6 Thursday, September 1, <strong>2011</strong> <strong>2011</strong> Football <strong>Preview</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Hutchinson</strong> <strong>News</strong> After 6-3 year, Nickerson seniors ready to follow suit BY GENE SCHINZEL <strong>The</strong> <strong>Hutchinson</strong> <strong>News</strong> gschinzel@hutchnews.com NICKERSON – This year’s Nickerson High senior class wants to take a page from last year’s class. Last year’s seniors spoke at length about the importance of leadership – and it was their responsibility to provide it. <strong>The</strong> results spoke for themselves. After winning two games the previous two years, Nickerson was one of the pleasant surprises in the area last season, winning six of its first seven games. Nickerson’s goal of reaching the Class 4A state playoffs fell short when it lost to Pratt and Buhler in district play. “<strong>The</strong>re were some leaders out there. I want to follow in their steps,” said Quinton New coach, more roster numbers bring optimism to Wildcats BY PAT SANGIMINO <strong>The</strong> <strong>Hutchinson</strong> <strong>News</strong> psangimino@hutchnews.com It appears Haven is in the midst of yet another transition, that the revolving door of coaches continues to spin. And truth be known, the Wildcats do have a new head coach in Mike Self, the program’s defensive coordinator under Shane Seeley, who vacated his position late last spring to accept a job as an administrator at Derby. Ordinarily, that would indicate doom for a program that has lost 53 of its last 55 games and won one game last season – a Week 2 victory over Belle Plaine that snapped a 17-game losing streak. Self doesn’t buy into the notion that the sky is falling – again. <strong>The</strong> Wildcats have hit bottom Crandall, a member of this year’s senior class. “I feel like we don’t want to let down the seniors from last year.” That’s something near the top of Nickerson coach Max Heinlein’s wish list as well. “I hope the seniors’ expectations that they set last year carry over,” Heinlein said. “I’ve seen good intensity from them so far, and I think that’s a carryover from last year.” Nickerson won’t have as many seniors on its roster this season – the Panthers have seven in <strong>2011</strong> compared to nine last year – but many of those seniors have starting experience. Crandall and Justin Engelland both started in the secondary and each intercepted six passes last season. Hunter Thiessen was and he believes things can only go in one direction. “We’re getting better,” Self said. “We have to get better. We know that.” <strong>The</strong> numbers indicate things are on the rise. Haven has nearly 50 players out for football this year – an increase of about 25 percent from the previous season. It’s a numbers game. <strong>The</strong> programs that fare best are the ones able to get the most members of its student body into uniform. Sprinkle in some good football players and the Wildcats have the opportunity to pull off a couple of surprises this year. Junior running back Trae Regier, at 5-foot-8, 165 pounds, is expected to be the playmaker in Haven’s spread offense. He made plays in all phases of the game. He was the leading rusher, made big an all-league linebacker, while Lupe Ramirez and Taylor Goldsberry started on the line. Bailey Zulkoski also returns at linebacker. <strong>The</strong> Panthers also have a good group of juniors, including last year’s leading rusher, Isaac Warman. Warman finished with 751 yards and 11 touchdowns for the run-oriented Panthers. “In past years where we were relying on freshmen and sophomores, now we’re relying on juniors and seniors,” Heinlein said. “We have juniors and seniors with lots of varsity experience.” Junior Sean Rodriguez also will get his share of carries, while Ryan O’Toole could step in at quarterback. Last year’s quarterback, Brandon Owen, See PANTHERS / 28 plays in the passing game and peeled off a few long kick returns. “He’s a very explosive player,” Self says. “He’s one of those kids who you look at his stature and it’s very misleading. If he gets out in space, he can make anything happen against any team.” Regier was Haven’s leading rusher last year and also caught 30 passes for more than 500 yards and six touchdowns. <strong>The</strong> biggest void the Wildcats need to fill is in replacing the graduated Ridge Foster at quarterback. Senior Dylan Miller is poised to take over. While he hasn’t taken many snaps at the varsity level, Self says that Miller is up for the challenge. “He is everything you want in a quarterback,” Self says. “He is inspirational. He has a solid work ethic and he is a leader.” Lindsey Bauman/<strong>The</strong> <strong>Hutchinson</strong> <strong>News</strong> Nickerson’s Isaac Warman gains yards while Pratt’s Payson Maydew tries to tackle him last season. Warman rushed for a team-best 751 yards last season as a sophomore. Haven has a strong junior class, according to its coach. In addition, the team speed appears to be improved this year. “We’ll have strength in our overall speed and quickness as a team,” Self says. “Perhaps our greatest attribute as a team, however, is our resolve. This team has had to overcome many obstacles and hardships. It has left us with a strong appreciation for each other and a work ethic that has served us well.” <strong>The</strong> Wildcats will have to overcome a lack of practical game experience, but that will come with time, Self says. Youngsters Zach Henderson, Eric Shive, Dalton Arbuckle, Cody Crabtree, Austin Fritzmeier, Cole Long and Tyler Skomal figure to get touches at some point in an offense that will look to spread the defense and take advantage of mismatches. <strong>The</strong> offensive line will be anchored by returning starters Austin Eikleberry and Caden Ford. Junior Taylor Carlson will play one of the tackle positions. Defensively, the Wildcats have to be better than they were last year when they allowed opponents to score more than 44 points in six of their nine games. Hesston scored 86 points against Haven last year, while the Wildcats were outscored in their three sub-state district games by a combined score of 181-20. “Stopping the run with an aggressive style of play will always be our first goal,” Self said. Senior linebacker T.J. Jacques, who was in on 79 tackles last year, will be the cornerstone of the defense, while Justin Weve, Isaac Ensz and Cyris Raigoza will anchor the defensive line.
<strong>2011</strong> Football <strong>Preview</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Hutchinson</strong> <strong>News</strong> Thursday, September 1, <strong>2011</strong> 7
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