PAGE 8: FALL SPORTS 2017 PRESS & DAKOTAN n PLAIN TALK The Crofton Warriors hoisted the Class C2 runner-up trophy a season ago, capping a 10-3 season. The Warriors will look to make a return trip to the state finals this season. Crofton Warriors Look For Return Trip To Lincoln Crofton Will Look To Fill Several Graduation Gaps Jaden Janssen and Ethan Poppe. Janssen will be in his third year of quarterbacking the Warrior offense, while Poppe earned All-State Honorable Mention as a linebacker in 2016. BY BEN HEGGE “Those two are definitely going to be the leaders of this sports@yankton.net team,” said Allen. “But, we have some other pieces that have CROFTON, Neb. — One year ago the Crofton Warriors played varsity experience that can make plays.” their final game where every It will be the new additions football team in Nebraska wants to the Crofton rotation that will their season to end. paint the picture for the Warriors At Memorial Stadium in season. Players such as Noah Lincoln. Lancaster, Kyle Bramschreiber, After an impressive playoff Jarrin Sage, Connor Dahl, Levi run that featured victories over Central City, Valentine and Battle Suing, Logan Leader, Colby Lange, and others will see inCreek, the Warriors were just one win away from a state cham- creased roles. The Warriors open up their pionship. However, they were defeated by Wilber-Clatonia, who season on Aug. 25 as they have won the C-2 State Championship a road game with Wisner-Pilger. With a new team, the Warriors 20-0. are eager to get back out on the “We have to replace a large group of seniors from last year’s field. “We couldn’t have asked for team,” said Crofton head coach better weather in our first three Tom Allen. “There are going to be a lot of new faces filling spots weeks of practice. Now, the kids are ready to go out and play,” for us, but we are prepared.” Allen said. “There is a lot of The 2017 Crofton football nervous energy on the coaching team will be led by seniors staff, but we will be fine. We will just have to learn on the run a little bit.” The key to a post-season run, like the Warriors had in 2016, is a strong regular season. Crofton finished the regular season a year ago with a record of 7-2 with their two losses coming at the hands of Battle Creek and Oakland-Craig, two of the top teams in C-2. Like any team, the amount of success in the regular season depends on the health of its players. Especially in the case of Crofton, who has several positions to fill with new faces. “Like any school our size, injuries are a huge factor,” Allen said. “If we can stay healthy the whole year and get some kids to step up, then it’s going to be a fun season.” It is safe to say that the 2016 C2 State Championship game at Memorial Field gave the Warriors a taste of success that they want to achieve again this year. That all starts week one in Wisner. Follow @bigheadbenny13 on Twitter. Crofton’s Ethan Poppe leaps to try to disrupt Central City quarterback Will Wagner during their Class C2 opening round playoff football game in 2016. Blocking on the play is Central City’s Cam Scuiga, 21. NEBRASKA FOOTBALL Allen COACH: Dave Uldrich ASSISTANTS: Marc Bathke, Zach Wemhoff VITALS: Class D-2 LAST YEAR: The Eagles finished with a record of 4-5. RETURNING: Jacob Williams (Sr., 6-11, 155, E/DE); Blake McCorkindale (Sr., 5-10, 150, B/LB); Isaac Verzani (Jr., 5-9, 160, C/G/LB); Kyle Smith (Jr., 5-10, 160, B/LB); Devin Twohig (Jr., 6-2, 170, DE); Brogan Jones (So., 6-0, 160, G/ DE); Josh Grone (So., 6-0, 175, G/NT) OTHERS: Noah Carr (So., 5-10, 140, B/CB); Levi Woodward (Sr., 5-9, 145, DB); Lukas Oswald (So., 5-10, 140, QB); Quentin Moles (28) is a top returning player for Bloomfield. Anthony Isom (Fr., 5-9, 140, BERNDT FARM FORT RANDALL TELEPHONE CO. Zetor Tractor • TYM Tractors And Repairs 605-563-2863 EQUIPMENT One mile west of Hwy 46 & 37 junction FREEMAN FLYERS Canistota-Freeman Pride Football 8/18......................at Menno-Marion (Menno) 8/25..............................................Howard (F) 9/8..........................Chester Area (Canistota) 9/15................................at Viborg-Hurley (V) 9/22....................................... Irene-Wakonda 9/29...................................................at Baltic 10/06.........................at Hanson (Alexandria) 10/13........................................Garretson (C) Volleyball 8/24..........................................Viborg-Hurley 8/29............................ at Irene-Wakonda (W) 8/31................................................... Howard 9/5.............. at Sanborn Central-Woonsocket (Forestburg) 9/7............................................Gayville-Volin 9/11...............................................at Scotland 9/12.............................at Bridgewater-Emery 9/14.................. at Tripp-Delmont-Armour (T) 9/21.................................................at Menno Bloomfield COACH: Matt Kuchar ASSISTANT: Brian Eisenhauer VITALS: Class D-2 LAST YEAR: The Bees finished with a season record of 9-2. RETURNING: Quinten Moles (Sr., 5-10, 180, RB, 56 tackles); Jared Hornback (Sr., 6-0, 215, C); Brantson Gieselman (Jr., 5-7, 165, LB/RB, 44 tackles); Trenton Holz (Jr., 5-8, 140) OTHERS: Michael Castaneda (Sr., 6-2, 220, G/DE, 31 tackles); Reece McFarland CROSBY-JAEGER FUNERAL HOME INC. Avon, SD 119 N. Poplar St. Wagner, SD 124 E. Hwy 50 384-3781 Springfield, SD 604 8th St. 369-2488 Centerville, SD 286-3233 DB); Kobe Kumm (Fr., 5-7, 130, QB/DB); Aden Anderson (Fr., 5-11, 155, C) Jim & Julie Jaeger and Chad Peters FREEMAN ACADEMY-MARION BEARCATS 9/25...................................................Iroquois 9/28.................................................. at Ethan 10/02.........................at Dell Rapids St. Mary 10/12..................................................... Avon 10/17................................................. Hanson 10/23.............................................. Canistota 10/24...................................Alcester-Hudson Cross Country 8/25......................................... Beresford Inv. 8/29............... McCook Central-Montrose Inv. 9/7..............................................DeSmet Inv. 9/13.................................................Flyer Inv. 9/18.....................................Bon Homme Inv. 9/20........ Cornbelt Conference Inv. (Howard) 9/27.............................................. Parker Inv. 9/29............................................. Lennox Inv. 10/4........................Viborg-Hurley Inv. (Irene) 10/11............................Region 3B (Freeman) 10/21...........................State Inv. (Rapid City) Volleyball 8/22-24...................Hanson Early Bird Tourn. 8/31.................................................at Menno 9/7................................................at Scotland 9/9...................Oldham-Ramona-Rutland (F) 9/12.................................Irene-Wakonda (M) 9/14................................Baltic/Gayville-Volin 9/18................................. at Alcester-Hudson 9/26..........................................Canistota (M) 9/28.at Andes Central-Dakota Christian (DC) 10/09........................ Bridgewater-Emery (M) 10/10.................................. Viborg-Hurley (F) 10/12.................................................at Marty 10/14................. AC-DC Tourn. (Lake Andes) 10/17...................... Dell Rapids St. Mary (M) 10/24...................at Mitchell Christian/James Valley Christian 10/26............................................. at Hanson Fr. Acad-Freeman Soccer 8/12....................at Woonsocket-Wessington Springs-Sanborn Central JV (W) 8/18.................. Douglas/R.C. Christian (2-2) 8/22...................................... at S.F. Christian 8/25................................at St. Thomas More 8/26.........................................at Hot Springs 8/28............................................. at Tea Area 8/31................................................Vermillion 9/5................................................... Tea Area 9/11............................ James Valley Christian 9/16........................................ at Groton Area 9/21............................................at Vermillion 9/23......................Southwest Minn. Christian Cross Country 8/25......................................... Beresford Inv. 8/29...............................................Salem Inv. 9/1.....................................Augie Twilight Inv. 9/6.............................Freeman Academy Inv. 9/13...........................................Freeman Inv. 9/18.............................. Alcester-Hudson Inv. 9/23..................................Platte-Geddes Inv. 9/28..................Great Plains Conference Inv. 10/2.............................................Howard Inv. 10/4.......................Tri-Valley Conference Inv. (Sr., 5-7, 156, FB/LB, 641 rushing yards); Jackson Eisenhauer (Sr., 6-4, 180, TE/DB); Mitchell Mackeprang (Jr., 5-9, 230, OL/DB, 25 tackles); Dade Davis (So., 5-10, 145, WR/DB); Braden Eisenhauer (So., 5-7, 145, QB/DB); Dylan Kauth (Jr., 5-8, 155, OL/LB); Will Fehringer (Jr., 5-5, 145, NEB. FB | PAGE 9 FARMERS CO-OP ELEVATOR Fuel Service & Ranch Supply For All Your • Grain • Fertilizer • Feed • Chemical Needs AVON, SD PH. 286-3297 COMMUNITY BANK AVON, SD 286-3213 Locally Owned & Operated 102 N. Main, Avon, SD 286-3917 Member FDIC CENTERVILLE TORNADOES Football 8/18................................................... Colome 8/25..............................................at Scotland 9/1............................................Gayville-Volin 9/8...............at Tripp-Delmont-Armour-Andes Central-Dakota Christian (T) 9/15....................................................... Avon 9/22...............................Burke-South Central 9/29...........................at Corsica-Stickney (C) 10/6........................... at Alcester-Hudson (A) Cross Country 8/25......................................... Beresford Inv. 9/6.............................Freeman Academy Inv. 9/13...........................................Freeman Inv. 9/18.............................. Alcester-Hudson Inv. 9/27............................................Par-Mar Inv. 9/28................................................. GPC Inv. 10/4..................................................TVC Inv. 10/12................................. Region 2B (Irene) 10/21...........................State Inv. (Rapid City) AVON PIRATES Volleyball 8/24........................................at Bon Homme 8/29................................................. Parkston 8/31.............Andes Central-Dakota Christian 9/5..........................at Tripp-Delmont-Armour 9/7............................. at Alcester-Hudson (A) 9/12................................................... Wagner 9/16......................... Cavalier Clash (Tyndall) 9/19............................................... at Colome 9/23..........Sioux Falls Pentagon Tournament 9/26..................................................Scotland 10/02.................................. Mitchell Christian 10/03................... at Burke-South Central (B) 10/05.....................at Bridgewater-Emery (E) 10/12........................................... at Freeman 10/16.................................................... Ethan 10/17...................................Corsica-Stickney 10/20...............................................at Menno 10/23........................................Gayville-Volin 10/24..............................Wessington Springs Football 8/18...........................at Corsica-Stickney (C) 8/25.....................................Alcester-Hudson 9/1...............at Tripp-Delmont-Armour-Andes Central-Dakota Christian (T) 9/8............................................Gayville-Volin 9/15...........................................at Centerville 9/29...............................Burke-South Central 10/06............................................at Scotland 10/13................................................. Colome Cross Country 8/26.............................................Mitchell Inv. 9/6.............................Freeman Academy Inv. 9/11..............................................Wagner Inv. 9/13.......................................... Freeman Inv. 9/18.....................................Bon Homme Inv. 9/23..................................Platte-Geddes Inv. 9/28..................Great Plains Conference Inv. 10/5...........................................Parkston Inv. 10/11............................Region 3B (Freeman) 10/21...........................State Inv. (Rapid City)