Team Rosters & Schedules Preseason All-Area Conference Previews Wednesday, August 24, 2022 FOOTBALLFOOTBALLPREPPREVIEWPREPPREVIEW 2022
2 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk MEDIASHAW Table of Contents What’s WhereConference previews Western Big 6............................ 4 Big Northern............................. 5 Three Rivers Mississippi............ 6 Three Rivers Rock..................... 7 NUIC......................................... 8 8-Man....................................... 9Team capsule pages Amboy..................................... 10 Ashton-Franklin Center............ 11 Bureau Valley........................... 12 Dixon....................................... 13 Forreston................................. 15 Erie-Prophetstown................... 18 Eastland-Pearl City................... 19 Fulton...................................... 21 Milledgeville.............................. 22 Morrison.................................. 23 Newman.................................. 24 Oregon.................................... 26 Polo......................................... 27 Rock Falls................................ 28 Sterling.................................... 29 West Carroll............................. 30 This and that Ty Reynolds column................... 3 Preseason All-Area.............. 16-17 Week-by-week schedule........... 31 Section Credits Contributors Ty Reynolds, Dan Wussow, Cody Cutter, Andy Colbert Photography Alex T. Paschal, Earleen Hinton Cover design Teresa Spence SVM Honors > Sauk Valley Media’s Football Guide has won Top 10 awards in 11 of the Associated Press Sports Editors’ last 13 national competitions. Best Special Section, under 40,000 circulation 2007 • 2008 • 2009 Best Special Section, under 30,000 circulation 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 2014 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 Good Luck to All Area Teams! Hours Mon -Fri 10-6 • Sat 9-3 Your 1st and 2nd Chance Dealer! Check out our website @ 1397 N. Galena Av e., Dixon 288-5626 708 First Av enue, Rock Falls 622-6655 Good Luck Amboy Clippers! NG alena eD 1ixon 3 9 7 N G a l e n a e D i x o n www.saukvalleymotors.com
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Every year, high school football teams go through the tough process of saying goodbye the seniors who are leaving, then turning around the next fall and trying to identify the new players who will replace them in the lineup.Butentering my 23rd football season here at Sauk Valley Media, I can’t remember the last time there was so many big shoes to fill on so many of our area teams. Looking back at the all-area team from last fall, 32 of the 48 players were seniors – 17 on the first team, 15 on the second team – leaving 16 returning players who were among their team and area-wide leaders on the field and in the final stats in 2021.
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Now, I realize that’s one-third of the highest-impact players from the area last year coming back and putting on the pads again this season. But the big gest hit from losing the other two-thirds won’t just be on the stat sheet, but also as leaders on and off the field.
The intangibles of losing such a strong senior class – for every team –is not necessarily how you replace their production on Friday nights, but how well the next group of seniors can step up and fill those leadership roles for the next season. Looking back over some of the names and accomplishments from last fall, that’s the thing that jumped out to me most: it seems like every team in the area lost at least one key leader whose absence might be felt even more in the locker room than between the lines on the field. But that’s the beauty of high school sports. Every year, there’s going to be turnover, and it’s how a team deals with it that determines how much success they’ll have. So here’s to the next group of team leaders who will step up and find their voices to lead the way in 2022. We’ll know who they are by looking at this year’s all-area team in a few months.
4 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk MEDIASHAW Western Big 6 Conference Preview 2022
Geneseo Maple Leafs 2021 record: 3-6 Coach: Larry Johnsen Jr. Worth noting: The Maple Leafs have missed the playoffs three consecutive seasons; prior to that, they missed the postseason only three times total since the playoffs began in 1974. They haven’t had a winning record since 2016. … Geneseo returns almost every skill-position player from a year ago, led by Jaden Weinzierl (8 rushes, 439 yards, 6 TDs; 29 catches, 441 yards, 5 TDs), Josh Steines (86-329, 5 TDs), William Taylor (26 catches, 219 yards) and Calvin Pettit (9 catches, 177 yards, TD).
… In the first year of running the spread offense, quarterback A.J. Weller threw for 1,105 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore; he also ran for 248 yards and two scores. … The Leafs outscored opponents 221-187 last season.
UnitedPanthersTownship 2021 record: 4-5 Coach: Nick Welch Worth noting: The Panthers just missed the playoffs last year, mixing some explosive plays with a young offensive line that “got bullied a little bit,” according to Welch. He hopes to be more physical up front and also likes the speed and tenacity of his defense. … Quarterback Matthew Kelly returns after rushing for 256 yards and throwing for 1,158 yards and 12 TDs. Welch expects three quality – but inexperienced – running backs to take some of the pressure off of his QB, while he believes the young receiving corps can provide some explosive plays.
2021SilverGalesburgStreaksrecord: 4-5 Coach: Derrek Blackwell Worth noting: The Silver Streaks lost dynamic twin duo Alex and Dre Egipciaco to graduation; they’re both now playing at Monmouth College. Alex led the Streaks in rushing (89-599, 3 TDs), and Dre was the top receiver (24-379, 4 TDs).
… Moline lost quarterback Alec Ponder (1,664 passing yards, 18 TDs, 14 INTs) to graduation. … Four of the top five receivers from last year’s squad are also gone. Grant Sibley caught 15 passes for 209 yards and a score last year as a junior.
2021GoldenSterlingWarriorsrecord: 7-3 Coach: Jon Schlemmer Worth noting: The Golden Warriors bring back the league’s leading rusher in the regular season a year ago in Antonio Tablante, who ran for 1,092 yards and 14 TDs. He has an offer from Western Illinois. … AJ Kested, who ran for 268 yards and four scores a year ago, was also a force in the Sterling defensive backfield. … Cale Ledergerber stepped up as a sophomore and ran for 291 yards and a TD, and will likely look to increase his workload this fall. … Sterling lost Drew Kested (455 rush yards, 639 pass yards, 11 total TDs) from its QB rotation from a year ago, but return Garrett Polson (113 pass yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs), and also Kael Ryan, who missed last fall after tearing his right ACL late in the spring season. … Tommy Tate (20 catches, 186 yards in 2021) will lead the way for an inexperienced receiver corps.
Moline Maroons 2021 record: 9-2 Coach: Mike Morrissey Worth noting: The Maroons won the conference title last season, the first time any team besides Sterling had won it since the Golden Warriors joined in 2019. Moline outscored opponents 424157. … Leading rusher Riley Fuller returns after running for 1,188 yards and 9 TDs last fall. Pablo Perez (60-322, 5 TDs) and Mason Woods (50395, TD) will likely help carry the load.
Quincy Blue Devils 2021 record: 4-5 Coach: Rick Little Worth noting: The Blue Devils will likely rely heavily on the(14-225,TDs)(33aandDouglasinterceptions.touchdownsforsophomore,(438teamHequarterbackdual-threatAdonByquist.wassecondontheinrushinglastyearyards,8TDs)asaandthrew1,208yardsand13withseven…Brianranfor264yardsthreeTDslastseasonasjunior,whileGregQuincecatches,573yards,3andJackMettemeyer7TDs)returnastopwideouts.
… Cameron Aguirre (108 rushes, 541 yards, 8 TDs) and Amari Richardson (31220, 4 TDs) look to take over the load in the ground game, while QB Tristan Legate returns after throwing for 962 yards, 11 TDs and 10 INTs in 2021. … Mikey Eiker is the leading receiver back this season (10-208, 2 TDs) last year.
Rock Island Rocks 2021 record: 6-4 Coach: Ben Hammer Worth noting: The Rocks outscored opponents 300-223 last year in the regular season. Their only two league losses came to Moline in Week 4 (63-0) and Sterling in Week 7 (5635); those were the only two games they allowed more than 30 points in the regular season. ... Their season ended with a 94-72 loss to Springfield in the first round of the 6A playoffs. … Quonterrion Brooks ran for 978 yards and 11 TDs last season, and also caught six passes for 125 yards and a TD. … Rock Island must replace starting QB Eli Reese (1,610 yards passing, 20 TDs, 9 INTs).
Alleman Pioneers 2021 record: 0-9 Coach: Fritz Dieudonne Worth noting: The Pioneers scored 14 points all season and suffered seven shutout losses. They gave up at least 48 points in every game (489 total), and allowed an average of 54.3 points per game. … Alleman brings back three of its top five running backs in Andrew Torres (134 rushes, 327 yards in 2021), Lincoln Dorsey (32-195, TD) and Jake Casel (23-23), as well as quarterback Quentin Fonseca (22 for 75, 130 yards TD, 3 INTs), who are all seniors this fall.
… The defense only allowed 149 points last year.
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Coach: Jeff Boyer Worth noting: After their perfect run to a 3A title last year, there are some holes to fill for the Tigers. A lot of offense production is gone, though Braden Smith returns for his third year starting at quarterback. Tyler Reed, a senior, started on both lines his sophomore year, but missed last year with an injury. Jake Kahn started on both lines last year. And while not a starter, Kye Aken ran for 363 yards and four touchdowns and returns this year. Jacob Ross started as a freshman last year and is also back at linebacker.
Dixon Dukes 2021 record: 6-4 Coach: Jared Shaner Worth noting: The Dukes bring back starters at quarterback (junior Tyler Shaner), running back (senior Rylan Ramsdell) and receiver (senior Jath St. Pier) this season, which will help lessen the blow of losing a strong senior class that included leading rusher Zavion Johnson and top receivers Mason Randick and Jacob Gusse. Shaner started for the first half of the season after incumbent starter Jacob Gaither broke his finger rught before the season opener, and ended up leading Dixon with 906 yards and 9 TDs on 73-for-115 passing, with only 3 INTs. Ramsdell was the Dukes’ second-leading rusher, finishing with 577 yards and 6 TDs on 82 rushes; Shaner was the third-leading rusher with 494 yards and 5 TDs on 84 carries. St. Pier was Dixon’s third-leading receiver with 20 catches for 312 yards and 3 TDs. The Dukes boast some size up front on offense, and always seem to find linebackers with a nose for the ball.
Rock Falls Rockets 2021 record: 1-8 Coach: Kevin Parker Worth noting: Parker is back on the sideline after missing the second half of last season following the death of his son, Brock, in a car accident. Brock, a senior on the team last year, was injured in the crash on Sept. 17, hours before the Rockets’ Week 4 game; he died a week later. Rock Falls loses its biggest weapon from a year ago in Booker Cross, a unanimous first-team all-BNC performer who finished with 881 rushing yards and 10 TDs; he also caught six passes for 121 yards and 2 TDs, and was a dangerous returner in addition to his 50 tackles and two interceptions on defense. Seniors Ryan McCord and Aidan Kobbeman will play roles as the top running backs and linebackers.
RockfordCrusadersLutheran 2021 record: 4-5 Coach: Jeff Luedke Worth noting: Luedke is the fourth head coach for the Crusaders since coach Bruce Bazsali left the program after the 2016 season. Luedke was an assistant for Bazsali on a team that went 50-9 from 2012-2016 but hasn’t had a winning record since. The team is mostly sophomores and has spent the summer working through “a lot of issues,” according to Luedke, including trust, expectations, leadership, and terminology. Luedke said he’s been impressed with Jack Behmer at outside linebacker, and Kyng Hughes will operate at quarterback.
Winnebago Indians 2021 record: 3-6 Coach: Mark Helm Worth noting: Helm said his team has some solid young players that were a part of that group that leaves him very optimistic about the program. Junior Logan Olson started as a sophomore and is back at running back and linebacker. Senior Alec Weavel returns at quarterback, and Andrew Penticoff and Will Speltz are both senior tight ends that make great targets for Weavel. Seniors Kendrick Meador and Braden Naill return on the offensive line.
StillmanCardinalsValley 2021 record: 8-3 Coach: Mike Lalor Worth noting: The Cardinals have made three straight postseason berths, reaching the second round each time, and look to keep up that run this year after missing the playoffs from 2014-17 – and that drought came on the heels of a 3A title in 2013. Jory Spain, a 6-1, 205-pound running back is back to key the offense this year, and Kale Rauman is expected to start at quarterback for the second straight year.
Oregon Hawks 2021 record: 2-7 Coach: Broc Kundert Worth noting: The Hawks look to continue their recent rebuild under a new head coach in Kundert, a 2007 Freeport High School grad and Aquin head coach the past four years. He will look for more balance from the traditional run-heavy attack.
Rockford Christian Royal Lions 2021 record: 0-9 Coach: Terry Gulley Worth noting: The team had made three straight playoff appearances prior to the pandemic, but struggled in its first year back in the BNC last year. Junior Keon Leach returns after throwing for almost 1,000 yards.
Big Northern Conference Preview 2022
2021 record: 14-0
The Hawks will look to use a committee approach to replace Daniel Dominguez, who ran for 953 yards and eight TDs on 182 carries last season. Look for senior Gabe Eckerd and junior Trevor Burkhart to handle a lot of that load. Seniors Evan Flaharty (6-foot-2, 285 pounds) and Jon Alaniz (6-0, 250) will anchor the line, while sophomore Josh Crandall (6-3, 190) will get a lot of snaps at end.
Byron Tigers
North Boone Vikings 2021 record: 5-5 Coach: Ryan Kelley Worth noting: On a team with just four seniors, the performance of Chandler Alderman will be key. He’s a Division I athlete, committing to Middle Tennessee State next year to play baseball as a left-handed pitcher. Wide receiver/running back Chris Doetch will help replace the production of his brother Will from last year. The Vijings have six offensive and five defensive starters back.
Genoa-Kingston Cogs 2021 record: 10-2 Coach: Cameron Davekos Worth noting: The Cogs have made six straight playoff appearances and haven’t lost more than two regular-season games since 2015. Last year the team reached the 4A quarterfinals for the first time since 2016. While there were some losses, including allstate linebacker Colin Nesler and fullback Chase Engel, the Cogs also have plenty back. Ethan Wilnau ran for 673 yards and had a knack for forcing turnovers at both linebacker and defensive back. Brody Engel had 86 tackles and four interceptions last year, and Nolan Perry played both linebacker and quarterback, notching 63 tackles and 14 for a loss.
… The Storm will flip its experience strength from the backfield last year to the line this year with seniors Ayize Martin and Cameron Lillie and juniors Jon Dybek and Connor Scott, all twoyear returning starting linemen. Martin and Dybek, who Pistole said have allconference potential, will anchor the defensive line. ...
Coach: Ryan Pearson Worth noting: The Tigers have made three playoff appearances in four full seasons under Pearson, including its second quarterfinal berth in 2021, and are reloading to make another deep run this year. ... The Tigers return much talent on both sides of the ball, including all-state quarterback Teegan Davis, who accounted for more than 2,900 yards and 35 touchdowns by rushing and passing, and running back Augie Christiansen (954 yards, 14 TDs). There are eight starters back on the defensive side, but must replace standout linebacker Drew Harp, now at North Central College. ... Team speed will be a team strength for Princeton, Pearson noting it is unlike any he has before in more than two decades as coach. St. Bede Bruins 2021 record: 8-3 Coach: Jim Eustice Worth noting: The Bruins return a solid nucleus from a team that went 7-2 in the regular season and advanced to the second round of the Class 1A playoffs last season, including quarterback John Brady (1,699 yards passing, 14 TDs; 700 yards rushing, 7 TDs). Calym Setser, Callan Hueneburg, Ryan Brady and Seth Ferrari will get touches at running back, while Connor Brown, Evan Entrican, Landon Jackson and Ben Wallace will play receiver and help the Bruins try to replace Tyreke Fortney, who is now at Illinois State after racking up more than 1,000 offensive yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Ben Burke, Ryan Migliorini and Joe Bima return up front.
Three Rivers Mississippi Conference Preview 2022
Mendota Trojans 2021 record: 5-5 Coach: Keegan Hill Worth noting: Last fall, the Trojans went 5-5 and qualified for the playoffs –and had their first season with more than one win –since 2014. ... While Mendota graduated a lot of skill position players on offense, the Trojans return four starters on the offensive line in Jose Rocha, Landon Kreiser, Jordan Coney and Neal Linden. Anthony Childs (467 rushing yards, 6 TDs) is back at running back, while J.P. Belmonte also got some carries last fall. Isaac Smith, Ryne Strouss and Garrett Zinke return at receiver, and Hill said Smith “might get touches in other ways.”
Though undersized, Scott, heads up the linebacker corps again, the returning leading tackler (62) and “best defensive player” last year. Pistole said Scott gets the most out of his abilities. … Senior Isaac Attig, who split time at running back last year, is the only returner in the backfield. This year he is vying for quarterback duties with sophomore Bryce Helms, who has never played the position before.
Newman Comets 2021 record: 7-4 Coach: Mike LeMay Worth noting: LeMay takes over for Brandon Kreczmer, who guided the Comets to a 23-6 record over the last three season, including their sixth state championship in his first season in 2019. … LeMay is a 2006 Newman grad who played for the legendary Mike Papoccia and was a sophomore on the 2004 state title team. He spent the last decade as an assistant coach at Sterling High School, and served as the Golden Warriors’ defensive coordinator by the time he left. … LeMay says he’s looking to diversify the Comets’ traditional “Blue Machine” ground-and-pound style by incorporating more of a passing game, but expects to play the same hard-nosed, aggressive defense. … Newman must replace leading rusher Marcus Williams and second-leading rusher and leading tackler Ethan Van Landuit, among others in a strong senior class, but brings back Nolan Britt (54 rushes, 384 yards, 3 TDs), Gabe Padilla (49 rushes, 276 yards, 2 TDs) and Hunter Luyando (40 rushes, 227 yards, 3 TDs); Luyando will also anchor the Comets’ linebacking corps. … Newman must also replace its starting quarterback and four of its top five receivers.
