Team: Bancroft-Rosalie-Lyons-Decatur
Mascot: Wolverines
Colors: Blue and Gold
Class: C-2
Head Coach: Dan Maresh
2015 record: N/A
Returning Starters: 6/6 offense 7/6 defense
Overview:
The new co-op between Bancroft-Rosalie and Lyons-Decatur Northeast, known as the BRLD Wolverines, will look to be super competitive in their first season as a team.
Head Coach Dan Maresh brings back and inherits 12 returning starters on offense and 13 on defense.
The returners include Jacob Cole (5’9 240lb, G/DT, Sr, BR) (Montana Riecken 5’9, 160lb, QB/FS, Sr, LDNE), Cole Christoffersen (6’4 270lb, C/NG, Sr, LDNE), Jon Christiansen 6’ 165lb, WR/WS, Sr, LDNE), Tyler Hardeman (6’ 240lb T/DE, Sr, LDNE), Jacob Zuhlke (5’9, 180lb, RB/LB, Jr, BR) Trent Gatewood (5’10, 170lb, WR/C, Jr, BR), Jacob Whitaker (5’9, 135lb, WR/SS, Sr, LDNE), Nick Ronnfedlt (6’ 210lb, T/DE, Soph, LDNE), Dustin Burgett (5’10, 215lb, G/DE, Soph, LDNE), Tyler Kroger (6’2, 225lb, WR/LB, Jr, LDNE), Bren Shatto (5’8 150lb, LB/G, Sr, LDNE), Devon Darnell (5’8, 140lb, WR/SS, Soph, BR), Tanner Bonneau (5’9, 145lb, WR/C, Sr, BR), and Kenyan Lovejoy (6’ 185lb, WR/DE, Jr, BR).
Another player likely to see the field is Senior running back Benny Estrada.
Maresh feels there are a few newcomers who could make an impact, and they are Will Gatzemeyer (5’8, 140lb, QB/C, Fresh, BR), Jaxon Johnson (6’2, 185lb, WR/LB, Fresh, BR), and Seth Totten (6’ 235lb, G/DT, Soph, LDNE).
Depth appears to be a real strength for BRLD, and that should allow the Wolverines to have a shot to be in most if not all of the games they play this year.
Maresh says players getting along hasn't been a problem. "There has been great leadership from the seniors to try and bring the two groups together. They have done an impressive job working together in the weight room in the off-season and building team chemistry."
These players are already familiar with about half of their teammates, and perhaps even more depending on what they know about other players from the other school.
That should help BRLD in their transition from 8-man to 11-man, in my opinion. Maresh says it won't take much for the offensive and defensive lines to adapt, but the skill position players will have a learning curve. "We have a big challenge ahead of us not only to switch to the 11-man game but also jumping up 2 classes. The least amount of change for us will be in the trenches. We are going to have to lean on our offensive and defensive lines while the skill players adapt to the new game. "
There certainly won't be a lot of time for the Wolverines to adjust to 11-man if they hope to be good this year. Maresh says his team will need to figure things out fast. "Returning experience from both schools and have to quickly learn how to compete at a higher class. The transition to 11 man will be a steep learning curve and we need to learn from early setbacks to have an exciting year."
I think it will be important for BRLD to establish a physical style of football at the line of scrimmage, and stop the run as well as run the ball.
The Wolverines must have diversity on offense, but be a tough, physical football team.
Given the history of Bancroft-Rosalie and Lyons-Decatur Northeast Football, you would think the Wolverines have a chance to make some noise in 11-man this year.
Time will tell just how good this team can be, but if BRLD can continue to learn from mistakes and improve each game, they should give themselves a chance to have a winning season and perhaps be in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Season Outlook:
BRLD is hoping their first season is as successful, if not more successful, than how Lyons-Decatur Northeast fared last year, and how Bancroft-Rosalie fared prior to last season.
Maresh says the Wolverines will rely on their veterans to help them compete and win games. "Effort and strong leadership from the upperclassmen that have a lot of experience."
Maresh explains what past history of the two schools means for this year's team. "Gives us something to build on and hopefully play with a chip on our shoulder."
BRLD will need to play well early on as they will be tested by Hartington Cedar Catholic and Crofton to start the season.
The Wolverines then have back-to-back road games at Ponca and Omaha Brownell-Talbot, which could be tougher than expected since they're both on the road.
BRLD then returns home for a tough game with defending Class C-2 runner-up Oakland-Craig. The Wolverines should be really psyched for that game though.
BRLD then has very winnable games at Tekamah-Herman and at home against Wisner-Pilger.
A road game at perennial power Fremont Bergan and a home game against Logan View to end the regular season could make or break the Wolverines in 2016.
BRLD is in a pretty tough district with Oakland-Craig and Bergan the two heavyweights in District C2-3.
It's not going to be easy for the Wolverines to compete in their first year, I don't think there's any doubt about that, but if BRLD can win the games they're supposed to, and pull an upset or two, that could be good enough for a playoff spot, or at the very least, a winning season.
The first two games of the season are the two most critical for the Wolverines, in my opinion. Both teams will provide good measuring sticks for BRLD to see where they are at.
Both Hartington Cedar Catholic and Crofton are proven winners, and at the very least I expect the Wolverines to learn a lot from both those games, win or lose.
With that said, it should be a fun and exciting year for fans of both schools who will now be cheering for one team.
Projected Starters:
Jacob Cole 5’9 240lb, G/DT, Sr, BR
Montana Riecken 5’9, 160lb, QB/FS, Sr, LDNE
Cole Christoffersen 6’4 270lb, C/NG, Sr, LDNE
Jon Christiansen 6’ 165lb, WR/WS, Sr, LDNE
Tyler Hardeman 6’ 240lb T/DE, Sr, LDNE
Jacob Zuhlke 5’9, 180lb, RB/LB, Jr, BR
Trent Gatewood 5’10, 170lb, WR/C, Jr, BR
Jacob Whitaker 5’9, 135lb, WR/SS, Sr, LDNE
Nick Ronnfedlt 6’ 210lb, T/DE, Soph, LDNE
Dustin Burgett 5’10, 215lb, G/DE, Soph, LDNE
Tyler Kroger 6’2, 225lb, WR/LB, Jr, LDNE
Bren Shatto 5’8 150lb, LB/G, Sr, LDNE
Tanner Bonneau 5’9, 145lb, WR/C, Sr, BR
2016 Bancroft-Rosalie-Lyons-Decatur Wolverines Football Schedule:
08/26/16 Hartington Cedar Catholic
09/02/16 Crofton
09/09/16 @ Ponca
09/16/16 @ Omaha Brownell-Talbot
09/23/16 Oakland-Craig
09/30/16 @ Tekamah-Herman
10/07/16 Wisner-Pilger
10/14/16 @ Archbishop Bergan
10/21/16 Logan View
No comments:
Post a Comment