Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

PAWNEE CITYINDIANS
By: Megan McGill
For Head Coach Scott Brumbaugh,
winning is more than the numbers
on a scoreboard, it’s a mindset and
an attitude. It’s an attitude he hopes
his 2017 squad learns to adopt after a
disappointing 2-6 finish last season.
The Indians won just two games in
2016 against Weeping Water and
Meridian. In addition, Pawnee City
both won and lost by large margins
last fall.
“We need to change our attitude and
learn how to win,” Brumbaugh said.
“We played well most of last season,
but we just couldn’t finish games.”
Pawnee City has made eight playoff
appearances, but hasn’t competed
in the playoffs since 2014. With a
new mindset and the return of six
starters on both offense and defense,
Brumbaugh hopes this season will
be a much different story.
Unlike last season, the second-year
head coach will enjoy plenty of
returners and upperclassmen on his
roster.
Senior Andrew Davis (6’3” 200
lbs) will be the heart of the offense
and perhaps the whole team.
Brumbaugh describes him as the
“leader of the team.” Davis averaged
28.3 receiving yards a game and
recorded three touchdowns.
Davis will also play an integral role
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Indians
Class: D2
2016 Record: 2-6
Playoff Appearances: 8
Head Coach: Scott Brumbaugh
Career Record: 72-38
Assistant Coach: Tyler Colvin
in the Indians’ 3-2 defense. He’ll
see time at defensive end, a spot he
was very comfortable in last season.
Davis was the second leading tackler
on the team in 2016 with 67 total
tackles.
“Overall, Andrew is a great kid
and works hard at getting better,”
Brumbaugh said of Davis.
Kaisonn Koester (6’0” 190 lbs)
will return for his senior season
at running back. Koester was the
leading rusher for the Indians last
season and will be a big piece of
the squad’s pistol offense. Koester
totaled 560 rushing yards his junior
year and five touchdowns.
Like Davis, Koester will see time
on the other side of the ball on the
defensive line. Last season, Koester
recorded 65 tackles and one sack.
Shamar Willey will be the engine of
the offense. The junior wide receiver
totaled 89 rushing yards and
averaged 12.7 yards a game.
Like most teams, the Indians dealt
with several injuries.
“Like any team, we aren’t very
deep,” Brumbaugh said. “We need
to stay healthy to have a chance.”
Staying healthy will be especially
true for Caleb Ouding (6’0” 205 lbs)
and Marcus Gray (6’2” 285 lbs).
Ouding will return for his senior
season determined to make up for
lost time. The running back missed
his junior year due to a torn ACL.
Gray will enter his junior year at
nose guard.
“Marcus has great potential, if he
can just stay healthy,” Brumbaugh
said.
Sophomore TJ Mawhiney (6’0” 160
lbs) will head the Indian offense.
Mawhiney saw playing time last
2017 SCHEDULE
9/1 Omaha Christian Academy
9/8 @ McCool Junction
9/15 Falls City Sacred Heart
9/22 Weeping Water
9/29 @ Pawnee City
10/6 @ Exeter-Milligan
10/13 Mead
10/19 @ Friend
season as a freshman, but will likely
play a much larger role come this
fall.
Despite the team’s fair share of
returning starters, Brumbaugh is
looking for other guys to aid in the
comeback effort.
“In order to have a successful
season, someone needs to step up
and share the load running the ball
with Kaisonn,” he said. “TJ must
be able to throw the ball to loosen
the box up some. Andrew is a great
receiver, but we need more than just
him to catch the football.”
With winning comes confidence,
and confidence translates to more
victories. Brumbaugh said that
getting off to a good start will be
imperative to the rest of the season.
“We are returning a lot of players,
but we need to win early to build a
winning confidence,” he said. “If we
aren’t successful early, the season
could easily end up like last year.”
Key Players:
Andrew Davis (6’3” 200 lbs) Sr. TE
Kaisonn Koester (6’0” 190 lbs) Sr. RB
Shamar Willey (6’0” 150 lbs) Jr. WR
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