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Sports

2012-08-29 15:12:25

2012 Crawford county football preview

2012 Crawford County Football Preview

Southeast Lancers In his first year as a head coach, Southeast’s Clint Rider had a chance to gain experience and learn from his mistakes. Likewise, Rider returns a slew of players who earned valuable experience last season. The Lancers welcome 14 seniors, and all 11 starters on each side of the ball are back. “The experience factor carrying over from last year will be a huge benefit,” Southeast head coach Clint Rider said. “Having a better understanding of our new schemes implemented last season will allow us to progress to a more competitive level throughout the summer and into the season. A talented class of incoming freshmen will also allow for more competition during practices.” Not that there isn’t plenty of work to be done. Southeast finished just 1-8 a year ago and was picked to finish seventh in the 2012 ESPN 99.1 Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League Coaches Poll. Plus, the Lancers will have a difficult schedule, opening on the road against CNC League newcomer Columbus on Aug. 30. Senior Josh Thompson is slated to direct Rider’s pistol offense at quarterback. Thompson will have a lot of familiar targets at his disposal with Daniel Peak, Ryan Rakestraw and Avi Sharma at wide receiver and Jason Reed at tight end. Peak earned All-State honorable mention last season. Senior Quinton Tyree returns at running back, while Justin Galloway, Bryce Blockburger, Bryan Horgan, Dakota Westervelt and Cameron Clark are poised to man the offensive line. Galloway, Riley Ulery, Colton Charlton and Brian Thompson return to the defensive line, while Rakestraw, Reed and Horgan lead the corps of linebackers. Peak, Sharma, Tyree and Caleb Biancarelli are expected to lead the secondary. 2012 regular season prediction: 3-6 Southeast Lancers 2012 schedule Aug. 30 at Columbus Sept. 7 FRONTENAC Sept. 14 at Baxter Springs Sept. 21 GIRARD Sept. 28 at Oswego Oct. 5 at Erie Oct. 12 RIVERTON Oct. 19 at Galena Oct. 25 COLGAN Northeast Vikings It has been a difficult road for the Northeast Vikings in recent years. The Vikings football team enters the 2012 season on an 18-game losing streak and Phil Hobbs owns a 1-35 record in four years as Northeast’s head coach. However, Hobbs and the Vikings believe they can start to turn the team in the right direction. Northeast moves down to Class 2-1A this season. The Vikings were predicted to finish third in the three-team Three Rivers League, according to the ESPN 99.1 league coaches poll. “We want to take each game one at a time, work hard be competitive every night,” Northeast head coach Phil Hobbs said. “We want to be mentally and physically tougher than our opponents. We want to improve our execution offensively and finish plays defensively.” There were big holes in the defense last season as the Vikings allowed 46.7 points per game. However, the offense began to show signs of life under the direction of J.T. Richardson at quarterback. Richardson returns several weapons as well with fullback Antonio Slingluff, running back Killian Willard, wide receivers Nick Younge and Sam Brooks and linemen Dakota Gesslein, Joey McDowell and Mike Beasley. Those same players are expected to play big roles on defense. 2012 regular season prediction: 1-8 Northeast Vikings 2012 schedule Aug. 31 at Humboldt Sept. 7 FREDONIA Sept. 14 at Eureka Sept. 21 at Galena Sept. 28 JAYHAWK-LINN Oct. 5 LEON-BLUESTEM Oct. 12 at Olpe Oct. 19 LYNDON Oct. 26 at Oswego Frontenac Raiders As difficult as it may be, Frontenac Raiders head coach Mark Smith knows he can’t look ahead to his Week 4 battle on Sept. 21st against the St. Mary’s-Colgan Panthers. You see, Mark Smith was an All-State quarterback for Colgan in the early 2000s, helping the Panthers to a 54-0 record and four consecutive state championships during his high school career. Not only that, but Colgan is coached by Mark’s father, Chuck Smith. Still, Mark knows he can’t afford to look ahead. The Raiders have a difficult schedule and move up to Class 4A this season. “I’m looking forward to playing against Colgan and my Dad in Week 4,” the first-year head coach said. “The atmosphere will be exceptional that night, and we are very fortunate to have that game televised across the state of Kansas. I am most excited for the kids to show how hard they have worked and how good of a team they can be. We have three very important games before that, so our main focus right now is preparing to face Riverton on Aug. 31.” The goal for Mark Smith is to return the Raiders to their glory days and rekindle the rival with Colgan. Once one of the state’s best rivalries, the series