Team: Clarkson/Leigh
Mascot: Patriots
Colors: Red, Blue, Gray
Class: D-2
Head Coach: Jim Clarkson (19th season) (93-92 career record)
2018 record: 5-4 (lost to Hartington-Newcastle in first round of playoffs)
Returning Starters: 4 offense 4 defense
Overview:
The Clarkson/Leigh Football Team will be without the services of star running back Tommy McEvoy this season as he tore his ACL in the offseason. Head Coach Jim Clarkson says that's prompted the team's starting QB to step up in practice.
"Yeah Tommy will be a big loss for us, and of course that took a little wind out of our sails. But we're starting to rebound now, and I think the kids have kind of stepped up. Quarterback Lance Paprocki has done a real nice job so far through fall camp of leading the team and kind of taking that voice over a little bit."
Clarkson looks for Issac Wiese and Carter Hanel to step up this season as well.
The Patriots return 4 starters on offense and 4 on defense from last year's playoff team.
The offensive returners are Paprocki (5'7, 140 JR QB/DB), Wiese (5'10, 150 SR RB/DB), Hanel (6'3, 195 SO TE/LB), and Layne Krutz (6'0, 270 JR OL/DL).
All but Krutz are also returning defensive starters as is Trevor Zulkoski (5'11, 180 JR OL/TE).
Others likely to play include Mitch Beeson (5'10, 200 SO OL/LB), DC West Transfer Eli Hays, Kobe Indra (5'11, 240 SR OL/DL), and Austin Sayers (6'0, 245 JR OL/DL).
The Patriots lost Travis Stanley, Douglas Pocasangre, Raoul Heillman, Cort Pokorney, and John Langhorst to graduation.
Clarkson/Leigh certainly has a lot of work to do this year given the fact they will be without McEvoy, but there's no doubt other players can step up and lead this team to a successful season.
I think the Patriots will be good, but would have been really good or great with McEvoy in the lineup.
He is a special talent, and not having him hurts without a doubt, but Clarkson/Leigh knows they will be without his services all season and have already adjusted accordingly it sounds like.
The Patriots have to work that much harder and want it even that much more knowing that he's not going to be in there.
The offensive and defensive lines have to have a good surge up front blocking for Paprocki or Wiese or Hanel or whoever, and when going up against opposing teams' backs.
Clarkson/Leigh has to be confident in their ability to have success, and must go out there and play hard for 48 minutes each and every time they take to the field on a Friday night.
The Patriots have to want it more than their opponents, and work harder than them.
Season Outlook:
Clarkson/Leigh has to have a lot of working pieces come together to be a good team this year, in my opinion.
Clarkson says the team is young and needs to perform well up front to be successful. "We return a lot of experience, but it will still be young experience. We will need to continue to improve in a lot of areas in order for us to get into the upper echelon of the class. Our depth will be improved but again it will be young depth and that may hurt at times during the season. As with any team our Offensive and Defensive line development will determine a lot in how the season will go. Opening the season with the Bacon Bowl (Howells-Dodge) hopefully will spark some extra focus in all our workouts leading up to that game."
Clarkson/Leigh battles Howells-Dodge on the road in the Bacon Bowl on August 30th. Clarkson says his kids are ready for that game.
"Yeah it's a rival. It's 6 miles away, and it's a friendly rival. And there's not a lot of hate, a lot of respect in that one, but boy we'd sure like to tack them one of these years, and we're going to give them our best shot here in a couple weeks here, so we're pretty excited for that game to be here."
The Patriots lost last year's game at home, 34-16.
The Jaguars return some good players, but so does Clarkson/Leigh.
I think McEvoy would be a game breaker and changer in this game if he were in there, and would give the Patriots a really good chance to win.
I still think Clarkson/Leigh can go in there and pick up the W, but it won't be easy without McEvoy.
Both teams have some question marks up front in terms of what they have and are looking at so it will be interesting to see which team wins that battle.
Special teams could definitely factor into the game, and Howells-Dodge has Luke Rocheford as a kick returner, and he is a real game breaker and changer.
The Patriots have to know where he is at on the field at all times, and must kick it away from him if they can.
Clarkson/Leigh's first four games are tough so we will find out what the Patriots are made of against the likes of the Jaguars, Humphrey St. Francis, Parkview Christian, and Pender.
I look for Clarkson/Leigh to go on to have a fine season and make the playoffs again despite not having the services of McEvoy.
2019 Clarkson/Leigh Patriots Football Schedule:
08/30/19 @ Howells-Dodge
09/13/19 Humphrey St. Francis
09/20/19 @ Parkview Christian
09/27/19 Pender
10/04/19 Omaha Christian Academy
10/11/19 @ Cedar Bluffs
10/18/19 @ Mead
10/25/19 Emerson-Hubbard
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