Football team returns strong senior team
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
The 2018 opener is just days away, but the East Troy High School football team already is garnering some attention for what could happen this season.
Now it’s up to the Trojans to put that potential into real results on the field.
Buoyed by a strong senior class and the return of a strong core of offensive weapons, the expectations around the program have been raised – so much so that East Troy is considered a favorite to win the Rock Valley Conference by wissports.net.
“With our large group of seniors, we are looking to compete in every game this year,” East Troy coach Jeff Crandell said.
East Troy is coming off a 2017 campaign that saw it finish 5-5 overall, including a loss in the first round of the Division 3 playoffs to Catholic Memorial. The Trojans were 5-4 in the RVC.
Heading the list of returning players is senior quarterback Jake Dessart (6-0, 182), who put up huge numbers as a junior.
Dessart, a first-team, All-RVC selection a year ago, rushed for 1,719 yards with 23 touchdowns and threw for 1,263 yards and 10 touchdowns. Dessart also is listed among the state’s top 15 quarterbacks and is in the running for the Dave Krieg Award given annually by wissports.net.
“Jake works hard to improve each practice,” Crandall said. “Working hard will get him to another level.”
Other top offensive threats that return are seniors Dylan Jakscht (6-0, 180) and Jacob Price (6-1, 197) and junior Quintin Schoville (6-2, 194).
Jakscht rushed for 905 yards and eight touchdowns en route to a second-team, All-RVC selection last season, while Schoville had 649 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. Price, also a second-team pick, had 620 yards receiving and six touchdowns.
Having that many weapons back can only help the Trojans’ cause, Crandall said.
“Returning guys is always a good thing,” he said. “We are hoping to build upon the success of last season.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the Trojans must replace leading tackler Chase Coleman, who had 138 tackles in his senior campaign a year ago.
Junior defensive back Zack Burke (6-0, 150) is back after he finished second in tackles behind Coleman with 125.
“Zack Burke is a great leader for the team,” Crandall said. “He is like having a coach on the field.”
Seniors Elijah Newhouse (receiver, 6-0, 157) and Nick Schwall (defensive back, 6-0, 176) and junior John Skinner (defensive line, 6-0, 299) also return after they earned All-RVC honorable mention honors last year.
Crandall said he’s also looking for leadership from senior linebacker Brandon Bakken (5-10, 187) and senior John Marschke (offensive line, 5-10, 257), among others.
“We expect our leaders to lead by example, to practice hard and be an example of a great student athlete,” Crandall said.
Others on the varsity roster include seniors Joshua Marshman (receiver, 6-6, 202), Nick Moat (defensive back, 5-11, 148), Logan Roberts (offensive line, 6-0, 208), Ethan Ewald (offensive line, 5-6, 200), Valdon Islami (defensive line, 5-10, 245), Nick Beaudion (defensive line, 6-0, 273), Noah Bearce (offensive line, 6-0, 218), Max Hanson (defensive line, 6-3, 286), Damien Timm (receiver, 5-8, 150), Matt Kisting (defensive line, 5-11, 195), Brendan Sullivan (receiver, 6-1, 160), Nate Hill (defensive back, 6-0, 160)
Juniors Mac Dudkiewicz (defensive back, 6-0, 174), Zach Wendorf (defensive back, 5-7, 130), Brady Barels (linebacker, 5-10, 160), Victor Chapman (defensive back, 6-0, 216), Jordan Matson (receiver, 5-10, 134), Skyler Matson (receiver, 5-9, 125) and Jackson Dedick (defensive back, 6-0, 172).
Sophomores Brett Wojciechowski (kicker, 5-11, 163), Ryan Nixon (defensive back, 6-1, 160), Brady Dessart (receiver, 6-1, 160), Kyle Nelson (quarterback, 6-0, 180), Brady Fournier (linebacker, 5-6, 131), Owen Streath (defensive line, 5-6, 140), James Storey (linebacker, 5-11, 186), Gabe Johnson (offensive line, 5-4, 187), Ripp Billings (offensive line, 6-0, 265) and Ryan Mackenzie (offensive line, 6-3, 165).
Freshman on the roster are Konnor Weber (linebacker, 5-10, 191), Brady Fisher (defensive back, 6-0, 160) and Dayvon Long (running back, 5-9, 170).
RVC outlook
In the race to the conference title, Crandall said he expects defending champion Clinton, Beloit Turner, Evansville and Jefferson to be among the contenders, along with his Trojans.
“We are planning on competing for a conference title,” he said. “In order for us to reach that goal, we need to improve each day, and we need to stay healthy.”
East Troy jumps right into a tough challenge in its opener this week when it travels to Clinton tonight for a 7 p.m. RVC matchup.
The keys to success are simple, Crandall said.
“We need to play assignment sound football in all three phases, and we need to play physical and fast,” he said.
Assisting Crandall this year are Ben Massman (defensive coordinator), Brian Pluess (offensive coordinator), Dean Dingman, Skip Verick, Jay Flagg, Jay Zimmerman, Jeff Judd and Matt Crandall.
