Big junior class propels Wolverines

The MACCRAY football team’s defense wraps up a runner with some gang tackling during the 2021 season.

MACCRAY gained experience after going 1-8, but will need a new quarterback

BY MICHAEL LYNE | West Central Tribune

MAYNARD — After a one-win campaign in ‘21, the Wolverines will be led by a new quarterback for the first time since 2018 as four-year starter Isaac Strommer graduated in the spring.

A junior standing at 6-foot-2, Michael Thein will quarterback MACCRAY’s offense. He will hand the ball off to the team’s offensive MVP, junior running back Sebi Cisneros, who had 286 rushing yards in ‘21.

Despite losing wide receiver/defensive backs Gavin Husman and Brooks Asche, Thein will still have a five-man receiving corps led by junior wide receiver Isaac Post. Post had 326 yards and six touchdowns on 34 catches in ‘21.

“We will be more balanced in our offensive attack this year, with the most returning starters coming on the offensive line,” MACCRAY head coach Cole Christopher said. “(Thein, Cisneros and Post) will make for a great threeheaded monster for our offense.”

The Wolverines’ top three tacklers from ‘21 — senior Austin Sweep and juniors Brady Heiling and Sawyer Janssen — return. Post also is a returnee on the defensive side.

Sweep led MACCRAY with 92 tackles, adding two fumble recoveries. Heiling trailed with 88 tackles, tallying two sacks and one fumble recovery. Janssen had 28 tackles and one fumble recovery. Post posted 23 tackles and three interceptions.

“Our defense will be small in size, but they’ll be the best tackling group out of MACCRAY in over the last five years,” Christopher said. “Our linebacker group, led by Sweep, should be the strongest unit of our defense.”

MACCRAY opens up its ‘22 season at 7 p.m. Sept. 1 at Murray County Central.

“Last season, though 1-8, we made big strides considering we only had two juniors on the team and 11 sophomores that gained varsity experience,” Christopher said. “We should get contributions from all 15 juniors that are playing this season.”