Lyons-Decatur Northeast looking for improvement in 2015

Team: Lyons-Decatur Northeast

Mascot: Cougars

Colors: Maroon, Gold, and White

Class: D-2

Head Coach: Dan Maresh (6th season)

2014 record: 2-6

Returning Starters: 5 offense 5 defense


Overview:

The Lyons-Decatur Northeast Cougars have to like their chances of being an improved team in 2015 given who they have coming back and playing this season.

Junior Montana Riecken (5'7, 135) is expected to take the reins at quarterback while senior Marcus Hegy (5'10, 185) will be the team's starting running back. Riecken rushed for 227 yards and hauled in 10 passes for 223 yards last season.

Junior John Christiansen (6'0, 165) returns at wide receiver after bringing in 10 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns a season ago. Christiansen also figures to see some time in the offensive backfield as he ran for 353 yards last year.

Lyons-Decatur Northeast also returns junior Jacob Whitaker (5'7, 120) at wideout and senior Jayden Vetick (5'10, 150) at tight end. Whitaker had 7 catches last season, and Vetick had 8 catches for 112 yards and a touchdown.

The offensive line will be made up of juniors Tyler Hardeman (5'10, 195), Brent Shatto (5'7, 145), and Cole Christoffersen (6'3, 230).

Riecken (43 tackles), Christiansen (32 tackles), and Whitaker will make up the secondary while Shatto (30 tackles) and Hegy will patrol things at linebacker.

The defensive line will be led by Hardeman (67 tackles, 2 sacks), Vetick (43 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 FR), and Christoffersen (21 tackles).

The Cougars are still a fairly young team even though they bring back quite a bit. Lyons-Decatur Northeast is junior laden though so expect these juniors to step up and play well as they are now upperclassmen.

I think the Cougars have a chance to surprise a few people this year, turn some heads, and make the playoffs.

Lyons-Decatur Northeast appears to be solid at all positions, and that should be to their benefit this season.

The Cougars aren't the biggest team so they will have to rely on skill, speed and technique. Lyons-Decatur Northeast is going to have to outwork their opponents to win games this season.

The Cougars can't afford to turn the ball over a whole lot this season. There's really not a whole lot of room for error with this team. Lyons-Decatur Northeast definitely has to win the turnover battle every game.

I think a 3-5 or a 4-4 record is likely for the Cougars this season.


Season Outlook:

The Lyons-Decatur Northeast Cougars must work on becoming a more consistent football team if they want to win games this year.

Lyons-Decatur Northeast played well in their two wins last year, but didn't play as well against teams like Winside and Osmond.

No offense to either of those teams, but the Cougars should have done better than they did in those games.

Of course you can't dwell on the past so all Lyons-Decatur Northeast can do now is focus on the present.

The Cougars have difficult games with Humphrey St. Francis, Bancroft-Rosalie, Emerson-Hubbard, and Wynot.

You definitely can't count out Lyons-Decatur Northeast in any of those games as the Cougars knocked off the Panthers last year, but none of those games will be easy.

Perhaps Lyons-Decatur Northeast can overachieve and go 5-3 or 6-2, but as I said above I think 3-5 or 4-4 is likely.

All of the Cougars' road opponents were .500 or better last year, and Humphrey St. Francis and Emerson-Hubbard each had winning records last season. The good news is Lyons-Decatur Northeast gets those two teams at home.

I look for the Cougars to be middle of the pack when it comes to District D2-1. Wynot and Bancroft-Rosalie are probably the favorites to win it, but again Lyons-Decatur Northeast could surprise me and others and win the district. They are definitely capable of doing it, and can beat any of the teams in the district.

We saw what the Cougars are capable of when they beat Bancroft-Rosalie last year, but they really struggled after that win. For Lyons-Decatur Northeast, it's a matter of being consistent for an entire season. The season is about more than just one game. The Cougars have to bring the same effort week in and week out.

I look for Lyons-Decatur Northeast to be improved as last year's sophomores are now juniors. The Cougars' players have had a chance to grow as players and young men over the last year, and it should translate into more wins this season.

I definitely think you could see Lyons-Decatur Northeast in the playoffs in 2015.


2015 Lyons-Decatur Northeast Cougars Football Schedule:

08/28/15	@ Parkview Christian	D2
09/04/15	Humphrey St. Francis	D2
09/11/15	Osmond	D2
09/25/15	@ Bancroft-Rosalie	D2
10/02/15	@ Allen	D2
10/09/15	Winside	D2
10/16/15	Emerson-Hubbard	D2
10/22/15	@ Wynot	D2