Changes are abound in the Northeast Corner Conference where a ton of talent walked with the graduating class of 2023 and a couple of coaching moves may change about the face of both divisions, whether now or in the near future.
Lets break down the NECC’s Big Division.
The favorite: Eastside Blazers
Things are much different in Butler after four straight trips to a sectional final or better. Even with a new coach and the majority of the big-time players from the last two seasons gone, the Blazers are not going anywhere.
The team will rely on their front line as new position players get comfortable. With Dane Sebert, Joey Eck and Owen Davis all back to hold that line, a new offense should have time to get comfortable. Sebert is one of the best returning linemen anywhere in the area and he and Eck were both All-NECC a season ago. Wyatt Davis will be the one to take the snaps this season behind center as he did so a couple of times in 2022. He will look to a solid receiving corps that includes returners EJ Miller and Toby Biddle as well as newcomers Nolen Steury and Jake Warsler. Look for Gage Spalding and Linkin Carter (93 yards, 2 TDs) to handle the carries out of the backfield.
The defense too hinges on Sebert and Eck (six sacks) as they return to the line next to Ashton Bender and Triton Feichter. Spalding will slot in at middle linebacker, but new Eastside coach Alyx Brandewie says that linebacker will be a spot where the team will be very young behind Spalding (57 tackles). Look for Miller (25 tackles) and Biddle (37 tackles) to lead the defensive backfield.
“With a new QB and a few receivers with a lot of varsity experience, we know that our passing game will be a work in progress, but our growth over the summer has been encouraging,” Brandewie said.
The contender: Churubusco Eagles
The Eagles return three starters offensively and will need to rebuild a product that has been a contender the last several seasons but hasn’t been able to get over the top. One of those returnees is 6-foot-4 tight end Gavin Huelsenbeck (16 receptions, 313 yards), who was All-NECC on defense a year ago. Wide receiver Brannan Gaff and offensive lineman Jackson Fleetwood also return, bringing some senior leadership. That could come into big play as the Eagles will lean on a sophomore at quarterback in Brody Lawrence with fellow sophomore Bryce Lawrence lined up in the backfield and junior Misael Salazar contributing along the line. The team ran for 274.5 yards per game last season but will need to replace a lot to replicate that mark.
Gaff (defensive back, 3 interceptions) and Huelsenbeck (outside linebacker) also make up 50 percent of the Churubusco returning defense. Ethan Smith will return alongside Gaff in the defensive backfield while Angelo Ianucilli returns along the line where he will be joined by Salazar. Ianucilli (69 tackles) is the top returner on defense as far as tackles and sacks (3) go.
The rest
CENTRAL NOBLE COUGARS
A new coach for the new-look Cougars which will be one of the interesting storylines among new coaches in the NECC as a whole. The versatile Tyler Shisler could lead the squad under center at QB, but returning leading passer Brody Morgan is involved in that conversation too heading into scrimmages. Morgan threw for over 1,200 yards last season as a sophomore after Shisler was injured. The QB battle could be on of the area’s most fun to watch play out. Either way, they have experienced targets with four guys back: Tysen Deck (24.3 yards per reception, 388 receiving yards), Drew Pliett, Alex Tarlton and Ethan Spencer. Devin Hiestand (475 yards) returns to the backfield for the Cougars.
The secondary will be senior-led but with some guys who don’t have much experience at the position, which could go very good or very bad. There is a decent amount back defensively though with Jacob Chenoweth and Hiestand at linebacker and Braxton Pieper and Kaiden Burkhart returning to the line. Sophomore Jonathan VanHalst could be a help joining both sides of the line at 6-foot, 230.
“The coaches believe we have the team to win. Now, the players have to believe this as well,” Central Noble coach Zach Baber said.
FREMONT EAGLES
While Fremont took some losses amongst its skill position players, there is hope that a nice bit of returnees up front on both sides of the ball can give the skill players time to develop. Right now, the lines will probably be the heart of the Eagles lineup.
“We have experience returning on the line,” said Fremont coach Trevor Thomas. “Several of our linemen have had an appreciable amount of playing experience over the last few years. This group has had a great off-season and are looking to take the next step this season.”
Leading those lines will be juniors Jackson Foster and Nevin Bloom, followed by McClain McCurdy. While McCurdy sat out 2022 with an injury, Foster (42 tackles, 2 forced fumbles) and Bloom (41 tackles, 4 sacks) spent quality time in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Jonah Pentecost and Brady Verdin, also juniors, will join both lines while the defense is really buoyed by senior linebacker Steve Burkholder, who tallied 67 tackles last season.
Offensively, the Eagles will have to start with a new quarterback. Gage Cope, who had seven receiving touchdowns last season, and newcomer Brody Foulk split snaps in the preseason. Cope, Burkholder and sophomore Hayden McNeeley are back to help the offense lined up wide, but Fremont certainly has some newcomers who could help too in juniors Ethan Grimm and Cayden Hufnagle.
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS PANTHERS
On the offensive line, coach’s son Wade McCrea will be a leader at left tackle as the Panthers try to open up some holes up front. Heights enters the campaign with some newcomers in key positions. The good amount of offensive linemen back will need to show what they learned with last season’s experience under their belts. Kris Levitz, who started on the defensive line last year, will join that offensive front which only lost one player to graduation.
Levitz too will anchor the defensive line for the Panthers.
Heights will rely on a couple of specific guys at the skill positions with Tanner Czarnecki and Matt Roberts expected to take the playmaking lead along with sophomore Kiegen Tschannen.
SMALL DIVISION PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Eastside
2. Churubusco
3. Central Noble
4. Fremont
5. Prairie Heights
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