Speedy ALAH returns 19 from undefeated regular season
Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond football season kicks off Friday at home against Argenta-Oreana. The Knights have 19 returning lettermen back from a 9-1 season. They are front row, Marcus Otto, Payton Warrior, Trey Strode, Easton Frederick, brennon Hutson, Maddix Stirrett, Adam Morgan, Alex Rexroad and Braydon Leech. Back row, Mitiku Appleby, Cash Hale, Jackson Lebeter, Kaden Herschberger, Colin Smith, Mackenley Bowles, Jacob Tighe, Cruz Hale, Kamden Morfey and Ryan Appleby. ALAH is coached by Ryan Jefferson. Mike Monahan photo
By Mike Monahan
ARTHUR – Last year, after losing Keadin Feagin, who is entering his second year at the University of Illinois where he is a 6-3, 250 running back, not many saw the 2023 team going 9-0 for only the third time in program history (including Arthur and Arthur-Lovington-the others were when Dale Schuring coached the 2003 and 2004 teams to the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively).
“It was a huge confidence booster,” said ALAH coach Ryan Jefferson of the 9-0 regular season and one that finished 9-1. “ We knew it (had the capability of going 9-0) and we talked about it . Getting the kids to buy in and kind of rule out the doubt from the outside. Once we got to week five and six we started realizing ok, we can do this. Kind of the same thing going into this year.”
The Knights lost second team all-Lincoln Prairie Conference players Jayce Parsons (quarterback), Landon Waldrop (running back) and lineman Brody Louden plus wide receiver /defensive back Connor Nettles, Jeffrey Arwine (lineman) plus four others due to graduation.
Through the regular season Parsons averaged 125.1 yards rushing, while Waldrop averaged 91.2 per game. Parsons averaged 56.1 yards passing per game.
“We lost Jayce Parsons, who was a big part of our offense,but this year we have a much better group of guys to spread the ball out evenly. So, that will mean other teams can not necessarily key on someone. We have a lot of guys back (19 total), but a lot of new guys. We will just have to find the first couple of games to jell together, but we are hoping to continue to play good football. Last year that is what we did. We just started playing good football all the way around.”
Last year’s team averaged 35.8 points per game, while allowing 16.3.
Defense
“We have had some injuries,” said Jefferson, which includes Maddix Stirrett, who will be able to play with a club on his hand. “I felt like going into this year our defense was going to be a little bit better than it was last year. I think our defense will hopefully be as good as last year, if not better. The main thing for that is our speed in all positions and Jacob Tighe (6-5, 300 pound lineman who is drawing recruiting interest from Illinois, Eastern Illinois and Southern Illinois) is a big guy and is hard to miss.”
“With 29 upperclassmen practices have been more competitive and more realistic for what they are going to be seeing. All round it is a benefit.” said Jefferson. Having 29 upperclassmen is great as sometimes that is all a team has. It is really a huge benefit because that is a lot of experience and leadership.”
There are a total of 12 seniors, 17 juniors, 10 sophomores and 16 freshmen for a total of 55.
“We had some players that are seniors now that didn’t play much last season,” said Jefferson. “As far as leadership, Jacob Tighe is a big lead for us. We have some new guys in the senior group. Ryan Appleby tore his acl last year in the scrimmage and missed the season and he would have been a starter. He is back out and ready to go. Carson Augustine is a defensive rotation lineman guy, who can play some offensive line for us. Alex Rexroad, who was kind of injury riddled last year, is back. We have a lot of guys coming back in that group that are seniors, but it is going to be their time to show what they have. The junior group is just a big group with some really good athletes including some track athletes in Payton Warrior and Easton Frederick. So, we have some speed.”
Senior Mitiku Appleby is out for the season with a torn acl. Other seniors on the team are Mackenley Bowles, Adam Morgan, Alex Rexroad, Jonathan Shain, Colin Smith, Wyatt Taylor and Naithan Zander.
Stirrett averaged a team-high and conference high 9.3 tackles per game and was a first team all-LPC linebacker last season. Tighe was a unanimous first team offensive lineman and a first team defensive lineman, while Bowles was a second team offensive lineman.
“I think having the ability to have a better passing game than we have had in the past is a strength,” said Jefferson, who added not to take anything out of the previous quarterbacks. “In the 7-on-7 in the summer Cruz Hale (twin brother of receiver Cash Hale) is head of where those guys were in just his accuracy and attention to detail on some of the plays. I am excited to see what that will look like. I can’t say passing will be a strength yet, but I think it will be stronger than what it has been. Speed and depth are our main strengths.”
