Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

By: Derek Kopp
RAVENNABLUEJAYS
As the Ravenna Blue Jays gear up
for their second season in Class
D1, the team is still looking for
their first win in the class after
going 0-8 in 2016.
Head coach Dan Bolling will be
back for his fifth season with
the team and will bring back a
majority of the team’s starters
with 12 total, six on each side
of the ball. Leadership will
undoubtedly be a key for the Blue
Jays in 2017.
The Blue Jays will be led on
offense by returning sophomore
quarterback Jake Jarzynka.
Jarzynka brings the passing and
running ability to the option
offense that is crucial for success.
Senior running back Trey Nelson
will be in the backfield along with
returner Brayden Mueller. The
combo will help alleviate some
of the pressure, and fellow senior
Josh Bauer will be on the outside
utilizing his big frame at wide
receiver.
On both sides of the ball, expect
a strength of the team to be in
the trenches, with the offensive
and defensive lines. Ravenna
will run the 3-3 base defense and
rely on the big men up front to
get a good push. The Blue Jays
boast five linemen that are 200
pounds or more, as well as five
upperclassmen led by a returner
on both sides of the ball, Alex
Chapa.
At linebacker, the team will
return three starters from 2016
in Jarzynka, Nelson and the
sophomore Mueller. On the
back end, only sophomore
Drew Bolling will return in the
secondary, but expect new faces
to emerge in the fall.
In 2016, the team lost by an
average of 36.6 points a game,
including a pair of forgetful
games against Superior (64-6) and
Elm Creek (68-16). Unfortunately
for the Blue Jays, this season’s
schedule is identical to last
season, with five of the teams
being 2016 playoff teams. The
group’s homecoming game will
be against state quarterfinalist
Palmer.
After opening the season at home
against Ainsworth, the Blue Jays
will have their only back-to-back
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 Ainsworth
9/1 @ Superior
9/8 @ Kenesaw
9/15 Palmer
9/22 Elm Creek
9/29 @ South Loup
10/13 Amherst
10/20 @ Overton
away games of the season, facing
Superior and Kenesaw. The two
teams outscored them last season
120-20 in the two games.
But this is not a Blue Jays team
that is going to roll over.
“We are looking to make drastic
improvements with a bunch
of young kids getting a lot of
playing time last year,” Bolling
said.
Key Players:
Jake Jarzynka (5’10’’ 160 lbs)
Soph. QB/LB
Brayden Mueller (5’9’’ 170 lbs)
Soph. RB/LB
Alex Chapa (5’6’’ 210 lbs) Jr. OL/
DL
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204 GRAND AVE - RAVENNA, NE - 308-452-3598
YOUR DAILY HUSKER COVERAGE ALL SEASON LONG
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Blue Jays
Class: D1
2016 Record: 0-8
Playoff Appearances: 16
Head Coach: Dan Bolling
HIGHLIGHTS • INTERVIEWS • ANALYSIS
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