2012 MC Football Preview by Alan Brake

R-2 FOOTBALL WILDCATS OPEN AT HOME THIS AUGUST 24

CZERNEWSKI TO BE HONORED AT HALFTIME

The 2012 Montgomery County R-2 Wildcats Football team starts its season this Friday, August 24, with a home game at Jim Block Field against arch rival Hermann Bearcats in a non-conference game.  The game will start at 7:00 p.m. 

In addition to this game being the season opener, former R-2 and Central Missouri State University standout quarterback Eric Czernewski will be honored at halftime for his outstanding high school and college football careers.  In addition his #13 will be retired from use at R-2.

John Klekamp will start his third year as the R-2 Head Coach.  His assistant coaches include Don Moultrie, Justin Graves, Josh Pierce and Nick Schubert.

As of last Friday night’s Jamboree (practice scrimmage against 3 other teams) at Hermann High School, 48 young men were listed on the Wildcats 2012 roster, including 8 Seniors, 17 Juniors, 6 Sophomores and 17 Freshmen.  The players by class are as follows:

Seniors – Robbie Bethel, Dustin Dyer, Colt Ellis, Evan Forrest John Hager, Austin Killian, Sam Kroll, and Nick Martin.

Juniors – Rodney Bernat, Jackson Bishop, Samuel Brounaugh, Ross Brower, Jacob Davis, Codey Guile, Justin Hall, Aaron Henke, Jerad Jordan, Jake Kent, Dillon Kirkpatrick, Luke Longstreet, Evan Milner, Tyler Peterson, Clayton Schlanker, Dylan Skeens and Ezekiel Theissen.

Sophomores – Tanner Cobb, Jacob Davenport, Jack Ecton, Kyle Kroll, Jacob Scarlet and Daven Sublette.

Freshmen – Lafe Arens, Logan Begeman, Jesse Esslinger, Nick Galarza, Nathan Hardcastle, Trevor Hollaway, Taylor Lewis, David Lobb, Will Lorson, Michael Ludy, Chase McCleary, Dylan Miller, Andy Milner, Isaac Oden, Brayden Rajchart, Joey Schlueter, and Scott Wright,

The Wildcats have 7 players returning on offense and 5 players on defense who either started or saw significant playing time on last year’s team, which had a record of 4 wins and 6 losses.  Four of these players received East Missouri (EMO) All-Conference and East Central Missouri All-District post season honors for the 2011 season, including Ellis as a wide receiver, Martin as a running back, Longstreet as a place kicker, and Hager as a defensive lineman.

In his comments concerning the upcoming season, Coach Klekamp stated the following: 

“As we enter the 2012 season there is optimism as our team improved its overall record the past two seasons and hopes to make more progress and have a winning record this season.  The strength of the 2012 team begins with our experience in our offensive line and ends with our speed on defense and at the running back and receiver positions on offense.”

He added, “In terms of “Team Goals”, we focus first on becoming the best young men we can be in our family, at home, and as a student in school.  Football comes last on our priority list.  When it comes to football goals we want to work towards a winning season and the chance to qualify for the playoffs.”

The Wildcat players and coaches hope you will attend the games (starting this Friday) to support the Wildcats and cheer them on to victory.  Best wishes to the players and coaching staff for a successful 2012 season.