BCR_Prep Football_082218

KICKOFF 2018

• Amboy/LaMoille • Princeton • Bureau Valley • St. Bede • Hall

A publication of est. 1851

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

| FOOTBALL KICKOFF 2018

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The long road to recovery BV’s Kruse overcomes devastating knee injury, returns for senior season KEVIN HIERONYMUS khieronymus@bcrnews.com MANLIUS — It was Sept. 22, Homecoming Night 2017 at Bureau Valley. Arran Kruse, a BV junior, along with all his teammates, were pumped up to get a homecoming victory over Riverdale.

Kruse’s excitement turned to agony when he was severely injured. He tore all four ligaments in his knee, and his knee cap was turned at a 90-degree angle.

About a month later, on Oct. 23, he had extensive surgery to repair all four ligaments and was given an 18-month recovery time. Kruse decided otherwise, determined to return for his senior season.

After eight months of hard work and dedication to get back on the field, he was released to play and will be on the field for this season’s kickoff Friday night at Storm Stadium against Erie-Prophetstown.

TAKING A KNEE Kruse’s injury came on the second play of the Storm’s first possession of the second quarter in that 2017 Homecoming game. The junior lineman was on pass protection when he got hit.

“It was a vertical pass play, I was in pass protection,” Kruse said. “The defensive end came crashing down towards the middle and our tackle went with him, then they tripped over and hit directly on the side of my knee.”

The injury was simply devastating, and Kruse heard the letters of the alphabet that an athlete never wants to hear as he tore all four ligaments in his knee — the ACL, MCL, PCL and LCL —and part of his meniscus. Also, his knee was completely dislocated.

Ever the gamer, Kruse didn’t want to leave the game. As he was being carted off the field, he asked his dad whether the Storm had scored on that play.

Kruse said it took a month to get a doctor who would take his case on. That doctor, Dr. John Westerman of Iowa City, rebuilt Kruse’s knee with four donor Achilles tendons. Westerman told the Kruses it was the worst knee injury he’d ever seen and asked whether he could use Kruse’s case at seminars.

“We had all kinds of experts looking at it, because it’s not every day someone tears everything in their knee,” he said. “Once we found one who was willing to do it, they gave me up to one year to and year and a half for a full recovery.”

Kruse shook that notion off like a good lineman with an oncoming defender.

“I told everyone, ‘I’ll be back for football. No questions about it.”

ROAD TO RECOVERY It was a slow process on the road to recovery due to all the restrictions he was given.

“I wasn’t allowed to bend it until a month or so when I started physical training. But, as the restrictions went down, my progress went up, and I was exceeding in all my workouts and doing better every week, way better than my doctor and

BCR photo/Phyllis Fargher

Bureau Valley senior Arran Kruse has returned from a devastating knee injury sustained on Homecoming night 2017.

“I told everyone, ‘I’ll be back for football. No questions about it,” he said.

“I told everyone, ‘I’ll be back for football. No questions about it.”

Arran Kruse

Bureau Valley senior all my therapists expected me to do,” Kruse said.

“I was working out on it every single day at every single moment I could, from stretching to squeezing my quad, I was always doing something on it. At one point, we just dropped all the restrictions, and I was allowed to do everything in a controlled environment.”

Kruse said he never once thought he wouldn’t make it back to the gridiron, because “I was wil-

ing to do anything and everything to get back on the field. I’m sure anyone who knows me knows how hard I worked for this, and they all know how much this sport means to me.”

His teammates had their concerns upon reviewing the game film and seeing how bad Kruse was hurt, whether he could make it back.

“That’s when we all realized how bad it really was. That’s the worst knee injury I’ve ever seen,” BV senior Eric Schoff said. “Everyone’s thoughts were, ‘He won’t be back. It’ll never be strong enough again to play.’

“Arran is a tough kid. He really surprised us just in the first couple weeks of camp how far he has come and what he is capable of again. His

See KRUSE, Page 14

SCOUTING THE AREA

TRAC MISSISSIPPI

Sherrard (0-9, 0-6): The Tigers are in the midst of a 13-game losing skid, losers of 30 of their last 31 games.

They have gone 2-26 in league play since joining the Three Rivers in 2013. Their last winning season was 2009 when they went 8-2, 5-0 to win the former Olympic Conference.

Monmouth-Roseville (3-6, 3-3): Coach Jeremy Adolphson said this will be his best team in his eight years at M-R, noting the Titans are above average in size in nearly every position and have a few kids that will be the among the fastest kids on the field each week.

The Titans have 18 returning lettermen, including seven starters on both sides of the ball. Included in the mix are six returning linemen, two running backs, and senior quarterback Addison Fletcher.

“We fully expect to make the playoffs and challenge for a conference championship,” said Adolphson, who coached at Rockridge from 2006-09.

Erie-Prophetstown (1-8, 1-5): Firstyear head coach Jesse Abbott inherits a Panthers team that saw a lot of underclassmen gained quite a bit of varsity time last year because of depth or injury. E-P has 14 returning lettermen, with five starters back on offense and six on defense, and Abbott is hopeful that experience pays off this year.

“As a team, we are simply looking towards getting better each day and building a culture of winning at E-P. We need to develop habits and attitudes each day that breed a culture of success,” said Abbott, who lands his first head coaching job after one year as an assistant for E-P and 13 years at many levels at Fulton.

The Panthers beat Sherrard 20-0 in conference play last year for their only win of the season.

Kewanee (6-4, 5-1): The Boilermakers return roughly four starters on each side of the ball, so they will have a lot of unproven entities. With a small senior class (5-6), the Boilers will rely heavily on a very strong junior class. Included in that class is Kavon Russell, who returns at QB after breaking his ankle in Week 2 last year and missing the rest of the season.

Kewanee’s biggest offensive threats last year, Lewis Robinson (RB) and Deshawn Mabalcon (RB/ WR), have graduated.

The Boilermakers lost only to league champ Hall last year in conference play, reaching the playoffs for the second straight year. They were knocked out in the first round of the 4A playoffs by Morris.

Newman (12-1, 6-0): The Comets won the conference crown and their first 12 games last season before being knocked out by Gibson City-Melvin Sibley 14-8 in the 2A semifinals. They will be the team to beat once again in the Rock, returning 17 lettermen with six starters on offense and five on defense.

“If we stay healthy, we will be a strong team,” longtime coach Mike Papoccia said.

Orion (9-3, 4-2): The Chargers advanced to the 2A quarterfinals last year before falling to Newman 40-14. They placed third in the Rock behind Newman and Rockridge.

Orion will be strong offensively with D-I tight end Logan Lee (Iowa) and QB Dawson Schulenberg and RB/WR Seth West leading the way.

Morrison (4-5, 1-5): Ryan Oetting, former freshman/sophomore defensive coordinator, has hopped on the saddle as the new coach for what promises to be a good ride for the Mustangs this season. He succeeds Cory Bielema, who resigned after 10 years, Things are looking up for Oetting and Morrison, which returns 10 lettermen to go with an incoming junior class that was undefeated at the sophomore level as TRAC Rock Conference champions.

The Mustangs improved from three wins in 2016 to four in 2017, the fourth a Week 9 win over Bureau Valley to knock the Storm out of the playoff hunt. The Mustangs hope to go from playoff spoiler to playoff contender this season.

BY KEVIN HIERONYMUS khieronymus@bcrnews.com Rivals Hall and Princeton have finished in a tie by a panel of league coaches.

The defending champ Red Devils and the Tigers both received 32 points in the annual BCR Coaches Preseason Poll. The Red Devils received the most first place votes (3) to go with two seconds, but got one third. The Tigers were picked to win by two league coaches and received four second place votes.

Monmouth-Roseville coach Jeremy Adolphson gives the nod to Hall.

“Hall has to be the favorite with all of their skill kids back (except QB) from the conference champs last year,” he said. “Princeton played a lot of young kids last year and should improve greatly. Kewanee will be much younger, but still very talented.”

