Experienced Eagle squad looking to defend district title in 2021 season……..
Launch the media gallery 1 playerExperienced Eagle squad looking to defend district title in 2021 season……..
The 2021 edition of Allen Eagle football will be in search of returning to the playoff picture for a sixth consecutive year following a 7-1 overall record in a COVID-19 shortened season in 2020. The Eagles had their 2020 season ended in a loss to Kenesaw in the second round of the playoffs. The Eagles will be returning four offensive starters and four defensive starters. The team totals 20 currently in number.
The Eagle team returns experience on both sides of the football, along with several others, who played several minutes in 2020, and all will be called upon to show leadership. Jelling as a unit will be paramount for the team to be successful. Staying healthy the entire season will be important to develop continuity. What the Eagles lack in physical size, they will compensate with speed and aggressive play.
Lost to graduation from the 2020 season were, Anthony Isom, Kobe Kumm, Steven Sullivan, Reed Hingst and Devin Hoesing. The cupboard is not bare though as several returning players have gotten 2 or three years of playing time entering the 2021 season.
Nine seniors will be on the roster, and youth will supplement the team, but forced playing time in the last three seasons by many of the upperclassmen, will bring experience to a group that have seen success and should be ready to accept the challenge of facing the schedule during the 2021 fall.
The senior class is headed by letter winners, Josh Olesen, Ty Krommenhoek, Ryan Anderson, Nathan Oswald, Kaleb Kumm, Gabe Reinert, Chase Kallsen, Santiago Tinajero-Rodriquez, and Octavier Martell. Olesen was an all district selection on the offensive line in 2020. Krommenhoek returns as an end on the offensive side of the ball, and played cornerback in 2020. Oswald started at end on offense in 2020 and played corner on defense, but most likely will look to take snaps on the offensive side of the ball in 2020. Anderson, will start on both sides and will tote the ball and patrol the inside area for the defense. Kaleb Kumm returns at center on the offensive side of the ball, and will also be working the defensive line 2020. Reinert led special team play, and could add running back depth and linebacker depth this fall. Other seniors on the squad include, Santiago Tinajero-Rodriquez, who kicks the ball very well and will add size to the defensive line. Chase Kallsen will be looking at opportunities on both the offensive and defensive lines. Octavier Martell, will be a specialist and used where needed. All will have opportunities if they work hard and learn schemes.
Juniors include returning letter winner, Joe Grone, who is a defensive back and offensive back with breakaway speed. Jaylen Jackson and Dean Roth will be looked at for specialty play and bolstering depth on the both lines.
Sophomores, Michael Dickens and Landon Monteith are returning letterwinners. Dickens is going to learn quarterbacking skills, and multiple positions, while Monteith will learn both sides of the line play.
Rounding out the roster for the Eagles are six freshmen. The six freshmen include, Ben Jorgensen, Bryan Isom, Dylan Boyle, Boden Jackson, Brayden McCorkindale and Gabe Olesen. Any one of the six could earn playing time as they progress through the preseason camp or season itself.
Preseason practices will help better determine who is going to play where on both sides of the ball, and at this point, things are not definite, but surely some are assumable. The preseason will sort out and set the squad in a more definite mold as time unfolds. Athletes are going to have to be willing to be molded into position and role players, as the Eagle talents are relatively even across the board.
The Eagles will be under the direction of head coach, Dave Uldrich, and assistants will be Marc Bathke and Josh Batenhorst and Jason Olesen.
The Eagles open non-district play on Friday, August 27th, traveling to Osmond, for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. The Eagles will be looking to get off to a fast start in the season opener. Other non-district games include: Mead, Bloomfield and Wynot. Five of the eight opponents were playoff participants in the 2020 season.
District competition will be with Homer, Pender, Emerson-Hubbard and Walthill.
Coaches Comments:
“We look to get better with each practice. We are always a work in progress, even with the experience we bring back, and will need to get things accomplished in camp. Hopefully, we will jell quickly, play hard and smart, and have a very enjoyable season. We have the ability to be a highly competitive squad, but what we do with those opportunities will be up to the team to accomplish. The old saying, “You are as good as your seniors”, will be the challenge to our squad leadership. If we play hard, we could be a good squad. We hope to be playing as a confident team in November as a goal.”