Alex Eller
WAHOO — In 2023, the Wahoo football team surprised many with their run to the Class C-1 State Championship game and their 12-1 record. This year, the Warriors won’t be flying under the radar as they come into the season as the top team in C-1.
Even with the success from last year, Wahoo doesn’t want to take anything for granted this season. They know they will have many tests throughout the year, including a four-week stretch where they play Ashland-Greenwood, Aurora, Omaha Gross, and DC West. In every game, they will have to be ready to play, because everybody is going to give them their best shot.
“There are obviously lots of pieces and parts of last year’s team that are coming back, but one thing we have tried to reiterate with the kids and really stress is that was last year’s team, and this is this year’s team,” Wahoo Head Coach Chad Fox said. “We can’t assume just because last year we made it to the state finals that will be in the cards for us this year. I tried to stress and make sure that they understood that we’re not going to take any of that for granted. Any successes that this year’s team has is going to have to be earned, and I think the kids are in tune with that.”
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A huge source of strength for this Warrior team comes on their line on both sides of the football. They will be anchored by Jake Scanlon and Eli Emerson, who, pound for pound, could be one of the deadliest linemen duos in the state.
Couple that with the return of Noah Bordovsky who was a 1,000-yard rusher and Jase Kaminski, who was a 1,000-yard passer, and Wahoo could have an electric offense this season.
“Offensive line wise we have Jake Scanlon, Landon Brigham, Eli Emerson, and Luke Specht who all played a bunch last year,” Chad Fox said. “Three of those guys were starters for us last year and one rotated for us. ... I feel having three of our five offensive line guys that know what’s going on is really important for some continuity upfront. Our line is not too bad, but we got to find a couple of spots.”
Defensively the Warriors were one of the best groups in the state, giving up only 70 points in 13 games. From that squad, they return Braylon Iversen who led the team in tackles with 117, and Caden Smart who was second on the team with 91 tackles.
Look for Wahoo to be tough on defense again as they try to spark their offense with big turnovers and good field position.
“I mean defensively we return a lot of players out of the front seven, which is a huge strength for us,” Chad Fox said. “Our linebacking core is solid with Caden Smart, Braylon Iverson and Harrison Krueger. They are guys who have lots of experience from last season. Their experiences are going to be vital to our success.”
The positions that the Warriors must build some depth going into 2024 include the receiver core on offense and the cornerback and safety crew on defense. They do have Eli Shada back who got some playing time at tight end last year, but they will look to some seniors and juniors to fill in the holes of Sam and Josh Edmonds and Barrett Lavaley who all graduated.
“The glaring thing on offense is we don’t return a lot of our receivers that we had last year,” Chad Fox said. “I mean both Josh and Sam Edmonds graduated, and Barrett Lavaley graduated. Those were our top receivers, but the guys that we are bringing in are very well-suited to step up and make plays for us. Sam Marxsen, Landon Fye, Caden Smart, Josh Fox and Eli Shada are going to be guys that are going to play and should contribute to our passing game.”
To be one of the top teams in C-1 this year, Chad Fox believes the chemistry with this group will have to take shape. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you are not on the same page, it’s hard to win games on the football field.
It’s also one of those skills that coaches can’t teach. Players must work on the connection and make it a priority to work together and not against each other.
“The one thing that I think is often not discussed or talked about as much is chemistry and leadership,” Fox said. “That is something that has to be fostered this season and has to grow as the season goes. There’s not a lot the coaches can do to manifest that. You talk to the kids, and you hope that those things are going to happen. They have to click, they have to mesh, and they have to work together for a common goal. If all those intangible things that often don’t get talked about come to fruition for us, then I think we’re in line to have a special season.”
Wahoo opens the regular season at Nebraska City at 7 p.m. on Aug. 30. Last year the Warriors defeated the Pioneers 63-0.
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Alex Eller
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