2019 IN|All Sports Football Preview by KPC Media Group

Table of contents

Previews

Bonus content

Angola ................................................ 2 Rivalry match-ups .........................16 Central Noble ................................... 4 Remaining NE8 schedules .........26 Churubusco....................................... 6 Remaining NECC schedule ........28 DeKalb ............................................... 8 East Noble.......................................10 Eastside ...........................................12 Fremont ...........................................14 Garrett ..............................................18 Lakeland ..........................................20 Prairie Heights ...............................22 West Noble .....................................24

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Page 1

Angola Hornets

MEGAN KNOWLES

Front row, left to right, Chase Soulliere, Lucas Waite and Owen Shoup. Back row, left to right, Antonio Luevanos, Kyle Trick, Ross Holman and Ryan Brandt.

schedule Aug. 23

DeKalb

7 p.m.

Sept. 20 H Lakeland

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

Leo

7 p.m.

Sept. 27 A

Fairfield

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

Orchard H Lake (MI) St. Mary’s

Oct. 4

Prairie Heights

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

H Garrett

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

7 p.m.

Sept. 13 A

West Noble

7 p.m. 7 p.m.

Eastside

It’s a Touchdown

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Angola’s Ryan Brandt, top, and Kyle Trick tackle Bishop Dwenger running back Hayden Ellinger (23) during last season’s Class 4A regional football game at New Haven. Brandt has committed to Purdue University.

CHRIS REED

Does regression catch up to Angola? BY CHRIS REED

creed@kpcmedia.com

ANGOLA — The Angola football team hasn’t lost a regular season game in two years. It also made two trips to the regional round of the state tournament in that time, despite a number of talented players leaving the program. The Hornets answered most of the questions posed to them before last season with their play on the field, but those same inquiries are back stronger than ever after the team graduated a who’s who of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Gone is the offensive production of quarterback Jarrett Gibson and backs Chase Schnepf and Joel McCurdy, along with defensive standouts such as Luke Honer, David Frank and Marques Tagliaferri. And we haven’t even mentioned kicker Eric Cockroft. While Purdue-bound safety/linebacker Ryan Brandt returns for his senior

season, 2018’s group of graduates leaves a lot of question marks. Regression has been a popular word surrounding the team. The Hornets have heard it. But they also aren’t giving any credibility to it. “What got us here is a lot of hard work and that hasn’t gone anywhere,” said Angola coach Andy Thomas. “We just have to remember what got us here, and worry about ourselves.” Junior 6-foot, 185-pound quarterback Tucker Hasselman takes the reins of the team this season while Antonio Luevanos and Finley Hasselman will run the ball out of the backfield. H-Back remains an area to keep an eye on after McCurdy’s graduation, though Thomas said Brandt will, at times, get some snaps there as well. Defense is where the losses may hit the hardest, though. The Hornets had one of the best-ranked units in the state last year, led by players with a lot of experience, and a lot of talent. While talent

may still be present, will it be enough to continue the trend? Of course, having Brandt anchor the unit is huge, and defensive end Kyle Trick also returns as a senior. But with so much lost, can last year’s role players become this season’s stars? Despite the talk, though, Angola is still a clear favorite in a Northeast Corner Conference Big School division that has ultimately failed to provide a worthy challenger two years in a row. The Hornets will still get everyone’s best shot every week, though, a fact that Thomas said is important to remember. “It’s something (the players) need to remember,” he said. Added Brandt: “We just can’t take anything for granted. We have to have a championship mentality every day in practice and in the weight room. We have to make sure we push ourselves every day because that’s what it takes to win games.”

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Page 3

central noble cougars

JEFF JONES

From left, Cole Miller, Austin McCullough, Jared Trowbridge, Kyle Bolinger and Tyler Lawson.

schedule Aug. 23

West Noble

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

Columbia City

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

Fairfield

7 p.m.

Sept. 13 H

Prairie Heights

7 p.m.

central noble High School

Sept. 20 A

Fremont

7 p.m.

Sept. 27 A

Lakeland

7 p.m.

Churubusco

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

Eastside

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

Garrett

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

It’s a Touchdown

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Central Noble’s Noah Christopher stiff arms a Churubusco defender during a 2018 high school football game in Churubusco.

NICOLE MINIER

Cougars look to regroup quickly BY KEN FILLMORE

kfillmore@kpcmedia.com

ALBION — Graduation took a big chunk out of the Central Noble football program, losing the heart of its offense in running backs Nick Rawles and Jesse Jacobs and two-year starting quarterback Nick Alwine, one of the best defensive linemen in northern Indiana in Levi Leffers and other solid guys in the trenches like Tanner Vandergrift, Nico Urso, Matthew Carey and Brandon Carnahan. The Cougars will try the best they can to restock and retool to remain a contender in the Northeast Corner Conference Small School division. “That’s the difficult thing when you have 14 seniors and they all were starters,” veteran Cougar coach Trevor Tipton said to KPC Media Group news partner WANE-TV (Ch. 15, Fort Wayne) during Northeast Indiana High School Football Media Day on July 26 at the

Memorial Coliseum Expo Center in Fort Wayne. “Our juniors that are now seniors did a lot of watching from the sidelines. “Some of them were on the JV (junior varsity). Some of them had good mentors who taught them well. Now it’s their time to shine.” Tipton will again adjust to his personnel on offense, led by new starting quarterback Jared Trowbridge. The junior was going to be the starter two years ago before Alwine transferred from East Noble. “We have some raw kids, but we know what they are capable of doing,” Trowbridge said on Media Day. “They’re fun to be around. “You have to want it. You have to put your soul into it and give it all you got.” Trowbridge can throw the football pretty well and will have a couple big targets in athletic 6-foot-4 junior Sawyer Yoder and 6-5 senior football newcomer Chase Weber. Baseball has been Weber’s

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main sport at CN. The new committee of running backs are juniors Jarrett Hawk and Noah Christopher with senior Tyler Lawson at wingback. “We have some athletic kids and we want to get the most mileage out of them,” said Tipton, who is in his 22nd season leading the Cougars overall, including his second season in his latest head coaching stint. Christopher and junior Clayton Kirkpatrick are a couple of the leaders on defense who saw a lot of action last season. Weber will play strong safety. “We have a lot of seniors who are hungry and want to add and continue on the football tradition,” Tipton said. The Cougars will have a tough start to the season. It will host one of the top teams in the NECC in West Noble on Aug. 23, then play a new bigger school opponent on the rise in Class 4A Columbia City on the road on Aug. 30.

