08/23/2024
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - Relatively speaking the Black Diamond Conference football race (in most campaigns) comes down to one pivotal game, usually a contest between unbeaten teams.

The 2023 season produced that game in Week 8.

Sesser-Valier/Waltonville traveled on a Friday night to Johnston City for a battle of 7-0 clubs with much on the line.

Johnston City jumped out to a 16-0 halftime advantage and held a 22-6 lead with just five minutes left in the third quarter.

But the Red Devils rallied to force overtime, scored on their first possession in the extra session before stopping the Indians on a two-point conversion attempt to win the war, 30-28.

Both teams won the next week and marched into the playoffs and each won opening round games at home.

SVW made it to the third round of the 1A tournament while Johnston City lost to Breese Mater Dei in the second round of the 2A playoff.

Both Carmi-White County and Fairfield qualified for the postseason as well with late playoff pushes.

Both the Mules and Bulldogs failed to make it past the first round of the 3A and 2A playoffs respectively.

One other club, Hamilton County, fell a game shy of a playoff berth (4-5) with a Week 9 loss on the road.

Flora opened the season 3-1 but then suffered five consecutive defeats to fall out of contention for a playoff berth.

The Wolves have a lot coming back from the 3-6 club.

Eldorado and Edwards County picked up a couple of victories each while Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton went without a win.

The future of the Vienna/Goreville football program is in a bit of limbo with now its second consecutive season without the numbers to field a varsity team.

As for 2024, the top teams from last year look to battle for the top spot while some others look to be much improved.

With Johnston City returning a wealth of talented players, they will likely be the favorites heading into the season.

However look for improvement across the board with teams looking to move up the ladder.

The Sesser-Valier/Waltonville Red Devils roared out to an 11-0 start to the season in 2023-24, winning all nine regular season contests, going 8-0 in the Black Diamond Conference to win the outright championship.

The highlights were many, rallying for victories on the road at at Johnston City (in overtime) and at Carmi-White County.

Instead of taking a forfeit Vienna/Goreville, SVW beat River to River program Pinckneyville in Week 2.

This was the second 11-0 start for the program.

Unfortunately for Sesser-Valier/Waltonville the season ended the same way as it did the previous time.

You must dig back in history to the fall of 1991 for the previous Red Devils' undefeated playoff run where Coach Ross Babington's bunch rolled to a nine game undefeated regular season to go with consecutive postseason wins over Carlyle and Johnston City.

The season closed at 11-1 with a 14-0 defeat to Greenfield in the 2A playoffs.

As things turned out last fall, the Red Devils fell to the same program that ended the previous undefeated run.

Greenfield/Northwestern took down Sesser-Valier/Waltonville 44-16 to end their season.

The seniors that suited up for Coaches Mike Rude and John Shadowens were special and left their mark on the program.

Senior quarterback Colt Packer and senior running back Dezmond Malone put up the numbers for the Black Diamond Conference 9-0 champs.

Malone averaged 11.7 yards per carry for the Red Devils in his final campaign, racking up 1,641 yards while scoring 24-touchdowns, which included a 75-yard TD run as his season best.

The tailback scored three touchdowns in a 32-8 playoff win over Catlin Salt Fork in the second round playoff victory.

Packer is also missing from that squad as he departed the program after adding 633-yards on the ground and 1,169-yards in the air.

Rushing Packer (12) and Malone (24) accounted for 36 of the Red Devils' 44-rushing scores.

With nearly the entire offensive line returning, the Red Devils will need to put the skill position players together to make another playoff run.

Six-one, 248 pound fullback Caeden Hicks is back with likely a more prominent role in the offense.

Hicks was third on the rushing list last season (31-carries, 185-yards) and will likely have more opportunities this season.

Coach Shadowens mentioned 5-9, 220 pound linebacker Hayden McMurray as another key to the team this season.

McMurray led the club in tackles last fall.

Kyan Short, a 5-11, 155 pound junior, was the second leading receiver from a year ago.