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Hall Red Devils 2021 record: 1-8 Coach: Randy Tieman Worth noting: Tieman returns to his alma mater for his second stint as head coach, and he is looking to turn the Red Devils around once again. Tieman went 45-39 with six playoff appearances in eight seasons from 2012-19 after inheriting a program that went 8-19 over the previous three seasons. This time, he takes over a team that was 2-12 over the two 2021 seasons. ... Putnam County is joining Hall this season for a co-op. ... The Red Devils have a standout to build around in senior Mac Resetich. He played quarterback for Tieman as a freshman, but was a running back the last two seasons. Tieman said Resetich will be a running back this season but could also see time under center. Resetich ran for 754 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 22 passes for 407 yards and three scores. Senior Hunter Meagher will be Hall’s quarterback. Kewanee Boilermakers
2021 record: 9-2 Coach: Brad Swanson Worth noting: Kewanee is getting a field makeover with artificial turf being installed at its stadium. The Boilermakers will also have a bit of a new look with the loss of mainstays Niko Powe (RB), now playing at Knox College, and Will Bruno (QB). There are seven starters back in the fold – juniors Corbyn Powers (OL), Blake Johnston (DL) and Brady Clark (CB/K) and seniors Nate Lockett (FB), Jaxson Hicks, (DL), Jaiden Little (LB) and Garret Pettit (LB). ... Clark looks to take over at quarterback.
Junior Justin Randolph will take over at quarterback, replacing three-year starter Ted Landgraf. ... The Trojans lost a lot on defense to graduation but have several players with experience, including Childs, Belmonte, Linden and Charles Heiting at linebacker and Strouss in the secondary.
Bureau Valley Storm 2021 record: 3-6 Coach: Mat Pistole Worth noting: Numbers are up in the Storm camp and the enthusiasm is in place for a solid season this fall. There should be more than 45 kids in the program, which is a significant increase from any time in Pistole’s previous three years at the helm.
Princeton Tigers 2021 record: 10-2
Three Rivers Rock Conference Preview 2022
2021Monmouth-RosevilleTitansrecord: 6-4 Coach: Jeremy Adolphson Worth noting: The Titans return 18 letter-winners from last year’s playoff team. They have five seniors who received all-conference recognition, including four three-year starters. There are seven returning starters on offense and five on defense. ... Senior quarterback Silas Braun threw for 1,451 yards and 15 TDs, and also rushed 507 yards and 13 TDs on 86 carries. Senior running backs CJ Johnson (484 yards, 3 TDs rushing; 153 yards, 2 TDs receiving) and Jerome Jackson (235 yards, 4 TDs) are also back. Johnson had 87 tackles from his linebacker position. The Titans finshed second behind Erie-Prophetstown in the TRAC Rock, reaching the 3A playoffs. Adolphson looks for similar success this year. “We believe that we will be in the hunt for another playoff berth and conference championship,” he said.
2021Erie-ProphetstownPanthersrecord: 8-3 Coach: Jesse Abbott Worth noting: The Panthers finished last season strong, winning eight straight games after an 0-2 start before bowing out in the second round of the 2A playoffs. It was their first trip to the postseason since making three in a row from 201214. … There are big shoes to fill from a year ago, starting with do-everything QB Kolby Franks. The Sauk Valley Media Player of the Year, Franks led the SVM area in rushing (190 carries, 1,566 yards 24 TDs) and was fourth with 975 passing yards and nine TDs, completing 59 of his 86 passes, with eight interceptions. … E-P also must replace second-leading rusher and leading receiver Connor Sibley, as well as fourth-leading rusher and second-leading receiver Mason Misfeldt. … Senior Jase Grunder looks to help fill those roles, after he ran for 422 yards and nine TDs on 55 rushes last year, while catching 13 passes for 150 yards; he was also the second-leading tackler with 109 stops (59 solo). … Senior Clay Hockaday will anchor an inexperienced line on both sides of the ball, while Jack Minssen will likely start at quarterback.
Orion Chargers 2021 record: 4-5 Coach: Chip Filler Worth noting: After falling short of the playoffs last season, the Chargers, who made the postseason six consecutive seasons from 2014-19 and nine times total since Filler took over in 2009, look to get back on track with an experienced roster that returns eight starters on both sides of the ball. ... Defensively, Orion brings back its entire line in ends Duncan Adamson and Luke Dunlap, who was all-conference last year, and tackles Kale Stropes and Quincy Perry. Honorable mention all-conference pick Lane Johnson returns at linebacker, while the secondary features four-year starter Cole Kratzberg at safety and Keagan Blessman and Kameron Weaver at corner. ... Offensively, Kratzberg is back at running back after rushing for more than 1,100 yards last season. He’s closing in on the program’s career rushing record. Also back are Johnson at fullback, Stropes, Perry, Nolan Loete and allconference pick Dunlap on the line and Blayden Murdock and Anthony Clark at receiver. ... The Chargers do have some key spots to fill at quarterback, left tackle, two outside linebackers and a safety. Senior Drake Gunn, junior Caiden Mielke and freshman Kale Filler – Chip Filler’s son – are in the mix at QB. Phillip Dochterman and Cooper Holke are battling at left tackle, while sophomore Maddux Anderson (RB/LB), junior Kaden Edmunds (RB/ LB) and senior Connor Green (WR/DB), who missed the last two seasons, are expected to make an impact.
Riverdale Rams 2021 record: 1-8 Worth noting: The Rams have canceled their varsity season due to lack of numbers.
Morrison Mustangs 2021 record: 2-7 Coach: Steve Snider Worth noting: The Mustangs must replace 15 seniors from last year’s roster of 40 players, including running backs Alex Anderson and Thomas Dauphin, and wideouts Trey Strating and Andre McQueen. … Junior Carson Strating looks to be the workhorse again this fall, after leading Morrison in rushes (204), yards (846) and touchdowns (5) last season, while Logan Baker will return at fullback. … Danny Mouw also returns at QB, having thrown for 548 yards, 4 TDs and five interceptions while completing 38 of his 71 passes last fall. … WR Chase Newman joins Carson Strating as a returning second-team all-conference player from a year ago.
Rockridge Rockets 2021 record: 5-5 Coach: Sam Graves Worth noting: The Rockets have a lot of questions to answer heading into the new season, with just four returning starters on both sides of the ball and replacing a three-year starter at quarterback and four of five offensive lineman. Senior Jacob Bayne faces the task of taking over for Breyden Deem at quarterback. Graves said Bayne has “worked hard for this spot.” ... The one area Rockridge has no questions about is at running back, where senior Peyton Locke returns. Locke (DB) and Connor Deem (WR/CB) return as two-way starters. ... Landon Bull is the lone returning offensive lineman, with Reese Fince back on the D line, Kameron Bohnsack at receiver and Alex Zarlatanes at linebacker.
Sherrard Tigers 2021 record: 0-9 Coach: Brad Johnston Worth noting: With only four seniors lost to graduation, the Tigers return plenty of experience as they look to turn around the program after a winless 2021. Senior Walker Anderson will lead the way after earning honorable mention all-conference honors last fall as an offensive tackle and linebacker. Also back are seniors Ryley Zippe (OL/DL) and Brody Bernier (WR/DB), along with juniors Holland Anderson (QB/ DB), Noah Fender (WR/ DB), Riley Colbrese (RB/ LB), Hunter Timerman (WR/ DB), Bailey Nelson (WR/ DL) and Zach Shields (OL/ DL). Senior Izaac Novitske (RB/DB), juniors Kyler Schmidt, Andy Johnson, Parker Adams and Kyler Gross, who are all receivers/ defensive backs, juniors Colton Dean, Jacob Werner and Collin Richardason, who are linemen, and sophomores Garrett Woodward (RB/DB), Aidan Geyssens (OL/DL) and Grady Steele (OL/DL) are newcomers expected to make an impact.
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West Carroll Thunder 2021 record: No record Coach: Teo Clark Worth noting: After playing just three varsity games the last two seasons, the Thunder are back to a full regular season schedule. In 2019, its last full season, West Carroll went 5-5, qualifying for the playoffs for the third time in five years after a seven-year absence. ... West Carroll played an eight-game JV schedule last season due to a low number of upperclassmen. ... This will be the first full varsity season with Clark at the helm. He was hired right before the 2020 COVIDaltered season. ... Junior AJ Boardman will play QB for the Thunder, and Clark describes him as having a strong arm and also being a hard runner. He also likes his corps of young, athletic receivers, but with only a few seniors on the roster, knows there will be some growing pains for a young team.
Stockton Blackhawks
A few newcomers poised to play major roles this year are WR/S Jaylen Noud, WR/DB Drew Williams and H/LB Brayden Hughes.
Galena Pirates 2021 record: 5-5 Coach: Ed Freed Worth noting: Lost IHSFCA All-State First Team DB/ QB Ethan Hefel and allconference first team WR Brady Schemehor.n ... Lost one-score games to Fulton and Forreston last year. ... Edged Eastland-Pearl City 41-40 in a double-overtime thriller in Week 6. Lena-WinslowPanthers 2021 record: 12-2 Coach: Ric Arand Worth noting: Two-time defending Class 1A state champs. ... Finding players to fill the voids left by IHSFCA All-State First Team offense and defense pick LB/ TE Brody Mahon, and allconference first team offense and defense pick, RB/DB Marey Roby, will be key. ... Junior DL/FB Gage Dunker returns, fresh off a first team all-conference defense selection last season, along with OL/DL Henry Engel, RB/ DB Jake Zeal and OL Jake Tippett. ... Newcomers slated for significant roles this year include TE/OLB Jace Flynn, TE/OLB Ayden Packard and Orangeville transfer, RB/ MLB Gunar Lobdell.
8 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk MEDIASHAW Northwest Upstate Illini Conference Preview 2022
Senior QB/DB Brock Smith returns from a back injury, and junior RB/DB Alex Ryia is on the mend after suffering a broken wrist over the summer.
Fulton Steamers 2021 record: 9-3 Coach: Patrick Lower Worth noting: Reached the Class 1A quarterfinals in 2021. ... Senior-heavy roster this year. ... Senior OL/DL Braiden Damhoff, senior TE Ethan Price, senior RB/ DB Ryan Eads, junior WR/ LB Baylen Damhoff, senior DL Zane Pannell, senior DB Conner Sheridan, and senior K Endi Qunaj are returning starters. ... The Steamers lost IHSFCA All-State First Team RB/LB Keegan VanKampen. ... Senior quarterback Brayden Dykstra will lead aerial assault. ... Senior Robbie Scheckler, senior Joel Ford and junior Chris Carroll step in to fortify the offensive line. ... Seniors Lukas Schroeder and Ben Fosdick add to a talented backfield.
...
Coach: Matthew Leitzen Worth noting: Junior OL/ DL Michael Haas, an allconference honorable mention on both sides in 2021, is back to anchor the lines. Haas recorded 45 tackles last season. ... Jace Phillips and Dustin Oppold will carry much of the load in the backfield and lead the linebacker corps. Phillips rushed for 374 yards on 86 carries and had 71 tackles last season, while Oppold ran for 318 yards on 73 carries, and totaled 37 tackles. Senior OL/DL Dawson Broshous and senior WR/ DB Noah Hess also return as starters. ... Newcomers expected to play significant roles this year are junior RB/ LB Tanner Gile and junior OL/DL Wesley Logemann.
OL/DL Noah Wenzel, DB Phoenix Blakely and WR/DB Nolan Mayberry are a few newcomers expected to play significant roles this year.
Junior WR/RB/DB Brady Sweitzer started last year as a defensive back, and is a Swiss Army knife on offense with the ability to run, throw and catch. ... Senior guard/ nose tackle Cade Monks will be counted to start this season after serving as a rotational player last year.
Dakota Indians 2021 record: 2-7 Coach: Daniel Sheets Worth noting: The Indians enter a new era under firstyear head coach Daniel Sheets. ... Top returning players include RB/LB Adrian Arellano, who compiled over 600 allpurpose yards and more than 100 tackles, and Thomas Bowman, who will be moving to fullback after playing quarterback last year. As a defensive end, Bowman racked up more than 50 tackles in 2021.
Forreston Cardinals 2021 record: 8-3 Coach: Keynon Janicke Worth noting: The Cardinals bring back a wealth of experience on both sides of the line, led by seniors Johnny Kobler, Casey DeVries and Drew Dieterman, and junior Ethan Bocker. DeVries piled up 48 tackles, two sacks and one TFL last season ... Senior TE/LB Kyler Ganz is also expected to be a difference-maker this season. Ganz registered 45 tackles, including three for a loss in 2021. ... Forreston lost several running backs from last year’s platoon, including First Team IHSFCA All-State RB Matthew Beltran, but junior Kaleb Sanders returns to bolster the backfield. Sanders accounted for 378 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 60 carries in 2021, good for a robust 6.3 yards per carry. ... Ballhawking senior DB Payton Encheff is back as well, after tallying four interceptions, three pass breakups and 40 tackles a season ago ...
2021 record: 3-6
2021Durand-PecatonicaRivermenrecord: 9-2 Coach: Tyler Hoffman Worth noting: Senior RB/S AJ Mulcahy was all-conference honorable mention on both sides of the ball last season, as he led the Rivermen with 87 tackles and rushed for 553 yards and 5 TDs on 83 carries. Senior OL/DL Briaun Green is another top returning player, having earned first team allconference honors on both sides of the ball in 2021. Senior OL/LB Kaden Degner could also be poised for a big year. ...
Eastland-Pearl City Wildcatz 2021 record: 1-8 Coach: Jared McNutt Worth noting: The Wildcatz return a trio of two-way playmakers. Senior QB/LB Carsen Heeren will captain the team on both sides of the ball after playing wide receiver last year. Senior RB/ LB Maddux Hayden is a fast and physical player with a chance at a breakout season.
2021Amboy-LaMoille-OhioClippersrecord: 7-5 Coach: Scott Payne Division: I8FA North 2 Worth noting: The Clippers got better and better as last season went on, and ended up knocking off two higher seeds in the playoffs to reach the semifinals, where they lost to eventual runner-up Orangeville. ... Amboy brings back Tucker Lindenmeyer at QB, Brennan Blaine at WR, and Kye Koch at RB, while Quinn Leffelman will step in at FB for the graduated Joe Quest. ... On defense, top tackler Levi McKinley returns to the lineup, as the Clippers bring back four of their top six tacklers. ... Amboy outscored opponents 403-301 last year.
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Physician Assistant Ethan Brooks, DSC, PA-C Sports Physical Therapist Geoff Wright, PT, DPT, SCS AFC Raiders
2021 record: 0-9 Coach: Ben Mershon Division: I8FA North 1 Worth noting: After having only one senior last season, the Raiders have 11 this year, and half of those have four years of varsity experience. … Senior Carson Rueff returns at quarterback, while Sean Lauer, Auden Polk and Zane Murphy are back at at wide receiver. Also returning are end Lane Koning and two-way lineman Kaleb Goldman. … Freshmen Lane Messer and Logan Mershon could also make an impact this season for AFC. … The Raiders will pick up a forfeit win in Week 1, as Harvest Christian Academy will not have enough players to field a team.
Treating sports injuries, strains, sprains, overuse injuries, and sports concussion.
Milledgeville Missiles 2021 record: 9-2 Coach: Jason Wroble Division: I8FA North 2 Worth noting: The Missiles lost most of 2021’s starting lineup to graduation, but bring back junior Connor Nye for his second season as starting QB. ... Kacen Johnson returns at WR after missing the last few games last season with a broken leg, and Bryce Aude will also return at WR when he recovers from a leg injury. ... Senior Eric Ebersole will anchor an inexperienced line. ... The Missiles’ lone regular-season loss last year came to rival Polo in Week 1; they were the only team to beat Orangeville before the Broncos’ championshipgame loss to the Marcos.
Polo Marcos 2021 record: 13-0 Coach: Ted Alston Division: I8FA North 2 Worth noting: The Marcos have won the last two Illinois 8-Man Football Association state championships, in 2019 and 2021; there were no playoffs in the spring 2021 COVID-19 season. ... While much of last year’s line graduated, Polo brings back a pair of 1,400-yard rushers and I8FA first-team All-Staters in senior Avery Grenoble and junior Brock Soltow. ... Cayden Webster will take over at QB for the departed Tyler Merdian, who was a first-team I8FA AllState pick a year ago. ... The Marcos outscored opponents 543-189 last year, and 50 or more points in 7 games.
By DAN WUSSOW dwussow@shawmedia.com
SVM file photo by Alex T. Paschal – apaschal@shawmedia.com
“The chemistry of our team is built better after that loss to Orangeville,” he said. “So we’re able to be stron ger and have better chemistry than we did last year.” Lindenmeyer sees some of the younger players stepping up to help the Clippers’ cause this year. “A few of the younger kids that are taking over the varsity senior spots from last year I think are really improving, and they’re gonna fill in really good this year,” he said. In a survey of Clippers’ players and coach Payne, the consensus was that sophomore fullback Quinton Leffelman is poised to be this year’s breakout player. “We’ve got a sophomore, Quinton Leffelman. He’s going to be playing defensive end and fullback for us. He’s a really good kid,” coach Payne said. “He worked his butt off all summer, and we’re expecting big things out of him running the football and on defense. He started last year as a freshman for us at nose guard, so he’s even better this year than he was last year.”
AMBOY – Ending the 2021 Illinois 8-Man Football Association season in a 34-12 loss to Orangeville in eight-man state semifinals was a bitter ending to an otherwise satisfying season for the Amboy-LaMoilleOhio football team. This year, however, there’s plenty of optimism and excitement surrounding the team with the return of senior quarterback Tucker Lindenmeyer and several juniors who started last season.
“I’m really excited to be back. We took a tough loss last year after the Orangeville game,” junior MLB Levi McKinley said. “And the fans know, the whole community knows, the school knows: we’re gonna come back this season, we’re gonna get that game back, get all the games back, try to push to state, and really just show everyone what we can do this year.”
the
The Clippers will be tested right away in Week 1 when they travel to Polo to take on the two-time defending eight-man state champion Marcos. In Week 5, they’ll get their highly-anticipated rematch withThroughOrangeville.summer camp and the first few practices of the offseason, Amboy coach Scott Payne has been impressed with the leadership he’s seen – and struck by how close-knit this year’s team is. “These guys are working hard. Great team leaders. We’ve only got one senior, and he’s done a tremendous job of just being that lone senior and leading the team,” he said. “But all these juniors have really stepped up and done great jobs being team leaders and helping the younger kids along. And they all get along with each other. I’ve never seen a team with so much camaraderie as I do with these guys. Before practice, they’re over there joking around. They’re joking around after. It’s great to see that, those guys getting along as well as they do.”
