Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

COZADHAYMAKERS
By: Jay Omar
After back-to-back losing
seasons, the Cozad football
squad will be looking to get
back on a winning track in 2017.
The Haymakers followed up a
1-10 season in 2015 with a 3-6
showing last year. The two rough
campaigns came on the heels of
a 10-2 performance in 2014, and
Cozad will look to get back to
their winning ways this fall.
the field.
Cozad will also have some
experience coming back in the
trenches, as senior center Fabian
Chacon, who started all nine
games last year, and senior
Nathan Smock both return on
the line.
Smock was an all-district
honorable mention last season.
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 Chase County
9/1 @ Chadron
9/8 Adams Central
9/15 Ogallala
9/22 @ Kearney Catholic
9/29 Minden
10/6 @ Gothenburg
10/13 Broken Bow
10/20 @ Gordon-Rushville
SERVICE DRUG
PHARMACY AND GIFT STORE
308.784.2238
133 E 8TH ST, COZAD, NE
OUR TEAM COVERING
YOUR TEAM ALL SEASON LONG
KEVIN SJUTS • SPORTS DIRECTOR
The group will be led by fifth
year head coach Brian Cargill,
who carries a 39-38 career
record into the upcoming
campaign.
The Haymakers will return five
starters on the offensive side of
the ball and six on the defensive
as they prepare to once again
battle in Class C1.
On offense, junior Adam Cole
will be back under center
after starting four games at
quarterback last season.
Cole will have an athletic target
to throw to, as senior Jordan
Menagh, the group’s leading
receiver in 2016, will be back on
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Haymakers
Class: C1
2016 Record: 3-6
Playoff Appearances: 15
Head Coach: Brian Cargill
Career Record: 39-38
Assistant Coach: Scott Adkisson
On the defensive side of the
ball, Ian Branham, who Cargill
calls a “solid player,” will return
to start at middle linebacker in
his senior season.
The Haymaker secondary
will get a boost this fall from
Trestian Siemering, who got
injured in the fourth game of the
2016 season. Siemering will play
defensive back.
Another athlete to keep an
eye on is Luke Schroeder, who
played the last five games at
linebacker last season, and left
quite the impression on his head
coach.
“Luke played the last five
games for us last season after
recovering from shoulder
surgery. He plays with a high
motor and good toughness,”
Cargill said. “(He) has been
good as both an outside
linebacker and an inside
linebacker, depending on the
offensive scheme we’re facing.
As his reads improve he will
be a player that can influence
a game. (He) ended the 2016
season with 39 tackles, three
sacks and five tackles for loss.”
As the beginning of the season
approaches, Cargill and his
group are preparing for the
opener against Chase County on
Aug. 25.
The Haymakers will start the
campaign at home, and if the
right adjustments are made, the
head coach has high hopes for
2017.
“We have some returning skill
players with experience so I like
our depth at those positions.
If we can continue to develop
our lines on both sides of the
ball we will be able to compete
at a high level,” Cargill said.
“The key for us is to improve
over the summer months and
every week during the season.
If we stay injury free we’ll have
the opportunity to have a nice
season.”
Key Players:
Luke Schroeder (6’ 3”) Sr. LB/
OL
Adam Cole (6’ 2”) Jr. QB/LB
Ian Branham (6’ 2”) Sr. TE/LB
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