Overview
For the tenth season in a row the Flyers last season won a playoff game, finishing 9-2 for the season. Head coach Eric Kessler returns three starters on both sides of the ball for 2017.
“If we continue to work hard, stay injury free and improve each week we look to be very competitive this season,” says Coach Kessler, a 1999 graduate of UN-Lincoln who has rolled up a 138-22 career record, including four state playoff finals and two state titles (2009, 2015).
Offense
All-district senior Nolan Kosch (6-3, 210) and senior Pierce Eisenmenger (6-2, 185) give the Flyers a great set of ends with senior Riley Jarosz (6-4, 205) also back at that position. Sophomore Trevor Pfeifer (6-2,185) figures to step in as the team’s new starter at quarterback and senior Riley Huettner (5-11, 180) will lead a pool of running back candidates which will include seniors Nathan Weidner (5-10, 150) and Wyatt Slama (5-10, 155) and junior Jarrett Weidner (5-9, 150).
Senior Schuyler Wesener (6-3, 280), junior Braden Freudenberg (6-0, 230) and sophomore Dylan Wemhoff (6-0 ,240) are front runners to claim starting positions in the interior offensive line.
Defense
Huettner and Eisenmenger return at linebacker for the Flyers with Pfeifer a returning starter at safety and Slama, Nathan Weidner and Jarrett Weidner other options in the defensive secondary. Kosch, Jarosz, Wesener and Wemhoff will play in the defensive line.
Season's Prediction
We expect St. Francis to win something like seven in the regular season and then advance in the playoffs.