Tigers Headed In Right Direction
Warsaw football team boasts rising numbers, experience
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
The number of players is up. The Tigers are coming off their winningest season since Jensen returned to the helm in 2008. And it certainly doesn’t hurt returning a good amount of experience, led by All-Northern Lakes Conference running back Tristan McClone.
“The numbers are up,” said Jensen, in his second stint with the Tigers and 14th season overall in Warsaw. “We’ve got 80 kids in the top three grades, that’s the most we’ve had since I’ve been back. The program is headed in the right direction. We’ve got great team chemistry, and the kids put in the time in the weight room in the offseason. We’re as strong as we’ve been.”
The Tigers, who were 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the NLC last year, open the season Friday at 7 p.m. when they host U.S. 30 rival Columbia City.
A year ago, in a 20-14 win at Columbia City, McClone burst onto the scene in a big way and racked up 295 yards on the ground.
He had more yards in the first quarter than he did the entire previous season.
McClone, a 5-foot-11, 210-pounder with a blend of size and power to go with state-qualifying track speed, won’t fly under the radar this season.
Not after he rushed for a school record 322 yards and five touchdowns against Northridge.
Not after he set a school record for most yards in a season with 1,718 – along with 26 touchdowns – and was later named Times-Union Offensive Player of the Year.
“He’s my kind of football player,” Jensen said of McClone. “When you talk about it, whatever it is, he’s got it. He’s not afraid to work hard. And when your best athlete is also your hardest worker and most humble kid, you’ve got something special.”
Others with experience on the offensive side of the ball include quarterbacks Austin Head and Jake Mangas, fullback Jason Taylor, receiver Connor McCammack and center Stuart Wagner.
Head started the majority of the season under center last year, but an injury in the game at Wawasee sidelined him and he was replaced for a time by Mangas.
Jensen believes that it’s to his team’s advantage having two quarterbacks with Friday night experience.
“Going into last year, we didn’t have any quarterbacks with experience, this year we have two,” said Jensen. “Austin Head is back from his shoulder surgery, and Jake Mangas is a very intelligent young man. They’re a great combo, and they get along great. It’s a good thing having two quarterbacks that have played on Friday night.”
The spot on offense Jensen’s Tigers are least experienced is the line.
Four starting linemen that blocked for McClone last year graduated. The lone returner is Wagner.
“That’s the area we need to develop the most,” Jensen said of the line.
Among those vying for time in the trenches with Wagner are Josh Wogoman, Al Walker, Wyatt Troutner and Anthony Hendrickson.
Jensen said that Ben Plummer, an All-Conferene defensive linemen, could see time on the O-line, as could linebacker Ryder Worrell.
Expected to play tight end is Austin Perdieu. Jensen said he could also go to a double-tight end set and use Eric Kreider.
“We’ve always been a run the ball first team,” said Jensen. “Our goal this year is to be more balanced. A good mix for us would be running the ball 60 percent of the time.”
The Tigers return a good amount of experience on defense as well.
Vying for time on the line of Warsaw’s 3-3 stack will be Plummer, August Konie, Hendrickson and Wooldridge.
Linebackers include Seth Fouts, Caleb Heckaman, Kyle Heckaman and Darren Schaefer.
Both Gabe Furnivall and Marcos Rodriguez return to the secondary.
“We want to start 22 guys,” Jensen said of a platoon system in which he would like to start 11 different players on offense and defense. “The question is how will the young guys play and develop? Who wants to step up and be a varsity player?”
Following Friday’s season opener with Columbia City, the Tigers will travel to Kendallville in Week 2 to play East Noble.
Warsaw will open NLC play by hosting Plymouth on Sept. 6.[[In-content Ad]]
The number of players is up. The Tigers are coming off their winningest season since Jensen returned to the helm in 2008. And it certainly doesn’t hurt returning a good amount of experience, led by All-Northern Lakes Conference running back Tristan McClone.
“The numbers are up,” said Jensen, in his second stint with the Tigers and 14th season overall in Warsaw. “We’ve got 80 kids in the top three grades, that’s the most we’ve had since I’ve been back. The program is headed in the right direction. We’ve got great team chemistry, and the kids put in the time in the weight room in the offseason. We’re as strong as we’ve been.”
The Tigers, who were 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the NLC last year, open the season Friday at 7 p.m. when they host U.S. 30 rival Columbia City.
A year ago, in a 20-14 win at Columbia City, McClone burst onto the scene in a big way and racked up 295 yards on the ground.
He had more yards in the first quarter than he did the entire previous season.
McClone, a 5-foot-11, 210-pounder with a blend of size and power to go with state-qualifying track speed, won’t fly under the radar this season.
Not after he rushed for a school record 322 yards and five touchdowns against Northridge.
Not after he set a school record for most yards in a season with 1,718 – along with 26 touchdowns – and was later named Times-Union Offensive Player of the Year.
“He’s my kind of football player,” Jensen said of McClone. “When you talk about it, whatever it is, he’s got it. He’s not afraid to work hard. And when your best athlete is also your hardest worker and most humble kid, you’ve got something special.”
Others with experience on the offensive side of the ball include quarterbacks Austin Head and Jake Mangas, fullback Jason Taylor, receiver Connor McCammack and center Stuart Wagner.
Head started the majority of the season under center last year, but an injury in the game at Wawasee sidelined him and he was replaced for a time by Mangas.
Jensen believes that it’s to his team’s advantage having two quarterbacks with Friday night experience.
“Going into last year, we didn’t have any quarterbacks with experience, this year we have two,” said Jensen. “Austin Head is back from his shoulder surgery, and Jake Mangas is a very intelligent young man. They’re a great combo, and they get along great. It’s a good thing having two quarterbacks that have played on Friday night.”
The spot on offense Jensen’s Tigers are least experienced is the line.
Four starting linemen that blocked for McClone last year graduated. The lone returner is Wagner.
“That’s the area we need to develop the most,” Jensen said of the line.
Among those vying for time in the trenches with Wagner are Josh Wogoman, Al Walker, Wyatt Troutner and Anthony Hendrickson.
Jensen said that Ben Plummer, an All-Conferene defensive linemen, could see time on the O-line, as could linebacker Ryder Worrell.
Expected to play tight end is Austin Perdieu. Jensen said he could also go to a double-tight end set and use Eric Kreider.
“We’ve always been a run the ball first team,” said Jensen. “Our goal this year is to be more balanced. A good mix for us would be running the ball 60 percent of the time.”
The Tigers return a good amount of experience on defense as well.
Vying for time on the line of Warsaw’s 3-3 stack will be Plummer, August Konie, Hendrickson and Wooldridge.
Linebackers include Seth Fouts, Caleb Heckaman, Kyle Heckaman and Darren Schaefer.
Both Gabe Furnivall and Marcos Rodriguez return to the secondary.
“We want to start 22 guys,” Jensen said of a platoon system in which he would like to start 11 different players on offense and defense. “The question is how will the young guys play and develop? Who wants to step up and be a varsity player?”
Following Friday’s season opener with Columbia City, the Tigers will travel to Kendallville in Week 2 to play East Noble.
Warsaw will open NLC play by hosting Plymouth on Sept. 6.[[In-content Ad]]
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