Offense
As for offense Jefferson said they have 7-8 guys that he feels comfortable with the ball in their hands.
“We are trying to be a little more balanced,” said Jefferson. “We will be more reliant on the run with our wing ‘T’ offensive. I am hoping we will be able to pass the ball more, but also be a power team, but also have that speed as that other element.”
As for special teams Jefferson said they are still working on a punter, but Kaden Herschberger, a junior, is back after earning first team all-conference honors and Brayan Martinez will handle most of the kickoffs and point after touchdowns.
“I think we have a little bit of a target on our back,” said Jefferson. “I don’t think teams thought we would be bad, but I don’t think they expected us to go 9-0. It is hard to go 9-0.”
The Knights enter the season on a 15-game regular season winning streak, having not lost since a 28-26 loss at Cumberland on Sept. 16, 2022. ALAH hosts Argenta-Oreana Friday at 7 p.m. at Wilson Field. ALAH has won seven consecutive home contests, dating back to the season-opener on Aug. 26, 2022 in a 42-7 loss to Tri-Valley.
“The players typically always have the same goal to win the LPC,” said Jefferson. “I told them ‘yes, we won the conference, which was fun, but we lost in the first round (class 2A to Quincy Notre Dame, 21-14).’ My goal will be to go further in the playoffs. When you get to the quarterfinals you get a plaque for being in the Elite Eight.”
2024 Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond football roster
Coach: Ryan Jefferson 7th season 34-22 .607. Assistant coaches: Jory Borntrger, Don McCarthy, Shawn Davison, Tyler Cotton, Mitch Wilson, Morgan Cotton and Conner Strader
Name Height Weight Position
Seniors
Mitiku Appleby 5-8 150 TE/LB*
Ryan Appleby 5-11 175 TE/DB*
Carson Augstine 5-11 230 OL/DL
Mackenley Bowles 6-2 270 OL/DL*
Adam Morgan 5-7 170 OL/DL*
Alex Rexroad 5-8 140 RB/DB*
Jonathan Shain 6-0 190 OL/DL
Colin Smith 6-1 230 TE/DL*
Maddix Stirrett 5-10 200 RB/LB*
Wyatt Taylor 6-0 155 TE/DB
Jacob Tighe 6-5 300 OL/DL*
Naithan Zander 5-9 130 WR/DB
Juniors
Kayden Allen 5-10 160 WR/DB
Edik Arwine 5-9 175 OL/DL
August Burton 6-1 175 TE/LB
Lucas Butcher 6-1 260 OL/DL
Daylon Doggett 6-1 160 TE/DB
Easton Frederick 5-9 150 RB/LB*
Cash Hale 5-9 150 WR/DB*
Cruz Hale 5-11 155 QB/DB*
Kaden Herschberger 5-10 165 K/LB*
Nick Hubster 6-0 320 O/DL
Tristan Keagle 6-0 140 WR/DB
Jackson Lebeter 5-9 185 OL/DL*
Braydon Leech 5-8 140 RB/LB*
Brayan Martinez 5-11 195 OL/K/DL
Kamden Morfey 5-8 200 OL/DL*
Trey Strode 5-6 140 RB/LB*
Payton Warrior 5-9 150 RB/DB*
Sophomores
Hayden Ely 5-11 275 OL/DL
Remington Gregory 6-2 240 OL/DL
Owen HIlton 6-0 210 OL/DL
Brennon Hutson 5-9 160 RB/DB*
Dylan Ingersoll 5-7 140 RB/DB
Marcus Otto 5-9 155 QB/DB*
Jayden Parsons 6-1 170 RB/DB
Nicholas Rafferty 5-11 175 TE/LB
Josh Taylor 5-10 160 OL/DL
Mason Thomas 5-9 150 OL/LB
Freshmen
(weight not available)
Wesley Adcock 5-6 RB/DB
Andon Berry 5-2 RB/DB
Jonah Burkett 5-9 QB/RB/LB
Ashton Crumrin 5-4 OL/DL
Faemus Davison 5-10 WR/DB
Cannon Doggett 5-6 RB/DB
Cody Drake 5-5 TE/DB
Brady Ellis 5-11 OL/DL
Lily Evans 5-1 OL/DL
Blayne Louden 5-10 TE/LB
Alex Olivero 5-11 OL/DL
Carson Reed 5-8 QB/RB/DB
Lincoln Scroggins 5-8 OL/LB
Mace Stirrett 5-7 OL/LB
Landon Willoughby 5-6 OL/DL
Tylan Zander 5-3 RB/DB
*-returning lettermen
