New Berlin Pretzels Pigskin Preview

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PIGSKIN PREVIEW TEAM CAPSULE

New Berlin Pretzels

COACH:  Barry Creviston (15-15, 4th Season at New Berlin)

2013 RECORD:  8-3 (6-2 Sangamo)

POSTSEASON:  Lost to Williamsville 14-10 in 3A Second Round 

TOP RETURNEES:  RB Cam Cummings (674 yds receiving, 7 TD’s), WR Connor Burger (505 yds receiving, 5 TD’s), OL/DL Joey Crossin (6’1”, 260),

OL/DL Joe Krall (6’2”, 270), TE John Finke (6’3”, 190), WR Kyle Sandhaas (5’10” 170)

BIG LOSSES:  Jake Hunt (2,437 yds passing, 26 TD’s), Chase Creviston (750 yds receiving, 13 TD’s), Michael Spradlin (131 tackles), Korbin Beer, Caleb Horchem

WHAT THE PRETZELS DO WELL:  “We’re the same as we’re going to be," says Creviston.  “We’re at the point where we are plugging in the pieces instead of seeing where people fit the best."  Cam Cummings is the new starting quarterback after serving as the team’s tailback the past two years and coach raves about his ability.  “Cam’s looking great at QB.  He’s not going to be Jake Hunt.  We don’t expect him to be.  But he’s going to run it a lot better and that gives us a better opportunity to do different things."  The Pretzels also return three of their top receivers in Connor “Bear” Burger, John Finke, and Kyle Sandhaas.

NEW BERLIN QUESTION MARKS:  Replacing a trio of hard-nosed, hard hitting linebackers is in Creviston’s words, “The question of the season."  Michael Spradlin, Korbin Beer, and Caleb Horchem anchored a defense that improved as the season went on.  Now they’re off to college.  “Every year you graduate your best," Creviston postulates.  “You just have to work hard and put in guys where they fit.  To say we’re not going to skip a beat would be a lie, but I don’t think anybody thought we were going to be 7-2 last year and look what happened." 

WORTH NOTING:  Senior Tyler Allyn is a transfer from Oregon that has played in the New Berlin program in the past and could work his way into the running back rotation at some point.  Nose guard Logan Kimmel is completely recovered from a broken collarbone suffered in the spring.  He could stay put on the defensive line or could possibly be moved to outside linebacker to take advantage of his speed and knack for the football.   

COACH CREVISTON SAYS:  “We’ve got the pieces to have a good season.  We’re just in a position where we don’t know," Creviston continued.  “Last year we didn’t know."  Coach does know about the makeup of his players though.  “The kids just want to win.  The attitude of winning is here.  It’s just a culture we’ve created.  It’s a dead period right now and the captains are out there right now leading the guys running 40’s."