South Hardin football enters its first game week with a majority of its skill position players on both sides of the football back.
Head Coach Nick Eller on offensive balance and returners.
“We lost a lot of our line, that’s definitely our biggest building piece right now,” says Eller. “The skill guys, Sam Benson, Traven Wheeler, Jake Balvanz, Asher Seward, and Casey Williamson. A great group of receivers, good hands, good speed, good size, one of the best groups, overall groups I’ve had. Our running backs of Jaxson Drury, one of the leading rushers in the state, Izaak Hollingsworth, Manning Pfantz, guys like that lead blocking and doing some fullback stuff for us. We’ve got a group that can line up and throw the ball with people. We’ve got a group that can line up and run it too. That’s nice to have that mix. I like being in that boat where you can feel good about both. I think our year is how consistent we can be with both those.”
Senior Jaxson Drury had 1,130 rushing yards (sixth most in Class 1A last season). The Tigers also return junior starting quarterback Peyton Welch who recorded 1,293 passing yards and 17 touchdowns (14 passing and three rushing) last season. Junior Sam Benson with 36 tackles last season returns as a leader on defense.
Eller says the Tigers need to play team football to achieve postseason goals.
“With all the weapons we have on both sides, it’s got to be really good team football. There’s only one football, and we’re not gonna be able to get it to every single guy that wants it every single time. If they know their job on the play is a block, to catch a pass or run the ball, whatever it may be, if they can do that, they can play that kind of team football, the sky is the limit for this group, because they’ve got all the potential. It don’t mean nothing, if we don’t play as a team and don’t keep putting in the work.”
South Hardin will kickoff the season by hosting South Hamilton on Friday.
