By Becky Walz,
After a painful exit to the postseason in 2020, the South Winn football team is ready to wash the bitter taste of out of its mouth.
The Warriors will be looking to defend their share of the Class A district title with MFL MarMac and Wapsie Valley.
Putting together the squad is Head Coach Jason Ohrt, who is on his 15th season with South Winn. During his time with the Warriors, Ohrt has compiled a 101-48 mark. He will be assisted by Loren Straube, Mike Wenthold and Jacob Elsbernd.
“We feel that we are the favorite coming into the season, but each team in this new alignment presents a challenge this season,” said Coach Ohrt. “Staying healthy will be the number one factor for us in order to win a district title.”
Leaving their mark
The Warriors had high hopes in 2020, with 14 returning letter winners.
They started the season with a 20-10 win over North Fayette Valley and followed it with a 33-6 beating of North Tama in non-district action. SW took care of Clayton Ridge 39-7 on the road and took care of Postville 55-0. September ended with a highly-contested match-up between SW and Wapsie Valley; with the red and white Warriors claiming the 26-14 victory. The Warriors ran into a familiar roadblock as MFL MarMac handed them their first loss of the season, 36-22. SW got back on track with a 35-0 pounding of Starmont to claim a share of the district title.
In the first round of the POD playoffs, South Winn dispatched Nashua-Plainfield 42-0. That set up a battle with Lake Mills in the second round, where the Warriors outlasted the Bulldogs, 21-14. Saint Ansgar prevailed in the first round of the playoffs, 42-6, dominating the game offensively.
South Winn ended the season 8-2, accumulating 2,984 yards of total offense, with 834 coming through the air and 2,150 on the ground. The team averaged 7.25 yards per play.
The big names
South Winn will rely on its eight returning starters in 2021.
At the top of the pack is 2020 all-state honoree Keagen Streeter (6’1”, 190 lbs.) who was second for the Warriors with 41 total tackles, which included 33 solo takedowns, 4.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss.
Senior Logan Hageman (6’1”, 190 lbs.) will be back at the running back position after notching second team all-district honors last season. As a junior he ran 59 times for 334 yards, scoring six touchdowns. He averaged 5.7 yards per touch. As a linebacker, Hageman led the team in tackles with 64 (43 solo, 42 assisted). He also had a fumble recovery.
After being named to the district’s second team a year ago, senior Sam Conway (6’0” and 185 lbs.) is back. He provided 25 solo tackles and 19 carries for 243 yards for the Warriors before getting injured mid-season last year.
Other senior returning starters include all-district honorable mention recipient Trey Kriener (TE/DL, 6’8”, 220 lbs.), Nick Holien (WR/DB, 6’0”, 175 lbs.) and Evan Bushman (RB/DB, 5’9”, 160 lbs.)
Back on the offensive and defensive lines will be seniors all-district first team selection Ethan Timp (6’1”, 265 lbs.) and Lane Quandahl (5’8”, 200 lbs.)
Stars graduated
The Warriors will have several athletes to replace due to graduation. At the top of the list is quarterback Jacob Herold. He was a three-year starter and three-year all-district honoree. Herold completed 41-of-87 passes for 834 yards and seven touchdowns. He also rushed for 607 yards on 118 attempts and 14 TDs.
Zach Taylor picked up 426 yards out of the backfield with a 5.0 yards per carry average to go along with 26.5 total tackles. During his senior campaign, he had 54 kick-offs for 2,284 yards and was 24-for-32 in PATs. Taylor also shouldered the punting duties, averaging 36.1 yards per punt.
A dual threat, Cael Kuboushek rushed for 386 yards on 45 carries and hauled in 14 receptions for another 243 yards. On defense, the senior provided 21.5 total tackles on his way to his second all-district honor.
Dominic Sisneros caught nine passes for 236 yards and had 24.5 total tackles to be named an honorable mention selection in the district.
The Warriors looked to Calvin Knutson for help defensively with 30 solo tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss, earning himself the Lineman of the Year award in the district and a first team nod. District second-team honoree, Damon Meyer provided 14.5 total tackles, while Shawn Israel had 11 total tackles. Ty Jacobsen, Collin Wiltgen and Devin Lansing saw time on the offensive and defensive lines.
The run down
Despite low participation numbers, the Warriors return a solid group of experienced players.
Looking to fill the shoes of those graduated is a host of juniors and pair of seniors — Landon Garcia (OL/DL, 6’1”, 215 lbs.), Carson Wenthold (WR/DB, 5’8”, 135 lbs.), Kaden Bullerman (TE/DB, 6’0”, 160 lbs.), Brayden Bodensteiner (OL/DL, 6’1”, 235 lbs.), Steven Henning (OL/DL, 6’0”, 240 lbs.), Parker Timp (RB/DL, 6’2”, 175 lbs.) and Brady Ohrt (QB/DB, 6’0”, 150 lbs.).
“Our defensive front will be one of the toughest units in the state and we have a number of talented individuals who can carry the ball on offense,” said Coach Ohrt. “We will need to figure out our best options at kicker and punter to replace graduating senior Zach Taylor, who held those spots for us the last two season.”
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