Breakdown Wildcats' 2021 schedule
August 10, 2021 at 10:01 p.m.
Breakdown Wildcats' 2021 schedule
By Will Fehlinger-
At New Castle (Aug. 20)
This was to be the opener last year before the Trojans canceled due to a Covid outbreak. A last-minute attempt to fill the date fell through, leaving FC idle.
From 2014-19, the Cats went 5-1 in season starters with the school from Henry County, including a 36-20 win at NC in 2019.
The Class 4A Trojans are four years removed from their last winning season, which came in coach Kyle York’s first year at the helm. New Castle competes in the Hoosier Heritage Conference, thus forced to face perennial powerhouse New Palestine each year. NC did make a sectional run a year ago, after going just 3-5 in the regular season. The team handily dispatched Shelbyville and Connersville before falling by 29 to conference foe Mt. Vernon.
Eli Cooper is the expected starter at quarterback for the Trojans after completing 21 passes in limited 2020 action. He’s also the leading returning rusher at just 104 yards and caught 13 passes. His targets will be Kyle Gabbard (53 receptions), Quintin Boatright and Aidan Bradley. Top returning tackler is safety Brevan Thrine (81 tackles).
Expect FC in a close one.
At Connersville (Aug. 27)
Another game that fell victim to the virus as the rivals didn’t meet on the gridiron for the first time in forever. Connersville played no games in August while FC picked up a replacement game at Winchester.
Under new coach Justin Jackson, the Spartans finally broke a 26-game losing streak over the course of four seasons. The 48-14 win came on a Saturday afternoon against rival Rushville, with the team’s other win coming against Muncie Central (54-21) in the sectional opener.
With a little more confidence, CHS will be counting on a talented junior class led by dual-threat QB Gavin Pearson and sturdy fullback Chance Bentley, along with receivers Brayden Pearson and Braxton Myers and middle linebacker Gavin Frank. Senior two-way players Gavin Lynch and Brayden Jones also provide a spark.
Assume the Cats’ experience will win out in this conference battle.
Vs. Rushville (Sept. 3)
The Lions could be coming to town for FC’s home opener on a 16-game losing streak, depending on early results. The team’s last win prior to this season came on Sept. 20, 2019.
Former Lion Isaac Sliger, the Lions’ offensive coordinator a year ago, slaps on the head coach’s headset for 2021. He hopes to turn around a program that has nowhere to go but up.
Rushville has experience under center in junior Austin Vance but has new blood – albeit with height – at receiver in 6-foot-5 Dylan Thompson, 6-5 Alec Evans and 6-7 Jack Laker, the latter two out for football for the first time. Senior Adam Sizemore will get most of the handoffs. Sizemore, Devin Richardson, Harper Miller and Nash Paddack are returning players for a defense that must improve upon a 55-point defensive scoring average.
A can’t-miss must-win for FC.
Vs. East Central (Sept. 10)
Despite a 36-12 final in favor of the Trojans, last fall’s contest in St. Leon was one of the Wildcats’ highlights. The visitors had their rival down 12-6 in the third quarter but a more than 6-to-1 roster advantage eventually wore down the Cats. It was the 26th loss in a row for FC in the series.
The Trojans are ranked 6th in Class 4A (coaches’ poll) as the season begins for coach Jake Meiners’ third go-round. His first two ended with sectional losses to Mooresville.
Senior Hunter Sohns burned the Wildcats for 139 yards rushing in the latest game. He and sophomore Josh Ringer should be the primary ball carriers. Senior Nate Buesing was the leading receiver for run-happy EC, collecting just 19 grabs all year. Junior Carson Koelling and soph Cole Burton will compete for QB. Senior Cooper Hoog is the leading returning tackler. Senior Sophie Browndyke is a weapon in the kicking game. Up front, EC must replace current Cincinnati Bearcat Luke Collinsworth.
Could this be the year? Home field will help.
At Lawrenceburg (Sept. 17)
Perhaps fortunately, the Cats’ game with LHS last September was canceled; seven weeks later, the Tigers rolled into town to lay a 49-12 decision on FC in the sectional championship.
The orange and black appear to be scary good this year, with Indiana coaches putting them only behind Danville in the 3A preseason rankings. A repeat of the 2016 state finals run is in play.
Garrett Yoon, now in his fourth year at QB, already has several passing records in the program. He’s a do-it-all field general who is headed for a Football Bowl Subdivision school. Among his blockers is University of Notre Dame commit Ashton Craig, who also anchors the defensive line. Yoon can open up to Dahya Patel, Aiden Gilmour and Jayce Bohan, a trio of senior receivers. Lucas and Jake Pierce complete the backfield. Coach Ryan Knigga’s son Noah is a freshman linebacker.
The Cats will need a lot of breaks to fall their way.
