FOOTBALL 2025
New coach brings West Coast flavor to Tigers
By Travis Zuellig Staff Writer
New Beardstown head football coach Chris Sawyers brings a quarter-century of experience to a Tigers program looking to rebound. After earning a spot in the IHSA playoffs for six straight years, Beardstown has missed out the past two years.
Sawyers hopes to bring his West Coast style and his love for football to a Tiger community hoping for a better season.
“Hopefully, I am bringing a well-versed veteran coach who knows how to get in and out of trouble when we deal with adversity,” the new coach said. “To be honest, hopefully, I am just bringing a love for the game of football. Our community has struggled the last couple of years with our football situation, and understandably so. They really want to see us be good, and I am feeling their support, and I want to do everything I can to reward them for getting me on board and bringing this kind of ball to their neck of the woods.”
Sawyers will have an uphill battle after Beardstown finished 1-8 in 2024, its only victory a 30-12 win over Triopia. After being hired in February, Sawyers had to wait until the summer to coach his team after completing the school year
at Sunrise Mountain High School in Las Vegas. The 2023 Tom Flores/Las Vegas Raiders Coach of the Year led his team to a runner-up finish at the NIAA Class 4A state championship, bringing championship pedigree to Beardstown.
“When I interviewed with Beardstown, they made it abundantly clear that they wanted me, and that made me feel like it was a good fit for me,” Sawyers said. With his experience from out West, he also will bring a new style of offense. Junior Zach Meyers is expected to take over at quarterback. Senior Jayden Stephonson will help anchor the offensive line, while seniors Carter Davis and Gunner Looker will be Meyers’ primary targets, with Looker being used in multiple positions.
The Tigers struggled offensively last season, averaging just nine points per contest, and Sawyers is hoping a new offense will produce more points.
“Hopefully, we are going to put up a lot more points than they did a year ago,” Sawyers said. “We are going to be in a much different system than they were a year ago, and we have some pieces that should allow us to put (our opponents) in jeopardy.
“I think it’s going to be beneficial for us because there aren’t very many
New Beardstown coach Chris Sawyers talks to a player during practice earlier this month. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
spread teams in the WIVC.
On the West Coast, everybody runs a spread, so it is pretty commonplace. But out here, we are the anomaly, so they have to get ready for us.”
Defensively, the system will also change after the Tigers conceded just over 36 points per game on average, and the coach is excited about the change. Senior brothers Payton and Parker McCoy will help anchor the defense, along with junior defensive lineman Caleb Hobrock.
“We are introducing two completely new systems to everyone in the community, including the coaches, so it’s going to be all hands on deck, and we are going to try and get better on both sides of the ball,” Sawyers said. “I am bringing some West Coast flavor out here to the Midwest, and the kids are loving it. The coaches are getting on board with it.”
The Tigers will open the season at North Greene in a battle of new coaches. Beardstown will then host Calhoun and Mendon Unity/Payson in consecutive weeks before traveling to WIVC power Camp Point Central. Then, the Tigers will host Routt before away games at Triopia, Brown County and Carrollton before concluding the season at home against West Central.
“I am just really grateful to be doing what I am doing, and I am looking forward to seeing how things play out,” Sawyers said.
Tigers HEAD COACH: Chris Sawyers 2024 RECORD: 1-8 . . . Fri, Aug 29 at North Greene, 7 p.m. Fri, Sep 5 Calhoun, 7 p.m. Fri, Sep 12 Mendon, 7 p.m. Fri, Sep 19 at Camp Point, 7 p.m. Fri, Sep 26 Routt, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 3 at Triopia, 7 p.m. Fri, Oct 10 at Brown County, 7 p.m. Sat, Oct 18 at Carrollton, 1 p.m. Fri, Oct 24 West Central, 7 p.m.
A Beardstown player regains control of the ball during practice earlier this month. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
New coach begins North Greene rebuild
By Travis Zuellig Staff Writer
New North Greene head football coach Nicholas Mellenthin is fairly familiar with the WIVC-South. The Bunker Hill graduate’s senior season came when the Minutemen moved to the conference in 2006.
More recently, Mellenthin was the offensive coordinator at
Casey-Westfield for the past two years. During that time, the Warriors played three different WIVC schools in the IHSA playoffs — first, falling to Greenfield-NW in the second round in 2023 before beating Routt Catholic and Brown County last year. With that experience, Mellenthin is ready to rebuild a 1-8 Spartan program with only one
playoff appearance in the last decade in his first head coaching job.
“Just using that experience there of what to expect and what it takes to have a high-level program,” Mellenthin said.
“Along with my other experience at Edwardsville and Staunton, and learning what it takes to make the playoffs and being a consistent playoff team, I think it’s going to help
lay the groundwork here for these kids to understand what it takes to be that kind of program.”
The start of that rebuild began over the spring. Mellenthin was hired in February but had to finish out the school year in Casey. The coach made the twoand-a-half-hour drive to White Hall a couple of times during the spring before moving to the
area over the summer.
“They were able to come in and start learning how we do things and how to do things the right way,” the coach said. “We spent the first couple of weeks teaching them how to watch film, how to do things the right way ... not so much the X’s and O’s, but more laying down what our culture is going to be and what the expectations
are going to be.”
The team started with 17 players before expanding to the mid-20s over the summer, and Mellenthin is hoping for more. One of the first players to buy into Mellenthin’s new project is center Preston Bradford. The coach says the senior has helped push his teammate this summer. On offense, the Spartans will be replacing
New North Greene coach Nicholas Mellenthin helps a player cool off during practice earlier this month in White Hall. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
a majority of the skill positions from last season’s squad, with only five seniors on the roster this year. Junior Boen Berry is expected to take over for brother Brody as one of the main ball carriers, along with freshman Russell Staats. Under center, sophomore Carson Wallis will see his first action after sitting
behind multiple seniors last year.
“He’s going to be kind of the centerpiece we are going to work around, and he’s going to have to learn to get comfortable in the pocket and do some things,” Mellenthin said.
Most of the same players will staff the defense. Bradford, Berry and
NORTH GREENE
NICKNAME: Spartans
HEAD COACH: Nicholas Mellenthin
2024 RECORD: 1-8 . . . Fri, Aug 29 Beardstown, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 5 at Triopia, 7 p.m.
Sat, Sep 13 West Central, 1 p.m.
Fri, Sep 19 at Calhoun, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 26 at Greenfield-NW, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Oct 3 Carrollton, 7:30
Fri, Oct 10 Pleasant Hill, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Oct 17 at Brown County, 7 p.m.
Thu, Oct 23 Camp Point, 7 p.m.
Staats should anchor a young North Greene defense from the linebacker position. North Greene conceded nearly 50 points per game last season, Turning that around is job one.
“The wins may not be there in the plethora of making the playoffs, but they are going to take that first step in building
the North Greene program back into something that the WIVC isn’t just going to schedule nine homecoming games for you,” Mellenthin said.
The Spartans will open Week 1 at home against Beardstown — a win last season — before traveling to Triopia in Week 2. The schedule is
tougher from there as the Spartans will square off against playoff teams from last season in six of their last seven games. That excites the new head coach.
“This is one thing we talked about, me and my wife when I got this job, is how exciting it is to be in one of these conferences where every week
you are playing a team that could be AP Top 10 in the state,” Mellenthin said. “The kids have bought into what we are doing, and they are ready for it. They are ready for the fight, and we could see some wins this year. It is going to be an exciting time here in White Hall.”
A North Greene player hits a tackling dummy during practice earlier this month in White Hall. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
Crimsons lean on QB, deep backfield
By Dennis Mathes Staff Writer
Jacksonville has been here before.
