BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
ST. JOHN – First-year St. John football coach Scott Krehbiel played football at perennial playoff qualifier Pratt and coached football at Fort Collins, Colo. for three seasons.
“I wanted to coach after I was done playing,” he said. “Pratt had great coaches who understood what hard work and dedication means. I want to pass those lessons on so they are prepared for life after high school.”
At St. John, it’s been an 12-year drought after the Tigers’ last football playoff appearance in 2012. The Tigers (3-6, 1-3) have compiled a record of 12-85 the past 11 seasons. The Tigers defeated Stafford 36-28, Ness City 68-22 and Otis-Bison 16-14 last year.
“The outlook is positive,” Krehbiel said. “The team had a good year to build on. They understand our expectations are higher going forward. We have a good culture in place that will continue to demand hard work.”
Returning starters are QB/DB Braxton Alpers; RB/WR/DB Jace Reyes; WR/DB Juan Ibarra; G/DT Aden Adame; RB/DE Daniel Portillo; G/DT Julio Lozano.
“We’ve asked everyone to push themselves, and these upperclassmen have led the way,” Krehbiel said. “The guys have displayed the toughness and commitment it takes to be successful in sports and beyond. They’ve pushed a promising group of sophomores and freshmen to get better.”
The Tigers will operate out of the pistol look on offense, and a traditional 3-2 on defense with some variations.
“We pushing a more aggressive and fast -paced style of football on both sides of the football,” he said. “The guys have bought into that.”
Eight-Man District 6 features Victoria, Hodgeman County, Macksville and Stafford.
“It’ll be a tough district. We’ll have bring our ‘A’ game every single night,” Krehbiel said. “Our goal is to get better throughout the season and host a playoff game. We have to approach each week with the same buy-in to hard work and focusing on details like we have since summer workouts began.”
RETURNING STARTERS—QB/DB Braxton Alpers; RB/WR/DB Jace Reyes; WR/DB Juan Ibarra; G/DT Aden Adame; RB/DE Daniel Portillo; G/DT Julio Lozano
8-MAN 2 DISTRICT 6— Victoria 9-2 (3-0), Hodgeman County 5-4 (3-1), Macksville 3-6 (1-4), Stafford 2-7 (0-4), St. John 3-6 (1-3)
TIGER ROSTER
7—Braxton Alpers, 6-0, 175, QB, 11
9—Jace Reyes, 5-7, 145, 11
11—Juan Ibarra, 5-9, 140, WR/QB, 11
30—Aden Adame, 5-11, 230, G/DT, 11
34—Daniel Portillo, RB/DE, 5-9, 195, 11
58—Julio Lozano, 5-11, 230, G/DT, 11
81—William Martin, 5-5, 145, TE/DE, 10
89—Weston Peterson, 5-8, 145, WR/TE/CB, 11
Easton Alpers, 5-8, 140
D.J. Barney, 5-8, 135
Samuel Heller, 5-9, 145
Juan Lozano, 5-9, 160
Jericho Mawhirter, 5-9, 140, 10
Wyatt Mawhirter, 5-9, 150
Mikeal Nemec, 5-9, 175
Miseal Ramirez, 5-9, 185, G/DT, 9
Diego Vasco, 5-10, 155
8-MAN 2 DISTRICT 6— Victoria 9-2 (3-0), Hodgeman County 5-4 (3-1), Macksville 3-6 (1-4), Stafford 2-7 (0-4), St. John 3-6 (1-3)
TIGER SCHEDULE
8-30—at Pratt Jamboree/Ashland/Macksville
9-6—at La Crosse
9-13—at Ness City
9-20—Kinsley
9-27—*Hodgeman County
10-4—*at Victoria
10-11—Minneola
10-18—*Stafford
10-25—*at Macksville
11-1—8-man playoffs
