Team: Stanton
Mascot: Mustangs
Colors: Orange and Black
Class: C-2
Head Coach: David Stoddard (6th season) (24-23 career record)
2018 record: 2-7
Returning Starters: N/A
Overview:
The Stanton Football Team returns quite a few players on offense from last year's 2-7 team. Head Coach David Stoddard.
"We return two runners in the backfield...Sutton Pohlman and Gage Tighe...both started last year at wing and fullback. We've got four returning starters on the line...Mason Bruggeman, Jordan Gartner, Jackson Benson, Christian Flood, and actually Ben Wilke will be back as well depending on how we're moving with him around. Tight end last year...Trey Elbert....stepped in as a sophomore...he'll be a junior this year. And we've got other contributors on offense. Brennan Wragge has been getting some reps at running back along with Jason Claussen, Devyn Farrier."
Stoddard says there is a three-way battle for the starting QB spot right now with Parker Krusemark, Matt Reese, and Adam Arens going head-to-head.
Zak Hansen, Marcus Spotanski, Kadyn Fernau, Cade Goger, Moorghan Prusa, Nathan Arens, Alex Reese, and Sam Bates were all lost to graduation.
The Mustangs are coming off back-to-back injury riddled seasons that really hurt them I feel.
That and Stanton was young the past couple of years so we'll see what happens this year.
I feel it's imperative the Mustangs do well in non-district play to have a chance at the playoffs.
Stanton has certainly struggled the past couple of years, but I feel it's a team and a program that can get things turned around quickly and in a hurry.
I feel the Mustangs can easily get back to their winning ways if they can stay healthy and are at full strength for an entire season.
Injuries are a part of the game and affect everybody, but Stanton has been pretty beat up the last couple of years from the sounds of things.
I look for big things out of Pohlman this year.
He had a pretty big year last year if I recall, and if he can have another big season this year then I feel Stanton has a chance to be pretty dang good.
I feel an experienced line and line play will be very good and beneficial for the Mustangs this season.
I think the skill guys are all very solid too, now it's just a matter of ironing out the Quarterback situation.
Having three guys who can play QB is never a bad thing. I feel improved depth could be a strength of Stanton's this season.
Season Outlook:
Stanton is once again in a loaded District with the likes of Norfolk Catholic, Hartington Cedar Catholic, Ponca, Crofton, and Battle Creek. Stoddard says his team can't get too far ahead of themselves this year.
"A lot of those teams are going to be ranked or have a great chance to be ranked. Just seems like year in and year out you're getting a lot of great play overall from the teams in our District. And we know it's going to be a week-by-week thing. We can't look ahead to even that inside with the non-district season and the district and then hopefully a postseason run. But it is a week-by-week scenario for us."
The Mustangs open up the season at home against David City on August 30th.
Stoddard adds staying healthy is the key to having success and making the playoffs this season.
I would also say being physical up front and being aggressive at the line of scrimmage is going to be very important too.
Stanton has to play smashmouth football and also lights out defense as well.
The Mustangs have to try and make teams one dimensional and not give up big plays if at all possible.
I felt Stanton really struggled on both sides of the ball at times last year, and were just never able to gain any consistency in their play.
I think being consistently good on both sides of the ball is going to be another key to the Mustangs' success this season.
Stanton needs to explode and score points and create a lot of turnovers on defense.
The Mustangs have to be the complete package, and showcase their abilities each and every Friday night.
Stoddard said Stanton had 94% weightroom attendance this summer, and that is a very good number.
So it sounds like the Mustangs are putting in all the hard work, now they just need to go apply all that hard work to results on the football field.
Being in as good of physical shape as possible is important for Stanton too I feel.
Conditioning and endurance in the 4th quarter is what wins you games for sure.
We'll see if the Mustangs can be the last team standing at the end of games this season.
2019 Stanton Mustangs Football Schedule:
08/30/19 David City
09/06/19 @ Tekamah-Herman
09/13/19 North Bend Central
09/20/19 Archbishop Bergan
09/27/19 @ Battle Creek
10/04/19 Crofton
10/11/19 @ Ponca
10/18/19 @ Norfolk Catholic
10/24/19 Hartington Cedar Catholic
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