By Coach Cory Haala

Last year: Started 4-0 lost final 5 including playoffs vs. MVL.  Injury bug hit us big the 2^nd half of the year.

Head Coach: Cory Haala

Assistants: Dean Deibele, Joe Hoffmann, Volunteers: Craig Murphy and Brandon Havemeier

Players Lost to Graduation: Marc Gemmill, Nathan McMullen, Mickey Medrano, Tyler Hadley, Brandon Martinez, Santos Jasso, Vicente Medelez, Tony Martinez, Steven Schroepfer, Brandon Eckstein, Alex Rodriguez, Steven Alonzo

Seniors this year:

John Mangen: 3 year starting center will also play LB and DT.  Looking for him to be solid on the OL again and contribute more in his leadership role and on defense.

Jake Trebesch: WR/DE, Jake had 5 sacks on defense last year and really came on as a receiver for us

Tyler Netzke: WR/DE/S Tyler improved tremendously for us last year, expect an expanded role catching the ball this season

Isaac Braun: DB/ WR Expect to see Isaac play DB again this year he started half the games at that position last year also an expanded role as a WR

Tucker Schuster, Leo Montemayor and Justino Alvarez: Started periodically on defense and offense last season, will be expected to play on both sides of the ball at LB and OL for us

Kollin Trebesch: Last year was his first year out for football and he really improved, this year I see him playing all special teams including some LB on defense and RB on offense.

Mario Gomez expected to play DB and special teams

Brady Brazle will see major time on defense namely DE and also on special teams

Matt Schroepfer and Brandon Kral both are newcomers, Brandon will play DB and special teams, look for Schroepfer to make contributions at WR and DB

David Rodriguez should add depth for us at DL and on Special Teams

Alexis Flores could make large contributions for us at LB and on Special teams

 Juniors:

Brandon Polesky started at QB and DB for us last year, Brandon improved tremendously as the season went on we will look to him as our leader on offense

Austin Rusch OL/ DL, Jon Waalkens RB/LB, Juan Montemayor RB/LB made contributions at the varsity level last season and expect all 3 to start

Matt Pulley OL/DL, Donovan Wells OL/DL, Austin Trebesch WR/DB, Sam Hirschboeck OL/DL will all see time on both sides of the ball, Collin Seidl is a newcomer.

 Sophomore:

Matt Berkner is fighting for a LB position on defense and provide depth at RB we have a few other sophomores that have the potential to get time at the varsity level.

What to Expect 

We return 5 guys on the offensive line that contributed or started last season, they are not extremely big but can move. Having Brandon Polesky back at QB provides stability and Leadership. Look for Jake Trebesch, Matt Schroepfer and Tyler Netzke to provide big plays catching the ball for us.  We have a few guys fighting for roles at RB which creates good competition.

We don’t have a standout returning RB right now as we may have in the past, on defense we will have to tackle a little more by committee I don’t know if we will have that 100 tackle guy we have had the last few years but our players are up to the challenge with some good competition for positions right now.  We did a nice job minimizing our turnovers and penalties last year and hope to do that again this season.  We need to find ways to make stops on defensive 3^rd downs and do the little things well especially be better than teams on our special teams.

Teams to Beat 

Obviously with SESM making the state tournament last year they will have some momentum going in to this season but as people talk about the conference most coaches expect a lot of even teams and interesting matchups each week.  I don’t see a lot of blow outs occurring , a lot more close games.  From experience we know that you have to continue to improve throughout the year and stay healthy, in class 1A football you need major contributions from your underclassman and leadership from your seniors and hope everything can come together by playoff time.

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