is now lopsided as the Raiders haven’t beat Colgan since 1997. To put that in perspective, Mark Smith was a sixth-grader at St. Mary’s Elementary School at the time. Mark Smith appears to have the firepower to return as a power. The Raiders finished 5-5 a year ago and were picked to finish fifth in the CNC League. Frontenac has eight starters returning on offense and seven on defense, including All-State running back Bryce Burdette and All-State lineman Kylor McCartney. Quarterback Devon Keith, running back Ross Edge, wide receiver Tanner Craig, tight ends Taylor Johnson, Brett Macary and Nick Zafuta, and linemen Cody Lindbloom, John Murray and Garrett Tackett are among Frontenac’s key returners. “We have about 60 players, and that’s a blessing,” Mark Smith said during the ESPN 99.1 CNC coaches luncheon. “That creates a lot of competition. We’ll have a lot of senior leadership. We have 18 seniors out. Not all of them played last year, but any time you have that many seniors, it’s a good thing.” 2012 regular season prediction: 5-4 Frontenac Raiders 2012 Schedule Aug. 31 at Riverton Sept. 7 at Southeast Sept. 14 GALENA Sept. 21 at St. Mary’s-Colgan Sept. 28 ERIE Oct. 5 BAXTER SPRINGS Oct. 12 PARSONS Oct. 19 at Independence Oct. 25 GIRARD Girard Trojans The Girard Trojans return eight starters on each side of the ball from a team that missed the playoffs by the narrowest of margins a year ago. Girard was edged out of the Class 4A playoffs because of a one-point loss to the Independence Bulldogs. However, Girard head coach Leon Miller said his players seem committed to improving on last year’s 5-4 record. “We had a steady summer,” Miller said at the ESPN 99.1 CNC League coaches luncheon. “We didn’t have a lot of lows and highs. Our kids are committed. They’re starting to understand commitment. They like the weight room.” The Trojans enter with some expectations as they were picked by the coaches to finish second in the CNC. Girard returns running backs Anthony Scholes (6-0, 180, Sr.) and Nick George (5-10, 175, Sr.), as well as offensive linemen Jalen Merrell (6-0, 215, Sr.), Logan Franklin (6-0, 180, Sr.), Kevin Rowe (6-0, 175, Jr.) and Devin Vail (5-10, 210, Jr.). Scholes earned All-State honorable mention last season. Braden Johnson (5-9, 155) is expected to start at quarterback. Defensively, the Trojans return Nick George, Nate George (5-10, 175) and Tyler Gray (6-1, 170, Sr.) as linebackers, and Merrell, Franklin, Rowe and Vail to the defensive line. Girard opens the season Aug. 31 at home against Caney Valley. The Trojans will get to play four of their first five games at home. “If you go out to the stadium, it’s the same old stadium but we’ve got a new coat of paint on everything and the goal posts are a nice gold,” Miller said. “Everything is looking real good. The kids are seeing this and saying, ‘this looks good. We want to show up and make sure we play good, too.’” 2012 regular season prediction: 5-4 Girard Trojans 2012 schedule Aug. 31 CANEY VALLEY Sept. 7 RIVERTON Sept. 14 COLUMBUS Sept. 21 at Southeast Sept. 28 ST. MARY’S-COLGAN Oct. 5 at Galena Oct. 12 INDEPENDENCE Oct. 19 at Parsons Oct. 25 at Frontenac St. Mary’s-Colgan Panthers St. Mary’s-Colgan head football coach Chuck Smith was a little surprised to see his Panthers squad picked first in the 2012 ESPN 99.1 Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League Coaches Poll. Sure, the Panthers have had one of the state’s most successful programs in the past 15 years by advancing to the Class 2-1A state championship nine times and winning four of them. However, Smith returns a squad with little starting experience, and the Panthers will be moving up to Class 3A for the first time in the school’s history. “We have one starter back on offense, and he was hurt all summer,” Smith said during the CNC coaches luncheon. “We have zero back on defense. I’m kind of surprised we’re picked so high.” Colgan graduated 20 seniors from last year’s 11-1 team that advanced to the state semifinals. Among those 20 graduated seniors are All-State running backs and linebackers Zach and Christian Smith and All-State kicker Austin Barone. The Smith brothers signed on to continue their football careers at Princeton. The Panthers return only one full-time starter in offensive tackle Tyler Commons (6-2, 195, Sr.) and three part-time starters in slotback Nate Grimaldi, fullback V.J. Piccini and offensive guard David Misasi. “Our defense will have to play really well,” Smith said. “I was looking back at some of the scores from one of the old Colgan state championship teams in the 1970s, and there were a lot of 7-6 and 13-12 games. We’re going to have to win a lot of games like that.” 2012 regular season prediction: 8-1 Colgan Panthers 