Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

FAIRBURYJEFFS
By: Megan McGill
Head coach Kameron Lenhart
returns for his second season
with the Fairbury Jeffs after
leading his team to the playoffs
for the first time since 2010.
The C1 2016 squad enjoyed an
experienced roster last season,
and the same will be true come
this fall. An arsenal of offensive
and defensive talent returns in
2017.
A total of 14 letterwinners will
be back, featuring six starters on
offense and six returning starters
on defense. But even with the
returning talent, Lenhart said
a lot of the responsibility this
season falls on the coaching staff.
“We have great talent coming
back, but it’s up to the coaching
staff to direct that talent in a
positive way towards the team’s
overall goal,” he said.
The Jeffs’ spread offense will be
led by senior quarterback Adam
Wasserman. Last season, the
offense averaged 32 points and
217.4 rushing yards per game.
Wasserman will also see time on
the defensive side of the ball as a
free safety.
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Jeffs
Class: C1
2016 Record: 8-2
Playoff Appearances: 14
Head Coach: Kameron Lenhart
Career Record: 8-2
Assistant Coaches: Matt Edson, Derek
Garfield, Mike Fisher, Cory Schweitzer,
Jay Gerths, Logan Kats
Senior running back Jacob
Johnson will return as the
offensive “engine”.
“He’s got great vision in the
backfield with a great stiff arm,”
Lenhart said.
Johnson will also play linebacker
in the 3-5-3 defense that allowed
only an average of 17 points a
game in 2016. It’s a role he’s very
comfortable in, as he has been
playing there since his freshman
year.
In addition, the Jeffs will welcome
back an experienced offensive line,
led by seniors Trent Grizzle, Zach
Reikofski, and Zach Holes, who
will also see time at linebacker.
Lack of experience will be no issue
for Fairbury, as 13 seniors will see
significant playing time come this
fall.
“I love that we bring back both
our QB and RB with a handful of
other experienced players. I think
this group of seniors truly know
how to work together and know
that it is more than just one guy.
These guys also just simply love
the game of football. We have
quite a few that want to play after
high school which means their
effort right now is phenomenal.
I think this will be a great group
of guys that will help mentor the
younger players and teach them
the Fairbury Football Culture,”
Lenhart said.
Even with the stacked returners,
Lenhart will be relying on
younger players to fulfill several
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 @ David City
9/1 @ Syracuse
9/8 Falls City
9/15 Auburn
9/22 @ Lincoln Christian
9/29 Ashland-Greenwood
10/6 Southern
10/13 @ Raymond Central
10/19 Milford-Dorchester
roles of last year’s graduating
class. Those positions that will
need to be filled include: center,
tackle, receiver, tight end, nose
guard, defensive end, and outside
linebacker.
In 2016, Fairbury posted an 8-2
record falling to only Falls City
in the regular season and Boys
Town in the first round of the
playoffs. However, simply getting
back to the playoffs is not enough
for Coach Lenhart and his team
this time around. The Jeffs have
appeared in six playoff games, but
have never come back with a “W”.
“We don’t want to just reach the
playoffs, we want to win when
we’re there,” he said.
The Jeffs will begin their season
with two games on the road
against David City and Syracuse.
Key Players:
Adam Wasserman (6’0” 180 lbs)
Sr. QB/FS
Jacob Johnson (6’0” 180 lbs) Sr.
RB/LB
Zach Holes (5’11” 180 lbs) Sr. OL/
LB
GOOD LUCK JEFFS!
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