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Trojans keep pushing the rock uphill towards sub-state berth
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| Trojans senior tailback Jordan Mullen tears through the line of scrimmage during last Friday’s 24-14 victory over Glenwood at the Trojan Bowl. Friday night, Atlantic will head to Osceola Clarke for Week 8 district play. |
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Once broken Atlantic offense continues to grow, 3-2 Trojans looking to take care of business against winless Osceola Clarke and maintain control of playoff destiny
By Drew Herron
NT Sports Editor
ATLANTIC – If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. It’s a fitting theme for Trojans Football in 2008, at least at this point of the year.
Through the season’s first three weeks, the Trojans offense managed just 10 total points and got knocked out in succession by three straight Hawkeye 10 schools. Senior and three-year starting quarterback Jacob Hartwig was put on the shelves with a fractured collarbone, and the team was in spiraling disarray as personnel readjustments were made.
Now, as the grip of genuine Fall takes hold, the Trojans are humming a different tune, winners in three of their last four and putting on show an offense that was promised long ago.
“We revamped everything we did on offense, put people where they needed to be and now Jordan (Mullen) has come into his own as a tailback,” Atlantic head coach Gaylord Schelling says of the team’s turnaround. “That makes a big difference for us because we’re explosive when we can find ways to get him the ball.”
After the frustration of the slow and winless start, the team’s coaches gathered for a lengthy Sunday evening powwow a month or so ago, a meeting where every coach on the AHS staff had their say and presented their ideas on how to fix the sinking ship.
Amongst the new concepts that were implemented and then took flight, a rebuilt offensive line that has been opening doors for the flash back Mullen and more recently, sophomore Philip Iekel.
Atlantic ranks around the middle of both the combined offensive and defensive categories. The fact that they are now around the middle is a relief as the Trojans claim a winning record at 3-2 in district play. With two games remaining, Atlantic is in control of their destiny.
It’s a whole different Trojans team than was seen in late September.
“The kids wanted a change too,” Schelling said of the team’s slow start. “We weren’t being successful and nobody was happy. Now what’s happened is, the kids are buying into the new things we’re doing, building confidence and we’re finding success.”
The bulk of the offensive production during the Trojans resurgence has been with the run. Jordan Mullen’s recent performances have given him 390 yards in district play, 5 TDs and an average of 6.5 YPC.
A converted split end, Mullen is also a threat to catch the ball, adding another 165 yards with nine catches (18.3 average).
The word is out on Mullen, and expect Clarke to scheme a defense that limits Mullen’s ability to run wild in the flats.
“He’s tough to stop, not only is he quick, but he runs very hard,” Clarke coach Ryan Sweeney said. “It looks like he runs extremely well when he has open space, so we’ll try to do what we can against that. Thirty-three is going to make plays, but we have to limit the big ones.
“And obviously, they’re doing things well to set that up, so it’s going to be a challenge.”
Clarke hoping to close down final home game with victory
Clarke has been suffering through a winless season where they’ve been outscored on average 37-4. Three times they’ve been shutout as the Indians struggled and juggled players missing and showing instability at the quarterback position.
What’s more, Clarke has just five seniors on the roster, one of whom starts and another who is out for season. The team is very young and taking its growing pains.
“We’re seeing growth and improvements, it’s just we’re very young and inexperienced,” Sweeney says.
Clarke’s meager offensive yards total of 699 yards on the season is less than half that of Atlantic (1432), a third that of Glenwood (2167) and Lewis Central (2073), nearly a fourth of No. 5 ranked Harlan’s juggernaut that boasts nearly 2,600 yards on the season (2595).
“I just think they don’t have enough guys and they’ve never won,” Schelling says. “What happens when you don’t win, you never gain confidence or get to a point where you think you can do it.”
Of course, whenever a season is winding down, one team is clearly out and another is fighting for position or even their playoff, the spoiler effect surfaces.
It is a spark of inspiration for the Indians, though Sweeney isn’t counting on the Trojans looking past Clarke, despite the two-plus hour bus ride to Osceola.
“Anytime you can be competitive and make your mark on the playoff picture, that’s potential motivation,” Sweeney says. “But I doubt that Atlantic is looking over us at all. They’re well coached and they’ll be on track for us.”
