New Tigers Trying To Earn Stripes
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
He's a straight-shooter.
And when Jensen said the majority of his offense from last season is gone, he wasn't kidding.[[In-content Ad]]"We're still in the process of evaluating," Jensen said last week as his team was preparing for a scrimmage at South Bend Clay. "We're going to be a young team. We have some seniors and juniors, but we're going to be young as far as experience. A lot of our offense is gone, and all those kids that we lost on offense played big roles."
Gone from last year's sectional runner-up team are offensive standouts Andy Conrad, Justin Clemens and Zack Linky, as well as defensive stars Tom Daniels, Brenden Barber, Brandon Head and Roberto Martinez.
Conrad graduated as Warsaw's all-time leading rusher, eclipsing the previous mark set by Brad Seiss.
Conrad spearheaded the Tigers' ground game last season with 1,458 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Clemens was second in rushing yards for Warsaw last year with 406 yards and six scores.
With his cannon of a right arm, Clemens accumulated 842 yards passing and another five touchdowns.
Linky was Warsaw's top receiver, as he tallied 30 receptions for 413 yards and two touchdowns.
No other receiver had more than nine catches or 140 yards for the Tigers during the 2009 season.
"You don't replace a Justin Clemens or an Andy Conrad," said Jensen. "You just find the next guy in line and get him ready to go. "Justin and Andy and Zack Linky were a big part of our offense, and we've got some holes to fill."
Six-foot, 185-pound senior Jeremy Coppes will have the task of stepping into the shoes left vacant by the 6-3, 220-pound Clemens.
"Jeremy Coppes had a good summer," Jensen said. "He did a nice job in two-a-days, but now he's going to be tested week in and week out. This isn't junior varsity or Friday night mop-up time anymore."
In limited varsity action last season, Coppes completed 3 of 14 passes for 68 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
He carried the ball 19 times for 168 yards, 74 of which came on one attempt, and rushed for two touchdowns.
Now Coppes will be thrust into the spotlight, responsible for running Warsaw's offense as the Tigers open the season Friday at U.S. 30 rival Columbia City.
The Tigers have defeated the Eagles the past 13 seasons.
Joining Coppes in the backfield will be senior Tyler Adams, who rushed for 266 yards and two touchdowns last season on 70 attempts.
Coppes' throwing targets will include senior receivers Keelan Simpson and Matt Abbitt and senior tight end Jalen Roscoe.
Senior Zac Erba returns at center, while the other four spots on the offensive line are up for grabs.
Defensively, Cameron Fritzel returns to his inside linebacker position after leading Warsaw in tackles as a sophomore last year.
Others who look to make an impact for the Tigers' defense include juniors Keegan Bruner, Jeremy Lehman and Clay Anderson.
Bruner, Lehman and Anderson also got considerable playing time last season.
"Those four played a bunch last year as sophomores," said Jensen. "They played with a lot of seniors, and now it's their turn to step up and take over the team. We lost players on both sides of the ball. We're going to try and do what we do best, play great defense and take care of the ball."
After opening the season Friday at Columbia City, the Tigers host Homestead in Week 2.
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He's a straight-shooter.
And when Jensen said the majority of his offense from last season is gone, he wasn't kidding.[[In-content Ad]]"We're still in the process of evaluating," Jensen said last week as his team was preparing for a scrimmage at South Bend Clay. "We're going to be a young team. We have some seniors and juniors, but we're going to be young as far as experience. A lot of our offense is gone, and all those kids that we lost on offense played big roles."
Gone from last year's sectional runner-up team are offensive standouts Andy Conrad, Justin Clemens and Zack Linky, as well as defensive stars Tom Daniels, Brenden Barber, Brandon Head and Roberto Martinez.
Conrad graduated as Warsaw's all-time leading rusher, eclipsing the previous mark set by Brad Seiss.
Conrad spearheaded the Tigers' ground game last season with 1,458 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Clemens was second in rushing yards for Warsaw last year with 406 yards and six scores.
With his cannon of a right arm, Clemens accumulated 842 yards passing and another five touchdowns.
Linky was Warsaw's top receiver, as he tallied 30 receptions for 413 yards and two touchdowns.
No other receiver had more than nine catches or 140 yards for the Tigers during the 2009 season.
"You don't replace a Justin Clemens or an Andy Conrad," said Jensen. "You just find the next guy in line and get him ready to go. "Justin and Andy and Zack Linky were a big part of our offense, and we've got some holes to fill."
Six-foot, 185-pound senior Jeremy Coppes will have the task of stepping into the shoes left vacant by the 6-3, 220-pound Clemens.
"Jeremy Coppes had a good summer," Jensen said. "He did a nice job in two-a-days, but now he's going to be tested week in and week out. This isn't junior varsity or Friday night mop-up time anymore."
In limited varsity action last season, Coppes completed 3 of 14 passes for 68 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
He carried the ball 19 times for 168 yards, 74 of which came on one attempt, and rushed for two touchdowns.
Now Coppes will be thrust into the spotlight, responsible for running Warsaw's offense as the Tigers open the season Friday at U.S. 30 rival Columbia City.
The Tigers have defeated the Eagles the past 13 seasons.
Joining Coppes in the backfield will be senior Tyler Adams, who rushed for 266 yards and two touchdowns last season on 70 attempts.
Coppes' throwing targets will include senior receivers Keelan Simpson and Matt Abbitt and senior tight end Jalen Roscoe.
Senior Zac Erba returns at center, while the other four spots on the offensive line are up for grabs.
Defensively, Cameron Fritzel returns to his inside linebacker position after leading Warsaw in tackles as a sophomore last year.
Others who look to make an impact for the Tigers' defense include juniors Keegan Bruner, Jeremy Lehman and Clay Anderson.
Bruner, Lehman and Anderson also got considerable playing time last season.
"Those four played a bunch last year as sophomores," said Jensen. "They played with a lot of seniors, and now it's their turn to step up and take over the team. We lost players on both sides of the ball. We're going to try and do what we do best, play great defense and take care of the ball."
After opening the season Friday at Columbia City, the Tigers host Homestead in Week 2.
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