Southeast Spartans Pigskin Preview

Southeast Spartans  

COACH: Matt Lauber (5-5, 2nd season at Southeast)  

2014 RECORD: 5-5 (5-4 in CS8)

POSTSEASON: Lost 40-14 to Normal West in first round of Class 5A playoffs

TOP RETURNEES: Line Laquan Price, LB-RB Eddie Gailes (154 rushing yards, 3 TDs, 19 receptions, 263 yards, 2 TDs; 120 tackles), Line Colton Simpson, QB Isaiah Timms (831 passing yards, 7 TDs, 226 rushing yards, 5 TDs), WR-DB Gavin Webb (21 tackles), LB Chris Brown (30 tackles), Line Andre Booker (23 tackles), RB Demontavious Dye, Line Tre Clayborn

BIGGEST LOSSES: B.J. Hill, Jordan Taylor, Kendall Tyler, Jonathan Davis, Harrison Devoe,  Meikell Martin, Nick Rogers, Alyssa Miller, Alec Bunch, Matt Pittman

WHAT THE SPARTANS DO WELL: Defend and run the ball. Those were the two keys to last year’s run to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. The Spartans needed two overtimes in Week 9 to beat Decatur MacArthur 42-41 and earn a spot in the postseason. Two of the players Southeast will rely on are quarterback Isaiah Timms, who passed for 831 yards and ran for 226 once he got the starting job in Week 3, and do-it-all Eddie Gailes. Gailes, who led the CS8 in tackles last year, will play running back and receiver on offense and everywhere on defense. There is some experiences on the both sides of the line with Laquan Price, Colton Simpson, Andre Booker and Tre Clayborn. But most importantly, in the eyes of coach Matt Lauber, there is some belief. “Our returning guys really know what it takes, that success,” Lauber said. “They want to keep building on that. They worked harder through the offseason and they’re leading in practice.”

SOUTHEAST QUESTION MARKS:  Last year’s core was a group of 20 seniors, many of whom played four years with the varsity. Younger players will have to step up — notably at linebacker, in the defensive secondary and at wide receiver —for the Spartans to be over .500.

WORTH NOTING:  Between the 8-3 playoff season of 2002 and the 5-5 mark last year, the Spartans went 18-81 and had four winless seasons and three one-win seasons. . . . Matt Lauber is the second Southeast coach to get his team into the postseason as a first-year head coach. Neal Taylor was the first in 2002. . . . In the CS8 only Sacred Heart-Griffin (129) allowed fewer points than the 258 Southeast allowed last season.

COACH MATT LAUBER SAYS: “Isaiah (Timms) knows this is his ballclub. I have all the confidence in the world in Isaiah. He’s really invested in the Spartan football program. He has turned into more of a student. He’s a smart kid. Defensively Eddie Gailes is our motor, our engine. He makes us go. We’ll let Eddie do what he does best, fly to the football. Our team will go out and play hard every game, 48 minutes of hard, Spartan football. You can’t ask for more. "