Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

MERIDIANMUSTANGS
By: Megan McGill
After a disappointing 1-7 finish
to the 2016 season, the Meridian
football squad is looking forward
to a fresh start and new beginning
this fall.
The Mustangs won just a single
game last season, but faced a
daunting regular season schedule,
competing against five playoff
teams including Sacred Heart
(the 2016 D2 state champion) and
Bruning-Davenport Shickley (the
2015 state champion).
Despite the Mustangs record,
Meridian is no stranger to the
playoffs. The football program
has made eight total playoff
appearances, most recently in
2014. However, getting back to
the playoffs will be another uphill
battle as the 2017 schedule will be
no easier.
Head Coach Clint Jones enters his
12th season at the school with a 29-
65 overall record. Despite having
two rocky seasons, Jones is excited
for the talent that he has returning
this fall.
“The Mustangs will be more
experienced than the previous two
seasons,” he said.
The last few seasons, Meridian
has not had the numbers or the
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Mustangs
Class: D2
2016 Record: 1-7
Playoff Appearances: 8
Head Coach: Clint Jones
Career Record: 29-65
experience on the field, but this
new roster will. After starting
freshman and sophomores the
past few years, the Mustangs will
finally have some upperclassmen
in the rotation. This experience is
something Jones thinks will make a
big impact.
“There’s a big difference between a
freshman and a senior physically,”
he said. “This year we will be able
to start some juniors and seniors,
and physically I think we’ll finally
be able to compete with these
teams.”
Jones will welcome back five
returning starters on offense and
six on defense. Senior Carlos Dimas
(5’6” 160 lbs) will see time on both
sides of the ball at fullback and
linebacker.
“Carlos has a nose for the ball and
always seems to be in the right
place at the right time,” Jones said.
“I think he’ll be able to provide
some leadership for our young
guys.”
Garrett Klipp (6’1” 170 lbs) will
be one of two juniors gracing the
roster. Like Dimas, Klipp will
play on both sides of the ball,
but staying healthy will be his
biggest challenge. The two-year
letterwinner was injured last
season, but Jones said Klipp is a
“good kid and hard worker, who
has grown a lot physically and
finally started to develop.”
Jones is excited to welcome a
new addition to the Mustang
squad, who he believes will have
an immediate impact. Tybor
Smith (6’1” 210 lbs) transferred
to Meridian from Diller-Odell.
The senior will serve as both a
defensive end and running back
for Meridian. The transfer helped
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 @ Blue Hill
9/1 McCool Junction
9/8 @ Weeping Water
9/15 Exeter-Milligan
9/22 @ Sterling
9/29 Falls City Sacred Heart
10/13 @ BDS
10/20 Pawnee City
lead the Griffins to the playoffs last
season.
The heart of the offense is still
up in the air for now. Jones will
have the task of replacing recent
graduate Baxter Beals, who was the
majority of the Mustang’s offense
last season. The battle for starting
quarterback will be between
sophomores Kolby Schafer (5’8”
150 lbs) and Peyton VanWesten
(5’6” 155 lbs).
Schafer plays primarily I-back and
linebacker, but will likely spend
time at the quarterback position.
VanWesten did get some QB
experience in his freshman season.
With a blank slate in front of them
and a bigger and stronger team
than they’ve had in past years, the
Mustangs are excited to get back to
work with a new winning mindset,
which will hopefully translate to a
winning record.
Key Players:
Carlos Dimas (5’6” 160 lbs) Sr. FB/
LB
Garrett Klipp (6’1” 170 lbs) Jr. E/
DE
Tybor Smith (6’1” 210 lbs) Sr. RB/
DE
402-433-4151
WESTERN, NE
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