2013 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Van Buren Black Knights

Blanchard Valley Conference

2013 Van Buren Black Knights

Team photo from left:

Row 1: Kurtis Gibson, Jacob Kelley, Joey Nelson, Nick Hoehn, Collin Hiatt

Row 2: Jameson Jacobs, Adam Endicott, Grant Wagner, Drew Conner, Lucas Huber, Cole Martin, Ross Adolph, Isaac Sexton, Draeton Fasone

Row 3: Payton Whitticar, Austin Harden, Marcus Brand, Nick DeVore, David Roy, Cody McMonigal, Justin Phillips, Corbin Trumbull, Anthony Bilbrey, Zach Lonyo, Dakota Iliff

Row 4: Riley Adolph, Brady Deitrick, Aaron Rinehart, Braxton Fasone, Brandon Bell, Kordell Harr, Tanner Schroer, Jayden Foltz, Jared Zimmerman, Kurt Kuhlman

Row 5: Don Masters, Cary Lennox, Darin Masters, Tyler Saltzman, Brendan Roszman, Nick Taoras, DJ Starr, Justin Parker, Kevin Shoup, Phil Gunder, Chris Henry, Emily Anderberry

ABOUT THE TEAM:

Coach: Kevin Shoup, third year

Last season: 5-5, 4-5 Blanchard Valley Conference

Returning letter winners: 13

Returning starters: Offense 7, defense 6

Schemes: Pro offense/​4-4 defense

Top players: Seniors Collin Hiatt, 6-0, 255, OL; Jacob Kelley, 6-7, 250, OL; Juniors Ross Adolph, 6-1, 190, RB/​DB; Drew Conner, 6-2, 180, DE; Adam Endicott, 6-0, 180, QB; Draeton Fasone, 6-0, 160, WR/​DB; Jameson Jacobs, 5-11, 185, OLB; Cole Martin, 5-10, 165, DB; Issac Sexton, 6-1, 255, OL; Sophomores Marcus Brand, 6-2, 180, DE; Andrew Kelley, 6-1, 205, OL.

Outlook: The Black Knights hope to build on 13 returning letter winners, but they have just five seniors.

"We lost a lot of leadership from last year," Shoup said. "However, the seniors have done an excellent job rising to this challenge and leading this team through the offseason."

The Black Knights return a third-year running back Ross Adolph and look to run the ball often as they also return four offensive lineman.

"There is a lot of competition for positions and playing time as we lost a large senior class from last year," Shoup said. "This has motivated kids to work harder than ever before."

VAN BUREN SCHEDULE

Aug. 30-Ottawa Hills

Sep. 6-at Lucasville Valley

Sep. 13-Lepsic

Sep. 20-at Arcadia

Sep. 27-at Arlington

Oct. 4-Pandora-Gilboa

Oct. 11-at Vanlue

Oct. 18-Cory-Rawson

Oct. 25-Liberty-Benton

Nov. 1-McComb