TRAC ROCK

“We expect some of the juniors to mix in well with our eight seniors that we have and be another solid defensive team,” Oetting said. “We really won some tight games last year on the sophomore level. I remember two or three games that might have been within a touchdown. The kids know how to play in that close game. You put them with these seniors that have that leadership quality, and it should be a nice mix.”

Rockridge (8-2, 5-1): While the Rockets have some returning skill position players, they lost an allstate running back (Nathan Parchet) and an all-state lineman (Collin Schmidt) plus three other all-conference linemen. Coach Sam Graves said the Rockets’ success for the season will depend on how quick the younger players can develop and be ready to contribute.

“There could be as many as 4-5 sophomores starting on one side of the ball or another,” he said.

The Rockets lost only to Newman in league play last year and took an early exit in the playoffs, falling to El Paso-Gridley in the first round in 2A. Fulton (7-4, 3-3): The Steamers won two playoff games last year before falling to Forreston 30-6 in the 1A quarterfinals. They return eight letterwinners from that team, including QB Max Lemker and RBs Nick McQuistion and Travis Hill.

Patrick Lower, who has been head coach since 2007, one of just four head coaches at Fulton since 1968, said this year’s version of the Fulton Steamers “is a group of young players that are eager to make progress each and every day.”

Riverdale (3-6, 1-5): Guy Dierikx returns for his third year as head coach in Port Byron where the Rams seek their first winning season since going 6-4 in 2011. They have gone 8-46 in the past six years.

OTHERS Annawan-Wethersfield (9-2, 7-0): The Titans return 15 letterwinners from last year’s team that reached the second round of the 1A playoffs, including five starters on offense and four on defense.

“We have a lot of returners and depth at the skill positions coming back from last year’s conference championship team and second round qualifier. We lost a lot on both the offensive and defensive lines, and we will need to have several guys step up at those spots,” 10th year A/W coach Brandon Johnston.

See SCOUTING, Page 16

Editor’s note: Each coach was asked to rank the teams in their conference 1-6, excluding their own team. They received six points for first place votes (shown in the parenthesis), five points for second place, four points for third place, etc.

TRAC Mississippi 1. Hall (3) ........................................ 32 (tie) Princeton (2) ........................ 32 3. Monmouth-Roseville (2) ......... 27 4. Kewanee .....................................18 5. St. Bede .......................................15 6. E-P ................................................12 7. Sherrard ......................................12 TRAC ROCK 1. Newman (6) ............................... 36 2. Orion (1) ......................................31 3. Rockridge ................................... 25 4. Bureau Valley .............................17 (tie) Morrison .................................17 6. Fulton ..........................................14 7. Riverdale .......................................7

FINAL 2017 STANDINGS Three Rivers Mississippi .Conf. All +Hall ..................................6-0 6-4 +Kewanee .........................5-1 6-4 St. Bede............................ 3-3 3-6 Monmouth-Roseville ...... 3-3 3-6 Princeton .......................... 3-3 3-6 Erie-Prophetstown........... 1-5 1-8 Sherrard ............................0-6 0-9 Three Rivers Rock . Conf. All ++Newman ......................6-0 12-1 +Rockridge........................ 5-1 8-2 +Orion ............................... 4-2 9-3 +Fulton ............................. 3-3 7-4 Bureau Valley ...................1-5 4-5 Morrison ............................1-5 4-5 Riverdale............................ 1-5 3-6 Other area teams ++Sterling (4-0 NIB12W).............. 12-1 +Dixon (7-1 BN) ....................

10-2 +Annawan-W’field (7-0 LT)......... 9-2 +Ottawa Marquette (6-0 NEA)... 7-3 +Fieldcrest (3-2 HOI) ................... 7-3 +Rochelle (3-1 NIB12W) ............... 6-3 +Stark County (4-3 LTC) ............. 5-5 Geneseo (2-2 NIB12W) ................ 5-4 LaSalle-Peru (1-3 NIB12W) .......... 4-5 Rock Falls (2-6 BNC) .................... 3-6 Amboy-LaMoille (3-5 NUIC)......... 3-6 Mendota (1-7BNC) ........................ 1-8 Ottawa (0-4 NIB12W) .................. 1-8 + Playoff qualifier ++ state semifinalist

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FOOTBALL KICKOFF 2018 | Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Hall, PHS deadlocked in coaches’ poll

BCR ANNUAL COACHES PRESEASON POLL

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

| FOOTBALL KICKOFF 2018

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AMBOY/LAMOILLE CLIPPERS Conference: Northwest Upstate Illini

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

AT A GLANCE

Clippers seek to get back to the playoffs

BY BILL SCHWABENLAND sports@bcrnews.com AMBOY — The Amboy/LaMoille/ Ohio Clippers look to rebound from a 3-6 finish a year ago and eye making the high school football playoffs for the first time after three years finishing on the outside looking in.

Head coach Gary Jones enters his 25th season at the helm of the Amboy football program, having joined forces with players from LaMoille High School along the way, and Ohio in 2017.

All told, Jones has been a member of the Amboy football coaching staff since 1976.

A/L/O’s lead running back this season will be senior Jake Schaver (5-10, 170).

The Clippers’ starting quarterback is senior Mitchell McLaughlin (5-11, 185). According to Jones, McLaughlin played football his first two years then opted for golf his junior year, before returning to lead the A/L offense in this, his senior season.

A/L/O favored the run over the pass on offense for many years, but that preference may change a bit this season.

“We’ve always been an option team through the course of a thousand years. We’ve ran the option.

We’ve ran the ball,” Jones said.

“This year, probably due to our size and other things, we have some

pretty good receiver athlete-types.

We’ve kind of changed our philosophy a little bit, and we’re going to try and throw the ball a little more than we have in the past. We’re kind of going to more of a spread offense.”

Jones said the Clippers could have four receivers catching a good number of passes this season. Marcus Winn, a 5-10, 150-pound junior from LaMoille, brings the most speed, Jones said. Seniors Hunter Walzer and Hunter Zimmerly also return, and classmate Logan Whelchel has come out for the first time.

“Marcus Wynn (5-10, 150-pound junior) has probably got the most speed that we’ve got on the outside corner. He’s from LaMoille,” said Jones. “Hunter Walzer (6-2, 180 senior) is a pretty good receiver.

And we’ve got Logan Whelchel (5-11, 155 senior) out there. This is his first year out, (but) he’s a pretty good athlete.

“We’ve got some height there, (6-4 Zimmerly) and we’ve got some speed in our receivers,” Jones said.

“I think we’ve got some good skill people. Skillwise, on the corners, we’ve got some talent. That’s what we’re trying to utilize.”

Gone from last year’s team are a number of linemen. Jones said that the team’s offensive line was probably hurt the hardest by graduation. ”I think we’ve got some work to

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FAST FACTS

Home field: The Harbor, Amboy High School.

Head coach: Gary Jones (23rd year, 131-112).

Staff: George Schwamberger, Jeramey Wittenauer, Scott Payne, Dennis Nauman, Andrew Full, Sam Jones, Kenny Shrimplin.

Last year: 3-6 (3-5 NUINW).

Gary Enrollment: 308.

Jones Colors: Red and black.

Class: 2A. Conference: Northwest Upstate Illini (NW. Last playoff appearance: 2014, first round.

On the radio: WRCV 101.7 FM.

