?Don?t get me wrong, I like our team,? Dock said. ?We?re pretty fast and very smart. I think our division is wide open and I hope we?re one of the contenders.?
A week eight 27-14 loss to Mattawan cost Lakeshore the SMAC West Division title a year ago. But Dock?s team still qualified for the state playoffs for the 14th straight year.And the Lancers have enough returning letterwinners to be a contender for both the division title and a playoff berth again this fall.
Heading the returnees is 5-10, 170-pound third-year quarterback Johnny Nate, who threw for 1,497 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. Nate completed 63 percent of his pass and threw just four interceptions.
Last year?s backup quarterback, Elliot Lemon, is switching to wide receiver, giving Nate another target to go with returnees Harold Wiggins and Bill Magrane.
The line will be anchored by tackles Alex Blematl (6-4, 220) and Preston Parish (6-1, 250).
After his defense yielded 22.3 points per game last year, Dock is switching from a 4-3 to a 4-2-5 defensive scheme.
?We tried to simplify things,? Dock said. ?And we didn?t have a big linebacker to play the 4-3. So far we?ve been quick and able to run to the ball.?
Dock has also brought in a new defensive coordinator in Bryan Keim, a former Sturgis high school standout who was the Tribune?s Male Athlete of the Year in 1999.
?Bryan has brought a lot of energy,? Dock said. ?He?s energized me.?
Dock figures to need that energy in the tough SMAC West Division.
?The division is as tough as ever,? Dock said. ?St. Joe has the best running back (Alex Rutherford). Portage Northern returns nine defensive starters. Mattawan has one of the fastest kids in the division (Brok Lamorandier). Niles is the X factor with a new coach and a new staff. I know they have players. Portage Central has the best offensive line. I think it?ll be very equal.?
The return of Rutherford and quarterback James Morris should help St. Joseph contend. Rutherford, a 6-0, 200-pounder back for his third year, rushed for 1,207 yards and 14 touchdowns last year. Morris threw for 1,005 and six scores.
Rutherford, who averaged 22 carries per game, may get help this year from Justin Gambrell and Jack Turak on offense to allow him to play more defensively.
Up front St. Joe has back a solid nucleus in center Dawson Laney (6-0, 240) and tackles Dakota Wieffenbach (6-2, 250) and Birch Bradforfd (6-2, 315).
Defensively, the second-leading Bear tackler Zach Kirkpatrick (58 stops) returns.
Staff writer Jack Walkden:
jwalkden@sbtinfo.com
574-235-6231
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