Lutheran has experienced linemen for the new season with seniors Emeka Jiliani, Michael Eckle and Chris Steeb and juniors Mike Ellis and Jacob Brose.
(10-4, Class A) Saints missed reaching Class A state championship game last year by one win … outscored four teams 122-62 in playoffs before running into Linton-Stockton in semistate … graduated only nine seniors … most returnees have quality varsity experience … three-year starter/senior tailback Andre Jones is expected to surpass 5,000 yards career rushing early this season … junior Clayton Pittman to replace graduated receiver Jacob Faubion … quarterback up for grabs … newcomer senior Jacob Brose adds to line with seniors Emeki Juliani (273), Ball State commit Michael Eckle (270) and Chris Steeb (180) plus juniors Mike Ellis and Mark Caster (225) and soph Will Olive … three-year starter/senior Baily Barham leads linebacker corps of speedy sophs Garrett Zeller and Marcus McFadden, Michael Schultz, Austin Bryant and Max Wirick, all interchangeable … soph Jalen Elliott joins returning starter Trevor Russell at cornerback … coach Dave Pasch (65-43) in 10th year with Saints, who open at home Friday against Greenwood.
Coach’s comments: “As a coach you want to put a program in place so that graduation losses, even at quarterback, don’t hinder or necessarily force us to re-evaluate our goals. We have players that we have developed to this point that should be able to step in without missing a beat. At least we hope that’s what our upper players can do.
“Experience is always a factor; what you hope for is by playoffs our sophomores are ready to help us win tourney games. We’re not going to be consumed about the regular season because we want to be at our best when the playoffs begin. I think you’ve seen that pattern in the past few years. We have confidence in all our players.”
Coach’s comments: “As a coach you want to put a program in place so that graduation losses, even at quarterback, don’t hinder or necessarily force us to re-evaluate our goals. We have players that we have developed to this point that should be able to step in without missing a beat. At least we hope that’s what our upper players can do.
“Experience is always a factor; what you hope for is by playoffs our sophomores are ready to help us win tourney games. We’re not going to be consumed about the regular season because we want to be at our best when the playoffs begin. I think you’ve seen that pattern in the past few years. We have confidence in all our players.”
Among Lutheran players capable of adding their talents to either side of the ball are (front) Andre Jones, Bailey Barham, Trevor Russell; (back) Emanuel Knox, Maxwell Wirick, Mike Schultz and Austin Bryant.
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