Schelling points to last year’s example at Perry, when the heavily-favored Trojans struggled against a winless team late in the season. Now, there is a lot more to play for this time around.
“What happened last week means for naught,” Schelling said. “The deal is, if we take care of business and if ADM does too, then we’ll be playing for the third or fourth seeding next week. But if Glenwood wins, it changes things and it becomes a dual-edged sword.”
Atlantic junior linebacker and district leader Chet Meneely’s 30 solo tackles (80 total) trumps Clarke’s total points on the season by double digits.
Keegan Brimm, the team’s only senior who starts, has been Clarke’s most effective back, rushing for 212 yards on the season with an average at 3.4 YPC.
Trojans linebackers highlighting defensive success
Atlantic has three players in the district’s top 10 leader board for tackles, led by Meneely, who at 80 tackles (30 solo / 50 assisted) leads Lewis Central DJ Gnader by one. Trojans senior outside linebacker Zach Knuth is fifth with 57 (28/28 – 1 sack), Dustin Holtz is ninth at 54 (21/33) and David Iekel is tenth at 52 (23/39).
Schelling attributes the growth in the linebacking corps to assistant coach Nick Ross, who works directly with the group. A first year coach who starred at Drake University after helping the Trojans win their last state championship in 2002, Ross demands respect without much effort.
“I give a lot of credit to coach (Nick) Ross, he’s done an unbelievable job,” Schelling said. “He demands a lot from them, but they trust him. Those guys were already good football players, but now they’ve become seasoned and smart football players.”
Projected Starting Lineups:
Atlantic Offense
LT: 50, David Lekel (5-11, 180, sr.)
LG: 72, Jeremy Petersen (6-4, 220, sr.)
C: 58, Chet Meneely (6-3, 185, jr.)
RG: 67, Kasey Juhl (6-6, 300, sr.)
RT: 64, Jim Swanson (6-0, 190, jr.)
QB: 2, Zach Christianson (6-1, 168, sr.)
FB: 41, Rich Nichols (5-9, 195, jr.)
TB: 33, Jordan Mullen (6-1, 160, sr.)
WB: 40, Keenan Benn (5-10, 150, sr.)
WR: 80, Alec Guttenfelder (5-11, 151, jr.)
WR: 88, Jacey Hoegh (6-4, 201, sr.)
PK: 6, Brandon Baier (6-0, 166, jr.)
Atlantic Defense
RDT: 64, Jim Swanson (6-0, 190, jr.)
NG: 67, Kasey Juhl (6-6, 300, sr.)
LDT: 72, Jeremy Petersen (6-4, 220, sr.)
ILB: 41, Rich Nichols (5-9, 195, jr.)
ILB: 58, Chet Meneely (6-3, 185, jr.)
OLB: 10, Zach Knuth (6-0, 189, sr.)
OLB: 50, David Lekel (5-11, 180, sr.)
FS: 33, Jordan Mullen (6-1, 160, sr.)
CB: 40, Keenan Benn (5-10, 150, sr.)
CB: 45, Russ Fairfield (5-9, 165, jr.)
Punter: 58, Chet Meneely (6-3, 185, jr.)
Clarke Offense
SE: 81, Valentin Torres (6-0, 160, jr.)
TE: 88, Matt Mason (6-4, 180, jr.)
LT: 51, Matt Roan (6-0, 215, so.)
LG: 63, Zach Ruth (5-11, 205, jr.)
C: 77, Tony Saucedo (6-3, 260, jr.)
RG: 54, Mike Kalk (6-1, 200, so.)
RT: 58, Cody Short (6-2, 195, jr.)
FL: 12, Caleb Coale (5-9, 150, jr.)
QB: 8, Joe Lampe (5-11, 160, jr.)
TB: 7, Keegan Brimm (6-1, 180, sr.)
FB: 40, Sam Fotiadis (5-11, 200, jr.)
Clarke Defense
DE: 63, Zach Ruth (5-11, 205, jr.)
DT: 71, Turner Paul (5-11, 215, jr.)
NG: 58, Cody Short (6-2, 195, jr.)
DE: 51, Matt Roan (6-0, 215, so.)
OLB: 25, Colton Rowley (5-8, 155, so.)
ILB: 54, Mike Kalk (6-1, 200, so.)
