By Chris Parker
Lockwood improved its win total from six to eight in its second season as an 8-man football program. The Tigers will look for even more wins this season with a strong core of players returning.
The defense will be a strength with all-state defensive back Hank Eggerman returning. Linebackers Nik Thieman and Logan Pittsenbarger will anchor the second level at linebacker after each started every game.
“Our defensive strength will be in having a couple defensive backs that I hope can lock down opponents’ receivers,” Lockwood head coach Clay Lasater said. “We return all-state defensive back Hank Eggerman and two guys who started every game at linebacker in Nik Thieman and Logan Pittsenbarger. I feel like these three guys will be strengths of our defense with their experience from last fall.”
Lasater on Eggerman: “Hank is a very smart disciplined player with great hands. He will be one of the guys we spread the ball around to as well as add depth to our defensive backfield. Hank was an all-state first-team selection at defensive back last fall. He was a tackling machine and was all over the field. He will be the leader of our defense.”
Lasater on Pittsenbarger: “Logan started every game at linebacker last fall and made several big plays for us. Logan is very disciplined and a very tough kid. He will do all the dirty work in the trenches that not everyone wants to do. I look for Logan to be one of our team leaders in tackles this fall.”
Lasater on Thieman: “Nik has started at linebacker for two years now and will lead the middle of our defense. Nik will also be a feature running back for us this fall. I look for Nik to have a breakout season in the backfield.”
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Henry Schnelle (quarterback), Miles Neely (offensive lineman) and Rachel Baugh (kicker) are other returning starters for Lockwood.
Lasater on Schnelle: “Henry had a great season throwing the ball last year and is a great leader. He makes great decisions and is like having a coach on the field.”
Lasater on Neely: “Miles worked his way into a starting offensive line spot last year as a freshman. He is a very smart player with great technique. I look for Miles to make a big jump from his freshman year to his sophomore season. Miles has worked hard in the weight room and has gained some valuable strength.”
Lasater on Baugh: “Rachel kicked several extra points last fall and was really accurate with her directional kicking. She has become an important piece of our puzzle and I can’t brag enough about her mental and physical toughness enough. She will look to add leg strength this off season and return as our starting kicker in her junior season.”
Schnelle threw for 1,840 yards and 32 touchdowns last year.
“Our offensive strength will be having a handful of guys to spread the ball around to. I hope we can make it difficult on other 8-man teams to defend multiple guys. We return a really smart and accurate passer in Henry Schnelle who reads defenses very well and makes really good decisions,” Lasater said.
Newcomers to watch for Lockwood include Ryan Wells (sophomore OL), Owen Patterson (sophomore LB), Logan Jenkins (sophomore OL), Reed Gastel (junior OL), Luke Baugh (sophomore OL), Landry Ogden (freshman ATH), Roper Gray (freshman DB), Elijah Beard (freshman OL), Reed Spinks (freshman OL), Reed Parker (junior DE), Talon Richter (freshman NG), Braxton Glenn (freshman center), Koen Lilienkamp (freshman TE), Sean Contreras (freshman WR), Sean McMillan (junior WR) and Kaden Lafon (senior WR).
Lockwood will travel to Jasper for a jamboree with the host Eagles, Liberal and Greenfield. Lockwood opens the regular season at home against Archie.
“We are going to be competing in our third year of 8-man football. We are excited to see how we can build on our first couple seasons of 8-man football,” Lasater said. “We have some key returning players, but we also have some big shoes to fill on our offensive and defensive lines. We will see how some of our newcomers can work together and develop into a competitive group.”
