Promising junior class leads Beulah into season

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Beulah had 11 seniors graduate from its 2010 team and comes into this season with just three senior returning letterwinners.

The small senior class might be seen as a weakness to some teams, but the Class AA, West Region Miners happen to boast a strong junior class that includes 12 returning letterwinners.

“Right now we are in the situation that we do have a small senior class,” Beulah head coach Loy Ham said. “That, in many cases, is called a death sentence for a program.

“What does save us is that we have a very large junior class and it’s very athletic.”

One thing the team has shown Ham to start this season is their ability to get along with each other.

“Our seniors are very accepting of the fact that they need juniors to step up,” Ham said. “I think the result of that is that we have a really good sense of how we need to get along.”

Leading the way for the Miners is 6-foot, 240-pound senior Erik Ham, who lines up at tight end and linebacker. Ham is joined by senior lineman Isaiah Krebs and receiver/defensive back Tanner Dolbec.

Junior Trevor Zacher is back as the quarterback after throwing 1,055 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore. Zacher was injured during the summer, but looks on track to start the season.

“He broke his arm this summer and it looks like he will be ready to go if not the first game, shortly thereafter,” Loy Ham said. “He’s looked really good in practice.”

Junior Karson Hintz wasn’t the Miners’ featured running back last season, but Loy Ham expects him to handle a majority of the carries this season. Karson tallied 357 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore.

“Hintz wasn’t our leading rusher last year, but he was pretty close,” Loy Ham said. “He came back in great shape.”

Beulah Miners

Head coach: Loy Ham

Last season: 3-5

Returners: Erik Ham, Sr., TE/LB, 6-0, 240; Tanner Dolbec, Sr., WR/DB, 6-0, 165; Isaiah Krebs, Sr., OL/DL, 6-3, 185; Trevor Zacher, Jr., QB/LB, ; Cody Nelson, Jr., WR/DB; Brett Koch, Jr., WR/DB; Karsen Hintz, Jr., RB/DB; Logan Eisenbeis, Jr., WR/LB; Zack Kessler, Jr., OL/DL; Trey Horning, Jr., OL/DL; Zach Scherer, Jr., OL/DL; Mitchell Mattheis, Jr., OL/DL; Jeb Schafer, Jr., TE/LB; Patrick Becker, Jr., TE/LB; Hunter Obrigewitch, Jr., WR/DB; Mark Muscha, Jr., OL/DL; Logan Obrigewitch, Jr., WR/DB.

Newcomers: Tyler Murray, Sr., TE/LB; DJ Wagner, Sr., RB/LB; Hunter Eslinger, Jr., WR/DB; Jesse Hettich, Jr., WR/DB; John Yale, So., QB/DB; Derek Morris, So., RB/LB; Ty Horning, So., RB/DB; Evan Mellmer, So., TE/LB; Hayden Kessler, So., OL/DL; Alex Krebs, So., WR/DB; Landon Battest, So., TE/DL; Kamron Unruh, So., WR/DB.

Losses: Leighton Guthmiller, TE; Skye Little Solider, WR; Dustin Rueb, WR; Zach Seibel, OL/DL; Zach Morris, RB; Colton Starr OL/DL.

2011 schedule (all times Mountain): Aug. 26–at Hazen, 6 p.m.; Sept. 2–at Central Cass, 6 p.m.; Sept. 9–at Rugby, 6 p.m.; Sept. 16–vs. Belcourt, 6 p.m.; Sept. 23–vs. Bismarck St. Mary’s, 6 p.m.; Sept. 30–at Bottineau, 6 p.m. Oct. 7–at Minot Ryan, 6 p.m. Oct. 14–at Carrington, 6 p.m. Oct. 18–vs. Dickinson Trinity, 6 p.m.

Tags: high school football, kickoff football preview