Who will throw him the ball remains to be seen as there will be suitors to step into the quarterback role.

“Football starts up front and we feel very good about our line on both sides of the ball,” said Coach Shadowens. “After we get our QB situation settled, we can surround him with some pretty nice weapons.”

WWhen you look at the chapters of the success stories in southern Illinois high school football in the past few years, the Johnston City Indians are definitely included in that best seller.

Coach Todd Thomas took over the Indian program in 2018-19 and, after consecutive losing seasons, Johnston City has a four-year mark of 36-5.

Included in that run are three playoff appearances and a 6-0 Covid spring season.

The 2022 Tribe made it to the 2A state semifinals and last season the Tribe went 9-2 with a playoff win.

Last fall a single loss in overtime to Sesser-Valier/Waltonville in the conference and a tough 2A playoff loss at home to Breese Mater Dei were the only blemishes.

Coach Thomas lost four kids to graduation in the spring who were all-conference and all-south selections.

Senior quarterback/linebacker Keaton Fort, tight end/defensive end Jude Beers, lineman Diego Garza and running back/linebacker Ben Morgan.

Beers is continuing his education wrestling at a Northeastern Oklahoma A&M while Fort is playing football at McKendree University.

All four will be missed as they were a big part of the past two seasons at JC.

Morgan paced the Indians' dominant rushing attack last fall with 76-carries for 736-yards and seven touchdowns.

Fort added 245-yards on the ground (five TD's) while throwing for another 311-yards and five other scores.

Coach Thomas has a wealth of talent/experience returning.

Six starters are back, including 5-10, 150 senior running back/defensive back Nolan Causey.

Causey carried the ball 84-times for 587-yards and nine touchdowns as a junior.

He also caught six-passes for 228-yards and five touchdowns for JC.

Six-foot, 230 a senior fullback/defensive end Evan Sanders also returns for Johnston City following a season where he added to the ground offense with 553-yards on 74-attempts.

Sanders led the Tribe with 11 rushing TD's.

Cannon Ashmore is a 5-10. 155 senior running back returning who was second on the squad in rushing with 69-attempts and 565-yards and a pair of TD's.

Others returning include 5-11, 185 senior tackle/tight end Blake Peters, 5-10, 190 senior tight end/linebacker Brennan Cargal, 5-11, 180 sophomore defensive back/running back Marcus Leitzen and 5-3, 130 junior defensive back/running back Jace Weaver.

All were contributors a year ago.

Five-eleven 270 senior defensive tackle Roper Sanders and 6-foot, 230 junior defensive tackle Logan Moore.

As if that wasn't enough returning, Coach Thomas has some skill position players who should step forward.

Five-nine, 135 junior quarterback Kaden Koenig gets his shot at starting with the graduation of Fort.

Adding to the depth and options for Coach Thomas are linemen senior 6-1, 190 Marcus Smith, senior Issac Maxwell, 5-8, 230 junior Landon Moore and 5-8, 160 senior Carlos Giron.

The Indians rushed for a cataclysmic 3,337-yards last season in 11-games as they flooded opponents with a pounding attack.

“With losing so many key people to graduation we will have to work hard and battle each week. Our preparation will have to be better than it's ever been to have a chance to be near the top of the conference. And as always, just like many others schools now days we will have to stay healthy. Depth is a game/season changer for so many teams. You have to have some luck. We have been fortunate with that the previous seasons,” said Coach Thomas, who is 58-37 in ten seasons as a head coach. “We have had a lot of our players work very hard in the off-season. The majority have good attitudes and are coach-able. That makes the process enjoyable and is the most important thing that we stress. That is the foundation for success not just in football but in life. We definitely are not the front runner on paper this year so I have told this group not to put that pressure on themselves and just be the best that they can be week in and week out. That is what success is regardless of your record.”

The Hamilton County Foxes were in the hunt for a playoff spot heading into the final week of the regular season in 2023.

