The Grand River Conference was solid a season ago, four teams advanced to the playoffs, including league champion Penney which finished with a 15-0 mark earning the Class 2 Show-Me Bowl title.
As the 2011 season quickly approaches the top of the division looks just as solid as a season ago and the bottom programs appear ready with talented returning players and varsity newcomers as they attempt to break into the top half of the league.
Senior Jay Powell(5-10 175) returns at running back/defensive back and senior T.J. Schieber(6-3 230) returns on the offensive line and linebacker after earning all-state honors for the Penney Hornets again earning the nod as the league favorite.
Take a look at each team and top players returning in the Grand River Conference for 2011.
MOsports.com Predicted Standings
Hamilton-- 15-0, defending Class 2 Show-Me Bowl champions, 7-0 in league play.
"The Hamilton (Penney) Hornets should be steady for the 2011 season", commented coach Fairchild. "We lose many key players: Trevor Dixon, Keagan Prather, Josh Pickrell, Dylan King, Hayden Horinek. However we do return 2 All-State LB's in TJ Schieber and Matt Schieber. Our success will depend on how our younger players will mature and the development of our quarterback. We expect to be competitive."
South Harrison-- Six offensive and six defensive starters return for the Bulldogs who finished 8-4, 5-2 a season ago. "We only lose 5 seniors from 2010", commented head coach Caleb Obert. "However, those seniors were a lot of playmakers. Have some holes to fill, if players step up we could have a good season in 2011. Looking to build on our district championship in 2010." Senior Cole Osborne(5-9 165) returns as a top threat at WR/DB.
Princeton-- Veteran Dave Cavanah returns plenty of talent and experience from his Tiger team that finished 10-2, 6-1 a season ago. On both the offensive and defensive lines senior Jake Letner will be a load for opponents. Junior running back Coulton Hartley returns along with senior WR Nate Roberts. On defense Jansen Stark and Tyler Johnson anchor the line.
Polo-- "With the right attitude and attendance in the weight room we will be competitive again throughout the season", commented head coach Kyle Ross. "We lost 10 seniors off of last years team and will have to work hard to fill the gaps left around our returning players. We will not have incredibly high numbers so we will need to keep injuries to a bare minimum. The 2010 season saw this group of young men figure out how to "compete" every minute of each practice and game. If that same mentality permeates through this years group, then we will have a legitimate chance to return to post season play for the second year in a row."
Senior QB Austin Bowley(6-0 205) leads the offense, keep an eye on Ashton Shelton(6-3 195) TE/LB and Harley Martin(6-1 220) OL/LB talented returning players who will be among the best in the league.
Gallatin-- Kevin Meyer takes over the Gallatin football program.
Maysville-- Greg O'Connor returns experience from a difficult 1-9, 1-6 season.
King City-- 3-7 a season ago, Mica Brekenridge takes over the head coaching position with the departure of Anthony Hays to Springfield.
Albany-- A season ago the Albany Warriors struggled through an 0-10 season, giving up 465 points, while scoring just 86. With eight starters returning on offense and eight returning on defense hopes are high that the lessons learned from a season ago will pay off with victories this season.
Albany opens with Princeton, has been selected to finish near the bottom of the Grand River Conference, and will again face Maysville, King City, and Rock Port in district play.
Senior Aaron Bundy(5-9 145) returns after earning second team all-conference honors a season ago at wide receiver.
MOsports.com Predicted Champion: Hamilton (Penney)
MOsports.com Pre-Season Player of the Year: T.J. Schieber, Hamilton, 6-3 230, LB
2011 Top Returning Grand River Players
WR Cole Osborne Sr South Harrison
OT TJ Schieber Sr Hamilton?
OT Jake Letner Sr Princeton
K Andrew Bottorff Sr Hamilton?
1st Team All Conference - Defense
DT Jake Letner Sr Princeton??
LB TJ Schieber Sr Hamilton
LB Justin Hicks Jr Polo?
WR Aaron Bundy Sr Albany?
T Dakota Gray Sr Hamilton
G Harley Martin Sr Polo?
C Jansen Stark Jr Princeton?
DT Hayden Bott Sr Gallatin
DT Daniel Boruch Jr Polo
DT Coultyn Clark Jr South Harrison
DT Dakota Reeder Sr Hamilton
DE Dakota Gray Sr Hamilton
LB Matt Schieber Sr Hamilton
LB Jake Riggs Sr Maysville
LB Aston Shelton Sr Polo
LB Dylan King Sr Hamilton
DB Jaylund Powell Sr Hamilton
DB Cole Osborne Sr South Harrison?
RB Coulton Hartley Jr Princeton
WR Trey Forward Sr King City
WR Nate Roberts Sr Princeton
DT Jansen Stark Jr Princeton
DE Tyler Johnson Sr Princeton
LB Austin Vandivert Jr South Harrison
LB Harley Martin Sr Polo
This post was edited on 7/12 1:55 PM by MOsportsStaff
This post was edited on 7/12 7:32 PM by MOsportsStaff
As the 2011 season quickly approaches the top of the division looks just as solid as a season ago and the bottom programs appear ready with talented returning players and varsity newcomers as they attempt to break into the top half of the league.