2018 SCHEDULE

Aug. 24 at Milledgeville .......... 7:00 Aug. 31 Eastland/Pearl City* .7:30 Sept. 7 at West Carroll* ......... 7:30 Sept. 14 at Pecatonica* ......... 7:00 Sept. 21 East Dubuque*+ ...... 7:30 Sept. 28 at Lena-Winslow* ..... 7:30 Oct. 5 at Dakota* ................... 7:00 Oct. 12 at Galena* ................. 7:30 Oct. 19 Forreston* .................. 7:00 * NUIC Conference game; + Homecoming

Members of the Amboy-LaMoille varsity football team for the 2018 season are (front row, left to right) Mike Stenzel, Dorian Barlow, Logan Whelchel, Brady Becker, Hunter Zimmerly, Maverick Lindenmeyer, Mitchell McLaughlin (second row) Mario Carvahol, Hayden Montavon, Seth Browning, Hunter Walzer, Preston Henkel, Marcus Winn, water boy Carson Barlow; (third row) Jake Schaver, Lane Boehle, Zachary Wicaryus, Austin Norman, Frank Piscitello, Luke Moore; (fourth row) Joseph Ackert, Corey Pinter, Sean Fitzpatrick, Dominic McClard, Justin Wicaryus; and (back row) assistant coach George Schwamberger, head coach Gary Jones, assistant coach Jeramey Wittenauer, assistant coach Scott Payne, assistant coach Sam Jones, assistant coach Kenny Shrimplin. Not pictured: assistant coach Dennis Nauman.

• CLIPPERS Continued from Page 4 do on our offensive line, because it’s so young,” Jones said. “We’ll probably have two sophomores starting at times on the offensive line.”

As far as that offensive line, A/L/O returns seniors Dorian Barlow (5-9, 180), Maverick Lindenmeyer (6-0, 235), and Brady Becker (6-5, 290).

“Becker is probably one of our key players on both sides of the ball,” Jones said.

The rest of the line, according to Jones, will be juniors and sophomores.

Go, LaMoile Lions, Go!!

Seniors on this year’s squad also include Hayden Montavon (WR/ LB), Mike Stenzel (WR/DB), and Frank Piscitello (OL/DL).

The Clippers play in the Northwest Upstate Illini Conference, with a season schedule very similar to a year ago, swapping home and away locations.

“Our numbers, in general, are down,” Jones said. “We’ve got 41 in the whole program. I mean, we used to run 42 kids just on the varsity alone. Now we’re down to 41 total in our entire program.”

When asked about goals for the season, Jones said, “You always want to win the conference. That

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has always been our philosophy in years past, to win the conference and go as far as we can in the playoffs. We haven’t reached the playoffs in the last, what, three years now.

So, our goal now is, we want to get above .500, get a shot at the playoffs, maybe get to that 6-3 mark.”

Jones’ teams have reached the playoffs in 13 of his 24 seasons as head coach, including a nine-year stretch from the autumns of 2002 to 2010, in which his teams compiled a record of 67-32.

A/L/O opens play this season at Milledgeville Friday.

• Sean Fitzpatrick, a sophomore, is the lone player from Ohio this year.

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FOOTBALL KICKOFF 2018| Wednesday, August 22, 2018

2018 ROSTER

No. Name Yr. Ht./Wt. Pos. 1 Zachary Wicaryus Jr. 5-5/140 RB/LB 2 Lane Boehle So, 6-0/150 WR/DE 3 Marcus Winn Jr. 5-10/150 WR/DB 4 Hayden Montavon* Sr. 5-11/155 WR/LB 5 Logan Whelchel* Sr. 5-11/155 WR/DB 6 Preston Henkel So. 5-11/165 WR/LB 7 Mitchell McLaughlin Sr. 5-11/185 QB/DB 9 Hunter Zimmerly* Sr. 6-3/160 QB/DB 10 Mike Stenzel* Sr. 6-1/160 WR/DB 12 Jake Schaver* Sr. 5-10/170 RB/LB 21 Luke Moore Jr. 5-6/125 WR/DB 25 Hunter Walzer Sr. 6-2/180 WR/DE 38 Austin Norman Jr. 5-9/175 RB/DL 52 Corey Pinter Jr. 5-10/165 OL/DL 54 Seth Browning Jr. 5-11/180 OL/DL 55 Maverick Lindenmeyer* Sr. 6-0/235 OL/LB 68 Frank Piscitello* Sr. 5-10/225 OL/DL 72 Dominic McClard So. 6-0/205 OL/DL 75 Dorian Barlow* Sr. 5-9/180 OL/LB 76 Brady Becker* Sr. 6-5/290 OL/DL 77 Justin Wicaryus Fr. 5-10/240 OL/DL 79 Joseph Ackert So. 6-0/200 OL/DL 80 Sean Fitzpatrick So. 5-8/170 RB/LB 83 Mario Carvahol Jr. 5-8/145 K * Returning lettermen

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

| FOOTBALL KICKOFF 2018

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Bureau Valley Nickname: Storm

2018 ROSTER

No. Player Yr. Ht./Wt. Pos. 1 Dalton Dean Jr. 5-10/165 QB/DB 2 Nate Paup* Sr. 6-3/185 WR/DB 3 Logan Hardy Jr. 5-11/145 WR/DB 4 Tucker Hartz* Jr. 5-10/160 WR/DB 6 Kale Barnett* Sr. 6-1/170 WR/DB 7 Tyler Gustafson* Sr. 6-1/170 QB/DB 9 Evan Eckberg So. 5-11/155 QB/DB 12 Dylan Harper Sr. 5-11/180 RB/LB 13 Egan Scheidel So. 5-9/165 WR/LB 16 Drew Spencer So. 5-8/140 WR/DB 22 Ben Shipp* Sr. 6-5/215 TE/DL 24 Mac Nugent Jr. 5-10/185 RB/LB 25 James Macklin* Jr. 5-9/175 RB/LB 33 Colin Kruse Jr. 5-10/175 RB/DB 42 Jared Sterzinger Jr. 5-9/160 OL/LB 44 Devan Batten Jr. 6-1/175 OL/LB 50 Garrett Scott* Sr. 5-10/190 OL/LB 51 Gage Aber* Sr. 5-9/180 OL/DL 52 Jace Rediger Sr. 5-11/210 OL/DL 54 Eric Schoff* Sr. 6-0/200 OL/LB 55 Matt Foster So. 5-9/240 OL/LB 56 Joe Green* Sr. 6-3/215 OL/DL 58 Isaac Pond So. 5-9/210 OL/DL 62 Thomas Blandford So. 5-9/170 OL/LB 63 Arran Kruse* Sr. 5-8/210 OL/LB 65 Matt Philhower Jr. 6-0/230 OL/DL 68 James Krieger Jr. 6-2/250 OL/DL 72 Kole Sissel Jr. 5-11/250 OL/DL 74 Logan Songer So. 6-2/250 OL/DL 76 Bryce Taylor Jr. 5-11/225 OL/DL 80 Connor Johnson Sr. 5-10/170 WR/DB 82 Noah Simon Sr. 6-0/160 WR/DB 84 Milo Bystry Jr. 6-4/200 TE/DL 88 Elijah Risatti Sr. 6-0/170 WR/DB * Returning lettermen

FAST FACTS

Home field: Storm Stadium.

Head coach: Joe Schmitt (second year, 4-5).

Staff: Phillip Przybala, Tony Gripp, Matt Wasilewski, Austin Peterson, Noel Warkins, Brian Aber, Kyle Schultz.

Last year: 4-5 (1-5).

School enrollment: 351.

Colors: Columbia/navy.

Class: 1-2 A. Conference: Three Rivers Rock Division.

Last playoff appearance: 2016, 1A first round.

On the radio: WZOE 98.8 FM.

2018 SCHEDULE Aug. 24 Erie-Prophetstown............7:30 Aug. 31 at St. Bede ......................7:30 Sept. 7 at Fulton* .........................7:30 Sept. 14 Monmouth-Roseville+ ....7:00 Sept. 21 at Riverdale* ..................7:30 Sept. 28 Newman* .......................7:00 Oct. 5 at Rockridge* .....................7:30 Oct. 12 at Orion* ..........................7:30 Oct. 19 Morrison* .........................7:30 * TRAC Rock game + Homecoming

DID YOU KNOW? • Bourquin Field, where the Storm are practicing this fall at the old Manlius High School, is named after longtime Manlius coach Ken Bourquin, a Bureau County Sports Hall of Famer who was Bureau Valley’s first football coach in 1995.

