Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017
CENTRAL VALLEYCOUGARS By: Derek Kopp Under the direction of second year head coach and University of Nebraska at Kearney graduate Jess Rother, the Central Valley Cougars will look to improve upon last season’s 0-8 record and look for a playoff berth in class D2 this fall. Luck has not been on the Cougars side in recent seasons, as the team has won just two games since 2014. The Cougars of 2016 were outscored 365-130, and with the exception of a season finale two-point loss against Sumner- Eddyville-Miller, each of the losses came by double digits. “I would love to see us improve greatly,” Rother said. “I am very optimistic and I think we can make great strides and turn this thing around and be a competitive team this year.” The Cougars will return ten total starters with the offense and defense bringing back five a piece. letterwinners in senior Jeremy Ondracek and sophomore Enrique Martinez. Up front the Cougars will have the experience and leadership of a pair of offensive lineman that will set the tone for each game. Senior Nathan Poss and junior Donnie Nolze combine for multiple seasons of experience, and will help pave the way for Ondracek, Martinez and returning senior quarterback Josh Ibach. With all the returning experience, Rother believes that the leadership all around the team is a reason to be optimistic. Defensively, look for a 3-4 defense with some speed from the Cougars in the fall. Much like the offense, the team will return several starters from 2016. Senior linebacker Colton Gydesen will take on a bulk of the leadership responsibilities, as well as the big guys up front in Poss and Nolze. 2017 SCHEDULE 8/24 Fullerton 8/31 @ Stuart 9/15 Anselmo-Merna 9/22 @ Pleasanton 9/29 Ansley-Litchfield 10/6 @ Nebraska Lutheran 10/13 Twin Loup 10/20 @ Sumner-Eddyville-Miller A fast start will be crucial if the Cougars want to flip the script and make the playoffs for the first time under Rother. Only one of their first three games will be against 2016 playoff teams, but the second half of the season gets difficult with state runner-up Twin Loup coming to town on Oct. 13. “Barring injuries, and if we can get off to a great start, I really think we can get to the playoffs and see where it goes from there,” Rother said. YOUR DAILY HUSKER COVERAGE ALL SEASON LONG HIGHLIGHTS • INTERVIEWS • ANALYSIS The team runs the popular Power-I offense and with that comes a dependency on both the offensive line and the guys that will get the ball. At running back, Rother will lean on two previous For the Cougars, like many teams, their season relies on staying healthy. “With only having 21 out there this year we really need to stay as injury-freefree as possible,” Rother said. Key Players: Jeremy Ondracek (6’ 185 lbs) Sr. RB Josh Ibach (5’8’’ 130 lbs) Sr. QB Nathan Poss (6’ 205 lbs) Sr. OL TEAM FACTS Team Name: Cougars Class: D2 2016 Record: 0-8 Playoff Appearances: 0 Head Coach: Jess Rother Career Record: 11-16 Assistant Coaches: Jason McIntyre, Steve Kreiwald 608 Howard Ave, St Paul, NE 68873 308-754-4611 54 2017 Prepzone Pigskin Preview www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 55
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CENTRAL VALLEYCOUGARS<br />
By: Derek Kopp<br />
Under the direction of second<br />
year head coach and University of<br />
Nebraska at Kearney graduate Jess<br />
Rother, the Central Valley Cougars<br />
will look to improve upon last<br />
season’s 0-8 record and look for a<br />
playoff berth in class D2 this fall.<br />
Luck has not been on the Cougars<br />
side in recent seasons, as the<br />
team has won just two games<br />
since 2014. The Cougars of 2016<br />
were outscored 365-130, and with<br />
the exception of a season finale<br />
two-point loss against Sumner-<br />
Eddyville-Miller, each of the losses<br />
came by double digits.<br />
“I would love to see us improve<br />
greatly,” Rother said. “I am very<br />
optimistic and I think we can<br />
make great strides and turn this<br />
thing around and be a competitive<br />
team this year.”<br />
The Cougars will return ten total<br />
starters with the offense and<br />
defense bringing back five a piece.<br />
letterwinners in senior Jeremy<br />
Ondracek and sophomore Enrique<br />
Martinez.<br />
Up front the Cougars will have<br />
the experience and leadership of a<br />
pair of offensive lineman that will<br />
set the tone for each game. Senior<br />
Nathan Poss and junior Donnie<br />
Nolze combine for multiple<br />
seasons of experience, and will<br />
help pave the way for Ondracek,<br />
Martinez and returning senior<br />
quarterback Josh Ibach. With all<br />
the returning experience, Rother<br />
believes that the leadership all<br />
around the team is a reason to be<br />
optimistic.<br />
Defensively, look for a 3-4<br />
defense with some speed from<br />
the Cougars in the fall. Much like<br />
the offense, the team will return<br />
several starters from 2016. Senior<br />
linebacker Colton Gydesen will<br />
take on a bulk of the leadership<br />
responsibilities, as well as the big<br />
guys up front in Poss and Nolze.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/24 Fullerton<br />
8/31 @ Stuart<br />
9/15 Anselmo-Merna<br />
9/22 @ Pleasanton<br />
9/29 Ansley-Litchfield<br />
10/6 @ Nebraska Lutheran<br />
10/13 Twin Loup<br />
10/20 @ Sumner-Eddyville-Miller<br />
A fast start will be crucial if the<br />
Cougars want to flip the script and<br />
make the playoffs for the first time<br />
under Rother. Only one of their<br />
first three games will be against<br />
2016 playoff teams, but the second<br />
half of the season gets difficult<br />
with state runner-up Twin Loup<br />
coming to town on Oct. 13.<br />
“Barring injuries, and if we can get<br />
off to a great start, I really think<br />
we can get to the playoffs and see<br />
where it goes from there,” Rother<br />
said.<br />
YOUR DAILY HUSKER COVERAGE ALL SEASON LONG<br />
HIGHLIGHTS • INTERVIEWS • ANALYSIS<br />
The team runs the popular<br />
Power-I offense and with that<br />
comes a dependency on both the<br />
offensive line and the guys that<br />
will get the ball. At running back,<br />
Rother will lean on two previous<br />
For the Cougars, like many teams,<br />
their season relies on staying<br />
healthy. “With only having 21 out<br />
there this year we really need to<br />
stay as injury-freefree as possible,”<br />
Rother said.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jeremy Ondracek (6’ 185 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB<br />
Josh Ibach (5’8’’ 130 lbs) Sr. QB<br />
Nathan Poss (6’ 205 lbs) Sr. OL<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cougars<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 0-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 0<br />
Head Coach: Jess Rother<br />
Career Record: 11-16<br />
Assistant Coaches: Jason<br />
McIntyre, Steve Kreiwald<br />
608 Howard Ave, St Paul, NE 68873<br />
308-754-4611<br />
54 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 55
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