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Page 5

churubusco eagles

NICOLE MINIER

Leading players for Churubusco’s football team are, front row, from left, Reese Wicker, Cole Hart, Caleb Blake, Case Lemper and Gage Kelly. Second row from left, Sam Wood, Blake Trostel, Dustin Barkley, Jake Fulk and Jake North.

schedule

Churubusco High School

Aug. 23

Whitko

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

Lakeland

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

Garrett

7 p.m.

Sept. 13 H

Eastside

7 p.m.

Sept. 20 A

Prairie Heights

7 p.m.

Sept. 27 H

Fremont

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

Central Noble

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

West Noble

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

Fairfield

7 p.m.

It’s a Touchdown

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Big senior class to lead ’Busco BY DEAN JACKSON CHURUBUSCO — Reimaging, probably. Restructuring, yes. Redesigning, certainly. Refocusing, for sure. Transitioning, but definitely not rebuilding. With the mix of returning players and past success, 2019 doesn’t really qualify as a project year at Churubusco. “We’ve got a really good-sized senior class,” Eagles coach Paul Sade commented. “We’ve got about 15 seniors and we have a lot of experience.” That’s the good news. That’s a seemingly stacked deck of potential and talent. But, the not-so-good news: the players who graduated were monumental to the Eagles’ recent success. “We have a lot of shoes to fill,” Sade said. “We’ve got some holes and are looking to hit the ground running.” He’s dealing with the loss of perennial starters in quarterback Tommy Richards (73-of-103 passing for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns), fullback Nathaniel Keener (203 carries for 959 yards, 10 TDs). Both were All-Northeast Corner Conference Small School division selections. Then there’s Mr. Everything Joey Emenhiser (14 catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns receiving/33 carries, 229 yards, 4 TDs rushing, 47 made extra-point kicks), who played halfback and defensive back and was placekicker and punter, and another All-Stater in Tanner Allen (72 tackles, 23.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks). They’ve also graduated. Allen leaves big shoes to fill on the offensive line and at linebacker. Players will also have a learning curve. Sade has tweaked the offense a little. The running game will still be huge, but there will be some new looks. “We’ll still be a Wing-T, but we’ll probably be in the shotgun more,” Sade said. “We did some of it last year. We want to expand on that. Just getting comfortable is our biggest focus of the summer.”

NICOLE MINIER

Jake Fulk dives to pick up a few extra yards while being tackled by a Central Noble defender in a game earlier this season.

Four of the top five receivers are back including Blake Trostel (10 catches for 281 yards and 4 touchdowns), Sam Wood ( 22-226, 1 TD), Jake Fulk (10-155, 1 TD) and Gage Kelly (9-109, 3 TDs). Wood, the state runner-up in the pole vault this past spring, will replace Richards at quarterback. The run game loses a lot with Keener’s graduation and someone will need to pick up the slack. This is a team that pounded out 252 yards per game by the run. Kelly looks to be the heir apparent. He’s a double threat by ground and air, he averaged more than 10 yards a carry and had seven scores. In limited action, he recorded 46 carries for 473 yards. Fulk (55-448, 3 TDs) and Wood (30-420, 5 TDs) are also back. Wood averaged more than 113 yards a game in all-purpose yardage. That’s the best on the team. Depth in the secondary and linebacker remains question marks.

Lots of experience returns with defensive back Wood (71 tackles, 6 interceptions), Linebacker Fulk (59 tackles, 8 sacks) joins lineman Reese Wicker (74 tackles, including 18 for loss) as anchors on the defensive line. The Eagles limited opponents to just 89 yards rushing per game, and were equally difficult against the pass, giving up just 99 yards a game. That will be essential as the Eagles’ on-field success hinges on players stepping up to be leaders. Early in practice, Sade admits it’s slow arriving. “To be honest, we are waiting for our leadership to develop,” he said. He added, “I think we have a good group of seniors with experience and talent. After that, I’m not so sure. I do believe there is potential and the doors are open. But, we need more than seniors. “It’s probably not going to be one or two people.”

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Page 7

dekalb barons

MEGAN KNOWLES

Front row, left to right, Easton Rhodes and Kai Zacharias. Second row, left to right, Carter Miller, Curtis Martin, Corey Price and Dominic Blevins. Back row, left to right, Hoyt Stafford, Landon Miller, Tylar Pomeroy, Evan Snider and Evan Eshbach.

schedule Aug. 23

Angola

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

Garrett

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

New Haven

7 p.m.

Sept. 13 H

East Noble

7 p.m.

Sept. 20 A

Columbia City

7 p.m.

Sept. 27 A

Huntington North

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

Norwell

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

Bellmont

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

Leo

7 p.m.

It’s a Touchdown

dekalb High School

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DeKalb returns players, momentum BY BRICE VANCE

bvance@kpcmedia.com

WATERLOO — DeKalb has a lot of momentum coming into the 2019 season. It won four of its last six games in 2018, the two losses were by a touchdown or less, and the majority of its roster returns. The Barons finished the regular season with a winning record for the first time since 2008, and their season could have been extended if a two-point conversion had gone their way in the first round of their Class 4A sectional game against East Noble. Leading the DeKalb offense will be a combination of junior Corey Price or senior Evan Eshbach, who transferred in from Wawasee during the middle of last school year. Price came on late last year, spelling Kyle Dunham at times, but he was used more as a runner than a thrower. In 2018 for the Warriors, Eshbach threw for 2,052 yards and 18 touchdowns. “I think those two have been good teammates to each other. They support each other. I think the guys around them have the same influence,” DeKalb head coach Pete Kempf said. “They both offer a different skill set.” Kempf saw improvements made by both quarterbacks during the offseason, which could make the decision to start either one more difficult. “I’ve been impressed with Corey’s improvement in throwing the ball on time and his location. He’s made some great throws this summer that last year he wouldn’t make. With Evan, seeing him for the first time in the offseason in the spring and summer, there’s a lot of what we thought he could deliver. He’s also a lot more athletic than he came in being kind of built in. He’s put on 10 pounds of muscle already,” Kempf said. Whoever takes the snap for the Barons will have the option of handing it off to either Landon Miller or Tanner Jack. Like the quarterbacks, both running backs offer different styles. Miller, the bigger back of the two, isn’t afraid to run through potential tacklers, while Jack is a speedster