The 2025 Crimsons return plenty of experience at the skill positions, but completely new offensive and defensive lines will determine which way this season goes.
“Well, you know, we had a good summer,” JHS coach Mark Grounds said. “Had good involvement, trying to find out what everybody can do. We’ve got a good group of returning skilled guys. We graduated a lot of linemen last year, so a lot of the summer has been trying to figure out what they can do.”
Rebuilding the lines has been a work in progress.
“You graduate four linemen that were three-year starters for us. And so you’ve got new combinations, new kids,” Grounds said. “You’ve got to see what they can do against other people, what their strong suit is. So a lot of the summer was trying to figure out their skill set, what combinations were good. And that’s why it’s so important and so beneficial that the state allows us to have some 11-on-11 competition during the summer. It just helps you evaluate and progress so much quicker.”
The summer was important. No one was injured, and the Crimsons worked hard in the weight room and on the track. “It just seems like we progressed and got better each week,” Grounds said. “Guys knew what was expected of them and had some really great leadership from
our seniors and our junior class.”
Four years ago, the seniors on this year’s team were the smallest freshman group
Grounds has ever had. This year’s team has seven or eight seniors.
“They’re quality kids,” the coach said. “I mean, the ones we have, have been through the fire and worked hard to get their place at the table as seniors, and I’m expecting big things from them.”
JHS track and field athletes continue to play an important role on the football team.
“We’ve got a lot of track kids and some kids that didn’t do track that are fast,” Grounds said. “You know, I think the combination of Coach (Tim) Thrasher as the head track coach, and I’ve been helping out with throwers … you know, we’ve got a good track culture, and those kids play hard for each other, and it transfers over into football and into track. A lot of those kids are threesport athletes and do stuff in the winter time, too. So, you know, we’ve got just a really good culture right now of athletes doing a lot of things.”
Grounds has helped with the track team in the spring for many years. He plans to continue that even though his new second job as coach of the Illinois College women’s flag football team will take him away from some meets. Jacksonville returns quarterback Braden Hutchison as a second-year starter. “He had, I thought, just a really, really good first year as a starter for us,” Grounds said. “Did a lot of things really, really well, improved, was a leader, tough kid. Was really good distributing the football in the option. Got better throwing the ball as the year went on. And he just picked up where he left off, so I’m looking for continued big things from him as a senior.” Hutchison enters the 2025
A Jacksonville football player works on making a cut during a drill at practice earlier this month. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
campaign with more confidence, along with first-hand knowledge of what to expect, and what it takes to prepare
for a game.
“He was a first-time varsity starter last year, so everything was new for him,” Grounds
said. “And he handled it very, very well. Didn’t get rattled a bit. Well, now he knows what it is, and he knows what
kind of prep work, and he knows what the guys around him have to do as well. Once you’ve been through it, and
by the time you’re a senior, you know what our expectations are from the program and the coaching standpoint. He ends up getting to be like another coach out there.”
Jacksonville graduated feature back La’Marion Williams, but the Crimsons return plenty of people who can run the ball.
“Well, we’ve got a lot of them back,” Grounds said.
“We graduated La’Marion Williams, who was a big part of what we did last year. But Easton Ackerman’s back.
Terrion Jackson’s back. Jeremiah Jackson’s back, Daren Henry’s back. All those guys had considerable time and carries and impact for us last year. Then you add some kids coming up from the JV like Wyatt Conover. You’ve got some from freshmen coming in that have exceptional speed in Carlito Mitchell, and first-time football player Connor Walker, who was a soccer player in the past. He’s one of the strongest, fastest kids in school. He’ll be a running back for us. It’s a room that’s crowded with a lot of people that can do things. We’ve cross-trained some of our wide receivers in Dashawn Armstrong and Jordan Kholian as wings and running backs as well. So I mean, we’ve got depth, we’ve got experience, and it’s gonna help us right off the bat with a young line, helping them get where they need to be because everybody around them is so experienced.”
Ackerman, Walker and Wesley Ortiz are fullbacks who got a lot of carries over the summer. “But the thing
of it is, they’re big, but they’re also big and fast,” Grounds said. Jacksonville also returns experience at receiver, as well as some younger athletes challenging the veterans.
“Jordan Kholian is a returning starter for us — started the last three or four games at wide receiver when we moved Cross Mitchell down to running back,” Grounds said. “You’ve got Jason Brown, who’s a young kid coming up that’s a track kid. He’ll be a sophomore for us. He started, I think, four games at DB as a freshman, so he’s gonna see considerable action on both sides of the field. And then Nolan Peters is a senior that was our tight end last year.
“All those will be pushed by other people who are coming up into the varsity level.” Spots on the offensive line were still up for grabs at the start of preseason practice. But the players have had experience at the freshman and JV levels, they’ve been coached, and they’re ready to contribute. “They’ve just gotta say, hey, it’s my chance to step up into this spot,” Grounds said. “I gotta take it. I gotta earn it. And I gotta pay rent on that spot every single day.
“Am I nervous? You’re always nervous every time you start a new season, because even returners aren’t the same kids that they were the year before,” the coach said. “So it’s just part of the game that you learn to live with. You feel good about the kids that are putting the work in. I believe that there will
A Jacksonville receiver secures the ball during a drill at practice earlier this month. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
be a different style, a different size, different quickness than what we were in the past on those lines. But you know what? We’ve got kids — putting on that jersey is a proud moment for them, and they’re gonna do everything they can to make sure that they continue to help elevate the program.”
On defense, the Crimsons graduated all three starters on the line. “Up front on the defensive line, it’s very similar,” Grounds said. “We’ve got guys that had backup duty last year that are going to be asked to step into starting roles, and there’s more than a handful of those guys. So there’s competition, and I can see us rotating and playing a lot of guys to keep fresh. But right now, I don’t feel like we’ve got anybody nailed down as a full-time starter on the offensive or the defensive line.
“Some people would be very stressed out going into camp in the fall that way,” the coach said. “But to me, it’s a blessing because that means we’re going to see the best of everybody because nothing’s sewn up.”
The Crimsons have experience returning at linebacker in Ackerman, Ortiz, Walker and Elie Massamba, among others.
“Connor Walker’s a new kid at running back,” Grounds said. “He’s also a linebacker. So you’ve got one of the fastest, strongest kids coming off an edge on a blitz-happy team that we are. He’s shown some really good things over the summer.”
Jacksonville has plenty
of experience in the defensive secondary, returning almost everyone. That includes Dashawn Armstrong and Jeremiah Jackson at safety, Henry at free safety, and Kholian and Brown at the corners.
Brandon Sims leaves big shoes to fill. Sims, whom Grounds called arguably the best kicker ever in the Central State Eight, is set to begin his
freshman season at UT-Martin.
Grounds anticipates a competitive battle for the position. “We’ve got a strong soccer tradition where everybody seems to learn how to kick from the time they can walk,” he said. “So a lot of people want to step into that role.”
Grounds expects this team to make the playoffs. “Never
put glass ceilings on us,” the coach said. “Our expectation is to make it to the tournament at the end of the year and go as far as we can, get better each week, develop as a team, have a product and a team on the field that makes Jacksonville proud to support, by the way we handle ourselves there in the classroom and on the street. I’ve been doing it long enough
to know that once you get to the tournament, anything can happen.
“The number’s five,”
Grounds said. “We’ve got to get to five. Every one over five gives us a better seeding going into the tournament. And you know, we like our chances to get there, and this group’s hungry to make it past the first round once we get there.”
