Falcons enter season full of optimism

There’s a buzz around football camp, as the 2009 Sheboygan Falls Falcons prepare for the upcoming season.

A strong finish to the 2008 season has third-year coach Mike Nikson optimistic about how the upcoming campaign will unfold.

The Falcons won their last two games of the 2008 season to finish at 5-4 overall and 3-4 in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference, which was good for a fourth-place finish in the EWC standings.

While Falls hasn’t been to the playoffs since Nikson took over the program two years ago, he believes this could be the year.

“I’m very excited about this group of Falcons,” said Nikson. “They’re in their second year of our new system and they are very poised.”

Some of that optimism starts with the offense, as all three backs and two receivers are set to return.

Senior Adam Lorenz will be in his second season as quarterback. Lorenz, an EWC honorable mention pick last year, threw for 1,294 yards in 2008, with eight touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also gained 284 yards on the ground.

In the backfield, senior Zach Berg and junior Andy Ansay each return. Berg ran for 336 yards and scored three touchdowns last season.

Ansay had 81 yards, but he is likely to get more carries this year, as Nikson plans to use both backs in dual roles.

At receiver, senior Andrew Endsley, junior Nick Roelse and junior Jason Fenner return.

Roelse had 188 yards receiving and Endsley had 128 with a touchdown last season.

Fenner is expected to be used in the backfield and end positions. Newcomer junior Alex Grabowski and sophomore Bobby Musil also could see a lot of action

The Falcons only have three starting lineman back from last season. Seniors Ben Tenpas, Spencer Hurlburt and junior Sean Miller add some veteran experience.

Senior Matt Henning and Clark Moberg, along with juniors Trevor Berceau and Brandon Lensink, will compete for the remaining starting spots on the offensive line.

Only four starters return from last year’s second-ranked EWC defensive unit.

Hurlburt and Tenpas return on the line, as well as Henning and Moberg as linebackers. Hurlburt was an EWC honorable mention recipient last year.

“Our defense will be a work in progress, but we’re very athletic,” Nikson remarked. “Our overall numbers are down, but there are many schools faced with the same problem.”

Nikson said the team has been busy studying film and adjusting to the drills.

“In the end, I feel we’ll have a lot of skill personnel,” expressed Nikson.

The Falcons will miss the key contributions of last year’s seniors Cullin Conklin, Tyler Collins, Jacob Schluessler, Ryan Vowinkle, Jay Pribek, Marc Sass, Eric Kluz and Justin Laack.

Nikson feels the conference could be wide open this season. Kewaskum will likely be a favorite to repeat, but Falls has its sights set on a finish in the upper half of the conference.

“I think we’ll be a better all-around team this season and make a push to the playoffs,” Nikson said. “This is a very athletic team.

“We had a very competitive scrimmage at Appleton Xavier last week,” he said. Falls opens the season at Elkhorn this Friday, Aug. 28, before opening up the home season Friday, Sept. 4, against Wrightstown.
FOOTBALL
2009 Schedule
Aug. 28 - at Elkhorn, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4 – Wrightstown, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 - at Campbellsport, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 - New Holstein, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 - Two Rivers, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 - at Kiel, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 - at Waupun, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 – Kewaskum, 7 p.m.
Oct. 22 - at Plymouth, 7 p.m.