LAPEL — Lapel football Coach Tim Miller knows defending the Bulldogs’ sectional title will be no walk in the park, but with a strong group of experienced players returning to the lineup, his team is up for the task.
Another realignment of Sectional 36 will put Lapel in the pool with such teams as Blackford, Tipton and Eastbrook.
Lapel lost to Eastbrook in the regional game last year. Pre-season polls show all of those teams getting some pre-season nods, including the Bulldogs.
Miller couldn’t be happier to have back a strong nucleus on both offense and defense.
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Senior quarterback Cole Alexander will lead the Bulldog offense.
Alexander returns as the starter, and his senior year could stack up to be every bit as impressive as his junior stats.
Last season, Alexander passed for nearly 3,000 yards, tallied 33 passing TDs and averaged more than 200 yards passing per game, making him one of the premier quarterbacks in the state.
Even on the ground, Alexander had some notable stats with 11 rushing touchdowns and more than 600 yards rushing.
“He’s not just one of the best quarterbacks in the area, he’s one of the best in the state,” Miller said.
Miller believes Alexander once again will put up substantial numbers, especially since the Bulldogs have two returning receivers from last year’s squad.
Senior Charlie Prough had six touchdowns and 640 receiving yards last season. With 30 catches, Prough averaged more than 21 yards a catch.
Along with Prough, senior Noah Frazier is back as a receiver.
Add in juniors Tanner Mroz and Hayden Leclerc, and the Bulldogs have the field covered.
“We have a lot of kids who were playing behind really good players last year and now are getting their chance,” Miller said.
Additionally, the Bulldogs have the option of the running game as well.
Senior running back Josiah Scott averaged 5.3 yards per game as a junior and crossed the goal line six times for the Bulldogs.
He’ll be joined by sophomore Kyle Shelton, who as a freshman on varsity gained vital yards in a few key games and scored two TDs.
Keeping the opposition away from Alexander will fall to linemen juniors Ethan McCrory, Jayden Kinsinger and senior Bradon Choate.
While the Bulldogs will have the offense they need, the defense returns several experienced players as well. Juniors Parker Allman and Jarod Roundtree. Choate and Scott will lead the defensive effort. Senior Brandon Wood has had multiple starts in the last two years.
Miller is still in the process of finding the right slot for several additional players on the rosters.
He said the Bulldog mission remains the same. “Our goal is to take it one game at a time. I think we can compete with everyone on our schedule.
“Ultimately, our end goal is the post season,” Miller said. “We’ll be challenged, but our kids are working hard every day.
“We play some phenomenal teams, but we want to stay healthy and be playing our best when the post season comes around,” Miller said.
The Bulldogs open their season Aug. 23 at Elwood. Their home opener is Aug. 30 against Frankton, and homecoming is Sept. 6 against North Decatur.
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2 Noah Frazier 12 WR, LS
5 Charlie Prough 12 WR, SS
6 Cole Alexander 12 QB, SS
10 Colin Jannings 9 CB, WR
12 Hayden LeClerc 11 WR, CB
15 Tyler Dollar 9 SS, RB
15 Gabe Knepp 11 RB, SS
18 Brennan Stow 10 QB
20 Evan Osenbaugh 9 WR, CB
21 QuentionNorrick 12 RB, SS
24 Tanner Mroz 11 CB, SB
25 Josiah Scott 12 RB
26 Max Stern 12 SS, WR
27 Coleton Kadinger 10 WR
30 Drew Darlington 11 QB, SS
31 Eli Michalek 10 FS, CB
32 Brice Everitt 10 RB, CB
33 Brandon Wood 12 RB, OLB
34 Parker Allman 11 DE, TE
35 Reece King 11 —
42 Kyle Shelton 10 RB, MLB
43 Michael Wilbur 12 FS, CB
44 Ryan Follmar 10 —
52 Clayton McMillan 10
55 Holden Harless 10 G
57 Grant Morris 10 G, MLB
58 Charlie Pitcock 10 —
62 Aiden Murdock 10 C, DE
64 Cristian Schuyler 10 DE, G
66 Bradon Choate 12 G, DT
67 Hunter Morris 12 G, DT
70 Charles Graybiel 11 G, DT
71 Korbin Puckett 11 T, DE
72 Ethan McCrory 11 T, C
73 KaydonRothell 10 —
74 Ethan Goodwin 10 G,T
77 Jayden Kinsinger 11 DT, G
79 Jarod Roundtree 11 —
79 Trace Broadbent 10 —
80 Max Kern 10 WR, CB
82 Will Alexander 10 TE, CB
— Alan Buzan 9 WR, CB
— Cannon Bledsoe 12 —
— Drew Bracken 9 FS, WR
— Gage Thompson 11 MLB
— Gage White 12 —
— Joseph Steffen 12 WR, OLB
— Kolby Clegg 9 —
— Nathan Miles 11 —
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