Team: Bancroft-Rosalie-Lyons-Decatur
Mascot: Wolverines
Colors: Blue and Gold
Class: C-2
Head Coach: Dan Maresh
2016 record: 3-6
Returning Starters: 7 offense 6 defense
Overview:
The BRLD Football team returns 7 starters on offense and 6 on defense from last year's 3-6 team. Head Coach Dan Maresh says among the returners are a few offensive linemen and a skill position player. "We'll be returning our running back. He'll be a key piece in our offense this year as he had 800 yards last year. Especially early on in the season we'll be handing the ball to him to get everybody else settled down. We return a few linemen that definitely got a lot of playing time last year. And we'll reshuffle them around at positions, but we expect them to pick up right where they left off and be a strength there in the interior."
The running back is Jacob Zuhlke (5'9, 180 SR) while the linemen are juniors Nick Ronnfeldt (6'2, 220), Dustin Burgett (5'10, 220), and senior Tyler Kroger (6'2, 230).
Junior Seth Totten (6'1, 250) is another potential starter for the Wolverines while sophomore Will Gatzemeyer (5'10, 150) will start at Quarterback.
Koby Lyons (5'10, 180) is also expected to contribute in the offensive backfield at running back for BRLD.
Senior Trent Gatewood (5'10, 170), and Sophomores Jaxon Johnson (6'4, 200) and Darwin Snyder (5'8, 130) help make up the receiving corps.
The Wolverines lost some good players like Cole Christoffersen and others, but I look for BRLD to be good and competitive this season.
The Wolverines were competitive in every game they played in last year, and didn't really get blown out by anyone.
Sure they lost by double digits to Hartington Cedar Catholic and Crofton, but last time I checked those two teams are among the best in the state in C-2.
So I'd say BRLD held their own last season, and has a chance to do even better things this year. The Wolverines don't have an easy path there's no denying that, but I look for BRLD to be a hard nosed, physical football team this year that gives everyone on their schedule their best shot.
The Wolverines lost a tough game to Logan View to end last season, but BRLD will get their shot at redemption this year.
I would say losing that game had to be disappointing, but it's last year and in the past, and all the Wolverines can do now is move forward and prepare for this season.
Season Outlook:
BRLD opens up the season on Friday at Hartington Cedar Catholic. Maresh says the Trojans along with the next two teams the Wolverines play after that are powerhouses. "Yeah we start off with a real tough schedule there. Especially Hartington CC, they'll have a lot of kids out for football, and ready to compete and uphold that tradition that they've been building for years. And then Crofton...they know how to win and they know how to play tough physical football, so that'll be another challenge right afterwards. And then we go to a very athletic Ponca that comes to Bancroft. So we're going to find out a lot about our young kids real early."
The Wolverines lost to all three teams in the first year of the co-op last season.
I wouldn't expect BRLD to knock off the Trojans or Warriors, but I think the Wolverines can beat the Indians, especially with the game being in Bancroft.
BRLD only lost 43-36 to Ponca last year, and I think the Wolverines can find a way to beat the Indians this time around.
That would be a huge win for BRLD, but first things first, the Wolverines have to worry about and focus on Hartington Cedar Catholic.
You can bet the Trojans will be locked and loaded and ready to go Friday night. BRLD will be breaking in some new players, but a lot return so I expect the Wolverines to hold their own and compete.
BRLD is in District C2-3 with Logan View, Oakland-Craig, Fremont Bergan, Tekamah-Herman, and Wisner-Pilger.
I think the District will come down to Oakland-Craig and Bergan, but I would say the Wolverines are equal to Logan View in that they are either the 3rd or 4th best team in the District.
Bob Jensen of the Huskerland Prep Report says BRLD should have a strong run game this season. "They have a lot of people back. It's a team that's got some size in the line. It's a team that's got a chance to be able to move the ball on the ground."
Jensen projects the Wolverines to win 4 or 5 games this year.
BRLD might be a couple of years away from making the playoffs or winning a district title, so I look for the Wolverines to take some steps this year and win 4 or 5 games, just like Huskerland Bob projects.
I would say either 4-5 or 5-4 is likely for BRLD.
The Wolverines are good and talented, just not elite yet, in my opinion.
BRLD has good size and speed though, something you definitely need in Class C-2 Football.
I look for the Wolverines to compete with everyone on their schedule again, and perhaps surprise a team or two and upset them.
It wouldn't surprise me to see BRLD upset one or two of the powers on their schedule.
With that said, the Wolverines have to beat the teams they're supposed to and keep fighting and grinding throughout the season in order to be good.
2017 BRLD Wolverines Football Schedule:
08/25/17 @ Hartington Cedar Catholic
09/01/17 @ Crofton
09/08/17 Ponca
09/15/17 Omaha Brownell Talbot
09/22/17 @ Oakland-Craig
09/29/17 Tekamah-Herman
10/06/17 @ Wisner-Pilger
10/13/17 Archbishop Bergan
10/20/17 @ Logan View
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