BRICE VANCE

Landon Miller, center, played on both sides of the ball for the Barons and was effective in his junior season.

who can break off big gains. Last season, the Barons also had Jon Bell to take some of the touches. But with Bell graduating, it will be up to Miller and Jack to carry the load this year. Both were top-10 rushers in the Northeast 8 Conference last year. Jack rushed for 694 yards and eight touchdowns, and Miller gained 534 yards and seven scores. Up front, Tylar Pomeroy and Hoyt Stafford return and both have offers to play at the next level after this upcoming season. Around them will be Logan Dallas, Jacob Leming, Tyson Conley and Trestan Kern all competing for three spots. All four would add to the size of the offensive line, which will be bigger than last year’s dominant unit. Defensively, the Barons were No. 1 in the NE8 in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense. Kempf said that quite a few linemen can play both ways because of the amount of talent they have on both lines.

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Miller was in the top 10 in the conference in total tackles (58) and tackles for loss (9). Behind Miller are a plethora players with varsity experience and should keep this unit near the top of the conference, including Dominic Blevins, Jase Griffith, Carter Miller, Kai Zacharias, Ethan Brown, Jarrett McNamara and Nate Turnbull. Newcomers to the defense are Nate Williams and Isaiah Hamblin. “If we can solidify the secondary, prevent big plays from happening more than once or twice a game, our defense can be very solid again, because we return a lot of Friday night experience,” Kempf said. DeKalb will open the season at home against Angola Friday at 7 p.m. Since beating Angola in sectionals in 2015, the Barons have lost three straight against the Hornets. The season opener is a key game for every team in the state. But for DeKalb, it will set the tone for the rest of the season.

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Page 9

east noble knights

MEGAN KNOWLES

Front row, left to right, Nick Munson and Jacob VanGorder. Second row, left to right, Cole Schupbach, Caden Conley and Bailey Parker. Back row, left to right, Rowan Zolman, Alex Manns, Leyth Al-Mohammedawi and Noah Schooley.

schedule Aug. 23

Plymouth

7:30 p.m.

Aug. 30

Mishawaka

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

Huntington North

7 p.m.

Sept. 13 A

DeKalb

7 p.m.

Sept. 20 H

Leo

7 p.m.

Sept. 27 A

7 p.m. 7 p.m.

Oct. 4

Oct. 11

New Haven

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

Bellmont

7 p.m.

It’s a Touchdown

east noble High School

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EN reloads for 2019 season BY BRICE VANCE

bvance@kpcmedia.com

KENDALLVILLE — The Knights have been accustomed to reloading year in and year out, and this season is no different. East Noble is coming off a 9-2 season with a perfect 7-0 record in the Northeast 8 Conference and won the title outright. It hasn’t had a losing season since 2001, the year after they won the Class 4A state title. So anyone expecting the Knights to drop off anytime soon will have to keep on waiting. East Noble graduated two important pieces off of last year’s team, Kaiden Harshberger and Spencer Pattee. According to head coach Luke Amstutz, the guys filling in for them have been waiting patiently and are expected to have an impact right away. The team’s leading tackler from a year ago, Jack Herber, also graduated. “A lot of people think we’re going to take a step back. We feel like we’re going to be as good as we’ve ever been,” Amstutz said. Harshberger totaled up 1,996 all-purpose yards and 27 touchdowns last season despite missing a game. Pattee was a force on the defensive side of the ball with 60 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks and two fumble recoveries. Herber finished the year with 118 total tackles. Starting on the offensive side of the ball, the plan for the Knights is to become “more balanced,” according to Amstutz. East Noble returns its starting quarterback Bailey Parker, who did a lot of damage both through the air and on the ground. As a junior, Parker threw for 1,597 yards with a completion percentage of 57.5, 13 passing touchdowns and eight interceptions. As a runner, he gained 797 yards on 120 carries with nine scores. Parker will be handing off to a number of different players this season

TAYLOR LEHMAN

East Noble quarterback Bailey Parker (left) earned All-NE8 Honorable Mention in 2018.

led by junior Jacob VanGorder, who rushed the ball 64 times for 328 yards and two touchdowns in 2018. Justin Marcellus is another junior who will get some touches this year. Amstutz said the players who line up in the slot will also get some carries on sweeps and motion plays. Amstutz said he has “the best receiving corps I’ve ever had.” Gage Ernsberger, Hayden Jones and Rowan Zolman will be names to key in on this year. Ernsberger had 27 receptions last year with 367 yards and five touchdowns. As for Pattee’s replacement on defense, Amstutz looks to Caden Conley. “I think Caden Conley is really going to surprise people filling in for Spencer Pattee,” Amstutz said. “Caden is a little bit smaller and stockier, but is a really nice player.” Leyth Al-Mohammedawi and Trey

Ritchie both return along the defensive front. Last year, Al-Mohammedawi had 25 tackles and three tackles for loss. Zolman is also expected to patrol the secondary with Parker at safety. “We’ve struggled in pass coverage the last couple of years,” Amstutz said. “I think this year we’re going to be the best we’ve been in the defensive backfield.” Brooks Miller led the team with 18 passes defended, and Jones and Parker each had two interceptions last season. East Noble opens the 2019 campaign at Plymouth for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, then hosts Mishawaka in Week 2. It will be the first time the Knights and Cavemen will face off. Mishawaka was 12-2 last season and advanced to the Class 4A North Semistate game before falling to eventual state champion Bishop Dwenger. The Caveman moved up to Class 5A this season.

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Page 11

eastside blazers

JEFF JONES

Front row, left to right, are Payton Terry, Hunter Miller, Dawson Smyth and Mike Geiger. In back are Carson Evers, Ethan Farnsworth, Troy Kessler and Chase Leeper.

schedule Aug. 23

Heritage

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

Adams Central

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

West Noble

7 p.m.