Sitting at 4-4 they needed a win in the finale in Week 9 to qualify for their first postseason since 2019.

It was supposed to be a game against Vienna/Goreville but with that program not being able to field a varsity team, the Foxes added West Frankfort to the schedule.

Despite playing the Red Birds tough throughout, Hamilton County fell on the road 30-24 in overtime, ending the season at 4-5.

Coach Rhet Vaughan has led this program the past two seasons and the Foxes have matching 4-5 marks, just a game short of the playoffs each time.

Year number three for Hamilton County will hopefully produce at least one additional victory.

Playoff wise the Foxes have just a single win in eight total playoff games, a 27-21 win over Effingham in the 3A playoffs back in 1978.

The most recent appearance for Hamilton County in the postseason was in 2019 which ended with a 52-7 loss to Decatur St. Teresa in the 2A first round.

The Foxes beat Edwards County, Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton, Eldorado and Flora last fall and Coach Vaughan and Company are ready to take the next step in holding their own against the top teams in the Black Diamond.

The Edwards County (10-0) and Eldorado (26-0) wins were shutouts as the defense stood out for the Foxes.

Two of the losses a year ago were to Sesser-Valier/Waltonville and Carmi-White County.

Both of those contests were closer that the final scores would indicate and, in the West Frankfort contest, the Foxes led 18-0 before the Red Birds rallied.

The program lost five key seniors from last fall to graduation; backs Eli Hanson and Jagger Mitchell along with three linemen Kaydn Kelly, Brody Barker, and Brayden Ritchie.

Quarterback Andrew Webb returns under center for the Foxes

The senior tossed the ball for 514-yards last fall as Coach Vaughan preferred to keep the ball on the ground.

Hamilton County had over 1,500-yards rushing in 2023.

Two all-conference players return for Hamilton County with wide receiver and defensive lineman senior Kaleb Carson and junior running back Braxton Miller.

Miller rushed 92-times for 713-yards to lead the Foxes ground attack and was the top Webb target, catching 11-passes for 243-yards and four of the five Foxes' passing TD's.

Carson was the top defender with 89 total tackles; meaning he averaged nearly 10 a game during the nine-game slate.

Coach Vaughan also has senior lineman Tucker Richards, junior running back Blane Eck, and junior tight end/linebacker Jace Cross returning.

Junior lineman Logan Kinder also returns and sophomore linebackers Chase Peyton and Kyle Williams will see action.

Newcomers, according to Coach Vaughan, will be key players junior wide out Cameron Milligan, junior lineman Wyatt Schuster, senior tight end Fred Ping and sophomore running back/defensive back Celso Ramirez.

“Our defense was what won us some games, and kept us in most. I expect our defense to be even better this season, and I expect our offense to be much, much more effective all year,” said Coach Vaughan. “The seniors we have returning have been with me for all four years. I have all the faith in the world in their ability and their commitment. Our junior class is full of very hard working, talented athletes as well. I believe this season will be the most exciting and successful season the Foxes have had in a long time. Our kids have put in the work, and we are ready to see it pay off this fall.”

Despite an abundance of regular season success for the Carmi-White County Bulldogs football program in recent seasons, playoff success has eluded Coach Kurt Simon's program.

You have to go back in time to 2013 to find the last victory for CWC in the playoffs and the program has just a single win in its last 13-playoff contests.

The losing streak in the postseason reached seven last fall with a 40-22 defeat to Breese Mater Dei in the first round of the 2A playoffs at home.

However CWC has battled against some good teams in those playoff losses and last season Mater Dei beat both CWC and Johnston City in back-to-back weeks.

For Coach Simon and Company, graduation took some key players from the 7-4 club.

Eight total seniors are missing from the club and all will leave important minutes on the table for newcomers to step and take.

Landon Driscoll was the QB for the Bulldogs a season ago and he graduated along with classmates Andrew Dodgson, Caleb Seibers, Trayton Vickers, Gavin Peyton, Nelson Rider, Konner Buchanan and Austin Owen.