‘We’re looking to go all the way this year’
Junior Trey Payne believes last year’s semifinal loss to Orangeville brought the team closer together.
“We’re excited to be back, especially after a tough loss to Orangeville last year in the semifinals. We’re looking to build on that this year,” said junior TE Brennan Blaine, an I8FA first-team selection in the utility category last season. “We don’t want to lose like we did. We’re looking to go all the way this year.”
Amboy-LaMoille-Ohio players run through drills July 28 at the high school. The Clippers open the season Aug. 26 against Polo.
509 LaMoille Rd, Sublette, IL 61367 815-849-5476 • www.woodhavenlakes.com See AMBOY, page 20
10 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk MEDIASHAW Amboy No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. 1 Kye Koch 5-9 155 Jr. RB/LB 2 Eddie Jones 6-0 165 So. QB/DB 3 Tucker Lindenmeyer 5-10 145 Sr. QB/DB 4 Josh McKendry 5-7 135 So. RB/DB 5 Landon Whelchel 5-9 155 Jr. RB/LB 7 Troy Anderson 6-0 175 Jr. TE/DB 9 Brody Christoffersen 5-10 155 So. QB/LB 10 Kabe Daniels 5-9 125 So. WR/DB 21 Quinn Leffelman 5-10 210 So. FB/DE 26 Caleb Yanos 5-11 135 So. WR/DE 52 Levi McKinley 5-10 160 Jr. FB/LB 53 Austin Heath 5-10 170 Jr. OL/DL 54 Ian Sundberg 5-11 215 Jr. OL/DL 55 Landon Montavon 5-9 215 Jr. OL/DL 57 Trey Payne 6-2 235 Jr. OL/DL 58 Vincent Zembrzuski 6-0 180 Jr. TE/DE 60 Isaiah Drew 5-10 180 Jr. OL/DL 63 Lucas Blanton 5-11 175 Jr. OL/DL 66 Geo Gatza 5-7 145 Jr. OL/DL 68 Caleb Shugars 5-8 190 So. OL/DL 72 Dillon Merriman 5-7 175 So. OL/DL 75 Zach Dunne 5-8 205 Jr. OL/DL 85 Brennan Blaine 6-2 205 Jr. TE/DEScheduleRoster Game time Opponent Fri., Aug. 26, 7 at Polo Fri., Sept. 2, 7 River Ridge Fri., Sept. 9, 7 Milledgeville Fri., Sept. 16, 7 Milford-Cissna Park Sat., Sept. 24, 1 at Orangeville Fri., Sept. 30, 7 Hiawatha Sat., Oct. 8, 2 at Bushnell-Prairie City Fri., Oct. 14, 7 at Aquin Fri., Oct., 21, 7 West Central 1922 Tower Rd, Sublette, IL Lori815-535-6295Erbes, Designated Managing Broker www.erbes-realty.com LLC SM-ST1964056
“I expect a lot out of the guys; I expect more out of the linemen than anything,” Kaleb Goldman said. “I’m the biggest guy out here, so I’m helping the rest of the guys, and they’re getting pretty competitive against me, so I expect a lot out of the linemen this year. We can’t do anything else without good line play, and we’ve got to help make the wide receivers and quarterbacks and running backs look good. We’ve got to do the dirty work, and I think we’ll be better at that this year.”
The players have certainly bought in, both in the offseason and during the summer workouts. And having an entire year now to get to know his full – and healthy – roster, Mershon feels like his team will look very different on the field this fall. Rueff agrees that the comfort level between the play ers and their coach will be a key factor for the Raiders.
“The second year with him being head coach, everybody’s more comfortable with his coaching style and everybody’s adapting to it,” he said. “I feel like this year we’re going to really put that relationship to good use and be more competitive because of it.”
According to another senior captain, that competi tiveness starts up front.
Mershon said the key is to play to the strengths of his roster, and that might include more of a passing game than just lining up and pounding away with the run.On the other side of the ball, Goldman expects a more aggressive and confident defense, and says the scheme under a new coordinator fits well with the per sonnel, which should also help the competitiveness.
“This year, I really feel like we all came together as a team and we’re going to play as one. A lot of kids were in the weight room in the offseason, which is great. A lot of kids seem to be more dedicated this year, and I love to see that.”
“We’re definitely farther ahead of where we were last year,” Mershon said. “I really feel like last year with the kids, they didn’t know me and I didn’t know them, so it was kind of a trust that we were trying to build last year. Then injuries started hitting us, so that didn’t help things.
As the Raiders continue to rebuild, they hope to take a big step this season – but success will be measured by the team meeting little goals throughout the“Tofall.be successful, we just have to make sure that everybody went out and tried their best and had a good time,” Goldman said. “I don’t really look at far-off goals, I just come out here everyday trying to get better. We’re going to take it day by day and just get better. I love being around this team, and we’re working hard, and that will lead to success.”
By TY REYNOLDS treynolds@shawmedia.com
Last season was fairly chaotic for the AFC football team. Second-year coach Ben Mershon expects a little more consistency in 2022. After first moving to eight-man football and then ultimately canceling their varsity season in the spring of the COVID year in 2021, the Raiders were forced to play a JV schedule for the second half of last fall because of low numbers due to several season-ending injuries suffered early in the schedule. But after losing only one senior from last year’s team, AFC now has more experience thanks in part to a much larger group of 12th graders this fall. “It feels great to have so many guys back. We’re senior-heavy this year, and we’re just glad to be back out here, to be honest. I feel pretty strongly about this year,” senior quarterback Carson Rueff said. “With four years’ experience, pretty much half the kids on our varsity team are seniors, it gives us more confi dence going into the season.” Mershon is also more confident in his second year coaching eight-man football. In his first season as a varsity coach last fall, not only did injuries hamper what he was able to accomplish, but he admits he wasn’t as ready for the style of play in eight-man as he thought he would be. But he feels that now he understands the game a little better, and has players who have experienced it as well, he’s much more comfortable with what to expect.“Iwas so used to 11-man football, and I thought I’d come here and it would be easy going to eight-man –it was not. That was a big kick in the butt,” he said. “It was not easy, it was actually really hard, but now I’ve got a year under my belt and I’m a little more confi dent this year with what we’re going to, and with these players. It’s a great group of kids here.” The bond between the coach and his players is also far ahead of where it was last season. With a son close to the players’ ages last year, Mershon knew who some of the players were and was aware of their capabilities. But being hired in the short period between the 2021 spring and fall seasons, he didn’t have a lot of time to build a rapport and earn his players’ confidence.
11SHAWMEDIA 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk Ashton-Franklin GameCenterScheduletimeOpponent Sat., Aug. 27, 1 at Harvest Christian (canceled) Fri, Sept. 2, 7 Kirkland Hiawatha Sat., Sept. 10, 1 Alden-Hebron Thu., Sept. 15, 6 at Parkview Christian Sat., Sept. 24, 3 at Danville Schlarman Fri., Sept. 30, 7 South Beloit Fri., Oct. 7, 7 Galva Fri., Oct. 14, 7 at Peoria Heights Thu., Oct. 20, 7 at Rockford Christian Life No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. 1 Zane Murphy 6-0 130 Sr. WR/DB 3 Nolan Rueff 5-10 175 So. FB/LB 4 Kyle Goldman 5-7 135 Fr. WR/DB 5 Michael Cochrane 6-0 165 Sr. RB/LB 6 Chase Hayes 5-9 130 Fr. QB/DB 8 Zac Rockwood 5-11 130 Fr. WR/DB 11 Carson Rueff 5-11 135 Sr. QB/DB 12 Lane Koning 6-4 150 Sr. WR/DB 13 Logan Mershon 5-11 170 Fr. QB/LB 14 Kydreel Green 6-0 190 Sr. FB/LB 15 Noah Danielson 6-0 155 Jr. WR/DB 18 Sean Lauer 5-11 145 Sr. WR/DB 19 Auden Polk 6-0 170 Sr. WR/DB 25 Daniel Bevan 6-0 145 Jr. WR/DL 29 Kaiden Gomez 5-6 120 Fr. RB/DB 34 Levi Near 5-10 135 Sr. QB/DB 50 Ben Rockwood 6-0 170 So. OL/DL 51 Michael Meadors 5-11 260 Sr. OL/DL 55 Kaleb Goldman 6-4 260 Sr. OL/DL 56 Justin Henert 5-7 160 Fr. FB/LB 59 Ryan Garcia 5-9 175 So. OL/DL 60 Zoe Willcutt 5-4 200 Jr. OL/DL 62 Lane Messer 6-1 295 Fr. OL/DL 74 Kyle Frady 6-1 270 Sr. OL/DL 76 Musi Mimini 5-10 230 Fr. OL/DL Roster
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With only a few varsity games last season, there aren’t many stats for the Raiders to build on. But with Rueff back at the helm of the offense, main running backs Auden Polk and Sean Lauer returning to the backfield, and the tall and lanky Lane Koning back at the receiver position, the AFC offense should look more in sync this season.
SVM file photo by Earleen Hinton – ehinton@shawmedia.com AFC’s Sean Lauer (18) tries the break a tackle as Daniel Bevan (25) looks to make a block during a rainy game against Polo last season. The Raiders have 11 seniors on this year’s roster.
By KEVIN HIERONYMUS khieronymus@shawmedia.com
Pistole said the Storm are blessed with depth up front, and expects juniors Nolan Nugent, Carter Hartz, Aidan Morris and Blake Erickson to be able to contribute.
The Storm will be going from having a lot of experi ence in its backfield last year and inexperience on the line to the opposite situation this fall.
“In the past, the lack of numbers hurt our young kids’ development while also not allowing for the qual ity of reps for our varsity. We couldn’t be more excited about this development.”
While he had a lean start taking over his hometown football program, going 0-9 in 2019, 0-4 in the 2021 spring season, and 3-6 in the 2021 fall season, Bureau Valley coach Mat Pistole likes the direction the Storm are heading entering the 2022 season. Numbers are up, the coaching staff remains stable, and the enthusiasm is in place for a solid season this fall.“I’m really excited with the progress our kids have made over this offseason, primarily from a numbers standpoint where we should be over 45 kids in the pro gram. That is well over the number we have had in the program in my previous three years,” Pistole said.
“They will anchor everything we do, and every thing for us will start up front,” Pistole said. “Needless to say, we are thrilled to have the athleticism, experi ence and physicality returning up front.”
Scott, the returning leading tackler (62) and “best defen sive player” last year, heads up the linebacker corps again. Pistole said Scott gets the most out of his abilities.
BV’s receiving duties will be handled by a pair of juniors in Brock Shane, whom Pistole calls “one of the best route runners I’ve ever been around,” and Eli Attig.Martin and Dybek, who Pistole said have allconference potential, will anchor the defensive line. Other contributors on the D-line will be Hartz, Morris, Lillie and Erickson.
Numbers, excitement up at Bureau Valley Shaw Media photo
“Connor is undersized, but pound for pound is one of the toughest and most sound fun damental linebackers I’ve been around,” he said. To be successful this year, Scott said the Storm have to be a “Everybodyfamily. has to work together every single play, don’t take plays off. We all have to work for each other.
“The kids have really bought in, and we create a fun environment that has helped us recruit the hall ways. This is going to allow us to more effectively practice, and the freshmen and varsity can practice separately, doubling the reps and increasing quality of reps for both levels.
Cameron Lemons (left) and Connor Scott face off in a blocking drill during a recent practice in Manlius.
12 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk MEDIASHAW Bureau Valley COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL SERVICE Lighting Systems Electrica l Repair Electric Hea t Mac hine Wiring Control Wiring Design & Engineering Loscher HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING Th e single source. Th e right choice. 855-499-HEAT loescherhvac.com No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. 1 Bryce Helms 5-9 160 So. QB/DB 4 Brock Shane 5-10 155 Jr. E/DB 6 Beau Spencer 5-5 120 Sr. RB/DB 9 Blake Helms 5-3 120 Jr. RB/DB 12 Isaac Attig 5-10 165 Sr. QB/DB 13 Ryan Wasilewski 5-7 130 So. E/LB 16 Elijah Endress 5-9 180 So. RB/LB 22 Robert Novak 5-9 135 Jr. RB/DB 24 Mason Goossens 6-0 170 Sr. RB/LB 32 Jonny Davis 5-10 145 Jr. RB/LB 42 Nathen Kempher 5-11 175 Jr. E/LB 44 Cameron Lemons 5-8 165 Jr. RB/LB 50 Connor Scott 5-11 180 Jr. OL/LB 51 Aidan Besler 5-9 155 So. OL/LB 52 Ayize Martin 6-4 270 Sr. OL/DL 54 Aidan Morris 5-9 205 Jr. OL/DL 55 Jon Dybek 6-1 275 Jr. OL/DL 56 Nolan Nugent 5-7 180 Jr. OL/DL 62 Matheu Newman 5-8 170 Sr. OL/LB 68 Cameron Lillie 5-10 250 Sr. OL/DL 75 Blake Erickson 6-0 250 Jr. OL/DL 80 Eli Attig 6-0 155 Jr. E/DB 84 Carter Hartz 5-11 270 Jr. E/DLScheduleRoster Game time Opponent Fri., Aug. 26, 7 at Villa Grove Fri., Sept. 2, 7 Sherrard Fri., Sept. 9, 7 Mendota Fri., Sept. 16, 7 at Kewanee Fri., Sept. 23, 7 Newman Sat., Oct. 1, 1 at St. Bede Fri, Oct. 7, 7 at Erie-Prophetstown Fri., Oct. 14, 7 Princeton Fri., Oct. 21, 7 at Hall
There’s no one person on the team,” Scott said. Lemons, who returns to the team this year after sitting out last year, will also help at linebacker along with Nugent, Endress and Helms.
Isaac Attig – a returning starter – Brock Shane, Eli Attig, Helms, and Robert Novak man the defensive backfield.
The Storm’s experience starts up front with seniors Ayize Martin and Cameron Lillie and juniors Jon Dybek and Connor Scott, all two-year returning start ing linemen. Martin, Dybek and Scott are returning all-conference honorable mention players.
Senior Isaac Attig, who split time at running back last year, is the only returner in the backfield. He and sophomore Bryce Helms are vying for starting quar terback duties, with both playing key roles offensively, PistoleSeniorsaid.Mason Goossens, sophomore Elijah Endress, and juniors Cameron Lemons and Robert Novak should handle most of the carries, Pistole said.
REYNOLDS treynolds@shawmedia.com
By TY
“I’ve seen a lot from the new guys, really. We had a lot of seniors last year who made up the line, and I’ve seen a lot of juniors now – sophomores last year – step up and excel. They’ve grown a lot since last year, put on a lot of muscle living in the weight room,” St. Pier said. “We’ve got a lot of speed on the edges, we’re strong and we’re fast, and all summer, we’ve drilled in our heads that we need to be tougher. We’re not as big as we were last year; we’ve got smaller guys, but we’re a lot tougher.” St. Pier is the only receiver coming back with extensive playing time, having caught 20 passes for 312 yards and three TDs in 2021. But he’s fully embraced the role as a leader for the inexperienced group entering his third year as a starter.
13SHAWMEDIA 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk Dixon No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. 2 Jath St. Pier 5-9 152 Sr. WR/DB 3 Rylan Ramsdell 5-9 185 Sr. RB/DB 4 Easton Roux 5-5 166 Jr. WR/DB 7 Ethan Hays 6-1 143 Sr. WR/DB 8 Cort Jacobson 5-10 158 Jr. WR/DB 9 Collin Scott 5-10 154 Jr. WR/DB 12 Ayden Underhile 5-10 174 Sr. WR/DL 13 Cullen Shaner 5-10 136 So. WR/DB 15 Tyler Shaner 5-11 162 Jr. QB/DB 16 Sahid Bajrami 5-3 156 Jr. WR/DB 20 Gavin Kramer 5-5 123 So. WR/DB 21 Tyson Dambman 5-7 139 So. WR/DB 22 Aiden Wiseman 5-10 191 Jr. RB/LB 23 Kevin Banuelos 5-9 137 Sr. WR/DB 24 Hunter Vacek 5-8 160 Sr. RB/LB 25 Earl Jones 5-9 201 Sr. RB/DL 27 Eli Davidson 5-9 190 So. WR/LB 30 Carter Kibble 5-6 120 So. WR/DB 32 Chance Perales 5-8 155 Sr. WR/DB 33 James Simpson 5-11 133 So. WR/DB 34 Caleb Carlson 5-4 155 Fr. K 44 Alex Gentry 5-4 168 Sr. WR/LB 46 Cayden Nuttal 5-9 139 So. WR/DB 50 Aidan Hoggard 5-10 180 So. OL/DL 51 Shawn DeVries 6-0 252 Sr. OL/DL 52 Kit Wedekind 5-10 287 Jr. OL/DL 53 William Howell 5-10 172 So. OL/LB 54 Andrew Scheffler 5-9 184 Jr. OL/DL 55 Gavin Jensen 5-11 178 Sr. OL/DL 56 Jaron Hermes 6-0 245 Jr. OL/DL 57 Konner Koehler 6-0 159 So. OL/DL 58 Johnny Baker 6-0 273 Sr. OL/DL 59 Spencer Thompson 6-1 196 Jr. OL/DL 60 Tyler Herwig 6-0 195 Jr. OL/DL 62 Isaac Lance 5-11 166 So. OL/DL 63 Peyton Dingley 6-0 192 So. OL/DL 64 Tyler Zepezauer 5-6 173 So. OL/DL 65 Cade Giles 5-10 205 So. OL/DL 68 Isaac Goldman 5-11 165 So. OL/DL 70 Matt Warkins 6-4 277 Sr. OL/DL 74 Sam Zimmerman 5-9 203 Jr. OL/DL 76 Zach Pottorff 5-7 183 So. OL/DL 80 Tyson Stokes 5-10 144 So. WR/DB 82 Gabe Miranda 5-5 141 So. WR/DB 88 Devon Wallace 5-9 155 So. RB/DBScheduleRoster Game time Opponent Fri., Aug. 26, 7 at Oregon Fri., Sept. 2, 7 at North Boone Fri., Sept. 9, 7 Rockford Christian Fri., Sept. 16, 7 Stillman Valley Fri., Sept. 23, 7 at Winnebago Fri, Sept. 30, 7 Rockford Lutheran Fri., Oct. 7, 7 at Genoa-Kingston Fri., Oct. 14, 7 at Byron Fri., Oct. 21, 7 Rock Falls Eric Bird 1688 Brandywine Lane, Dixon (815) ericbird2004@yahoo.com973-6768 Good Luck to All Area Teams!! SM-ST2002271 GOOD LUCK DUKES 24 Hour Paramedic CertifiedLevel Care 815-288-6898 ADVANCE EMS SM-ST2001243 Dixon Autobody Clinic 1104 E. River Road, Dixon • 815-288-2722 24 Hour Towing 815-288-5111 Good Luck This Season!
