Team: Clarkson/Leigh
Mascot: Patriots
Colors: Red, Blue, Gray
Class: D-1
Head Coach: Jim Clarkson (18th season) (85-82 career record)
2016 record: 3-6 (lost to Nebraska City Lourdes in first round of playoffs)
Returning Starters: 5
Overview:
The Clarkson/Leigh Football team is coming off a 3-6 season in which they made the playoffs. Head Coach Jim Clarkson says his team is experienced and fast, but not very big. "We did get a lot of experience this last year so I think we have I think about 5 starters, I think about on each side of the ball, 5-6 kids that at least played quite a bit. So yeah a little bit thinner...our offensive line will be a little smaller than we're used to, but we have some good speed, and we really got a good group of guys so hopefully we'll be able to compete."
The Patriots are also low on numbers this year, and have to replace Bradley Bunner, who was lost to graduation.
Clarkson/Leigh did sustain an injury during summer camp. Jacob Gall (5-10, 185 SR) the starting RB and LB will miss the start of the season, torn meniscus,, and Clarkson is hopeful the Patriots can get him back after the Bye. QB - Anthony Bruhn, started or rotated last year, moved to QB after Bunner injury last year. Has become a good runner and a very nice passer, according to Clarkson.
RB - Tommy McEvoy, Hector Mendoza (5'7, 135), Isaac Wiese (5'9, 145) - With the Gall injury the Freshmen McEvoy will probably be the feature back, Hector and Isaac are both explosive and get their share of carries.
TE - Haden Held (5'10, 175) is a returning starter solid player who has really made himself better in the weight room. Good hands but a solid blocker. Tim Zimmerman (6'0, 180) will see snaps at other TE when in double tight, Tim spent the summer in the National Guard, a physical kid.
OL- the O-Line is not 100% set as far who will play where but it looks like Cort Pokorney (5'11, 170) will play center, a little smaller than Clarkson/Leigh is used to but a smart kid who plays with heart. Alex Machmueller (6'2, 310) is the Patriots' big guy and he will probably play at one of the Guard spots, he did start at Center last year. John Langhorst (5'9, 185) - will be a first time starter at the other guard spot. Zimmerman may play some guard as well.
Defense - DL - Machmueller, Langhorst, Zimmerman, will be our main guys up front and we move them around a bit. If we want to get quicker we will put in Travis Stanley who is a scrappy kid who has really improved himself in off season workouts. He play numerous positions and will be our "quick" NG. LB - Pokorney will step in for Gall, and Gall will be missed while out a very good LB, Held started last year and is a very nice run stopping linebacker may play some DE against a spread team.
None of the guys are true three year starters, but Clarkson/Leigh does return pretty good experience from last year. The loss of Bunner will be impossible to replace, but Freshmen Tommy McEvoy looks the part coming in and Clarkson is expecting big things from the young guy.
Clarkson/Leigh begins the season on Friday, August 25th with a home game against Pender. Clarkson says the game figures to be a toss up and dog fight. "Yeah we really think it's a pretty even fight it looks like on paper. We actually saw them at summer camp this year. Just from our knowledge of them and we're very similar type teams. They got a little bit better size than us, but yeah I think it's a very important game for us, and probably for them as well. So I expect to have a donnybrook right there to open the season, and our kids are excited for that first game."
The Patriots won last year's game 58-50.
Season Outlook:
Clarkson/Leigh is seeking their 6th consecutive playoff appearance. Clarkson says the road won't be easy given who's in his team's district. "Our District is very solid. I know Neligh-Oakdale lost a lot of guys, but they're very well coached, and Coach Beacom really has a really unique system up there, and they do a very good job. And of course then there's Howells-Dodge, they're our rivals to the East of us here. They look pretty loaded. We're in for a rough go, but again our guys aren't going to back down from the fight, and we'll coach them up, and hopefully we'll be able to maybe sneak out a win or two, and maybe we can get a chance at the playoffs. But we got to win some of those games...some of those coin toss games. Like the Pender game for example. Those are going to be very important if we want to have any shot at seeing the postseason."
Clarkson/Leigh is in District D1-4 with Howells-Dodge, Neligh-Oakdale, Elgin Public/Pope John, and Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family.
The Patriots ended last season with a 52-8 loss at Nebraska City Lourdes in the first round of the playoffs.
Making the playoffs again will certainly be a difficult task. GACC, East Butler, and Howells-Dodge figure to be the toughest games on the schedule with Neligh-Oakdale, Pender, and Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family being the toss up games, in my opinion.
The Patriots probably would of had a better finish to last season had Bunner not gotten hurt. With that said, last season just goes to show a team can't rely on one player to do everything.
So I expect more players to step up individually for Clarkson/Leigh, and make a big impact this season.
Injuries are something the Patriots can absolutely not afford any more of though. I think Clarkson/Leigh has a good shot to make the playoffs again if they remain healthy.
Bob Jensen of the Huskerland Prep Report says he expects Clarkson/Leigh to have a Clarkson/Leigh type year. "They're going to be the kind of team that isn't going to back down from anybody. They're going to be a competitive team. Win somewhere in the middle...something like around 3, 4, 5...I could see that happening. I certainly would think that's a program that's going to make the playoffs."
I think Clarkson/Leigh could go 2-6 or 5-3. It really depends on how well the Patriots do in their toss up games.
Clarkson/Leigh has to take care of the ball, limit penalties, force turnovers, and win the field position battle to have a good season this year, in my opinion.
I think it will most likely be a typical 4-4 or 3-5 regular season for the Patriots as long as they stay healthy.
I'm sure it would be a big accomplishment to make the playoffs for the 6th year in a row.
2017 Clarkson/Leigh Patriots Football Schedule:
08/25/17 Pender
09/01/17 @ Guardian Angels Central Catholic
09/15/17 @ Omaha Nation
09/22/17 East Butler
09/29/17 @ Neligh-Oakdale
10/06/17 Elgin Public/Pope John
10/13/17 @ Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
10/20/17 Howells-Dodge
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