LAPEL — The No. 1 question on fans’ minds may revolve around a player who has graduated. But the Lapel football program — coming off an 8-4 season that came to a heartbreaking end in the sectional final to eventual state champion Cardinal Ritter — has the talent and experience to shrug off that question and aim for even higher goals in 2017.
Will Jones has taken his 207 yards per game and 16 touchdowns and headed off to Ball State University this year. Coach Tim Miller said despite the loss of such great production, this team is still optimistic and confident heading into a new season.
“We play a very tough schedule this year,” Miller said. “Our kids’ expectations could not be higher. We had some bumps in the road last year. We’re hoping for a really good season; we’ve had some kids that have really worked hard this off season.”
As far as who will be running the ball this year, Miller has plenty of options. Seniors Dawson Phillips (711 yards, 6.5 ypc) and Josiah Hudson (342 yards, 9.8 ypc) and junior Sparky Manis (5.9 ypc) all filled in well when Jones was injured last season. With multiple players who can fill the running back slot, Miller can keep fresh legs in the game at all times, which is especially important with Hudson and Phillips also being key players on defense.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“Obviously, you don’t replace a kid like Will,” Miller said. “We also had to play without him for six games last year. This year, it may be more of a running back by committee. Hudson will start at safety and Phillips at linebacker, so to give guys more rest, it will be more of a committee deal.”
Another area hit hard by graduation is the defensive secondary. But Hudson is back to start for a third year at safety, and senior Mason Gilley will start at one cornerback, both with an interception last year.
“Jaylin Page has been showing some promise back there,” Miller said. “Right now, we have a lot of guys competing for spots. It does nothing besides make us better. And Cole Alexander, besides being our backup quarterback, is a great athlete, so he’s in the mix at cornerback as well.”
Back for his third full season at the helm of the Bulldog offense is senior quarterback Levi Frazier. Last season, Frazier completed more than 50 percent of his passes for 2,376 yards and 19 touchdowns. With a talented corps of receivers back, including seniors Hudson and Preston Scott, juniors Drew Reed and Connor Gill, and senior tight end Caleb Bloom, Frazier and the Bulldog offense could be primed for a big year.
“We’re never afraid to throw the ball, that’s for sure,” Miller said. “Whatever way we think we can move and score points, we’ll do it. If that means running the ball 60 times, I’ll do it. If it means throwing the ball 60 times, we’ll do it.”
Seniors Tony Delillo (75 tackles), Jordan Morgan (three tackles) and Phillips (20 tackles) will be manning a deep group of linebackers along with junior Phoenix Mills (eight tackles).
Another spot where the Bulldogs have been hurt by graduation and senior Richard Ficociello moving out of district has been the defensive line.
“Some big losses,” Miller said. “Our defensive line is going to be completely different this year. Last year, we could just line up and go. This year, it’s going to be a lot more by committee with more subbing in and out. But I have nothing but faith in our defensive coaches — they design and run schemes no one else in the state does, with some of our standup sets.”
The group tasked with opening holes for the running game and protecting Frazier will be seniors Brady Stohler, Bryce Stohler and Peyton Bannon, and juniors Cade Mohr and Ryne Wheeler. But center Justus Kalley is the anchor for the Lapel offensive line.
“Justus Kalley is an absolute stud on the offensive line,” Miller said. “And depth is our friend.”
The Bulldogs have an added weapon on the special teams that isn’t afforded to many 2A schools in sophomore kicker Malachi Qualls. As a freshman, Qualls earned all-state mention after making 33 of 36 extra point attempts, and Miller has no qualms about the sophomore kicking field goals this year.
“Malachi turned into quite a weapon for us last year,” Miller said. “He has put in a lot of work at kicking and recruiting camps; he’s a big weapon. Now we don’t have to drive it inside the 10 to hopefully kick a field goal. He doesn’t shank kicks.”
When looking for a possible breakout performer this season, Miller returns to a deep wide receiver corps and sophomore Charlie Prough and Gill.
