Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

CENTENNIALBRONCOS
By: Megan McGill
After a three-year playoff drought,
the Broncos were back in the
postseason in 2016, and return this
fall as one of the top teams in Class
C2.
Centennial went undefeated in the
regular season, winning tight games
against Yutan, St. Paul and Shelby
Rising-City. The Broncos proceeded
to dominate the remainder of the
schedule.
Although, one team from the regular
season would come back to haunt
them in the playoffs. After beating
Yutan 14-12 early in the season, the
Chieftains knocked Centennial out
of the first round of the playoffs 34-6.
It was a successful season, but not
enough to satisfy this year’s squad.
Head Coach Evan Klanecky enters his
eighth season with the team with an
overall record of 39-27.
“Last season wasn’t the way we
thought it would end. It left a bad
taste in our mouth,” he said. “You
could call this season unfinished
business.”
Klanecky said time has healed that
postseason wound, but the Broncos
won’t completely drown out that
Yutan loss.
“We will use it as motivation,” he
said.
TEAM FACTS
Centennial will return 16 startersnine
on offense and seven on defense.
The power spread offense that
averaged 34 points a game will be run
by junior Wyatt Ehlers (5’11” 165 lbs).
Ehlers started as both a freshman and
a sophomore, and for the first time
will likely be starting on both sides
of the ball at free safety. Klanecky
praised the quarterback for his work
ethic and leadership.
“Wyatt controls the offense and really
just runs the show,” he said. “He
prepares hard. He works hard and he
leads by example.”
The Broncos averaged 156 rushing
yards in 2016 with the help of
running back Jake Prochaska (6’1”
185 lbs). Klanecky described the
senior as the team’s “emotional spark
with a ton of energy.” The three-year
starter scored five touchdowns last
season and like Ehlers will see time
on defense at linebacker, where he
recorded 67 total tackles.
The 4-2-5 defense that allowed only
12 points a game will look to the
leadership of Jackson Hirschfeld
(5’11” 155 lbs).
“He’s always calm,” Klanecky said of
Hirschfeld. “He doesn’t get rattled in
tough situations and, like Wyatt, he
leads by example.”
Hirschfeld will be a big target for
Ehlers on offense at wide receiver,
where last year he recorded seven
touchdowns.
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 @ Central City
9/1 Yutan
9/8 @ Palmyra
9/15 Malcolm
9/22 @ Fillmore Central
9/29 St. Paul
10/6 Shelby-Rising City
10/13 @ Cross County
10/20 Sutton
Although developing depth will take
some work, Klanecky knows the 2017
squad has what it takes to make it to
the postseason again.
“For those guys to go 9-0 last season
was quite the feat,” he said. “This
season our goal is to win our district
and get to the playoffs again.”
Centennial will face five playoff
teams and will open their season on
the road against Central City.
With a successful season behind
them, the team knows they will have
a big target on their back come this
fall.
“It really is a double-edged sword,”
Klanecky said. “Last season, teams
threw the book at us and did things
against us they hadn’t done all
year. We know we are going to get
everyone’s best, so we have to be
ready.”
Team Name: Broncos
Class: C2
2016 Record: 9-1
Playoff Appearances: 20
Head Coach: Evan Klanecky
Career Record: 39-27
Assistant Coaches: Craig
Barjenbrach, Barry Eitzmann,
Josh Warren
The majority of starters are juniors,
but the roster will feature three senior
veterans in Tyler Perry, Gavin Avery
and Heath Haberman. Although
experience shouldn’t be a problem
for the Broncos, depth will pose
a challenge. Klanecky said, like
every team, staying healthy will be
huge as the Broncos’ freshmen and
sophomore classes just don’t have the
numbers.
Key Players:
Wyatt Ehlers (5’11” 165 lbs) Jr. QB/FS
Jake Prochaska (6’1” 185 lbs) Sr. RB/
LB
Jackson Hirschfeld (5’11” 155 lbs) Jr.
WR/DB
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