Peyton, Rider, Buchanan and Owen were part of a quality offensive line and those spots will be open for preseason competition.

Driscoll passed for 443-yards and six TD's last fall and added another 56-yards on the ground.

He also produced yards on kickoff returns; over 1,500-yards on 44-returns (36.2 average).

Dodgson added 447-yards on the ground as a running back and Seibers accumulated another 601-yards rushing.

The Bulldogs rushed for 2,337-yards as a team last fall, nearly twice as many yards rushing as they gave up to the opposition.

There were some highlights, which included wins over Fairfield (42-26), Flora (52-16), Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton (52-14) and Eldorado (14-8).

All of those wins came on the road to go with regular season home wins over Edwards County and Hamilton County to go with a forfeit win over Vienna/Goreville.

They gave eventual league champs Sesser-Valier/Waltonville a tussle before losing 32-30 at home in Week 4.

The final two games didn't go well with a 36-6 loss at home to Johnston City before the first round defeat to BMD.

The good news is that senior running back 5-11, 170 junior tail back Noah Pollard returns after leading the Dawgs with 993-yards rushing on 147-attempts.

Kale Wiggins, a 5-7, 150 senior, is another of the backs who return.

Coach Simon also mentioned Kade Stockton, a 6-foot, 170 senior, who was a tight end/linebacker a year ago.

Cade Allen was the top receiver for the Bulldogs in 2023 and the 5-10, 160 senior returns.

Allen caught 12-passes for 223-yards and three of the CWC passing scores from Driscoll.

The trenches will be the place that will be the biggest question mark when the season begins with a home game against Flora on August 30 as starter Eli Bryant, a 6-1, 310 senior is the only returning starter up front.

Madden Anderson, a 5-7, 140 junior, will be under center to begin the season at quarterback for the Bulldogs.

“Our biggest concern will be our line of scrimmage. Lost several good lineman to graduation,” said Coach Simon, who is 179-129 in his many seasons as a head coach at both Centralia and Carmi-White County. “Numbers are always a concern.”

Of those kids missing, five have went on to play at the next level.

Running back Trey Mason, lineman Bronson Rilea and lineman Nick Tribe landed at Greenville College while running back Jay Snyder is at Illinois College.

Latrael Snyder, another missing senior, is now at McKendree University.

All were important to the playoff team from a season ago.

Mason (830), L. Snyder (494) and Jay Snyder (336) represented 1,660 of the 1,958-yards on the ground by the Mules in 2023.

Ironically Mason, Tribe and Rilea played their final prep football game in the town that they will play college at.

The Mules qualified for the 3A playoffs, the program's 21st postseason appearance, last fall by winning the final four games to end the regular season at 5-4.

The stay wasn't long as the Mules fell at Greenville, 35-12 to end the season at 5-5.

Returning for the Mules is 6-2, 185 sophomore Jaylen Maners, who was the starting QB last fall.

Maners completed 94-passes for 1,273-yards and 17 touchdowns as a freshman.

Jacob Combs, a 5-10, 270 senior lineman, was the center for the Mules last season on offense and he returns.

Six-foot, 205 senior Eric Locke is also a returning lineman for Fairfield.

Jayden Wilson, a 6-1, 295 lineman also is returning as will Jayze Bube, a 6-5, 340 senior lineman.

Having your quarterback and three key linemen returning is a plus for Coach Townsend as they shoot for their 11th straight playoff appearance (excluding Covid season).

Seven starters on the defensive side of the ball also are back for Fairfield.

Two all-conference selections; 5-10, 175 senior Miller Simpson and 5-10, 170 senior linebacker Israel “Izzy” Sargent, return.

Sargent rushed 24-times for 141-yards as a junior and was the team's top defender with 87 combined tackles.

Simpson is also a top returning defender as a defensive back.

Six-three, 200 senior defensive end Brayton Robertson is back as is 5-10, 180 senior defensive back Cale Milner.

