Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

By: Megan McGill
SEWARDBLUEJAYS
The Bluejays were left with a
bad taste in their mouth after an
uncharacteristic and disappointing
2016 season.
Having won just a single game
last fall, Seward is looking for
redemption.
Head coach Jamie Opfer enters
his fifth season with the school.
His team’s 1-8 finish is something
he hopes his returners use as fuel
come this fall.
“We had a rough go,” he said.
“Last season is something we
never want to happen again.”
Seward has the talent to produce
a winning record. With nine
returning starters on offense and
seven on defense, Opfer likes the
experience of his roster.
Perhaps, the squad’s biggest tool
will be returning quarterback
Joseph Krause. The junior threw
for 1,669 yards and 14 touchdowns
in 2016, and produced on the
ground too, running for 127 yards
and five touchdowns.
“He’s athletic with a strong arm
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Bluejays
Class: B
2016 Record: 1-8
Playoff Appearances: 13
Head Coach: Jamie Opfer
Career Record: 14-24
Assistant Coaches: Wade Miller,
Casey Makey, Joe Troester
and he’s smart,” Opfer said. “He’s
got all the tools to be a big-time
player.”
Brett Meyer will be a big target for
Krause come this fall. The junior
wide receiver has great hand-eye
coordination to go along with
his tall and athletic frame. Meyer
averaged 23.6 receiving yards a
game and had five touchdowns his
sophomore season. He will play a
vital role on the Bluejay’s offense.
Veteran Connor Ruth will be big
for the ground game. The senior
running back is the younger
brother of Corbin Ruth, who
will start his career at Northwest
Missouri State this fall.
The senior running back rushed for
300 yards and three touchdowns
last season, adding eight receptions
and one touchdown. The one-year
letterwinner will also see time on
defense at linebacker.
Opfer says the team’s strength will
be on defense. Ruth will be joined
by other experienced linebackers,
including seniors Broc Lavelle and
Victor Sigala.
“We are returning all of our
linebackers from last year’s team,”
Opfer said. “We hope they can
elevate their game this season.”
The offensive and defensive lines
will not enjoy this same amount of
experience, but Opfer is confident
in the young guys he has to fill
those positions. He will look to
underclassmen like sophomores
Tyler Lenz and Jacob Potraz to
step up on the line. Another
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 Crete
9/1 @ Waverly
9/8 Norris
9/15 Schuyler
9/22 @ Hastings
9/28 Elkhorn South
10/6 @ Northwest
10/13 York
10/20 @ Aurora
underclassmen who will see some
playing time is running back
Davon Brees. The sophomore
gained a lot of experience in his
first season at Seward.
“He’s going to be a good one,”
Opfer said.
The Bluejays haven’t been to the
playoffs since 2014, but Opfer
hopes that is about to change this
fall.
“We want to get to the playoffs and
we have the tools to get there,” he
said.
Fueled by that daunting record and
several close games that slipped
through their fingers, the Bluejays
are determined to end the threeyear
playoff drought and get back
to the football they know they are
capable of.
Key Players:
Joseph Krause (6’1” 185 lbs) Jr. QB
Brett Meyer (6’3” 180 lbs) Jr. WR
Connor Ruth (6’0” 205 lbs) Sr. RB/
LB
Since 1968
321 Jackson Ave.
Seward, NE
www.ehlerstv.com
402.643.2560
Find Us On Facebook For More Information and Updates
Chad Schwichtenberg
Chad Schwichtenberg Office 402-646-2121
402-270-0483 - 3501 Progressive Cell 402-270-0483 Road
www.hhofseward.com chad@hhofseward.com
www.hhofseward.com
3501 Progressive Rd - Seward, NE 68434
Sunday
11 am - 9 pm
Monday - Thursday
11 am - 9:30p,
Friday & Saturday
11 am - 10 pm
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
3531 Pregressive Rd
Seward, NE
(402) 643-9544
1519 W Highway 34 Seward, NE
402.643.6609
LOCAL INTERVIEWS: WEEKDAYS AT 8:55AM
SUNDAYS AT 7:30AM
WATCH THE SHOW SUNDAYS AT 7:00AM
180 2017 Prepzone Pigskin Preview www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 181
ON