ILB: 40, Sam Fotiadis (5-11, 200, jr.)
OLB: 30, Ryan Harmsen (6-0, 160, jr.)
DB: 7, Keegan Brimm (6-1, 180, sr.)
DB: 81, Valentin Torres (6-0, 160, jr.)
DB: 12, Caleb Coale (5-9, 150, jr.)
Through the season’s first three weeks, the Trojans offense managed just 10 total points and got knocked out in succession by three straight Hawkeye 10 schools. Senior and three-year starting quarterback Jacob Hartwig was put on the shelves with a fractured collarbone, and the team was in spiraling disarray as personnel readjustments were made.
Now, as the grip of genuine Fall takes hold, the Trojans are humming a different tune, winners in three of their last four and putting on show an offense that was promised long ago.
“We revamped everything we did on offense, put people where they needed to be and now Jordan (Mullen) has come into his own as a tailback,” Atlantic head coach Gaylord Schelling says of the team’s turnaround. “That makes a big difference for us because we’re explosive when we can find ways to get him the ball.”
After the frustration of the slow and winless start, the team’s coaches gathered for a lengthy Sunday evening powwow a month or so ago, a meeting where every coach on the AHS staff had their say and presented their ideas on how to fix the sinking ship.
Amongst the new concepts that were implemented and then took flight, a rebuilt offensive line that has been opening doors for the flash back Mullen and more recently, sophomore Philip Iekel.
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It’s a whole different Trojans team than was seen in late September.
“The kids wanted a change too,” Schelling said of the team’s slow start. “We weren’t being successful and nobody was happy. Now what’s happened is, the kids are buying into the new things we’re doing, building confidence and we’re finding success.”
The bulk of the offensive production during the Trojans resurgence has been with the run. Jordan Mullen’s recent performances have given him 390 yards in district play, 5 TDs and an average of 6.5 YPC.
A converted split end, Mullen is also a threat to catch the ball, adding another 165 yards with nine catches (18.3 average).
The word is out on Mullen, and expect Clarke to scheme a defense that limits Mullen’s ability to run wild in the flats.
“He’s tough to stop, not only is he quick, but he runs very hard,” Clarke coach Ryan Sweeney said. “It looks like he runs extremely well when he has open space, so we’ll try to do what we can against that. Thirty-three is going to make plays, but we have to limit the big ones.
“And obviously, they’re doing things well to set that up, so it’s going to be a challenge.”
Clarke hoping to close down final home game with victory
Clarke has been suffering through a winless season where they’ve been outscored on average 37-4. Three times they’ve been shutout as the Indians struggled and juggled players missing and showing instability at the quarterback position.
What’s more, Clarke has just five seniors on the roster, one of whom starts and another who is out for season. The team is very young and taking its growing pains.
“We’re seeing growth and improvements, it’s just we’re very young and inexperienced,” Sweeney says.
Clarke’s meager offensive yards total of 699 yards on the season is less than half that of Atlantic (1432), a third that of Glenwood (2167) and Lewis Central (2073), nearly a fourth of No. 5 ranked Harlan’s juggernaut that boasts nearly 2,600 yards on the season (2595).
“I just think they don’t have enough guys and they’ve never won,” Schelling says. “What happens when you don’t win, you never gain confidence or get to a point where you think you can do it.”
Of course, whenever a season is winding down, one team is clearly out and another is fighting for position or even their playoff, the spoiler effect surfaces.
It is a spark of inspiration for the Indians, though Sweeney isn’t counting on the Trojans looking past Clarke, despite the two-plus hour bus ride to Osceola.
“Anytime you can be competitive and make your mark on the playoff picture, that’s potential motivation,” Sweeney says. “But I doubt that Atlantic is looking over us at all. They’re well coached and they’ll be on track for us.”
Schelling points to last year’s example at Perry, when the heavily-favored Trojans struggled against a winless team late in the season. Now, there is a lot more to play for this time around.
“What happened last week means for naught,” Schelling said. “The deal is, if we take care of business and if ADM does too, then we’ll be playing for the third or fourth seeding next week. But if Glenwood wins, it changes things and it becomes a dual-edged sword.”
Atlantic junior linebacker and district leader Chet Meneely’s 30 solo tackles (80 total) trumps Clarke’s total points on the season by double digits.