Defensive tackle Bentley Rogers, a 6-foot, 250 senior, along with juniors Logan Tullis and Nick Munoz are back.

Tullis is a 5-10, 165 junior linebacker/running back and Munoz is 5-10, 205 junior lineman/linebacker.

That's a pretty good core group to open the season with.

However Coach Townsend will have others to step up.

Six-one, 175 junior Lane Robson and 5-8, 175 junior Keegan Downen are part of the plan.

Both are wide receivers on offense, Robson is a defensive back while Downen is a linebacker.

Five-ten, 205 junior lineman Brock Hoke along with wide receiver/defensive backs junior Jude Carter and senior Andrew Bittles, will also see action.

Look for input from senior tight end/lineman Conner Chow, sophomore running back/defensive back Austin Grieve and sophomore linebacker/running back Michael Barner.

“We have some talented guys but they are unproven at this point. It's their time to step up and be on the big stage. I'm ready to see what they can do. We do have some veterans up front on the line, so that always helps. We also return several starters on defense so I look for us to much improved on that side of the ball,” said Coach Townsend, who is 138-87 entering his 24th season at Fairfield.

Although they didn't win a varsity contest last fall the Bearcats were competitive in some of their games and return a great deal of talented kids from a successful JV team.

Despite losing six seniors, including a 1,000-yard rusher, this club has a shot at winning some varsity contests with the core group that returns.

Six-one, 180 senior Briar Rowland gained 1,029-yards on the season on just 161-attempts on the ground.

He is currently playing baseball at Rend Lake College.

One loss is painful as expected starter at quarterback Carson Hobbs will miss the fall with a knee injury.

However look for Landon Sveda, a 5-9 junior, to step to take the reigns.

According to Coach Spillan, Sveda was a 62 percent passer overall a season ago when in action and he will have more snaps under center in 2024.

Five-nine, 140 junior Landen Butler caught 27-passes for 348-yards and led the team with three TD catches.

Butler will also be in the defensive backfield for the Bearcats.

Junior Gage Schlake, like Butler, will play in the secondary and also fill in one of the wide receiver slots.

Schlake caught 17-passes last fall for 208-yards.

Kaden Anderson, a 5-8 senior wide receiver, returns and will also play defensive back and linebacker for the Bearcats.

Sophomore Tripp Fletcher was one of the top defenders on the club a year ago as was senior Jeffrey Furlow, who only played in half the games in 2023.

Furlow will play a lot of positions according to Coach Spillan.

Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton will have some veterans upfront.

Six-four, 280 pound Zaidyn Ing played both sides of the line of scrimmage last winter and he will have help from 6-0, 210 senior Sam Helfrich.

Alex Peyton, a 5-8, 160 senior, and 5-7, 165 senior Kyler Reece-Phillips, will be a part of the linebacker crew.

Coach Spillan also mentioned Noah Wilson, a 5-9, 185 sophomore lineman, and 5-11 junior Parker Hoey, who will both return with experience.

"The Bearcats are coming back bigger, better, and stronger for the 2024 season,” said Coach Spillan, who played football at Belleville West and and at Eastern Illinois University. "We lost a couple of key players to graduation but I am excited for the number of returning talented players who are hungry and ready to compete in the BDC.”

Edwards County Edwards County made some much needed progress last season for head coach Russ Gerlach.

Although they managed just one victory on the field, to go with a forfeit win from Vienna/Goreville, the Lions showed signs of significant improvement.

Edwards County picked up a Week 8 win at home against Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton, 28-20, and ended the season at 2-7.

It was an improvement from the 0-9 2022 campaign.

Three of their defeats this past season came by narrow margins.

Eldorado edged Edwards County, 12-9 in Week 1; Flora topped the Lions 20-19 in Week 3 at Flora and Hamilton County got a Pick 6 and a safety in a 10-0 win in Week 4.

Those contests were winnable games with a break or two going the Edwards County way.

Coach Gerlach lost four players from a year ago to graduation.

