Marshall County Football Preview
HNAC football ready for another big year
One might think that after winning back-to-back state championships and graduating Mr. Football Jack Kiser the Pioneer football Panthers might be rebuilding.
Not quite so fast.
Third-year Pioneer coach Adam Berry, who has watched the Panthers win 30 straight regular season games and go 30-0 in four seasons of the Hoosier North Athletic Conference, still has a lot of talent on the roster.
“We return a lot of varsity letter winners that played big minutes for us last year,” said Berry. “They are going to have to come together as one unit to be success. We had a great offseason and I am excited to see what they can accomplish on Friday nights.”
Pioneer returns five letter winners on offense and three on defense.
Back to lead a Panther offense that averaged 62.4 points per game are Ezra Lewellen (WB), Addai Lewellen (FB), Miles VonTobel (QB), Keaton Schroder (T), and Jonathan Beckley (T). Pioneer’s point total led the state offensively.
The Pioneer defense led the state, allowing just 2.6 ppg. and will be led by Ezra Lewellen and Addai Lewellen at cornerback, and Miles VonTobel at linebacker.
Coach Berry’s squad will open the season Aug. 23 at home against Lewis Cass.
At Knox, John Hendryx returns for his fourth season in charge of the Redskins.
Knox is 31-15 overall with three straight winning seasons after six consecutive losing seasons.
“Our team this year will be different than years past because it will be more speed oriented,” said coach Hendryx. “We aren’t as big as we’ve been but we are faster than we’ve been. We have really good depth at our skill positions and are excited about the number of defensive players we have returning.“
Knox returns seven defensive starters after allowing 13.36 ppg. a year ago and was tied with North Decatur for the 28th best defense in the state.
The Redskins have balance in the defensive line, linebackers, and secondary. Dalton Kohn, Korbin Craft, and Paden Shidler return to anchor the defensive line. Toss in Braxton Geller at linebacker, and the trio of Cade Short, Martin Napierkowski, and Jakobe Dickson at defensive back and that gives coach Hendryx a solid unit to start the season.
Knox returns five offensive starters from a team that averaged 19.7 ppg.
Kole Mcintire (WR), Zac Rose (QB), Billy Durkewicz (C), James Turillo (G), and Gabe Lovins (WB) give Hendryx a place to start.
Paden Shidler returns as the punter, while coach Hendryx will be looking for someone to kick off.
Knox will open the season Aug. 23 at Community Field against Hoosier North Athletic Conference foe Winamac.
At Culver Community, coach Mike Zehner returns for his fourth season at the helm of the Cavalier football program.
Culver has 10 returning on the offensive side of the ball. Zac Ditmire returns after a 1,200 yard, 14 touchdown performance a year ago. The offensive line will have four of five linemen back. Hunter Lautt, Drake Gross, Gabe Sherman and Owen Keller.
“Upfront the offensive line should be much improved from the 2-8 campaign with four out of five offensive lineman returning,” said Zehner. “Guards Hunter Lautt and Drake Gross should lead the way for the Power T offense. Tackles Gabe Sherman and Owen Keller return as well. The Center position is up in the air with Auston Zehner being the front runner in the preseason.
“Jalen King should be a force in the backfield at a halfback position along with Carter Stevens and Blake Thompson,” continued Zehner of the offense. “Look for sophomore Tucker Fisher and senior Donavan Ziaja to both compete for the quarterback position. Last year’s starters in Jake Fisher and Collin Daley should secure the tight ends. Look for newcomer Marquez Anderson and AJ Cooper to compete for those spots as well.”
The Cavs also return 10 on the defensive side. “Ditmire and Lautt return as the leading tacklers from last year,” said Zehner. “Drake Gross at defensive tackle will be a force on the defensive line. Jake Fisher should be a big leader at the linebacker position. Secondary positions return in Ziaja, Owen Valiquet, and King.”
Culver will open the season Aug. 23 at home against North Judson-San Pierre.
“The 2019 Cavaliers should have a lot more experience losing only two seniors from last year,” concluded Zehner, who will return Tucker Fisher as punter but will be looking for a new place kicker. “Look for the second year of the offense to continue to build off of last year’s successes. The defense needs to continue to improve. The Cavaliers will look for leadership from the team’s 11 seniors.”
North Judson-San Pierre has a new skipper in place following a 6-6 campaign.
Brett Lambert greets three offensive starters and two defensive starters from a year ago.
“The success of our season will depend on whether our newcomers can adjust to the speed of a varsity football game,” said Lambert. “We will be young and inexperienced, but we do have some talented players on our team.”
Nolan Shidler returns at tight end, Devan Condon at split end, and Keaton Redlin at center. On the defensive side, Shidler returns at inside linebacker along with Manny Barnes.
“Shidler is a three-year starter and the leader of our defense,” said Lambert. “He had 98 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recover.”
Though the Bluejay kicker graduated, Logan Brown returns as punter.
“North Judson has a strong tradition of playing championship football, including 12 sectionals and 3 state runner-ups,” concluded Lambert. “However, we have not won a sectional since 2004. The players are fully aware of and motivated by this sectional drought.”
North Judson-San Pierre will travel to Culver on Aug. 23 to open the season.
Tony Slocum returns for his third season at Caston. The youthful Comets return 18 total players from a year ago – 10 on offense and eight on defense.
Hunter Schanlaub is back at quarterback, Sam Smith at running back, Jessie Rock Wolf at running back-wide receiv
er, Gavin Hickle at running back, and center Sam Duval at center among the offensive returnees.
