BRLD expecting big season

Team: Bancroft-Rosalie-Lyons-Decatur

Mascot: Wolverines

Colors: Blue and Gold

Class: C-2

Head Coach: Dan Maresh

2018 record: 8-3 (lost to Centennial in State Quarterfinals)

Returning Starters: N/A

Overview:

Lots is expected of BRLD this season as the Wolverines return quite a few players from last year's 8-3 State Quarterfinal Playoff team. Head Coach Dan Maresh says that includes Will Gatzemeyer and Jaxon Johnson.

"We return a lot of our skill positions. It starts with Will Gatzemeyer at Quarterback and Safety for us. He's been a leader there for a long time and really excited to have him back run our offense and being back there on our defense. And then it goes Jaxon Johnson, who's been a player for us for 4 years. This will be his 4th year starting. And on the offensive side of the ball always a big target for Will, great blocker for us. And then on the defensive side of the ball he kind of stops people from running his direction."

Maresh says the Wolverines return two players on the offensive line in Luke Kramer and Tyler Vavra.

Other returners include Kobe Lyons at running back and linebacker/defensive end, Wide Receiver Lucas Vogt, and Dylan Beutler.

Maresh says senior Braxton Bargmann should see a lot of playing time as well at wide receiver and possibly cornerback.

Top newcomers include Derek Petersen and Luke Ronnfeldt, according to Coach Maresh.

The Wolverines said goodbye to Jackson Beaudette, Ryan Payton, Bradley Marr, Dustin Burgett, Nick Ronnfeldt, Mo Hawk, Seth Totten, and Nathaniel Sears last year.

I really feel like BRLD has all the pieces in place to make it down to Lincoln and win a State Championship.

These guys won state in Basketball and a lot of them finished runner-up for Pender in Legion Baseball this past summer so all that is really missing is a trip to Memorial Stadium.

I feel this is the Wolverines' year to do something.

BRLD has a lot of talent they'll be putting on the field this season, and I'm very excited to see how it all comes together for the Wolverines.

We'll see if BRLD can live up to all the hype and expectations though. I think they will, but there's lots of work to be done first.

The Wolverines have to stay humble and keep working hard week in and week out to get to where they can, should, want, and ought to be.

Season Outlook:

BRLD is looking for a spectacular campaign. Bob Jensen from the Huskerland Prep Report has the Wolverines ranked #1 in C-2, and says BRLD is loaded.

"I have a lot of faith in Will Gatzemeyer. Will Gatzemeyer to me is the biggest playmaker in C-2, maybe in all of C Football period. Kid like Jaxon Johnson is great. Anybody who saw the Vogt kid last year at State basketball realizes how hard it is to guard that kid, cover that kid. And their line's going to get a little makeover, but man they've got a lot of firepower."

BRLD opens up the season on Friday at Hartington Cedar Catholic. Maresh says that doesn't figure to be an easy game.

"We were kind of fortunate last year, they were young, and we caught them very early in the season. Were able to jump out to a big lead. Then they came on even during our game by the second half, were playing much better. And then you looked at their scores the rest of the year they really developed into a nice football team as the season went on."

The Wolverines won last year's game 48-22.

BRLD needs to start the season off fast against the Trojans, Ponca, and Crofton...their first three games of the season.

If the Wolverines can pick up wins in those three games it would make for an even more intriguing game at Norfolk Catholic on September 20th.

I feel the Wolverines have a chance to be undefeated or have 1 loss going into the Fremont Bergan and Oakland-Craig games at the end of the season.

BRLD certainly has their work cut out for them with a very daunting, challenging, and difficult schedule, but the Wolverines are up to the task of living up to and achieving expectations, there's no doubt in my mind about that.

BRLD has to come ready to play each and every week though.

Every rep during a game or in practice, every play, every snap, every down and series....they all matter.

How you practice is how you are going to play, and how you play week in and week in out ultimately defines how far you go in the playoffs in many instances.

With that said, if the Wolverines do everything in their power to control what they can control and give 110% each and every time they take to the field, then I really feel and think they will be there in the end.

2019 BRLD Wolverines Football Schedule:

08/30/19 @ Hartington Cedar Catholic
09/06/19 Ponca
09/13/19 Crofton
09/20/19 @ Norfolk Catholic
09/27/19 @ Yutan
10/04/19 Tekamah-Herman
10/11/19 @ Louisville
10/18/19 @ Archbishop Bergan
10/25/19 Oakland-Craig