Lineman Jacob Weber, linebacker Wyatt Landingham, place kicker Preston Wright and fullback/linebacker Max Gerlach are key players that will be missed.

Gerlach, the coaches' son, was the top ground gainer last fall with 434-yards on 88-carries.

But the key players returning will look to improve upon what was built upon last fall.

Quarterback Jax Duncan returns for his junior campaign after calling out the plays a season ago.

He didn't throw the ball much last season (32-of-73, 224-yards) but he rushed for another 194-yards on 54-attempts.

His six TD's rushing led the club.

Coach Gerlach also has a pair of running backs returning with senior Drew Seibert and junior Jackson Hensley.

Seibert was second to Gerlach on the ground in 2023, with 290-yards on 68-carries.

Both he and Gerlach scored two touchdowns during the season.

Hensley added 46-rushing attempts for 141-yards a a pair of scores.

Senior wide receiver/running back Justin Davis is another key skill position player returning with experience.

Davis added to the numbers with 102-yards rushing and 134-yards receiving.

Coach Gerlach also has some kids ready to move into more playing time.

Junior wide out Wyatt Greathouse is one of the players who should see more PT along with senior wide receivers Wyatt Johnson and Michael Andrews.

Running back depth will come from Nick Yokel and tight end Jake Wiseman will also be a part of the plan.

The offensive line will have three returning starters.

Seniors JW Simms-Reisner and Jaron Weaver along with junior Caden Hart.

According to Coach Gerlach, all of the above will also be mainstays on the other side of the ball.

“All of these guys are also our also our main defensive players. We will have a few other guys sprinkled in who didn't start last year,” said Coach Gerlach.

Others that will be called upon include juniors Blake Landingham, Brandon Edgin, and Brayden Sanford, as well as sophomores Quinten Pike and Cody Greathouse.

Freshman Clive Gerlach will also be part of the club as they open the season at home against Eldorado.

“I feel we have a chance to make a jump in the conference. Our youth is finally experienced, and we have some solid players. Our goal is making the playoffs, and I think this season we have a very good chance,” said Coach Gerlach.

Eldorado finished the 2023 fall campaign with a just a 2-7 mark, topping both Edwards County and Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton.

Those two victories came in Week 1 and then Week 9.

In between the Eagles lost seven-consecutive games, with the two most competitive contests coming at home to Flora (18-14) and Carmi-White County (14-8).

Head coach Joe Clark will be without the services of his top offensive player from last season.

Five-eleven senior quarterback Coltin Patrick led the Eagles in passing yards and rushing yards last autumn.

Patrick rushed for 674-yards on 104-attempts with four touchdowns.

In the air the senior added another 320-yards and was the defensive leader with 60 total tackles.

Another missing link from the team via graduation is running back/linebacker Ashton Robinson (276-yards, 54-tackles).

Six-three senior lineman Eli Awalt was also a standout for Coach Clark a year ago.

This coach will turn to returnees in an attempt to be more competitive in what might be the most balanced edition of The Diamond in many seasons.

Five-nine senior running back Jake Phelps returns after a productive junior season.

Phelps was second on the team in rushing (304-yards on 69-attempts) and caught nine of the passes from Patrick last fall.

Maddex Rush, a 6-2 junior, added over 300-yards of total offense (rushing/receiving) as a sophomore.

Six-one senior wide receiver Ryne Cox returns after catching nine-passes and scoring a touchdown for the Eagles.

Kaiden Henson, a 5-9 junior running back, also was part of the offense last season for Eldorado.

Jameson Molinarolo and Levi Miller are also back as seniors for Coach Clark.

“Hopeful we can play sound fundamental football and be in a position to compete towards the top of our league,” said Coach Clark.

In all sports with one exception: football.

The Wolves have only made 13-playoff appearances and they have yet to win a game (0-13).

Their most recent qualifying season was 2022 where they lost to eventual semifinalist Johnston City, 36-20.

