Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

STUARTBRONCOS
By: Derek Kopp
The Stuart Broncos enter the 2017
season with high expectations
following a 3-5 2016 campaign in
Coach Colin Schurmans first year
at the helm. The Broncos made the
playoffs in 2015, and after missing
out on the postseason last fall, the
goal this year is simple — get back.
Last season, Schurman and the
Broncos started the campaign 2-0
with big double-digit wins over
Wausa and Central Valley, but after
that the team ran into some trouble.
In their four-game losing streak, the
Broncos were outscored 173 to 32.
All four of the games were against
playoff teams in Twin Loup, St.
Marys, Osmond and North Central.
This season the Broncos return
eight total starters with four
coming back on each side of the
ball. Maybe none as important as
quarterback Ethan Sattler, running
back Chance Engel, and tight end
Isaac Steinhauser.
“I like the group of guys we have
coming back,” Schurman said.
“Our quarterback, running back,
and tight end are all coming back
this year. Those three were a big
part of our offense last season and
will be again this year with a year
of experience under their belts.”
Last year the Broncos offense was
incredibly balanced, averaging
136.9 yards rushing per game, 139.4
yards passing per game and 33.3
points. Between Sattler, Engel and
Steinhauser, the team will return 25
touchdowns.
“I like how much experience we
have coming back,” Schurman
said. “Our junior class got a lot of
playing time last season and were
our playmakers on both offense
and defense. I like how we have
those playmakers coming back.”
Defensively the team’s 4-4 style
gave up on average 36.9 points
per game. This season Schurman
knows what he needs out of his
inexperienced group — leadership.
“We will have to have guys step
up and fill the linebackers and
defensive backs positions. We have
some good talent coming up so it’s
definitely something that we can
do.”
If Schurman is looking for
defensive leadership again, he
knows where to look — Engel, who
had 120 tackles last season, led the
team.
The team shouldn’t expect a cake
walk if they want to return to
the postseason with yet another
gauntlet in 2017. The schedule will
feature Twin Loup in week three
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 @ Wausa
8/31 Central Valley
9/8 @ Twin Loup
9/21 St. Mary’s
9/29 @ Osmond
10/5 @ North Central
10/13 Elkhorn Valley
10/19 Bloomfield
followed by St. Mary’s, Osmond
and North Central.
Even with the tough schedule
staring them down, Coach
Schurman knows his guys are
prepared for the task ahead of
them. He said, “We will have some
young players on the field this year
that didn’t play much last season.
They have the potential to be big
time players for us.”
Key Players:
Ethan Sattler (5’10’’ 160 lbs) Jr. QB
Chance Engel (5’11’’ 185 lbs) Jr. RB/
LB
Isaac Steinhauser (6’3’’ 190 lbs) Jr.
TE/DE
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Broncos
Class: D2
2016 Record: 3-5
Playoff Appearances: 16
Head Coach: Colin Schurman
Career Record: 3-5
Assistant Coaches: Doug Erb, Jon
Schmaderer
KELLY & BETH MURPHY
402.924.3330 • U.S. HWY 20 STUART, NE
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