NICKNAME: Crimsons
HEAD COACH: Mark Grounds
2024 RECORD: 6-4 . . . Sat, Aug 30 Highland, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 5 at Eisenhower, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 12 Sacred Heart-Griffin, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 19 at Lanphier, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 26 at Southeast, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 3 Springfield, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 10 at Quincy Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 17 at MacArthur, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 24 Lincoln, 7 p.m.
Jacksonville quarterback Braden Hutchison hands off to a ball carrier during practice earlier this month.
Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
Hornets hope to build on playoff win
By Travis Zuellig Staff Writer
Since Tom Little took over the program in 2002, the Brown County football team has been both consistent and competitive.
The Hornets have made the IHSA playoffs 17 times. After missing the postseason in 2023, Brown County bounced back to reach the playoffs last year, beating Greenfield-NW 18-16 in a tight first-round clash.
Replacing seniors Tyce Fullerton and Tanner Sitze will be tough, but with an unusually deep roster, Little has plenty of returners to fill those roles and make another playoff run.
“Definitely ended on a positive note last year going into the playoffs, and we are excited about the future,” Little said. “We know these guys have the chance to be in the playoffs and win a playoff game, so we feel like those were big steps, and hopefully, they can continue that. And hopefully, raise the bar a little bit more.”
Last season, after dropping the first two games of the season against playoff-bound Greenfield-NW and West Central by a combined eight points, the Hornets rattled off 32- and 45-point wins over Mendon Unity/Payson and Triopia. Dominant wins over Beardstown, Routt and Pleasant Hill sealed a playoff berth, and Brown County avenged that earlier loss to
plenty of weapons at his disposal besides Fullerton. Senior tight end Micah Henry should be his main target through the air, with Eli Staton and Matt Boylen getting more carries out of the backfield. Multiple linemen return, including senior Levi Brierton and juniors Cooper Adcox and Kale Jackson, to help create those holes.
“We had a lot of young guys on the team last year that were fighting for spots,” Little said. “It was their first time being in a varsity game and the first time being in a playoff hunt. So I think having that year of experience behind them will help them get a little bit more comfortable and maybe play with a little bit more confidence.”
Greenfield-NW from Week 1 with a postseason victory — the program’s second playoff win in four years.
The Hornets have the pieces in place to duplicate last season’s success.
“I think when they finally made the playoffs and then were able to go in and get a victory, I think that was a big boost for those guys mentally,” Little said. “And I think that confidence from playing in those games and then the off-seasons they’ve had, we are expecting big things out of those guys and a lot of guys
fighting for those spots.”
Among the returners on offense will be Fullerton’s younger brother, Trey, who carved out his own legacy last season at fullback. He finished his junior year with 162 carries for 737 yards and six touchdowns. Senior Vince Little started at quarterback during his junior campaign and comes into this season more confident under center. Both had huge roles last season, and Coach Little is expecting big things from his senior leaders.
“I think (Vince) is going to
have a lot more confidence than he did at the beginning of (last) season,” Little said. “We could see him grow as a football player throughout the season, and he ended up playing really good football. He has had a good off-season. I think his leadership is going to be one of his best assets, and the fact that he understands what’s going on when we are calling those plays and what we are looking for, and is able to communicate with the guys on the field. That will be a huge asset to us this season.”
Quarterback Little will have
Adcox will help anchor the defensive line, with Fullerton leading the linebackers. Junior Hunter Law brings experience at defensive end. Staton, a senior, will lead a secondary that includes juniors Boylen, Jack Sefton and Brodie Phelps, providing plenty of depth on both sides of the ball.
The Hornets will start the season hosting Carrollton before three away games at Pleasant Hill, Routt Catholic and Mendon Unity. Brown County will play Triopia in Week 5 before heading to Camp Point Central. The Hornets will close out the regular season with back-to-back home games against Beardstown and North Greene, with the season finale in Calhoun.
RECORD: 6-5
. . Fri, Aug 29 Carrollton, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 5 at Pleasant Hill, 7 p.m.
Sat, Sep 13 at Routt, 1 p.m.
Fri, Sep 19 at Mendon, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 26 Triopia, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 3 at Camp Point, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 10 Beardstown, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 17 North Greene, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 24 at Calhoun, 7 p.m.
GOOD LUCK HORNETS!
A Brown County player takes the ball upfield during practice earlier this month in Mount Sterling. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
Saukees target Riverton under new head coach
By Travis Zuellig Staff Writer
The Pittsfield football team enters the 2025 season looking for a fresh start under new head coach Dalton Barnes after the Saukees came close to ending their playoff drought last season.
But Barnes said he and his team aren’t even thinking about the 15-year postseason drought. It is all about Riverton in Week 1.
“Right now, all summer, all we talked about was Riverton,” Barnes said. “That is all I care about, because you can sit here and play the game of this week, that week, but it does not matter. It’s one week at a time. It’s cliche and hard to do because you want to sit in the coach’s office and get excited, but you just have to focus on Riverton because nothing else matters but Week 1 right now.”
Barnes is entering his 13th year of coaching and his first at Pittsfield. He started his coaching career at his Alma Mater, North Mac. He coached there for many years before moving to Litchfield to serve as offensive coordinator. Barnes coached at Williamsville for a year during the pandemic season, then coached at Pleasant Plains for a year. He was hired as the head coach at Gillespie in 2022, where he coached for two seasons before taking a year off.
At Pittsfield, Barnes takes over not only as coach of a program craving success, but as a leader in a community still trying to heal after multiple tragedies over the past eight months, including the loss of former Saukee fullback
Jesse Davidsmeyer in an automobile accident in May.
Pittsfield is coming off one of its better seasons in a decade, earning four wins. In a different year, a different schedule could have produced a fifth win.
But when Riverton forfeited all of its games last year, the Saukees picked up Jacksonville, nearly double Pittsfield’s size, as their Week 1 opponent. Pittsfield fell to the Crimsons in a hard-fought game.
The Saukees beat Athens in Week 2 and won three straight games over Pleasant Plains, Auburn and PORTA/A-C Central to close out the season. With glimpses of success last year, Barnes said this team has been focused this summer on getting better.
“This is probably the most bought-in,
hard-working group I have ever been around, since the undefeated Williamsville team and the 2015 and 2016 North Mac teams, where we went to the semis,” Barnes said.
“So it is nice when you don’t have to teach effort and how to work. That is one of the deciding factors of getting the most out of kids, is what are they going to put in. These guys are definitely working here.”
Pittsfield will have to replace more than 2,000 yards from last year’s senior ball carriers, Davidsmeyer and Lane Foster. Barnes said he’ll use a stable of running backs to carry the load this season. Seniors Jake Oikter, Jaydenn Moore and Bodine Marable are all expected to get more touches. A fourth player, junior lineman-turned-
running-back Nick Merryman, could add a different dimension to the Saukee offense.
Senior Jonas Anderson is expected to start at quarterback, but sophomore Kody Anderson also will be used under center at times. All-Sangamo tackle Zane Perry will lead the line, alongside sophomores Austin Brown, Rylee Cook, Hunter Waters and Dylan Winter. The coach says the “pups” are physically ready. On defense, Perry will anchor the defensive line. Anderson, Merryman and Kade Perry will fill out the linebacker unit. All-conference safety Taylor Graham, who led the Sangamo with five interceptions in 2024, returns with a seasoned secondary that includes Dominic Cooper and Kayden Ferguson.
After traveling to Riverton Week 1, the Saukees will be back on the road in Week 2 against Athens.
