Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Dakota Kuhns/Western NEbraska Observer The Potter-Dix Coyotes prepare for another season of 8-man football. From front, left, are: Jacob Brown, Michael Steele, Connor Williams, Donnie Moench, Brandon Mendoza and Shawn Waggoner. Back row, from left are coach Ryan Coffey, Terell Gray, Dylan Nielsen, JT Herboldsheimer, Nathan Robinson, Sheign Krafczik, Bryce Winter and Grant Hickman and coach Dale Frerichs.
The Potter-Dix football team looks forward to improving on last year's season, returning several key players, according to veteran coach Dale Frerichs.
Frerichs, joined again by assistant coach Ryan Coffey and five upperclassmen to his team, including seniors Dylan Nielsen, JT Herboldsheimer and Connor Williams, as well as, juniors Michael Steele and Nathan Robinson.
Following last year's 0-8 record, Frerichs will draw heavily on these returning starters' positive attitudes and experience to provide leadership to his younger athletes.
Nielsen is credited with 85/154 passes for a total of 761 passing yards, seven touchdowns, five interceptions, 798 total yards, 466 all-purpose yards and 69 total tackles, including 38 solo and 31 assists.
Herboldsheimer and Williams are likely to be Neilsen's go-to receivers with a combined 48 receptions for 343 yards and four touchdowns. Herboldsheimer adds 296 all-purpose yards and 34 tackles while Williams netted 156 total yards, 197 all-purpose yards and 30 tackles.
Steele has recorded 151 receiving yards from 15 receptions with one touchdown. Defensively, he adds 14 tackles.
The youngest returning starter, Terell Gray, a sophomore, ran the ball 34 times for a total of 134 yards and two touchdowns in his freshman year. Gray caught 11 passes for a total of 73 yards and added 212 total yards, as well as, 207 all-purpose yards.
Frerichs will enjoy a deep bench to draw from this year, with eight newcomers, including juniors Sheign Krafcik and Grant Hickman and freshmen Jacob Brown, Brandon Mendoza, Donnie Moench, Tobi Thompson, Shawn Waggoner and Bryce Winter.
"We have enough players to scrimmage at practice for the first time in 3 seasons so they will all have an impact," Frerichs said.
Through the early season practices, Frerichs has identified the team's strengths – experience and attitude. Frerichs hopes to improve offensive consistency this season and, defensively, he looks to increase pursuit and tackles.
"The team is focused on doing the little things that lead to success," Frerichs said. "We are learning to control the things we can control and not worry about the things we cannot control."