Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

By: Austin Miller
KENESAWBLUE DEVILS
It was an up-and-down 2016
season for the Kenesaw Blue
Devils. The team opened the
season with back-to-back
losses to Elm Creek and
Palmer, before rattling off five
straight wins.
However, the Blue Devils’
season ended just like it
started, with back-to-back
losses to Heartland and
Medicine Valley.
In 2017, Kenesaw is returning
nearly every starter from last
season. The bad news for
head coach Craig Schnitzler
is that last year’s starting
quarterback, Alex Heier, won’t
be able to take the field due to
an injury. In his place will be
Taylor Pulver, who is moving
from tight end to quarterback
this season.
If there’s one strength, besides
experience, that the Blue
Devils will rely on, it’s their
running game. Kenesaw’s
starting line features three
seniors and a junior to go
along with two-headed
rushing attack.
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Blue Devils
Class: D1
2016 Record: 5-4
Playoff Appearances: 23
Head Coach: Craig Schnitzler
Career Record: 105-54
Assistant Coaches: Chuck Roe
and Casey Olson
Last season, running back
Tyson Burr was a weapon for
the Blue Devils. Burr eclipsed
1,000 yards rushing, caught
30 passes, and totaled 19
touchdowns. The senior will
look to continue his all-around
play and build on a solid
defensive season, in which
he totaled 45 tackles and two
interceptions.
“He will be one of our leaders.
He has a very good work ethic
and will work hard to get
ready for the 2017 season,”
Schnitzler said.
Along with Burr in the
backfield, Daniel Duffy will
be relied on to clear out some
running lanes and do the
dirty work from the fullback
position. Last season, Duffy
rushed for more than 500
yards, while also finding the
end zone 10 times. The senior
is also a key cog in the defense.
Last year, he totaled 99 tackles
and an interception from the
linebacker position.
“What Daniel lacks in size he
makes up for with strength
and desire. He’s very tough
to tackle on offense and has
a good nose for the ball,”
Schnitzler said.
Another key player, who
could be a menace to opposing
offenses with his speed, is
junior defensive end John
Schuster. Last season, Schuster
tore his ACL in the fourth
game of the season. He has
since recovered from the
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 @ Elm Creek
9/1 Palmer
9/8 Ravenna
9/22 @ Thayer Central
9/29 Franklin
10/6 McCool Junction
10/13 @ Superior
10/20 @ Heartland
injury. In fact, this past spring,
Schuster ran the 100-meter
dash for the track team in 11.3
seconds.
Kenesaw looks to be one of the
top teams in their district on
paper, but with a schedule that
features games against Elm
Creek, Palmer and Heartland,
the road to the playoffs won’t
be easy.
Key Players:
Tyson Burr (6’0” 175 lbs) Sr.
RB/CB
Daniel Duffy (5’9” 180 lbs) Sr.
FB/LB
John Schuster (5’10” 170 lbs)
Jr. DE
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KENESAW • HASTINGS • ROSELAND • MINDEN
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Kenesaw • 402.752.3700
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