DUKES, page 25
Despite the butterflies before his first start, Shaner acquitted himself well for the Dukes last fall. He threw for 906 yards and 16 touchdowns – with only three interceptions – on 73-for-115 passing last year. He led the area in TD tosses, was third in completions and attempts, and fifth in yardage – and that was in less than a full season, after Gaither returned for the final fewShanergames.was quick to credit his offensive line and receivers for his strong start last season, with both groups anchored by strong senior leadership. Despite losing quite a bit from those units to gradua tion – including four of the top five receivers –senior wideout Jath St. Pier is confident after seeing some impressive strides made by the younger guys looking to fill those shoes.
See SVM file photo by Alex T. Paschal – apaschal@shawmedia.com Dixon’s Tyler Shaner (4) just gets a pass off while being pressured by Oregon’s Seth Stevens during their Week 1 game last season. This year, Shaner is more comfortable in his role as the Dukes’ starting QB, and is a lot less nervous about visiting the Hawks in the season opener Aug. 26.
As the first game of the season neared last fall, Dixon quarterback Tyler Shaner was getting more and more nervous. The sophomore had just been thrust into the starting role after senior Jacob Gaither suffered a broken finger in practice leading up to the opener against Oregon, and Shaner didn’t feel as if he was as prepared as he’d like to be. But now with several starts under his belt last season, and a full off-season to work as the starter, Shaner feels much more comfortable and confident heading into Week 1 this season at Landers-Loomis Field in Oregon.
Dukes like what they’re seeing so far
“I feel a lot better now than last year. It’s not quite so hectic,” Shaner said with a smile before practice Friday. “Last year, it was a week-and-a-half to get ready as the starter, and I was almost in tears before that first game. This year, I had more time to prepare myself as our first game gets closer. It was a lot easier getting through the whole summer know ing that I’m going to be in the starting quarterback position, and it’s a lot nicer spot to be in.”
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Two Forreston players go after a pass during a recent practice at summer camp. The Cardinals lost some stars to graduation, but return a strong contingent of players hungry to continue the program’s recent success.
Fans will have to wait until Oct. 21 to see what is usually the most anticipated regular-season game of the year in 1A. Forreston will be the host school, but if past results are any indication, there is no such thing as home-field advantage in the rivalry.
This year’s group doesn’t have the star players that some of the teams in the past had, but there remains enough skill and depth to run a no-huddle offense with a rotating stable of running backs.
This year, the older alumni took it to the varsity, with Robert DeVries and AJ Christensen leading the way.“Robert can still fling it, and AJ can outrun everyone,” Janicke said. “We put two guys on him and couldn’t stop him. Next year, we might have to triple-team him.”
“Our line leaders will be Drew Dieterman, Casey DeVries and Kyler Gantz,” Janicke said. “Casey is the last DeVries coming through. It’s been awhile, about 11 years, since we haven’t had one.”
“We lost some ball carriers and are asking role players to step up,” Janicke said. Among those will be juniors Kaleb Sanders, Micah Nelson and Owen Mulder, and seniors McKeon Crase and Quinten Frederick. The quarterback will be senior Broc Smith, who returns from a back injury.
Janicke is assisted by a large number of coaches in what has always been a home-grown product, one that symbolizes a true community-driven football program.
“I’m excited for the team. The energy is through the roof, and the kids haven’t missed a beat,” said Janicke, a former Cardinal himself. “They cooperate well, ask good questions and love the weight room.”
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Both in 2016 and a memorable 2018 upset, Forreston indeed knocked Le-Win out of the playoffs. In Janicke’s first year as coach, the Cardinals had a memorable fourth-quarter drive to win the 2021 regular-season clash between the two. Both Forreston and Le-Win had to breathe a sigh of relief when the IHSA announced they would be going to a 1-32 seeding for all classes, thus possibly avoiding early knockouts among NUIC powers. Unfortunately, that decision was reversed when gas prices began to rise.“It was just pulled out from under us,” Janicke said. “We can’t control it, but it would have been cool to go 1-32.”
Forreston again sets goal of state
By ANDY COLBERT Shaw Local News Network correspondent As Forreston went through summer football camp, the goal remained the same: win a state title. With a résumé of three championships since 2014, why not dream big? The Cardinals have been in the fight every year since 2010, with nemesis Lena-Winslow usually standing in the way. Four times since then, Le-Win has knocked Forreston out of the playoffs – and the Panthers will be the team to beat in 1A again.
The conference again will have nine teams, as West Carroll returns after a one-year absence and East Dubuque departs for a co-op in Wisconsin, the third school district in the conference to do so. West Carroll did not have enough juniors and seniors to play varsity last year and will rely heavily on freshmen, sophomores and a handful of juniors thisWithfall.many small schools struggling with numbers, Forreston comes in with a summer roster of 13 seniors, 10 juniors, 12 sophomores and 15 freshmen.
In a tradition started several years ago, summer camp has a 7-on-7 competition against alumni players.
“Townspeople and families come out to watch,” Janicke said. “We usually have two or three alumni teams, a varsity skills group and a fresh-soph team. We even let the linemen have a team. They are more funny than good, but try their best.”
“The best thing we can do is leave that conversa tion to others,” Forreston coach Keynon Janicke said. “We’re fortunate to be that one team that has been able to beat them.”
The defense should come together quicker than the offense, with more returners on that side of the ball. “We can fine-tune and be aggressive,” Janicke said. “There is a lot of guys at different positions we can move in and out.”
15SHAWMEDIA 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk Forreston Schedule Game time Opponent Fri., Aug. 26, 7 at Stockton Fri., Sept. 2, 7:30 Durand-Pecatonica Fri., Sept. 9, 7 Eastland-Pearl City Fri., Sept. 16, 7 at Dakota Fri., Sept. 23, 7 Galena Fri., Sept. 30, 7 at West Carroll Fri, Oct. 7, 7 Fulton Sat., Oct. 15, 2 at G.C.-Melvin-Sibley Fri., Oct. 21, 7 Lena-Winslow No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. 2 Quinten Frederick 6-0 170 Sr. RB/LB 3 Alex Ryia 5-9 160 Jr. RB/DB 5 McKeon Crase 5-7 145 Sr. RB/DB 7 Michael Taylor 6-4 175 Sr. TE/DB 12 Brock Smith 6-5 185 Sr. QB/DB 13 Micah Nelson 5-11 180 Jr. RB/DB 20 Dane Setterstrom 6-0 175 So. RB/LB 22 Kaleb Sanders 5-9 175 Jr. RB/LB 24 Payton Encheff 6-2 175 Sr. RB/DB 25 Johnny Kobler 6-3 240 Sr. RB/DL 27 Kyler Ganz 6-0 190 Sr. TE/LB 30 Evan Boettner 5-8 165 So. RB/LB 32 Lucas Nelson 6-0 150 So. RB/LB 33 Owen Mulder 6-0 175 Jr. RB/LB 34 Jace Engbert 6-1 150 Sr. RB/DB 35 Coehen Kirchner 5-5 150 So. RB/DB 41 Tymon Runkle 5-8 145 Jr. RB/DB 51 Ethan Bocker 6-2 220 Jr. OL/DL 54 Casey DeVries 6-0 240 Sr. OL/DL 55 Justin Myers 5-6 185 So. OL/DL 60 Colin Kuhn 6-0 180 Sr. OL/DL 62 Alec Schoonhoven 6-1 190 So. OL/DL 65 Grant Johnson 6-3 250 Jr. OL/DL 67 Ayden Book 5-7 180 So. OL/LB 72 Natalia Roach 5-10 220 Jr. OL/DL 74 Drew Dieterman 5-11 275 Sr. OL/DL 75 Devin Garcia 5-10 300 Sr. OL/DL 76 Zac Shuman 6-0 275 Jr. OL/DL 78 Alex Milnes 6-1 190 Sr. OL/DL 79 Devin Bratt 6-2 205 So. OL/LB 88 Andrew Wells 6-3 190 Jr. TE/LB Roster
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16 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk MEDIASHAW Preseason All-Area Team Sauk Valley Media picks 25 players to watch this fall Portraits by Alex T. Paschal & Ty Reynolds Brennan Blaine Amboy • Jr. • TE/DE Nolan Britt Newman • Sr. • RB/DB Brayden Dykstra Fulton • Sr. • QB/DB Gabe Eckerd Oregon • Sr. • RB/LB Avery Grenoble Polo • Sr. • RB/LB Jase Grunder Erie-P’town • Sr. • RB/DB Maddux Hayden Eastland-P.C. • Sr. • RB/LB Aidan Kobbeman Rock Falls • Sr. • RB/LB AJ Kested Sterling • Sr. • RB/DB Johnny Kobler Forreston • Sr. • RB/DL Cale Ledergerber Sterling • Jr. • WR/DB Tucker Lindenmeyer Amboy • Sr. • QB/DB
17SHAWMEDIA 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk Preseason All-Area Team Sauk Valley Media picks 25 players to watch this fall Portraits by Alex T. Paschal & Ty Reynolds Hunter Luyando Newman • Sr. • RB/LB Ryan McCord Rock Falls • Sr. • RB/LB Levi McKinley Amboy • Jr. • FB/LB Connor Nye Milledgeville • Jr. • QB/LB Gabe Padilla Newman • Sr. • RB/LB Rylan Ramsdell Dixon • Sr. • RB/DB Tyler Shaner Dixon • Jr. • QB/DB Brock Soltow Polo • Jr. • RB/DB Carson Strating Morrison • Jr. • RB/LB Antonio Tablante Sterling • Sr. • RB/LB Kael Ryan Sterling • Sr. • WR/LB Matt Warkins Dixon • Sr. • OL/DL Tommy Tate Sterling • Sr. • QB/LB
18 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk MEDIASHAW Erie-ProphetstownScheduleGametimeOpponent Fri., Aug. 26, 7 Mendota Fri., Sept. 2, 7 at St. Bede Sat., Sept. 10, 1 Sherrard Fri., Sept. 16, 7 at Rockridge Fri., Sept. 23, 7 Orion Sat., Oct. 1, 1 Harvard Fri, Oct. 7, 7 Bureau Valley Fri., Oct. 14, 7 Monmouth-Roseville Fri., Oct. 21, 7 at Morrison No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. 1 Franky Bushaw 6-0 180 Jr. WR/LB 2 Tyler Ballard 5-9 140 Sr. RB/DB 4 Jack Minssen 5-11 155 Sr. QB/DB 5 Demetree Larsen 5-10 180 So. RB/LB 6 Justus Hough 5-10 170 Jr. RB/DB 7 Shawn Cannavo 5-10 145 Jr. WR/DB 8 Luke Otten 6-0 205 Jr. TE/LB 10 Jeremiah Kochevar 5-8 140 Jr. QB/DB 18 Hunter Bruketta 6-3 180 Sr. WR/LB 20 Matt VanOosten 5-10 160 Jr. WR/DB 22 Sebastian Deberry 5-9 160 Jr. WR/DB 23 Trevor Dennison 5-10 135 Sr. WR/LB 25 Hayden Sumner 5-11 155 Sr. WR/DB 31 Jase Grunder 5-9 165 Sr. RB/DB 50 Michael Collins 6-3 190 Sr. OL/DL 51 Bryce Folsom 6-4 205 Jr. OL/DL 52 Amen Barron 5-8 210 So. OL/LB 54 Shawn Chandler 5-10 245 Sr. OL/DL 65 Afton Eyrich 6-2 285 Jr. OL/DL 67 Carl Sonnenburg 6-0 270 Sr. OL/DL 70 Zeb Wickes 6-1 160 Jr. OL/DL 71 Nate Packer 5-7 210 Jr. OL/DL 72 Clay Hockaday 6-2 310 Sr. OL/DL 74 Clayton Gerlach 5-10 190 Jr. OL/DL 75 Jaiden Orr 6-2 250 Jr. OL/DL 80 Caleb Naftzger 6-4 200 Sr. TE/DE Roster SM-ST2001760 Good Luck To All Area www.rockriverag.comTeams!GOOD TEAMS! LUCK 1245N.Galena Ave.,Dixon,IL 815-284-2052SM-ST2003690 Kaleel Clothing &Printing 704 NGalena Ave., Dixon • 815-284-5033 Area Teams Have agreat season! GOOD LUCK
“Just improve every game we’ve got, every oppor tunity we’ve got. Go out there, and I expect by the end of the year, we’ll be looking in pretty good shape,” Minssen said. “Just sticking together as a team throughout the ups and downs. There’s a lot of ups and downs in the game, and we’ve gotta to stick together through the hard parts and pull all together.”
Minssen, who started at defensive back last year, steps into the sizable shoes of IHSFCA first-team All-State quarterback Kolby Franks, who graduated this spring. Other seniors slated to lead this year’s team are running back Jase Grunder and two-way lineman Clay Hockaday.
By DAN WUSSOW dwussow@shawmedia.com
PROPHETSTOWN – With an 8-3 season and 56-20 win over Clifton Central in the opening round of the Class 2A playoffs in 2021, the bar was raised for Erie-Prophetstown football. With 17 seniors moving on and all but two of last year’s starters with that class, the Panthers will be considerably younger and less experienced this year. Without the varsity game experience of last year’s team, Erie-Prophetstown is anticipating some growing pains early on. But as the season goes along, the Panthers are confident everyone will get on the same page and the team will start clicking. “It’s been a learning curve. Just looking at where we were last year compared to this year, we’re not quite as far ahead, and that’s going to come with the lack of experience, just game experience,” coach Jesse Abbott said. “They are a confident group, they are ready to learn, but we’ve gotta maybe work through some things a little bit more than we did and just make sure we have all the details right. And they’re willing to learn them, and they’re willing to get the details right. And so we’ll sacrifice a little pace to get things right, for sure.” Senior wide receiver/outside linebacker Hunter Bruketta and senior quarterback Jack Minssen expect their younger teammates to acclimate as the season progresses.“Ifeellike right now, we’re kind of struggling in practice to just come together, but I feel like as Week 1 comes around, Meet the Panthers, we’ll just become a lot better and get ready for the year,” Bruketta said. “I think a lot of our younger kids haven’t played a lot, they haven’t started varsity, but I know they’ve all watched all these [past varsity] kids and gotten a ton of reps. And I thinking watching these older kids on the varsity level last year really got them in a good spot and ready for their first year.”
“I think we’ve got pretty good speed all across the board. Pretty good smarts for the game, too,” Minssen said.
Speed, line depth strengths for E-P
In a survey of perceived team strengths going into the year, speed and intelligence were a repeat answer.
SVM file photo by Troy Taylor – ttaylor@shawmedia.com Erie-Prophetstown’s Mason Misfeldt (15) congratulates Nick Ballard (75) after Ballard made a tackle during last year’s first-round playoff game against Clifton Central. Misfeldt and Ballard are among the 17 departed seniors who left some big shoes to fill.
Nowhere but up for determined Wildcatz
“We’re getting better almost every day,” Heeren said. “Almost every guy knows what they’re doing all of time, and they’re always asking questions about things and knowing where they’re supposed to go.”
SVM file photo Eastland-Pearl City’s Kellen Henze (left) hands off to Maddux Hayden in the first quarter of their Week 1 game against Lena-Winslow in Lanark last season. Hayden returns as the Wildcatz’s leading rusher.
Gone from last year’s squad are all-NUIC honorable mention quarterback and punter Kellen Henze, who rushed for 520 yards on 100 keepers with five touch downs on the ground, and threw for 619 yards on 66-for100 passing with three more scores in the air; as well as fellow honorable mention choice Riley Schauer and his 120 rushing yards on 27 attempts from a year ago.
“Our energy is high and our guys are flying around,” Monks said. “On defense, everybody is loving it. There’s going to be a lot of smash-mouth football. We’re going to be hitting teams hard in the face.”
Among the big men in the trenches, seniors Cade Monks Levi Burkholder will lead anchor the line of scrimmage. On defense, four of the Wildcatz’s top five tacklers come back: along with Hayden, senior Tanner Perdue had 33 tackles last season, followed by class mates Donovan Kuhlemier (32) and Burkholder (28).
The Wildcatz have high hopes of returning to the upper echelon of the rough-and-tough Northwest Upstate Illini Conference this season. Two big improvements over the offseason, and after the first week of practice, have been team unity and defense.
PEARL CITY – With several new players in new positions this season, one might think that the first week of practice for the Eastland-Pearl City Wildcatz may have been one of growing pains, especially after a disappointing 1-8 campaign in 2021. That’s not the case, according to coach Jared McNutt.
“We are further ahead now than we were last year at this point, which is a good sign,” McNutt said. “We got a lot of guys stepping into different roles that they weren’t normally at last year, and we have some transfers from running back and wide receiver to offensive and defen sive line, and they’re picking it up real quick.” Senior Carsen Heeren is the only returning allconference player. He split his time between several positions, chiefly at wide receiver, but will be entrenched under center as the Wildcatz’s starting quarterback, and play linebacker on the other side of the ball. Last year, Heeren led the receiving corps with nine catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Now, he and his fellow seniors are helping their team mates get accustomed to other positions.