Storm ready to take next step in Schmitt’s second year as coach

BY KEVIN HIERONYMUS khieronymus@bcrnews.com MANLIUS — The Bureau Valley Storm hit the field running this summer, settling in under second-year head coach Joe Schmitt.

The Storm return 11 lettermen with six starters on both sides of the ball, who are familiar with Schmitt’s coaching style and system.

Because of that familiarity, Schmitt said things are running very smoothly on the eve of his second season at the helm.

“Things are going well. My comfort level is up, day-to-day activities are more efficient, and the players know what to expect,” he said.

“We will be looking to take a step forward. We have had an outstanding summer, and our numbers are growing.”

BV senior wide receiver Kale Barnett said the Storm are definitely ahead of the game from where they were a year ago when Schmitt took over. Teammates Tyler Gustafson and Eric Schoff agreed.

“So far, the practices are going much faster because we know the offense this year and we are just tweaking the little stuff,” said Gustafson, the Storm’s senior quarterback.

“I think this will be a great season for us,” said Schoff, a senior lineman. “With it being coach Schmitt’s second season, things are already looking better than they did last

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year. Our offense is clicking really well. And we are way further ahead on defense then we were at this time last year.”

The Storm went 4-5 in Schmitt’s first year, but lost their final four games to miss out on being playoff eligible by one game. They are ready to take the next step.

“We are hoping for a very successful year. It all starts with our line, which is looking very quick and talented. We just hope to perform all around to win games this year,” Gustafson said.

“I think we will be under looked by a lot of teams because of losing just about all of our linemen. We are a much faster team up front than we were last year,” Schoff said.

The Storm took a big hit when Barnett, an all-state receiver and an unanimous TRAC Rock All-Conference pick, sustained a shoulder injury in a 7-on-7 passing tournament over the summer. He expects to play Week 4 or 5.

Schmitt expects Barnett to be ready to pick up where he left last

4-5

1-5

“I think this will be a great season for us. With it being coach Schmitt’s second season, things are already looking better than they did last year. Our offense is clicking really well. And we are way further ahead on defense then we were at this time last year. ... I think we will be under looked by a lot of teams.”

Eric Schoff

Bureau Valley senior lineman

year when he averaged 18.1 yards per reception with 10 touchdowns and 961 yards.

“Once he has been cleared by the doctors, he will be ready to step in. He’s smart, he’s a gamer, he’s been a great help at practice so far,”

See STORM, Page 14

Bureau Valley senior quarterback Tyler Gustafson (7) has a pair of familiar and talented targets in senior receivers Nate Paup (2) and Kale Barnett. The trio has been playing together since fifth grade, and hope to lead the Storm back to the playoffs for just the second time since 2010.

Shaw Media Service photo/Michael Krabbenhoeft

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FOOTBALL KICKOFF 2018| Wednesday, August 22, 2018 Photo contributed

The Bureau Valley Storm will be welcomed to Storm Stadium Friday to kick of the 2018 season. Team members are (front row, from left to right) Thomas Blanford, Drew Spencer, Matt Foster, Isaac Pond, Colin Kruse and Jarod Sterzinger; (second row) Egan Scheidel, Dalton Dean, Kole Sissel, Logan Hardy,Tucker Hartz, Mac Nugent, James Macklin and Matt Philhower; (third row) Gage Aber, Connor Johnson, Bryce Taylor, Devan Batten, Milo Bystry, Logan Songer, Evan Eckberg, Garrett Scott and Dylan Harper; (back row) manager Simeon Bystry, Arran Kruse, Eric Schoff, Nate Paup, Joe Green, Ben Shipp, Noah Simon, Kale Barnett, Tyler Gustafson and Jace Rediger. Not pictured: Elijah Risatti and James Krieger.

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Wednesday, August 22, 2018

| FOOTBALL KICKOFF 2018

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Hall Nickname: Red Devils

2018 ROSTER

No. Name Yr. Ht./Wt. Pos. 2 Anthony Buchanan* Sr. 5-10/185 RB/DB 3 Cole Wozniak Jr. 5-10/180 TE/FB 4 Austin Heinecke Jr. 5-8/170 RB/LB 5 Kavan Trevier* Sr. 6-3/210 TE/DL 6 Christian Stefaniak* Sr. 5-9/175 RB/QB 7 Jacob Grush Jr. 6-4/200 TE/DL 9 Dillon DeJong Jr. 5-6/150 SE/DB 10 Grant Resetich Jr. 5-11/150 QB/DS 15 Jack Savitch So. 5-5/135 RB/DB 22 Steven Brust* Sr. 5-9/155 SE/DB 23 James Mautino* Sr. 5-8/155 SE/DB 24 Brian Bergagna* Sr. 5-7/140 SE/DB 25 Marshall Walk* Jr. 5-8/160 RB/FS 28 Toby Harper Jr. 5-10/145 SE/DB 30 Matt Hultz Jr. 5-10/175 TE/LB 32 Dalton Brust Jr. 5-9/170 RB/DB 35 Donovan Cotton So. 5-8/150 RB/LB 40 Jose Castro So. 5-7/165 FB/LB 41 Garrett Weathersby Jr. 6-0/165 TE/LB 50 James Kellerman* Sr. 5-9/200 C/LB 52 Jeff Delaney Jr. 5-10/200 OL/LB 54 Noah Delphi So. 5-10/210 OL/DL 55 Jesse Kaznski So. 5-10/180 OL/DL 60 Riley King* Sr. 6-4/220 OL/DL 63 Max Puentes Jr. 5-10/175 OL/LB 65 Michael Arrate Jr. 6-0/200 OL/DL 72 Zach Tieman* Sr. 6-2/210 OL/DL 73 Al Vasic Jr. 6-0/235 OL/DL 74 Otto Franczke So. 5-10/190 OL/DL 75 Greg Larsen Jr. 6-1/240 OL/DL 77 Elian Rivera* Sr. 5-10/300 OL/DL 78 Juan Avila* Sr. 5-11/265 OL/DL 79 Colton Zeriau So. 5-11/290 OL/DL 80 Chris Pelc So. 6-0/140 SE/DB * Returning lettermen

FAST FACTS

Home field: Nesti Stadium.

Head coach: Randy Tieman (7th year, 31-31).

Staff: Steve Smith, Ryan Ferrari, Joe Furlan, Dave Rucinski, Nick Guerrini, Mike Rosploch.

Last year: 6-4 (6-0).

Enrollment: 437.

Colors: Red and white.

Class: 2-3 A. Conference: Three Rivers Mississippi.

Last playoff appearance: 2017, 2A first round, lost to Williamsville 52-6.

On the radio: WAJK, 99.3 FM.

2018 SCHEDULE

Aug. 24 Orion .......................................7:30 Aug. 31 at Morrison ..............................7:30 Sept. 7 Princeton* ................................7:30 Sept. 14 at Kewanee* ...........................7:30 Sept. 21 St. Bede*+ .............................7:30 Sept. 28 at Monmouth-Roseville* ........7:30 Oct. 5 at Newman .................................7:30 Oct. 12 Erie-Prophetstown* ..................7:30 Oct. 19 Sherrard* .................................7:30 * TRAC Mississippi game + Homecoming

2017 RESULTS

Orion 31, Red Devils 14 Morrison 26, Red Devils 14 Red Devils 40, Princeton 8 Red Devils 44, Kewanee 26 Red Devils 48, St. Bede 0 Red Devils 38, Monmouth-Roseville 23 Newman 48, Red Devils 16 Red Devils 52, Erie-Prophetstown 20 Red Devils 26, Sherrard 8 Williamsville 52, Red Devils 7 (2A playoffs)

DID YOU KNOW?

Hall head coach Randy Tieman is a 1980 graduate of Hall and played football for the Red Devils.