Sept. 13

Churubusco

7 p.m.

Garrett

7 p.m.

Sept. 20 H

eastside High School

Sept. 27

Prairie Heights

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

Fremont

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

Central Noble

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

Angola

7 p.m.

It’s a Touchdown

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Blazers optimistic for improved 2019 BY JEFF JONES

jjones@kpcmedia.com

BUTLER — When you have younger players expected to play key roles for your football team, one of the best ways to help them achieve success is to have your offensive line returning. That’s what the Eastside Blazers have in their favor coming off a 5-5 record last season. “I’m real excited about this team,” said third-year coach Todd Mason. “We have a young team that’s going to be led by several seniors that have been doing this a long time. “We’re real excited about our younger kids as well as our seniors. The younger kids got a little experience last year to really flourish on the varsity field this year.” “We’re excited about their energy and everything they’ve been doing,” he said. “We’ve had a great summer.” “The number-one strength we have right now is we are returning our entire offensive line,” Mason said. “That hasn’t happened since I’ve been (at Eastside). “They’ve had a great summer of good, quality O-line play, and that’s going to translate to the defensive line as well. We’re going to be rotating those guys through on the defensive side of the ball. We’re going to rely heavily on our O- and D-lines.” “We’re the backbone of the team,” said senior lineman Chase Leeper. “That means we’ve got to get our blocks and get our double-teams. Basically, we’ve got to carry the team on our backs. We don’t care if we have our faces in the paper or anything, we do it to win.” “We went to speed school all summer and we hit the weight room hard,” he added. “Our younger guys are a lot stronger than they were last year, so they’re not going to be bullied around.” When asked what he likes most about playing on the offensive line, Leeper said, “Every play, it’s just hard work. There’s nothing easy about it. You can’t take any plays off.” Junior Carson Evers plays tight end on

JEFF JONES

Eastside’s Carson Evers runs around a DeKalb defender on his way to the end zone during a scrimmage last season at Butler.

offense and linebacker on defense. “I just look forward to the games,” he said. “I just the feeling of the game. You practice all week for it, and eventually, it’s Friday night. You go on the field with your brothers and battle the other team to see who comes out on top.” “Last year, we didn’t have that many seniors, so coming into this year, we didn’t lose that many people,” Evers said. “We had to fill in four positions. Everybody knows what they’re doing. We have the same defense and we switched up the offense a little.” “You want to put kids in the best position to win and trying to fit the best 11 players on the football field at a given time,” Mason said. “That’s something we’re working hard on, trying to get the best 11 athletes on the field so that we have the best opportunity to win football games. “Something we’ve struggled with the

past two years is consistently running the football,” he continued. “With the offensive line that we have, I think we’re going to be a little more consistent at putting long drives together.” “We’ve been a big-play offense the last two years,” Mason said. “We’re looking more to sustaining drives, putting 10 to 12-play drives together, eat some clock up and give our defense a little bit more time to rest.” While most people would see Eastside, Central Noble and Churubusco at the top of the heap in the Northeast Corner Conference’s small-school division, Mason said it would be unwise to overlook Fremont and Prairie Heights. Both schools have made positive strides to be more competitive. “It’s going to be a fun race,” he said. “We just hope we can do things well enough to come out on top.”

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Page 13

fremont eagles

KEN FILLMORE

Fremont's Karson Meeks (21) falls forward for yardage against Adrian (Mich.) Lenawee Christian during a game last season at Fremont High School.

KEN FILLMORE

Fremont's Kaleb Gannon (86) chases down an Adrian (Mich.) Lenawee Christian ball carrier during a game last season at Max Mitchell Sports Complex in Fremont.

schedule Aug. 23

Southern Wells

7:30 p.m.

Aug. 30

Lenawee (MI) Christian

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

Sept. 13

River 7 p.m. Valley (MI) Fairfield

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 20

Central Noble

7 p.m.

Sept. 27

’Busco

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

Eastside

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

Prairie Heights

7 p.m.

Oct. 19

Frontier

1 p.m.

It’s a Touchdown

Fremont High School

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Same challenges, new expectations BY CHRIS REED

creed@kpcmedia.com

FREMONT — Despite finishing just 2-9 last year, Fremont won its first sectional game in six seasons with a 25-14 win over Southern Wells. The Eagles fell to the Raiders in a 42-0 drubbing in the season opener. The revenge sparked something inside this group of Eagles, which enters the 2019 season looking to avenge a few more losses. “It just showed that we can do it, that we can win some of those games we lost before,” said running back Karson Meeks. “We’re hoping to get a lot more revenge this year.” Coach Jim Hummer said his team played its best ball of the season over the final four weeks, and that feeling has still been present during summer workouts. During that final month, the Eagles played to a 2-2 record, with a win over Prairie Heights in Week 8. Confidence surrounds the team as it begins the season. But to get that revenge, and show it can become more competitive in the Northeast Corner Conference, it’ll need to overcome some familiar challenges. A quarterback competition that lasted well into the season stalled Fremont’s offense for the first few weeks. Once then-sophomore Kameron Colclasure took the reins on a permanent basis later in the season, the unit caught some steam. This season, the Eagles enter the year yet again without a sure answer at the game’s most important position. Colclasure provides experience as the incumbent, but sophomore Gabel Pentecost, who was homeschooled until this year and is new to the team, presents another enticing option. “The decision will determine the direction of our team,” Hummer said. With Colclasure, the Eagles have a dual-threat athlete as good as any

LAURA PENTECOST

Fremont’s Kameron Colclasure crosses the goal line for a touchdown in the first quarter against Class 1A state-ranked Churubusco in 2018 at Max Mitchell Sports Complex in Fremont.

in the area. While his passing ability isn’t as sharp or pure as others, his legs would certainly help an offensive line that graduated two starters and he knows how to produce in the Eagles’ system. On the other hand, Pentecost is a polished passer with a live arm, said Hummer, and would be able to take advantage of the team’s taller outside wideouts down the field. The move would also allow Colclasure to serve

as an all-purpose weapon as he did to start last season, a role in which he experienced a good bit of success. Fremont struggled to find the answer to this same question last season — a pure passer versus a dual threat — and it had its consequences. Will the Eagles make a final decision this time before the season opener? We’ll find out on Aug. 23, when the team hosts Southern Wells.

