transitioned to gap-awareness, strafing, and reflex drills, while defensive linemen honed their swim and spin moves to disrupt play calls.
Staying sound defensively will be critical in Section 2AA and the Mid South Sub District Silver. The section remains stacked with talented programs, including state entrant Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (WEM), along with perennial contenders Maple River, Blooming Prairie/Hayfield, and Blue Earth Area.
“Like other years, we will have to stop the run defensively, especially if we want to compete in our section,” Luedtke emphasized. “We need to stay healthy and keep our starters on the field. If we execute every week and carry over the athletic success our school had across all sports last year, we will put ourselves in a great position to compete every single Friday.”
With 13 Bulldogs seniors leading a hungry, physical, and disciplined roster, JWP Football is ready to prove that their momentum from last season is just the beginning.