“Prough returned punts for us last year and has had a really good summer,” Miller said. “Another that showed a lot promise last year, and I think he’s going to have a big season, is Connor Gill. He’s so gritty — he runs everything perfect, and I never have to explain anything twice.”
The Bulldogs kick off the season with the first of four tough games when class 4A Mississinewa comes to Lapel Friday, Aug. 18, for a 7 p.m. start.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Lapel Football Roster” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
No Name Year Off-Def
2 Mason Gilley 12 RB-DB
3 Ross Lord 12 WR-DL
5 Charlie Prough 10 WR-DB
6 Cole Alexander 10 QB-DB
7 Jaylin Page 11 WR-DB
8 Connor Gill 11 WR-DB
9 Michael Wilbur 10 WR-DB
10 Sparky Manis 11 WR-DB
11 Cannon Bledsoe 10 QB-DB
12 Drew Thomas 12 WR-LB
15 Dillon McCrory 12 OL-DL
15 Andrew Darlington 9 QB-LB
18 Levi Frazier 12 QB-LB
20 Jordan Delphia 11 WR-DB
21 Quentin Norrick 10 RB-DB
22 Reese Smith 11 WR-DB
24 Noah Frazier 10 WR-DB
25 Malachi Qualls 10 WR-DB-K
26 Max Stern 10 WR-DB
27 Tanner Mroz 9 WR-DB
28 Wyatt Allen 11 RB-DB
30 Josiah Hudson 12 RB-DB
31 Dalton Partington 12 WR-DL
32 Josiah Scott 10 RB-DB
33 Brandon Wood 10 RB-LB
34 Parker Allman 9 WR-LB
35 Gage Thompson 9 OL-LB
36 Justin Engle 11 WR-DB
40 Gabe Knepp 9 RB-DB
41 Blake Anderson 12 WR-DB
42 Jordan Morgan 12 WR-LB
43 Keagan Hexamer 12 WR-LB
44 Dawson Phillips 12 RB-LB-P
47 Peyton Niccum 10 RB-DL
51 John Beeman 12 OL-DL
52 Camden Mammaza 9 OL-DL
55 Jack Hobbs 9 OL-DL
55 Cade Mohr 11 OL-DL
57 Tony DeLillo 12 OL-LB
58 Matthew Burnell 12 OL-DL
59 Phoenix Mills 11 OL-LB
60 Richard Cole 11 OL-DL
62 Bryce Stohler 12 OL-DL
63 Anthony Weeks 9 OL-DL
64 Brady Stohler 12 OL-DL
65 Thunder Davis 10 OL-DL
66 Bracken Metford 9 OL-DL
67 Hunter Morris 10 OL-DL
70 Justus Kalley 12 OL-DL
71 Korbin Puckett 9 OL-DL
72 Ethan McCrory 9 OL-DL
73 Marshall Whitaker 12 OL-DL
75 Ian Green 9 OL-DL
76 Caden Eicks 9 OL-DL
76 Gavin Follmar 9 OL-LB
77 Peyton Bannon 12 OL-DL
78 Teague Scherer 10 OL-DL
79 Austin Brownfield 12 OL-DL
80 Hayden LeClerc 9 WR-DB
80 Jacob Gregory 9 WR-DB
82 Joseph Steffen 10 WR-DB
83 Dane Busch 11 WR-DB
85 Preston Scott 12 WR-DL
88 Caleb Bloom 12 TE-DL
— Keegan Smith 10 OL-LB
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Lapel Football Schedule” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
7 p.m. Aug. 18 MISSISSINEWA
7 p.m. Aug. 25 FRANKTON
7 p.m. Sept. 1 at Adams Central
7 p.m. Sept. 8 SHENANDOAH (Homecoming)
7 p.m. Sept. 15 at Heritage Christian
7 p.m. Sept. 22 at Rushville Consolidated
7 p.m. Sept. 29 LEWIS CASS
7 p.m. Oct. 6 at Tri-Central
7 p.m. Oct. 13 at Eastern Hancock
[sc:pullout-text-end]