Seniors time to shine

BY TOMMY ROSE sports@bcrnews.com SPRING VALLEY — Whenever the 2018 Hall Red Devils football team has to be reminded what the mantra is for the upcoming season, they need only look at the shirt worn by their head coach, Randy Tieman.

“Victory requires payment in advance.”

Last season’s 6-4 record (6-0 in the TRAC Mississippi, to capture the conference championship) showed the team was “buying into” his program, and Tieman, the 2017 BCR Football Coach of the Year, is looking to see his players climb even higher.

“It’s the class we’ve been looking for,” Tieman said. “Seven of these guys played up as sophomores and now they’re seniors. We hope to be able to reap the benefits as we did last year with two years of varsity experience.”

Senior running back Anthony Buchanan said it’s the seniors time to shine.

Definitely, we have put in numerous hours of time towards this season. Especially us seniors,”he said.

“For a lot of us seniors this is our third year playing varsity football.

We look forward to the juniors stepping up in the spots we need filled.

Most importantly we are all looking forward to a great season.”

However, two of the players who helped make last season so successful will be absent, having graduated earlier this year, BCR co-Players of the Year, Cade Wozniak and Kyle Duever.

“Yeah, we’re going to miss Cade Wozniak, who was our quarterback for the last two years,” Tieman said.

“Also Kyle Duever, who made a big adjustment for us at tackle after week 2.”

Tieman said that junior QB Grant Resetich and senior QB/FB Christian Stefaniak will be looked at to fill the void and take the snaps.

Buchanan (960 yards rushing with 13 TDs in 2017) will be back to do his damage from the backfield along with juniors Austin Heineche and Marshall Walk.

James Mautino, Steven Brust, and Brian Bergana return as seniors to be the “usual suspects” to go deep for the Red Devils offense, while junior Cole Wozniak (TE/FB) and senior Kavan Trevier (TE) will be everywhere else in between.

The Hall coach also sees promise in his defense.

“The kids that came in for us as juniors really stepped it up so far in

See RED DEVILS, Page 9

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Junior quarterback Grant Resetich hands off to senior running back Christian Stefaniak in the Red Devils first day of practice. The Red Devils kick off the season at Nesti Stadium with Orion.

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• RED DEVILS Continued from Page 8 camp and in practice,” Tieman said.

“At the linebacker spots, Jeff Delaney, Cole Wozniak, Max Puentes, Austin Heineche, and Matt Hultz have really shown me they can play there. They helped us pick up the pace there.”

Another pleasant surprise in camp for the coach was a junior in only his second year of play, Mike Arrate.

“Mike Arrate has really been impressive on the line, on both sides of the ball,” Tieman said. “He worked hard in the off-season, got himself stronger. He’s learning every day and getting better, so he’s a kid that’s

FULL

TEAM COVERAGE

going to be able to help us.”

Another happy observation by the coaching staff this summer was greater team interaction.

“That’s one thing I’ve noticed more, especially defensively, there’s been great communication,” Tieman said. “Kids have been making their calls, and that’s huge. When a team comes together and gets along,

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Perhaps remembering last year’s 0-2 start that the Red Devils fought back from, Tieman will look ahead only one week at a time.

“Whatever happens, happens. We can’t make that game our whole season,” Tieman said. “The kids know what to do, it’s just a matter of executing it.”

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FOOTBALL KICKOFF 2018 | Wednesday, August 22, 2018

The Hall Red Devils will open the season at home Friday vs. Orion in a Three Rivers crossover game.

Suiting up for Hall for the 2018 season are (front row, from left) Cole Wozniak, Marshall Walk, Toby Harper, Matt Hultz, and Max Puentes; (second row) Christian Stefaniak, Steven Brust, Garrett Weathersby, Michael Arrate, Jeff Delaney, Grant Resetich and Juan Avila; (third row) Anthony Buchanan, James Mautino, Brian Bergagna, James Kellerman, Dalton Brust, Austin Heinecke, Dillon DeJong and Elian Rivera; and (back row) Zach Tieman, Alex Vasic, Riley King, Jacob Grush, Greg Larsen and Kavan Trevier.

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

| FOOTBALL KICKOFF 2018

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Princeton Nickname: Tigers

2018 ROSTER

No. Name Yr. 2 Jakob Ebener* Sr. 3 Daniel Crowe* Jr. 4 Payton Moore Sr. 6 Tyler Gibson So. 7 Jamie Reinhardt* So. 8 Evan Morse So. 9 Conner Dickens* Sr. 10 Branden Haring* Jr. 11 Collyn Walters* So. 12 Beck Robbins* Sr. 14 Noah Wilder Jr. 20 Dallas Hill* Sr. 21 Trevor Tate* Sr. 24 Jacob Starr* Jr. 28 Ronde Worrels* So. 30 Matt Garver Sr. 36 Brayden Reed Jr. 44 Ethan Wright Jr. 50 Mason Orr* Sr. 51 Chase Tatum* Sr. 55 Grant Foes* So. 56 Jacob Read So. 58 Dean Welte Jr. 60 Alex May So. 65 Kaleb Cain So. 66 Lukas Burger Jr. 68 Judd Wright* Sr. 70 Cole Reynolds Jr. 72 Matt Cihocki* Jr. 74 Drew Woolley So. 75 Kody Mongan So. 76 Carter Fiegenschuh So. 77 Isaiah Franklin Jr. 78 Hayden Welte* Sr. 79 Sammy McClure Jr. 85 Conner Workman So. 88 C.J. Davies Jr. 89 Caleb Haring So. * Returning lettermen

Ht./Wt. Pos. 5-10/155 RB/DB 5-11/185 RB/LB 5-10/155 WR/DB 6-0/175 QB/DB 5-9/150 WR/DB/K 5-9/150 WR/DB 5-10/170 RB/DB 6-0/195 TE/DL 5-7/150 WR/DB 6-2/170 QB/DB 5-11/165 WR/DB 5-10/210 RB/LB 6-1/175 WR/DB 5-9/160 RB/DB 6-2/195 RB/LB 5-10/175 WR/DB 6-0/160 WR/DB 5-9/200 RB/LB 6-1/205 OL/DL 6-1/230 OL/DL 6-3/235 OL/DL 6-0/160 OL/LB 5-8/200 OL/DL 6-2/200 OL/LB 5-10/150 OL/DL 6-1/190 OL/DL 6-2/260 OL/DL 5-8/200 OL/DL 6-2/200 OL/LB 6-0/170 OL/DL 5-10/200 OL/DL 5-9/150 OL/DL 5-10/220 OL/DL 6-5/240 OL/DL 5-10/240 OL/DL 5-10/155 WR/DB 5-8/150 WR/DB 6-3/200 TE/DL

FAST FACTS

Home field: Bryant Field.

Head coach: Ryan Pearson (second year, 3-6; sixth year overall, 38-26).

Staff: Dan Foes, Brik Wedekind, Nick Vujanov, Patrick Smith, Dave Moore, Nate Norman.

Last year: 3-6 (3-3).

Enrollment: 529.

Colors: Blue and white.

Class: 4A. Conference: Three Rivers Mississippi.

Last playoff appearance: 2015 3A quarterfinals, lost to Elmhurst IC 37-12.

On the radio: WZOE 1490 AM.

2018 SCHEDULE

Aug. 24 at Riverdale ............................. 7:30 Aug. 31 Newman .................................. 7:30 Sept. 7 at Hall* .................................... 7:30 Sept. 14 Sherrard* ............................... 7:30 Sept. 21 Orion+ .................................... 7:30 Sept. 28 at Erie-Prophetstown* ............ 7:30 Oct. 5 at Kewanee* .............................. 7:30 Oct. 12 Monmouth-Roseville* .............. 7:30 Oct. 19 St. Bede* ................................. 7:30 * TRAC Mississippi game + Homecoming game

DID YOU KNOW?

Ryan Pearson played for Stark County’s 1A state runner-up team in 1997.

