Kenny Stauffer can afford to be optimistic this week.
Two 0-8 seasons are behind this Banner County Wildcats. Now the second-year head coach can concentrate on the immediate future. And he senses improvement in the waiting.
“We started from zero last year and made improvements every game,” he explains.
Indeed, the team allowed 42 points in the first quarter of their opener against Hemingford a season ago, on their way to a devastating 61-6 loss. Their rivals racked up seven rushing touchdowns, adding one through the air. In the season finale at Creek Valley, however, Banner remained within reach for much of the game before falling 66-41. So Stauffer sees the summer work ethic shown by his guys as a sign of good things to come.
“We had a great group at camp and enthusiasm in the weight room,” he points out.
The ‘Cats lost only one starter from last season’s squad, meaning most of the lineup returns with a season of Stauffer’s power running scheme under their belts. Jordan Knaub is back, as is Luke Johnson, big David Gifford, Collin Havengar, Ben Hostetler and Brady Lind—all two way starters in 2010. More importantly, the coach adds, a couple wins during summer camp provided a much needed boost in confidence.
“They got a taste for it,” he says.
Still, Stauffer considers experience with the system and time spent in summer drills critical.
“We’re a little lacking in speed,” the coach admits. “We need to beat them with fundamentals and discipline.”
For the fourth straight season, Potter-Dix opens the eight-man season in week zero.
Coaches Dale Frerichs and Joe Martin expect those numbers to add up to something better than last year’s 1-7 record. It was, after all, only the second time the Coyotes missed playoff action in his seven campaigns.
“We had a younger team, Frerichs says. “I think we’ll be much improved this year.”
His hopeful mood is well founded. Ty Ottoson returns from a season in which he threw for 795 yards and 12 touchdowns, tacking on an additional 692 on the ground. A trio of standout receivers—Brady Knigge, Clint Serres and Bryant Knigge (who will miss some practice time due to injury)—should rack up impressive numbers from the Potter-Dix spread. Last year they accounted for 672 yards and 12 of the offensive unit’s 14 scoring receptions.
With Frerichs and coaching partner Martin planning more three and four receiver looks, their return is critical.
“If you’re going to throw, you have to have guys who can catch,” Frerichs, says.
Serres, meanwhile, anchors what could be a stingy defense. He earned an all-region nod for this 48 solo tackles in 2010. Ottoson is an all-MAC recipient.
Like coach Stauffer in Banner County, Frerichs believes the number of players attending camp is a positive sign. “The chemistry over the summer was some of the best we’ve had,” he points out.
Beyond spirit, the coaches will use the short practice period before their August 26 opener against Wallace to work on conditioning and depth.
