Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

ARAPAHOEWARRIORS
ARCADIA-LOUP CITYREBELS
By: Josh Skluzacek
In his first year at the helm, Head Coach
Dustin Kronhofman and the Arapahoe
Warriors finished with a 6-3 record. Now,
with a full year to get familiar with each
other and the system, Kronhofman hopes
to improve upon last year’s success.
“I think we have a chance to be a better
team overall this year in our second year
in this system,” Kronhofman said.
The Warriors run both I-formation and
spread-style offenses while lining up in a
3-4 base defense. Kronhofman is hoping
to add more strength and toughness to the
team on both sides of the ball this year.
Offensively, though, the Warriors don’t
have much that they need to change.
The team averaged better than 45
points per game last season. With six
returning starters on that side of the ball,
Kronhofman feels good about what they
can do with the ball.
“We are bringing back 95 percent of our
offensive production, and we’re very
athletic,” Kronhofman said. “But we
need to get better on the offensive and
defensive lines and have guys step up and
fill those roles.”
However, the Warriors already have some
important roles that are filled by some of
their better players.
Quarterback and safety Gentry Anderson
returns after rushing for 1,560 yards and
23 touchdowns, and throwing for 955
yards and 18 touchdowns in 2016.
“[He’s] a great athlete and team leader,”
Kronhofman said of Anderson. “He has
great football speed and quick decisionmaking
skills, while making very few
mistakes.”
Kronhofman also said Anderson is not
just one of the best athletes on the team
but in Class D2, and adds that Anderson
has the potential to be all-state with a nice
run in the playoffs. He’s just a junior, too.
He’ll have a solid top receiver to throw
to in Yordi Gutierrez, who hauled in 13
touchdowns last season and ran for two
more.
Kronhofman notes that Gutierrez has only
played one year of football, but is hoping
to see big numbers from him again this
season.
And leading the defense for the Warriors
will be Jacob Pruitt. Pruitt is a force on
defense and an all-district linebacker, as
he totaled 136 tackles last season. Pruitt
will also move from the offensive line to
fullback on the offensive side of the ball
this year.
“[Pruitt is] probably the best pure football
player on the team,” Kronhofman said,
adding that Pruitt has a nose for the
football.
If Kronhofman and the Warriors are
successful in adding the strength and
toughness they’re seeking, and can
replicate last year’s offensive production,
they have the chance to be a dangerous
team.
“We are not real big, but we have several
2017 SCHEDULE
8/26 8/25 Axtell
9/9 9/8 Blue Hill
9/16 9/15 @ Sumner-Eddyville-Miller
9/23 9/22 Wauneta-Palisade
9/30 9/29 Loomis @ Loomis
10/7 10/6 @ Wallace
10/14 10/13 Hitchcock County
10/21 10/19 @ Eustis-Farnam
playmakers,” Kronhofman said. “We will
need to stay healthy and get tougher to
make a run in the playoffs.”
Key Players:
Gentry Anderson (6’0” 185lbs) Jr. QB/S
Yordi Gutierez (5’10”170lbs) Jr. WR/DB
Jacob Pruitt (5’9” 205lbs) Sr. LB/FB
By: Jay Omar
At first glance, Arcadia-Loup City had
a rough 2016 campaign, finishing the
season with a 3-6 record. However,
after a closer look, the win-loss columns
could easily have been flipped if the
Rebels were able to claim victory in a
couple tight games.
Four out of the first five games of 2016
featured crushing defeats for Arcadia-
Loup City Head Coach Mike Scott and
his group. The Rebels started the year
1-4, with losses by three, seven, six, and
six. One of the losses came in double
overtime, while another came in triple
overtime.
This year, Scott is hoping to flip the
script, and said he will be pushing the
importance of closing out games to his
squad.
“Winning the close games,” Scott said
of the biggest challenge he foresees
heading into 2017. “And getting our
inexperienced players up to speed
quickly.”
Luckily for Scott, he won’t have too
many inexperienced players to get up to
speed, at least offensively.
The Rebels have eight returning starters
coming back on that side of the ball,
including six seniors.
One of those seniors will play a vital
role if Arcadia-Loup City hopes to put
points on the board.
Running back Tige Calleroz will be back
running the ball for the Rebels this fall,
after rushing for 1,046 yards and 20
touchdowns during the 2016 campaign.
Calleroz won’t be alone in the backfield,
however. Sophomore Caden Kusek will
also receive a chunk of snaps from the
running back position.
According to Scott, the two-headed
monster in the backfield could provide
difficulties for opposing defenses.
“Both bring a different style of rushing
along with being very hard to bring
down,” he said.
When the Rebels aren’t pounding the
ball on the ground, the offense has the
ability to be effective through the air, as
well.
Senior quarterback Macrae Maschka,
who will be back under center, and
dynamic playmaker Nolan Baker, could
develop into a deadly combination.
“(They) should be a serious pass/catch
threat,” Scott said.
On defense, six starters return, including
five seniors with a combined eight years
of starting experience.
Calleroz and Baker will both play key
roles on the defensive side of the ball
at the cornerback position, while two
senior defensive lineman, Tyson Trotter
and Peyton Lambrecht, will return in
the trenches.
The Rebels have all the pieces to
improve on Scott’s career 44-40 record,
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 @ North Platte St. Patrick’s
9/1 Valentine
9/8 @ Sandy Creek
9/15 Cross County
9/22 @ St. Paul
9/29 Centura
10/6 @ Twin River
10/13 Central City
10/20 @ Fillmore Central
but the schedule, similar to 2016, won’t
do the group any favors.
“We have three of the largest C2 teams
on the schedule,” Scott said of match
ups against Central City, Valentine,
and St. Paul. “Five of our six losses last
season came to playoff teams. It will be
a tough schedule again.”
The Rebels will open the season on Aug.
27 against North Platte St. Patrick.
Key Players:
Tige Calleroz (5’ 10” 195 lbs) Sr. RB
Caden Kusek (6’0” 190 lbs) Soph. RB
Macrae Maschka (5’ 9” 190 lbs) Sr. QB
TEAM FACTS
TEAM FACTS
Head Team Coach: Name: Warriors Shawn Mulligan
Career Class: D2 Record: 7-11
Assistant 2016 Record: Coaches: 6-3
Class: Playoff C-1 Appearances:19
Team Head Coach: Name: Patriots Dustin Kronhofman
Career Record: 6-3
Assistant Coaches: John Strand
and Preston Blackmore
Rehab locations in Arapahoe, 658 Pine Street, 308-962-5402 & Cambridge, 1305 Hwy 6/34, 308-697-4718
Team Name: Rebels
Class: C2
2016 Record: 3-6
Playoff Appearances: 0
Head Coach: Kurk Kulhanek
Career Record: 44-40
Assistant Coaches: Jason Phelps,
Brandon Stickley, Jason Obarmaller
Anderson Pharmacy
308-728-5922
1429 M St - Ord, NE
Monday-Friday 8:00 am-5:30 pm
Saturday 8:30 am-1:30 pm - Sunday Closed
Loup City Rx Shoppe
308-745-2109
133 South 7th St. - Loup City, NE
Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:30pm
Closed Saturday & Sunday
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