After that, Pittsfield will host Olympia in its first home game of the season in Week 3. Barnes will face two of his former schools this season, with Williamsville in Week 4 and Pleasant Plains in Week 7.
“I truly don’t try to think ahead,” Barnes said.
“Obviously, I am a competitor and I want to win every game I am in, but at the end of the day, I want to get the most out of this team. At the end of the year, whatever happens, I want to look back and say, ‘Yeah, we got the most out of that bunch.’ And whether that is one round or two rounds or three rounds, I just want to be able to rest my head at night and say we got everything we could out of those boys.”
2024 RECORD: 4-5
. . Fri, Aug 29 at Riverton, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 5 at Athens, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 12 Olympia, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 19 at Williamsville, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 26 New Berlin, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 3 at Maroa-Forsyth, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 10 Pleasant Plains, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 17 at Auburn, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 24
PORTA/A-C Central, 7 p.m.
Pittsfield players run a play during practice earlier this month. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
Quarton set to lead loaded Pretzel squad
By Travis Zuellig Staff Writer
The New Berlin football team will have a new face at the top this season, but he is a familiar face to the program.
Trent Quarton, the Pretzels’ defensive coordinator for the past two seasons, will take over as head coach after helping lead New Berlin to the IHSA playoffs for the first time in a decade last year.
In 2014, the last time the Pretzels were in the postseason, Quarton was on the staff at Rochester during the Rockets’ Class 4A playoff run. He served as defensive coordinator at Pleasant Plains in 2017, when the Cardinals finished second in the state in Class 3A.
With 17 seniors and multiple starters on both sides of the ball, New Berlin is primed for another playoff appearance, and maybe more.
“We had a great group of kids last year,” Quarton said. “We had a lot of guys that were multi-year starters, mixed with a lot of juniors who were starting and got playing time as sophomores. We kind of had that perfect mix that you look for with those two classes together in a small school that really helps propel you. It was a fun ride, and we had a good season.”
With nearly a decade of experience as an assistant, Quarton, was ready to take over when James Dambacher stepped down in mid-June. Quarton stayed on at Plains
until 2020, when he and his wife welcomed their second child. In 2022, he served as defensive coordinator at Riverton for one season before heading to New Berlin. He was waiting for the right time.
“I always wanted to be a head coach,” Quarton said. “I thought I possessed the skills necessary to be a head coach. Didn’t think your number would be called in that way, necessarily, but I was asked, and I wanted to step up for our kids.”
Quarton is familiar with the Pretzels roster and has the pieces to replace last year’s departures. Senior Brady Crews returns under center after completing 13-of-26 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 350 yards on 67 carries and four touchdowns. New Berlin will have to replace more than 2,000 rushing yards spread among three players, with Connor Stinson and Charlie Newman looking to pick up the load.
Michael Pecoraro, who was
some returners.”
New Berlin’s defense last year was one of the best in the Sangamo Conference, allowing just 21 points per contest. The line stayed intact, led by Thomas, Hermes and James Johnson, who is the top tackler among returners with 44 last season. Peters, Dougherty, Crews and Newman all return after seeing time in their junior year, making for a solid core.
“We do have to replace some key spots. We will have some new kids at linebacker,” Quarton said. “You are going to have a hard time against the defense, and we are going to pound you up front on offense, and we just hope to continue that.”
The Pretzels’ season opener at Pleasant Plains will be streamed live on NFHS Network. New Berlin will host Auburn in Week 2. Last season, the Sangamo Conference had four playoff teams, including New Berlin.
injured last season, will see more time at running back, and Quarton thinks he could be an all-conference performer on offense and defense. Cash Thomas, Andrew Bishoff and Blake Hermes will anchor the offensive line. Chase Dougherty, Jackson Cody and Wyatt Peters could be Crews’ primary passing targets.
“They are great kids,” Quarton said. “A lot of good leadership qualities in that group. We are looking forward to some guys in new roles and
“I think that their number one goal is to get back, but also win a playoff game and get out of the first round. Nothing’s given. It is going to be an uphill battle,” the coach said. “It is hard to get there to begin with, and it is really hard to sustain that success, especially with all of the late changes we have had. I think our kids are motivated, and they know what the goal is and have seen it now. I think we will be primed to be competitive and try and make another run at it.”
Fri, Sep 12 at PORTA/A-C Central, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 19 Riverton, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 26 at Pittsfield, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 3 Olympia, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 10 at Williamsville, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 17 Athens, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 24 Maroa-Forsyth, 7 p.m.
A New Berlin football player stops a teammate during practice earlier this month. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
7 seniors, Triopia transfer fuel Routt hopes
By Dennis Mathes Staff Writer
Seven returning seniors, including a speedy Triopia transfer, make Routt coach Barry Creviston optimistic about his team’s chances this year despite the graduation of some quality players.
“We’re replacing a good class, a good number of starters,” Creviston said.
“Everybody does that every year, but it was a good class. But there’s a lot of good guys coming back. So not a rebuild, but a reload.”
The hard part will be replacing quarterback Kellen Creviston and receivers Eli Olson and Jace Lautemann. Creviston and Olson are both playing college football this fall. Lautemann will be playing college baseball.
Three returning receivers have led the way for Routt during the offseason.
“Our seniors have led the pack all summer,” Creviston said. “We still have three really good receivers who got a lot of playing time last year, but their names, you may not have heard — Owen Geirnaeirt, Sam Long and Dalton Brown. Those three have been the leaders in the clubhouse, if you will. Keeping the train on the tracks.”
The seven seniors are Geirnaeirt, Long, Brown, Cannon Creviston, Gavan Sheehan, Brandt Burton, and a surprise — Gameli White, who transferred from Triopia to Routt after football season last year.
White will head a corps of running backs that will also include sophomore Jackson Place, junior Anson Butcher and Sheehan, if he’s not playing quarterback.
“All four of them are different runners,” Creviston said. “We have speed, we have size, we have durability within all four of them.
So I think it’s going to be running back by committee, and just kind of see who’s got the hot hand.”
Finding a quarterback has been job one in the offseason. “It’s kind of been the
story of the summer,” Creviston said. “We’ve had two or three kids taking reps.”
Leading the way have been Lutheran High quarterback Mikey Reed and Sheehan, who was a running back/linebacker last year. Reed has a strong arm, while Sheehan is more of a running quarterback.
“Gavan is a hard runner, and we would definitely have to run a little bit different of an offense,” Creviston said. “He throws well, definitely wants to run first.
I don’t want to put a tag on him like a Tim Tebow-type, but he’s a linebacker and a fullback, so he likes to look for contact and take off running.”
Reed played on the junior varsity team last year as a receiver/running back. “At the beginning of the summer he said, you know, I’d like to try,” Creviston said. “And he’s a baseball player, and he’s got a good throwing motion. He’s quick. There’s just a lot of little idiosyncrasies of the quarterback position that he needs to learn. But you know, he throws a very nice ball, and he is a good athlete.”
Both players put in the work over the summer.
“The one thing we talked about in May is we need you to be ready for August,” Creviston said. “I don’t need you to be perfect June 1st. You’ve got to practice. You’ve got to get better. I
know they’ve been putting in work and they’ve been doing the little things. So I’m excited to see where that’ll take us.”
Adding sophomore Nolan Mossman to the mix at receiver gives the Rockets four solid pass-catchers.
“He was our MVP for the JV,” Creviston said. “He was another one of those kids that probably could have gotten a lot more reps, but he wasn’t going to knock Jace or Eli out of their starting position.
