NUIC

Conference Preview 2022 Northwest Upstate Illini

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. ... OL/DL Noah Wenzel, DB Phoenix Blakely and WR/DB Nolan Mayberry are a few newcomers expected to play significant roles this year.

Durand-Pecatonica Rivermen

2021 record: 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. ... A few newcomers poised to play major roles this year are WR/S Jaylen Noud, WR/DB Drew Williams and H/LB Brayden Hughes.

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. 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.

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 ... 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.

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-Winslow Panthers

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.

Stockton Blackhawks

2021 record: 3-6 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.

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.