Team: Pender
Mascot: Pendragons
Colors: Red and White
Class: D-2
Head Coach: Andy Welsh (4th season)
2017 record: 4-6 (lost to Johnson-Brock in second round of playoffs)
Returning Starters: 2
Overview:
The Pender Pendragons drop from D-1 to D-2, but still hope to be successful despite only having 17 kids out for the team this year.
Pender returns just two starters in seniors Jaydon Jump (5'10, 225 RB/LB) and Sam Mailoux (6'6, 195 WR/LB).
Top newcomers include Lucas Timm, Larry McManigal (6'1, 180), Dylan Vogt (5'10, 170), who is expected to start at tailback for the Pendragons this season, as well as starting wide receiver Jaxon Maise, and Jaxon Mrsny.
Others expected to contribute for Pender this season are freshman Caleb Trimble (5'10, 145) and senior Gabe Perez (5'10, 230).
Big losses from last year include Brady Oliver, Jared Tyrell, Tyler Nelson, and all linemen.
The Pendragons certainly have a lot of guys to replace this year, but I feel there's still a lot of skill and talent on this team.
4th year Head Coach Andy Welsh says Welsh says the Pendragons only went to one camp this year due to the runs the Junior and Senior Legion Baseball Teams made.
Pender has dropped to D-2 due to enrollment numbers. "And we know we're going to go through this lull here at Pender for probably two cycles. Probably this year and the following three years. It's something that obviously we needed to have happen with our boy enrollments. We would not be able to compete at the D-1 level this year probably with only having 17 boys out for football," Welsh said.
Welsh says Pender simply doesn't have the numbers in the school right now.
I guess all the Pendragons can do is make the best of the situation and do their best to sustain the level of play they've had the last few years.
Pender has had nice seasons the last few years, and I don't see why that can't and won't continue this year as well.
I think dropping to D-2 gives the Pendragons a much better chance to compete than if they were in D-1 not just from an enrollment standpoint, but also from the standpoint of size and athleticism.
I feel Pender will be at an advantage in Class D-2 having played D-1 ball in the past.
Bob Jensen of the Huskerland Prep Report projects the Pendragons to win something like 4 games and make the playoffs, and I feel that is very doable for Pender this season.
Season Outlook:
Pender has some challenging, yet winnable games on the schedule this year, in my opinion.
The Pendragons open up the season at home against Winnebago Friday night. The same Indians team that upset Pender 60-42 in Winnebago last season.
Welsh says the Indians are a tough draw. "Well they're going to be an athletic team. They'll be good. They got a D-lineman up there that's going to wreak some havoc. The Prosper Gilpin kid. He's going to be a handful. I don't know if you can block him so we'll have to find a way to get around him I guess. They have a returning Quarterback. T.J. Frenchman... good player, really athletic. He's going to make a lot of plays. And they're just pretty athletic across the board."
Welsh says there's some familiarity and unfamiliarity with the teams in their district.
Pender is in District D2-2 with Clarkson/Leigh, Emerson-Hubbard, Mead, Cedar Bluffs, and Omaha Christian Academy.
Welsh says the Pendragons are very familiar with the first two teams, but have never played the latter 3 before.
I think that makes for a very exciting season.
It's always fun to play new opponents no doubt.
I would think that seeing the same teams and programs year in and year out would get to be a little old after a while.
New opponents bring new energy and blood without a doubt, and I fully expect Pender to be up for their new foes this coming season.
Renewing the "rivalry" with Emerson-Hubbard, if you want to call it that, figures to be very intriguing, especially given all the non football co-op talks between the two schools this past offseason.
A road trip to Randolph on September 14th appears to be the most tricky non-district game on the schedule one could say, but it should help prepare the Pendragons for district play at the very least.
I think 4-4 or 5-3 is possible and about right for Pender this year.
I say the Pendragons do no worse than 3-5.
I really think being a D-1 school in the past will really benefit Pender against D-2 competition this season.
2018 Pender Pendragons Football Schedule:
08/24/18 Winnebago
09/07/18 @ Homer
09/14/18 @ Randolph
09/21/18 Clarkson/Leigh
09/28/18 @ Cedar Bluffs
10/05/18 @ Mead
10/12/18 Emerson-Hubbard
10/18/18 Omaha Christian Academy
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