2013 Quick Look at the Lewis & Clark Conference
Predicted Standings
1) Westran
2) Marceline
3) Salisbury
4) Fayette
5) Paris
6) Slater
Salisbury
Coach:[/B] Kirk Stott(39-9)
2012:[/B] The
Panthers finished 12-2, 4-1 in conference play, along with Marceline and
Westran. A 48-0 loss to eventual state champion Hamilton ended their
season in the third round of the playoffs.
Returning starters:[/B] 4
offense, 5
defense
About the Panthers:[/B] Following
an outstanding run on the field last season the Panthers must replace key
losses, but Stott believes they have more than enough talent returning to
put together a successful season. "We have many players capable of filling
key positions, we have great athletes returning with experience on Friday
nights", commented Stott.
Brady Francis (6-3 175), an experienced junior makes the
move to quarterback from his wide receiver position. Junior Keegan
Wyatt(6-4 220) just may be the top player in the league, and among
the best in the state at tight end. A player opposing defense can't
match up with. Senior guard John Oliver(6-0 320)
provides great size on the line, he led the way for nearly 3,000 rushing
yards a season ago.
The 4-4 Panther defense allowed just 10 points per game and will return
several key elements. Wyatt will be a force at linebacker and
defensive end. Oliver earned first team all-conference honors at
defensive end a season ago collecting 27 tackles and a sack. Other returning
players include sophomore DE Ben Baer(5-10 245), senior DT Hunter
Creech(5-10 280), and Francis at linebacker.
"We will be big and physical up front", added Stott.
"Our guys will fly around the field looking for a collision, and tackle
well.
Westran
Coach:[/B] Curtis Jasper (51-21)
2012:[/B] The
Hornets finished 10-2, 4-1 in conference play, tied with Marceline and
Salisbury. South Shelby once again ended Hornet playoff hopes with a 38-36
defeat in the third round.
Returning starters:[/B] 5
offense, 7
defense
Players to watch:[/B]
Richard Courtney TE 6'1" 199 12 9
Catches for 89 Yds, 1TD Tayler Schermerhorn WR 5'10" 155 12 2
Catches for 18 Yds Zane Jacoby QB 6'3" 197 11 All Conf, All Dist,
All State 1st Team Pass 1347yds 21TDs, Rush 1982yds 33TDs Zack Hayes
OL 6'3" 225 12 All Conf, All Dist, All State 1st Team Morgan Wallace
OL 6'0" 240 11 Logan Hunt DL 6'1" 217 12 50 tkls, 7 for loss, All
Conf Morgan Wallace DL 6'0" 240 11 34 tkls, 8 for loss Richard
Courtney LB 6'1" 199 12 28 tkls, 2 forced fumbles Jordan Dennis LB
5'9" 175 12 48 tkls, 8 for loss Matt Kertz LB 6'0" 180 12 16 tkls
Jake Ingebritson LB 6'1" 201 11 87 tkls, 8 for loss, 4 ints, 1st
Team All Conf/Dist Parker Howard DB 5'11" 158 11 38tkls, 5 ints
About the Hornets:[/B] Depth is a
concern, as it is for many Class 1 programs, however Coach Jasper says, "as
long as we stay healthy our goal is to make another run in the playoffs.
We have won at least 10 games each of the last three
years. We would like to continue that trend and see if we can make a
run for the dome."
Marceline
Coach:[/B] Paul Thomas (116-92)
2012:[/B] 7-4 a
season ago, 4-1 in league play tying with Marceline and Salisbury. The Tigers lost to Salisbury
in the second round of the
playoffs 41-18.
Returning starters:[/B] 8
offense, 6
defense
Players to watch:[/B]
Dakota
Lewis, Rb,Lb,5'10,165,Sr.,Blake Belzer,Rb,Lb,6'0190,Sr.,Anthony
Steffes,De,Te,6'1, 190, Sr.,Jesse Smith,Ol,6'3,250,Sr.,Trey
King,Ol,Dl,5'11',205,Sr.,Cade Ewigman,Ol,6'0,180,Jr.,Iaasc Smith,Ol,5'11,
180,Sr.,Blake Linebaugh,Qb,Db,5'9'170,Jr.,Duane Avila,Dl,5'9,165,Soph.,
About the Tigers:[/B] "We
will have a lot of seniors coming back, but still have a lot of holes to
fill from our graduating seniors", commented head coach Paul Thomas.
"We will have to fill those Holes and if we do it quickly we could become a
good football team. we have a good number of freshman and sophomores who
need to step up and fill the voids. We should have great competition on our
team for every spot!"
