Football Tab1.qxd - The Hutchinson News

2009 Football Preview
6 Thursday, September 3, 2009 The Hutchinson News
Nickerson looks to rebound with young team
BY GENE SCHINZEL
The Hutchinson News
gschinzel@hutchnews.com
NICKERSON – Max Heinlein
had goals for his Nickerson
football team in the
offseason, and he likes what
the Panthers got accomplished.
He likes that his players
worked hard in the weight
room and that older players
are helping the young guys
along – the Panthers have
just five seniors on their
roster.
Now the Panthers look
for success on Friday nights
as they try to rebound from
a 1-8 season.
“We have more of a commitment
in the weight room
this year. They’re doing
what they can to make a difference
here,” Heinlein
said. “They know it’s a long
road, it’s not going to happen
overnight. They’re posi-
tive kids, they work hard.
That’s really all we can ask
of them right now.”
Nickerson, which won
four games during the 2007
season, returns the nucleus
of last season’s team as it
has seven starters back on
both sides of the ball.
Offensively, Nickerson returns
good experience and
size on the line and its entire
starting backfield.
The featured back in the
flex-bone offense will be
senior Weston Cottrell, who
has rushed for nearly 2,000
yards the past two years.
Cottrell had 930 yards as a
sophomore and gained 1,032
last season.
“The good thing for Weston
is that he’s complemented
with good wingbacks. We
can have three threats instead
of one,” Heinlein said.
Brandon Owen is back at
quarterback, while running
backs Hector Rodriguez and
Keelan Jackson also return
– all three are juniors. Jackson
missed most of last season
with a broken arm.
They’ll run behind a line
that includes returning
starters Ben Proffitt (6-0,
185), Antione Lehman (6-1,
260), Micah Smith (6-0, 240)
and Austin Schweizer (6-5,
305).
Heinlein said the Panthers
will average 230 or 240
pounds on the line.
“Our offensive line will
be stronger. This is the most
committed unit I’ve seen in
the offseason. As long as
they stay healthy, they’re going
to be a pretty good
group,” Heinlein said. “And
we have quickness on the
line. Overall, we’re excited
about our offense.”
Many of the starters on Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News
See NICKERSON / 8
Nickerson High School football coach Max Heinlein liked his team’s commitment in the weight room
during the offseason.
Seeley,Wildcats hungry for more victories
Patrick Traylor/The Hutchinson News
Haven High School football coach Shane Seeley talks with his team during practice last week.
BY VANCE JANAK
The Hutchinson News
vjanak@hutchnews.com
Shane Seeley is entering
his third year at Haven, but
has already been through a
lot with the Wildcats.
Seeley and the Wildcats
suffered through a winless
first season before ending a
30-game losing streak last
year in what turned out to
be the Wildcats’ lone victory
of the 2008 campaign.
As the Wildcats get set to
open the season Friday
night against Smoky Valley,
Seeley said this could be the
year Haven strings together
several wins.
“These guys are hungry
because they want to win
more than one game for
their high school career,”
Seeley said. “They want it
and they can taste it. I think
we have a good chance if we
can come out of the gates
pretty strong to build on
something.”
Seeley, who has a 1-17
record at Haven, said going
through those struggles
during the past two seasons
should turn into victories
in 2009 because of the continuity
and continued improvement
from both
players and coaches.
“The first year here, we
didn’t have any games
where we were competitive,”
Seeley said. “Last
year, we had five or six
games where we were competitive.”
Helping Haven be more
competitive this season are
14 returning lettermen and
eight seniors. One of them
is all-MCAA honorable
mention selection Ridge
Foster, a junior quarterback/defensive
back. Senior
running back/linebacker
Tyler Heim and senior linemen
Colby Harner, Heath
See HAVEN / 8