#VK17FB: Trinity Academy Knights preview
Coach: Jared McDaniel, sixth season, 30-33
League: Central Plains League
Last season: 3-6
Returning starters: 13
Offense: Spread
Defense: 4-3
Schedule: Sept. 1, at Cheney; Sept. 8, Garden Plain; Sept. 15, at Independent; Sept. 22, Chaparral; Sept. 29, Conway Springs; Oct. 6, at Belle Plaine; Oct. 13, Nickerson; Oct. 20, at Clearwater; Oct. 26, at Collegiate.
Projected record: 4-5
Top returning players
Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr | Pos. |
Sammy Hardin | 6-2 | 190 | Sr. | QB |
Caden Williams | 6-0 | 185 | Sr. | WR |
Hillard Cozine | 6-5 | 235 | Sr. | TE-DL |
Ben Ralston | 6-2 | 220 | Sr. | LB |
Felix Johnson | 6-5 | 340 | Sr. | OL-DL |
Tucker Trevett | 6-0 | 180 | Jr. | OL-DL |
Andrew Nordberg | 6-0 | 180 | So. | RB_LB |
Mark Hedstrom | 5-11 | 165 | So. | DB |
Nate Adler | 6-2 | 185 | Jr. | LB |
Lawrence Dreiling | 5-10 | 165 | So. | DB |
Three keys to the season
1. The Knights don’t have many starters returning on offense, but there’s still talent. A key move comes from Cozine, who will shift to tight end. Andrew Nordberg did see some carries as a freshman, but he will have to learn quickly as the team’s starting running back as a sophomore.
2. Williams is still the top wide receiver and will need to continue as a threat for the offense to work. Hardin has a trusted target in Williams, which should open up the running game. McDaniel said Hardin has the potential to emerge as one of the top quarterbacks in the area.
3. McDaniel said his team’s leader is Ralston, who is primarily a linebacker but will also see time on the offensive line. If the Knights want to be effective on defense, it will have to come from Ralston’s leadership.
This story was originally published August 23, 2017 at 1:51 AM with the headline "#VK17FB: Trinity Academy Knights preview."