Plenty of new faces in Lions lineup

BREMEN — The great thing about a senior-dominated team is that you have experience across the board and players that are more prepared physically for the grind of a long season. The biggest downside to a veteran team is the large gaps in the lineup the following year.

After one of its best seasons in recent history, with arguably one of the better senior classes, the Bremen High School football team will have a large number of new faces taking the field on Friday nights.

“We will be a very young team with the chance for big improvements each and every week,” said head coach Jordan Leeper, now in his fourth year.

The players remaining off last year’s 11-3 campaign that included a sectional championship, a regional title and coming thiscloseto the state final game will be tasked with carrying a large load and helping the newbies step up under the lights.

Returning letterwinners includeseniors Sam Huffman (TE/DE, 25 rec, 11 TDs, 8 tackles for loss, 10 sacks), Bryce Wogomon (RB/LB, 80 total tackles, 7 TFL, 5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries),and Zac Miller (DB, 38 total tackles, 1 Int), junior Hunter Bennitt (DB, 45 total tackles, 2 Ints, 1 fumble recovery, while missing seven games due to injury) and sophomore Lane Moser (OL).

“Our seniors and returning starters will need to lead the way for our newcomers and get them up to the speed as quickly as possible,” Leeper stated. “Our goal is to be competitive each and every week, while putting ourselves in position to win games.”

Looking to fill the huge holes left due to graduation are seniors Dylan Kent (OL/DL), Zach Craft (WR/DB), juniors RJ Simpson (WR/DB), Blake Dingus (RB/ LB), Brody Beasley (OL/DL), Richard Samuels (OL/DL), Zach Czarnecki (WR/ DB), Connor Hundt (LB), Grant Kauffman (LB), and Brady Ginter (RB/DB), and sophomores Ethan Nunemaker (QB), Trevor Rowe (DB), Cole Taylor (OL), Brody Ecenbarger (OL/DL), Marty Manges (OL/ DL) and Deonte Brown (DL).

The assistant coaches are Marty Andrews, Rom DePalma, Matt Gilley, Tyler Coffel, and Brad Leeper.

The Lions alternate home and away games each week. The opener has LaVille coming to Bunge Field, the first time the teams have played since 2014. The Lancers have moved up to Class 2A and join Bremen in a new-look sectional as well.

“It’s almost a whole new sectional for us,” Leeper said. “The schools are more centrally located and it gives us the opportunity to play some really good teams. I

think that 2A in the north got a lot more competitive with the additions of some of the new teams.”

Joining the Lions and Lancers in Sectional 35 are two-time defending Class A state champ Pioneer, Delphi, Lewis Cass, Manchester, Pioneer, Rochester and Wabash.

The 1994 state championship Bremen team will be honored at the Oct. 4 game versus South Bend Washington.