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Page 15

2019 rivalry match-ups August september october Angola @ DeKalb Aug. 23

West Noble @ Central Noble Aug. 23

Lakeland @ Prairie Heights Sept. 6

Angola @ West Noble Sept. 13

Mishawaka @ East Noble Aug. 30

DeKalb @ Garrett Aug. 30

East Noble @ DeKalb Sept. 13

Garrett @ Eastside Sept. 20

Page 16

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’busco @ Central Noble Oct. 4

East Noble @ Columbia City Oct. 4

Fremont @ Prairie Heights Oct. 11

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Page 17

y match-ups ember october Angola @ West Noble Sept. 13 Garrett @ Eastside Sept. 20

’busco @ Central Noble Oct. 4

East Noble @ Columbia City Oct. 4

Fremont @ Prairie Heights Oct. 11

IN All Sports Football Preview • 2019 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Page 17

garrett railroaders

MEGAN KNOWLES

Left to right, Cole Bergman, Mateo Faentes, Isaac King and and Nolan Hathaway.

schedule Aug. 23

Prairie Heights

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

DeKalb

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

H Churubusco

7 p.m.

Sept. 13

7 p.m.

Lakeland

Sept. 20

Eastside

7 p.m.

Sept. 27

West Noble

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

Fairfield

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

Angola

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

Central Noble

7 p.m.

It’s a Touchdown

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Railroaders expect to bounce back BY BRICE VANCE

bvance@kpcmedia.com

GARRETT — Losing seasons don’t happen often for Garrett football. In the last 20 seasons, the Railroaders have posted a losing record just four times. The last three times the Railroaders have finished at or below .500 they’ve bounced back to have an eight-win season. Most of the losses in 2018 were due in part to turnovers in key spots. They held a lead or were within one score late in most of their games, but an untimely interception or a fumble bouncing into the hands of the other team took away chances to turn some of those losses into wins. Garrett threw 14 interceptions and lost 12 fumbles last season. A flip of last year’s record of 2-8 to 8-2 this season would be a difficult task of this year’s team. But the Railroaders bring a lot back from last season’s squad, which should excite the fans that show up to Memorial Field this season. After Garrett decided to focus more on the running game in 2018, it found a sophomore running back in Kolin Cope, who had five 100-yard games during the season and finished with 773 yards on 149 carries for an average of 5.2 yards per carry and three touchdowns. It also helped that the offensive line improved over the course of last season, and most of those players return. “He’s developed well,” Garrett head coach Chris DePew said on Cope. “He’s gotten a lot stronger and gained some weight. He understands that he can walk in this year having confidence in feeling like a varsity player from the get-go. A lot of the run game will revolve around him and he knows that.” Senior quarterback Levi Follett returns as a three-year starter under center. Last season, with more on his plate than his sophomore season, he had a 53.8 completion percentage, 1,580 passing yards with eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He also had five rushing touchdowns. “We’re going to ask less (of him), being a run-first team,” DePew said. “I think that’s more conducive to program success over time.” On the defensive side of the ball, seven of the top 10 tacklers for Garrett were either juniors or sophomores last season. As a junior, linebacker Clayton Fielden, who is verbally committed to wrestle at Army, finished with a team-high nine tackles for loss and totaled up 77 tackles on the season. Seth Van Wagner racked up 6.5 tackles for loss. Cope, Ethan Harter, Mateo Fuentes, Nolan Hathaway, Isaac King, Jonathan Badger, Camden Harris, William Cole and Jaren Berning all recorded double-digit tackles as underclassmen. Garrett will begin the season at Prairie Heights Aug. 23, then host DeKalb on Aug. 30.

CHRIS REED

Garrett’s Levi Follett throws a pass to Kolin Cope during a football game last season.

After getting blown out 49-0 at DeKalb, the Railroaders welcome the Barons to the other side of DeKalb County for this rivalry game in Week 2. This game will tell a lot about how much the Railroaders have improved during the offseason. Expect this time around for it be closer than 49 points.

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Page 19

lakeland lakers

MEGAN KNOWLES

Front row, left to right, Bennie Walker and Camyrn Holbrook. Back row, left to right, Nathan Grossman, Kennie Walker and Colton Isaacs.

schedule Aug. 23

Aug. 30

H Churubusco

Wawasee

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

Prairie Heights

7 p.m.

Sept. 13 H

Garrett

7 p.m.

Sept. 20

Angola

7 p.m.

Sept. 27

Central Noble

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

West Noble

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

Fairfield

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

Bluffton

7 p.m.

It’s a Touchdown

lakeland High School

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Lakers undergoing heavy rebuild BY KEN FILLMORE

kfillmore@kpcmedia.com

LAGRANGE — Lakeland will enter the 2019 football season as inexperienced as it has been in a long while after losing around 20 players to graduation from a team that finished 6-4, 3-1 in the Northeast Corner Conference Big School Division, last fall. Junior right tackle Jaron Fry is the only returning starter back on offense. He is one of five guys who started on defense last year. “I’ve coached for over 30 years and I have never had a situation like this,” 15th-year Lakers coach Keith Thompson said. “We have a lot of new people figuring out where they fit. “We’ll do what we do offensively while tweaking some things. Defensively, we’re more athletic than we were the last few years.” Thompson has tried to get his team as game ready as possible in the offseason as it played against 12 other schools in scrimmages. That includes Elkhart Central, NorthWood and Northridge in a jamboree hosted by the Blue Blazers Aug. 16. It has helped Lakeland learn more about its roster and start to develop some depth. “Finding depth will be a key,” Thompson said. “We have to gain consistency play in and play out and not take plays off. We have to have short-term memory.” Lakeland will look to develop a new committee of running backs, led by senior Camryn Holbrook. It has size up front on both sides of the ball, like it had last year. The offensive line averages as much as 259 pounds per guy. Thompson looks for more overall productivity from his quarterback position than he has had in awhile. Junior Colton Isaacs will be the starter under center. Sophomore Mark Burlew could also see some action as well. “Colton is a gamer. Mark is very

PATRICK REDMOND

Prairie Heights’ quarterback gets taken down by Lakeland defensive lineman Miguel Delapaz (77) during the annual Milk Can game last year in LaGrange.

