The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1477088
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, August 24, 2022 D-1 By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central's football pro- gram enters the second year of the Kelly Brashear era as a much bigger, stronger and faster team than they were a year ago. Last year the team, with lots of freshmen and sophomores on the field, took their lumps often. It's bright spot was a 24-12 win over Washington in week three. By the end of the season the Chargers were down to 18 players. "We have made tremendous strides in the weight room. If we are going to compete with other teams, we have to get in the weight room and we did that. The kids put on a lot of muscle and mass, which lends itself to being faster and being more physical on the field. We can see that in our kids. They are much more physical and we are far ahead of where we were last year at this point," said Brashear. "We aren't used to winning on a consistent basis. That is every coach's drive, to be- come a consistent winner," said Brashear. Last year was a year in which they just had to play the cards they were dealt. "When you are playing 18 kids like we did last year you have everyone going both ways and playing special teams. There is no push for playing time. We were fresh- man- and sophomore-heavy. We are still young, but the young kids have drank the koolaid and they have varsi- ty experience. No one wants to play freshmen in a varsity game, but we were able to play them and weather the storm. Now they are experienced var- sity players," said Brashear. What Brashear knows is, "Winning is infectious. It can change the whole attitude of a football team. You start believ- ing in yourself and the coach- es and the system." "We are just in our second year of trying to build this thing the right way. We are trying to get small kids (el- ementary and grade school) involved. If you have never played football, and come out as freshman, you have never been hit, you don't know the game. . . We want to get to the point kids come to us as fresh- men knowing how to play," said Brashear. One of those freshmen who now returns as an expe- rienced varsity player who will lead the Charger offense. Mat- thew Meadows took nearly ev- ery snap last season. "That is hard to do," said Brashear of his durability. "He got hit on our sideline and came out for one play last year. It was the only play he missed all year," said Brashear. "We are looking for really good things from Matthew. He has gotten quite a bit tall- er, grown a couple of inches and put on about 20 pounds. He is a workhorse in the weight room. He is becom- ing more vocal because he is confident in what he is doing," said Brashear. This year he will get more responsibility. Brashear they limited his running to limit his exposure to injury. "We feel very confident with him running this year. We might use options or even some 'iso' plays for him," said Brashear. The backfield behind Mead- ows will have some old and some new this year. The new is fullback Nathaniel Kell. "He has been a great addi- tion to our football team. He is a thick, muscular kid. He is strong and will be featured in the run game. He had played before, but hasn't played the last couple of years," said Brashear. He also expects Kell to play some linebacker on the other side of the ball. The old part of the back- field will be two seniors, Bra- den Howald and Jagar Dent. Both are four-year starters. "They have been through the bad times and the hard times. They are both very intelligent and have very good football IQ," said Brashear. "I have gotten texts from both of them saying they real- ly see a difference in the team this year," said Brashear. "Those two won't be off the field much this year." They will both play defense as well with Howald at inside linebacker and Dent at safe- ty. "It will be nice to have him over the top," said Brashear of Dent. Junior Billy Payne will line up at center. Payne played last year. "He is a strong kid. . . He will be a great addition at the center spot." Payne will also play on defense to give the starters a breather for a down or two This year's guards are Isaac Marchino and Corey Goep- pner. The two are seniors and four-year starters. "We are go- ing to pull our guards quite a bit this year. Both have good quickness and good durabili- ty, good football IQ and know how to adjust on the field. Both will be leaders of our offense on the field," said Brashear. Junior Justin Leeds and sophomore Kaden Fausnaugh will be the Chargers' tackles. "Justin is new to the tackle position. He played guard last year. He has gotten so much stronger this year. He is thin, but very strong. He took the weight room seriously in the offseason. He is a lot more physical than last year." Fausnaugh is a second year starter for the Chargers. "He was thrown in the fire last year as a freshman. He has worked on his quickness and toned up and lost some weight and his muscles are starting to catch up with his body. He is much quicker this year.," said Brashear. The two tight ends will be Connor Loveless and Trenton Richardson. Loveless played both tight end and fullback last year. Pike Central 2022 football team members are: front row Landan McDowell, Billy Payne, Corey Goeppner, Jagar Dent, Braden Howald, Nathanael Kell, Isaac Marchi- no, Skylar Shelton and Justin Leeds; row two: Jiles Mason, Jace Himsel, Trinten Richardson, Matthew Meadows, Justin Spinks, Braden Schultheis, Jayden Bolin, Con- ner Loveless and Samuel Horn; row three: Kylon Bottoms, Grant Boyd, Billy Like, Alex Gray, Briar Thomas, Noah Himsel, Gavin Taylor, Caden Fausnaugh and Bransan McDowell; row four: Brayden Miller and Ronnie Slunder. Managers not pictured: Adalyn Nolan, Kylee Baker and Jamie Sallee. VARSITY BOYS' FOOTBALL ❚ Friday, Aug. 26 — Tecumseh — 7:30 p.m. at Tecumseh ❚ Friday, Sept. 2 — South Spencer — 7:30 p.m. at South Spencer ❚ Friday, Sept. 9 — Southridge — 7:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Friday, Sept. 16 — Washington — 7 p.m. at Washington ❚ Wednesday, Sept. 21 — Sports Pictures — 3:30 p.m. at ❚ Friday, Sept. 23 — North Knox — 7 p.m. at North Knox ❚ Friday, Sept. 30 — Tell City — 7:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Friday, Oct. 7 — Forest Park — 7 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Friday, Oct. 14 — North Posey — 7:30 p.m. at North Posey MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS' FOOTBALL ❚ Thursday, Aug. 25 — Washington — 6 p.m. at Washington Middle School ❚ Thursday, Sept. 1 — North Knox — 6 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Thursday, Sept. 8 — Forest Park — 6:30 p.m. at Forest Park ❚ Thursday, Sept. 15 — Heritage Hills — 6:30 p.m. at Heritage Hills ❚ Thursday, Sept. 22 — North Posey — 6:30 p.m. at North Posey Junior High ❚ Thursday, Sept. 29 — Southridge — 6 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Thursday, Oct. 6 — South Spencer (Eighth Only) — 6:30 p.m. at South Spencer Middle School ❚ Thursday, Oct. 13 — Tecumseh — 6:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Tuesday, Oct. 18 — Tell City — 6:30 p.m. at Pike Central Nate Kell Jagar Dent Isaac Marchino Corey Goeppner Braden Howald Charger football enters 2022 season bigger, stronger and faster Continued on page D-2 Peyton Howald