Coach’s Corner
Coach Justin Barnes
Coach’s CornerQ: How would you characterize this year’s team?
A: We have a good core coming back on both sides of the ball, but some key spots still need to be filled.
Q: What will be the keys to your success?
A: Replacing our 2015 graduates, but the players filling those spots have a solid grasp of our schemes and did well in spring and summer practice.
Q: Who will be your key leaders on the team? 
A: Justin Cooke (Sr., QB), Owen Vice (Sr., OL/DL), Gage Keahey (Sr., OL/DL), Ty Boeck (Jr., TE/LB), Jaden Holcombe (Sr., WR/DB), Brandon Davis (Jr., WR/DB), Addison Roberts (Jr., OL/DL), Javon Hines (Sr., OL/DL), Jake Seeger (Jr., TE/DL), and Nathan Rusbridge (Jr., TE/DL).
Q: What are your biggest reasons for optimism?
A: The returning players have a lot of experience and understand what it takes to succeed.
Q: What will keep you up at night?
A: Finding players who will fill the spots left by seniors. Some younger guys are going to have to step up and be ready to play on Fridays.
Q: Any lessons learned from last year?
A: We needed to be bigger and stronger, so we stepped it up in the weight room.
Q: How would you characterize your team’s speed?
A: Speed is something we’ve definitely improved over the last few years. As we continue to get stronger, our speed will increase even more.
Coach’s View
I have a lot of optimism for the upcoming season. Replacing the seniors we lost will be difficult, and the guys taking over those positions are going to have more on their shoulders. Thankfully, we have a good core group of players returning, and we know some guys will definitely step up and become leaders.
Photos by Andy Mitchell
Jake Seeger
Gage Keahey
Justin Cooke
Brandon Davis
Jaden Holcombe
Ty Boeck
Owen Vice
