Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

LINCOLN LUTHERANWARRIORS
By: Kevin Sjuts
Lincoln Lutheran is coming off
a breakthrough season where
the Warriors turned a winless
record into a 7-2 finish. Greg
Nelson’s team is hoping for an
even bigger breakthrough in
2017. The Warriors are aiming
for the school’s first playoff
berth since 2012. Lincoln
Lutheran narrowly missed out
on the postseason last fall which
has served as motivation over
the off-season.
“This group of juniors and
seniors has worked so hard to
get to the place they are in,”
Nelson said. “Their dedication
in the weight room has made
them successful.”
Nelson, who’s entering his
fourth year at Lincoln Lutheran,
may have his deepest and most
talented team this fall. Lincoln
Lutheran returns starters at
18 positions, including junior
quarterback Zach Clausen. The
strong-armed QB has nearly
3,000 career passing yards.
Clausen has triggered Lincoln
Lutheran’s offensive resurgence,
which scored 30 or more points
five times last season.
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Warriors
Class: C2
2016 Record: 7-2
Playoff Appearances: 8
Head Coach: Greg Nelson
Career Record: 8-19
Assistant Coaches: Brett Shamblin,
Chris Schaedel, Drew Guiney,
Shannon White and Ryan Stantz
“We must become more
diversified on offense,” Nelson
said. “Our passing game should
be able to give defenses trouble.
We hope that will open the way
for our veteran offensive line to
create some holes in the running
game.” Clausen led the Warriors
with 667 rushing yards in 2016.
Sam Rathe (6’1” 175 lbs) was
the Warriors’ most often-used
running back with 111 carries.
Rathe is now in his senior year,
along with Lincoln Lutheran’s
top three wide receivers.
Logan Kreizel, Joe Admiraal,
and Cole Schaedel are all
reliable targets in the Warriors’
passing game. The trio
combined for 104 receptions
with Schaedel (6’ 160 lbs) being
the most often-used wideout.
Kreizel, who will be a four-year
starter, creates several matchup
problems with his 6-foot-3,
195-pound frame.
Another strength for Lincoln
Lutheran is its offensive line.
All five starters return up front,
including Jacob Wendland (6’2”
210 lbs). The unit has shown
tremendous growth over the
past few seasons, according
to Nelson. He says the team’s
dedication to weight training
has been key in its development.
Defensively, Lincoln Lutheran
is experienced but has holes in
the middle of the unit. Nelson
must replace starters at both
defensive tackle and middle
linebacker. “If we can find
strong players to stop the run
up front, we can be successful,”
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 @ Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer
9/1 @ Johnson County Central
9/8 Lincoln Christian
9/15 @ Lutheran High Northeast
9/22 @ Malcolm
9/29 Freeman
10/6 Elmwood-Murdock
10/13 @ Omaha Brownell Talbot
10/20 Yutan
Nelson said. The Warriors held
opponents to 14 points per
game last season, but had major
hiccups in their two losses.
Lincoln Lutheran allowed
34 points in a shutout loss to
Lutheran High Northeast and
41 in a season-ending defeat to
Yutan.
Overall, the outlook is bright
for Lincoln Lutheran in 2017.
With the Warriors’ skill and
momentum from last season,
the Warriors are poised to take
another step forward this fall.
“With high expectations, we
must remain humble and work
to get better each practice, day,
and game,” Nelson said.
Key Players:
Zach Clausen (6’6” 190 lbs) Jr.
QB/LB
Logan Kreizel (6’3” 195 lbs) Sr.
WR/DB
James Lavicky (6’1” 210 lbs) Sr.
OL/DE
128 2017 Prepzone Pigskin Preview www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 129