As Benjamin Logan’s head football coach Paul Jenne enters his second season, the focus has shifted from getting to know his players to leveraging the lessons learned from last year. After a challenging 1-9 debut season, Coach Jenne is optimistic about the future, with a renewed sense of excitement surrounding the program.
Key Updates for the Season:
- Experience and Depth: The Raiders return 14 starters from last season—6 on offense and 8 on defense. The experience gained by these underclassmen is expected to play a crucial role this season.
- Facility Upgrades: A new weight room and an upgraded field and scoreboard have energized the program. The increased facilities, along with a surge of 20 new players joining the team, have brought the total roster to approximately 70 players.
- Platoon System: Coach Jenne is implementing a full platoon system this season, aiming to have 11 players on offense and 11 on defense. This strategy allows players to specialize and stay fresh throughout games, potentially improving performance and reducing injuries.
Coach Jenne talks about camp and the upcoming season:
Key Players and Positions:
- Quarterback: Hunter Andrix returns for his senior year and is being supported by sophomore Soli Hughes. Hughes showed promise last season, throwing for 267 yards and a touchdown. They will be supported by sophomore running backs Alex Hassel and Jordan Pender, who combined for nearly 300 rushing yards as freshmen.
- Receivers and Tight End: Senior Camden Spriggs, standing at 6’4”, will move to tight end and is expected to be a focal point in the passing game. Receivers Kendell Plikerd and Collin Powell will also return, providing additional options in the aerial attack.
- Defense: On the defensive front, senior Wyatt Blackburn has impressed at nose tackle during camp and is expected to be a key contributor.
Season Outlook:
Coach Jenne believes that confidence will be crucial to the Raiders’ success this season. He is confident that the talent is present and that early success will be vital in building momentum.
The Raiders will open their season at home against Bluffton, with fans eager to see how the team’s growth and improvements will translate on the field.