athletic,” Thompson said. “They can do some things that haven’t been done in several years. “We have two quarterbacks who can run pretty well, and we want to be a little more spread out. We want to get the ball to No. 18 (Holbrook).” The Lakers will be led up front by Fry, junior Miguel Delapaz (6-foot-0, 275 pounds) and senior Jayce Riegling (6-2, 285). Newcomer Lincoln Ott (6-1, 285) is a junior who will also contribute in the trenches. “(Miguel) played a lot as a sophomore. Jayce is athletic and can move,”

Thompson said. “They are big, strong and physical. They are also nice kids. We have to find a mean streak in them.” Thompson likes the athleticism his team has. Adjusting to the speed and physicality of varsity football will be important in helping Lakeland grow this fall. Thompson hopes that leadership will establish itself sooner than later. The graduation of Coby Mitchell is a big loss in that regard. Mitchell is playing football at nearby Trine University this season. The Lakers will open the season at Wawasee at 7 p.m.

IN All Sports Football Preview • 2019 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Page 21

prairie heights panthers

MEGAN KNOWLES

Front row, left to right, Luke Severe, Ethan Hoover and Kole Schrock. Back row, left to right, Isaac Torney, Camden Hall, Gavin Culler and Hunter Allen.

schedule Aug. 23

Garrett

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

Bronson (MI)

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

Lakeland

7 p.m.

Central Noble

7 p.m.

Sept. 13 A

prairie heights High School

Sept. 20 H

Churubusco

7 p.m.

Sept. 27 H

Eastside

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

Angola

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

Fremont

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

West Noble

7 p.m.

It’s a Touchdown

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New year, same goal for PH BY CHRIS REED

creed@kpcmedia.com

BRUSHY PRAIRIE — Prairie Heights thinks this year may be the one. You know, that elusive season in which the fruits of a pain-staking rebuild finally begin to blossom. Of course, no one is under the impression the Panthers will turn into contenders in the Northeast Corner Conference Small School division overnight. However, Heights entered practices with roughly 45 players on its roster, which itself is a step up from even a year ago. “When we (the current coaching staff) took over three years ago, this program was all but dead,” said assistant coach Brad Moore. “Turning something like that around takes a lot longer than three years, but I feel like we are definitely on the right track.” Members of the team expressed a belief the team could claw its way toward a .500 record this season when questioned at the Northeast Indiana Football Media Day on July 26 in Fort Wayne. To do so, however, will require the group to overcome significant losses on both sides of the ball. Record-setting all-purpose threat Ryan Rasler leaves a sizable hole on offense. The then-senior tallied over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in 2018, finishing with 682 receiving yards, 501 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns. Moore looked to the ground and shook his head when contemplating the challenge of replacing Rasler’s production. The reality is it might not happen. The Panthers host a slew of players who could each, theoretically, pick up a share of the load, though many of them remain question marks. Six-foot, 200-pound sophomore Camden Hall made the switch from running back to tight end this offseason, a position where Moore said he will get more touches, and might even be a more natural fit. He figures to get a large share of the load in the passing game, led by senior

NICOLE MINIER

Prairie Heights quarterback Ethan Hoover fakes a handoff to Zach Wiseman and gives the ball to Camden Hall during a football game last season.

quarterback Ethan Hoover. Defensively, the Panthers graduated more than 200 tackles from the middle of their defense. KPC Media Group All-Area linebacker Gary Hayward (138) and Seth Metcalf (80 in eight games) produced as well as any defenders in the area during their senior seasons. Moore, the team’s defensive coordinator, made sure the lost production wasn’t understated, but also said the biggest help the unit can receive is less time on the field. Heights’ offense was one of the least effective units in the area last year, consis-

tently struggling to move the chains. Hoover, who himself could set up to five all-time offensive records this season, said the offense will go as far as he can carry it. And keeping his defensive teammates off the field is his top priority. “Last year, we had a good defense, but they were on the field all the time because our offense went four-and-out or had a bad punt,” Hoover said. “We can’t allow our defense to be out there all the time getting scored on because they’re tired this year. That’s not gonna win us games.” Heights kicks off the season at home against Garrett.

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Page 23

west noble chargers

MEGAN KNOWLES

Front row, left to right, Raven Slone, Kyler Brown, Xhua Martin-Garcia and Rocky Slone. Back row, left to right, Josh Gross, Brandon Pruitt, Kyle Mawhorter, Eion Fuleki and Taylor Guzman.

schedule Aug. 23

Central Noble

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

Wawasee

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

Eastside

7 p.m.

Angola

7 p.m.

Sept. 13 H

west noble High School

Sept. 20 A Sept. 27 A

Fairfield

7 p.m.

Garrett

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

Lakeland

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

Churubusco

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

Prairie Heights

7 p.m.

It’s a Touchdown

Campbell & Fetter Bank believes in supporting our local schools! Won’t you join us? Come to a game.

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Chargers want to take bigger steps BY JORDAN KOEGLER

sports@kpcmedia.com

LIGONIER — As the football season begins, West Noble head coach Monte Mawhorter reflected on what lies ahead for the team. Last season, the Chargers were 8-3, 2-2 in the Northeast Corner Conference Big School Division and won a first round sectional game in the Class 3A state playoffs. Mawhorter expressed the team’s goal for the 2019 season is to be a little more successful in the playoffs. West Noble did not have many changes from the 2018 season. Mawhorter said the same players will be running the ball. Leading returning players include quarterback Kyle Mawhorter, receiver/defensive back Josh Gross, running back/linebacker Brandon Pruitt. Pruitt will continue his football career past high school and onto the collegate level at Navy. Gross was tied for fourth in the state in interceptions last season with eight while also making 43 total tackles. He also caught 31 passes for 572 yards and two touchdowns on offense. Mawhorter completed 49 percent of his passes last season (77-156) for 1,136 yards and six touchdowns, and also rushed for a couple of scores. The coach’s son will look to be more efficient after throwing nine interceptions in 2018. The team’s strengths to Coach Mawhorter are “The senior class, athleticism and speed. Hard to stop one kid and shut him down.” The Chargers have to develop on the offensive and defensive lines to complement the veteran skilled players. A lot of younger guys will get an opportunity up front, including varsity newcomers Jeramyah James, a junior, and Zayne Patrick, a sophomore. What Mawhorter said he is most looking forward to this season is, “the group of seniors put a lot of time in since the fourth grade. It is interesting to see how they finish as seniors.”

