Football team will still be young

By: 
Jason Ferguson

Although this fall’s version of the Custer High School football team will once again lean toward the young side, it won’t be nearly as young—or as thin in numbers—as last year’s impossibly young squad that saw several freshmen forced into heavy varsity minutes.
The good news for Dave Williams as he leads his charges onto the field for the first time this Saturday in Hartford is that most of those freshmen and sophomores who took their lumps last year are a year bigger, stronger and faster, which should mean better results on the field.
“They’re all young. We’re building,” he said. “We are just going to get better every year.”
The Wildcats are coming off a 1-8 season that saw the defense keep the team in most games for a while, until the undermanned and undersized ’Cats were worn down. Williams said with higher numbers this year (27 players will start the year) there has been better competition for positions and players won’t be forced into the lineup regardless of their level of readiness to play.
“We haven’t had this problem for the last four or five years,” Williams said. “It’s been pretty nice to have the competition. People can fill in when we need them.”
Among the returners for the Wildcats are senior defensive end/tight end Quade Parker (6-1, 180), who was all-conference and honorable mention all-state a year ago, as well as fellow senior Bradley Immormino (5-10, 205) and sophomore Roland Sedlacek (6-4, 185), both of whom were honorable mention all-conference a year ago.
The Wildcats will run a new offense this year, one that builds off the Wing T run-heavy offense the team featured last year. This year the Wildcats will throw the ball more often, and will have more pass catchers on the field while operating out of the shotgun.
Sedlacek will step in as the primary signal caller for the team, although Williams said senior Connor Adams (6-0, 170) can and will see snaps at quarterback.
Sophomore Tyrin Scott (6-0, 165) returns as the primary ball carrier for the Wildcats, and he will be joined in the backfield by junior Ryder Bailey (5-10, 185) and Immormino, who leaves the offensive line to play fullback this fall. His younger brother, speedster Danny Immormino (5-7, 145 Fr.), could also see carries at running back.
The offensive line returns experience from last year, led by tackle Zayne Severyn (5-11, 210 Jr.). He will be joined on the line by sophomores Reid Saufley (6-0, 180) and Lane Geisner (5-7, 170), and either Maverick Finn (5-9, 220 Jr.) or Kallin Thomas (5-9, 235 So.) at the other tackle. Center will be manned by either junior Peter Hernandez IV (5-11, 215) or sophomore Leighton Sander (5-8, 145).
Those who will catch passes include seniors Joel Tramp (5-10, 145), Aiden Suelflow (6-0, 160) and Avery Gleason (5-10, 170), along with sophomore Ethan Bader (5-5, 120) and freshman Brady Virtue (6-0, 150). Parker will also catch passes as one of the team’s tight ends, along with sophomore Kyle Virtue (6-4, 195).
On the defensive side of the ball, many of the offensive linemen will also play defensive line, with Parker and Kyle Virtue likely starting at defensive end. They will be joined on the line by Severyn and Thomas, as well as players such as Clayton Maude (6-1, 240 Fr.), Tanner Jackson (6-2, 220 So.) and Colton Coppola (6-3, 190, Sr.).
Bradley Immormino and Bailey will play inside linebacker, while Scott and Sander will man the outside linebacker positions. Danny Immormino and Gleason will line up at corner for the Wildcats, while Sedlacek will be the team’s safety.
On special teams, Kyle Virtue will handle kicking duties while Parker will serve as the team’s punter.
Williams said defense will be the team’s strong suit, particularly at the start of the season, as the team continues to grow into the new offense.
“They make mistakes. We all make mistakes,” he said. “I want them to see the mistakes, admit the mistakes and correct them.”
The South Dakota High School Activities Association did the Wildcats no favors in terms of scheduling, leaving some to question if those who designed the schedule know where Custer is, and leaving Williams to wonder if it was meant for a different team.
The Wildcats make four trips to the eastern part of the state to play a murderer’s row of powerhouse programs, while missing out on local familiar rivals such as Belle Fourche. Custer doesn’t even play Hot Springs this year, a rival it battles annually for the Southern Hills Showdown trophy.
Williams said while he enjoys playing more difficult teams, to have to cross the state four times is “over the top.”
“They’re not going to change it. We have to deal with it and do the best we can,” he said.
Williams said it’s his goal for the team to finish over .500 this year, as well as be a thorn in the side of some of those power programs the team will play.
“That would be satisfying to me,” he said.
As for how good the team could be if everything came together, Williams said the team could wind up pretty strong, but even he isn’t sure exactly what the team’s potential is.
“Molding the kids together and gelling as a team is our biggest challenge,” he said. “If they can actually get together we could be really good.”

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