By John Beck
Head football coach
We have a great balance of older and younger guys on this year’s football team. Having 33 on the team allows for some great competition. WIth that many young guys I have seen some good leadership from my upperclassmen in guiding them through the highs and lows of camp.
Starting with the older guys: We return a lot of talent and experience.
Offensive Line: Braxton Plants brings back a year of experience, and he’s a guy that knows how to compete at the highest level!
Both Isaac Wedgewood and Blake Smith got quality reps last year, and both have looked great so far.
Beau Young is our clear next guy in up front.
Evan Haughey and Talen Holland both had a very nice summer and will provide quality depth.
Backfield: That line will be protecting and blocking for two guys who have produced well for us in Brady Boulton and Broox Stockman. Both are speedy and powerful young men.
Brady has two years of experience behind center and has been one of the best decision makers in the state throughout that time.
Broox had a breakout year this past season and looks to build off of that.
Dane Strong is the clear thunder to Broox’ lightning, as we will look to continue our process of rotating backs.
Willie Walters provides a solid 3 option with some really nice speed!
Receivers: Luke Erselius has taken over the tight end spot and has excelled there. He is progressing nicely learning blocking techniques.
Easton Hudnut provides some solid depth behind him. Luke Brennan, Dane Strong, Rett Pargeon, and Ethan DesRochers all have been repping our reciever spots.
Brennan has shown some great route running ability. He provides some flexibility as he can rep multiple positions out there.
Quarterbacks: Gavin Wilcox and Rett Pargeon have split time backing up Brady at the quarterback spot and both have done a great job helping and learning from each other.
Defensively: Again up front we bring back some soild production.
Braxton was an all-district player there. Wedgewood and Smith both rotated in and are looking good. Young, Haughey and Holland will all get some solid time as we will rotate those guys frequently.
We return two starters at linebacker with Stockman and Erselius. Erselius will take over the “Mike” spot which will allow Stockman to play his natural OLB position.
Dane Strong has looked nice filling in the other OLB spot with Rett Pargeon and DesRochers both getting quality reps and pushing for time.
Willie Walters has been solid, learning the Mike spot showing that he will be ready when his number is called.
Brennan, Boulton, Pargeon, Wilcox and Wes Ross all have taken reps in the defensive backfield. Brennan and Boulton both are returning starters, both coming up big last year in coverage.
Our young guys have done a very nice job of learning and progressing so far. Bringing in 13 freshmen is very exciting and great for the program!
Erselius and Strong look to take on kicking duties this year as Alexson Becerril moved out of the district.
District Outlook: Our schedule and district look tough. In our non-district games both teams will be competing to win their respective districts, meanwhile our district will be a challenge.
It will be a very competitive district having 3 playoff teams from last year and a Baxter team that has been a perennial playoff team.
I look for Wayne, Southeast Warren, Baxter and ourselves to make a run for the district title. All three of those district showdowns will be on the road.
SEW returns quite a bit and has a very good coaching staff. Coach Rowlands has done a great job year in and year out to make sure that the team is ready to go.
Wayne is interesting as they were class A last year. Looking at film, they appear big, fast, and well coached. That will be an interesting early-season game for sure!
We will end our regular season at Baxter in what in recent years, has turned into a very solid rivalry. While having a new coach this season, they will still be seasoned as they return most of their staff and a handful of impact players. All three of those games will be very impactful on the district race.
The other 3 teams in the district will be interesting as well. Moravia had a new coach last season, and they seemed to be turning in the right direction toward the end of the year. I look for them to challenge the top four teams.
Melcher-Dallas has been improving recently and numbers are going up in the program. They are in their second year with the coach there and I look for them to make significant improvements this year.
Twin Cedars is kind-of a question mark as they have a new coach this year. It will be interesting to seehow they continue to improve as the year progresses.
This will be a fun group to watch and coach this year!