“Smith had over 500 hard rushing yards last year,” said Slocum. “Schanlaub had a great summer, Rock Wolf was our leading receiver, Hickle was our second leading rusher and has gained 20 pounds of muscle over the winter and summer, and Duval has increased his strength significantly in the off-season.”
“We are still going to be young and struggle with depth,” continued Slocum. “But we do have a majority of our starters back which should enhance our football IQ and allow us to play faster.”
The defense will be led by Schanlaub at defensive end, Smith and Hickle at inside linebacker, and Duvall at defensive tackle.
“Schanlaub was All-Hoosier North Athletic Conference last year,” said Slocum. “And Smith was All-HNAC honorable mention. Remember we played the whole season with about 15 kids last year.”
Slocum says punting duties will be split between Smith and Aiden Sarver, but are looking to add depth from members of the soccer team in Smith and Rock Wolf. Smith returns as the Comet punter. “We ran the double wing last year and have a core of good backs returning with Smith, Hickle, and Rock Wolf,” concluded Slocum. “We will be looking to pass the ball more. Last year we had eight freshmen or first year football players starting on our 15 man-roster.”
“Even though it was a rough season we now have a team of varsity lettermen who should understand how hard you have to work to win games in the HNAC,” continued Slocum. “We have some talented freshmen like Landon Schafer and Evan Howard who should make an impact and push for starting minutes. We have some possible transfers coming in which should allow us to practice 11 on 11 for the first time, in two years, which can only help our players get a complete picture of what is expected of them. We look forward to the challenge of playing in the HNAC and starting off with a win at home against West Central. We will be making some small changes on defense hopefully to help the kids play aggressive and faster.”
Caston will play host to West Central on Aug. 23 to open the 2019 campaign.
Rodney Younis returns for his second go-round at Triton.
The Trojans were 9-4 in 2018 and won the first IHSAA sectional football championship since 2008 the last time Younis was at the helm.
Triton will returns two offensive starters from a year ago - D'Angelo Shumpert at slot and Hunter McIntyre at running back. Shumpert at safety, along with Caleb Lemler at defensive tackle, and Trenton Kreft at linebacker are the three defensive starters that return.
“We graduated quite a few from last season,” said Younis, who was 42-80 as head coach from 2001-2012. “We will have several new starters. This will be a completely different looking team, but with a lot of potential. The inexperienced players will need to catch up to varsity speed fast. There are no standout superstars, but several players with the potential to keep us very balanced on offense.
“Defensively we will have a new scheme to go with our new Defensive Coordinator” continued Younis, who guided Triton to sectional titles in 2007 and 2008. “We will have a new kicker and punter this season for our special teams. Overall, this is a team with little varsity experience with tons of potential.”
Craig Barr returns for his third year at Winamac. The Warriors finished 5-6 in 2018.
Barr welcome back ten defensive starters, while seven return on offense.
Logan Schultz returns at defensive tackle, Dakota Podell on the defensive line, Kyle Olds and Coy Fields are back at defensive end, Gabe Townsend and Patrick Kiefer at linebacker, and Trent Fox, Jared Huetton, Cale Paseresi, and Hayden Clark in the defensive backfield.
“Coach Gavin Fulmer takes over the reigns as our defensive coordinator and has ten returning starters to work with,” said Barr. “We will play an aggressive attacking style lead by three juniors - Fox, Paseresi at CB's and Kiefer who has moved to linebaker from defensive end. The Warriors defense also returns all four defensive linemen — Schultz, Olds, Podell and Field.”
Barr says Winamac will look different in 2019 on offense.
Russell Compton returns at quarterback, Townsend at running back, and Huetton at receiver. The four returnees set to guide the offensive line are Kiefer at center, Olds and Podell at guard, and Schultz at tackle.
“The 2019 Warriors will have a different look about them as they will run a more of an up-tempo style of offense,” said Barr. “The Warriors return seven starters on offense lead by Townsend, Huetton and Compton. The key to our offense will be our offensive line, which includes Kiefer Podell, Schultz and Olds, who was all conference as a freshmen last year. Our fifth offensive line starter will be Coy Field.”
Barr says the, “kicking game will be in good hands with Max Murray returning as our kicker.”
Winamac will open the season at Knox on Aug. 23.
Will Hostrawser returns for his sixth season at LaVille. The Lancers finished 6-4 in 2018 and had a school-record fifth straight winning season.
Hostrawser welcomes back 18 total rerunning starters – eight on offense and ten on defense.
Ayden Doyle returns for his second-season at quarterback. Robby Pope, Kolby Watts, Andrew Dill, and Evan Bettcher return in the backfield. Pope and Dill were All-HNAC selections. Jimmy Fischer returns at wide receiver and Leyton Czarnecki at tight end On the offensive line, James Bettcher and Jake Martin are back at guard, while Jacob Hominiuk returns at tackle. Pope was an All-HNAC selection in 2018.
On defense, Tyler Studon, Alexis Albarado, and Martin return on the defensive line Pope, Bettcher, and Doyle are back at linebackers. The Secondary includes Fischer, Dill, Czarnecki, and Connor Manges Czarnecki was an All-HNAC selection a year ago. Czarnecki returns as the LaVille punter and kicker.
“In order for us to have a successful 2019 season our players must maintain an edge, play physical, and with a purpose,” said Hostrawser. “This will be the expectation daily.”
LaVille will open the season Aug. 23 against Bremen at Don J. Bunge Field.