Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

ANSLEY-LITCHFIELDSPARTANS
By: Jay Omar
Even though months have passed
since the conclusion of the 2016
regular season, the Ansley-
Litchfield football team is hoping
that the momentum obtained last
year can carry over into the 2017
campaign.
The Spartans went 6-5 in 2016
under first year head coach Kurt
Kulhanek, and after making their
way into the playoffs, the youthful
squad hit its stride.
Ansley-Litchfield defeated
Arapahoe 58-26 in the first round
of the playoffs, and torched
Loomis 65-20 in the second round.
The Spartan’s season ended
with a 61-25 loss to Sandhills-
Thedford in the following round.
But nonetheless, the season was
successful for the Spartans, and in
2017 a core group of athletes will
be back on the gridiron.
Ansley-Litchfield returns six
starters on both the offensive and
defensive sides of the ball, and
brings back 15 letterwinners in
total.
Among those returners is
sophomore Jaden Jones, who will
be back under center after starting
at the quarterback position during
his freshman year.
Protecting Jones will be an
experienced center, as Mikey
Harrop returns with two years
of starting experience on the
offensive line.
The Spartans will have to fill the
running back position in their
I-formation offense, after losing
Brady Rohde to graduation.
However, Kulhanek expects
sophomore Blake Racicky and
senior Seth Racicky to help carry
the load in the backfield.
On the defensive side of the ball,
Ansley-Litchfield will be anchored
by Keaton Moore on the line, Seth
Racicky at the linebacker position,
and John Zimmer and Chris Paitz
in the secondary.
It is on defense that Kulhanek
hopes to see improvement, as he
said, “shoring up our defense”
is the biggest key to a successful
season.
The 2017 campaign is quickly
2017 SCHEDULE
8/26 8/25 Axtell @ Anselmo-Merna
9/9 9/1 Blue Stapleton Hill
9/16 9/8 Sumner-Eddyville-Miller
@ Loomis
9/23 9/15 Wauneta-Palisade
Sandhills/Thedford
9/30 9/29 Loomis @ Central Valley
10/7 10/6 Wallace Twin Loup
10/14 10/13 Hitchcock Sumner-Eddyville-Miller
County
10/21 10/19 Eustis-Farnam
@ Pleasanton
approaching, and the Spartans
will get the season underway
when they travel to Anselmo-
Merna in week one.
And as the group prepares,
Kulhanek has high hopes for the
season to come, saying what he
likes best about his squad is that
they “play with a lot of heart.”
“If we improve our defense I
believe we are going to have a
very successful year,” he added. “I
expect to be a top ten team.”
Key Players:
Jaden Jones (6’ 165 lbs) Soph. QB
Chris Paitz (6’ 160 lbs) Jr. WR/DB
Keaton Moore (5’7” 180 lbs) Soph.
OL/DL
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Spartans
Class: D2
2016 Record: 6-5
Playoff Appearances: 3
Head Coach: Kurt Kulhanek
615 Main Street
Ansley, NE
Brian Roberts • Sharon Roberts
Karissa Marshall • Kathy Scott • Kiley Miller
www.insheartland.com
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800.935.1537
Fax 308.935.1524
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