Reclamation Project Continues For Manchester
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH MANCHESTER - It hasn't been easy for third-year Manchester coach Brandon Baker.
After taking over for long-time head coach Al Bailey, Baker has had to rebuild the Squire program from the bottom.
The biggest challenge for Baker and his staff has been getting the number of kids in red and black uniforms out on the field.
This year the Squires have 36 players on the roster and most of them will see significant playing time.
"We're going to have a lot of guys who rarely if ever come off the field," said Baker.
Interestingly enough, two positions that will see some substituting are quarterback and running back.
Senior Brandon Shepherd and sophomore Derrek Freshour will share time as Manchester's signal caller.
Both will be in charge of running the Squires' single wing-T offense. The duo will be handing the ball off to another duo of running backs.
Junior Blaine Miller and senior Aaron Snover will share time in Manchester's backfield.
"Numbers are part of it," said Baker of platooning at both quarterback and running back. "But it's mainly because they can all do it. Why not get fresh legs in there if we feel confident with any of those guys.'
Miller, a talented athlete, also will lead the Squires' defense. As a sophomore, Miller racked up 160 tackles with nine for loss. He forced eight fumbles and had two recoveries. Miller's tackle total was good enough to end up in the state's top five at the end of the regular season.
"We've worked with him on better technique, not sitting and waiting to make tackles. We wanted to get him to make plays at the line of scrimmage," said Baker of developing Miller.
Last year the Squires went 2-8 as they struggled to install a new offense.
Through the first six games of last year, Manchester scored just 47 points.
The Squires showed some signs at season's end as they scored a season-high 35 points in a win over Three Rivers Conference foe Northfield.
Both of Manchester wins came in conference and with the entrance of a Wabash team into the TRC that has struggled, the Squires could end up in the upper half of the conference.
"Our goal is to win conference," said Baker. "I'm sure that's every team's goal."
"If we can take care of business and maybe beat a Rochester or (Tippecanoe) Valley then who knows?" It depends on how disciplined we are on offense and how fundamentally sound we are on defense."
Manchester should be solid in the kicking game, as soccer player and sophomore Broc Skaar will take care of both punting and kicking duties.
In recent years, soccer players have provided a nice outlet for the football team to find a kicker.
If Manchester doesn't compete for the TRC this year, there is a glimmer of hope that in years to come the program will return to where it was before.
Baker welcomes 13 freshmen onto his team this year and has 24 players on Manchester's eighth grade team.
There are eight seniors on this year's Manchester squad.
"It's a matter of being patient," said Baker of the numbers game. "We were going into the summer expecting over 50 kids. We had guys show up for all the meetings and did everything they need to do then just decided not to come out. There's nothing you can do about that."
2006 Schedule
Aug. 18 MISSISSINEWA
Aug. 25 HERITAGE
Sept. 1 at Valley
Sept. 8 WHITKO
Sept. 15 at North Miami
Sept. 22 ROCHESTER
Sept. 29 SOUTHWOOD
Oct. 6 at Wabash
Oct. 13 at Northfield
No. Name Grade Pos.
1 Caleb Craun 12 WR/DB
3 Tyler Shepherd 10 WR/DB
5 Kyle Henderson 10 RB/LB
7 Broc Skaar 10 K
14 Brandon Shepherd 12 QB/LB
15 Derrek Freshour 10 QB/DB
20 Ryan Binkley 10 RB/DB
22 Corey Thomas 10 QB/DL
24 Seth Dotson 9 RB/DB
27 Brandt Gheen 12 WR/DB
30 Travis Lightle 12 RB/DL
32 Brady Miller 9 RB/LB
33 Ryan Henderson 9 RB/LB
34 Nolan Holloway 11 RB/LB
35 J.J. Conley 11 WR/DB
37 Dylin Kennedy 9 QB/LB
38 Yezan Al-Khateeb 12 TE/DL
41 Aaron Snover 12 RB/LB
44 Blaine Miller 11 RB/LB
46 Matt Fairchild 9 OL/LB
47 Josh Robinson 9 RB/LB
50 Aaron French 11 OL/DL
52 Cody Sharp 9 OL/LB
54 Matt Mathias 11 OL/DL
57 Ryan Byers 9 OL/DL
58 Josh Cornell 9 OL/DL
62 Clayton Johnson 11 OL/DL
63 Jake Emmert 12 OL/DL
65 Matt Budnik 10 OL/DL
70 Darr Parker 12 OL/DL
74 Justin O'Brien 11 OL/DL
77 Jon Walker 11 OL/DL
82 Nathan Miller 10 TE/DE
83 Kyle Boone 9 WR/DB
87 Brecken Kennedy 11 WR/DB
88 Austin Gidley 9 OL/DL [[In-content Ad]]
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NORTH MANCHESTER - It hasn't been easy for third-year Manchester coach Brandon Baker.