After year of growing pains, Tigers banking on experience gained

BY KEVIN HIERONYMUS khieronymus@bcrnews.com PRINCETON — Ryan Pearson came to Princeton a year ago, inheriting a young football team with only four players who had ever stepped foot on a varsity football team.

They were about as young as young gets. They lost their first three games of the 2017 season before winning three of their final six.

Fast forward to 2018, the Tigers look to benefit from that experience gained. They have taken the field this fall with 17 returning lettermen, with 10 starters back on defense and eight on offense.

They are aiming to make their opponents, “Fear the Stripes,” their helmets and pants proudly displaying the new Tiger stripes this year.

“I knew we’d go through a lot of growing pains last year. No matter how talented you are, you can’t replicate varsity game experience,” Pearson said. “We are going to rely heavily on that experience and count on them to be great leaders and role models for our program.

“I feel we can be a very good football team as long as we keep getting better each and every day. Any great season I have ever been a part of, we always had experience, health and a little luck on our side.”

Senior quarterback Beck Robbins and lineman Chase Tatum believe the Tigers have a chance to be really successful this year.

“We have a lot of returning starters and new guys who can help us win some games,” he said. “We just have to keep trying to improve everyday and work together.”

“I truly feel really good coming into this season with a bunch of our returning juniors and seniors.

I’m super hyped for my senior season hoping to finish off my high school career on a good note with a bunch of the same guys who I’ve played with since JFL,” Tatum said.

“I think we have a good chance of making the playoffs this year.”

Tatum (OL/DL) has the most experience, brought up for the playoffs as a freshman in 2015. He has been a mainstay ever since.

“Chase is just an all-around great young man. I honestly expect great things from him going into his senior season,” Pearson said. “He is a tremendous leader, possesses great work ethic and has a neversay-die attitude. He will definitely help anchor both our offensive and

See TIGERS, Page 15

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Senior Chase Tatum will be an anchor for both the Tigers offensive and defensive line, moving in from linebacker

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FOOTBALL KICKOFF 2018| Wednesday, August 22, 2018 BCR photo/Kevin Hieronymus

The Princeton Tigers will travel to Port Byron Riverdale to kick off the season Friday. Team members are (front row) Conner Dickens, Collyn Walters, Bradyn Read, Jakob Ebner, Noah Wilder, Kaleb Cain and Cole Reynolds; (second row) manager Alexis Alt, coach Nate Norman, coach Patrick Smith, coach Nick Vujanov, head coach Ryan Pearson, coach Brik Wedekind, coach Dan Foes, coach Dave Moore and manager Sydney Pearson; (third row) Jamie Reinhardt, Isaiah Franklin, Carter Fiegenschuh, Dean Welte, Chris Davies, Evan Morse, Daniel Crowe, Matt Garver and Sam McClure; (fourth row) Chase Tatum, Kody Mongan, Tyler Gibson, Conner Workman, Drew Wooley, Alex May, Jacob Reed, Payton Moore, Brandon Haring, Lucas Burger and Jacob Starr; and (back row) Trevor Tate, Dallas Hill, Ronde Worrels, Judd Wright, Mason Orr, Beck Robbins, Matt Cihocki, Hayden Welte, Caleb Haring and Grant Foes.

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Wednesday, August 22, 2018

| FOOTBALL KICKOFF 2018

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St. Bede Academy Nickname: Bruins

2018 Roster

No. Name Yr. Ht./Wt. Pos. 1 Kaile Williams* Sr. 5-11/190 QB/DB 2 Trevor Mooney* Jr. 5-7/160 QB/DB 3 Oskar Flodstrom So. 5-8/130 RB/LB 4 Ben Bernabei* Sr. 5-11/215 RB/LB 5 Dom Bima So. 5-6/120 QB/DB 7 Braden Damerell So. 5-7/150 QB/DB 8 Austin Torri* Sr. 5-8/170 RB/LB 9 Logan Link So. 5-9/150 RB/DB 10 Beau Gerber So. 5-4/115 E/DB 11 Tim Croissant So. 5-4/130 RB/DB 13 Charles Korey* Sr. 5-8/130 RB/DB 14 Logan Ulrich Jr. 5-10/175 RB/LB 15 Kane Clendenen* Sr. 5-9/150 E/DB 17 Jacob Eutis Sr. 5-10/160 RB/DB 21 James Sanchez So. 5-7/160 E/DL 24 Luke Sanchez* Sr. 6-2/205 E/DL 27 Noah Setser So. 5-3/140 RB/DB 28 Kobe Newman* Sr. 6-0/150 E/DB 41 Alec Nawa* Sr. 6-2/160 E/LB 42 Nick Lough Jr. 5-10/175 DL 50 Zach Roebuck So. 6-2/150 OL/DL 53 Shawn Schwemlein So. 5-5/190 OL/DL 54 Ethan Borelli* Sr. 5-5/190 OL/DL 55 Joe Edwell So. 5-11/190 OL/DL 58 Jack Senica* Sr. 6-2/190 OL/LB 60 Sam Maschmann Jr. 5-8/130 OL/DL 62 Ethan Fleming So. 5-10/160 OL/DL 64 Brandon Green So. 5-9/205 OL/DL 65 Caleb Boucher* Jr. 6-3/250 OL/DL 68 Pete Sampson Jr. 5-11/250 OL/DL 69 Hunter Monterastelli* Sr. 6-3/220 OL/DL 74 Malcolm Roebuck* Sr. 6-1/180 OL/LB 75 Max Manning* Sr. 6-4/240 OL/DL 82 Griffen Heuser So. 5-7/150 E/DB 87 Brady Hurst So. 5-8/120 E/DB 99 Nick Pearse So. 6-0/140 K * Returning lettermen

FAST FACTS

Home field: St. Bede Academy.

Head coach: Jim Eustice (third year, 11-9).

Staff: Bill Booker, Mike Bima, Brett Valle, Sam Allen, Jeff Mooney, Jack Brady, Tyler Bratt, Bryant Eustice.

Last year: 3-6 (3-3).

School Enrollment: 448.8 (272 actual) Colors: Green and white.

Conference: Three Rivers Mississippi.

Class: 2-3 A. Last playoff appearance: 2017, 3A second round.

On the radio: WSOG 88.1.

2018 SCHEDULE

Aug. 24 at Fulton ............................... 7:30 Aug. 31 Bureau Valley ....................... 7:30 Sept. 7 at Sherrard* .......................... 7:30 Sept. 14 Erie-P/town* ....................... 7:30 Sept. 21 at Hall* ............................... 7:30 Sept. 29 Rockridge+ ......................... 2:00 Oct. 6 at Monmouth-Roseville* ......... 7:30 Oct. 12 at Kewanee* ......................... 7:30 Oct. 19 at Princeton* ........................ 7:30 * TRAC Mississippi game + Homecoming game

DID YOU KNOW?

Former St. Bede quarterback Bryant Eustice (SBA 2017) has joined his dad’s coaching staff this year.

More experienced, Bruins take aim on TRAC Mississippi

BY TOMMY ROSE sports@bcrnews.com PERU — The St. Bede Bruins went through growing pains in the 2017 season with a younger squad learning varsity football the hard way en route to a 3-6 record (3-3 in the TRAC Mississippi), but fourth-year head coach Jim Eustice is looking forward to seeing that experience bear fruit in the 2018 campaign.

“We just have to get better at everything we want to do,” Eustice said. “We just weren’t very good in a lot of phases last year, because we were young, inexperienced, and just not physically strong enough in some spots.

“But, we’ve had a great summer, and the kids’ attitudes have been great, so now we have to see just how good we can get.”

The Bruins varsity roster this year is made up of 14 seniors, six juniors, and 16 sophomores, with senior captains Kaile Williams (QB/ DB), Ben Bernabei (RB/LB with 7 touchdowns, 400 yards rushing, and TRAC leader in tackles last season with 90), and Malcolm Roebuck (OL/ LB) coming to the fore.

