Pleasant Plains Cardinals Pigskin Preview

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PIGSKIN PREVIEW TEAM CAPSULE

Pleasant Plains Cardinals

COACH:  Brody Walworth (6-4, 2nd season at Pleasant Plains)

2014 RECORD:  6-4 (5-3 Sangamo)

POSTSEASON:  Lost to Carlinville 41-21 in 3A First Round

TOP RETURNEES:  QB Jacob Cronister (5’8”, 170), TE/DE Logan McBride (6’1”, 210), OL/DL Nik Clemens (6’2”, 275), OL/DL Austin Finley (6’3”, 260), LB Nik Georges (5’9”, 175), DB Mason Kaufmann (5’8’, 160) 

BIG LOSSES:  Gannon Lanier (1st Team All-Conference RB), Jon Hagmann (2nd Team All-Conference DE), Cole Hamilton, Josh Chase 

WHAT THE CARDINALS DO WELL:  “Hopefully a lot of things," jokes coach Walworth.  Last year the defense was ahead of the offense.  This year the Cardinals will be a little more balanced.  “Having our quarterback back is huge," Walworth exclaims.  “With Jacob back we will be able to throw more and use the passing game as more of a threat."  Plains biggest strength remains to be the offensive line that returns three starters in tackles Nik Clemens and Austin Finley, as well as senior guard Kory Kasper.  Coach also glows when talking about TE/DE Logan McBride, who he calls a dual threat that can “catch it, run it, and block like crazy."

PLEASANT PLAINS QUESTION MARKS:  When you lose your school’s all-time rushing and touchdowns scored leader there’s going to be a question mark.  Gannon Lanier anchored the run-first offense last year and will have to be replaced.  Walworth is still trying to figure out if that happens with one person or with multiple people handling the work load.  The Cards also have to find some defensive replacements for their back seven.  3 of 4 defensive back positions are open, while two of three starting linebacker spots need to be filled. “Up front we’re good," Walworth says.  “There’s some guys that still have to prove it back there." 

WORTH NOTING:  This is the second consecutive year that Pleasant Plains will field a team with 60 kids.  That’s a long ways from the 37 players that came out for football in 2013.  Baseball standouts Johnny Steinwart, Daulton Nibbe, and Cole Greer are working out on both sides of the ball, trying to earn playing time at receiver and in the defensive secondary.   

COACH WALWORTH SAYS:  “We’ve got our quarterback set and have a lot more receiver weapons.  That will change our profile a bit."  “We’ve got a lot of pieces.  It’s just a matter of whether we can breed success early and let it roll from there."