After taking over for long-time head coach Al Bailey, Baker has had to rebuild the Squire program from the bottom.
The biggest challenge for Baker and his staff has been getting the number of kids in red and black uniforms out on the field.
This year the Squires have 36 players on the roster and most of them will see significant playing time.
"We're going to have a lot of guys who rarely if ever come off the field," said Baker.
Interestingly enough, two positions that will see some substituting are quarterback and running back.
Senior Brandon Shepherd and sophomore Derrek Freshour will share time as Manchester's signal caller.
Both will be in charge of running the Squires' single wing-T offense. The duo will be handing the ball off to another duo of running backs.
Junior Blaine Miller and senior Aaron Snover will share time in Manchester's backfield.
"Numbers are part of it," said Baker of platooning at both quarterback and running back. "But it's mainly because they can all do it. Why not get fresh legs in there if we feel confident with any of those guys.'
Miller, a talented athlete, also will lead the Squires' defense. As a sophomore, Miller racked up 160 tackles with nine for loss. He forced eight fumbles and had two recoveries. Miller's tackle total was good enough to end up in the state's top five at the end of the regular season.
"We've worked with him on better technique, not sitting and waiting to make tackles. We wanted to get him to make plays at the line of scrimmage," said Baker of developing Miller.
Last year the Squires went 2-8 as they struggled to install a new offense.
Through the first six games of last year, Manchester scored just 47 points.
The Squires showed some signs at season's end as they scored a season-high 35 points in a win over Three Rivers Conference foe Northfield.
Both of Manchester wins came in conference and with the entrance of a Wabash team into the TRC that has struggled, the Squires could end up in the upper half of the conference.
"Our goal is to win conference," said Baker. "I'm sure that's every team's goal."
"If we can take care of business and maybe beat a Rochester or (Tippecanoe) Valley then who knows?" It depends on how disciplined we are on offense and how fundamentally sound we are on defense."
Manchester should be solid in the kicking game, as soccer player and sophomore Broc Skaar will take care of both punting and kicking duties.
In recent years, soccer players have provided a nice outlet for the football team to find a kicker.
If Manchester doesn't compete for the TRC this year, there is a glimmer of hope that in years to come the program will return to where it was before.
Baker welcomes 13 freshmen onto his team this year and has 24 players on Manchester's eighth grade team.
There are eight seniors on this year's Manchester squad.
"It's a matter of being patient," said Baker of the numbers game. "We were going into the summer expecting over 50 kids. We had guys show up for all the meetings and did everything they need to do then just decided not to come out. There's nothing you can do about that."
2006 Schedule
Aug. 18 MISSISSINEWA
Aug. 25 HERITAGE
Sept. 1 at Valley
Sept. 8 WHITKO
Sept. 15 at North Miami
Sept. 22 ROCHESTER
Sept. 29 SOUTHWOOD
Oct. 6 at Wabash
Oct. 13 at Northfield
No. Name Grade Pos.
1 Caleb Craun 12 WR/DB
3 Tyler Shepherd 10 WR/DB
5 Kyle Henderson 10 RB/LB
7 Broc Skaar 10 K
14 Brandon Shepherd 12 QB/LB
15 Derrek Freshour 10 QB/DB
20 Ryan Binkley 10 RB/DB
22 Corey Thomas 10 QB/DL
24 Seth Dotson 9 RB/DB
27 Brandt Gheen 12 WR/DB
30 Travis Lightle 12 RB/DL
32 Brady Miller 9 RB/LB
33 Ryan Henderson 9 RB/LB
34 Nolan Holloway 11 RB/LB
35 J.J. Conley 11 WR/DB
37 Dylin Kennedy 9 QB/LB
38 Yezan Al-Khateeb 12 TE/DL
41 Aaron Snover 12 RB/LB
44 Blaine Miller 11 RB/LB
46 Matt Fairchild 9 OL/LB
47 Josh Robinson 9 RB/LB
50 Aaron French 11 OL/DL
52 Cody Sharp 9 OL/LB
54 Matt Mathias 11 OL/DL
57 Ryan Byers 9 OL/DL
58 Josh Cornell 9 OL/DL
62 Clayton Johnson 11 OL/DL
63 Jake Emmert 12 OL/DL
65 Matt Budnik 10 OL/DL
70 Darr Parker 12 OL/DL
74 Justin O'Brien 11 OL/DL
77 Jon Walker 11 OL/DL
82 Nathan Miller 10 TE/DE
83 Kyle Boone 9 WR/DB
87 Brecken Kennedy 11 WR/DB
88 Austin Gidley 9 OL/DL [[In-content Ad]]