After a perfect regular season and SIAC title, is Jasper being overlooked entering 2022?

JASPER, Ind. — One shouldn’t need a reminder of where Jasper football stands historically.

It’s undoubtedly one of the best programs in Southwest Indiana. No losing seasons in 33 years. Postseason success stretching across five decades. Even a transition to the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference hasn’t slowed the Wildcats.

Yet, a question presents itself weeks before the start of the 2022 season. Is Jasper being overlooked?

Following one of the best regular seasons in program history, the Wildcats aren’t concerned about perceived notions. They have their minds set on building another contender. Another winner.

“We don’t go into the year saying we want to replicate 9-0,” said Jasper coach Tony Lewis. “We want to compete week in and week out and give ourselves an opportunity at the end of the game to win it.”

Jasper is the defending SIAC champion. It bulldozed through a perfect regular season – its first in nine years – with only two games decided by one score. The only thing missing was a postseason title after an opening-round loss to Northview.

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So, why the hesitation to not crown the Wildcats preseason favorites? Many of those contributors from a year ago graduated, five of their top seven rushers from the option offense as well as talented defenders.

Lewis noted last season was a great accomplishment for that senior class. This is a new year, though. A new group with new leaders who will need to find their own identity.

“You hope your underclassmen have gained a year of experience,” said Lewis. “New kids in new positions. That’s what the summer and first couple weeks of practice are for, trying to figure out what your team does well.”

There are a handful of familiar names returning to guide another potential winner.

Starting on offense, Grant Young steps into his second season as the starting quarterback. The senior led the Wildcats over the final six weeks last year and fully knows the scheme. He finished with 491 passing yards and five touchdowns plus 378 rushing yards and seven more scores. Will Wallace (106 yards) gained valuable experience at fullback. Charlie Kabrick, a projected two-way starter, is one of the two returning All-SIAC selections.

Bralen Bair is the other and remains among the top players in the conference. A first-team All-SIAC cornerback last season with six interceptions, the senior plans to be a major focus on both sides. The Wildcats want to get him the ball in space either via the ground or air.

“He’s one of our more dynamic playmakers,” said Lewis. “However we can get him the ball, he’s someone who has to make plays for us.”

This also marks an important year for the program under Lewis. It’s his fourth at Jasper since returning to the area. This senior class will have spent its entire high school career learning and perfecting one system.

The 21-year head coach sees the roots growing at the lower levels. The program had its annual youth camp last week to teach the fundamentals of the program. Every group runs the same system. You know what Jasper team you’ll see each week.

That led to a productive and efficient summer — starting in the weight room to speed development.

“It’s a lot more beneficial to us that our freshman group is learning the same system and on down to the middle school,” said Lewis. “Our kids understand the system and what we expect of them in terms of their attitude, work ethic and how they need to approach practice every day.”

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Any road to another SIAC championship will be grueling. Others return more starters or enjoyed longer stays in the postseason tournament. But it shouldn’t be a surprise if Jasper has a say in who wins the title come October.

The Wildcats’ current focus is preparing for Week 1 against Memorial. Anything else, including potentially winning its first sectional title since 2013, will come in due time.

“All of our opponents in our sectional, minus Boonville, come from the SIAC,” said Lewis. “If you can compete with them during the year, you give yourself an opportunity to compete with them come playoff time. Hopefully, you can learn what it’s going to take to compete at that level.”

Jasper Wildcats

Last year: 9-1 (9-0 in Southern Indiana Athletic Conference)

Coach: Tony Lewis, 22-8 in 4th year at school, 153-74 in 21st year overall

Players to Watch

Grant Young (QB/DB, Sr.), Bralen Bair (WR/DB, Sr.), Charlie Kabrick (WR/DB, Sr.), Will Wallace (FB/LB, Sr.), Jaxson Bower (OL/DL, Sr.)

The Wildcats' three biggest games

Aug. 19 vs. Memorial: Always a tough matchup to start the season. The Tigers will be among the SIAC favorites after advancing to the 4A semistate. Jasper has won this game the past two years since joining the conference.

Sept. 2 at Reitz: If the Wildcats prove to be a title contender once again, a win at the Reitz Bowl would go a long way. Lewis coached the Panthers from 2008-12 and won the state championship in 2009.

Sept. 16 vs. Mater Dei: Another matchup with a SIAC favorite. The Wildcats lost in the Class 2A state championship last year with several starters back. These two powerhouse programs have only met three times.

Previously: Gibson Southern ∣ Mater Dei ∣ Harrison ∣ Boonville ∣ Central ∣ Princeton

Next up: Bosse

Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on Twitter @kylesokeland.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA football: Is Jasper being overlooked entering the 2022 season?