“You always want to try and mold your team to the parts you have,” the coach said. “We have five functional linemen, but we still have a lot of really good skill position guys. So I feel like we’re gonna be able to spread it out still. We may not be as vertical as we’ve been in the past, but spreading the ball around to guys who create mismatches is always going to be kind of my base. When you’re looking at a quarterback, you definitely need a guy who can run, throw and make good decisions.”
Creviston said the Rockets looked good during summer 7-on-7s and 11-on-11s.
“We had success,” he said.
“We went over to Chatham and competed, and it was really hot. So I was more worried about them competing than winning. And with seven-on-seven, it doesn’t always equate
A Routt quarterback looks for a receiver during practice earlier this month. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
to victories. I was happy when I left. And then I was happy after the 11-on-11 at JHS before the rain came, to see that we could run the ball effectively and move it against some bigger schools.”
Center Cannon Creviston is the Rockets’ only returning offensive lineman, although Brandt Burton got a lot of reps on the offensive and defensive lines last
season. He’s back. Junior Lake Unland and sophomores Kale Reich and Chris English should contribute.
“If we’re young anywhere, it’s at the offensive line,” Creviston said.
“We do have a couple of big boys. We’ve got the Brandt kid, who’s probably close to 290. And Lake’s a big boy, too. And then Cannon’s our senior leader. Nothing starts without the
center position.”
The same players will man the defensive line.
“It’s basically the same names,” Creviston said.
“Again, limited starts, but I think a few more of them did play on defense.
Unland played corner for us, Sam played corner, Dalton played safety. When we wanted to get Jace and Eli out of the game, those guys played well at defensive back. Cannon and Brandt played defensive line. Gavan was our middle linebacker last year. Our seniors played. So there’s seven guys who got quality defensive minutes last year, and then we’ve got to find a couple linebackers — Anson Butcher, Thomas Meehan, Jackson Place and Kale Reich.
“I’m not going to say we’re going to be better than last year’s defense, but I think we’ll still be very solid. We’re a good tackling team, and we just need to be cohesive and come together.”
Liam Hicks is expected to be the Rockets’ kicker. He sat out last season after kicking for the JV squad two years ago.
Routt’s co-op with Springfield Lutheran continues to benefit the team. Reed, whether he ends up at QB or receiver, will be one of the first skill position players Lu-High has contributed.
“If there’s one thing that we need to do, it’s to continue that fellowship with LuHigh,” Creviston said. “We would always like to get more, but I’ll take the kids that we have.”
ROUTT NICKNAME: Rockets HEAD COACH: Barry Creviston
2024 RECORD: 5-5 . . . Sat, Aug 30 Greenfield-NW, 1 p.m.
Fri, Sep 5 at West Central, 7 p.m.
Sat, Sep 13 Brown County, 1 p.m.
Fri, Sep 19 at Triopia, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 26 at Beardstown, 7 p.m.
Sat, Oct 4 Mendon, 1 p.m.
Fri, Oct 10 at Camp Point, 7 p.m. Sat, Oct 18 Calhoun, 1 p.m.
Fri, Oct 24 at Pleasant Hill, 7 p.m.
West Central leans on experience
By Travis Zuellig Staff Writer
The West Central football team overachieved in 2024. Even head coach Matt Coultas thought so.
Last year, with a young team led by senior linebacker Carson Brown, the Cougars surprised some teams to earn six wins and an IHSA playoff spot, even though nine freshmen saw playing time.
Key contributors, including quarterback Ryker Ford, and all of those freshmen (now sophomores) return to a Cougar team looking to build off last season’s success.
“With what we were working with, and as many young kids as we had, we probably over-performed at times,” Coultas said. “I think by the end of the season, reality set in on us, but all in all, I think we overachieved and turned out with a pretty good season last year.”
Some of West Central’s most notable victims included playoff-bound Brown County and Carrollton, which lost by a combined 7 points. Those wins, coupled with a 2-point victory over Pleasant Hill in Week 5, proved West Central could win the close ones.
West Central has earned a playoff appearance in three of the past four years
West Central quarterback Ryker Ford eyes a receiver during practice earlier this month in Winchester. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
be a leader on the field.
“For the most part, every year we try to lay that leadership down on the upperclassmen, and he is probably our most experienced returner,” the coach said. “And having led that squad last year, I think he is prepared and is ready for that challenge.”
Anthony Hance returns for his junior season after recording 323 rushing yards and five touchdowns, and a team-best 128 receiving yards. Kunz, a senior, Tucker Arnold, a junior who missed some time last season with an injury, and sophomores Beau Donovan and Eli Crain all return, giving Ford plenty of experience to work with.
Anthony Baird filled a spot on the offensive line last year, and Coultas said he could play a bigger role in his junior year.
On defense, it will be tough to replace Brown and his 143 tackles. Carter Edlen, who missed some of last season at basic training, will be back, and Coultas thinks he has the tools to play at middle linebacker. Kunz and Arnold will fill out the linebacking core. Ford will man the secondary while numerous freshmen from last season, including Ozly Walker and Lane Clayton, will return with a year of experience under their belts.
“We do have holes to fill, but I really like our athleticism and our talent level that we’ve got coming in, even though the bulk of them will only be 10th-graders,” Coultas said.
despite some small rosters.
“We have had some really good groups of kids come through our program,” Coultas said. “They have found a way to win, and I like to think it has become a tradition that we have some hard-working
against Calhoun, Pleasant Hill, Greenfield-NW and Mendon Unity before the season finale at Beardstown.
“I think the kids are really excited,” Coultas said. “We have our hands full coming out Week 1 with Camp Point on the road at their place, but I think our kids will be ready for the challenge.”
WEST CENTRAL
NICKNAME: Cougars
HEAD COACH: Matt Coultas
2024 RECORD: 6-4 . . .
Fri, Aug 29 at Camp Point, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 5 Routt, 7 p.m. Sat, Sep 13 at North Greene, 1 p.m.
Fri, Sep 19 at Carrollton, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 26 Calhoun, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 3 Pleasant Hill, 7 p.m.
kids that are hard-nosed and want to go out and compete. Even though maybe we don’t have the numbers that some of the other squads have, we have the desire and determination to get out there and get after it.”
West Central will return most of the primary weapons on offense, including Ford, a senior, at quarterback. Last season, in his second season under center, Ford completed 36of-82 passes for 600 yards and four touchdowns,
including a 94-yarder to Luke Kunz in a Week 6 win over North Greene. That was the longest pass in the history of the West Central football team. Ford also ran for a team-high 654 yards and 10 touchdowns. Coultas is expecting him to
West Central will have a chance to put that experience to the test in Week 1 as the Cougars travel to perennial power Camp Point Central before hosting Routt Catholic in Week 2. Two away games at White Hall and Carrollton precede a four-game homestand, with games
Fri, Oct 10 Greenfield-NW, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Oct 17 Mendon, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 24 at Beardstown, 7 p.m.
A West Central player catches a pass during practice earlier this month in Winchester. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
With 18 starters back, Bluejays ready to fly
By Travis Zuellig Staff Writer
The PORTA/AC Central football program has been rebuilding since the COVID-19 pandemic. After a couple of winless seasons in 2021 and 2022, and just one win in 2023, last season’s Bluejay squad earned three wins for the first time since head coach Lonnie McAnally’s first year in 2019.
More notably, there were fewer blow-ups last year in a tough Sangamo Conference, setting up this PORTA/A-C squad to have a better chance to be competitive in 2025. With plenty of returners on both sides of the ball, McAnally hopes the Bluejays can build off the growing pains of the previous few seasons.
