Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

By: Austin Miller
MINDENWHIPPETS
After back-to-back seasons
without a victory, Minden took
a step in the right direction in
2016. The Whippets went 3-6,
but will have yet another uphill
battle in 2017.
Jebb Hatch has stepped in as
the new head coach for the
Whippets, replacing former
head coach Shannon Lovin.
Hatch returns only seven
starters from last season,
four on offense and three on
defense. He will also have a
first-year starter under center
and just three seniors in total.
“We will be a very young
team, so we will need to build
confidence throughout the
season,” Hatch said. “We will
also need to develop leadership
in the offseason.”
While there are plenty of
newcomers, three of the
returners are within the
trenches.
Seniors Ethan Hanson and
Gabe Walmsley will each
enter their third season as
starters along the offensive
line. Hanson will also be a
starter along the defensive line,
while Walmsley will play at
linebacker.
Another key returner for
the Whippets is sophomore
running back Eduardo
Gonzalez. Gonzalez was a
starter last season, rushing for
just over 400 yards.
Gonzalez is one of several
playmakers who could kickstart
a Whippet offense that is
transitioning from a power run
to a spread concept.
A change in philosophy could
be the answer for an offense
that has struggled in recent
years. Last season Minden
labored to put points on the
board, eclipsing 20 or more
points just once in 2016, while
averaging roughly 90 yards
on the ground and 70 yards
through the air.
The Whippets hope that a
spread approach creates more
running lanes and one-on-one
situations for Gonzalez and the
other Whippet playmakers.
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 Ogallala
9/1 @ Gibbon
9/8 Southern Valley
9/15 @ Adams Central
9/22 Broken Bow
9/29 @ Cozad
10/6 Kearney Catholic
10/13 Chase County
10/19 @ Gothenburg
take advantage of a schedule
that features five straight
games against opponents that
finished last season under .500.
However, the Whippet’s week
one match-up is a home game
against an Ogallala team that
finished 8-3 last season.
Key Players:
Ethan Hanson (6’0” 220 lbs) Sr.
OL/DL
Gabe Walmsley (6’0” 195 lbs)
Sr. OL/LB
Eduardo Gonzalez (5’8” 160
lbs) Soph. RB
Home sweet home
Protect all that you’ve built with a company you can trust.
MINDEN • KENESAW • ROSELAND • HASTINGS
Kevin, Cody, Denise, Megan, Joelle, Erica and Kristi
Minden • 308.832.2140
YOUR HEALTHCARE IS OUR CONCERN
419 NORTH COLORADO
MINDEN, NE
308.832.2815
WE DELIVER
CENTRAL NEBRASKA’S
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
LEADER
Jeffrey E. Hanson Pharm.D, RP • Tami L. Hanson Pharm.D, RP • Samantha J. McCartney Pharm.D, RP • Michala M. Petersen Pharm.D, RP
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Whippets
Class: C1
2016 Record: 3-6
Playoff Appearances: 16
Head Coach: Jebb Hatch
Career Record: 0-0
Assistant Coaches: Tony Marino
and Donnie Miller
In order to make that transition
into a new offense, Hatch
has focused this offseason on
strength and conditioning.
“We had a great offseason in
the weight room,” Hatch said.
“The kids have been willing to
show up and work hard.”
If the offense can kick into
gear, the Whippets could
WEEKNIGHTS AT 6 & 10 PM
BRANDON RECTOR • SPENCER SCHUBERT • CATHERINE SILVER • JUSTIN BIEGEL
154 2017 Prepzone Pigskin Preview www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 155