Raiders prepared for foray into 11-man football
Richardton-Taylor-Hebron is in for a new experience as it steps up from 9-man to 11-man football.By: Royal McGregor, The Dickinson Press
- Sean Elkins
Richardton-Taylor-Hebron is in for a new experience as it steps up from 9-man to 11-man football.
The road to learning the new style of offense and defense might be different, but the team is ready for the challenge.
“We haven’t played 11-man in Richardton since the early to mid-80s,” Richardton-Taylor head coach Travis Olson said. “That’s going to be a whole different aspect in itself.”
One player they will have to do without is Adam Woroniecki, who led the team in rushing last season and continues his football career at the University of Mary.
The Raiders, however, have two running backs that can bring some firepower to the backfield in Sean Elkins and Trevor Parsons.
“No, Sean (Elkins) isn’t going to come in and be Adam,” Olson said. “But he’s going to come in and be Sean and I think that’s going to be just right for us this year.”
Elkins was named second team all-state and first team all-Region 6, while Parsons grabbed a second team all-region selection last season.
“I think that Sean and Trevor would be the top runners for us, but have a couple other kids that have really stepped up,” Olson said. “Dylan Patton and Mack Vaagen came in with a lot more speed than last year. That’s going to really add some depth to our running back position.”
Finding a quarterback is another story as the Raiders graduated two-year starter Jarret Naumann.
Olson said they’re looking for someone to take his place.
Two potential candidates have emerged in junior Kasey Dressler and sophomore Lane Voltz — and it’s a tight race, Olson said.
“We have a dead heat going between two guys,” Olson said. “I couldn’t answer it right now to who it is. We might use them both.”
Though the team might not know who is going to be quarterback right away, both players will find a position to play. Plus, the team is very comfortable knowing that both quarterbacks have at least one more year of eligibility.
“That’s great thing and they are both great kids too,” Olson said. “If they aren’t playing quarterback, they are playing somewhere else. It’s always nice to know that you have two kids with that type of talent.”
The Raiders reopened the 11-man chapter in their school’s history on Aug. 23 against New Town in a game played at Dickinson’s Badlands Activities Center.
R-T-H scheduled two nonconference games before their Class A, Region 4 schedule begins to fine tune things.
“We tried to schedule a couple nonconference games and to get some games under our belts,” Olson said. “I think that it’s more important that we get the feel of the game before we get into the region.”
Richardton-Taylor Raiders
Head coach: Travis Olson
Last season: 8-1
Returners: Sean Elkins, Sr., RB/LB, 5-9, 175; Trevor Parson, Sr., FB/LB, 6-1, 205; Paul Koppinger, Jr., OL/LB, 5-10, 190; Dakota Messer, Sr., OL/DL, 6-1, 190; Kasey Dressler, Jr., QB/DB, 6-1, 175; Nathan Ling, Sr., OL/DL, 5-10, 250.
Upcomers: Dylan Patton, Sr., QB/WR/DB, 5-9, 160; Chad Gullickson, Jr., TE/LB, 6-3, 180; Mack Vaagen, Jr., RB/WR/DB, 5-9. 150; Robert Perrin, Jr., OL/DL, 6-1, 250; Cade Kuntz, Jr., WR/DB, 5-10, 155; Forest VanOrmann, Jr., OL/DL, 6-0, 165; Johnathan Olson, Jr., TE/DL, 6-2, 180; Lane Voltz, So., QB/DB, 6-0, 155; Lane Anue, So., OL/FB/LB, 6-1, 190; Ty Bloom, Jr., WR/DB, 6-1, 155; Logan Werhi, Jr., OL/DL, 6-2, 240; Logan Locher, So., OL/DL, 6-0, 205.
Losses: Jarret Nauman, QB/FS; Adam Woroniecki, RB/LB; Robbie Slaughter, OL/DL.
2011 schedule: Aug. 23–vs. New Town at Badlands Activities Center, 6 p.m. Aug. 27–at Berthold-Lewis & Clark, 6 p.m. Sept. 2–vs. Grant County-Flasher, 7 p.m. Sept. 9–at Southern McLean, 6 p.m. Sept. 16–at Standing Rock, 6 p.m. Sept. 23–vs. Hazen, 7 p.m. Sept. 30–vs. New Salem-Glen Ullin, 7 p.m. Oct. 7–at Heart River, 7 p.m. Oct. 14–vs. Killdeer, 7 p.m.
Tags: high school football, kickoff football preview
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