Can Squires Duplicate Last Season's Success?
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
After finishing the regular season with an 8-1 record, which included a school record 5-0 start, the Squires had the bad luck of facing eventual Class 2A state champion Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in the first round of sectional play, losing 45-21.[[In-content Ad]]"I never would have dreamed that season would have been like it was," Manchester coach Brandon Baker said of his team, which also shared the Three Rivers Conference championship with Rochester. "We just had a bunch of guys that worked their tails off and had good leaders that gelled. We're going to need that again this year."
Gone from last year's football team is the TRC's leading rusher Brady Miller, who racked up 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns as a bruising back.
However, it's actually not Miller's running ability that Baker will miss, it's his linebacking prowess.
"We're missing a lot at linebacker," Baker said. "(Junior) Preston Penrod is a good tailback. He's quicker and faster than Brady was, but not as big. He did well in our scrimmage, but we need to see if he can take a beating over the course of a season."
Another key component from last year's team that graduated is starting quarterback Dylin Kennedy, who threw for 606 yards and six touchdowns, while rushing for another 219.
The quarterbacking duties will now fall on junior Logan Brunn, who has a different style than Kennedy.
"He's not as good a passer, but he's a good runner," Baker said. "We'll have to devise schemes to get him on the perimeter where he can use his athleticism."
Along with the loss of first team all-conference running back Miller and linebacker Kennedy, Baker will also need to replace first team all-conference defensive lineman Ryan Byers and receiver Ryan Henderson, as well as second team center Josh Robinson, not to mention Seth Dotson and Kyle Boone.
"It's the skill positions where we lost the majority of our guys," Baker said. "The same goes for linebackers and defensive backs."
However, if the option was between losing linemen or skill players, Baker says he'd much prefer to have returning linemen.
"We do have some experience there," the 2009 Times-Union Coach of the Year said.
One of Baker's returning linemen will actually be playing a different role this season, as senior guard Dillon Gable has been moved to running back.
While Gable has moved, Baker's line will feature first team all-conference senior tackle Aric Howard, junior Aaron Snep, junior Jason Montel, junior Dillon Boyd and sophomore Cole Sellers, with Howard and Sellers playing both sides of the ball.
Manchester's receivers will be senior Anthony Saunders, senior Skyler Honeycutt, senior Trae Bruce and junior Payton Sorg.
Running a 3-5 defense, first team All-TRC senior defensive lineman Austin Flack and Snep will rotate with Howard and Sellers on the line, while Saunders, Brunn, senior Zack Lybarger, junior Mazric Shambarger and Gable play at linebacker.
"All the linebackers are new," Baker said. "They're still trying to figure it out. They're pretty aggressive and do a good job of getting to the ball. Technique and getting into the gaps is where they struggle. But really, it's my job to teach them that."
After serving a four-game suspension, 2009 Times-Union Defensive Player of the Year Seth Brubaker will also get to join the linebacking corps.
"That hurts a lot," Baker said about the senior's suspension.
Rounding out the defense will be Penrod at safety with Honeycutt and junior Jon Woodward playing cornerback, with Sorg rotating in.
There are going to be some new faces on the team, but that doesn't mean the bodies are getting any bigger in North Manchester.
"We're going to be outsized in every game," Baker said. "We're going to need to use good technique. In our scrimmage, we did a lot of standing straight up and down, but that's easily fixable. We're going to want to run the ball and we'll need to rely on that. Then, play action will be most of our passing game."
Claiming that a .500 season would be a success for his team, Baker is optimistic that his team will be able to move the ball on the ground and that his defense can keep scores low.
"We've been doing OK running the ball, but it's a matter of doing it against someone else for 48 minutes," he said. "We're going to need to sustain drives and the defense has got to get after it and try to bring pressure."
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After finishing the regular season with an 8-1 record, which included a school record 5-0 start, the Squires had the bad luck of facing eventual Class 2A state champion Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in the first round of sectional play, losing 45-21.[[In-content Ad]]"I never would have dreamed that season would have been like it was," Manchester coach Brandon Baker said of his team, which also shared the Three Rivers Conference championship with Rochester. "We just had a bunch of guys that worked their tails off and had good leaders that gelled. We're going to need that again this year."
Gone from last year's football team is the TRC's leading rusher Brady Miller, who racked up 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns as a bruising back.
However, it's actually not Miller's running ability that Baker will miss, it's his linebacking prowess.
"We're missing a lot at linebacker," Baker said. "(Junior) Preston Penrod is a good tailback. He's quicker and faster than Brady was, but not as big. He did well in our scrimmage, but we need to see if he can take a beating over the course of a season."
Another key component from last year's team that graduated is starting quarterback Dylin Kennedy, who threw for 606 yards and six touchdowns, while rushing for another 219.
The quarterbacking duties will now fall on junior Logan Brunn, who has a different style than Kennedy.
"He's not as good a passer, but he's a good runner," Baker said. "We'll have to devise schemes to get him on the perimeter where he can use his athleticism."
Along with the loss of first team all-conference running back Miller and linebacker Kennedy, Baker will also need to replace first team all-conference defensive lineman Ryan Byers and receiver Ryan Henderson, as well as second team center Josh Robinson, not to mention Seth Dotson and Kyle Boone.
"It's the skill positions where we lost the majority of our guys," Baker said. "The same goes for linebackers and defensive backs."
However, if the option was between losing linemen or skill players, Baker says he'd much prefer to have returning linemen.
"We do have some experience there," the 2009 Times-Union Coach of the Year said.
One of Baker's returning linemen will actually be playing a different role this season, as senior guard Dillon Gable has been moved to running back.
While Gable has moved, Baker's line will feature first team all-conference senior tackle Aric Howard, junior Aaron Snep, junior Jason Montel, junior Dillon Boyd and sophomore Cole Sellers, with Howard and Sellers playing both sides of the ball.
Manchester's receivers will be senior Anthony Saunders, senior Skyler Honeycutt, senior Trae Bruce and junior Payton Sorg.
Running a 3-5 defense, first team All-TRC senior defensive lineman Austin Flack and Snep will rotate with Howard and Sellers on the line, while Saunders, Brunn, senior Zack Lybarger, junior Mazric Shambarger and Gable play at linebacker.
"All the linebackers are new," Baker said. "They're still trying to figure it out. They're pretty aggressive and do a good job of getting to the ball. Technique and getting into the gaps is where they struggle. But really, it's my job to teach them that."
After serving a four-game suspension, 2009 Times-Union Defensive Player of the Year Seth Brubaker will also get to join the linebacking corps.
"That hurts a lot," Baker said about the senior's suspension.
Rounding out the defense will be Penrod at safety with Honeycutt and junior Jon Woodward playing cornerback, with Sorg rotating in.
There are going to be some new faces on the team, but that doesn't mean the bodies are getting any bigger in North Manchester.
"We're going to be outsized in every game," Baker said. "We're going to need to use good technique. In our scrimmage, we did a lot of standing straight up and down, but that's easily fixable. We're going to want to run the ball and we'll need to rely on that. Then, play action will be most of our passing game."
Claiming that a .500 season would be a success for his team, Baker is optimistic that his team will be able to move the ball on the ground and that his defense can keep scores low.
"We've been doing OK running the ball, but it's a matter of doing it against someone else for 48 minutes," he said. "We're going to need to sustain drives and the defense has got to get after it and try to bring pressure."
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