Team: Clarkson/Leigh
Mascot: Patriots
Colors: Red, Blue, Gray
Class: D-2
Head Coach: Jim Clarkson (19th season) (88-88 career record)
2017 record: 3-6 (lost to Howells-Dodge in first round of playoffs)
Returning Starters: 4 offense 5 defense
Overview:
The Clarkson/Leigh Patriots figure to be young, but talented this season.
The Patriots return 4 offensive and 5 defensive starters from last year's 3-6 playoff team.
The returners include seniors Cort Pokorny (6'1, 175 OL/LB), John Langhorst (5'10, 205 OL/DE), and Travis Stanley (5'7, 160 RB/DB), as well as junior Isaak Wiese (6'0, 150 RB/TE/DB), and Sophomore Tommy McEvoy (6'2, 185 RB/S).
Other returning letterwinners include junior Kobe Indra (5'10, 220 OL/DL), and sophomores Lance Paprocki (5'7, 130 QB/DB), Layne Krutz (5'10, 270 OL/DL), and Austin Sayers (5'11, 240 OL/DL).
Big losses from last year's team include Jacob Gall, Haden Held, and Anthony Bruhn.
Head Coach Jim Clarkson says the whole team went to the Hastings College Team Camp in mid-June and 7 or 8 kids to the individual South Dakota State camp, late in June. He adds the Patriots also played a little 5 on 5 league with Osceola-High Plains and Howells-Dodge.
The Patriots drop down from D-1 to D-2. "It probably couldn't of came at a better time. We are kind of the poster child school for that as far as our girls will be C-2 in Volleyball, and we'll be D-2 in Football. We don't have a lot of boys in the hallways right now," Clarkson said.
Clarkson says moving to D-2 should allow his team to be more competitive than if they were in D-1 with some teams in their same situation.
Bob Jensen of the Huskerland Prep Report expects the Patriots to do well this year. "Well they're going to be better. And that's just it. They have some experience coming back. And the thing is is that it's a program that's done its fair share of winning, and last year...had to maybe take a step back to take a step forward. But again playoffs the team always manages to find a way to be in the playoff conversation, and I would suspect again that to be the case."
Clarkson/Leigh has made the playoffs every year they've been Clarkson/Leigh, and I look for that to be the case this year as well.
The Patriots might lack leadership and experience, but what they lack in those areas they should make up for with young, raw talent.
I feel Clarkson/Leigh will only grow and develop as the season progresses, and play their best football at the end of the season.
I think the Patriots will win their fair share of games this year, and do enough to get in the playoffs.
I think this is a dangerous team that could spring an upset in the playoffs. I think Clarkson/Leigh will be that team people don't want to see once the postseason rolls around.
Season Outlook:
It figures to be another playoff season for the Clarkson/Leigh Patriots.
The Patriots get their season started on Friday, when they host Howells-Dodge.
Clarkson says there's a lot of excitement and anticipation surrounding the game. "It's a fun rival. It's the Bacon Bowl. So we have some game t-shirts made up for it. And a lot of excitement in both towns, both communities. So should be a fun game and we're looking forward to it, and getting after it. And hopefully we'll put a little better showing than last time on the field with them that's for sure."
The Patriots were shutout 46-0 by the Jaguars in the playoffs last year.
This will be the 3rd straight game for Clarkson/Leigh against Howells-Dodge dating back to last year.
Clarkson says a lack of depth and experience could hinder his team this season. "Should be an interesting year. We will be very young, so we having some growing pains early, but we have some good team chemistry and some hard working dudes that we hope will have a good year. Depth will be a major issue so it is imperative that we stay healthy. If we do stay healthy we could be competitive in our district."
The Patriots are in District D2-2 with Pender, Emerson-Hubbard, Mead, Cedar Bluffs, and Omaha Christian Academy.
I look for Clarkson/Leigh to have a good shot at winning the majority of those contests.
Mead is always tough, and Emerson-Hubbard figures to be solid, plus Pender could surprise some people as well.
I think being Class D-1 for so long is going to pay its dividends for the Patriots.
That won't be a factor when they play Pender and Howells-Dodge, but otherwise it figures to factor in.
Clarkson/Leigh needs someone to step up and be a leader.
The Patriots have a lot of youth on this team, but someone needs to step up and be vocal...be a voice on the field.
Perhaps that's something McEvoy could do.
I am willing to be he is a candidate to be a team leader.
It should be a fun season and a good game against the Jaguars on Friday.
I'm sure Clarkson/Leigh is jacked, psyched, pumped, and ready to go for that game and the season in general.
The Humphrey St. Francis game figures to be tough in the second game of the season, but the Patriots have a bye week the week before so that should help.
2018 Clarkson/Leigh Patriots Football Schedule:
08/24/18 Howells-Dodge
09/07/18 @ Humphrey St. Francis
09/14/18 Parkview Christian
09/21/18 @ Pender
09/28/18 @ Omaha Christian Academy
10/05/18 Cedar Bluffs
10/12/18 Mead
10/19/18 @ Emerson-Hubbard
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