Plenty Of Talent Returns For Warsaw Football In 2022
August 18, 2022 at 10:25 p.m.
Plenty Of Talent Returns For Warsaw Football In 2022
By Steve Krah-
There is the “30 Multiple” defense and “flexbone” offense. All players have assignments and keys.
And all are expected to go hard on every play.
“Effort is everything,” said Curtis, who is preparing his team for the 2022 season, which opens Aug. 19 against Michigan City at Fisher Field. “Are you going to quit on a play?
“If you don’t play through the trill of the whistle then you got issues. It doesn’t matter what scheme you play.”
Warsaw went 7-3 overall and 6-1 in the Northern Lakes Conference in 2021. Though graduation took away some good ones, many impact players are back this fall.
“I’m excited about the number of starts that we have back defensively,” said Curtis. “We’ve got quite a few two- and three-year starters.”
Returnees on “D” include three-year starters in senior end Russ Winchester (36 tackle points in 2021), senior inside linebacker Nick Katris (44 tackle points), senior outside linebacker Jonney Burritt (46.5 tackle points) and senior safety tandem Theo Katris (47.5 tackle points) and Trey Koontz.
Lost to graduation are two all-NLC defensive performers in outside linebacker Aiden Binkerd and lineman Luke Anderson.
“Those are holes we’ll have to fill,” said Curtis.
As preseason camp got started, the coach identified players likely to be at the front of the rotation.
That includes junior Isaac Beam at nose guard, Winchester and junior Nathaniel Rosas at end, Nick Katris and junior Jette Woodward at inside linebacker and Burritt at outside linebacker. The other spot was up for grabs between seniors Morgan Johnson and Dimitri Chandler, juniors Eric Pohl and Corbin Johnston and sophomore Cohen Heady.
There was juniors Colt VanHouten and Lucas Ransbottom at cornerback and Theo Katris and Koontz at safety.
“We’ve got a lot of snaps on that side of the ball,” said Curtis. “(Defense is) effort, execution and desire to get to the football, knowing your coverage and not getting the dang ball thrown over your head.
“Those are big deals. Those are things we want to be better at.”
The Tigers held opponents to 183 points in 2021 — 62 of those coming in the last two games. Warsaw held foes to 37.6 percent on third-down efficiency and 37.1 on fourth down.
All-state halfback Julius Jones (838 yards rushing with eight touchdowns and 185 yards receiving with one TD) has graduated. But there is plenty of talent back on offense.
“Fullback and quarterback are pretty solid,” said Curtis.
Senior quarterback Tucker Curtis (521 yards rushing and six TDs in 2021) returns as does the top two fullbacks — seniors German Flores-Ortega and Jayce Sawyer.
Flores-Ortega (595 yards and a team-best 10 touchdowns) was the leading rusher through Game 6 in 2021.
“A groin and hip issue with MRSA that was really significant and sidelined him,” said Curtis. “But he’s almost back to form.
“Sawyer filled in admirably for German last year. He brings a little bit of a different look to the fullback position. He’s a little quicker, quite a bit smaller but he’s shifty and does a really nice job.”
Curtis calls fullback “an imperative position” in the Warsaw attack.
“It’s important that your fullback get established at some point, somehow in one of the gaps throughout the course of the game,” said Curtis. “We have the possibility of depth at halfback.”
Senior Bryson Brown (298 yards and six TDs in 2021) is a returning starter. Vying for the other halfback spot were senior Haydin Rodriguez, junior Reed Zollinger and sophomores Trai Davis and Ethan Egolf.
Five players were going after two starting split end slots. Senior Jackson Murrell was leading a competition that also included seniors Bryce Duncan, Dimitri Chandler and Ian Nichols, junior Grady Nolin (who is also the team’s back-up quarterback) and sophomore Davis.
Two-year defensive line starter Kyle Schnackenberg looked to be the Tigers starting center with senior Brock Fraley (returning starter) and Ashton Chilcutt atop the depth chart at guard and juniors Harrison Stofer and Chase Carl at tackle. Also in the tackles mix were senior Noah Knepp, junior Aiden Wilkinson and sophomore Jae’vion Lawson.
On the occasion that Warsaw employs a tight end that has usually been Winchester.
“Those are the guys who have been getting the majority of the reps in practice,” said Curtis.
Sophomore Mason Smythe returns at kicker and will take over punting duties this fall. He converted on 36-of-38 extra points and 6-of-8 field goals in 2021, including a game-winner against Mishawaka in Week 4.
Frontrunners at kick/punt returner are Rodriguez and Curtis.
Curtis reports a productive summer.
“We worked awfully hard in June in the weight room and on the turf trying to get into condition,” said Curtis. “We went to wishbone camp (at Manchester University) in late July.”
There were also scrimmages against Elkhart and Valparaiso.
Curtis is 31-12 in his time leading the Tigers and 232-114 in 31 seasons overall. That’s 11th-best among active coaches and tied for 39th all-time in Indiana football history.
The varsity coaching staff includes Michael Curtis (offensive coordinator), Brady Jones (offensive line), Evan Fras (quarterbacks and fullbacks), Jeremy Coppes (halfbacks), Jerry Koontz (split ends), Kris Heuber (defensive coordinator), Chad Gabrich (defensive line), Jake Cauhorn (linebackers) and Marc Huff (cornerbacks and head junior varsity coach).
Jason Nolin is freshman head coach. That staff also features Derrick Duncan (defensive coordinator), Ben Britton (offensive and defensive linemen), Griffin Heckaman (offensive and defensive linemen) and Jeremy Brock (offensive and defensive backs).