2012 schedule Aug. 31 at Erie Sept. 7 at Baxter Springs Sept. 13 ANDERSON COUNTY Sept. 21 FRONTENAC Sept. 28 at Girard Oct. 5 COLUMBUS Oct. 12 at Galena Oct. 19 RIVERTON Oct. 25 at Southeast Pittsburg Purple Dragons The reigning Southeast Kansas League champion Pittsburg Purple Dragons have a good opportunity to repeat that honor in 2012. The Dragons were predicted to win the league again in the 2012 ESPN 99.1 SEK Coaches Poll. Coming off a 6-3 season in 2011, Pittsburg returns five starters on each side of the ball. “The goals for this year are the same as last year,” Pittsburg head coach Tom Nickelson said. “To improve every day at practice and to give nothing but our absolute best effort on every repetition, every drill and every play. If we are able to do that, everything else will take care of itself.” However, the Dragons will have some adjustments to make. Spencer Bernhardt, who started last season at wide receiver, is projected as the team’s quarterback. Senior Anthony McNeely returns at fullback, while seniors Skylar McGuire (6-2, 225), Dakota Taylor (6-3, 255) and Chris Huyett (6-2, 215) provide size and experience on the offensive line. On defense, Pittsburg returns a strong corps of linebackers with seniors McNeely, Nick Vacca and Zack Woods, and sophomore Alex Barnes. Bernhardt returns at defensive back. While the Dragons hope to repeat as SEK champs, they also hope to get back to the Class 5A playoffs. Despite having good teams, Pittsburg has been blocked in recent years as it played in one of the most competitive districts in the state. Things should get a little easier for the Dragons in 2012, however. Gardner-Edgerton moved to 6A, and St. Thomas Aquinas is in a new district. Pittsburg’s district for the next two seasons will include Blue Valley-Stilwell, Blue Valley West and Blue Valley Southwest. 2012 regular season prediction: 7-2 Pittsburg Purple Dragons 2012 schedule Aug. 31 LABETTE COUNTY Sept. 7 at Independence Sept. 14 FORT SCOTT Sept. 21 at Chanute Sept. 28 PARSONS Oct. 5 at Coffeyville Oct. 12 BLUE VALLEY WEST Oct. 19 at Blue Valley Oct. 26 at Blue Valley Southwest Pittsburg State Gorillas The Pittsburg State Gorillas know there will be large target on their back. That goes with the territory when you are the defending NCAA Division II national champions and the preseason favorite to win the MIAA. However, Pitt State head coach Tim Beck knows that last season and preseason predictions won’t help the Gorillas reach their goals in 2012. “We really don’t put any stock into it all,” Beck said. “It’s an honor to be picked No. 1, but the bottom line is we saw what happened last year – the team that was picked fifth ended up winning it all. It’s not a big deal. It’s something for people to talk about, but it has absolutely no impact on the season.” More importantly, the Gorillas return six players on each side of the ball who started at least five games during last year’s 13-1 championship season. Pitt State’s defense was led by one of the best linebackers in the country in Nate Dreiling (6-4, 229). The Hutchinson High School product enters his junior season as a two-time All-American. He recorded 139 tackles, three sacks and seven interceptions as a sophomore. Senior defensive end Gus Toca (6-3, 250) also earned All-America recognition with 57 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 11 sacks last season. The Pitt State secondary will be led by safeties Chas Smith and Jason Peete and cornerback Aries Herrion. Smith (5-9, 186) earned All-MIAA honors last year with 30 tackles and four interceptions in only six games. Peete (6-3, 190) had 55 tackles and three interceptions, while Herrion (5-10, 172) recorded 44 tackles and six pass breakups. Offensively, Pitt State will have a big void after the graduation of quarterback Zac Dickey. However, Beck said he believes Anthony Abenoja is up to the challenge of taking over under center. “Anthony has waited his turn and now is ready to lead our football team,” Beck said. “Anthony had a tremendous spring. He works hard, spends a great deal of time in film study. We feel good about how he will handle our offense.” Abenoja’s job will be made easier by having one of the most exciting receiver in Division II at his disposal in John Brown (5-11, 171). Brown caught 61 balls for 1,216 yards and 12 TDs last season. He also had three rushing touchdowns and three on punt and kick returns. Regular season record prediction: 9-1 Pittsburg State Gorillas 2012 schedule Aug. 30 at Northeastern State Sept. 8 CENTRAL OKLAHOMA Sept. 15 at Southwest Baptist Sept. 22 LINCOLN Oct. 6 CENTRAL MISSOURI Oct. 13 vs. NW Missouri (at Kansas City, Mo.) Oct. 20 MISSOURI WESTERN Oct. 27 at Truman Nov. 3 LINDENWOOD Nov. 10 at Missouri Southern