19SHAWMEDIA 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk Eastland-Pearl No.CityNameHt. Wt. Yr. Pos. 1 Peyton Spears 5-8 145 So. WR/DB 2 Carsen Heeren 6-2 165 Sr. QB/LB 3 Tanner Stern 5-10 150 So. WR/DB 4 Brady Sweitzer 6-0 160 Jr. RB/DB 6 Weston Gronewold 5-11 170 Jr. WR/LB 7 Brady Boyer 5-11 170 So. QB/DB 8 Jackson Corbin 6-1 160 So. QB/DB 10 Ethan Petta 5-9 150 Jr. WR/DB 11 Jaidyn McKinney 5-10 145 So. WR/DB 14 Max McCullough 6-0 165 Sr. QB/DB 20 Logan Freier 5-9 150 Jr. WR/LB 21 Jaxson Kempel 5-9 165 So. RB/LB 22 Draven Zier 5-8 150 Fr. RB/LB 27 Donovan Kuhlemier 6-1 185 Sr. WR/LB 28 Hunter Miller 5-9 170 So. WR/LB 30 Zyacn Haverland 6-2 185 Fr. TE/DB 32 Ayden Bratley 5-6 145 So. RB/DB 34 Jayce Reed 5-9 150 Fr. RB/DB 43 Maddux Hayden 5-11 205 Sr. RB/LB 45 Will Birchen 5-10 180 Fr. RB/LB 48 Jacob Runkle 5-10 160 So. RB/LB 51 Levi Burkholder 6-1 170 Sr. OL/LB 55 Tanner Perdue 6-0 200 Sr. OL/DL 57 Robert Rodriguez 6-1 225 So. OL/DL 61 Levi Sheffey 6-6 240 Sr. OL/DL 65 Jon Dinderman 5-9 175 Sr. RB/LB 69 Carter Piquette 5-6 250 Jr. OL/DL 72 Myles Freedlund 5-11 185 So. OL/DL 73 Jon Spoerlein 5-9 170 So. OL/LB 74 Jared Runkle 5-11 185 So. OL/LB 75 Brody Voegeli 6-4 270 Fr. OL/DL 77 Cade Monks 6-0 240 Sr. OL/DL 84 Jayden Downs 6-3 205 Jr. TE/LB 85 Gage Kness 5-8 180 So. TE/DLScheduleRoster Game time Opponent Fri., Aug. 26, 7 at Lena-Winslow Fri., Sept. 2, 7 Stockton (Pearl City) Fri., Sept. 9, 7 at Forreston Fri., Sept. 16, 7 at Durand-Pecatonica Fri., Sept. 23, 7 Dakota (Lanark) Fri., Sept. 30, 7 at Galena Fri, Oct. 7, 7 West Carroll (Lanark) Sat., Oct. 15, 1 at Fulton Sat., Oct. 22, 1 vs. Chester, at Tremont SLOAN IMPLEMENT OF LANARK 26208 U.S. Hwy 52 • Lanark, IL 61046 (815)493-2191 • SLOANS.COMSM-ST2001798 Wildcatz!GoodLuckEPC www.acehardwaredixon.com • www.acerentalplacedixon.com areateams!tothisSeasonGoodLuckALL SM-ST2003642 By CODY CUTTER ccutter@shawmedia.com
Returning, however, is the team’s leading touch down scorer, senior Maddux Hayden, who scored seven TDs on the ground to lead the team, rushed for 401 yards on 77 carries, and also caught eight passes for 81 yards. He will also lead the linebacking corps in the middle; on defense, he led the Wildcatz with 34 tackles. “We weren’t overly satisfied with last season, and that’s just based off of our record,” Hayden said. “Other than that, we saw many positive things. Moving for ward off of that, we are improving even more with the core values of our team, and our relationships as team members are getting stronger and stronger than we’ve seen since I’ve been here. We have that team aspect this year, and with that, the overall mindset and results from this year will be better than we’ve seen in a while.”
Among the junior class, Brady Sweitzer is another two-way player who saw varsity time last season and will continue in a utility role at wherever he’s needed, be it wide receiver, running back, a backup for Heeren under center, and at linebacker.
20 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk MEDIASHAW Dixon Duke Football with Gage Bright and Ryan Carlson Oregon Hawk Football with Sam Ramirez and Mark Herman Amboy Clipper Football with Josh Dillon and Brian Weidman LIVE online sky957.comat SM-ST2006563 to ALL yourteam’s games! On the Radio and On Line LIVE online am1460wixn.comat LIVE online rivercountry1017.comat
“I would say our fullback Quinton Leffelman’s going to step up big this year,” Blaine agreed. “He’s going to be starting both ways this year for us, so I think he’ll be good.” “Quinton Leffelman this year, that’s gonna be a big player,” McKinley added. “We lost Joe Quest last year, our starting fullback, so it’s good for Quinton to come back and take over his spot. He’s gonna be goodTreythere.”Payne is expecting big things from RB/LB Landon Whelchel. “I think Landon Whelchel will also have a big part on our defense this year after taking Jordan Gulley’s spot, and help create a lot of big plays for us on the defensive side,” he said. Youth in the secondary is one potential concern for the Amboy co-op this year, especially during the early part of the season when it faces teams like Polo, Milledgeville and Milford-Cissna Park.
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“We’ve got Tucker back, and we’ve got three really good running backs in my mind. And we’ve got a really good offensive line,” coach Payne said. “Our offensive line’s big and quick and physical. So there’s two position groups I’m really excited about, to see what they can do in game-type situations.”
“Obviously, the biggest key to success for us is we’ve gotta be able to run the football. That’s what we like to do. On the other hand, though, we’ve gotta get better at passing the ball than we were last year,” coach Payne said. “We were pretty good last year, but we gotta get a lot better this year because we’re Amboy; teams know what we’re gonna do. But we put in a few more spread formations and some different pass plays, so we gotta be a lot better at throwing the football this year.”
“One position is defensive back. We’re gonna have a sophomore there and then a sophomore backing him up. In an eight-man game, you’re one-on-one, and so that could be an early-on struggle for us,” coach Payne said. “But the sophomore we have starting there, he’s looked pretty good right now, without pads. But defensive back is one of our ... not a big concern, but it is a concern on Offensively,defense.” the Clippers expect to win a lot of battles up front and consistently create movement at the point of attack. “We have a really solid front line,” Lindenmeyer said. “They’re pretty big and strong, so they’re gonna open up a lot holes for us this year.”
To take the next step this year, Amboy will need to become more effective in the passing game.
Coming off a 9-3 record and Class 1A quarterfinal appearance in 2021, the Steamers have high hopes entering the new season. After squeaking by Galena, 14-13, in Week 1 of last season, they’re hoping for a better start to 2022. “It was a rough game for us offensively,” Lower said. “I know Galena had a lot to do with it with their defense; we won the game, but we were disappointed in the way we played, and we want to get off to a much better start Aug. 26 at our place.”
Although Fulton has 19 seniors on the roster this year, many of them lack extensive playing experience. Getting the new senior starters up to speed quickly will be essential as the Steamers try to navigate a challenging NUIC schedule.
21SHAWMEDIA 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk Fulton Schedule Game time Opponent Fri., Aug. 26, 7 Galena Fri., Sept. 2, 7 at West Carroll Fri., Sept. 9, 7 at Durand-Pecatonica Sat., Sept. 17, 12 Muskegon Catholic Fri., Sept. 23, 7 at Lena-Winslow Fri., Sept. 30, 7 Stockton Fri, Oct. 7, 7 at Forreston Sat., Oct. 15, 1 Eastland-Pearl City Fri., Oct. 21, 7 at Dakota No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. 2 Braeden Brennan 5-6 130 So. E/DB 3 Payton Curley 5-10 160 Sr. E/DB 4 Brayden Dykstra 6-0 170 Sr. QB/DB 6 Endi Qunaj 5-9 150 Sr. K 7 Kole Schipper 6-1 165 Sr. E/LB 9 Daken Pessman 6-2 170 Sr. E/DL 10 Conner Sheridan 5-11 160 Sr. E/LB 12 Carson Wherry 5-8 135 Sr. E/DB 13 Dom Kramer 6-1 180 So. QB/LB 17 Ethan Price 6-4 195 Sr. E/LB 19 Trevor Tiesman 5-10 145 Jr. E/DB 21 QJ Mangelsen 6-1 160 Sr. E/DB 22 Baylen Damhoff 6-6 180 Jr. E/LB 23 Dysin Rathburn 5-10 135 Jr. E/DB 24 Jimmy Crimmins 6-0 180 Jr. RB/LB 30 Lukas Schroeder 6-2 185 Sr. RB/DL 33 Joel Ford 5-10 175 Sr. RB/LB 34 Ryan Eads 5-10 150 Sr. RB/DB 42 Jensen Ludin 5-9 130 Jr. E/DB 43 Ben Fosdick 5-5 150 Sr. RB/LB 45 Mason Kuebel 5-8 175 Fr. RB/LB 48 Broden VenHuizen 5-8 140 Jr. E/DL 51 Dan VanZuiden 5-8 145 So. E/DB 55 Zane Pannell 5-9 190 Sr. OL/DL 56 Logan Rathburn 6-2 240 Sr. OL/DL 57 Skylier Crooks 5-7 150 So. RB/LB 58 Chris Carroll 6-2 240 Jr. OL/DL 60 Braiden Damhoff 6-0 280 Sr. OL/DL 63 Isaac McWilliams 6-0 240 Jr. OL/DL 64 Zeke VenHuizen 6-3 165 So. E/LB 66 Rigo Facio 6-0 245 Sr. OL/DL 67 Elijah Stillings 6-2 200 Sr. OL/DL 68 Jacob Simpson 5-10 245 Sr. OL/DL 69 Robbie Sheckler 6-0 230 Sr. OL/DL 74 Jacob Huisenga 6-2 180 So. E/LB 75 Daniel Holman 5-10 200 So. OL/DL 79 Josiah Heald 6-0 180 So. OL/DL Roster Sterling 2707 W. 815-625-7240Lincolnway 412ProphetstownWashington St. 815-537-5151 Fulton 915 Second 815-589-3100St. Frary Lumber SM-ST2001763 Good Luck To The Fulton Steamers, Sterling Warriors, Erie-ProphetstownandPanthers! SM-ST2003689 Meghan G. Crisham, D.D.S. Michael L. Brechon, D.D.S. Shailee S. Patel, www.dentistdixon.comD.D.S815-288-4731 724 North Brinton Avenue, Dixon, IL 61021 By DAN WUSSOW dwussow@shawmedia.com FULTON – With high school sports seasons under way, teams are back to their normal operations and process of piecing together the puzzle of starting lineups and depth charts. Excitement is in the air at practice fields all around the state. For the Fulton Steamers, it’s no different. “Very excited. When you have as good of a postseason run as we had last year, it makes you pretty eager to get back the next season,” Fulton coach Patrick Lower said. “We’re just excited to get going teaching these kids the game of “We’refootball.”reallyexcited. Everyone’s been working really hard. It’s been fun,” senior QB/DB Brayden Dykstra said. “We’re ready to go. Everyone’s ready. We know what we’re doing.”
“We’re less experienced on the line, but we’ll defi nitely be good there because Logan [Rathburn] is new,” Pannell said. “We have some juniors that have to step up.”
Weeks 3 through 5, in particular, look like a gaunt let, as Fulton travels an hour-and-a-half northeast to face reigning conference champion Durand-Pecatonica, then hosts Michigan powerhouse Muskegon Catholic Central, before hitting the road again to battle two-time defending Class 1A state champion Lena-Winslow. Forreston also awaits in Week 7, coming off an 8-3 season and second-place finish in the NUIC.
“We’ve got a few guys, we have some juniors that are going to step up. We have quite a few seniors that are going to get a lot of playing time, and they’re going to be able to do things they need to do to make us bet ter,” Lower said. “We are a veteran group with a lot of seniors, but we have a lot of seniors that haven’t had a lot of playing time. I think our guys getting ready and getting used to the speed of varsity football [will be our biggest challenge this year].”
Senior-laden Steamers seek experience
Returning starters from last year’s playoff run include Eads, Pannell, senior OL/DL Braiden Damhoff, senior TE Ethan Price, junior WR/LB Baylen Damhoff, senior DB Conner Sheridan, and senior K Endi Qunaj.
The backfield will look a little different without 2021 IHSFCA All-State First Team RB Keegan VanKampen, who graduated this spring, but senior RB Ryan Eads is ready to take some of those snaps and fill the void along with a handful of newcomers. Seniors Lukas Schroeder and Ben Fosdick, and junior Jimmy Crimmins add to the backfield rotation this year.
SVM file photo Fulton’s Zane Pannell (55) works against an Ottawa Marquette blocker in their second-round playoff game last season. Pannell is back to anchor the lines for the Steamers this fall.
Although the Steamers are somewhat lacking in varsity game experience on both sides of the line, senior OL/DL Zane Pannell has faith that his team mates will step up and fill those roles admirably.
By DAN WUSSOW dwussow@shawmedia.com
“This year, we don’t really have any big guys, so we can outsmart people, work harder, but we don’t have size on our side. I’ve got confidence that we’ll get there. The team will put in work these last few summer days, and we’ll get good rest and practice and work hard.”
“[Losing 10 seniors is] going to be a big deal. I don’t think any of us realize the difference they’re gonna make,” Ebersole said. “I think we’re going to get in-game, and you can put guys in their position, but I don’t know if we’re all going step in and fill in as good as some of the guys were.
“It’s going to be challenging. We had a lot of size that we lost, but we’re a very fast team, and hopefully our speed will be used more on the field instead of our size,” Nye said. We’ll just hope we can get the ball out to [our playmakers], and make them run.”
“We don’t really have a conference like we used to, but still our goal is to win conference, make playoffs, improve, take a step forward,” Ebersole said. Milledgeville opens the season at 2021 state runnerup Orangeville at 7 p.m. Aug. 27, then hosts Aquin on Sept. 2 in its home opener.
22 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk MEDIASHAW Milledgeville Schedule Game time Opponent Sat., Aug. 27, 7 at Orangeville Fri., Sept. 2, 7 Aquin Fri., Sept. 9, 7 at Amboy-LaMoille Fri., Sept. 16, 7 Polo Fri., Sept. 23, 7 at Decatur Lutheran Fri., Sept. 30, 7 at Harvest Christian Fri., Oct. 7, 7 West Central Fri., Oct. 14, 7 at River Ridge Sat., Oct. 22, 1 St. Thomas More No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. 6 Micah Toms-Smith 5-10 170 So. TE/LB 8 Connor Nye 5-10 180 Jr. QB/LB 10 Zachary Pauley 5-10 150 Sr. WR/CB 11 Bryce Aude 5-8 150 Sr. WR/CB 14 Kacen Johnson 6-0 160 Sr. WR/CB 22 Tristan Green 5-7 165 So. TE/DE 24 Evan Schenck 5-5 135 Fr. QB/CB 26 Kolton Wilk 6-2 165 Sr. RB/LB 35 Bryce McKenna 5-8 155 Jr. RB/LB 40 Benny Mickelson 5-5 120 Fr. TE/CB 46 Spencer Nye 5-3 145 Fr. FB/LB 48 Karter Livengood 5-8 190 Fr. OL/DL 50 Cayden Akers 5-8 200 Sr. OL/LB 52 Alex Chaffee 5-6 175 So. OL/DL 54 Dalton Adamec 6-0 190 So. OL/DL 59 Jacob Promenschenkel 5-8 200 Jr. OL/DL 63 Eric Ebersole 5-8 190 Sr. OL/DL 64 Wyatt Meiners 5-7 130 Jr. TE/LB 70 Bruce Raymond 5-9 245 Jr. OL/DL 71 Wyatt House 5-8 250 So. OL/DL 72 Sye Dodson 5-10 235 Jr. OL/DL 80 Landon Frederick 5-8 200 So. TE/CB 81 Konner Johnson 5-9 165 Fr. RB/LB 82 Caleb Sarber 5-3 120 Fr. RB/CB Roster SM-ST2001754 18 E. 4th MilledgevilleGoodMilledgeville,St.IL(815)225-7151LuckToTheMissiles!
To maintain and build upon last year’s success, the Missiles will be counting on a number of new faces. On each side of the ball, Milledgeville counts three returning starters. Junior quarterback Connor Nye is one of the leaders of the group. The Missiles also will get a boost from the return of senior running back/cornerback Kacen Johnson, who missed the end of last season with a broken leg. Senior center/defensive lineman Eric Ebersole is back as well to anchor both sides of the line. Senior wide receiver Bryce Aude is another returner, although he’s nursing a leg injury. Wroble hopes to get the senior wideout back on the field by midseason.Through the offseason, Nye has been adjusting to a new group of playmakers. He knows it won’t be easy to replace five starters from last year, but he has faith in the players coming up – and sees one potentially new advantage for his team this season.
In 2022, Milledgeville has some new opponents to look forward to. In Week 3, it’ll travel to Decatur to face Decatur Lutheran/Mount Pulaski, then, in Week 6, it’ll host St. Thomas More in a nonconference tilt. Ebersole and Nye said they’re both excited for the change of pace. “We’re facing a lot of teams that we haven’t seen at all before, at least three teams we haven’t seen,” Ebersole said. “So it’ll be cool, but tough.” “Definitely tough. We haven’t faced a couple of those teams, and we’ve gotta travel a little further for some of those teams, but it will definitely be challeng ing,” Nye said. “And it’ll be fun seeing some new teams instead of the same old, same old teams.”
Wroble envisions the passing game as a primary strength this year. He also hopes to play a fast, fundamentally sound and physical brand of defense.
hope to take another step in 8-man
MILLEDGEVILLE – In 2019, the Milledgeville foot ball team had an uncharacteristically bad season. After going undefeated in the NUIC Upstate a year prior to win its first conference championship since 2008, the Missiles reached the second round of the Class 1A playoffs and finished with a 10-1 record – but it followed with an uninspiring 1-8 campaign in 2019. The Missiles’ only win that year came in Week 6 –an 8-0 victory against Ashton-Franklin Center. In a COVID-19-altered 2020 season, Milledgeville began to right the ship, improving to 3-1. With a full season and switch to eight-man football in 2021, the Missiles con tinued their quick turnaround, rallying to a 9-2 record while reaching the second round of the playoffs. This spring, Milledgeville graduated 10 seniors, but it’ll look to carry on that success as it continues to adjust to eight-man football.
