[wpbvideo id=”901988″]
By Chris Parker
Warsaw football got off to a strong start last season by winning its first three games before COVID shut the team down from weeks 5-7.
“Last year we were able to come out of the gate strong and have a lot of success early,” Warsaw head coach Ryan Boyer said. “Unfortunately we were shut down due to COVID weeks five through seven. It took us a little bit to get back into a rhythm, but I was very proud of how our kids bounced back and finished strong. We lost in the district championship. Our goal for this season is to take that next step.”
Warsaw lost its final two games of the regular season after the COVID shutdown, but the Wildcats were able to win the first two games of district before falling to Butler in the district title game.
This year, Warsaw brings back six offensive and eight defensive starters with 16 total lettermen.
Leading those returning starters is quarterback Brady Slavens. Slavens threw for 640 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 911 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. He earned second-team all-conference and all-district honors for his efforts.
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL SEASON SCHEDULE
Nick Bagley will see more carries at running back in his junior year after carrying the ball 38 times for 153 yards as a junior.
Cameron Seevers (junior wide receiver) and James Kellner (senior tight end/wide receiver) will also return as starters.
Up front, seniors Garret McGann and Cameron Taylor return on the offensive line. McGann earned honorable mention all-conference and all-district honors on the offensive line last season.
Defensively, eight starters return who will play by a simple motto.
“Fast and physical is our motto and these kids have done a great job buying into that,” Boyer said.
Bagley returns at linebacker after he earned second-team all-conference honors and all-district honors as a sophomore. The junior led Warsaw in tackles last year with 38.
DOWNLOAD THE O-ZONE APP NOW!
APPLE – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
ANDROID – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
Kellner (free safety) and Seevers (defensive back) return after earning post-season honors last year. Kellner was named honorable mention all-conference while Seevers earned honorable mention all-conference and all-district honors.
Tayten Boyer will look to build off his strong sophomore season at strong safety. Boyer had three interceptions last year.
Gage Whitaker will play linebacker in his junior season. McGann will return to starting on the defensive line with fellow senior Cameron Taylor.
Newcomers to watch include: Jackie Esser (senior OL/DL), Gaven Cunningham (senior WR/DB), Devon Boul (sophomore OL/DL), Austin Schibi (sophomore OL/DL), Riley Taylor (sophomore RB/LB) and Hudson Carr (junior OL/LB).
“I am excited for this upcoming season. Our boys have been working hard and doing everything asked of them,” Boyer said. “Our community has been great in supporting our program and helping out in any way possible.”
Warsaw opens the season on Aug. 27 at home against Cole Camp.