Keegan Brimm, the team’s only senior who starts, has been Clarke’s most effective back, rushing for 212 yards on the season with an average at 3.4 YPC.
Trojans linebackers highlighting defensive success
Atlantic has three players in the district’s top 10 leader board for tackles, led by Meneely, who at 80 tackles (30 solo / 50 assisted) leads Lewis Central DJ Gnader by one. Trojans senior outside linebacker Zach Knuth is fifth with 57 (28/28 – 1 sack), Dustin Holtz is ninth at 54 (21/33) and David Iekel is tenth at 52 (23/39).
Schelling attributes the growth in the linebacking corps to assistant coach Nick Ross, who works directly with the group. A first year coach who starred at Drake University after helping the Trojans win their last state championship in 2002, Ross demands respect without much effort.
“I give a lot of credit to coach (Nick) Ross, he’s done an unbelievable job,” Schelling said. “He demands a lot from them, but they trust him. Those guys were already good football players, but now they’ve become seasoned and smart football players.”
Projected Starting Lineups:
Atlantic Offense
LT: 50, David Lekel (5-11, 180, sr.)
LG: 72, Jeremy Petersen (6-4, 220, sr.)
C: 58, Chet Meneely (6-3, 185, jr.)
RG: 67, Kasey Juhl (6-6, 300, sr.)
RT: 64, Jim Swanson (6-0, 190, jr.)
QB: 2, Zach Christianson (6-1, 168, sr.)
FB: 41, Rich Nichols (5-9, 195, jr.)
TB: 33, Jordan Mullen (6-1, 160, sr.)
WB: 40, Keenan Benn (5-10, 150, sr.)
WR: 80, Alec Guttenfelder (5-11, 151, jr.)
WR: 88, Jacey Hoegh (6-4, 201, sr.)
PK: 6, Brandon Baier (6-0, 166, jr.)
Atlantic Defense
RDT: 64, Jim Swanson (6-0, 190, jr.)
NG: 67, Kasey Juhl (6-6, 300, sr.)
LDT: 72, Jeremy Petersen (6-4, 220, sr.)
ILB: 41, Rich Nichols (5-9, 195, jr.)
ILB: 58, Chet Meneely (6-3, 185, jr.)
OLB: 10, Zach Knuth (6-0, 189, sr.)
OLB: 50, David Lekel (5-11, 180, sr.)
FS: 33, Jordan Mullen (6-1, 160, sr.)
CB: 40, Keenan Benn (5-10, 150, sr.)
CB: 45, Russ Fairfield (5-9, 165, jr.)
Punter: 58, Chet Meneely (6-3, 185, jr.)
Clarke Offense
SE: 81, Valentin Torres (6-0, 160, jr.)
TE: 88, Matt Mason (6-4, 180, jr.)
LT: 51, Matt Roan (6-0, 215, so.)
LG: 63, Zach Ruth (5-11, 205, jr.)
C: 77, Tony Saucedo (6-3, 260, jr.)
RG: 54, Mike Kalk (6-1, 200, so.)
RT: 58, Cody Short (6-2, 195, jr.)
FL: 12, Caleb Coale (5-9, 150, jr.)
QB: 8, Joe Lampe (5-11, 160, jr.)
TB: 7, Keegan Brimm (6-1, 180, sr.)
FB: 40, Sam Fotiadis (5-11, 200, jr.)
Clarke Defense
DE: 63, Zach Ruth (5-11, 205, jr.)
DT: 71, Turner Paul (5-11, 215, jr.)
NG: 58, Cody Short (6-2, 195, jr.)
DE: 51, Matt Roan (6-0, 215, so.)
OLB: 25, Colton Rowley (5-8, 155, so.)
ILB: 54, Mike Kalk (6-1, 200, so.)
ILB: 40, Sam Fotiadis (5-11, 200, jr.)
OLB: 30, Ryan Harmsen (6-0, 160, jr.)
DB: 7, Keegan Brimm (6-1, 180, sr.)
DB: 81, Valentin Torres (6-0, 160, jr.)
DB: 12, Caleb Coale (5-9, 150, jr.)
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| Class 1A: No. 4 ranked Griswold heads to No. 3 St. Albert for district title showdown |
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