KEN FILLMORE

Quarterback Kyle Mawhorter will lead the West Noble football team against Angola Sept. 13 for a big-time Northeast Corner Conference Big School division matchup against the Hornets.

What makes this team unique is its bond together. The team forms friendships off the field and not just in uniform. It’s a friendship that goes beyond a football and green grass. Teammates knows each other and are committed to each other beyond a game. Mawhorter said what the team is most nervous about this season is Angola and the success it has had over the past few years. “They’re the team you have to beat to get over the hump. Angola is still the favorite to win conference. They

haven’t been beat in the last three years,” Mawhorter said. The Hornets will travel to West Noble in Week 4 on Sept. 13. The Chargers have a mentality this season where they care more about winning than individual success. There is one football and as a team they will work for the success. West Noble opens the season at Central Noble at 7 p.m. The Chargers’ home opener will be the following week against western neighbor Wawasee on Aug. 30.

IN All Sports Football Preview • 2019 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Page 25

ne8 conference Bellmont

Leo

Aug. 23

Adams Central

7 p.m.

Aug. 23

Woodlan

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

South Adams

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

Angola

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

Columbia City

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

Norwell

7 p.m.

Sept. 13

Norwell

7 p.m.

Sept. 13

New Haven

7 p.m.

Sept. 20

Huntington North

7 p.m.

Sept. 20

East Noble

7 p.m.

Sept. 27

Leo

7 p.m.

Sept. 27

Bellmont

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

New Haven

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

Huntington North

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

DeKalb

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

Columbia City

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

East Noble

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

DeKalb

7 p.m.

Columbia City

New Haven

Aug. 23

Hammond Gavit

8 p.m.

Aug. 23

S.B. Riley

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

Central Noble

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

Mississinewa

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

Bellmont

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

DeKalb

7 p.m.

Sept. 13

Huntington

7 p.m.

Sept. 13

Leo

7 p.m.

Sept. 20

DeKalb

7 p.m.

Sept. 20

Norwell

7 p.m.

Sept. 27

New Haven

7 p.m.

Sept. 27

Columbia City

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

East Noble

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

Bellmont

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

Leo

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

East Noble

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

Norwell

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

Huntington North

7 p.m.

Huntington North

Norwell

Aug. 23

Warsaw

7 p.m.

Aug. 23

Jay County

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

Jay County

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

Heritage

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

East Noble

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

Leo

7 p.m.

Sept. 13

Columbia City

7 p.m.

Sept. 13

Bellmont

7 p.m.

Sept. 20

Bellmont

7 p.m.

Sept. 20

New Haven

7 p.m.

Sept. 27

DeKalb

7 p.m.

Sept. 27

East Noble

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

Leo

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

DeKalb

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

Norwell

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

Huntington North

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

New Haven

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

Columbia City

7 p.m.

Page 26

Northeast 8: What to watch Players to watch:

BY DEAN JACKSON

Team to watch: • Leo: A prolific run game with the type of numbers a coach dreams of. This is the most seniors for the Lions since their semi-state run in 2010-11.

Favorite: • East Noble: Hard to count out the Knights.

Don’t count out: • Columbia City: After back to back 5-5 seasons, the Eagles look to up their game. • New Haven: They’ve got holes to fill, but they have the athletes.

Best games: • Sept. 13 East Noble at DeKalb: Traditional rivalry, good sentimental game if nothing else. • Sept. 20 Leo at East Noble: Realistically, the NE8 winner has to win this one.

• Bailey Parker, Sr. QB, East Noble: Playmaker. As a junior he rushed for 797 yards and nine touchdowns. He passed for 1,300 yards and 13 scores. • Peyton Wall, Sr. RB/LB, Leo: He does it all: runs, catches passes, returns and makes plays on defense. He’ll be easy to spot. • Tanner Jack, Jr. RB, DeKalb: Just a junior he’ll start for the Barons this season. Scored nine touchdowns in 2018. • John Wilder, Sr. QB, Bellmont: Connected for 19 passing touchdowns and 2,000 yards for the Braves, with another five on the ground. He had a hand in 378 plays for Bellmont. • Dylan Andrews, Jr. LB, and Caden Friedt, Sr. LB, Bellmont: A pretty effective 1-2 punch. The Braves duo combined for more than 160 tackles. • Tylar Pomeroy, Sr. DL, DeKalb: Could be the best player up front in the conference.

New faces: • Eric Davis, Bellmont • Bob Prescott, Huntington North

TAYLOR LEHMAN

East Noble senior Josh Deetz brings down Leo senior quarterback AJ Restivo last season at Leo High School.

Have A Great Season!

Jon R. Thornton Director

Jeanie Eichler Office Manager

200 W. Toledo St. Fremont, IN

(260) 495-2915

Howard G. Beams Director

Page 27

necc conference

Page 28

Aug. 16

Aug. 23

Fairfield

Goshen Jamboree

7 p.m.

Goshen

7 p.m.

Aug. 30

Osceola Grace

7 p.m.

Sept. 6

Central Noble

7 p.m.

Sept. 13

Fremont

Sept. 20

West Noble

7 p.m.

Sept. 27

Angola

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

Garrett

7 p.m.

Oct. 11

Lakeland

7 p.m.

Oct. 18

Churubusco

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

A brief history of American football BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION The sport known as American football was borne out of the English sports of association football (soccer) and rugby. During the late 19th century, elite Northeastern colleges took up the sport, playing a soccer-type game with rules adopted from the London Football Association. Intercollegiate matches began to spring up at schools such as Rutgers, Princeton, Harvard and McGill University. Rugby-type rules became preferential among players and spectators. Walter Camp, known affectionately as the “Father of American Football,” transformed the rugby-style game into the one that resembles American football today. Camp brought two key innovations to the game. The opening “scrummage” was eliminated, and a rule was introduced that required a team to give up the ball after failing to advance down the field a specific yardage. Camp also developed the quarterback position, lines of scrimmage and the scoring scale used in football today. Early games were controversial because of the high rate of injury. Even President Theodore Roosevelt stepped in to ask collegiate teams to revise regulations to make the game less brutal. The committee overseeing the rules would later become known as the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Thanks largely in part to the popularity of college football, professional football began to gain traction with the public. The American Professional Football Association was formed in 1920. That league would later become the National Football League. The first televised NFL game occurred in 1939. Eventually, American football’s popularity would explode. What developed on college campuses has grown into a worldwide phenomenon. According to the International Federation of American Football, there are 80 countries with organized federations governing the game. Plus, thousands of youth and adult leagues exist all over the world.