Warsaw is in an IHSAA Class 6A sectional grouping with Elkhart, Fort Wayne Carroll and Penn. The Tigers’ lone sectional title came in 2019.
There is the “30 Multiple” defense and “flexbone” offense. All players have assignments and keys.
And all are expected to go hard on every play.
“Effort is everything,” said Curtis, who is preparing his team for the 2022 season, which opens Aug. 19 against Michigan City at Fisher Field. “Are you going to quit on a play?
“If you don’t play through the trill of the whistle then you got issues. It doesn’t matter what scheme you play.”
Warsaw went 7-3 overall and 6-1 in the Northern Lakes Conference in 2021. Though graduation took away some good ones, many impact players are back this fall.
“I’m excited about the number of starts that we have back defensively,” said Curtis. “We’ve got quite a few two- and three-year starters.”
Returnees on “D” include three-year starters in senior end Russ Winchester (36 tackle points in 2021), senior inside linebacker Nick Katris (44 tackle points), senior outside linebacker Jonney Burritt (46.5 tackle points) and senior safety tandem Theo Katris (47.5 tackle points) and Trey Koontz.
Lost to graduation are two all-NLC defensive performers in outside linebacker Aiden Binkerd and lineman Luke Anderson.
“Those are holes we’ll have to fill,” said Curtis.
As preseason camp got started, the coach identified players likely to be at the front of the rotation.
That includes junior Isaac Beam at nose guard, Winchester and junior Nathaniel Rosas at end, Nick Katris and junior Jette Woodward at inside linebacker and Burritt at outside linebacker. The other spot was up for grabs between seniors Morgan Johnson and Dimitri Chandler, juniors Eric Pohl and Corbin Johnston and sophomore Cohen Heady.
There was juniors Colt VanHouten and Lucas Ransbottom at cornerback and Theo Katris and Koontz at safety.
“We’ve got a lot of snaps on that side of the ball,” said Curtis. “(Defense is) effort, execution and desire to get to the football, knowing your coverage and not getting the dang ball thrown over your head.
“Those are big deals. Those are things we want to be better at.”
The Tigers held opponents to 183 points in 2021 — 62 of those coming in the last two games. Warsaw held foes to 37.6 percent on third-down efficiency and 37.1 on fourth down.
All-state halfback Julius Jones (838 yards rushing with eight touchdowns and 185 yards receiving with one TD) has graduated. But there is plenty of talent back on offense.
“Fullback and quarterback are pretty solid,” said Curtis.
Senior quarterback Tucker Curtis (521 yards rushing and six TDs in 2021) returns as does the top two fullbacks — seniors German Flores-Ortega and Jayce Sawyer.
Flores-Ortega (595 yards and a team-best 10 touchdowns) was the leading rusher through Game 6 in 2021.
“A groin and hip issue with MRSA that was really significant and sidelined him,” said Curtis. “But he’s almost back to form.
“Sawyer filled in admirably for German last year. He brings a little bit of a different look to the fullback position. He’s a little quicker, quite a bit smaller but he’s shifty and does a really nice job.”
Curtis calls fullback “an imperative position” in the Warsaw attack.
“It’s important that your fullback get established at some point, somehow in one of the gaps throughout the course of the game,” said Curtis. “We have the possibility of depth at halfback.”
Senior Bryson Brown (298 yards and six TDs in 2021) is a returning starter. Vying for the other halfback spot were senior Haydin Rodriguez, junior Reed Zollinger and sophomores Trai Davis and Ethan Egolf.
Five players were going after two starting split end slots. Senior Jackson Murrell was leading a competition that also included seniors Bryce Duncan, Dimitri Chandler and Ian Nichols, junior Grady Nolin (who is also the team’s back-up quarterback) and sophomore Davis.
Two-year defensive line starter Kyle Schnackenberg looked to be the Tigers starting center with senior Brock Fraley (returning starter) and Ashton Chilcutt atop the depth chart at guard and juniors Harrison Stofer and Chase Carl at tackle. Also in the tackles mix were senior Noah Knepp, junior Aiden Wilkinson and sophomore Jae’vion Lawson.
On the occasion that Warsaw employs a tight end that has usually been Winchester.
“Those are the guys who have been getting the majority of the reps in practice,” said Curtis.
Sophomore Mason Smythe returns at kicker and will take over punting duties this fall. He converted on 36-of-38 extra points and 6-of-8 field goals in 2021, including a game-winner against Mishawaka in Week 4.
Frontrunners at kick/punt returner are Rodriguez and Curtis.
Curtis reports a productive summer.
“We worked awfully hard in June in the weight room and on the turf trying to get into condition,” said Curtis. “We went to wishbone camp (at Manchester University) in late July.”
There were also scrimmages against Elkhart and Valparaiso.
Curtis is 31-12 in his time leading the Tigers and 232-114 in 31 seasons overall. That’s 11th-best among active coaches and tied for 39th all-time in Indiana football history.
The varsity coaching staff includes Michael Curtis (offensive coordinator), Brady Jones (offensive line), Evan Fras (quarterbacks and fullbacks), Jeremy Coppes (halfbacks), Jerry Koontz (split ends), Kris Heuber (defensive coordinator), Chad Gabrich (defensive line), Jake Cauhorn (linebackers) and Marc Huff (cornerbacks and head junior varsity coach).
Jason Nolin is freshman head coach. That staff also features Derrick Duncan (defensive coordinator), Ben Britton (offensive and defensive linemen), Griffin Heckaman (offensive and defensive linemen) and Jeremy Brock (offensive and defensive backs).
Warsaw is in an IHSAA Class 6A sectional grouping with Elkhart, Fort Wayne Carroll and Penn. The Tigers’ lone sectional title came in 2019.
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