Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

FRANKLINFLYERS
By: Spencer Schubert
After combining to go just 3-13
the past two seasons, Franklin
High School is seeing a changing
of the guard when it comes to
their head football coach.
Enter Michael Miller.
The first-year coach of the
Flyers comes in with a career
win-loss record of 23-35, and
knows turning around this
Franklin program won’t happen
overnight.
In fact, of the 16 players from
last year’s squad, Miller has
only six returning. However,
the offseason has proven
somewhat fruitful as a spring
meeting brought interest from 16
prospective players.
“Even though we don’t have a
lot of returning players, we have
some key roles covered,” Miller
said.
In that regard, Miller should feel
somewhat comfortable despite
the concern regarding overall
turnout. Senior Toby Shueneman
is back in the backfield
offensively as running back
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Flyers
Class: D1
2016 Record: 1-7
Playoff Appearances: 9
Head Coach: Michael Miller
Career Record: 23-35
Assistant Coaches: Brian Meyer,
Nicholas Stuart
and at linebacker defensively.
He’s a three-year starter at both
positions.
Miller will also have sophomore
Ryan Weiss at quarterback
in 2017 after his freshman
campaign was riddled with
injury problems.
“He’s a returning starter, but as a
freshman had an injury,” Miller
said. “He’s projected to do big
things.”
Miller also has junior Chase
Hasseurman at his disposal. The
two-time letterwinner is back in
Franklin red and likely to lead
the offensive line from the center
position.
“Like I’ve always said, you have
to get the ball snapped first,”
Miller said.
What won’t show up in the
gameday lineup is what Miller
is able to benefit from when it
comes to his coaching staff in his
first year at the helm. They will
all be teaching at Franklin High
School.
“In my experience, this is a big
advantage to the community
members coaching, even if it is
just for team communication,”
Miller said. “Brian Meyer
previously coached at Franklin,
so he should be a great asset to
the team.”
Franklin’s 2017 schedule doesn’t
do them any favors as their
opponents combined to go 35-
29 a year ago, with five of their
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 Overton
9/1 @ Blue Hill
9/8 Alma
9/22 Superior
9/29 @ Kenesaw
10/6 @ Thayer Central
10/13 Heartland
10/19 @ McCool Junction
eight opponents posting winning
records. They’ll be starting the
year with a pair of opponents
who clobbered the Flyers in 2016
by a combined score of 103-12.
The season-opener is against an
Overton team that beat Franklin
51-0 in 2016. They follow that up
with a showdown against a Blue
Hill team that went 7-1 last year
and beat Franklin 52-12.
Key Players:
Toby Shueneman (5’ 10” 145 lbs)
Sr. RB/LB
Chase Hassuerman (5’7” 175 lbs)
Jr. OL/DL
Ryan Weiss (5’8” 135 lbs) Soph.
QB/DB
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