Fayette
Coach:[/B] Tom Oakley (2-8)
2011:[/B] The
Wildcats finished 2-8 in Tom Oakley's opening season in Fayette.
Returning starters:[/B]
Players to watch:[/B]
Collin O'Conell
SR RB/QB/ LB
5-10 - 195lb, Jason Esau SR RB/LB 5-11 - 180lbs,
Ethan Chew SOPH RB/LB 5-8 - 185lbs
About the Falcons:[/B] Competing in
the very solid Lewis & Clark the Falcons hope to finish in the middle of the
pack.
Paris
Coach:[/B] Gary Crusha (46-75)
2011:[/B] The
Coyotes finished 3-7, 2-3 in conference play.
Returning starters:[/B]
Players to watch:[/B]
Zac Baladenski
Sr 5'9 210 FB/LB, Slater Stone Jr 6'0
180 RB/LB, August Hayhurst Jr 6"0 230 OL/DL, Kole Berrey
Sr 6'0 220 OL/DL, lan Haynes Jr. 6'5 360 OL/DL
About the Coyotes:[/B] Paris
has a difficult challenge, competing with Westran, Salisbury, and Marceline
a trio of teams that will begin the season ranked among the best in Class 1.
Crusha continues to build a confident group in Paris.
Slater
Coach:[/B] Chris Ferri (11-39)
2011:[/B] The
Wildcats finished the season 1-9, 0-5 in league
play.
Returning starters:[/B] 10
offense, 10
defense
Players to watch:[/B]
NIK FERI LB/FB 6'0 205 SR, DREW WEIKER LB/TE/RB 6'2 185 SR, CALEB
PEMBERTON 6'1 DB/WR/RB SR, MATT CURREN 6'2 175 DB/WR/RB SR, TANNER
FUEMMELLER 6'3 240 ODL/OL SR, TYLER BUGLOVSKY 6'2 165 QB/LB SR, COLE
SKINNER 5'10 150 DB/RB JR, ANDREW ADKINS 5'10 250 DL/OL JR, DAKOTA
WEITLAUF 5'10 DE/FB SR AUSTIN EDDY 5'11 170 DE/TE SR MIKE DAVIS 5'9
200 DL/OL SR
About the Wildcats:[/B] The Wildcats
continue to build confidence after struggling in difficult seasons.
With ten experienced starters returning on each side of the ball Ferri hopes
this team can push towards the .500 mark.
Predicted Standings
1) Westran
2) Marceline
3) Salisbury
4) Fayette
5) Paris
6) Slater
Salisbury
Coach:[/B] Kirk Stott(39-9)
2012:[/B] The
Panthers finished 12-2, 4-1 in conference play, along with Marceline and
Westran. A 48-0 loss to eventual state champion Hamilton ended their
season in the third round of the playoffs.
Returning starters:[/B] 4
offense, 5
defense
About the Panthers:[/B] Following
an outstanding run on the field last season the Panthers must replace key
losses, but Stott believes they have more than enough talent returning to
put together a successful season. "We have many players capable of filling
key positions, we have great athletes returning with experience on Friday
nights", commented Stott.
Brady Francis (6-3 175), an experienced junior makes the
move to quarterback from his wide receiver position. Junior Keegan
Wyatt(6-4 220) just may be the top player in the league, and among
the best in the state at tight end. A player opposing defense can't
match up with. Senior guard John Oliver(6-0 320)
provides great size on the line, he led the way for nearly 3,000 rushing
yards a season ago.
The 4-4 Panther defense allowed just 10 points per game and will return
several key elements. Wyatt will be a force at linebacker and
defensive end. Oliver earned first team all-conference honors at
defensive end a season ago collecting 27 tackles and a sack. Other returning
players include sophomore DE Ben Baer(5-10 245), senior DT Hunter
Creech(5-10 280), and Francis at linebacker.
"We will be big and physical up front", added Stott.
"Our guys will fly around the field looking for a collision, and tackle
well.
Westran
Coach:[/B] Curtis Jasper (51-21)
2012:[/B] The
Hornets finished 10-2, 4-1 in conference play, tied with Marceline and
Salisbury. South Shelby once again ended Hornet playoff hopes with a 38-36
defeat in the third round.
