Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

By: TJ Eck
SILVER LAKEMUSTANGS
Six-man football is a different
game than its 11-man and eightman
counterparts, and over
the past few years Silver Lake
has been one of the top teams
in the state. The Mustangs are
coming off an 8-2 record and
an appearance in the state
semifinals in 2016. Expectations
are again high this fall as Silver
Lake brings back a young, yet
experienced group.
“Because of injuries last fall,
underclassmen got valuable
playing time and experience,”
said head coach Duane Arntt,
who owns a 42-8 record with the
Mustangs (93-43 overall).
Silver Lake’s offense is led
by dynamic senior running
back Mark Thurston who is
a threat in the running and
passing game. Thurston rushed
for 1,489 yards in 2016 while
adding another 676 through
the air and scoring a combined
36 touchdowns (rushing &
receiving). The Mustangs will
have a new quarterback leading
the offense in 2017 as junior
Alex Ehrman is expected to
assume the duty. Senior end
Reid Parr (174 receiving yards,
3 TD) and sophomore running
back Zane Journey (4 total
offensive touchdowns) return
with starting experience.
Much like offense, Thurston is
the top player of Silver Lake’s
defense. He recorded 88 total
tackles - nine tackles for loss
- and two sacks last fall and
will again be looked on to lead
the group in 2017. Journey (67
total tackles) brings size to the
defensive front with his 6-foot,
200-pound frame. Ehrman (43
total tackles, 3 INT, 11 passes
defensed) and Parr (13 total
tackles, 3 TFL) are expected to
anchor the secondary.
Roster size is a key factor for
most six-man teams and Silver
Lake is no different. Arntt hopes
a large freshman class will help
the Mustangs have a group of 12
or 13 players this fall, enough to
scrimmage live in practice.
“We have a good-sized group
of freshmen coming in and
many will have to play right
away,” said Arntt. “How well
they step up and contribute will
2017 SCHEDULE
9/1 Hampton
9/8 @ Harvard
9/15 Red Cloud
9/22 @McPherson County
9/29 Maywood-Hayes Center
10/6 @Wilcox-Hildreth
10/12 Deshler
10/20 @Elwood
determine where we will finish
at the end of the season.”
Silver Lake is entering its sixth
season of six-man football
and the Mustangs have been
successful since making the
switch. With four returning
starters on offense and three
on defense, including All-State
talent Thurston, Silver Lake
should again be one of the top
six-man teams in 2017.
Key Players:
Mark Thurston (5’9” 190 lbs) Sr.
RB/LB
Zane Journey (6’0” 200 lbs)
Soph. RB/DE
Alex Ehrman (5’10” 140 lbs) Jr.
QB/DB
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TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Mustangs
Class: 6-Man
2016 Record: 8-2
Playoff Appearances: 7
Head Coach: Duane Arntt
Career Record: 93-43
Assistant Coach: Kyle Conroy
YOUR DAILY HUSKER COVERAGE ALL SEASON LONG
HIGHLIGHTS • INTERVIEWS • ANALYSIS
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