Coach Brian Tackitt was the coach for the last four playoff appearances and his club looked on the verge of making the playoffs again after a 3-1 start to the 2023 campaign.

But five-consecutive defeats ruined the playoff push as the Wolves ended up 3-6.

Two of the losses were heartbreaking, dropping a 38-34 road decision at Hamilton County and a 30-28 loss at Dupo, a game they picked up when Vienna/Goreville didn't field a varsity team.

Those two contests, had they turned the tables, would have put Flora in the postseason.

Gone from that club are eight seniors, including all-conference pick Logan Atwood, a 6-2, 200 senior linebacker/running back who led Flora with 105-total tackles, 27-solo.

Andrew Wicke, a 5-8, 160 senior defensive back/running back, also was a producer on the field for the Wolves, has also departed.

Flora, however, returns a lot of experienced kids who have experience and some who put up impressive numbers last fall.

Quarterback Patrick Helm, a 5-10, 165 junior, was the starter last season and also played defensive back for the Wolves.

Helm completed 53 percent of his passes last fall, connecting on 102-of-192 attempts for 1,233-yards and 12 TD's.

Unfortunately this season he will need to find a different favorite target as Trey Wells, a 4-10, 175 wide receiver/defensive back (41-receptions/542-yards, six TD's) also graduated.

Second on the list of catches is Garrett Patridge, a 6-0, 160 senior wide out.

Five-ten, 155 senior wide receiver Braxton Huddlestun was third on the catch list at 17-catches and 244-yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Kormick Massie, a 5-10, 175 sophomore, led the team in rushing on 182-yards from 30-attempts.

Jarrett Burkett, a 6-7, 140 senior running back/defensive back, rushed 20-times for 156-yards and two touchdowns.

Quentin Black, a 5-6 180 senior, also returns for the Wolves as he played running back and linebacker as a junior.

He added 122-yards on 42-rushing attempts last fall (two TD's) while catching 10-passes for 124.

With the top returning passer and the top three runners returning, offensively the Wolves will look improved this fall.

Coach Tackitt also mentioned some kids who will make an impact.

Six-three, 160 senior wide receiver/defensive back, missed all of last season due to injury and he will add to the mix this season.

Sophomore Kheilin Crawford, a 5-9, 130 defensive back/wide out, has nursed a hip injury this summer but if healthy will give Flora minutes and production.

On the offensive line the Wolves look solid.

Four of the ones who started as sophomores return for Coach Tackitt.

Six-foot, 330 junior lineman Payton Scroggins, 6-2, 205 junior Andrew Shelby, 5-9, 160 junior Logan Keach and 5-10, 190 junior linebacker/lineman Andrew Hartman all return from last year.

Senior Sam Blanchette, 6-5, 240 lineman, will also see PT.

Flora looks to be better defensively with kids back who all put up tackling numbers from 2023.

Other than the ones already mentioned, 5-10, 145 senior Cameron Boyer returns along with 5-5, 140 senior defensive back Nick Kimbro, and 6-5, 180 senior Jadon Leib.

Six of the returning defense players had at least 30-tackles with Black leading the way with 62.

“Our team looks to be stronger this year than last. We were so young in many spots last year and that caused us to lose close games to Hamilton County and Dupo. This kept us out of the playoffs. We hope with the experience this year we can rebound and get back into the playoffs. We have a good mix of good seniors and still have a lot of Juniors that will make up a big portion of our starting lineup. Our incoming sophomores are going to provide us with a lot of depth. We feel like we will be able to get a lot of guys in on defense and keep us fresh. We need to get back to running the ball better. We know we have a good quarterback and receivers. We relied on them too much last year. Our goal will be to be a better running team. Sustain long drives and wear teams defense down and keep ours fresh,” said Coach Tackitt, who is 35-47 in nine-years as head coach. “If we can get good defensive line play we have a chance to keep our opponents out of the endzone and give us a chance to win each and every week. Our goal is to get back into the playoffs. Try to win enough games to get a home game and hope for our first program playoff win.”