The schedule preview will continue in next week’s issue of the Brookville Democrat.
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At New Castle (Aug. 20)
This was to be the opener last year before the Trojans canceled due to a Covid outbreak. A last-minute attempt to fill the date fell through, leaving FC idle.
From 2014-19, the Cats went 5-1 in season starters with the school from Henry County, including a 36-20 win at NC in 2019.
The Class 4A Trojans are four years removed from their last winning season, which came in coach Kyle York’s first year at the helm. New Castle competes in the Hoosier Heritage Conference, thus forced to face perennial powerhouse New Palestine each year. NC did make a sectional run a year ago, after going just 3-5 in the regular season. The team handily dispatched Shelbyville and Connersville before falling by 29 to conference foe Mt. Vernon.
Eli Cooper is the expected starter at quarterback for the Trojans after completing 21 passes in limited 2020 action. He’s also the leading returning rusher at just 104 yards and caught 13 passes. His targets will be Kyle Gabbard (53 receptions), Quintin Boatright and Aidan Bradley. Top returning tackler is safety Brevan Thrine (81 tackles).
Expect FC in a close one.
At Connersville (Aug. 27)
Another game that fell victim to the virus as the rivals didn’t meet on the gridiron for the first time in forever. Connersville played no games in August while FC picked up a replacement game at Winchester.
Under new coach Justin Jackson, the Spartans finally broke a 26-game losing streak over the course of four seasons. The 48-14 win came on a Saturday afternoon against rival Rushville, with the team’s other win coming against Muncie Central (54-21) in the sectional opener.
With a little more confidence, CHS will be counting on a talented junior class led by dual-threat QB Gavin Pearson and sturdy fullback Chance Bentley, along with receivers Brayden Pearson and Braxton Myers and middle linebacker Gavin Frank. Senior two-way players Gavin Lynch and Brayden Jones also provide a spark.
Assume the Cats’ experience will win out in this conference battle.
Vs. Rushville (Sept. 3)
The Lions could be coming to town for FC’s home opener on a 16-game losing streak, depending on early results. The team’s last win prior to this season came on Sept. 20, 2019.
Former Lion Isaac Sliger, the Lions’ offensive coordinator a year ago, slaps on the head coach’s headset for 2021. He hopes to turn around a program that has nowhere to go but up.
Rushville has experience under center in junior Austin Vance but has new blood – albeit with height – at receiver in 6-foot-5 Dylan Thompson, 6-5 Alec Evans and 6-7 Jack Laker, the latter two out for football for the first time. Senior Adam Sizemore will get most of the handoffs. Sizemore, Devin Richardson, Harper Miller and Nash Paddack are returning players for a defense that must improve upon a 55-point defensive scoring average.
A can’t-miss must-win for FC.
Vs. East Central (Sept. 10)
Despite a 36-12 final in favor of the Trojans, last fall’s contest in St. Leon was one of the Wildcats’ highlights. The visitors had their rival down 12-6 in the third quarter but a more than 6-to-1 roster advantage eventually wore down the Cats. It was the 26th loss in a row for FC in the series.
The Trojans are ranked 6th in Class 4A (coaches’ poll) as the season begins for coach Jake Meiners’ third go-round. His first two ended with sectional losses to Mooresville.
Senior Hunter Sohns burned the Wildcats for 139 yards rushing in the latest game. He and sophomore Josh Ringer should be the primary ball carriers. Senior Nate Buesing was the leading receiver for run-happy EC, collecting just 19 grabs all year. Junior Carson Koelling and soph Cole Burton will compete for QB. Senior Cooper Hoog is the leading returning tackler. Senior Sophie Browndyke is a weapon in the kicking game. Up front, EC must replace current Cincinnati Bearcat Luke Collinsworth.
Could this be the year? Home field will help.
At Lawrenceburg (Sept. 17)
Perhaps fortunately, the Cats’ game with LHS last September was canceled; seven weeks later, the Tigers rolled into town to lay a 49-12 decision on FC in the sectional championship.
The orange and black appear to be scary good this year, with Indiana coaches putting them only behind Danville in the 3A preseason rankings. A repeat of the 2016 state finals run is in play.
Garrett Yoon, now in his fourth year at QB, already has several passing records in the program. He’s a do-it-all field general who is headed for a Football Bowl Subdivision school. Among his blockers is University of Notre Dame commit Ashton Craig, who also anchors the defensive line. Yoon can open up to Dahya Patel, Aiden Gilmour and Jayce Bohan, a trio of senior receivers. Lucas and Jake Pierce complete the backfield. Coach Ryan Knigga’s son Noah is a freshman linebacker.
The Cats will need a lot of breaks to fall their way.
The schedule preview will continue in next week’s issue of the Brookville Democrat.
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