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2010 YORKTOWN PREVIEW
POSTED: 6/25/10
By: Donnie Smith |
Preview of the 2010 season
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After finishing 10-3 two years ago, a season which included capturing the program’s third sectional championship, the Tigers slipped to 5-5 last season in a rebuilding stage. Coach Mike Wilhelm’s bunch started strong, winning three of its first four games. But a 2-4 finish ended with a tough-to-swallow 20-14 setback at Hamilton Heights in the first round of Sectional 22.
The question entering 2010 is whether Wilhelm can guide his team back into sectional championship contention. Graduation didn’t make things easy heading into the off season as the Tigers said good bye to All-State and All-Conference lineman Kevin Ellis, All-Conference receiver/kicker/punter Brett Allison, honorable mention All-Conference quarterback/safety Kyle Weiss and receiver/linebacker Austin Anderson.
But a good deal of experience returns and combine that with several key newcomers and Wilhelm is optimistic about the upcoming campaign.
“We still have a lot of areas that need to be covered,’’ cautioned the Wabash College graduate. “We can have success if we can improve in some fundamental aspects of becoming upstanding young men. Integrity, commitment, discipline, confidence, courage and selflessness will be important in building a sound foundation of leadership that can take us to the next level.’’
Nearly everyone returns to the “Multiple” offensive scheme except at quarterback where junior Joe Todd and sophomore Chayse Bell will battle for the starting job. The ground game should be intact, however, with the return of senior Derek Kundenreich and junior Brendon Barnes. Kundenreich rumbled for 825 yards on 185 carries and scored twice last season. He now has 2,191 yards rushing for his career. Barnes finished with 350 yards on 58 attempts and found pay dirt four times. He also showed his versatility by grabbing 35 passes for 376 yards and four scores as well.
A pair of juniors, Cody Smith and Jason Brown, return at wide receiver while senior Scott Neff is back at tight end. Smith also saw action at tight end where he caught five passes for 51 yards and a touchdown a year ago. The front line looks solid with the return of senior center Adam Drummond, senior Zach Morgan and junior Sean Chavez at guard and senior Kenneth Higgins at tackle. Drummond earned Honorable Mention All-Conference last season while Higgins earned
All-Conference status and was voted Team Most Valuable Lineman.
Other players who will likely see action on offense at some point include sophomore Zeth Tanner and Brayden Barnard at running back, sophomore Gavin Harnish at tight end and juniors Joe Journay, Parker Ware and Brady Runyon on the offensive line.
The “4-4” defense also returns nearly everyone but many of the players are coming over from the offense meaning staying healthy is a must. The front line includes Journay, Higgins, Drummond and Chavez. Journay led the way, recording 78 tackles, 10.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss last season while Higgins had 33 tackles, a pair of sacks and five tackles for loss.
Morgan and Tanner return at linebacker where Morgan led the way with 68 tackles. The secondary returns senior Jon Haley, Kundenreich, Barnes and Brown. Haley had 44 tackles and an interception last year, Kundenreich tallied 31 tackles and two picks and Barnes contributed 25 tackles and an interception. Kundenreich will also handle the punting for the Tigers.
Other individuals to watch on defense include senior lineman Brandon Martin, Harnish and sophomore Joe Hall at linebacker and junior Jason Brown and senior Austin Neal in the secondary.
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