QB1: Jace Wunderlich CENTRAL-BURDEN

By Keegan McCullick, Staff Writer

Head coach Jeff Savage is entering the second season of his second coaching stint with Central of Burden this fall in a coaching career that spans for more than four decades.

failing to make the playoffs in the prior 23 seasons. In the for the 9-2 squad, setting national records for single season comes off a 1,700 yard passing season with 28 TDs to five

TDs; 25 rec., 225 yds., 2 TDs) and Xander Woods (22 car., 132 yds., TD; 9 rec., 197 yds., 2 TDs) give Savage two strong options next to Wunderlich in the backfield. Senior receiver Ben Long (16 rec., 201 yds., TD) and tight end Miles Easley (4 rec., 62 yds., TD) – missed much of his junior season due to injury – provide a pair of pass catching targets.

Senior tight end Mason Sigg and junior receiver Ethan Boucher (22 rec., 161 yds., TD) also gained key starting experience when guys ahead of them went down.

On the offensive line seniors Kaden Miller, Boston Norris, and Hunter O’Neil provide one of the most seasoned forward walls in 8-Man.

“We have a smart coach that knows the game inside and out that can put us in the right position,“ Wunderlich said. “We have 11 seniors that know the offense and are able to lead the team and the underclassmen are stepping up in some big roles.” anything you ask and are intelligent, and on top of that have athleticism and instincts. It’s not often you get a kid like that. He’s a dual-threat QB, which I really haven’t had much of While a young Raiders’ squad finished just 5-4 to start off 7 matchup with Wichita Independent, but were then dealt

This season the Raiders have far more experience in the form of 16 returning lettermen, including eight offensive and

Not to be overlooked defensively, Wunderlich returns at free safety after recording 99 tackles, a sack, six-and-a-half tackles-for-loss, and three interceptions in 2022.

“He’s a heck of a defensive player, too,” Savage said. “I mean, he’s just everywhere. Just a great, great football player on both sides of the ball.”

Long (37 tkls., INT) returns in the defensive backfield as well, along with Woods (39 tkls., 4 INTs) and Norris (78 tkls., 5.5 TFLs) at linebacker spots, and Miller (80 tkls., 12.5 TFLs), O’Neil (49 tkls., 5 TFLs), and Easley (5 tkls.) on the D-line.

“(It) could be a special year if we get better luck in the injury department,” Savage said. “We will be explosive on offense and will have great balance this year throwing and running the ball. We need to improve on defense and our physicality. With a veteran team with game experience we are hopeful that we can. If we can stay healthy it will take a very good football team to beat us.”

Timbrook from page

The senior signal caller has hopes to play football and/or baseball at the next level, and has interest from Division II programs, among others.

“Stocton is a great athlete that also possesses great leadership skills,” Nick said. “He has put a lot of time into the weight room, as well as his throwing mechanics, which allows him to be successful on the football field. He has a unique skill set of arm strength and accuracy that allows him to make every throw on the field and he has continued to improve each year and has a very high ceiling for his future in football.”

Timbrook has a deep pool of targets to choose from, including senior Brax Fisher, who caught eight passes for 122 yards and two TDs before being injured in Week 2, junior receiver Weston Rock (41 rec., 506 yds., 6 TDs), sophomores Taygen Funston (26 rec., 269 yds., 2 TDs) and Heath Hoekman (20 rec., 385 yds., 3 TDs), as well as senior tight end Keaton Hargrave (22 rec., 298 yds., TD).

Senior running back Zach Miller (464 rush yds., 2 TDs) is also back with an experience line consisting of senior Samuel Whitehair and juniors Tyler Holloway and Devin Alverez. Senior center Gavin Runyon is a leading candidate for a starting spot on the line this year as well.

On defense, Hoekman (28 tkls., 2 TFLs), Whitehair (26 tkls., 2 TFLs), and senior Kayden Timm (42 tkls., 7 TFLs) return on the D-line, with Miller (72 tkls., 4 TFLs) and junior Landon Taplin (90 tkls., 7 TFLs) returning at both backer spots in Nicks’ 4-2-5 defense

Rounding out the unit in the defensive backfield are Josh Bowell (46 tkls., 2 INTs) and Rock (32 tkls., 2 INTs) at corners and Fisher (16 tkls.) and junior Joe Walsh (79 tkls.) at the safety positions.

“Our seniors have set very high expectations for this year,” Nicks said. “Many of these seniors played as freshman and sophomores and have worked very hard in the weight room for this season. They have set goals to host another playoff game this year as well as go deeper into the playoffs. With their outstanding leadership this group can accomplish a lot with the help of a great junior and sophomore class. It will take everyone to fully reach our potential this year and everyone is excited to get the season started!”