“We definitely want to take another step, that’s our goal. To get better each week, go deep into playoffs –that’s our hope – but we have a lot of new faces,” Milledgeville coach Jason Wroble said. “We have some young kids that are going to step up, graduated 10 last year, so we have some holes to fill, but I like where we’re at and how competitive we are. I think that goal of going a little deeper in the playoffs is attainable.”
Ebersole notes that it’s going to be a big change, but he believes the new guys will get up to speed quickly.
Milledgeville’s Bryce Aude runs for a gain during a game last season. Aude is one of the few returning starters for the Missiles, though he might miss the first few games with a leg injury.
Missiles
With quite a few new starters coming in, Nye and Ebersole aren’t totally sure what to expect this season. Still, they’re keeping their expectations high. “I think we’ll be good, but just maybe not as good as we were last year,” Nye said. “But I think we’ll be up there as a top team, and hopefully we can be as successful as we were last year.”
“I think, offensively, we’ll be able to throw the ball pretty well with Connor. He played last year at quar terback and had a really good year,” Wroble said. “And he has some good receivers returning, so I think we’ll be able to move the ball through the air pretty good this year – and effectively. And on defense, we just want to play fast and tackle well and be physical. That’s our goal. We did that last year; we gotta do the same thing this year.” Wroble also pointed to team speed as a strength for this year’s group. “I think we’re going to be a very fast team. We’re not going to be real big, but we’re going to be fast at almost every position,” he said. “On both sides of the ball, up front, we’re going to be pretty fast.”
Alex T. Paschal file photo – apaschal@shawmedia.com
23SHAWMEDIA 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk Morrison Schedule Game time Opponent Fri., Aug. 26, 7 Newman Fri., Sept. 2, 7 at Kewanee Sat., Sept. 10, 5 at Monmouth-Roseville Fri., Sept. 16, 7 Hall Fri., Sept. 23, 7 Sherrard Fri., Sept. 30, 7 at Rockridge Fri, Oct. 7, 7 Orion Sat., Oct. 15, 1 LeRoy Fri., Oct. 21, 7 Erie-Prophetstown No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. 2 Danny Mouw 5-9 150 Sr. QB/DB 3 Daeshaun McQueen 5-10 165 Jr. RB/LB 4 Logan Baker 5-9 170 Sr. RB/LB 6 Chase Newman 6-3 170 Jr. TE/DB 7 Jacob Banks 5-4 105 Fr. RB/DB 8 Blake Adams 6-3 185 Jr. WR/DB 9 Karder White 5-10 155 Jr. RB/DB 10 Donny Reavy 5-10 170 So. RB/DB 12 Brayden Rubright 5-9 140 Fr. RB/LB 13 Evin Banks 5-5 110 Jr. WR/DB 14 Asher Ernst 6-1 160 Fr. WR/DL 15 Collin Renkes 5-8 130 Fr. RB/DB 16 Colton Bielema 5-11 150 So. QB/DB 17 Carson White 5-8 125 Fr. WR/DB 20 Brady Anderson 5-9 155 Fr. RB/DB 21 Koltin Swaim 5-9 115 Fr. QB/DB 23 Carson Strating 6-2 220 Jr. RB/LB 24 Zed Koch 5-9 165 Sr. RB/LB 26 Levi Milder 5-4 125 Fr. RB/DB 30 Zach Milder 5-8 150 So. RB/LB 33 Hunter Oudekerk 5-8 135 Fr. RB/LB 39 Gavin Baker 6-0 145 Fr. TE/LB 40 Thomas Zigler 5-5 110 Fr. RB/DB 41 Gavin Streets 5-10 125 So. TE/DB 50 Evan McDonnell 6-1 225 Jr. OL/DL 51 Luke Carpenter 5-9 200 Fr. OL/DL 55 Jason Hall 5-8 170 Jr. OL/DL 56 Cameron McDonnell 6-0 220 Jr. OL/DL 58 Sammy Williams 5-9 160 Fr. OL/DL 60 Jerimiah Callan 5-11 150 Fr. OL/DL 61 Gavin Arians 5-8 165 Fr. OL/DL 65 Sebastian Carreno 5-8 165 Jr. OL/DL 66 Aiden Dolieslager 5-11 185 Sr. OL/DL 67 Noah Robbins 5-11 155 Fr. OL/LB 72 Hunter Millerschone 5-10 275 Fr. OL/DL 73 Jakeb Strobbe 6-0 180 Fr. OL/DL 77 Landon Cook 6-0 205 So. OL/DL 81 Adam Helms 5-9 160 So. RB/LB Roster
dwussow@shawmedia.com MORRISON
‘I want to do whatever we have to do to be the best possible team.’ And that’s what you want. That’s what you look for in a team.”
This year’s team is a mix of youth and experience, Snider says, but most importantly, it’s a cohesive and close-knit group. “It’s a big mix; it’s a hodgepodge, and I like it that way. It’s fun because even though you have a hodgepodge – it’s not a senior-laden group by any stretch of the imagination – they’re all cohesive,” he said. “They all get along. They all want to do things together. They’re really a true team.” Morrison will continue to run its traditional Delaware Wing-T offense this year, while varying defensive looks each week to counter its opponents’ strengths. One area Snider expects to be significantly improved in is offensive line play. “I think we’re going to be much, much better block ing on offense. Last year, we had a lot of contact behind the line of scrimmage, and I think our backs and offen sive line are devoted and ready to get after that. And they’re very, very coachable. They’re really good kids,” Snider said. “We have two guards that have never played offensive line before; they have stepped in and are playing offensive line for us, and they look really good. They are dedicated to making sure that the team is better.“Soyou take guys that have played receiver and running back and tight end and defensive back, and now all of a sudden, they’re playing offensive line. Sometimes the reception is not very well. We had the conversation with those guys, and it was instant.
Morrison football coach Steve Snider runs his players through drills during camp on July 26. The Mustangs are more comfortable and confident in Snider’s second season at the helm.
“My expectations are to come together as a team more now that it’s not the first year having this coach and we’re kind of used to him,” senior running back/ linebacker Logan Baker said. “We’ve been hitting the weight room hard, and I think we’re going to be doing pretty good with how we’ve been working out here at the practice field and in the weight room. We’ve got about 30 to 40 kids in the weight room every day. Every body’s showing up to practice, everybody’s showing up to all team things, meetings, everything.” “We’ve been putting in a lot of work in the offseason. Just being with Coach when he’s here for a whole year, it makes a huge difference,” junior fullback/linebacker Carson Strating said. “So expectations are kind of high for us as a team. Obviously, the rankings didn’t have us that high, which was unfortunate, but we hope to build off of Returningthat.” to lead Morrison this year are senior quarterback Danny Mouw, who threw for over 600 yards last year while the team averaged only six pass attempts per game; junior running back/defensive back Chase Newman, who led the team in tackles in 2021; and the aforementioned Strating, who was the team’s leading rusher and among its leading tacklers last season. Last year, the Mustangs were senior-heavy. This year, they’ll face the challenge of replacing roughly eight starters. The starting offensive line will be entirely new this season, but not without experience. “Quite a few starters [to replace], especially on the offensive line. I think we’ve got five new starters on the offensive line, but we have four guys that saw signifi cant varsity playing time last year at one position or another,” Snider said. “So again, replacing the starters, but when it comes down to it, we’re replacing them with guys that have a lot of varsity experience, just not startingBakerexperience.”andStrating have gotten good early impressions of their younger teammates as they’ve gone through summer camp and the first few practices of the offseason.
Mustangs comfortable, confident in Year 2
SVM file photo by Alex T. Paschal – apaschal@shawmedia.com
“A lot of these guys also played up in those varsity positions,” Baker said. “We’ve got some underclassmen that are playing up this year, and they’re working pretty hard for their spots.”
A potential difference-maker this year from the freshman class is Brady Anderson, according to Snider andSniderStrating.also pointed to sophomore Donny Reavy as a potential impact player this season. With Riverdale unable to play a varsity schedule this year, Morrison will have six varsity home games this season. Instead of facing the Rams in Week 8 as initially planned, the Mustangs will host LeRoy.
“I think this year we definitely have a lot of younger guys that are going to step up and play. Last year, we were senior-heavy, you could say. I think we had about 20 kids that were seniors,” Strating said. “We probably had about eight of them that were starters, so we lost them, but they’re gonna get replaced by some kids that are younger, and they’re willing to work pretty hard for us.”
By DAN WUSSOW – At the end of the 2021 high school foot ball season, the Morrison Mustangs couldn’t help but feel disappointed in themselves. A 2-7 season is not what they wanted or envisioned at the beginning of the year, especially being just two years removed from an 11-1 season in 2019. But the disappointing record was only fuel to the fire this offseason, as returning players showed up to the practice field, film room and weight room reinvigorated and full of energy, while encouraging their new team mates to follow suit.
Now that the Mustangs have had a year to adjust to coach Steve Snider, they’re feeling a higher level of confidence heading into 2022.
After graduating senior leaders like Ethan Van Landuit, Marcus Williams and Owen McBride last year, Newman is looking to new players to fill those roles. Already in summer camp and offseason practices, a handful of younger players have caught the eye of Luyando and Britt. “Brady Grennan is going to be a junior this year. He’s definitely going to play a big role on defense, as well as Carter Rude,” Luyando said. “And then Ayden Batten will also play a huge role on our offense and“Wedefense.”lostafew key players, but that happens every year to every team, and we have a lot of guys with a lot of experience and a lot of younger guys that are willing to step up and fill in,” Britt said. “Daniel Kelly’s been playing really good linebacker for us this year. He’s just a sophomore, but he’s been putting in a lot of work in the offseason. A lot of guys have been in the weight room constantly, so that’s just one person that stands out to me right now.”
Comets different, but still the same
By DAN WUSSOW dwussow@shawmedia.com
24 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk MEDIASHAW Newman Schedule Game time Opponent Fri., Aug. 26, 7 at Morrison Fri., Sept. 2, 7 Rockridge Fri., Sept. 9, 7 at Orion Fri., Sept. 16, 7 St. Bede Fri., Sept. 23, 7 at Bureau Valley Fri., Sept. 30, 7 Princeton Fri, Oct. 7, 7 at Hall Fri., Oct. 14, 7 Mendota Fri., Oct. 21, 7 at Kewanee No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. 11 Gabe Padilla 5-6 160 Sr. RB/LB 12 JJ Castle 6-1 180 Sr. QB/LB 13 Mac Hanrahan 5-11 155 Jr. WR/DB 15 Hunter Luyando 5-10 205 Sr. RB/LB 16 Ayden Batten 5-11 170 Sr. WR/DB 17 Carter Rude 5-10 150 Jr. QB/DB 18 Brady Grennan 5-5 140 Jr. RB/DB 20 Joe Oswalt 6-0 140 So. WR/LB 21 Isaiah Williams 6-1 150 Jr. WR/DB 23 Nolan Britt 5-11 170 Sr. RB/DB 24 Ryan Partington 5-8 150 So. RB/DL 25 Blayke Holbrook 5-7 160 Sr. RB/LB 30 Brady Williamson 6-0 155 So. RB/DB 31 Cody McBride 5-9 140 So. RB/DB 32 Austin Van Landuit 6-0 165 Jr. WR/LB 33 Lucas Kolb 5-11 170 Jr. WR/LB 34 Colin Messer 6-1 135 Jr. WR/DB 35 Daniel Kelly 5-10 155 So. RB/LB 36 Chris Osmer 5-11 145 So. QB/DB 41 Dylan Garland 5-10 180 Sr. OL/DL 42 Briar Ivey 5-5 135 So. RB/LB 50 AJ Propheter 6-0 185 So. OL/DL 51 Hayden Witt 6-1 255 Sr. OL/DL 52 Quinten Williams 5-10 175 Jr. OL/LB 54 Chris Accardi 5-10 195 Jr. OL/DL 60 Caleb Donna 6-1 160 Jr. OL/DL 61 Jacob Newberry 5-11 185 So. OL/DL 63 Niklaus Nardini 5-10 240 Jr. OL/DL 74 Dax Snyder 6-4 200 Jr. OL/DL 76 Adam Morgan 5-9 215 Sr. OL/DL 77 Chad Haley 6-0 265 Jr. OL/DL 83 Jaesen Johns 6-0 175 Sr. WR/LB Roster SM-ST1908024 Good DixonNewmanLuckComets!GlassCOMPANY 414W.1st St., Dixon 815-288-3000
“I feel like over the summer, it’s gone pretty good. It has its ups and downs of just learning the new offense and defense, but overall, it’s been going pretty good,” Luyando said. “We still have wish bone, but other than that there’s a lot of new changes. And we’ve seen some of it [while] playing scout team and stuff throughout my last three years, but it’s been a lot different, just because it’s a lot more versatile offense now.”
SVM file photo by Alex T. Paschal – apaschal@shawmedia.com
Newman’s Nolan Britt (left) turns the corner against Bureau Valley’s Logan Johnson during their Three Rivers Misssissippi game in Week 5 last season in Sterling. Britt is one of the senior leaders this year for the Comets, who have a new head coach in 2006 Newman grad Mike LeMay.
SM-ST2002892 GOOD LUCK NEWMAN COMETS and all area Teams! RYNE sellwithryne@gmail.com815-915-6022HOWARD CHANDRA chandra@realestatebychandra.com815-632-7909MEYER 110 E. LYNN BLVD., STERLING, IL 61081 (815) 625-3722Sauk Valley
“It’s been pretty good. This is the longest we’ve practiced start ing the summer, we started pretty early this summer, so a lot of time getting used to each other, getting used to the new things Coach LeMay wants to put in,” Britt said. “It’s still the same concept. We’re going to run the ball, we’re going to pass a little bit, but the main point Coach LeMay wants to get across is we’re still going to run hard, we’re still going to do the stuff Newman’s always done.”
STERLING – After going 7-4 under coach Brandon Kreczmer last year, the Newman football team will look to usher in a new era in 2022. Mike LeMay, who previously served as an assistant for the Comets in 2011 – and at Sterling High School the past 10 years –takes the head coaching reins from Kreczmer, who left for an assistant coaching job at Western Illinois University in January. With a new coach comes new schemes and philosophies, but the Newman players are ready to work hard and eager to learn. As varsity veterans, senior running back/cornerback Nolan Britt and senior running back/ linebacker Hunter Luyando have noticed some changes in the way the team operates under LeMay. Ultimately, though, they haven’t seen much change from a philo sophical standpoint.
Good Luck Dixon Dukes! 302 S Galena Ave Dixon, IL 61021 815-288-3838 Member SIPC Chad M. Weigle CFP®, AAMS™ Financial Advisor SM-ST2006560 218 Locust St. 625-7969www.kellysinc.comSterling (for carryout) “The Friendly Place to Eat & FeaturingDrink” Fine Mexican Food and American Faborites! Sterling Luck Of The Irish To All Area High School Football Teams! SM-ST2005575
On defense, coach Shaner said there’s one unit in particular that’s stood out to him throughout the offseason, and feels like it will make a big impact week in and week out.
“I think we are right where I thought we’d be,” coach Shaner said. “We had a good summer, we had guys that were committed and came to the things that we asked them to. We lost some good kids last year, but that’s one of the mark of a good pro gram, is you’re consistent year after year. You think ‘Gosh, how are we going to replace these guys?’ and somebody has put their time in along the way and then when it’s their turn, they step up and get the job done. So I feel good about where we’re at right now.”
25SHAWMEDIA 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySaukSM-ST2006784 1705 Eastwood dr. stErling • 815•625•1851 720 north galEna dixon • 815•288•3211 WWW.SLIMNHANKS.COM Proud Supporter of Our Area High School Teams • DUKES Continued from page 13
“We lost a few good receivers, and they were kids that were physical, big and strong kids. But we’ve got some guys that are stepping up, too. There’s going to be some names that maybe people haven’t heard a ton but are going to play well this year, I feel like,” coach Shaner said. “And the one thing I’m excited about, I think our O-line is going to be pretty solid. They’re a group that they’ve all had some experience in the past, they’ve started quite a few games and got in games even when they were sophomores, and it’s a pretty close-knit group. They do a lot of stuff together outside of football, they stick around after practice just about every night together and stretch and do extra work; they enjoy each other. I’m excited to watch themCountprogress.”thequarterback among those who have the utmost confi dence in the guys around him. Tyler Shaner said he’s looking forward to running this offense in the fall, and likes the makeup of the team.“It’s extremely fun to run this offense. We have a lot of new plays that we put in this summer, and I think it’s going to be exciting to watch and see it on film when we put them in, then see how we progress over the season,” he said. “I think it’s going to be really enjoyable to be a part of this team. We have a lot of guys who work together well, and I think we have a good squad. “We just continue to work hard, and if we do that, I think we’re going to be just as successful as last year, or more successful.”
“I’m excited about our linebacker group, for sure,” he said. “We’ve got three or four kids that are kind of just your prototypical football kids. They like contact, they seek it out; it’s kind of like see ball, get ball. I think that group’s going to be enjoy able to watch.”
“It’s amazing, because I’ve always loved being a leader,” he said. “I’ve had to explain things to the other receivers a little bit more, which I love doing. As long as I know my guys around me know what they’re doing, I’ll excel just as much as they do.”Returning to the backfield behind Shaner is senior Rylan Ramsdell, who ran for 577 yards and six scores a year ago. And up front, the line is anchored by 6-foot-6, 285-pound Matt Warkins and fellow seniors Shawn DeVries and Gavin Jensen. Like St. Pier, coach Jared Shaner thinks the receiving corps and line are in good hands with the new play ers filling in their roles.
In the always-tough Big Northern Conference, Dixon starts with road games in Oregon and North Boone, then returns home for games against Rockford Christian and Stillman Valley. The Dukes also hit the road to take on Genoa-Kingston in Week 7 and Byron in Week 8, before closing the regular season at home against Rock River rival Rock Falls. But with Week 1 right around the corner, the third-year coach is confi dent that his team has what it takes to be in contention for a playoff berth for the eighth straight season.
