By Chris Parker

Fall 2019 Preview: Warsaw Football

By Chris Parker

Warsaw was decimated by injuries last year on the way to a 2-8 overall record in Ryan Boyer’s second season as the head coach of the Wildcats.

The injuries forced several young players in to varsity action, which should help out the 2019 version of the Wildcats.

“Each week (last year) presented new injuries. A lot of these guys had to get thrown into the mix whether they were ready or not,” Boyer said. “Now they are coming in with a year or two under their belt. It is just neat to see them grow through 7-on-7 and camp. We have been very pleased with the progress so far.”

Sophomore Brady Slavens will lead the offense at quarterback. He saw limited time there as a freshman completing 16 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns. Slavens also ran for 256 yards and two touchdowns on 42 carries.

“He (Slavens) is a really intelligent with a high football IQ. He is just a team player,” Boyer said. “He is a natural competitor.”

Kieon Davis graduated and took with him 1,319 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. The bulk of that production will be replaced by senior running backs Zach Chapman and Chase Steiner. Chapman had 20 carries for 276 yards and three touchdowns last year. Steiner played in just four games, as a knee injury derailed his season. Matt Couzens will also split time at running back and slot receiver.

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Clayton Simons returns as the team’s leading receiver. He hauled in a team-high 312 yards through the air on 15 catches to go with two touchdowns.

Up front, Triston Reynolds and Lane Bates will anchor the offensive line in their senior seasons. Reynolds was a second-team all-conference selection on the offensive line last year. Fellow senior Wade Henderson will join them after missing last year due to an injury. Juniors Tim Burkhart and Logan Strunk along with sophomore Garret McGann will also work to find time on the offensive line.

Defensively, look for the secondary to lead the way.

“Our strength will be with our secondary. As we went through 7-on-7 I was telling those guys we have seven guys coming back capable of (playing in the secondary),” Boyer said.

Chapman, Simons, Slavens and Steiner are the returning players to watch there. Chapman was a second-team all-conference selection in the secondary last year after he hauled in four interceptions and pulled down 41 tackles. Zach Sharp and Justin Martin are two junior newcomers to watch in the secondary.

Reynolds and Bates will combine at defensive end to give Warsaw a strong presences up front.

“Those guys have come a long ways. They really have started to understand that it isn’t all about racking up the tackles. It is just as much about sitting there, taking on a double team and cleaning it up for our linebackers.”

Strunk, McGann, Henderson and junior Gavin Roth will look to round out the defensive line.

Aidan Comer and Couzens return to the middle of the defense at linebacker with juniors Kolton Krueger and Zander Fletcher looking to join them.

Boyer wants his team to focus on finishing games entering his third year as head coach.

“(We want to) put ourselves in position to win in the fourth quarter. Is that always going to happen? Probably not, but put yourself in that position when you are within a touchdown or two or you are up. Battle for four quarters. Don’t just be a one half ball club,” Boyer said.

Warsaw opens the season on Aug. 30 at Midway.