Team: Emerson-Hubbard
Mascot: Pirates
Colors: Purple and Gold
Class: D-2
Head Coach: Ken Swanson (8th season) (28-33 record)
2016 record: 4-5 (lost to Humphrey St. Francis in first round of playoffs)
Returning Starters: 5 offense 6 defense
Overview:
Emerson-Hubbard looks for another successful season in 2017 after making the playoffs for the 4th straight year a season ago.
Back for the Pirates on offense and defense are Blake Eriksen (230, SR RB/LB), Josh Sebade (175, SR TE/LB), Jacob Kneifl (215, JR TE/DL), and Connar Newton (180, JR TE/DL),
Keaton Wriedt (200, SR OL/DL) is a returning starter on offense while Nolan Ostrand (150, JR RB/LB) and Spencer Burcham (150, JR RB/DB) are returning starters on defense.
Head Coach Ken Swanson says his team is almost set except for at QB and one of the RB spots. "We have some very talented and experience players returning at several positions, however we must replace our QB and one of our RBs this season on offense. Defensively, we return 6 players including all of our LBs who should be the strength of our defense."
Swanson says Sebade is a very versatile player. "Josh is a two time All-Distrct LB in both his Sophomore and Junior seasons. In both of those seasons he lead our team in tackling. As a junior, Josh recorded 79 solo, 28 assists and 107 total tackles. He had 2 sacks, 4 TFL, and 1 INT. As a sophomore, Josh recorded 60 solo, 32 assists and 92 total tackles. On offense, Josh played at Guard and TE and was mostly used as a blocker. Josh's role could expand as we could easily play him at any position on the field."
Sebade's versatility should no doubt make Emerson-Hubbard a force to be reckoned with this season.
Swanson adds Erisken is a good hard nosed player. "Blake was an All-District LB last season in his junior season. He recorded 39 solo, 13 assists, and 52 total tackles. On offense Blake rushed for 325 yads on 56 carries averaging 5.8 yards a carry from his FB position. Blake is a strong and physical kid who plays with an aggressive mentality."
Eriksen will no doubt bring some toughness and physicality to the Pirates' attack.
Swanson says Kneifl is another valuable member of the team. "As a sophomore, Jacob was the leading receiver on our team with 11 catches for 178 yards and 2 TDs. We were not a team that threw the ball very often but when we did Jacob was a main target. Jacob also started at DE where he recorded 34 solo, 15 assists and 49 total tackles and 2 sacks. Not bad for a defensive end. Going into the coming season we anticipate that Jacob will be a major part of the success of our team."
These three players ought to to be big contributors for Emerson-Hubbard this season.
Season Outlook:
Emerson-Hubbard is looking to reach the playoffs for the 5th straight year, and that's something that is very attainable and possible for the Pirates, in my opinion.
Emerson-Hubbard opens the season with winnable games against Hartington-Newcastle and Scribner-Snyder.
A September 15th home date with Humphrey St. Francis figures to be very tough, but the Pirates should be able to win the next two weeks against Wausa and Winside.
Wynot and Randolph are always tough, and Allen might be tough like they were last year.
So I look for Emerson-Hubbard to go 5-3 or 4-4, but perhaps 6-2 if they can beat someone like Randolph and take care of business against the non juggernauts on their schedule.
The Pirates are in District D2-4 with Allen, Randolph, Wausa, Winside, and Wynot.
Emerson-Hubbard has a lot of experience and veteran leadership back, and that should help out their cause tremendously.
I think the Pirates will be a very tough, hard nosed team this season, and will give everyone their best shot week in and week out.
Like any team, Emerson-Hubbard has to limit turnovers, penalties, and must avoid injuries.
The Pirates also have to catch breaks and create turnovers and good field position for themselves.
The opportunity for a very solid campaign is there for Emerson-Hubbard....the Pirates just have to play up to their potential and fight hard all season long.
Emerson-Hubbard's first game isn't until September 1st so the Pirates will no doubt benefit from some extra practice time before their first game.
We'll see how things shake out, but I fully expect Emerson-Hubbard to be playing in the postseason come the end of October.
The Pirates host Hartington-Newcastle on Friday, September 1st to begin the year.
2017 Emerson-Hubbard Pirates Football Schedule:
09/01/17 Hartington-Newcastle
09/08/17 @ Scribner-Snyder
09/15/17 Humphrey St. Francis
09/22/17 Wausa
09/29/17 @ Winside
10/06/17 @ Wynot
10/13/17 Allen
10/20/17 @ Randolph
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