Oregon’s Jack Washburn (second from right) throws a pass during a scrimmage last week.
Compared with numbers in the 50s the past few years, Kundert expects to have 75 kids out this season. “I’ve felt good about summer camp,” Kundert said. “The lowest numbers we’ve had so far is 60, and we have been getting more kids that have never playedKundertbefore.”isquickly developing a reputation as a players’ coach. “The players are talking to guys, and we’re get ting more out,” lineman Evan Flaharty said. “The more players we have, the more energy and enthusi asm on the practice field. Lots of team bonding.” Anchoring the line with the 6-foot-2, 285-pound Flaharty will be 6-0, 250-pound Jon Alaniz. Both are seniors and part of a group that mostly weighs more than 235 “Coachpounds.definitely has a personality,” Alaniz said. “With a new coach and new system, there’s more interest. Day to day, things are starting to build.” That’s Kundert’s No. 1 objective.
“It’s good problem to have,” new Oregon coach Broc Kundert said. “If we run out and can’t buy any, we’ll figure out a way to get some.”
Another major difference in the 2022 squad compared with years past will be an extensive use of sophomores compared with the decades-long prac tice of primarily juniors and seniors.
Dixon 905 N. Galena 815-288-3257Avenue Good Luck To All The Area Teams SM-ST2003706
“It may look a little different from years past, but we will try to balance 50/50 run-pass,” Kundert said.
Photo by Earleen Hinton – ehinton@shawmedia.com
26 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk MEDIASHAW Oregon No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. 2 Austin Egyed 6-0 160 Jr. WR/DB 3 Jayden Jenkins 5-11 140 Sr. WR/DB 4 Hunter Buchanan 6-0 150 Sr. QB/DB 5 Hunter Bartel 6-2 165 So. WR/DB 6 Griffin Marlatt 5-7 135 Jr. WR/DB 7 Keegan Diehl 5-9 155 Sr. WR/DB 8 Gregory Gabucci 5-10 165 Jr. WR/DB 9 Noah Reber 5-7 160 Jr. RB/DB 10 Jackson Glendenning 6-1 165 Jr. QB/LB 11 Emmett Peterson 5-9 165 Sr. TE/LB 15 Jack Washburn 5-9 165 So. QB/DB 16 Trevor Burkhart 5-9 165 Jr. RB/LB 18 Josh Crandall 6-4 215 So. WR/DL 21 Dalton McCammon 5-11 170 Jr. RB/LB 22 Gabe Eckerd 5-10 185 Sr. RB/LB 34 Seth Stevens 5-10 155 Sr. RB/DL 36 Anthony Bauer 5-9 170 Jr. RB/LB 50 Collin Winterland 5-10 200 Jr. OL/DL 52 Noah Hodges 6-0 205 Jr. OL/DL 53 Jackson Fox 5-9 185 Sr. OL/DL 54 Bryant Rasmussen 5-10 190 Sr. OL/LB 56 Jonathon Alaniz 6-0 255 Sr. OL/DL 57 Brantley Watts 6-0 145 Jr. OL/DL 60 Elizabeth Ruter 5-4 125 Sr. OL/DL 64 Zander Downs 5-8 180 Jr. OL/DL 65 Elijah George 6-2 210 Jr. OL/DL 70 Briggs Sellers 6-1 285 So. OL/DL 75 Evan Flaharty 6-2 285 Sr. OL/DL 76 Alejandro Ocampo 6-3 295 Sr. OL/DL 77 Evyn Carreno 6-2 280 Jr. OL/DL 84 Anthony Bell 6-2 190 Sr. TE/LB 85 Zander VandeSand 6-3 190 Jr. TE/DLScheduleRoster Game time Opponent Fri., Aug. 26, 7 Dixon Fri., Sept. 2, 7 at Rockford Christian Fri., Sept. 9, 7 at Stillman Valley Fri., Sept. 16, 7 Winnebago Fri., Sept. 23, 7 at Rockford Lutheran Fri., Sept. 30, 7 Genoa-Kingston Fri, Oct. 7, 7 Byron Fri., Oct. 14, 7 at Rock Falls Fri., Oct. 21, 7 North Boone Participation numbers up with new coach
By ANDY COLBERT Shaw Local News Network correspondent
A telling sign of today’s economy and how it translates to the Oregon Hawk football program is a shortage of helmets.
“The main thing is to get the numbers up first,” he said. “They’ve been beat up for so long, we have to give them a sense of confidence. It’s a challenge, but I don’t think it’s impossible. I want to make it fun to be in the weight room.”
Kundert, a 2007 graduate of Freeport, went on to play middle linebacker – at 5-foot-7 – for WisconsinPlatteville during the era of former Hawks standouts Ryan McWethy and Brian Snyder. After that, it was back to Freeport, where he eventually became defen sive coordinator. The past four years were spent as head coach at Aquin, where his team was ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 1A in the 2020-21 COVID-19 season – its last season as an 11-man program. Aquin was noted for its high-scoring spread offense, whereas Oregon has been ground-and-pound.
“The defense will run to the ball well, and on offense, our young skill players will grow into it,” he said.
“We want to build on their 7-2 [freshman] record. It’s a good group with over 30 kids,” Kundert said. “The sophomores we bring up will be starting for us and not playing JV.”The freshman group also has a lot of size and a quarterback in Jack Washburn who will con tend for the starting nod. One sophomore who already is penciled in as a starter is Josh Crandall, a 6-3, 190-pound end, the last of three footballplaying brothers and potential college prospect. Oregon will be young at the skill positions, but has senior Gabe Eckerd returning as running back. Kundert sees him and junior Trevor Burkhart getting a lot of carries.“Gabe will also be our leader on defense at inside linebacker,” Kundert said. “I like the play of Griffin Marlatt at corner and as receiver.”Kundert will concen trate on the defense.
Shaw Media file photo by Earleen Hinton – ehinton@shawmedia.com Polo’s Cayden Webster (right) tackles Milford-Cissna Park’s Sawyer Laffoon during their second-round playoff game last year. Webster will take over at quarterback for first-team all-stater Tyler Merdian, who graduated.
“I think so far the offense has been clicking really well. We’ve been doing really good in team stuff, running timing drills and going live,” Webster said. “We’ve been working really well together, the receivers have been doing good, and the line is figuring stuff out. I’m feeling really confident about the offense this year, how they’re performing.”
Senior quarterback/defensive end Cayden Webster thinks the experience of watching last year’s seniors in practice and game settings will prove invaluable.
Polo still possesses potent offense
“I think the strength is going to be the offense. Having Avery and I back is a huge part,” Soltow said. “After us running for all the yards that we had last year, 23 touchdowns both last year, it was a huge part. With our offensive line, they’re all in pretty good shape coming in, so they’re all looking good.”
POLO – When two-time defending eight-man football state champion Polo begins its title defense at home Aug. 26 in the season opener vs. AmboyLaMoille-Ohio, it will do so with almost an entirely new cast of characters. Coming off a 13-0 state championship season – they also went 13-0 in 2019 – the bar has been set extremely high for the small-town powerhouse. After graduating a sizable senior class this spring, headlined by I8FA North First-Team All-State quarterback Tyler Merdian, the Marcos are eager to see who will step up in their absence.Sofar, the adjustments for new starters have been smooth, coach Ted Alston says, but Week 1 will be the real measuring stick for his team. “Good. In terms of the mental part of it, they’re real good. We’re not making many mistakes in practice,” he said. “It’ll be different because when they get out there against a varsity team, especially a team like Amboy that’s big and physical, that will be the chal lenge for them to see how they do against that.”
Grenoble admittedly had some concerns about the front line earlier this summer, but after seeing how it’s performed in practices, those doubts have faded away.“Ihonestly think our offensive line [will be a strength]. Like we said a while ago, we had to replace a lot, but going through and practicing lately, I’m very confident in our offense line,” he said. “They look a lot better than I expected them to be, to be honest. But I’m really excited for them. And our defense is looking great,Withtoo.”somany new faces on varsity this year, Alston will be tweaking his schemes to try to put his players in advantageous situations. “You always try to fit some things to your person nel, so we’ve got some things in place that we’re hop ing will fit our personnel well. It’s a little bit different, especially up front, than last year,” Alston said. “Last year was a very senior-heavy team up front with some good, decent size. And this is a little bit smaller team, it’s a little bit younger, so we’re trying to do some things that don’t expose them too much, and play into ourWebsterstrengths.”holds high expectations for this year, and also believes that the Marcos’ recent success will carry over into the near future. “We’ve got some freshmen coming in this year that, you watch them in practice and you’re like, ‘Wow. That guy can really play,’ “ Webster said. “I didn’t know much about the people in that class before they came into high school, but seeing them play on the football field, the freshmen and sophomores are gonna be good, so I think the future for the team is gonna look really bright.”
With basically an entirely new offensive line this year, the position group was a big question mark entering the offseason. But after summer camp drills and the first few offseason practices, most of those concerns have dissipated.
27SHAWMEDIA 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk Polo Schedule Game time Opponent Fri., Aug. 26, 7 Amboy-LaMoille Sat., Sept. 3, 6 Orangeville Fri., Sept. 9, 7 St. Thomas More Fri., Sept. 16, 7 at Milledgeville Fri., Sept. 23, 7 at Kirkland Hiawatha Fri., Sept. 30, 7 at Bushnell-Prairie City Fri, Oct. 7, 7 River Ridge Fri., Oct. 14, 7 Cornell-WoodlandFlanaganFri., Oct. 21, 7 at Aquin No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. 1 Gage Lagee 5-6 135 Jr. RB/LB 2 JT Stephenson 5-9 130 Fr. RB/DB 3 Damon Rowe 6-2 160 Fr. TE/DE 5 Carson Coffman 6-0 140 Fr. OL/DE 7 Ryelan Lindaas 6-5 165 Sr. TE/DB 10 Carter Merdian 6-0 160 Jr. QB/DB 12 Billy Lowry 5-8 125 So. RB/LB 14 Daniel Johnstone 5-7 135 Fr. OL/DL 17 Brock Soltow 6-4 180 Jr. RB/DB 18 Carl Vock 6-1 210 So. OL/DL 20 Avery Grenoble 5-10 160 Sr. RB/LB 22 Delo Fernandez 5-9 160 Jr. RB/LB 23 Cayden Webster 5-11 185 Sr. QB/DE 25 Quinton Hart 5-8 130 Fr. RB/DB 27 Brady Wolber 5-10 200 Sr. RB/LB 28 Gus Mumford 5-8 120 So. QB/DB 31 Noah Dewey 6-1 160 So. RB/DB 34 Gage Zeigler 5-7 125 So. QB/DB 42 Waylon Harris 5-11 180 Sr. OL/DL 44 Jeffrey Donaldson 5-11 210 So. OL/DL 45 Landen Brooks 6-2 170 Jr. TE/DE 48 Noah Yingling 5-10 130 Fr. RB/LB 50 Alex Albano 5-10 185 Jr. OL/DL 51 Johnathon Mummert 6-3 215 Jr. OL/DL 56 Jacob Monaco 6-2 185 Jr. OL/DL 60 Shawn Patton 5-7 210 So. OL/DL 64 Logan Nelson 6-4 270 So. OL/DL 68 Kason Allen 5-10 160 Fr. TE/DE 70 Dawson Drexler 5-11 240 Jr. OL/DL 71 Brian Lopez 5-9 280 Sr. OL/DL 73 Eric Verret 5-7 130 So. OL/DL 74 Cole Chesnut 5-11 175 Fr. OL/DL 80 Korbin Devora 5-9 135 Jr. RB/DB 81 Korbin Cavanaugh 6-0 145 Fr. TE/DE 82 Kailin Gulbranson 6-0 155 So. TE/LB 84 Josh Conway 6-0 170 Jr. TE/DE 85 Jeven Weems 5-6 115 Fr. RB/DB 88 Nathaniel Yingling 6-0 160 Jr. TE/LB Roster By DAN WUSSOW dwussow@shawmedia.com
Running backs Avery Grenoble and Brock Soltow, who each rushed for over 1,400 yards last year and were I8FA North First-Team All-State selections, return to lead a formidable Polo offense. The Marcos also get an infusion of youth from a big freshman class.Sophomore center Logan Nelson is a new starter this year, coming up from the fresh-soph team; senior guard/defensive tackle Waylon Harris joins the starting lineup after backing up some talented senior starters in 2021; and Noah Dewey is a newcomer at cornerback.Withtwo of its three all-state first-teamers from last year returning, Soltow and Webster are excited to see what the new-look offense can do in games.
“We’re a little bit younger. We lost a good group of seniors last year, but we’ve still got some returning guys. We’ve got a whole returning backfield minus me, the quarterback, coming in,” he said. “And we have one guy on the offensive line that we’ve got returning from last year. But overall, everybody sat behind those guys, so they didn’t play last year. But they’re experienced because they got to witness what those other guys did. So we’ve got a young, but experienced team at the same time.”
SVM file photo by Alex T. Paschal – apaschal@shawmedia.com Rock Falls senior Ryan McCord works on his footwork during summer camp July 19. McCord is one of the senior leaders on a young Rockets team that is eager to start a new tradition.
28 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk MEDIASHAW Rock Falls Schedule Game time Opponent Fri., Aug. 26, 7 at Rockford Christian Fri., Sept. 2, 7 Stillman Valley Fri., Sept. 9, 7 Winnebago Fri., Sept. 16, 7 at Rockford Lutheran Fri., Sept. 23, 7 Genoa-Kingston Fri., Sept. 30, 7 at Byron Fri, Oct. 7, 7 at North Boone Fri., Oct. 14, 7 Oregon Fri., Oct. 21, 7 at Dixon No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. 1 Easton Canales 5-11 160 So. QB/DB 3 Aidan Kobbeman 5-7 175 Sr. RB/LB 5 Colin Cook 6-2 185 Sr. WR/DB 7 Vincent Lombardo 6-0 170 Jr. QB/DB 10 Isaac Duchay 6-1 175 So. RB/DB 11 Kohle Bradley 5-8 150 Jr. RB/DB 12 Austin Castaneda 5-11 150 So. WR/DB 13 Brady Dowd 5-7 160 Sr. OL/DL 18 Michael Flowers 5-6 130 Jr. WR/DB 20 Mason Landes 6-0 170 So. QB/LB 21 Ajay Kobbeman 5-10 140 So. WR/DB 26 Korbin Oligney 5-7 160 So. RB/LB 28 Adan Oquendo 5-5 135 Fr. RB/DB 30 Preston Armstrong 5-10 150 So. WR/DB 32 Ethan Hiland 6-0 210 Sr. R/DL 33 Ryan McCord 5-9 165 Sr. RB/LB 40 Kelly Hicks 5-10 190 So. RB/LB 44 Carter Schueler 5-11 190 Jr. RB/LB 54 Jacob Drawyer 5-8 180 So. RB/LB 57 James Schmitt 6-1 200 Sr. OL/DL 59 Seth Wade II 6-2 160 So. OL/DL 60 Luke Hacker 6-0 205 So. OL/DL 62 Brayden Goodman 5-9 220 Fr. OL/DL 64 Thomas Lewis 6-6 250 Sr. OL/DL 67 Israel Alvarado 5-10 215 So. OL/DL 71 Jonathon Hicks 6-0 225 Jr. OL/DL 75 Jacob Hosler 6-2 260 So. OL/DL 78 Hunter Gale 6-5 300 So. OL/DL 79 Jason McCord 6-0 265 Jr. OL/DL 84 Logan Thome 5-7 135 Fr. WR/DB 85 Braxton Nelson 6-0 150 So. WR/LB 86 Richard Nichols 6-1 165 Jr. WR/DL 88 Garrett Wolf 6-6 245 So. WR/DL Roster Sm oked BBQ AT IT S FIN EST GOOD LUCK TO THE AREA SCHOOLS! ROCK FA LL S 33 12 WE ST ROCK FA LL S RD 81 5. 62 5. 71 38 DI XON 16 00 MI LLE R ST DI XON 81 5. 677 .9 030 WWW .T RI PL EPBB Q. COM OR DE R ON LI NECA TE RI NG & PR IV AT E EV EN TS HA VE A DR IN K AT TH E BAR SM-ST2002102 SM-ST2002484 Good Luck Newman Comets Rock Falls SterlingWarriorsRocketsDixonDukes and all other surrounding area football teams! Angelo’sAngelo’s625-5163II625-5451 Angelo’s IIIAngelo’s285-0055Delivery625-5000
From summer camp drills and the first few prac tices, coach Kevin Parker likes what he’s seen. So far, he’s been especially impressed in two key areas.
dwussow@shawmedia.com
“We’re real young, but our effort is very high. Lots of kids doing extras, kids catching on quickly. We’re doing some new things this year and very impressed with the mental toughness,” Parker said. “When we get to areas of conditioning and we start challenging them and they run into issues, they find a way to fight through things. So our resiliency is good. And I think we’ve had a great start to the season.”
By DAN WUSSOW
With a younger team this year, senior WR/DB Colin Cook sees a lot of potential for growth. “I think we’re a very young team, but we have a lot of upside to us. We’ve got a lot of good positions this season,” he said. “We have a lot of good freshman this year, so we added a lot of new people with a lot of seniors graduating.”
The incoming freshman class should provide some much-needed depth, while the core of this year’s team will largely be sophomores. The Rockets will be count ing heavily on their sophomore class to take the next step this year, but senior leadership will also be an important factor. “[The keys to our success] would be how our young guys – especially our sophomore class – how well they play for not having a ton of experi ence, as well as our seniors stepping up from their junior to their senior year and set ting the tone for everybody,” Parker said. “Are they going to go out and go get ’em, or are they going to sit back and be reserved?”
ROCK FALLS – After a 1-8 season and ninth-place finish in the Big Northern Conference in 2021, the Rock Falls Rockets had every reason to throw in the towel and slack on their offseason workouts. But with new talent coming in and an experienced sophomore class, they’re as motivated as ever to end their streak of losing seasons and try to build a winning“We’reculture.trying to start changing the Rock Falls cul ture, and we’re changing it in a big way,” junior RB/S Kohle Bradley said. “The conditioning’s changed, I think a lot in this program is going to change, and a lot of the new teams are going to see that this year.”