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METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

The average high school football player experiences 592 head impacts in one season, according to the CDC.

Avoid head injuries during sports play BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION Participation in scholastic sports can be great for students, making a positive impact on their school careers both on the field and in the classroom. Sports can keep athletes physically fit, help develop confidence and assist students with making friends. However, as with all physical activities, safety must be made a priority by athletes, their parents and their coaches. Brainline, an organization offering information about brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, estimates that as many as 3.8 million concussions occur during competitive sports and recreational activities each year in the United States. Experts suggest that around 50 percent of concussions may go unreported. Although sports injuries rarely lead to fatalities, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons says the leading cause of death from sports-related injuries is traumatic brain injuries among children and adolescents.

A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts normal function of the brain, states AANS. A concussion is a type of TBI in which the head and brain move back and forth from a blow, bump or jump. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that children and teens make up 70 percent of all sports-related concussions treated in emergency rooms. Concussions can occur in any sports, but are prevalent in football, cycling, hockey, rugby, soccer and basketball, according to data published in 2013 in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. Concussions also can occur in the sport of cheerleading, which has changed dramatically in the last 20 years as participants perform increasingly difficult acrobatic stunts. Preventing traumatic brain injuries involves diligence on the part of parents, student athletes and coaches. • The AANS says helmets reduce the risk of head injury by at least 45 percent and brain injury by 33 percent. Wearing

safety gear while participating in sports is essential. • Sports teams can focus on safety through hard work and dedication rather than a “win at all costs” mentality that may entice players to take risks that lead to injury. • Rules should be enforced, especially those for fair play and safety. Striking other athletes in the head or using their head or helmet to contact another athlete, or other illegal contacts, should result in reprimands. • Students should recognize their skill sets and not try dangerous moves that can put their health at risk. • Athletes can consult with coaches to learn maneuvers and strategies that can reduce risk for injury, such as safe tackling techniques and using spotters when strength training. Should a head injury occur, athletes should not return to play until they have been evaluated and cleared by a health professional. It is better to be out one game than risk permanent injury.

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Shop for sports eye protection BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION Autumn marks the beginning of many scholastic sports seasons, including football. Sports can be exciting and challenging for athletes, but athletes also are at risk of injury. Prevent Blindness America notes that more than 40,000 people seek treatment for sports-related eye injuries each year. While many of those injuries affect children, the good news is that sports-related eye injuries are largely preventable. Sports eye protection is a must, and protective eyewear should be included on back-to-school shopping lists. In addition to wearing protective eyewear when playing sports, athletes can take the following steps to avoid sports-related eye injuries. • Wear helmets. Kids who play youth baseball should always wear batting helmets with polycarbonate face shields when batting. When playing hockey, use helmets with face shields approved by the U.S. Amateur Hockey Association. • Wear safety goggles. Regular glasses or goggles may not offer adequate protection. Wear proper safety goggles that have lensed polycarbonate protectors for racquet sports or basketball. All eye guards or protective eyewear should be labeled ASTM F803-approved, according to Prevent Blindness America. This eyewear is guaranteed to offer the highest levels of protection. • Recognize non-contact sports also can be dangerous. Even non-contact sports such as badminton can present a chance for injury. Individuals should exercise caution any time they play sports that require the use of balls, racquets or flying objects. • Speak with coaches and teachers. Open a dialogue with coaches or physical education administrators in an effort to highlight the importance of protective eyewear and learn about the steps being taken to protect athletes and their eyes. Include youngsters in these discussions so they learn about the need for protective eyewear and the benefits that such eyewear

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provides in sports where there is a high to moderate risk of eye injury. • Protect eyes from the sun. Athletes who play outdoor sports should take steps to protect their eyes from the sun. When shopping for goggles, find ones that offer UV protection. In addition, look for tinted lenses that reduce glare. • Exercise good sportsmanship. Always follow the rules of the sport and be a good team player. Use the equipment in the way it was intended so everyone, including teammates and opponents, is as safe as possible. Sports-related eye safety is about prevention.

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Sports-related eye safety is about prevention. Protective eyewear is essential when competing in various sports.

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Celebrating homecoming BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION Students may think that their proms and graduation ceremonies mark the last time they will spend time together on campus. But there will likely be many more opportunities for students to proudly wear their school colors and cheer for their alma maters. Homecoming parades, dances and sporting events offer opportunities for recent grads to return to the hallowed halls of their schools. The origins of homecoming celebrations may be traced to a 1911 football game at the University of Missouri. However, Baylor University and the University of Illinois also take credit for homecoming traditions. Typically homecoming is the start of a spirit week designed to boost the morale of students and athletes alike. Homecoming also may signal the first game home after teams have been on the road. Homecoming celebrations are often built around football games, but basketball and hockey also have shared the homecoming spotlight. Homecoming enables current and former students to celebrate and display their pride for their schools. Celebrations may include parades, rallies, speeches and dances. Homecoming festivities also may serve to have alumni mingle and network with others who have sat in the same classrooms and played on the same fields. Some schools elect homecoming courts, which include homecoming kings and queens, as well as accompanying princes and princesses. Students who are elected to the court are usually heavily involved in school activities. The court may participate in a parade that includes floats and music from the school’s marching band. Homecoming dances tend to be a culmination of homecoming festivities at the end of the spirit week. Students are welcome to attend, and alumni from past years often show up as well. The dance may include a banquet, in which particular students are recognized for their efforts. Alumni may be asked to deliver speeches or hand out awards. Homecoming is celebrated across much of North America, among both high school and college students. It is a special time to rekindle relationships with one’s school and show off pride in one’s alma mater.