EAGLE DEFENDER … North Central linebacker Joe Burt (#33) puts the heat on the Adrian Madison quarterback in a game last year. (PHOTO BY FORREST CHURCH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Daniel Cooley
PIONEER – Last year, the North Central football team was able to accomplish something very few first-year varsity programs are able to do: finish with a winning record and make the state playoffs.
The Eagles finished the regular season with a 6-4 record and were able to make the Division VII playoffs.
The only drawback is that the Eagles are an independent and play an all non-conference and challenging schedule.
But with seven returning starters on both sides of the ball, the Eagles may be able to navigate a tough schedule and make the state playoffs again.
“During our first season, we set the bar high by finishing with a winning record and we learned how to play at the speed, physicality, aggressiveness and skillfulness of varsity football,” said North Central coach Scott Thompson.
“We continue to make progress in learning the fundamentals of football. We feel the successful 2022 results will be a springboard for us, raising the bar in 2023.”
The Eagles will, however, have to replace some key starters on both sides of the ball. The biggest shoes to fill on offense come from departed senior running back Quin Burt, who had several 100-yard rushing performances.
The Eagles will also have to replace three offensive linemen, offensive tackles Levi Houser and Maric Marmelejo and offensive guard Clayton Douglass.
Running backs Joe Burt, a senior and a starter last year and senior Connor Gendron and freshman Alex St. John will carry the load this season.
Other returning starters on offense are senior quarterback Gage Kidston, senior linemen Cohen Meyers and Jake Towers, senior receivers Johnny Hicks and Sam Moore.
Looking to fill the load for the departed linemen are newcomer Sawyer Rademacher, junior Wyatt Gruber and sophomore Logan Clark. Battling for the tight end position are Beard and Cash Martin.
Starters returning on defense are linemen Cohen Meyers and Turner, linebackers Burt and Laney, back Kidston and safety Hicks.
Competing for open positions on defense will be linemen Clark and Rademacher, outside linebacker Beard, backs Tyler Meyers and Kidston and safety St. John.
On special teams, Laney or Burt will handle the punting duties, Laney will handle placekicking and will share kickoff duties with Cohen Meyers. Kidston will be the holder and Turner will be the long snapper.
STRENGTHS: ‘Returning skill players and several offensive linemen should make our running game and play action passing game into strengths,” Thompson said.
“Our drop back, roll out and pistol shoot passing game should be much improved. Our strengths on defense are our overall team skill, pursuit, and unit speed. Our kickoffs, punts and coverage units have been solid.”
WEAKNESSES: “Offensively, we must keep penalties and turnovers to a minimum,” Thompson said. ‘We lack depth, so we must keep our players healthy. Injuries hurt us in our last three games of the season.”
“We are hopeful that participation in our strength and conditioning program and an additional year of physical maturity will help,” Thompson continued.
“Plus, we feel that our team will benefit in participating in 7 on 7 contest and competing in challenging scrimmages.”
“Defensively, we must replace our safety, tackles and outside linebacker,” Thompson said. “We must continue to improve our run defense, pass rush and pass coverage.”
“We also lack depth. Plus, we must improve our kicking extra points and making field goals.”
OVERALL OUTLOOK: “The keys to our success will be to continue to learn football fundamentals, improve our skills, execute with intensity; and positively cope with sudden change situations in games.”
“We need staff stability, and we must continue to install, learn and execute our offensive, defensive and specialty unit schemes.”
“Also, we need continued tremendous support from the community, football boosters, staff, student body and parents and school administration.”
ABOUT THEIR SCHEDULE: Season Opener: August 18th – Woodmore (A) 7pm
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com