Young Rockets ready to change culture
Injuries should help Warriors’ depth
“I think that all start upstairs in the weight room. That’s where kids gain confidence, that’s where kids really learn about each other, lifting with a guy they don’t know very well, and that’s where it all starts,” Schlemmer said. “Coach [Isaac] Kinnicutt ran our summer program, and I thought it was probably one of the best summers we’ve ever had –and it wasn’t really due to any of us coaches, it was our senior leaders. “A product of the injuries that we had last year, and some kids unfor tunately unable to play winter or spring sports because of that, it cre ated that bond upstairs, and really, I think it created some leaders out of those guys who were there every single day and didn’t miss at all in the offseason lifting. It wasn’t a ques tion of who was going to be there; everybody was going to be there. That’s really showed.”
Sterling’s Antonio Tablante (3) turns the corner to pick up yards during last season’s Week 6 game against Quincy. Tablante returns to the Golden Warriors’ backfield after rushing for more than 1,000 yards last year.
29SHAWMEDIA 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk Sterling Schedule Game time Opponent Fri., Aug. 26, 7 Lake Villa Lakes Fri., Sept. 2, 7:30 at Wheaton St. Francis Fri., Sept. 9, 7 at Galesburg Fri., Sept. 16, 7 at Alleman Fri., Sept. 23, 7 Geneseo Fri., Sept. 30, 7 at Quincy Fri, Oct. 7, 7 Rock Island Fri., Oct. 14, 7 at Moline Fri., Oct. 21, 7 United Township No. Name Yr. Pos. 1 Tommy Tate Sr. WR/LB 2 JP Schilling Sr. QB/DB 3 Antonio Tablante Sr. RB/LB 4 Isaiah Mendoza Jr. WR/DB 5 Mateo Vasquez Sr. WR/DB 6 Devin Fargher Sr. WR/DB 7 Kael Ryan Sr. QB/LB 8 Braiden Herrera Sr. RB/LB 9 AJ Kested Sr. RB/DB 10 Cale Ledergerber Jr. WR/DB 11 Will Ports So. WR/LB 12 Joseph Marchiorato Sr. H/LB 13 Tavian Kelly Sr. WR/DB 14 Justin Benson Jr. WR/LB 15 Drew Nettleton So. QB 16 Dylan Ottens Jr. WR/DB 17 Mataeo Alvarado Sr. WR/DB 19 Mason Emin Jr. WR/LB 20 Miles Nawrocki Jr. WR/DB 21 Kyle Knutsen Jr. WR/DB 22 Andre Klaver Jr. WR/LB 23 Aramis Morga Jr. RB/LB 26 James Morris Sr. WR/LB 28 Yuriy Guerrero Sr. P 29 Gavin Church Jr. RB/DB 31 Gage Tate So. H/LB 37 Dillian Wellman Jr. WR/DB 38 Joseph Holcomb So. RB/DB 42 Braden Birdsley So. RB/LB 48 Lance Wren Sr. H/LB 51 Anthony Speers Sr. OL/DL 52 Christian Beasley Sr. OL/DL 53 Chase Ullrich Sr. OL/DL 55 Alex Manon Jr. OL/DL 56/83 Lucas Austin Jr. OL/H/DL 57 Javier Luna Sr. OL/DL 58 Jayden Florez Sr. OL/DL 59 Braylen Boer Jr. OL/DL 60 Mitchell Sechrest Jr. OL/DL 61 Fernando Cervantes Jr. OL/DL 62 Lincoln Davis So. OL/DL 65 Adrian Williamson Jr. OL/DL 67 Christopher Marin Sr. OL/DL 68 Kendric Muhammad Jr. OL/DL 71 Troy Hernandez Sr. OL/DL 73 Nathan Cavazos Sr. OL/DL 77 Peyton Davis Sr. OL/DL 80 Justin Null Sr. WR/DB 90 Fabricio Pena Sr. K 91 Ryan Gebhardt Fr. K Roster SM-ST2006786 1705 Eastwood dr. stErling • 815•625•1851 720 north galEna dixon • 815•288•3211 WWW.SLIMNHANKS.COM Proud Supporter of Our Area High School Teams NORTHENDLIQUOR DRIVE-UPWINDOW 208 W. MillerRoad,Sterling Call815-626-2979forcarryout. SERVINGLUNCH Monday-Friday:11am-2pm DAILYDRINKSPECIALS MiniPizzas • Snacks (whennotservinglunch) VIDEOSLOTS SM-ST2004154 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Serving Lunch Monday-Friday: 11am 2pm Dine-In or Carry-Out DAILY DRINK SPECIALS! 113 E. 3rd Street, 815-622-4078Sterling TRY OUR VIDEO SLOTS Credit Cards Accepted $$$$$$$$ By TY REYNOLDS treynolds@shawmedia.com
There has always been that next-man-up mentality in the Sterling football program – and it really served the Golden Warriors well during an injury-plagued 2021 season.Butas much as it hurt last fall, it could benefit them over the next three months. A lot of injuries meant a lot of guys getting a chance to gain experience that they otherwise might not have had, and that’s led to a deeper, more veteran team this fall.“I think by default, that made us deeper this year. It’s not something that we wanted to happen last year, but it might help us this year,” said Jon Schlemmer, entering his 11th season as Sterling’s head coach. “It’s all about depth this whole summer, this whole offseason, really, building that because of what happened last year. It’s just understanding what we need going into the conference slate, and really the schedule we have: we’ve got to feel really good two or three deep at a lot of posi tions, and we’re pretty close to that, so we feel pretty good with where we’re at.” As with the start of every season, the returning players and the younger guys coming up to the varsity squad must find a way to mesh and become a cohesive unit. Traditionally, that’s something the Warriors have excelled at, and senior Justin Null said that’s some thing that hasn’t taken much effort at all to achieve this offseason. “I would say it has been easy. When we were sophomores, the freshmen kind of had lower num bers, so now that we’re seniors and juniors, we’ve kind of all been together already, so this group has known each other for a really long time, and it doesn’t take a whole lot for us to get along together. We hang out a lot outside of football and school, too,” Null said. “I think it’s just the leadership from our seniors, whether it’s Kael Ryan or JP [Schilling] at quarter back, or basically any of our seniors, really, we’ve all been really helpful for the juniors that may not know exactly what they’re doing, or to peo ple that are new. Being able to help each other is really benefitting us.” Schlemmer points to the offsea son workout program as the site of a lot of that team chemistry being built – and again, the injuries last season might have lent a helping hand to that process.
SVM file photo by Alex T. Paschal – apaschal@shawmedia.com
By TY REYNOLDS treynolds@shawmedia.com
“When a lot of these juniors – our main contribu tors – were freshmen, they had opportunities to play in that spring, so to ask them to go down and play fresh-soph last year wasn’t an easy decision, by any means,” Clark said. “But we’re excited to be back this season. And not just the players, but the community really wants this and really needs this. Everybody I talk to, they ask me ‘Are we going to have a team this year?’ I think everybody around here is excited.” Junior co-captain AJ Boardman said is was tough not playing varsity football last year after taking some lumps as a freshman starting linebacker in the spring of 2021, but he also realizes that it was a good opportu nity for the team to gel and learn against more evenly matched“Gettingcompetition.somereps as a team down at our own age level again was really nice. We could work as a team, understand that we weren’t going to get pushed around as much as we would have if we were playing varsity,” he said. “We were at our own level and doing the things we needed to do, learning the system and how we needed to play the game. It really was a bounce-back year to understand the new offense with Clark, let him set his tone here, as well as the new coaching staff.”
It will also be the first full varsity season for Clark as head coach, since he was hired before the COVID year. He came to the area from northern Mississippi, and has coached just three varsity games in his first twoLastseasons.year, a lack of upperclassmen playing football forced West Carroll to play a JV schedule with a team full of sophomores and freshmen. Despite playing against opponents their own age, it was a step down for the sophomores, who had played roles on the varsity team during the delayed and shortened COVID season in the spring.
30 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk MEDIASHAW www.stsb4u.com Savanna 815-273-2261 Thomson 815-259-2455 Mt. Carroll 815-244-2261 Savanna-Thomson State Bank Your Hometown Friend Good Luck To All Area Schools! Me mb er SM-ST2001762 West Carroll Schedule Game time Opponent Fri., Aug. 26, 7 at Durand-Pecatonica Fri., Sept. 2, 7 Fulton Sat., Sept. 10, 1 Abingdon-Avon Fri., Sept. 16, 7 Lena-Winslow Sat., Sept. 24, 1 at Stockton Fri., Sept. 30, 7 Forreston Fri, Oct. 7, 7 at Eastland-Pearl City Fri., Oct. 14, 7 Dakota Fri., Oct. 21, 7 at Galena No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. 1 Aden Wiest 5-10 295 So. RB/DL 3 Wilson Bressler 5-9 140 So. QB 4 Kaiden McCutcheon 5-8 140 Fr. WR/DB 5 AJ Boardman 5-10 174 Jr. QB/LB 6 Aaron Becker 6-0 141 Jr. WR/DB 7 Austin Lahre 6-2 146 Jr. TE/DE 8 Raef Pickard-Schintgen 5-10 147 So. WR/DB 11 Angel Garcia-Magana 5-8 150 So. WR/DB 12 Roger LaBorn 5-11 146 Fr. QB/DB 22 Tyler McGinnis 5-7 153 So. RB/DB 24 Conner Townsend 5-6 139 So. RB/DB 29 Noah Rannow 5-6 140 So. RB/DB 30 Brock Ballard 5-4 130 Fr. RB/DB 33 RJ Clemens 5-7 140 So. OL/DL 44 Austin Behrens 6-1 175 So. TE/DE 51 James Longnecker 5-9 250 Sr. OL/DL 53 Logan Thulen 5-9 212 So. OL/DL 54 Maison Rihtar 6-0 180 Sr. OL/LB 56 Laith Al-Saidi 5-6 155 Jr. OL/DL 65 Dalton Duggan 5-10 222 So. OL/DL 67 Adair Pempilton 6-3 263 So. OL/DL 69 Killian Harrington 5-9 190 Jr. K/LB 72 Kole Harlock 6-4 215 Sr. DL 74 Ignacio Barragan 6-0 181 Jr. OL/LB 77 Durlin Richardson 6-3 263 Jr. OL/DL 81 Rayce Mix 5-4 119 Fr. LS/LB 88 Dallas Bunn 5-11 214 Jr. TE/DE Corry Griffith 5-8 160 Fr. OL/DL Winter Harrington 5-9 138 Fr. WR/DB Angel Lopez Orozco 5-9 155 Fr. OL/DE Christian Mitchell 5-6 145 Fr. OL/LB Daniel Mitchell 5-5 140 Fr. OL/LB Killyen Patrick 6-3 175 Fr. TE/DE Bryar Sipe 5-5 168 Fr. OL/DL Roster
Ty Reynolds – treynolds@shawmedia.com West Carroll coach Teo Clark (right) watches his players during a blocking drill at a recent practice in Savanna.
“We’re very excited. This is the first season to be hosting a home football game for a varsity team in three years for us,” coach Teo Clark said. “My first year in the spring of COVID, we couldn’t play on our field because of three feet of snow that melted on the field.”
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Thunder thrilled to be back for 2022
Boardman will start at quarterback for the Thunder, and both QB and coach are confident in the receivers and running backs. They also believe the line will grow together and mesh well as the season goes on. “We’re excited to be able to pass and run. I think we’ll be able to attack with everything,” Boardman said. No matter what happens as the Thunder try to find their footing again, the players understand and appre ciate what it means to be back at the varsity ranks, and it’s not something they take for granted. And they’re ready to embrace whatever 2022 has in store for “We’rethem.alot more excited to come into this year, be back on varsity and keep going forward as a team,” junior co-captain Laith Al-Saidi said. “I feel like being able to play Friday nights under the lights, and having a lot more players, we have a lot more we can do for the season and give our fans a good show.”
The West Carroll football players are counting down the days until their Week 2 game on Sept. 2 againstAfterFulton.ashortened 2021 spring season and a 2021 fall season spent playing JV games, the Thunder are poised to play varsity football for the first time in three years. And with that comes the team’s first home game since Week 7 of the 2019 season, on Oct. 11, 2019 – a 22-0 win over Milledgeville that made them playoffeligible at 5-2.
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Week 6 Friday, Sept. 30 Sterling at Quincy, 7 p.m. Rockford Lutheran at Dixon, 7 p.m. Rock Falls at Byron, 7 p.m. Genoa-Kingston at Oregon, 7 p.m.
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• Harvard at Erie-Prophetstown, 1 p.m. Week 7 Friday, Oct. 7 Rock Island at Sterling, 7 p.m. Dixon at Genoa-Kingston, 7 p.m. Rock Falls at North Boone, 7 p.m. Byron at Oregon, 7 p.m. Newman at Hall, 7 p.m. Bureau Valley at Erie-Prophetstown, 7 p.m. Orion at Morrison, 7 p.m. West Carroll at Eastland-Pearl City, 7 p.m. Fulton at Forreston, 7 p.m. Galva at AFC, 7 p.m. River Ridge at Polo, 7 p.m. West Central at Milledgeville, 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 at Bushnell-Prairie City, 2 Week 8 Friday, Oct. 14 Sterling at Moline, 7 p.m. Dixon at Byron, 7 p.m. Oregon at Rock Falls, 7 p.m. Mendota at Newman, 7 p.m. Princeton at Bureau Valley, 7 p.m. Monmouth-Roseville at Erie-Prophetstown, 7 Dakota at West Carroll, 7 p.m. Amboy-LaMoille at Aquin, 7 p.m. AFC at Peoria Heights, 7 p.m. Flanagan-Cornell-Woodland at Polo, 7 p.m. Milledgeville at River Ridge, 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 LeRoy at Morrison, 1 p.m. Eastland-Pearl City at Fulton, 1 p.m. Forreston at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, 2 p.m. Week 9 Thursday, Oct. 20
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• AFC at Rockford Christian Life, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21 United Township at Sterling, 7 p.m. Rock Falls at Dixon, 7 p.m. North Boone at Oregon, 7 p.m.
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Lake Villa Lakes at Sterling, 7 p.m. Dixon at Oregon, 7 p.m. Rock Falls at Rockford Christian, 7 p.m. Newman at Morrison, 7 p.m. Bureau Valley at Villa Grove, 7 p.m. Mendota at Erie-Prophetstown, 7 p.m. Eastland-Pearl City at Lena-Winslow, 7 p.m. Forreston at Stockton, 7 p.m. Galena at Fulton, 7 p.m. West Carroll at Durand-Pecatonica, 7 p.m. Amboy-LaMoille at Polo, 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27 AFC at Harvest Christian, 1 p.m. (canceled) Milledgeville at Orangeville, 7 p.m. Week 2 Friday, Sept. 2 Dixon at North Boone, 7 p.m. Stillman Valley at Rock Falls, 7 p.m. Oregon at Rockford Christian, 7 p.m. Rockridge at Newman, 7 p.m. Sherrard at Bureau Valley, 7 p.m. Morrison at Kewanee, 7 p.m. Erie-Prophetstown at St. Bede, 7 p.m. Stockton at Eastland-Pearl City, 7 p.m. Fulton at West Carroll, 7 p.m. River Ridge at Amboy-LaMoille, 7 p.m. Hiawatha at AFC, 7 p.m. Aquin at Milledgeville, 7 p.m. Sterling at Wheaton St. Francis, 7:30 p.m. Durand-Pecatonica at Forreston, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 Orangeville at Polo, 6 p.m. Week 3 Friday, Sept. 9 Sterling at Galesburg, 7 p.m. Rockford Christian at Dixon, 7 p.m. Winnebago at Rock Falls, 7 p.m.
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Muskegon Central Catholic at Fulton, noon Week 5 Friday, Sept. 23 Geneseo at Sterling, 7 p.m. Dixon at Winnebago, 7 p.m. Genoa-Kingston at Rock Falls, 7 p.m. Oregon at Rockford Lutheran, 7 p.m. Newman at Bureau Valley, 7 p.m. Sherrard at Morrison, 7 p.m. Orion at Erie-Prophetstown, 7 p.m. Dakota at Eastland-Pearl City, 7 p.m. Galena at Forreston, 7 p.m. Fulton at Lena-Winslow, 7 p.m. Milledgeville at Decatur Lutheran-Mt. Pulaski, 7 Polo at Hiawatha, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 Amboy-LaMoille at Orangeville, 1 p.m. West Carroll at Stockton, 1 p.m. AFC at Danville Schlarman, 3 p.m.
• Bureau Valley at Hall, 7 p.m.
• Fulton at Dakota, 7 p.m.
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• Mendota at Bureau Valley, 7 p.m.
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2022 Master Schedule When and
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your favorite team each week
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• Lena-Winslow at Forreston, 7 p.m.
31SHAWMEDIA 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk
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• Oregon at Stillman Valley, 7 p.m.
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• West Central at Amboy-LaMoille, 7 p.m. Polo at Aquin, 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 St. Thomas More at Milledgeville, 1 p.m. Eastland-Pearl City vs. Chester, at Tremont, 1 where to see
• Newman at Kewanee, 7 p.m.
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• Milledgeville at Harvest Christian Academy, 7
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• Newman at Orion, 7 p.m.
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32 202224,AugustWednesday,•SaukValley.comMedia/ValleySauk MEDIASHAW SM-ST2002469 to ALL Area Teams on a Great Season! Good LuckGood Luck Dixon Ford VW 489 IL Route 2, 815/288-3366Dixon ABRA Autobody 1818 Locust St., 815-625-2272Sterling Sterling Chevy 1824 Locust, 815/625-2700Sterling SM-ST2003683 Communit yisMor e Than Par to fOur Name. Goodlucktoall area teams on your upcoming season! Dixon • Fulton • Morrison • Rock Falls • Sterling www.commstbk.comNMLS# 480435