“I think last season, like even seasons before, was a huge stepping stone for us in the right direction,” the coach said. “A new defense was put in for us, and I think it was a work in progress at the beginning, and by the end of last season, our guys started clicking and understanding, and that will be beneficial to us this season.
“The next step is just tying everything together. With nine offensive returning starters and nine defensive returning starters, I feel like we are light years ahead of where we were last year. I would say this is our year to make a run and make a statement in the Sangamo Conference.”
The Bluejays opened last season by losing to four playoff teams, but the games were much closer than in recent years, including a 14-point loss to Olympia on the opening weekend.
PORTA/A-C pulled out a 28-21 win at Pleasant Plains, marking the first road win during McAnally’s tenure. After a 14-point loss to Auburn, the Bluejays rebounded with
a 2-point win over Athens. A forfeit win over Riverton accounted for the third victory.
McAnally noted a productive off-season, where the team’s football IQ has improved with an offensive system that now has become familiar. The players knew the playbook before camp and understood what was expected.
“Our guys worked harder than they have ever worked in the offseason,” McAnally said. “Our numbers just exploded for lifting and speed training over the course of the winter, spring and summer months
here. But just having those guys totally bought into what we are doing and understanding all of that has been huge.”
Currently, PORTA/A-C has 16 seniors, the highest number since McAnally took over. The whole offensive line has returned, including senior guard Hunter Morris. McAnally said it is the biggest line he has ever had, with a good mix of seniors and juniors. Will O’Brien will move to fullback after playing at running back last season.
Lane McAnally will return at quarterback after starting during his junior year.
“He does a great job, not
only with knowing everybody’s role, but also elevating our passing game to nothing we have ever seen before,” the coach said.
Morris returns as the leader of the defense after earning All-Sangamo second team honors as a defensive lineman in 2024. O’Brien returns at middle linebacker for his junior season, along with senior Isaac Rennecker at linebacker. Returners in the secondary include Logan Baker and Bryce Davis. The improved depth has the Bluejays three-deep at most positions at the varsity level, something McAnally has
PORTA/A-C CENTRAL Nickname: Bluejays
Head Coach: Lonnie McAnally 2024 Record: 3-6 . . .
Fri, Aug 29 Olympia, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 5 at Williamsville, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 12 New Berlin, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 19 at Maroa-Forsyth, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 26 Pleasant Plains, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 3 at Auburn, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 10 at Athens, 7 p.m.
never seen.
“Small-school football is kind of a roller coaster,” McAnally said. “Sometimes you get the guys, and sometimes you don’t, but we are feeling like we are very consistent in what we are doing as far as getting those numbers where they need to be.”
PORTA/A-C opens the season at home against Olympia before traveling to Williamsville in Week 2. Last season, the Sangamo Conference had four teams in the playoffs, and the Bluejays will play those teams in the first four games. Those early, strict tests could
Fri, Oct 17 Riverton, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 24 at Pittsfield, 7 p.m.
set the tone for the easier part of the schedule toward the end of the season.
“The energy has been through the roof. Huge excitement and high expectations — I can’t wait for the fall season. It is going to be great,” McAnally said.
A PORTA/A-C Central quarterback drops back to pass during practice earlier this month in Petersburg. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
Tough D, key returners to lead Calhoun Wolves hope for return to glory under Edwards
By Travis Zuellig Staff Writer
The Calhoun-Brussels football team is coming off its best season since 2002 — 10 wins and a quarterfinal appearance in the IHSA playoffs. Despite losing some key players, including Conner Longnecker, who ran for over 1,600 yards last season, Calhoun has the pieces in place to make another run at the postseason.
“I think anytime you make it to the third round of the playoffs, you are pretty pleased,” head coach Aaron Elmore said. “Obviously, you want more. It was a great group of guys. Those 10 seniors did a lot during their time in Calhoun, and they got better each year. I thought making it to the quarterfinals was a feather in their cap, and I thought they did well.”
Those seniors, including the starting quarterback and the top two tacklers on defense, will be tough to replace. But the Warriors return multiple starters on both sides of the ball, including half of a defense that allowed fewer than nine points per contest, and never allowed 20 points in a game.
That defense returns at least five starters from a season ago. Junior Lane Eilerman is back at linebacker as the top returning tackler with 94 last season. Fellow juniors Jacobs Brannan and Will Lorton return to fill
CALHOUN
NICKNAME: Warriors
HEAD COACH: Aaron Elmore
2024 RECORD: 10-2
Fri, Aug 29
Triopia, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 5 at Beardstown, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 12 at Pleasant Hill, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 19 North Greene, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 26 at West Central, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 3 Greenfield-NW, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 10 Carrollton, 7 p.m.
Sat, Oct 18 at Routt, 1 p.m.
Fri, Oct 24 Brown County, 7 p.m.
out the linebacker core. Brannan finished his sophomore season with 90 tackles and five sacks, while Lorton made 77
tackles last year. Charlie Matthews will anchor the line after making 35 tackles, three sacks and three fumble recoveries last year. Senior Jack Goode will be one of the primary returners in the secondary.
Eight sophomores last year made at least 10 tackles, and Elmore expects more from those players this upcoming season.
On offense, Goode will take over at quarterback after serving as backup in his junior year, earning limited minutes and completing one pass for 32 yards. Brannan, who started both ways toward the end of last season, will fill Longnecker’s role at fullback. Elmore is expecting big things. Lorton ran for 189 yards and three touchdowns last season — the most of any returner from a season ago. Eilerman made nine catches for a teambest 115 yards last year, with one touchdown. Senior Rodney Johnson should expect to see more time on offense.
“I think this team will be somewhat different,” Elmore said. “Last year, we were fullback-oriented for the most part. We had a rusher run for over 1,600 yards and 20 touchdowns. That’s pretty good. I think this team will be more versatile. I think we are going to have a lot of athletes, and game in, game out, you never know who is going to score.”
By Travis Zuellig Staff Writer PLEASANT HILL
2025 will be Ron Edwards’ 34th year at Pleasant Hill. Well, maybe he’d say his 50th — he started kindergarten in the Pleasant Hill School District back in 1975.
When Mike Giles retired after 18 years as head football coach, the former superintendent was hired back to lead the Wolves. Edwards served as head coach from 1999 to 2006 and is ready to take the reins after serving as Giles’ assistant the past few seasons coaching the offensive line.
The Wolves, who had already co-oped with Barry Western, this year will add players from Griggsville-Perry, hoping to solve some of the participation issues from previous seasons. Pleasant Hill has plenty of senior returners this season and some new faces from Griggsville-Perry, though Edwards admitted the team will be young.
“Over the years, our biggest obstacle has been numbers. This adds some kids to the program,” the coach said. “We’ve never really had any depth at all, so I am pretty excited about this and pretty excited about the numbers we have out. They are not huge, but they are better.
“We are going to be young and a little inexperienced. We aren’t going to be nearly as big as we were last year, but on the
NICKNAME: Wolves
HEAD COACH: Ron Edwards
2024 RECORD: 2-7
Fri, Aug 29 at Mendon, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 5 Brown County, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 12 Calhoun, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 19 at Greenfield-NW, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 26 Carrollton, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 3 at West Central, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 10 at North Greene, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Oct 17 at Camp Point, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 24 Routt, 7 p.m.
other hand, we are going to be a little quicker up front. I am looking forward to that, too, and I coach the offensive line.
That’s kind of my thing, and I am pretty excited about what we have coming.”
Senior fullback Rydor Rodhouse returns to lead the offense after rushing for 563 yards and three touchdowns on 101 carries last season.
Quarterback Talon Waters will take over under center, and Edwards said the sophomore is coming along well. Seniors Cameron Griffen, Tony Smith and Sam Oitker return on the offensive line, along with junior Bing Lowe.