Returning starters:[/B] 5
offense, 7
defense
Players to watch:[/B]
Richard Courtney TE 6'1" 199 12 9
Catches for 89 Yds, 1TD Tayler Schermerhorn WR 5'10" 155 12 2
Catches for 18 Yds Zane Jacoby QB 6'3" 197 11 All Conf, All Dist,
All State 1st Team Pass 1347yds 21TDs, Rush 1982yds 33TDs Zack Hayes
OL 6'3" 225 12 All Conf, All Dist, All State 1st Team Morgan Wallace
OL 6'0" 240 11 Logan Hunt DL 6'1" 217 12 50 tkls, 7 for loss, All
Conf Morgan Wallace DL 6'0" 240 11 34 tkls, 8 for loss Richard
Courtney LB 6'1" 199 12 28 tkls, 2 forced fumbles Jordan Dennis LB
5'9" 175 12 48 tkls, 8 for loss Matt Kertz LB 6'0" 180 12 16 tkls
Jake Ingebritson LB 6'1" 201 11 87 tkls, 8 for loss, 4 ints, 1st
Team All Conf/Dist Parker Howard DB 5'11" 158 11 38tkls, 5 ints
About the Hornets:[/B] Depth is a
concern, as it is for many Class 1 programs, however Coach Jasper says, "as
long as we stay healthy our goal is to make another run in the playoffs.
We have won at least 10 games each of the last three
years. We would like to continue that trend and see if we can make a
run for the dome."
Marceline
Coach:[/B] Paul Thomas (116-92)
2012:[/B] 7-4 a
season ago, 4-1 in league play tying with Marceline and Salisbury. The Tigers lost to Salisbury
in the second round of the
playoffs 41-18.
Returning starters:[/B] 8
offense, 6
defense
Players to watch:[/B]
Dakota
Lewis, Rb,Lb,5'10,165,Sr.,Blake Belzer,Rb,Lb,6'0190,Sr.,Anthony
Steffes,De,Te,6'1, 190, Sr.,Jesse Smith,Ol,6'3,250,Sr.,Trey
King,Ol,Dl,5'11',205,Sr.,Cade Ewigman,Ol,6'0,180,Jr.,Iaasc Smith,Ol,5'11,
180,Sr.,Blake Linebaugh,Qb,Db,5'9'170,Jr.,Duane Avila,Dl,5'9,165,Soph.,
About the Tigers:[/B] "We
will have a lot of seniors coming back, but still have a lot of holes to
fill from our graduating seniors", commented head coach Paul Thomas.
"We will have to fill those Holes and if we do it quickly we could become a
good football team. we have a good number of freshman and sophomores who
need to step up and fill the voids. We should have great competition on our
team for every spot!"
Fayette
Coach:[/B] Tom Oakley (2-8)
2011:[/B] The
Wildcats finished 2-8 in Tom Oakley's opening season in Fayette.
Returning starters:[/B]
Players to watch:[/B]
Collin O'Conell
SR RB/QB/ LB
5-10 - 195lb, Jason Esau SR RB/LB 5-11 - 180lbs,
Ethan Chew SOPH RB/LB 5-8 - 185lbs
About the Falcons:[/B] Competing in
the very solid Lewis & Clark the Falcons hope to finish in the middle of the
pack.
Paris
Coach:[/B] Gary Crusha (46-75)
2011:[/B] The
Coyotes finished 3-7, 2-3 in conference play.
Returning starters:[/B]
Players to watch:[/B]
Zac Baladenski
Sr 5'9 210 FB/LB, Slater Stone Jr 6'0
180 RB/LB, August Hayhurst Jr 6"0 230 OL/DL, Kole Berrey
Sr 6'0 220 OL/DL, lan Haynes Jr. 6'5 360 OL/DL
About the Coyotes:[/B] Paris
has a difficult challenge, competing with Westran, Salisbury, and Marceline
a trio of teams that will begin the season ranked among the best in Class 1.
Crusha continues to build a confident group in Paris.
Slater
Coach:[/B] Chris Ferri (11-39)
2011:[/B] The
Wildcats finished the season 1-9, 0-5 in league
play.
Returning starters:[/B] 10
offense, 10
defense
Players to watch:[/B]
NIK FERI LB/FB 6'0 205 SR, DREW WEIKER LB/TE/RB 6'2 185 SR, CALEB
PEMBERTON 6'1 DB/WR/RB SR, MATT CURREN 6'2 175 DB/WR/RB SR, TANNER
FUEMMELLER 6'3 240 ODL/OL SR, TYLER BUGLOVSKY 6'2 165 QB/LB SR, COLE
SKINNER 5'10 150 DB/RB JR, ANDREW ADKINS 5'10 250 DL/OL JR, DAKOTA
WEITLAUF 5'10 DE/FB SR AUSTIN EDDY 5'11 170 DE/TE SR MIKE DAVIS 5'9
200 DL/OL SR
About the Wildcats:[/B] The Wildcats
continue to build confidence after struggling in difficult seasons.
With ten experienced starters returning on each side of the ball Ferri hopes
this team can push towards the .500 mark.