Bernabei and Williams are anxious to see how far the Bruins’ experience can take them this year.

“With having so many returning starters from last years team I am very exited to see how we shape up as the season gets going,” Bernabei said. “We have a lot of experience going into the season and I think that is going to help us a lot. After what happened last season we have a lot to prove to the people around here and I am very excited to see what happens.”

“We’re all looking forward to this season with almost all of our team returning. We’ve been working hard since the end of last season and I have high hopes for this year,” Williams said.

In all, the Bruins return eight starters on both sides of the ball, including a few position changes.

More of last year’s experience on offense will be represented by returning lettermen Austin Torri (RB), Charles Korey (RB), Kane Clendenen (E), Luke Sanchez (E) and Kobe Newman (E), all seniors, and Trevor Mooney (QB), a junior.

Defensive lettermen returning include seniors Alec Nawa (LB), Ethan Borelli (DL), Jack Senica (LB), Hunter Monterastelli (DL) and Max Manning (DL) and junior Caleb Boucher (DL).

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Senior running back Ben Bernabei is one of eight returning starters back for the Bruins on offense this year.

The Bruins will also have a new starting kicker, sophomore Nick Pearse.

“Most of the guys have been with me all four years, and they know what I want,” Eustice said. “Things have been going very well for us. We

will be better this year, I’m confident of that.”

Addressing the issue of strength and endurance, one thing Eustice is most pleased with seeing is more of

See BRUINS, Page 13

13

• BRUINS Continued from Page 12 his players spending more time in the weight room.

“The kids are starting to see the results of being in there every season,” he said. “Now they want to be in there, and that’s the biggest thing.

“Now it’s, ‘Coach, are we lifting today?’ instead of chasing kids around trying to get them in there, like it was the first couple of years.”

The Bruins’ season opener will be Aug. 24 at Fulton, followed by their first home game the following Friday hosting Bureau Valley, “two very worthy opponents,” Eustice said. Week 3 will be

the first conference game at Sherrard.

With all that his squad has learned last year and this summer, Eustice believes he and his staff have impressed upon them one thing most of all.

“There are no ‘gimmes’ in this conference.

Everybody knows that, and you gotta be ready to play every week,” he said.

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FOOTBALL KICKOFF 2018| Wednesday, August 22, 2018

BCR photo/Dave Cook

The Bruins will travel to Fulton to kick off the 2018 season. Team members are (front row, from left to right) Ethan Fleming, Trevor Mooney, Charles Korey, Ethan Borelli, Kane Clendenen, Noah Setser, Tim Croissant, Braden Damerell and Brady Hurst; (second row) Alec Nawa, Austin Torri, Ben Bernabei, Jacob Eutis, Kaile Williams, Malcolm Roebuck, Jack Senica, Nick Lough, Dom Bima, Beau Gerber, Griffen Heuser and James Sanchez; and (back row) Luke Sanchez, Logan Ulrich, Joe Edwall, Hunter Monterastelli, Brandon Green, Max Manning, Caleb Boucher, Zach Roebuck, Pete Sampson, Logan Link, Nick Pearse and Sam Maschmann.

• KRUSE

• STORM

Continued from Page 2

Continued from Page 6

speed still isn’t where he would like it, but as an inside linebacker as he is most likely going to play, you have to be a wrecking ball, and he has been doing a great job of that in the first couple weeks of practice.”

‘MIRACLE CHILD’ Ben Kruse calls his son his “miracle child.” Admittedly didn’t want him to play this year, because he didn’t want to “go through this all over again.”

Now that Arran is playing, Ben Kruse said he couldn’t be more proud of him.

“That kid’s got more heart than anyone I know, more than me. I would have been down for the count,” Ben Kruse said.

Kruse has no fears or reservations of getting hurt again.

“I’m more confident than I have ever been. I’m ready to take on any challenge that anyone or anything throws at me,” he said.

Kruse can’t wait for Friday night when he gets to return to the very same field that he was carted off last year. His emotions will run high when he steps onto the stage of the Friday Night Lights, a night he has anxiously awaited for 11 months.

“It’s going to mean the world to me.

I’m sure I’ll be so full of emotions, but I can’t let that overwhelm me when I’m on that field,” Kruse said.

BCR photo/Phyllis Fargher

Bureau Valley senior Arron Kruse (yellow cap) participated in Friday’s scrimmage at Bureau Valley. He said it’s going to “mean the world to me” when he steps on the field for Friday’s season opener.

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Schmitt said.

Ready to pick up some slack is senior Nate Paup, who made 32 receptions last season for 422 receiving yards.

Gustafson had a breakout junior year, throwing for 2,021 yards, 21 TDs, filling the shoes and then some of former Storm quarterback Drake Davis, who transferred to Naperville North and is now a preferred walk-on at the University of Illinois.

Schmitt said “Ty Gus” is capable of topping those numbers.

“He is smarter, and this will be like having another coach on the field,” he said.

To make it happen, Gustafson said, “It’s going to take a lot of hard work in the weight room and watch as much film as possible. I just have to trust my reads and get the ball to the open man.”

Schmitt said many of the Storm had great summers and expects a lot out of them this year.

While declining to name a starting lineup, Schmitt said it’s a cast that includes seniors Schoff (LB/OL), Joe Green (OL/DL), Gage Aber (DL/OL), Garrett Scott (RB/LB), Ben Shipp (TE/DE), Paup (WR/DB), and juniors James Macklin (RB/LB) and Tucker Hartz (WR/DB).

Top newcomers listed by Schmitt are senior Dylan Harper (RB/LB), juniors Mac Nugent (RB/DB), Bryce Taylor (OL/DL) and Kole Sissell (OL/DL), and sophomores Evan Eckberg (QB/DB) and Matt Foster (OL/LB).

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Wednesday, August 22, 2018

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2018 ALL-BCR PRESEASON TEAM Tyler Gustafson (BV, Sr., QB) - The Storm slinger threw for 2,021 yards and 21 touchdown last year.

Kale Barnett (BV, Sr., SE/DB) - A shoulder injury may set him back at the start of the season, but the Storm all-stater should have plenty of time to do some damage. He caught 60 balls for 1,021 yards and 10 TDs as an unanimous TRAC Rock selection. He was second on BV with 81 tackles.

Ben Bernabei (St. Bede, Sr., RB/LB) - The Second Team TRAC Mississippi pick rushed for 400 yards and seven touchdowns. He was First Team All-Conference linebacker with an area best 96 tackles.

Anthony Buchanan (Hall, Sr., RB) - The First Team TRAC Mississippi back led the area with 960 yards and 13 TDs. Steven Brust (Hall, Sr., SE) - The Second Team TRAC Mississippi, First Team All-BCR pick had 32 receptions, good for 581 yards and six TDs. Jakob Ebner (Princeton, Sr., RB/LB) - Second on the team in tackles, the honorable mention all-conference linebacker was second on the team in tackles (67) last year.

James Mautino (Hall, Sr., SE/DB/RS) - The BCR co-Player of the Year and unanimous TRAC Mississippi pick had 44 receptions, 726 yards and eight TDs. He is a triple threat having also received unanimous all-conference honors at defensive back and return specialist (608 yards, two TDs on KO returns) Payton Moore (Princeton, Sr., WR/DB) - Tiger followers will witness what Storm fans have come to watch as the BV transfer makes the cross-county switch to Tiger Town. He was the Storm’s leading tackler (86).

Beck Robbins (Princeton, Sr., QB/DB) - Returns for his third year behind center for the Tigers, having stepped in the middle of his sophomore season.

Chase Tatum (Princeton, Sr., OL/DL) - Back as a third-year varsity starter, the unanimous TRAC Mississippi pick is making the move from linebacker where he had 78 tackles to defensive tackle to better help his team.

Ronde Worrels (Princeton, So., RB) - Had a breakout freshman season with 788 yards rushing and nine scores on the way to Second Team TRAC Mississippi honors.

