5 burning questions for Bloomington North football
As the roster numbers attest, there is a high enthusiasm surrounding the Bloomington North football program this year. Let's take a look at the big questions the Class 5A Cougars (7-4 last year) need to answer as the 2022 season gets underway.
Can North take advantage of its experience?
The Cougars had very few vacancies in the starting lineup heading into this season and found some good options for each of those open spots, thanks in part to a roster that ballooned to 116. It all gives head coach Scott Bless a much different starting point than last year.
He can add layers to what they already know and they in turn can be a extra set of eyes and coaches on the field. What few two-way players there are won't have to do either one full time and the ability to spell starters will pay off the in the final period.
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"What's different with this team, on the plus side is that it gives us more depth for our Friday night crew," he said. "Last year, we had a nice group of No. 1s, and we skated through it. This allows us to stay fresh. There are not many positions where we can't rotate and have very little drop off.
"The minus is, we did lose some seniors who were special players."
Another plus, practices are more competitive, not only when its 1s vs. 1s but also 1s vs. 2s. And that, linebacker Lucas Alexander noted, is one reason why the Cougars' defense should be more effective this season.
How much better will the defense be this year?
North will run a four-man front with fresh blood. At defensive end will be a pair of tall juniors in Aidan Steinfeldt (6-4, 234), a returning starter at tight end, and former wrestler Grey Hostetler (6-4, 226), a first-time high school player. Larry Staples (6-2, 263) saw some time there last year and sophomore Miles Hopkins are also options. On the interior, look for seniors Gavin Stogsdill (6-2, 261) and Andrew Cockerham (5-8, 300). Three players off the offensive line, juniors Max Wynalda (5-11, 262) and Hudson Owings (5-11, 246) and sophomore Traeh Young could rotate in as well.
At linebacker are two returning senior starters, Dylan Barrow and Lucas Alexander and sophomore Zeke Trueblood are back. Barrow was All-CI last year and will lead a group aiming to be far more aggressive than they were last season. Trueblood started four games as a freshman. Add in junior Luke Kerns, who had a strong off-season, junior Trenton Eaton and freshman Lucas Rice (6-2, 212).
The secondary from last year is intact and another year older and quicker: junior cornerbacks Stephen Opoku and Graham Freund and strong safety senior Cayden Riester, who is also the backup quarterback, and junior free safety Drew Ogden. Toss new junior J.T. Storm into the mix.
"We've got five dudes," Bless said. "They trust in each other and when you do that, you can focus on your own job and you can fly around and not worry about what the other guys are doing."
Will the offense keep rolling under a new QB?
Sophomore Dash King will now take the snaps for an offense that can be both explosive and punishing. But there's a steep learning curve to go from the freshman to varsity level and he needs to be a threat to move the ball with his arm and feet as well as making smart decisions in the RPO game. Lucky for him, there are plenty of safety valves.
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"He will have a lot of options," Bless said. "He's a big kid who can be a dual threat to run or throw. He's intelligent and a good leader. He's a sophomore who's never played in a varsity game, but he was one of the top vote getters who wasn't named a captain. So you can tell the team sees his leadership."
His best move may be handing off or tossing quick passes to returning running back Cody Mikulich, one of the state's best with over 3,000 career yards rushing, as much as possible. Other options at RB will be Storm, Trueblood and Nolan Coy.
"(Mikulich) will be better than last year," Bless said. "I think he's the best back in Indiana and he's as complete a running back as I've ever had. His vision, his ability to cut, he's so much more of an explosive player. And he enjoys blocking."
Back at receiver are senior Jarno Hicks, who showed his big playability on return teams as well, with juniors Tate Bless (6-3), Cole Grupenhoff (6-1) and senior Mason Miller stepping up. At tight end are Steinfeldt, one of the state's best, and junior Jack Leonard (6-3) providing more tall, athletic targets.
Can the offensive line win the day?
King needs time to throw. Mikulich needs room to run.
There's a good crew back whose task is to make sure that gets done.
"We know early on, teams are going to stack the box and challenge our first-year sophomore at quarterback," Bless said.
It'll start with three-year starter in Wynalda (262), a team captain and capable of playing any of the five line spots. Also back are starters Owings (246) and senior Braxton Johnson (296) along with sophomore Andy Lewis (6-4, 313), who came on late last year. They're joined by senior Chandler Porter (6-1, 300), so North has depth and versatility in its linemen.
"We can plug them into any spot," Bless said.
Who are the new kickers?
With four-year starter Kyle Trilling graduating and now at the University of Indianapolis, the Cougars have one kicking chore figured out and the other still up in the air.
Soccer player junior Noah Nelson has won the job on place kicks, field goals and kick offs. Tate Bless will handle the snapping duties. Punting, however, will fall to another foot.
The schedule
Aug. 19: at Mooresville, 7 p.m.; Aug. 26: at Bedford North Lawrence, 7 p.m.; Sept. 2: Terre Haute South, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 9: Bloomington South, 7 p.m.; Sept. 16: at Terre Haute North, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 23: New Albany, 7 p.m.; Sept. 30: at Columbus East, 7 p.m.; Oct. 7: at Columbus North, 7 p.m.; Oct. 14: Southport, 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: 5 burning questions for Bloomington North football