Senior Jay Powell(5-10 175) returns at running back/defensive back and senior T.J. Schieber(6-3 230) returns on the offensive line and linebacker after earning all-state honors for the Penney Hornets again earning the nod as the league favorite.
Take a look at each team and top players returning in the Grand River Conference for 2011.
MOsports.com Predicted Standings
Hamilton-- 15-0, defending Class 2 Show-Me Bowl champions, 7-0 in league play.
"The Hamilton (Penney) Hornets should be steady for the 2011 season", commented coach Fairchild. "We lose many key players: Trevor Dixon, Keagan Prather, Josh Pickrell, Dylan King, Hayden Horinek. However we do return 2 All-State LB's in TJ Schieber and Matt Schieber. Our success will depend on how our younger players will mature and the development of our quarterback. We expect to be competitive."
South Harrison-- Six offensive and six defensive starters return for the Bulldogs who finished 8-4, 5-2 a season ago. "We only lose 5 seniors from 2010", commented head coach Caleb Obert. "However, those seniors were a lot of playmakers. Have some holes to fill, if players step up we could have a good season in 2011. Looking to build on our district championship in 2010." Senior Cole Osborne(5-9 165) returns as a top threat at WR/DB.
Princeton-- Veteran Dave Cavanah returns plenty of talent and experience from his Tiger team that finished 10-2, 6-1 a season ago. On both the offensive and defensive lines senior Jake Letner will be a load for opponents. Junior running back Coulton Hartley returns along with senior WR Nate Roberts. On defense Jansen Stark and Tyler Johnson anchor the line.
Polo-- "With the right attitude and attendance in the weight room we will be competitive again throughout the season", commented head coach Kyle Ross. "We lost 10 seniors off of last years team and will have to work hard to fill the gaps left around our returning players. We will not have incredibly high numbers so we will need to keep injuries to a bare minimum. The 2010 season saw this group of young men figure out how to "compete" every minute of each practice and game. If that same mentality permeates through this years group, then we will have a legitimate chance to return to post season play for the second year in a row."
Senior QB Austin Bowley(6-0 205) leads the offense, keep an eye on Ashton Shelton(6-3 195) TE/LB and Harley Martin(6-1 220) OL/LB talented returning players who will be among the best in the league.
Gallatin-- Kevin Meyer takes over the Gallatin football program.
Maysville-- Greg O'Connor returns experience from a difficult 1-9, 1-6 season.
King City-- 3-7 a season ago, Mica Brekenridge takes over the head coaching position with the departure of Anthony Hays to Springfield.
Albany-- A season ago the Albany Warriors struggled through an 0-10 season, giving up 465 points, while scoring just 86. With eight starters returning on offense and eight returning on defense hopes are high that the lessons learned from a season ago will pay off with victories this season.
Albany opens with Princeton, has been selected to finish near the bottom of the Grand River Conference, and will again face Maysville, King City, and Rock Port in district play.
Senior Aaron Bundy(5-9 145) returns after earning second team all-conference honors a season ago at wide receiver.
MOsports.com Predicted Champion: Hamilton (Penney)
MOsports.com Pre-Season Player of the Year: T.J. Schieber, Hamilton, 6-3 230, LB
2011 Top Returning Grand River Players
WR Cole Osborne Sr South Harrison
OT TJ Schieber Sr Hamilton?
OT Jake Letner Sr Princeton
K Andrew Bottorff Sr Hamilton?
1st Team All Conference - Defense
DT Jake Letner Sr Princeton??
LB TJ Schieber Sr Hamilton
LB Justin Hicks Jr Polo?
WR Aaron Bundy Sr Albany?
T Dakota Gray Sr Hamilton
G Harley Martin Sr Polo?
C Jansen Stark Jr Princeton?
DT Hayden Bott Sr Gallatin
DT Daniel Boruch Jr Polo
DT Coultyn Clark Jr South Harrison
DT Dakota Reeder Sr Hamilton
DE Dakota Gray Sr Hamilton
LB Matt Schieber Sr Hamilton
LB Jake Riggs Sr Maysville
LB Aston Shelton Sr Polo
LB Dylan King Sr Hamilton
DB Jaylund Powell Sr Hamilton
DB Cole Osborne Sr South Harrison?
RB Coulton Hartley Jr Princeton
WR Trey Forward Sr King City
WR Nate Roberts Sr Princeton
DT Jansen Stark Jr Princeton
DE Tyler Johnson Sr Princeton
LB Austin Vandivert Jr South Harrison
LB Harley Martin Sr Polo
This post was edited on 7/12 1:55 PM by MOsportsStaff
This post was edited on 7/12 7:32 PM by MOsportsStaff