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15

FOOTBALL KICKOFF 2018| Wednesday, August 22, 2018

defensive lines.�

To better utilize Tatum’s talents, he is being moved from linebacker to nose guard on defense.

He was a First Team TRAC Mississippi selection last year, recording a team-high 78 tackles. “With his speed and quickness, we felt he could cause some havoc moving much closer to the football. I feel he has really taken to the position and has a tremendous upside,� Pearson said.

Tatum said the switch to the defensive line is going really well. “I’m a player that puts my team before myself, so I was always willing to play wherever my coaches wanted me to,� he said. “I just have to stay aggressive and do what I do best when Friday nights come around.�

Robbins returns with two and a half seasons under his belt at quarterback and will prove to be a great source for leadership. He threw for 607 yards and rushed for 258 more. “We’re going to lean on his experience and poise. I think he has a great handle on the offense right now and gives us a dual threat back there,�

Pearson said. “We have high expectations for his arm this year as he has some nice targets to throw the ball to.�

The youngest of the Tiger cubs last year was Ronde Worrels, who was thrust into the varsity lineup as a freshman and lived up to his high promise. The Second Team TRAC Mississippi back led the Tigers in rushing with 788 yards and nine TDs, both second most in the area. “Ronde was thrown to the wolves last year.

I honestly wouldn’t have done that if I felt he couldn’t handle it. I thought he embraced it and

accepted the challenge,� Pearson said. “Ronde is a great competitor and leader in our program, and I expect great things from him.�

The Tigers picked up a newcomer in senior Payton Moore, who transferred to PHS from Bureau Valley at the beginning of the second semester last school year. He will play wing back and defensive back, having led BV with 86 tackles last year. “Payton has really added to our overall team speed,� Pearson said. “Defensively, he has a knack for getting to the football and runs the alley very well. Offensively, he gives us another good target to throw the ball to. He has definitely been a great addition.�

Running down the probable starting lineup, starting with offense, Pearson projects Robbins at quarterback, junior Jacob Starr joining Worrels at tailback, senior Dallas Hill at fullback, Moore at wing back, Branden Haring or Trevor Tate at tight end, and Conner Dickens at split end.

The offensive line will consists of Grant Foes and Tatum at tackle, senior Judd Wright at guard along with Mason Orr or Sammy McClure, and Dean Welte or Cole Reynolds at center.

Defensive tackles will be McClure, Hayden Welte or Foes, with Tatum or Wright at nose guard. Projected starters at linebacker are Daniel Crowe, Dallas, Matt Cihocki and Jakob Ebner with Dickens (four interceptions last year), Starr, Moore and Tate at defensive back. • Tiger tales: The Tigers will open the season at Riverdale Friday, looking to avenge last year’s 34-18 upset loss. ... Former PHS and Bureau Valley head coach Dave Moore has been added to the Tiger staff along with former Tiger standout Nate Norman (‘98).

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

| FOOTBALL KICKOFF 2018

16

2018 MASTER AREA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Keys: + Three Rivers Mississippi game ++ Three Rivers Rock game +++ Three Rivers crossover * Lincoln Trail game ** Northern Illinois Big 12 West game & Big Northern West game # Northwest Upstate Illini WEEK 1 Aug. 25 +++ Erie-Prophetstown at Bur. Valley +++ Orion at Hall +++ St. Bede at Fulton +++ Kewanee at Newman +++ Princeton at Riverdale +++ Monmouth-Roseville at Rockridge +++ Morrison at Sherrard Illini West at Ann/Wethersfield L-P at Morton Amboy-LaMoille at Milledgeville & North Boone at Mendota WEEK 2 Aug. 31 +++ Rockridge at Erie-Prophetstown +++ Riverdale at Kewanee +++ Fulton at Monmouth-Roseville

+++ Hall at Morrison +++ Sherrard at Orion +++ Newman at Princeton +++ Bureau Valley at St. Bede # EPC at Amboy-LaMoille & Mendota at Winnebago Ann/Wethersfield at Farmington L-P at Limestone WEEK 3 Sept. 7 + Princeton at Hall + Erie-Prophetstown at Mon-Roseville + St. Bede at Sherrard ++ Bureau Valley at Fulton ++ Orion at Newman ++ Rockridge at Riverdale +++ Kewanee at Morrison * Mon. United at Ann/Wethersfield # Amboy-LaMoille at West Carroll & Mendota at Rockford Lutheran East Moline at L-P WEEK 4 Sept. 14 + Hall at Kewanee + Sherrard at Princeton

• SCOUTING Continued from Page 3 LaSalle-Peru (4-5, 1-3): The Cavs seek their first playoff appearance under fourth-year coach Jose Medina and first since 2009. The Cavs return just three starters on offense

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+ Erie-Prophetstown at St. Bede ++ Riverdale at Orion ++ Newman at Morrison ++ Fulton at Rockridge +++ Bureau Valley at Mon-Roseville * Ann/Wethersfield at Mercer County ** Ottawa at L-P # Amboy-LaMoille at Pecatonica & Genoa-Kingston at Mendota WEEK 5 Sept. 21 + Kewanee at Erie-Prophetstown + St. Bede at Hall + Monmouth-Roseville at Sherrard ++ Morrison at Fulton ++ Bureau Valley at Riverdale ++ Newman at Rockridge +++ Orion at Princeton * Ann/Wethersfield at Princeville ** Rochelle at L-P # East Dubuque at Amboy-LaMoille & Dixon at Mendota WEEK 6 Sept. 28 + Princeton at Erie-Prophetstown

and three on defense.

Mendota (1-8, 1-7): The Trojans are under new direction with firstyear coach Keegan Hill, who comes to Mendota with football coaching experience at a variety of schools and levels. His most recent stop was as an assistant coach at Belvidere High School. He is a 2003 graduate of

+ Sherrard at Kewanee + Hall at Monmouth-Roseville ++ Newman at Bureau Valley ++ Riverdale at Morrison ++ Fulton at Orion * Ridgewood at Ann/Wethersfield ** L-P at Geneseo # Lena-Winslow at Amboy-LaMoille & Mendota at Byron Sept. 29 +++ Rockridge at St. Bede, 2 p.m.

WEEK 7 Oct. 5 + Princeton at Kewanee + Erie-Prophetstown at Sherrard + Monmouth-Roseville at St. Bede, ++ Bureau Valley at Rockridge ++ Orion at Morrison ++ Riverdale vs. Fulton (at Clinton, Iowa) +++ Hall at Newman * ROWVA at Ann/Wethersfield # Amboy-LaMoille at Dakota & Mendota at Stillman Valley DeKalb at L-P

Winnebago High School.

Hill, who said he likes to play a fast, physical and fun brand of football in all three phases of the game (offense, defense, special teams), inherits a program that won only three games in the past three seasons. Hill uses three words to describe getting the Trojan program

WEEK 8 Oct. 12 + Erie-Prophetstown at Hall + Monmouth-Roseville at Princeton + Kewanee at St. Bede ++ Bureau Valley at Orion ++ Fulton at Newman ++ Morrison at Rockridge +++ Sherrard at Riverdale * West Central at Ann/Wethersfield ** L-P at Sterling # Amboy-LaMoille at Galena & Rock Falls at Mendota WEEK 9 Oct. 19 + Sherrard at Hall + Monmouth-Roseville at Kewanee + St. Bede at Princeton ++ Morrison at Bureau Valley ++ Riverdale at Newman ++ Rockridge at Orion +++ Fulton at Erie-Prophetstown * Ann/Wethersfield at Stark County # Forreston at Amboy-LaMoille & Mendota at Oregon L-P at Morris

back to a winning one – culture, players, scheme.

Hill succeeds Brock Sondgeroth, who resigned after six years.

The Trojans are members of the Big Northern, having gone 9-27 since joining the league in 2013, 3-20 over the past three seasons.

— Kevin Hieronymus

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