Seniors Brody Rush and Mario Rodgers, two newcomers from Griggsville-Perry, figure to contribute, while Jax Fesler and Brady Lowe bring varsity experience to this young offense.
Rodhouse, a three-year starter at inside linebacker, finished third on the team with 77 tackles last season and will be the leading returner this season. Griffen, who made 62 tackles last season, returns at defensive end. Bing Lowe made 50 tackles in his sophomore season at linebacker. The secondary should consist of Rush, Rodgers, Waters and Fesler.
“We have traditionally been very tough and very physical,” Edwards said. “I hope to continue that. I think we are a little bit quicker than we have been. I want to carry on the tradition that I grew up with, and I want to see things get back to where we were and where we can be.”
Trojans poised for turnaround
By Travis Zuellig Staff Writer
There was a learning curve for the Triopia football team under first-year head coach Cody Winkelman in 2024. A two-point win over Pleasant Hill in the first game was the lone victory of the season as the Trojans struggled through a tough schedule that included six playoff teams.
Last year’s team was young with little varsity experience. Now, led by the team’s top tackler, Bronc Bogner, Triopia has the pieces to improve on last season. Despite the defeats in year one, Winkelman hopes the good things he saw last year translate to this season.
“I think we underperformed. We were 1-8 last year,” the coach said.
“There was a lot of good that I saw. As the players are getting more comfortable with me and our offensive and defensive systems, there is a lot of room to grow. There were some flashes of some really good things last year. We were very competitive with a lot of teams, but at the end, we just couldn’t make it over that hump on getting the win in some of those games.”
Bogner was all over the place last season for the Trojans, making 158
tackles, including a sack, and grabbing three interceptions from the safety position. He will be back to lead the defense, which returns multiple starters. As a team, Triopia allowed nearly 34 points a game last season, and a year of experience should help.
Senior Cole Strubbe returns at linebacker after making 38 tackles last season, and senior Grant Fricke will help man the secondary with Bogner after making 39 tackles a year ago. Senior Conner Howell will also play cornerback, while Aiden Crews and Cooper Parrish return for their senior seasons on the defensive line. Both bring a lot of experience.
“We have a lot of guys who are pretty comfortable in their position. They understand the offense and defense a little bit more this year,” Winkelman said. “We have had a really good summer with the kids who have been around. They have gotten some really good reps, so I am expecting some big things from that senior group.”
On offense, Fricke, a three-year starter, will return at quarterback. In his junior year, he completed 9-of-18 passes for 131 yards in a more run-heavy offense. Will Burton is expected to get
Triopia players try to rip the ball away from a teammate during practice earlier this month at Triopia. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
more touches in his senior season after playing some tight end and wing last year. He carried the ball 11 times in 2024.
“I do expect them to be better this year because they have a little more experience with the offense we are trying to run, so they know their jobs and assignments a little bit more,” Winkleman said. “They can get off the ball quick. I am looking forward to that. I think they are taking ownership of the offense and defense. They are excited and are getting aggressive. That is something we have been preaching a lot this offseason — being aggressive and knowing their job.”
Triopia will have a test early, traveling to Calhoun for the season opener before three straight home games against North Greene, Camp Point Central and Routt Catholic. With most of the seniors having experience from last season, Winkelman expects a more aggressive Trojan team this time around.
“We have talked a lot with our senior group about being leaders and being poised, even when things go wrong in a game,” the coach said.
“Not saying they weren’t last year, but just instill that in them. We preached aggressiveness and building our physicality, and then just knowing your assignments and knowing what you need to do and what your job is.”
Trojans HEAD COACH: Cody Winkelman 2024 RECORD: 1-8
. . Fri, Aug 29 at Calhoun, 7 p.m. Fri, Sep 5 North Greene, 7 p.m.
Sep 12 Camp Point, 7 p.m.
Sep 19 Routt, 7 p.m. Fri, Sep 26 at Brown County, 7 p.m. Fri, Oct 3 Beardstown, 7 p.m. Fri, Oct 10 at Mendon, 7 p.m. Fri, Oct 17 at Greenfield-NW, 7 p.m. Fri, Oct 24 Carrollton, 7 p.m.
A Triopia player takes the ball upfield during practice earlier this month. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
Tigers to lean on veteran linemen
By Travis Zuellig Staff Writer
The 2025 season may look a little different for the Greenfield-Northwestern football team. A perennial playoff power, the Tigers lost a lot of seniors, including their starting quarterback and most of the athletes at the skill positions, after making the playoffs for the sixth straight time.
Fueled by the success of the previous teams, Greenfield-NW will return experienced offensive and defensive lines to lead this year’s Tiger team.
“This is going to be a totally different group than years past,” head coach Joe Pembrook said. “We graduated a lot of talent, and we are going to have some young kids step up and fill some roles. There are a lot of unknowns, and it is very exciting for us. We’ll have a lot of new faces in new places, and we are eager to see what the version of 2025 Tiger football turns out to be.”
Last season’s team was led by numerous seniors who had success in 2023 as juniors, when the Tigers went all the way to the IHSA Class 1A semifinals. That success carried over into last season, when Green -
field-NW rolled through the regular season with seven wins, with losses to Calhoun and Routt Catholic.
Despite losing to Brown County in the opening round of the playoffs, Pembrook said he was proud of his team last season.
“Last year was kind of a carryover from the previous years we have had, and a lot of the success bled over in the fall of 2024,” the coach said. “We were pretty athletic in a lot of skilled areas and were able to win enough games and play some solid defense. We won a share of the conference title and were fortunate to qualify for the playoffs, something that is always a long-term goal for our program.”
With all the departures at the skill positions, the Tigers will rely on a veteran offensive line. Senior linemen Weston Sudduth, Luke Camerer and Brock Bowman all return as starters, while senior captain Kayden Roberts, who has been starting since that semifinal run in 2023, may be moved around on offense to either block or run.
Junior Ty Bowman will replace Talon Albrecht at quarterback, and Pembrook thinks he is very capable and ready to step
Greenfield-Northwestern defenders try to bring down a Tiger running back during practice earlier this month in Greenfield. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
A Greenfield-Northwestern running back takes off during practice earlier this month in Greenfield. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
into that starting role.
Junior Carter Murphy is the only returner with yardage from last year, running for 63 yards on 15 attempts. Pembrook hopes to surround Bowman with athletes who understand what is expected of them at this level.
“Everybody knows that the success of your programs starts up front, and we have a lot of kids who are hungry to earn some playing time,” Pembrook said. “We are blessed to have some experience on both the offense and
GREENFIELDNORTHWESTERN
NICKNAME: Tigers HEAD COACH: Joe Pembrook
2024 RECORD: 7-3 . . . Sat, Aug 30 at Routt, 1 p.m.
Fri, Sep 5 Camp Point, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Sep 12 at Carrollton, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 19 Pleasant Hill, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 26 North Greene, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Oct 3 at Calhoun, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 10 at West Central, 7:30 p.m.
defensive lines. We hope those are the leaders of our program this fall.
“Our kids understand the culture and the standards that are set. They believe in our system. They believe in our program. We work our kids all year round, and they are very committed and dedicated to it. Our football program means a whole lot to our kids and our community, and it is something they put a lot of work into in the offseason.”
On defense, Roberts returns after finishing as the team’s second-lead-
ing tackler with 87 last year. Roberts moved from defensive end to inside linebacker early last season. Sudduth will help anchor the defensive line after making 51 tackles last year. Bowman made 29 tackles last season from the secondary. Pembrook said there are numerous players fighting for spots on defense.
