By Chris Parker
Aurora football has a new head coach in Ty Kime this season. He has 19 total years of coaching experience with 13 as a head coach in Washington state.
“(Aurora was an) opportunity to get back into coaching after a five-year hiatus,” Kime said. “(I am) grateful for opportunity to coach a program with a long football history and tradition.”
Five starters return on both sides of the ball.
Sean Creasey threw for 1,212 yards and seven touchdowns as quarterback last season.
“His even keeled mentality (has impressed). He doesn’t seem to get rattled,” Kime said. “(We want him to) become more of a vocal leader, continued growth week to week and excited to grow the offense around him.”
Last year’s leading receiver in Brayden Allen returns. He had 25 catches for 323 yards and a touchdown. Terik Rackley, Omar Fries, Brennan Diaz and Sean Salyers are all in the mix at wide receiver as well.
Eddy Ibarra and Zach Fries are looking for time at tight end.
Memphis Mooneyham and Cooper Weter will handle the ball-carrying duties. Mooneyham had 22 carries for 174 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman.
Look for Zach Brown, Gabe Vannote, Spencer Lauffer, Martin Svistun, Seth Salyers, Braden Price and Hayden Buehler on the offensive line.
On defense, Allen also returns as the leading tackler from his spot in the secondary. He had 93 total tackles on his way to second-team all-conference honors.
Rackley, Omar Fries, Mooneyham, Treston Lopez and Salyers will also see time at defensive back.
Weter, Diaz, Zach Fries, Ibarra and Jonathan Simpson will factor in at linebacker. Diaz led that group with 87 tackles last season. Weter contributed 69 total tackles.
Up front, Brown, Vannote, Lauffer, Svistun and Price will be on the defensive line.
“(Our) goal is to be balanced team that takes advantage of opportunities on both sides of the ball and special teams,” Kime said.
Aurora travels to Sarcoxie for a jamboree on Aug. 22 before opening the regular season on Aug. 29 at home against Mt. Vernon.
“(We want to) be competitive in every game and show week to week improvement,” Kime said.