“There is some great competition going on in our program, and hopefully, we can put together a solid defensive unit,” the coach said. “We understand that is what ultimately wins football
games, and we want to play a physical style of football this year at Greenfield-Northwestern.”
The Tigers will open the season traveling to Jacksonville to play Routt Catholic before hosting Camp Point Central in Week 2. Greenfield-NW travels to Carrollton in Week 3 before hosting Pleasant Hill and North Greene in consecutive weeks. The Tigers will conclude the schedule with games at Calhoun, Winchester and Mendon, and a home game against Triopia in Week 8.
“The kids are really excited to get going. They understand what it takes to succeed at our level,” Pembrook said.
“We have been blessed to have really good leadership throughout the course of the most recent years. The kids have seen that and witnessed that, and we hope that they will mirror that as we move into the fall season. Hopefully, our kids will keep that pattern of a winning tradition for Tiger football in the fall of 2025.”
Fri, Oct 17 Triopia, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 24 at Mendon, 7 p.m.
Hawks have high hopes for 2025
By Dennis Mathes Staff Writer
CARROLLTON – Members of the Carrollton football team have set a goal: advance one game further in the playoffs than last year.
But that’s not their coach’s goal.
“My goal is a state championship, and it always will be,” Carrollton coach Rodney Flowers said, “because once you get a taste of that … we’ve been there in ‘14. We’ve been in ‘21. We want to go back to a state championship game. And I told the kids, us, Calhoun, Brown County, or Camp Point will be playing Lena-Winslow in the state championship. So if you want it to be us, then let’s let it be us. Obviously, we’ve got to stay healthy. Obviously, we’ve got a tough, tough, tough conference that is one of the toughest in the state, if not the toughest, but I won’t ever lower my expectations.”
Carrollton has the personnel to make a run. The Hawks return a three-year starter at quarterback, their leading tackler, a solid corps of receivers and three linemen from a team that finished 7-4 and made it to the second round of the IHSA playoffs before falling to eventual state champion Belleville Althoff.
“You know, we had a lot of fun,” Flowers said. “We peaked at the right time, and we had a lot fun.”
For Flowers, the big news out of this summer has been the team’s attitude and attendance.
“I always gauge everything off of attitude and attendance, and we’ve had one of the best attendances,” the coach said. “Our goal is to get 90 percent
of all of our kids active all spring working out, and active all summer to all of our strength and conditioning and our 7-on-7s and 11-on-11s. We’ve hit our 90 percent attendance goal.
And our attitudes — this group is a real small group, but they’re a close-knit group. And I love seeing all of them stick together and setting their season goals.”
This group has been through the wars. In Flowers’ first year as head coach after many years as assistant coach, Carrollton lost a talented group of seniors that helped the team reach the state championship game in 2021. Early injuries to key personnel led to a 2-7 season. That was the turning point.
“Coming out of ‘22,
you either don’t like that feeling or you are satisfied with that feeling,” Flowers said. “And so quickly our community, our parents, our kids said, we don’t ever want to have another season like ‘22 again. Let’s do something about it.”
The Hawks finished 5-5 the next year, then broke through last season. They want to keep the momen-
tum going.
Carrollton has seven or eight starters back from last season, led by Carson Flowers at quarterback.
“Carson’s the last of 12 nieces and nephews to go through,” Flowers said.
“And we have high expectations for him. He’s a smart kid, straight-A student. He’s very hard working. He’s gotten bigger, stron-
ger, faster. Last year, he had 500 rushing and 1,800 passing, so about 2,300 yards. About 255 yards a game. Our offense starts with our quarterback, and he happens to be my nephew and he happens to be working his butt off to lead this team.”
The coach wants to see the QB run a little more this season. “We throw the
A Carrollton player carries the ball upfield during practice earlier this month. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
ball to run,” Flowers said. “Carson’s a dual threat. And as a defensive coordinator, you usually don’t account for a running quarterback. Defenses have to account for him as a running threat. Actually, he led our team last year in rushing yards, above Lucas Howard. So, high expectations for Carson.”
Leading tackler Charlie Stumpf, who also was one of the team’s best receivers last year, also
returns. “Charlie Stumpf is gonna be our go-to guy,” Flowers said. “He’s an extremely talented athlete. He had a great basketball season, good baseball season, and we want to get the ball in his hands.”
Carrollton also returns talented pass-catcher Reed Schnettgoecke, along with senior Eli Rhoades. (Carter) Randolph, (Buddy) Holmes, (Wyatt) Ross and (Brady) Clendenen all will be in the mix at the receiv-
er spot as well.
Also returning are three starting linemen — Eli Cox, Landon Grafford and Gus Powell. “The thing with Eli Cox and Grafford and Powell, all those were skill positions in the past,” Flowers said. “Those kids were skilled receivers and running backs, and we’ve asked them to be linemen. So I can tell you, those three kids are as hard-working and as strong and as fast as any
doesn’t need one.
“All of our receivers are running backs,” Flowers said. “So the fact that we’re looking at seven receiver kids there, and we can only put five on the field is exciting. Gives us some depth to be able to throw and run the ball.”
On defense, Grafford, Rabe and Powell will anchor the line, with some younger kids stepping in to try to fill roles.
Handling the safety, outside linebacker and defensive end spots will be Eli Cox, Carson Flowers, Stumpf, Ethan Nolan and Mann. “We feel pretty good based on what scheme we’re doing. We have five or six hybrid type kids that can play safety, backer and D-end for us,” Flowers said.
Carrollton has plenty of speed in the secondary with Schnettgoecke, Stumpf, Randolph, Rhoades, Holmes, Ross and Clendenen.
Clendenen will most likely start at kicker.
“Clendenen has put in the work,” Flowers said. “He’s a really good field goal kicker. He’s a really good placement kicker — like, if we say we want the ball kicked to certain spots, he’s good at placing it.”
Stumpf, a left-footed kicker, returns at punter after earning all-conference honors last season.
CARROLLTON
Nickname: Hawks
Head Coach: Rodney Flowers 2024 Record: 7-4 . . .
Fri, Aug 29 at Brown County, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 5 Mendon, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 12 Greenfield-NW, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 19 West Central, 7 p.m.
Fri, Sep 26 at Pleasant Hill, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 3 at North Greene, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Oct 10 at Calhoun, 7 p.m.
Sat, Oct 18 Beardstown, 1 p.m.
linemen we’ve ever had.”
Senior Brandon Rabe, Levi Mann and Wyatt Manker should all see time on the line. “We’ve got more depth there than what most people think we do,” Flowers said.
“When you talk about bringing back five or six kids from a second-round playoff team, that’s exciting,” the coach said.
Carrollton doesn’t have a standout running back, but in its offensive scheme, it
This Carrollton team is strong and fast. “We haven’t had this many kids run under 4.9 40s in a long time,” Flowers said. “We have six or seven kids running 4.5, 4.6, 4.7 40s. And also benching over 225. So we’re not big. We’re extremely strong and extremely fast.”
Flowers has some history with this team.
“You know, what’s cool about this group coming in, I coached all their dads back in 1999,” he said.
“There’s five of them who, I
Fri, Oct 24 at Triopia, 7 p.m.
coached their fathers. And so all five of these boys were born into expectation. And that ‘99 team was one of my favorite teams in the history of Carrollton football. They went 9-0, and 10-0, and then we got beat in the second round –the old classic 21-20 game against Greenfield, which has motivated us over the past 20 years.”
Carrollton players fight to make a catch during practice earlier this month. Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier
